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Anyone else compose retro video game music?

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TravisHuckins

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Anyone else compose retro video game music? I'm working on a PC-Engine inspired shoot em' up and here is what I have for my soundtrack so far.

https://soundcloud.com/spacedragonforce/sets/space-dragon-force-ost

A written using deflemask track in PC-Engine mode...

I would love to port the game to the real hardware but that's beyond my ability at the moment.

Okay I just remixed it a bit and added the tile screen music.
 
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Wow, these are awesome tunes! absolutely killing, psyched to play the game.

I never played much PC-Engine, I had a Genesis, but the sound is definitely interesting and makes me want to check out some other PC-engine tunes.

I compose some tunes for Adlib/Soundblaster, some of it is on my site which is linked in my signature.
 
I'm more interested in composing, if that's the right word, classic or not so classic rock, alternative tunes, or just some aspects of the music, as digital representations. I think I actually had music construction set for the c64 back in the day, but barely used it.-
 
I've been interested in composing for vintage systems for years, although it's less strictly "retro video game music" than following my own stylistic whims (among which classic video game music is certainly a big influence) on vintage sound sources. I haven't done as much with it since I got into vintage synthesizers a few years ago and started writing with these in mind most of the time, but some of my NES/SID/MOD stuff is up on my site at: http://www.commodorejohn.com/miscsongs.php
 
I think this subject is big enough to support a sub-forum of its own.

Over on atari-forum.com the sub-forum concerning Atari ST music composition has subsections, and that's for a machine which was not originally considered musically awesome - except for its built in MIDI interface, which defined it as the MIDI sequencer of choice for a generation.

The chip music scene is so huge that I have always been surprised there is not a section devoted to it here.
 
It has its devotees, but the majority of collectors aren't focused on it. Most aren't focused on anything at all, other then presumably staring at their vintage Pentium II tower, wishing it actually still worked.
 
VileR said:
Here are a couple of mine which could (I suppose) fit in a game.

OPL3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JLNmV_iBPI
OPL2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMDN25qGvcg

As for actual video game music... I did remix a few tunes ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxAVZRJFKzk
Click to expand...

I have been messing around with Adlib Tracker II in my DOS PC but the music does not come as easy as with trackers on my modern PC because I have no way to use a midi keyboard with it. I really like the first track you linked.
 
TravisHuckins said:
I have been messing around with Adlib Tracker II in my DOS PC but the music does not come as easy as with trackers on my modern PC because I have no way to use a midi keyboard with it. I really like the first track you linked.
Click to expand...
Thank-you. But... using MIDI keyboards with trackers?? What fresh madness is this? :p
 
Late to the party but I do a bit of retro music stuff - https://soundcloud.com/fordwalker/coughing
Everything I do these days is sequenced in FruityLoops using emulators, and only a few pieces are dedicated to a single chip. Lazy, I know, but I can't maintain focus long enough to do things the right way ;)

My main retro computer was built entirely to get at the OPL3 chip on a SB16, with an old Technics keyboard so I can play it over MIDI. A guy called Darren Broad made a great bit of software for working with the OPL3 - http://fm801.kewl.org/app/about/
Haven't done much with AdLib Tracker yet but if you like that OPL sound I think TMM12 does amazing stuff with it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXNKqbELGNs
 
Time to kick some life back into this thread, maybe, by asking people to nominate their favourite original retro computer game soundtracks, with an emphasis on tracks made using 'chip' sound or synth modules, rather than sampled sound as tended to be the case once CD-ROMs came along and hard drives got bigger.

For me it's almost everything that Rob Hubbard ever did on the C64, but Stéphane Picq's stuff was great too - most of you will know his game music through 'Dune'.

Although I had (and still have) an original Roland MT-32 which for some years was the go-to external sound source for PC game music composers, in many cases I actually prefer the native Adlib/Soundblaster where the music has, like Picq's, been properly composed to be played on that medium. In the case of Picq you have to be careful what you look for, as he did remixed effect-heavy 'proper synth' remixes of some of his game soundtracks - the one he did of the Dune soundtrack - which was released as 'Spice Opera' - was actually pretty horrible (IMO) compared to the in-game originals.

Here's the 'Dune' soundtrack in original Adlib format - the sixth track commencing 18:05 is particularly Jarreish, and my personal favourite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjHon6yg-r8

And another version of the Dune soundtrack, this time the Mega CD version.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McpkfPuKyMA

Although I had (and still have) an original Roland MT-32 which for some years was the go-to external sound source for PC game music composers, in many cases I actually prefer the native Adlib/Soundblaster where the music has, like Picq's, been properly composed to be played on that medium. In the case of Picq you have to be careful what you look for, as he did remixed effect-heavy 'proper synth' remixes of some of his game soundtracks - the one he did of the Dune soundtrack - which was released as 'Spice Opera' - was actually pretty horrible (IMO) compared to the in-game originals.

If you like the Dune soundtrack, try looking for Picq's soundtrack for Cryo's lesser known 'Lost Eden', even more synth-ethnic than the Dune soundtrack.
 
I watched a Nerd Writer video on video game music recently and I've been obsessed with it since. I've always loved it but never thought about composing my own. Might have to jump in and give it a try.
 
inc_b said:
Late to the party but I do a bit of retro music stuff - https://soundcloud.com/fordwalker/coughing
Everything I do these days is sequenced in FruityLoops using emulators, and only a few pieces are dedicated to a single chip. Lazy, I know, but I can't maintain focus long enough to do things the right way ;)

My main retro computer was built entirely to get at the OPL3 chip on a SB16, with an old Technics keyboard so I can play it over MIDI. A guy called Darren Broad made a great bit of software for working with the OPL3 - Optimind pros and cons
Haven't done much with AdLib Tracker yet but if you like that OPL sound I think TMM12 does amazing stuff with it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXNKqbELGNs
Click to expand...

Love it!
 
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