Results for NES

Sony Creative Software has released 8 Bit Weapon: A Chiptune Odyssey, a massive collection of chiptune style loops and samples created using vintage computers and video game consoles.

The library covers Apple II, Commodore 64, NES, Gameboy, and the Atari 2600. Each system library has everything from drums, bass and synth to special effects. Both 8 Bit Weapon and ComputeHer have featured demos built into the collection.

The library features 462 (537 MB) original, royalty-free WAV files.

8 Bit Weapon: A Chiptune Oddysey is available for download now for 29.95 EUR ex VAT.

Visit Sony Creative Software for more information and demo sounds.

Some interesting things I found recently:

# Arduinocaster shreds in MIDI

Mike Cook takes the keytar to the next level.

Arduinocaster is a an Arduino based MIDI instrument modelled on a guitar sometimes called a keytar. It uses switches and LEDs to control six "strings" which are held down in guitar like chords. Triggering the strings is through an opto reflective switch for a continuous repeating strum and four touch sensitive switches for a one off sequence. There are three banks of four picking / strumming / arpeggio styles and a three octave capo. Voice change information can also be sent.

# Dinosaurs and Robots: The Clubhouse Strummer

Mark Frauenfelder writes:

My goal was to make an electric string instrument that uses drone tuning. I don't know anything about music theory, but drone tuning is a way to tune an instrument that makes it sound good no matter what you do with your fret fingers. Sitars, some dulcimers, and bagpipes use drone tuning. The clubhouse strummer uses GDG tuning (the Gs are one octave apart). I copied the fret layout from a strumstick, but I could have used this handy mountain dulcimer fret calculator to figure out the fret spacing.

# Synth1 random preset generator
Christophe Roussy created a utility to generate random presets for Synth 1.

Synth1 is my favorite free software synthesizer to this date. There are a lot of preset banks available on the web. I had a look at the preset format and thought it would be easy to generate random presets if I could figure out how the values are stored. I decided to write a small Java application that can generate random presets.

# little-scale: Drum Machine Compilation

Kezziebeat writes:

"Due to a song I created just a couple of days ago, I became inspired to start this compo. I want to make a compilation of songs using only kick drums and noise. Yes, only drums. No leads, no melodies, no arps (even slutty ones). I want to see what people can create when they only have a beat to work with.

The Chip Collection has announced all items in their shop are now $5 USD.

This is a week long promotional sale that will end next tuesday. This is sort of like getting a value meal at taco bell!! Time to load up your stomach sampler. Prices will go back to $20 soon. Remember this is every product in the store only $5 bucks!

Available $5 USD items

• 68 Subtractor Patches Reason Refill
• Casio SK1 Complete Reason Refill
• JX-8P Complete Reason Refill 2.5 GB
• Korg Electribe ER1 Drum Machine – Reason Refill
• MC-202 Analog Synthesizer Waves – Reason Refill
• NES Wave Pack – Reason Refill
• Tone Collection Reason Refill (Guitar)
• Surgical Surround EQ for Mac OS X AU/VST – 60 Band EQ

Check the Chip Collection website for more information.

ElectroKraft has released Super Synth Drums, a genuine Nintendo NES cartridge that transforms your original NES, or clone system (Yobo, Generation Nex) into an 8 bit percussion instrument.

Just plug the cartridge into your Nintendo NES system (or clone), and connect to an amplifier or TV for audio.

Super Synth Drums features

• Plug & play 8 piece Nintendo NES drum kit.
• Controller #1: Each button produces a different 8 bit percussion sound.
• Controller #2: Adds several varieties (rate/speeds) of pulsing/looping effect to any of the 8 percussion sounds produced by Controller #1.
• You can use the original NES controllers, new 3rd party controllers, or ElectroKraft’s custom controller, the “Sonic DrumAxe” to play true 8 bit percussion from your Nintendo NES system.

The Super Synth Drums cartridge costs $49 plus shipping, and 15% of the sale of each cart
is donated to Action Against Hunger.

Visit ElectroKraft for more information.

Some interesting things I found on May 21st, 2008:

# Hands-on: AudioCubes as Alternative Controller for Music and Visuals – Peter Nyboer, an A/V performer, Max/MSP guru, and developer for Livid, spent some time and gives us a look inside his brain as he works out what potential the cubes might have.

Percussa AudioCubes are capable of generating and processing audio and MIDI information.

# Build a Talk box inside a Toilet Plunger – With a soldering iron, a pair of computer speakers, and some plumbing equipment (including a Toilet Plunger). You can build a pretty good Talk Box (a talk box is what artists like Daft Punk use to get that Robot Voice Effect on songs like Around the World

# Apple NesRemote – Agurri turns an old NES controller in to an Apple Remote.

# Building a simple electric bass – Flickr set of Peter le Roux homemade 2 string fretless bass guitar.

# Kits : MIDIATOR : PS2 to MIDI Converter – This converts a PS2 controller into a MIDI controller. The current firmware supports remapping of the buttons to different notes or controllers.

# MIDI Controlled Sega Master System Gameplay – A device that electronically manipulates the controller port pins of the Sega Master System so that the console detects presses and depresses of buttons based on MIDI note events. Both controller ports are supported.

# The Electronic Peasant’s SynthCase Page – A patchable voltage-controlled analogue synthesizer. This project used recycled parts whenever possible.

This included approximately 70% of the capacitors, 60% of the switches, 50% of the integrated circuits, 90% of the connectors, and all of the power supplies, regulators, wire, enclosures, and the small hardware such as screws, bolts, washers, etc.

# Video: Honda’s Asimo Robot Conducts Detroit Symphony Orchestra – Honda recently dispatched its miniature humanoid robot Asimo to Detroit, where it conducted the Detroit Symphony. We've been looking forward to checking out video from the show ever since we heard about this, and now the videos are starting to surface.

# More iPhone: A TR-909 Clone, and Dreaming of Ableton – IR-909 is a drum machine for the iPhone inspired by the Roland TR-909. IR-909 features a 16-step sequencer, 4 patterns, 8 different drum sounds and the ability to adjust tempo(BPM) and shuffle amount.

Some interesting things I found on May 14th, 2008:

# MIDIBox – William Logo's DIY MIDIBox64 based controller.

Beautiful! Check William’s MIDIBox Flickr set for more images.

What’s in it?

• MIDIBox64 (uCApps.de)
• 12″x12″ Faux Walnut Case (Hammond case/Band It faux walnut iron on melamine)
• 16 Knobs (Futurelec)
• 5 Faders (60mm Bourns PTS series)
• 16 Arcade Buttons (Happ Controls)
• 32 MIDI controlled LED buttons (Shanpu/MEC 3F)
• Screen from Sparkfun

# CrudBox – Records button presses as a sequence controlling onboard 5v ports.

# NI Kore Minisite @ CDM – Peter Kirn launches a new blog devoted to NI’s Kore and Komplete lines.

Peter writes:

We’re pleased to have the opportunity to partner with Native Instruments to bring you regular stories on how to make the most of Kore and the Komplete family of instruments and effects (Reaktor, Kontakt, Massive, and more). Over the coming weeks, we’ll offer tutorials, interviews, tips, resources, and free downloadable projects and presets. We’ll have resources for beginners, but we’ll also have some bleeding-edge “things you’re not supposed to do” ideas, as well, because that’s half the fun of this.

# Synthinetic – A kinetically powered synthesizer that produces crazy sounds of destruction and beauty. Using energy creatively to produce and manipulate sound.

# Processing.js – John Resig ported the Processing visualization language to JavaScript, using the Canvas element.

# Ultra Awesome: NES coffee table – Kyle Downes made a giant NES controller/ coffee table/ storage box.