How Oldschool Sound/Music worked

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If you want to learn more about those keyboards that contain the Sound Blaster synth (YM3812) watch my other video on that:

In this video, we'll cover 3 different eras of computer music, the Internal Speaker, FM Synthesis, and PCM Samples.

[bernardli]

Alright so all the music in this video.
0:20 - Avoid the Noid, IBM PC and Apple 2
0:43 - also Avoid the Noid
1:00 - Swinth Demo 1 (stationary ark)
1:09 - Space Quest III - Pirates of Pestulon. Cannot identify OS.
1:13 - Super Mario Bros 2, NES
2:18 - Super Mario Bros 2, NES
2:57 - Super Mario Bros 3, NES
3:36 - MULE, Comodore 64.
4:04 - Commando, Comodore 64.
5:21 - Ultima 6, IBM PC version.
6:06 - 8 bit guy, Casio sk-1
6:29 - Blood Money, Comodore Amiga.
6:42 - Guitar Slinger (Modtracker Song by jogeir liljedahl), Comodore Amiga

[turkeysamwich]

Tim Follin pushed the NES's soundchip beyond its limits by doing tricks like using the triangle wave bass channel to emulate a kick drum sound, and having the main square wave riff play quieter and a split second delayed in the second square wave channel to emulate reverb. If you look at an oscilloscope of any of the games he composed for (Silver Surfer, Pictionary, etc.) you can see it in action. It's super cool

[jonavarque]

When I wrote for the SNES I used a sample playback system that used samples I generated. NO FM audio at all.

[antoniusmetal]

Yes, practically every NES game used the same sounds, but that's when the creativity of musicians came into play. For instance, the soundtracks of the Zelda, Ninja Gaiden and Casltevania games are amazing and very different from each other.

[jonathanjensen]

6:31
<*cash register noises*> <*orchestral hit crescendo*> "HIT IT!" <*trumpet melody*> "yeah!"

smh...

[Bandicoot]

0:56 - It must have taken the programmers quite some time to design this epic laugh!

[Gtchy]

Seriously one of the coolest videos I've ever seen and really fascinating info! Well done 8-Bit Guy!

[SrArtoo]

4:22 Incredible, no one ever has explained it so clear and simple. Great !

[wildbilltexas]

I'm glad you included a song by Rob Hubbard (Commando). He was a master at programming the C=64's SID chip. Also props for showing us the awesome Casio SK-1 and Yamaha PSS-470.

[nintendies]

Was watching this on my phone when at 2:30
"The first 2 can only produce square waves, that sound like this:" (Gets phone call)

Me(for a split second) - oh that doesn't sound that bad, oh wait...

[KimHarderFog]

I was floored when you recreated the Ultima song on the keyboard. Great stuff!

[NecrosVideos]

Your videos are always top tier. I’ll never stop loving retro tech!

[silversheep]

So that explains why one voice stops when a sound effect play on the nes, because there’s not enough voices for it so it cuts one off and replaces it with the other.

[harmonicresonanceproject]

Nice to see the genesis of the 8 bit guy here! 2021, and 2015 feels like a million light years away.

[yonezawa]

5:39 *Man, I could listen to you playing that over and over all day, so deep*

[obsoletegeek]

Some behind the scenes info: We had to make some major adjustments to the set and David's camera setup to get everything in frame. I'm a freakishly tall dude!

[MrUltimatemaniac]

I love old console music. It’s very nostalgic for me but it also has a very mystical and Haunting feel to it 🤷🏽‍♂️

[FinalBaton]

That C64 Commando track is SICK!!!
Holy... I didn't know much about the C64 soundchip and now I'M pretty impressed

This video also reaffirmed my preference for game console music : FM synth > Samples. By a wide margin

[sfneurosurgeon]

Very educational and a trip down memory lane! I learned how to program with the Commodore 64. Commando was one of my favorite game themes!

[BlueArpeggio.PoDoDan]

6:42 I don't know....I...just suddenly felt something nostalgic inside of my heart. It feels like it's trying to tell me stories from long time ago I have forgot