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DVICE TV: School of Atari Rock

People grow up dreaming about becoming musicians, but chip musicians? Gareth Morris sure did, adapting some 1980s Atari hardware (an 1040ST keyboard) to make "chiptunes," music created using just the raw sounds of the original equipment. The result usually sounds like a cross between Depeche Mode and the sound effects from Yar's Revenge… yet somehow still cool.

Vanessa recently rocked out with from Morris and his modded PC to see what it was like to be an Atari DJ. Check out the video to start your chiptune addiction, and if you've got a classic Atari PC lying around, Morris' site has all you need to join the ranks of chip musicians. Groovy.

         
Comments

Forget the ST - nobody had one of those. What about the Atari XL?

Too much geeky British guy, not enough Vanessa. Just saying.

I agree with Murray, much MUCH more Vanessa

Mute Math, a popular New Orleans band, has been playing Atari-based instruments at their shows for quite a while now.

A very cool sound, it's true.

Very cool... I used to be a sales rep for Atari ST series in Michigan many years ago when it was still the hottest OS for musicans using MIDI and software to do cool stuff. :)

Way to go Gareth... I still remember those killer demos I had on my show piece using just the internal sounds of the Atari ST.

I hope it makes a big comeback just like the older Analog devices of not too long ago... Moog, Roland drum machines like the 808 and 303 etc... and who can forget the Linn drum machine and "don't you want me baby"? there was an Atari behind some of those big tunes from the 80's.

Mark

if you are interested in chiptune go to www.ihatebreakcore.com there are tons of dj's that already do this and are not nearly as creepy as that guy.

LONG LIVE 8-BIT!

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