WIP - Bach's Invention #10
This is the first cart. Using all the arps!
2018-02-10 15:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post
Gruber posts
Pico-8 - Bach's Invention #9, Project Files!
As I mentioned in the WIP post, this one has probably been the most challenging. It's long and dreary and I found it difficult to keep it interesting for 2.5 minutes!
I realized that one of the reasons it was difficult was because I didn't want to create an exaggerated "glitchy" vibe, which for me, is so characteristic of Pico-8.
The arrangement starts with using instrument 5 as the primary voice. Instrument 5 is called "organ," and fits great for the church-like feeli...
2018-02-08 20:00:59 +0000 UTC View Post
Why Bach? - Sound Design, Public Domain and Coltrane
As you can tell from my recent Patreon feed, I have my hands in J.S. Bach’s two-part inventions. I admit it’s a little odd to create electronic, Pico-8 arrangements of compositions originally written as keyboard exercises, but I have my reasons:
1) Pico-8’s New Instrument Editor
In late 2017, Lexaloffle released version 0.1.11 and among its new features was the instrument editor. The original seven instruments can now be combined and arranged to create NEW instrume...
2018-02-07 15:08:18 +0000 UTC View PostWIP - Bach's Invention #9
Here's the first half.
This one's a bit challenging. It's long and dreary and I'm finding it difficult to keep it interesting for 2.5 minutes!
I try to use variation in volume to keep expression through the long phrases. I have some instruments using a fade in effect, and others on a fade out. This creates an interesting effect.
Half way though, the echo enters up an octave and the bass down an octave. This is a formula I've been using for most of these ar...
2018-02-06 20:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostPico-8 - Bach's Invention #8, Project Files!
I spent more time than usual designing the instruments for this one. The right-hand part using two instruments - 1) an attack and 2) a buzz tail.
The left-hand part uses three - 1) an attack, 2) a buzz tail and 3) a sub.
I didn't feel the need to have more than five instruments, so SFX 05, 06 and 07 are empty.
2018-02-04 15:00:59 +0000 UTC View PostWIP - Bach's Invention #8
I remember learning this when I was a kid :)
2018-02-01 15:00:03 +0000 UTC View PostPico-8 - Bach's Invention #7, Project Files!
For this invention, I tried to create a "buzzing" sound, especially in the lower part.
Bach's inventions are in 2-parts, so with 4-channels to work with in Pico-8, I usually use the extra 2 for echo effects. To create a buzzing sound though, I was using the extra channels more for layering rather than echos. It created an interesting, creative problem - should I create interesting layers, or interesting delays/echos with the extra channels?
Pico-8 Music Tutorial #26 - Composing Music From Scratch Pt. 2
Writing some more Pico-8 music from scratch. A collaboration with Krystian/Lazy Devs (@LazyDevsAcademy) and his Pico-8 tutorial series. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLea8cjCua_P0qjjiG8G5FBgqwpqMU7rBk
I write three different things in this video: A stinger/fanfare for completing a level, another for game over, and a short jingle for when you beat th...
2018-01-28 15:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostWIP - Bach Invention #7
Experimenting with creating buzzing with the instrument editor.
2018-01-27 15:01:01 +0000 UTC View PostPico-8 - Bach's Invention #6, Project Files!
For each of these inventions, I try to take a concept and explore it thoroughly.
For #6, I used the instrument editor to create slow pitch slides (ascending and descending). When paired with the melody, it creates a cool, detuned, dreamy effect.
When taken to the extreme, it gets a bit nightmarish! :)
2018-01-26 14:00:02 +0000 UTC View PostPico-8 Music Tutorial #25 - Composing Music From Scratch Pt. 1
Writing some music from scratch. A collaboration with Krystian/Lazy Devs (@LazyDevsAcademy) and his Pico-8 tutorial series. Check it out here
The D#minor pentatonic scale: D#-F#-G#-A#-C#
You can find the notes using the method from my pentatonic tutorial video. This scale consists of all the "black notes" on the piano. So it's easy to find on a QWERTY keyboard. They're ...
2018-01-26 01:40:40 +0000 UTC View PostWIP - Ohh Yeah! Text-Speech in Pico-8
Huge thanks to @castpixel and @enargy for including me in this project. We're all working hard on it! If you'd like to hear it, it's on my Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/gruber_music/status/956308869516414976
Though, the attached cart is more polished, and sounds a bit better.
AN EXPLANATION
When you say a vowel, there are certain prominent frequencies...
2018-01-25 22:43:23 +0000 UTC View PostWIP - Bach Invention #6 Complete?
I think I finished this one today. Started out fairly dreamy but turned into a surreal nightmare haha!
I'm going to sleep on it, see how it sounds in the morning, and hopefully upload the audio tomorrow.
2018-01-23 20:11:34 +0000 UTC View Post
WIP - Bach's Invention #4 (Pico-8)
The goal is to do all 15 in the next month, so you'll be seeing much more of these!
2018-01-22 20:00:45 +0000 UTC View Post