Chiptune

{{Short description|Style of synthesized electronic music}} {{For|the altering of car electronics|chip tuning}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}} {{infobox music genre | name = Chiptune | other_names = {{hlist|Chip music<ref name=ABC>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2019-08-10/chiptunes-8bit-music-of-video-games-reimagined/11383632|title=How 8-bit music, or chiptune, moved from illicit origins to mainstream popularity|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|date=August 9, 2019|accessdate=February 15, 2021|archive-date=February 11, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211140545/https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2019-08-10/chiptunes-8bit-music-of-video-games-reimagined/11383632|url-status=live}}</ref>|8-bit music<ref name=ABC/>|chiptunes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/apps/a23888/how-to-make-chiptunes-smartphone|title=Quit Wasting Time on Phone Games and Write Chiptunes Instead|first=Eric|last=Limer|website=Popular Mechanics|date=November 15, 2016|access-date=April 11, 2024|archive-date=December 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221206094610/https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/apps/a23888/how-to-make-chiptunes-smartphone/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2012/07/professor-shyguy|title=Professor Shyguy Gives a Lesson in Chiptunes Pop Rock With Geekotica|first=Curtis|last=Silver|date=July 24, 2012|magazine=Wired|access-date=April 11, 2024|archive-date=March 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322203732/https://www.wired.com/2012/07/professor-shyguy/|url-status=live}}</ref>|pico-pico<ref>{{cite web |author1=CBC Radio |title=Videogame music deserves more respect, says classical scholar |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/schedule-for-thursday-august-6-2015-1.3181153/videogame-music-deserves-more-respect-says-classical-scholar-1.3181159 |website=CBC |access-date=May 7, 2026 |date=August 6, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=妄想 |first1=鈴木 |title=「ピコピコサウンド」が音楽シーンを変える!? けもフレカバーからカルヴィン・ハリスまで名曲を聴きまくってみた |url=https://ure.pia.co.jp/articles/-/74876 |website=Medery |access-date=May 7, 2026 |language=ja |date=May 27, 2017}}</ref>}} | stylistic_origins = {{hlist|Electronic|video game music|computer music|soundtrack|synthpop (Yellow Magic Orchestra)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://themicrogiant.com/asian-electronic-music-connection-yellow-magic-orchestra/|website=The Microscopic Giant|title=The Asian Electronic Music Connection: Germany had Kraftwerk, Japan had Yellow Magic Orchestra|author=DJ Zobe|date=January 7, 2014|accessdate=May 26, 2021|archive-date=May 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210526195830/http://themicrogiant.com/asian-electronic-music-connection-yellow-magic-orchestra/|url-status=live}}</ref>|heavy metal<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://online.ucpress.edu/jsmg/article-abstract/4/2/24/195903/Mandatory-Metal-MomentsThe-Ubiquity-of-Heavy-Metal |title=Mandatory Metal Moments: The Ubiquity of Heavy Metal Culture in Video Games |website=online.ucpress.edu |doi=10.1525/jsmg.2023.4.2.24|url-access=subscription }}</ref> (neoclassical metal)|jazz fusion<ref name="viceguide">{{cite web |last1=Arcand |first1=Rob |last2=Goldner |first2=Sam |title=The Guide to Getting Into City Pop, Tokyo's Lush 80s Nightlife Soundtrack |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/city-pop-guide-history-interview/ |website=Vice |date=24 January 2019}}</ref>}} | cultural_origins = Late 1970s to early 1980s, Japan | derivatives = {{Hlist|Wonky|hyperpop<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/this-is-hyperpop-a-genre-tag-for-genre-less-music/ |title=This is Hyperpop: A Genre Tag for Genre-less Music |last=Enis |first=Eli |date=October 27, 2020 |publisher=Vice |quote=The PC Music sound is an undeniable influence on hyperpop, but the style also pulls heavily from rap of the cloud, emo and lo-fi trap variety, as well as flamboyant electronic genres like trance, dubstep and chiptune. |access-date=January 4, 2021 |archive-date=October 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029130347/https://www.vice.com/en/article/bvx85v/this-is-hyperpop-a-genre-tag-for-genre-less-music |url-status=live }}</ref>|kawaii future bass<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2015-05-15/future-bass-music-gets-a-kawaii-makeover/.88173|title=Future Bass Music Gets a Kawaii Makeover|work=Anime News Network|access-date=May 4, 2021|quote=Last year’s slowalk finds them shifting into more reflective territory, combining Books-style sampling with an assortment of bells, 8-bit blurps, and more sounds straight from the playroom.|language=en|archive-date=August 28, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220828121830/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2015-05-15/future-bass-music-gets-a-kawaii-makeover/.88173|url-status=live}}</ref>|synthwave}} | subgenres = Bitpop | fusiongenres = {{Hlist|Bleep techno<ref name="sicko_brewster_76"/>|complextro|electro<ref name="wire_1996"/>|electroclash|future bass|glitch|grime<ref name="Jong"/>|house<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/rarecollections/space-invaders-and-the-birth-of-chicago-house/6301186|title=Space Invaders and the birth of Chicago House|website=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=11 March 2015|access-date=21 April 2017|archive-date=24 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124204418/http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/rarecollections/space-invaders-and-the-birth-of-chicago-house/6301186|url-status=live}}</ref>|Nintendocore|plugg<ref name="SC"/>|skweee}} | regional_scenes = {{Flatlist| * Japan<ref>{{cite web |last1=St. Michel |first1=Patrick |title=The New Faces of Japanese Chiptune |url=https://daily.bandcamp.com/scene-report/japanese-chiptune-list |website=Bandcamp Daily |access-date=1 March 2025 |date=16 November 2016}}</ref> }} | local_scenes = {{Flatlist| * New York City<ref>{{cite AV media|date=March 2008|title=Reformat the Planet|type=Motion picture|publisher=2 Player Productions}}</ref> * Los Angeles<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/las-chiptune-scene-is-more-than-just-nerds-with-game-boys/|title=LA's Chiptune Scene Is More Than Just Nerds with Game Boys|website=Vice|first=Aaron|last=Carnes|date=December 12, 2016|access-date=March 15, 2024|archive-date=March 15, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315190709/https://www.vice.com/en/article/gvqwk7/las-chiptune-scene-is-more-than-just-nerds-with-game-boys|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/pop-hiss/story/2011-07-01/saturday-obsolete-collectives-monthly-chiptune-showcase-in-downtown-l-a|title=Saturday: Obsolete collective's monthly chiptune showcase in downtown L.A.|first=Nate|last=Jackson|date=July 1, 2011|website=Los Angeles Times|access-date=June 7, 2024}}</ref> }} | other_topics = {{Flatlist| * Artists * Demoscene}} | image = File:Chiptune-Setup-Game-Boys.jpg | caption = A musician's chiptune setup, involving Game Boy consoles }} {{Demoscene}} {{Electronic music top}}

'''Chiptune''', also called '''8-bit music''' (although not all chiptune is 8-bit), is a style of electronic music and musical subculture<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theconversation.com/the-sound-of-sid-35-years-of-chiptunes-influence-on-electronic-music-74935|title=The sound of SID: 35 years of chiptune's influence on electronic music|quote=The chiptune culture of music made with SID and other computer sound chips is alive and well.|date=March 24, 2017|first=James|last=Newman|website=theconversation.com|access-date=June 30, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.synth-centric.com/articles/a-guide-to-chiptune-music|title=A Guide to Chiptune Music|quote=Chiptune's distinctive sound and the unique subculture surrounding it have created a lively and passionate scene.|first=Dan|last=Schwebel|website=synth-centric.com|access-date=June 30, 2025}}</ref> made using the programmable sound generator (PSG) sound chips or synthesizers in vintage arcade machines, computers and video game consoles.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Endless loop: A brief history of chiptunes|url=http://journal.transformativeworks.org/index.php/twc/article/view/96/94|first1=Driscoll|last1=Kevin|first2=Joshua|last2=Diaz|year=2009|journal=Transformative Works and Cultures|volume=2|doi=10.3983/twc.2009.0096|doi-access=free|access-date=October 23, 2010|archive-date=May 25, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150525141732/http://journal.transformativeworks.org/index.php/twc/article/view/96/94|url-status=live}}</ref> The term is commonly used to refer to tracker format music using extremely basic and small samples that an old computer or console could produce (this is the original meaning of the term), as well as music that combines PSG sounds with modern musical styles.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Trackerien tarina – modit soivat yhä |journal=Skrolli |date=September 15, 2014 |url=http://skrolli.fi/2014.3.boing.pdf |access-date=2015-08-30 |page=37 |archive-date=August 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818163156/http://skrolli.fi/2014.3.boing.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>  {{cite web |title=Top 5 Chiptune Artists |last=Friedman |first=Ian |url=https://djz.com/news/best-chiptune-8bit-music-artists |publisher=DJZ.com |access-date=March 13, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140620104428/http://djz.com/news/best-chiptune-8bit-music-artists |archive-date=June 20, 2014 }} </ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Music Made on Game Boys Is a Much Bigger Deal Than You'd Think |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/chipzels-complete-history-of-chiptune-939/ |first=Niamh |last=Houston |author-link=Chipzel |date=November 4, 2014 |access-date=June 22, 2020 |archive-date=June 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622140339/https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/8gdb7p/chipzels-complete-history-of-chiptune-939 |url-status=live }}</ref> It has been described as "an interpretation of many genres". Any existing song can be arranged in a chiptune style. It can be defined by choice of instrument, by timbre more than specific style elements.<ref>{{cite book |title=Interactive Composition: Strategies Using Ableton Live and Max for Live |date=2015 |publisher=Oxford University Press |pages=159 |isbn=9780199973828 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UpcKBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA159 |access-date=July 23, 2019 |archive-date=May 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530002919/https://books.google.com/books?id=UpcKBgAAQBAJ&pg=PA159#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Technology == A waveform generator is a fundamental module in a sound synthesis system. A waveform generator usually produces a basic geometrical waveform with a fixed or variable timbre and variable pitch. Common waveform generator configurations usually included two or three simple waveforms and often a single pseudo-random-noise generator (PRNG). Available waveforms often included pulse wave (whose timbre can be varied by modifying the duty cycle), square wave (a symmetrical pulse wave producing only odd overtones), triangle wave (which has a fixed timbre containing only odd harmonics but is softer than a square wave), and sawtooth wave (which has a bright raspy timbre and contains odd and even harmonics). Two notable examples of systems employing this technology were the Game Boy portable game console and the Commodore 64 personal computer. The Game Boy uses two pulse channels (switchable between 12.5%, 25%, 50% and 75% wave duty cycle), a channel for a 4-bit waveform generator, and a pseudo-random-noise generator. The Commodore 64 however used the MOS Technology SID chip which offered 3 channels, each switchable between pulse, saw-tooth, triangle, and noise. Unlike the Game Boy, the pulse channels on the Commodore 64 allowed full control over wave duty cycles. The SID was a very technically advanced chip, offering many other features including ring modulation and adjustable resonance filters.<ref> {{cite book|last=Waugh|first=I.|title=Commodore 64 Music: Making Music with Your Micro|date=1985|publisher=Sunshine Books}} </ref>

Due to the limited number of voices in early sound chips, one of the main challenges is to produce rich polyphonic music with them. The usual method to emulate it is via quick arpeggios, which is one of the most relevant features of chiptune music (along with its electronic timbres).<ref>{{cite thesis|last=Vegard|first=Kummen|date=2018|title=The Discourse and Culture of Chip Music: Studying the Methods and Values of the Chipscene|type=Master thesis|publisher=University of Agder|url=https://uia.brage.unit.no/uia-xmlui/handle/11250/2565144|access-date=July 2, 2021|archive-date=July 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709182256/https://uia.brage.unit.no/uia-xmlui/handle/11250/2565144|url-status=live}}</ref>

Some older systems featured a simple beeper as their only sound output, as the original ZX Spectrum and IBM PC; despite this, many skilled programmers were able to produce unexpectedly rich music with this bare hardware, where the sound is fully generated by the system's CPU by direct control of the beeper.

== History ==

=== 1951–1979: Precursors === {{external media|float=right|video1=[https://youtube.com/watch?v=kPzA2jkN0vs&lc=CJKoHtM60L9wUdoAxfRE2dOhjSt8h2QdVNNECbuBPWk ''Science International'': ''What Will They Think Of Next?''], YouTube video}} The earliest precursors to chip music can be found in the early history of computer music. In 1951, the computers CSIRAC and Ferranti Mark 1 were used to perform real-time synthesized digital music in public.<ref>{{cite news|title=17 June 2008: 'Oldest' computer music unveiled|last=Fildes|first=Jonathan|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7458479.stm|publisher=BBC News|date=June 17, 2008|access-date=2010-07-09|archive-date=July 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713151311/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7458479.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

One of the earliest commercial computer music albums came from the First Philadelphia Computer Music Festival, held August 25, 1978, as part of the Personal Computing '78 show. The First Philadelphia Computer Music Festival recordings were published by Creative Computing in 1979.<ref>{{cite web|title=First Philadelphia Computer Music Festival|url=https://vintagecomputermusic.com/|website=Vintage Computer Music.com|access-date=June 22, 2020|archive-date=June 26, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200626031946/https://www.vintagecomputermusic.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Global TV program ''Science International'' (1976–1979) credited a PDP-11/10 for the music.<ref>{{cite web|title=Science International (What Will They Think of Next)|url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=kPzA2jkN0vs|last=bmuz| date=March 17, 2011 |via=YouTube|access-date=June 22, 2020|archive-date=June 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623040804/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPzA2jkN0vs|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Mid-1970s–1980s: Video game origins === Chiptune music began to appear with the video game music produced during the golden age of video arcade games. An early example was the opening tune in Tomohiro Nishikado's arcade game ''Gun Fight'' (1975). The first video game to use a continuous background soundtrack was Tomohiro Nishikado's 1978 release ''Space Invaders'', which had four simple chromatic descending bass notes repeating in a loop, though it was dynamic and interacted with the player, increasing pace as the enemies descended on the player.<ref>  {{citation|title=From Pac-Man to pop music: interactive audio in games and new media |first=Karen|last=Collins|publisher=Ashgate Publishing|year=2008|isbn=978-0-7546-6200-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lFEYAQAAIAAJ|page=2}}</ref> The first video game to feature continuous melodic background music was ''Rally-X'', an arcade game released by Namco in 1980, featuring a simple tune that repeats continuously during gameplay.<ref name="gradar2">{{cite web |title=Gaming's most important evolutions |url=https://gamesradar.com/gamings-most-important-evolutions |date=October 9, 2010 |website=gamesradar |access-date=June 22, 2020 |archive-date=June 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623051757/https://www.gamesradar.com/gamings-most-important-evolutions/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It was also one of the earliest games to use a digital-to-analog converter to produce sampled sounds.<ref name="collins_12">  {{cite book |title=Game sound: an introduction to the history, theory, and practice of video game music and sound design |last=Collins |first=Karen |year=2008 |publisher=MIT Press |isbn=978-0-262-03378-7 |page=12 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gnw0Zb4St-wC&pg=PA12 |access-date=June 12, 2011 }} </ref> That same year, the first video game to feature speech synthesis was also released, Sunsoft's shoot 'em up arcade game ''Stratovox''.<ref name="gradar2"/>

In the late 1970s, the pioneering synth-pop/electronic dance music group Yellow Magic Orchestra (YMO) were using computers to produce synthesized music.<ref name="Sarasota">{{cite journal |title=Computer rock music gaining fans |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7s4mAAAAIBAJ&pg=4481,2128223 |journal=Sarasota Journal |date=August 18, 1980 |access-date=2011-05-25 |page=8 |archive-date=April 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220409150919/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7s4mAAAAIBAJ&pg=4481,2128223 |url-status=live }}</ref> Some of their early music, including their 1978 self-titled debut album, were sampling sounds from popular arcade games such as ''Space Invaders''<ref name="wire_1996">{{citation |title=A-Z of Electro |work=The Wire |issue=145 |date=March 1996 |author=David Toop |url=https://thewire.co.uk/in-writing/essays/a-z-of-electro#V |access-date=2020-06-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328142136/http://thewire.co.uk/in-writing/essays/a-z-of-electro#V |archive-date=March 28, 2019 |url-status=live }} </ref> and ''Gun Fight''. In addition to incorporating sounds from contemporary video games into their music, the band would later have a major influence on much of the video game and chiptune music produced during the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.<ref>{{cite web |title=YMCK takes 'chiptune' revolution major |url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fm20080229a1.html |url-status=dead |date=February 29, 2008 |author=Daniel Robson |work=The Japan Times |access-date=2011-06-11 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629195429/http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/fm20080229a1.html%23.T-4H2qgo_KA |archive-date=June 29, 2012 }} </ref><ref> {{cite web |title=Game Music Roots: Yellow Magic Orchestra |url=http://1up.com/features/game-music-roots-yellow-magic |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019235737/http://www.1up.com/features/game-music-roots-yellow-magic |archive-date=October 19, 2012 |last=Smith |first=David F. |website=1UP.com |access-date=August 6, 2012 |date=June 2012 }} </ref> Sega's 1982 arcade game ''Super Locomotive'' for example featured a chiptune cover version of YMO's "Rydeen" (1979);<ref>{{KLOV game|9910|Super Locomotive}}</ref> several later computer games also covered the song, such as ''Trooper Truck'' (1983) by Rabbit Software as well as ''Daley Thompson's Decathlon'' (1984) and ''Stryker's Run'' (1986) arranged by Martin Galway.

By 1983, Konami's arcade game ''Gyruss'' utilized five sound chips along with a digital-to-analog converter, which were partly used to create an electronic rendition of J. S. Bach's ''Toccata and Fugue in D minor''.<ref> {{cite book |title=Game sound: an introduction to the history, theory, and practice of video game music and sound design |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gnw0Zb4St-wC&pg=PA19 |last=Collins |first=Karen |year=2008 |publisher=MIT Press |isbn=978-0-262-03378-7 |page=19 |access-date=June 12, 2011 |archive-date=April 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405233530/https://books.google.com/books?id=gnw0Zb4St-wC&pg=PA19 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1984, former YMO member Haruomi Hosono released an album produced entirely from Namco arcade game samples entitled ''Video Game Music'', an early example of a chiptune record<ref name="discogs_hosono">{{Discogs master|190001|Haruomi Hosono – Video Game Music|type=album}}</ref> and the first video game music album.<ref>{{cite web |title=Xevious |url=http://hardcoregaming101.net/xevious/xevious2.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=2011-06-11 |publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101 |page=2 |author=Carlo Savorelli |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180322111516/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/xevious/xevious2.htm |archive-date=March 22, 2018 }}</ref> The record featured the work of Namco's chiptune composers: Toshio Kai (''Pac-Man'' in 1980), Nobuyuki Ohnogi (''Galaga'', ''New Rally-X'' and ''Bosconian'' in 1981, and ''Pole Position'' in 1982), and Yuriko Keino (''Dig Dug'' and ''Xevious'' in 1982).<ref name="vgmdb_namco">{{cite web |title=Video Game Music |url=http://vgmdb.net/album/489 |work=VGMdb |access-date=September 6, 2011 |archive-date=October 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003112509/http://vgmdb.net/album/489 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Early 1980s–1994: FM synthesis === A major advance for chip music was the introduction of frequency modulation synthesis (FM synthesis), first commercially released by Yamaha for their digital synthesizers and FM sound chips, which began appearing in arcade machines from the early 1980s.<ref name="karen_10-1"> {{cite book |title=Game sound: an introduction to the history, theory, and practice of video game music and sound design |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gnw0Zb4St-wC&pg=PA10 |access-date=June 12, 2011 |last=Collins |first=Karen |year=2008 |publisher=MIT Press |isbn=978-0-262-03378-7 |pages=10–1 |archive-date=October 9, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009094439/https://books.google.com/books?id=gnw0Zb4St-wC&pg=PA10 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref> {{cite web |title=The Magic of FM Synth |url=https://1up.com/features/the-magic-of-fm-synth |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124112215/http://www.1up.com/features/the-magic-of-fm-synth |archive-date=January 24, 2013 |access-date=August 6, 2012 |date=June 2012 |last=Barnholt |first=Ray |website=1UP.com }} </ref> Arcade game composers utilizing FM synthesis at the time included Konami's Miki Higashino (''Gradius'', ''Yie-Ar Kung Fu'', ''Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles'') and Sega's Hiroshi Kawaguchi (''Space Harrier'', ''Hang-On'', ''Out Run'').

By the early 1980s, significant improvements to personal computer game music were made possible with the introduction of digital FM synthesis sound. Yamaha began manufacturing FM synth boards for Japanese computers such as the NEC PC-8801 and PC-9801 in the early 1980s, and by the mid-1980s, the PC-8801 and FM-7 had built-in FM sound. This allowed computer game music to have greater complexity than the simplistic beeps from internal speakers. These FM synth boards produced a "warm and pleasant sound" that musicians such as Yuzo Koshiro and Takeshi Abo utilized to produce music that is still highly regarded within the chiptune community.<ref name="hg101_retro">{{cite web |title=Retro Japanese Computers: Gaming's Final Frontier |url=https://hardcoregaming101.net/JPNcomputers/Japanesecomputers.htm |access-date=2011-03-29 |author=John Szczepaniak |publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101 |archive-date=May 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501034812/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/JPNcomputers/Japanesecomputers.htm |url-status=dead }} Reprinted from {{citation |title=Retro Gamer |issue=67 |year=2009}}</ref> In the early 1980s, Japanese personal computers such as the NEC PC-88 and PC-98 featured audio programming languages such as Music Macro Language (MML) and MIDI interfaces, which were most often used to produce video game music.<ref name="shimazu104">{{cite journal |title=The History of Electronic and Computer Music in Japan: Significant Composers and Their Works |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/585311/pdf |access-date=October 11, 2018 |last=Shimazu |first=Takehito |journal=Leonardo Music Journal |year=1994 |volume=4 |pages=102–106 [104] |publisher=MIT Press |doi=10.2307/1513190 |jstor=1513190 |s2cid=193084745 |archive-date=October 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011214540/https://muse.jhu.edu/article/585311/pdf |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref>

Fujitsu also released the ''FM Sound Editor'' software for the FM-7 in 1985, providing users with a user-friendly interface to create and edit synthesized music.<ref> {{cite web |title=FM Sound Editor V1.0 |url=http://retropc.net/fm-7/museum/softhouse/fujitsu/520200300.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071109175447/http://retropc.net/fm-7/museum/softhouse/fujitsu/520200300.html |archive-date=November 9, 2007 |access-date=2012-09-02 |date=May 20, 2003 |work=Oh!FM }}{{Circular reference|date=September 2023}}</ref>

In 1987, FM synthesis became available for Western computers when Canadian company Ad Lib released the AdLib Music Synthesizer Card for the IBM Personal Computer,<ref>{{cite web |title=AdLib Music Synthesizer Card |url=http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/23724/AdLib-Music-Synthesizer-Card/ |website=Centre for Computing History |access-date=December 24, 2020 |archive-date=March 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301171601/http://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/23724/AdLib-Music-Synthesizer-Card/ |url-status=live }}</ref> while Singapore-based Creative Labs incorporated the AdLib card's sound chip into its Sound Blaster card in 1989.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hardwidge |first1=Ben |title=The Sound Blaster Story |url=https://custompc.raspberrypi.org/articles/the-sound-blaster-story |access-date=December 24, 2020 |publisher=Custom PC |archive-date=November 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129223416/https://custompc.raspberrypi.org/articles/the-sound-blaster-story |url-status=live }}</ref> Both cards were widely supported by MS-DOS game developers in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

The widespread adoption of FM synthesis by consoles would later be one of the major advances of the 16-bit era, by which time 16-bit arcade machines were using multiple FM synthesis chips.<ref name="karen_10-1"/> A major chiptune composer during this period was Yuzo Koshiro.<ref name="santos_2006">{{cite journal |last=Santos |first=Wayne |title=Songs & Sounds in the 21st Century |journal=GameAxis Unwired |date=December 2006 |issue=40 |page=39 |publisher=SPH Magazines |issn=0219-872X |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EOkDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA39 |access-date=2011-08-05 |archive-date=May 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530002920/https://books.google.com/books?id=EOkDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA39#v=onepage&q&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite later advances in audio technology, he would continue to use older PC-8801 hardware to produce chiptune soundtracks for series such as ''Streets of Rage'' (1991–1994) and ''Etrian Odyssey'' (2007–present).<ref name="hg101_retro"/> His soundtrack to ''The Revenge of Shinobi'' (1989) featured house<ref name="greening_kotowski">{{cite web |title=Interview with Yuzo Koshiro |date=February 2011 |publisher=Square Enix Music Online |last1=Greening |last2=Kotowski |first1=Chris |first2=Don |url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/features/interviews/yuzokoshiro.shtml |access-date=2011-06-20 |archive-date=July 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708075027/http://www.squareenixmusic.com/features/interviews/yuzokoshiro.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref><ref> {{cite web |url=https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=3322|title=Yuzo Koshiro |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140101010101/https://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=3322|archive-date=2014-01-01|url-status=dead |website=AllGame }} </ref> and progressive techno compositions<ref name="santos_2006"/> that fused electronic dance music with traditional Japanese music.<ref>{{cite web |title=Interview with Yuzo Koshiro |url=http://www.squareenixmusic.com/composers/koshiro/oct99interview.shtml |publisher=Square Enix Music Online |access-date=August 8, 2011 |author=RocketBaby |date=October 1999 |archive-date=September 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926225134/http://www.squareenixmusic.com/composers/koshiro/oct99interview.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> The soundtrack for ''Streets of Rage 2'' (1992) is considered "revolutionary" and "ahead of its time" for its "blend of swaggering house synths, dirty electro-funk and trancey electronic textures that would feel as comfortable in a nightclub as a video game."<ref>{{cite web |title=Game music of the day: Streets of Rage 2 |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/game-music-of-the-day-streets-of-rage-2 |access-date=July 28, 2012 |date=April 19, 2010 |last=McNeilly |first=Joe |publisher=GamesRadar |archive-date=November 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105210313/http://www.gamesradar.com/game-music-of-the-day-streets-of-rage-2/ |url-status=live }}</ref> For the soundtrack to ''Streets of Rage 3'' (1994), Koshiro created a new composition method called the "Automated Composing System" to produce "fast-beat techno like jungle",<ref name="jeff_davis"> {{cite web |title=Interview with Yuzo Koshiro |url=https://thegia.com/features/f010123.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010131055900/http://thegia.com/features/f010123.html |archive-date=January 31, 2001 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |last=Davis |first=Jeff |work=Gaming Intelligence Agency }} </ref> resulting in innovative and experimental sounds generated automatically.<ref name="sega_horowitz"> {{cite web |title=Interview: Yuzo Koshiro |url=https://sega-16.com/feature_page.php?id=136&title=Interview:+Yuzo+Koshiro |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921205228/http://sega-16.com/feature_page.php?id=136&title=Interview%3A+Yuzo+Koshiro |archive-date=September 21, 2008 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |date=February 5, 2008 |last=Horowitz |first=Ken |work=Sega-16 }}</ref> Koshiro also composed chiptune soundtracks for series such as ''Dragon Slayer'', ''Ys'', ''Shinobi'', and ''ActRaiser''. Another important FM synth composer was the late Ryu Umemoto, who composed chiptune soundtracks for various visual novel and shoot 'em up games.<ref> {{cite web |title=A Dragon's Journey: Ryu Umemoto in Europe |url=https://hardcoregaming101.net/umemoto/umemoto.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=2011-08-23 |author=Audi |publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726130608/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/umemoto/umemoto.htm |archive-date=July 26, 2017 }}</ref>

=== 1986–present: SID music culture === {{See also|MOS Technology SID|Demoscene}} thumb|MOS 6581 and 8580 Commodore 64 SID chips Later on, several demo groups moved to using their own music instead of ripped game music. In 1986, Jeroen "Red" Kimmel studied Rob Hubbard's player routine and used it for original demo songs<ref>{{cite web |title=Kimmel, Jeroen "Red": Red Hubbard (C-64 demo) |url=http://noname.c64.org/csdb/release/?id=14758 |access-date=2010-07-09 |publisher=Noname.c64.org |archive-date=June 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100630221204/http://noname.c64.org/csdb/release/?id=14758 |url-status=live }}</ref> before writing a routine of his own in 1987. Hobbyists were also writing their own dedicated music editor software, such as Chris Hülsbeck's ''Soundmonitor'' which was released as a type-in listing in a 1986 issue of the German C-64 magazine ''64'er''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Hülsbeck, Chris: Soundmonitor 1.0 (C-64 program) |url=http://noname.c64.org/csdb/release/?id=59929 |access-date=2010-07-09 |publisher=Noname.c64.org |archive-date=June 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100630221724/http://noname.c64.org/csdb/release/?id=59929 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The practice of SID music composition has continued seamlessly until this day in conjunction with the Commodore 64 demoscene. The High Voltage SID Collection, a comprehensive archive of SID music, contains over 55,000 pieces of SID music.<ref> [http://www.hvsc.de/#faq High Voltage SID Collection FAQ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220624225931/https://hvsc.de/ |date=June 24, 2022 }}</ref>

== Mainstream popularity == The heyday of chiptune music was the 1980s.<ref name="bbc_chiptune" /> The earliest commercial chiptune records produced entirely from sampling arcade game sounds have existed since the mid-1980s, an early example being Haruomi Hosono's ''Video Game Music'' in 1984.<ref name="discogs_hosono" /> Though entirely chiptune records were uncommon at the time, many mainstream musicians in the pop rock,<ref name="timemag">{{cite magazine |title=Pac-Man Fever |url=https://time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,921174,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=October 15, 2009 |date=April 5, 1982 |magazine=Time |quote=Columbia/CBS Records' Pac-Man Fever ... was No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 last week. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416051100/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,921174,00.html |archive-date=April 16, 2009 }}</ref> hip hop<ref> {{cite book |title=Rap attack 3: African rap to global hip hop, Issue 3 |url=https://archive.org/details/rapattack3africa0000toop |url-access=registration |access-date=2011-06-06 |year=2000 |author=David Toop |edition=3rd |publisher=Serpent's Tail |isbn=1-85242-627-6 |page=[https://archive.org/details/rapattack3africa0000toop/page/129 129] }} </ref> and electronic music<ref name="allmusic_electro">{{cite web |title=Electro |url=http://www.allmusic.com/explore/essay/electro-t689 |access-date=2011-05-25 |publisher=AllMusic |archive-date=December 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111208184845/http://www.allmusic.com/explore/essay/electro-t689 |url-status=dead }}</ref> genres were sampling arcade game sounds and bleeps during the golden age of video arcade games (late 1970s to mid-1980s), as early as Yellow Magic Orchestra's "Computer Game" in 1978.<ref name="wire_1996" /> Buckner & Garcia's "Pac-Man Fever" and the album of the same name were major hits in 1982.<ref name="timemag" /> Arcade game sounds were one of the foundational elements of the electro music genre, which in turn inspired many other electronic dance music genres such as techno and house music, which were sometimes referred to as "bleep music".<ref name="wire_1996" /> ''Space Invaders'' inspired Player One's "Space Invaders" (1979), which in turn provided the bassline for Jesse Saunders' "On and On" (1984),<ref>{{cite web |title=Jesse Saunders – On And On |date=January 20, 1984 |url=https://discogs.com/Jesse-Saunders-On-And-On/release/176575 |access-date=May 23, 2012 |publisher=Discogs |archive-date=March 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313214044/http://www.discogs.com/Jesse-Saunders-On-And-On/release/176575 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="bp"> {{cite web |title=Black History Month: Jesse Saunders and house music |url=http://beatportal.com/feed/item/black-history-jesse-saunders-and-house-music |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120319010020/http://beatportal.com/feed/item/black-history-jesse-saunders-and-house-music |archive-date=March 19, 2012 |access-date=October 16, 2011 |date=February 9, 2010 |last=Church |first=Terry |publisher=beat portal }}</ref> the first Chicago house track.<ref>{{cite news |title=House music finds a home |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LVRB&p_theme=lvrb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11950293F0B8B3B8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |access-date=May 23, 2012 |date=May 22, 2007 |last=Bracelin |first=Jason |newspaper=Las Vegas Review-Journal |page=1E |quote=A native of Chicago, where house was first popularized, Saunders is credited for producing and releasing the first house single, "On and On", on his own Jes Say Records label. |archive-date=April 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130429154231/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LVRB&p_theme=lvrb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11950293F0B8B3B8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |url-status=live }}</ref> Warp's record "Testone" (1990) by Sweet Exorcist sampled video game sounds from Yellow Magic Orchestra's "Computer Game" and defined Sheffield's bleep techno scene in the early 1990s.<ref name="sicko_brewster_76">{{citation |title=Techno Rebels |last1=Sicko |last2=Brewster |first1=Dan |first2=Bill |edition=2nd |publisher=Wayne State University Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-8143-3438-6 |page=76 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h6TNjUt-QrkC&pg=PA76 |access-date=2011-05-28 |archive-date=July 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230725172329/https://books.google.com/books?id=h6TNjUt-QrkC&pg=PA76 |url-status=live }}</ref>

After the 1980s, however, chiptune music began declining in popularity.<ref name="bbc_chiptune" /> Since then, up until the 2000s, chip music was rarely performed live and the songs were nearly exclusively spread as executable programs and other computer file formats. Some of the earliest examples of record label releases of pure chip music can be found in the late 1990s.<ref>{{cite web |title=Carlsson, Anders "Goto80": Chip music timeline |date=February 19, 2008 |url=https://chipflip.wordpress.com/timeline |access-date=2010-07-09 |publisher=ChipFlip |archive-date=May 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526162831/https://chipflip.wordpress.com/timeline/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Chiptune music began gaining popularity again towards the end of the 1990s. The first electroclash record, I-F's "Space Invaders Are Smoking Grass" (1997), has been described as "burbling electro in a vocodered homage to Atari-era hi-jinks".<ref name="Lynskey2002"> {{cite news |title=Out with the old, in with the older |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2002/mar/22/shopping.artsfeatures2 |access-date=January 14, 2018 |date=March 22, 2002 |last=Lynskey |first=Dorian |newspaper=The Guardian|location=London }} </ref>

By the mid-2000s, 8-bit chip music began making a comeback in mainstream pop music, when it was used by acts such as Beck (for example, the 2005 song "Girl"), The Killers (for example, the 2004 song "On Top"), No Doubt with the song "Running", and particularly The Postal Service in many of their songs. The low-quality digital PCM styling of early game music composers such as Hiroshi Kawaguchi also began gaining popularity.<ref> {{cite web |title=Music of the 8-bit variety makes a comeback |url=https://niagara-gazette.com/music/x681717382/Music-of-the-8-bit-variety-makes-a-comeback |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120712032335/http://niagara-gazette.com/music/x681717382/Music-of-the-8-bit-variety-makes-a-comeback |archive-date=July 12, 2012 |access-date=May 7, 2012 |date=May 25, 2006 |last=Shaw |first=Jeff |work=Niagara Gazette }} </ref> In 2003, the J-pop girl group Perfume,<ref name="japantimes">{{cite web |title=Will the world soon wake up to the scent of Perfume? |url=https://japantimes.co.jp/culture/2012/05/18/music/will-the-world-soon-wake-up-to-the-scent-of-perfume |access-date=September 25, 2018 |date=May 18, 2012 |work=The Japan Times |author=Daniel Robson |archive-date=September 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180909150427/https://www.japantimes.co.jp/culture/2012/05/18/music/will-the-world-soon-wake-up-to-the-scent-of-perfume/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="bounce_perfume">{{cite web |title=Perfume Interview |url=https://bounce.com/article/article.php/4045/ALL |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209084048/http://bounce.com/article/article.php/4045/ALL |archive-date=December 9, 2008 |access-date=2009-06-02 |date=February 7, 2008 |publisher=bounce.com |language=ja }} ([https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ja&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A%2F%2Fweb.archive.org%2Fweb%2F20081209084048%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.bounce.com%2Farticle%2Farticle.php%2F4045%2FALL%2F English translation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310222900/https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=ja&tl=en&js=n&prev=_t&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&layout=2&eotf=1&u=http%3A//web.archive.org/web/20081209084048/http%3A//www.bounce.com/article/article.php/4045/ALL/ |date=March 10, 2021 }})</ref> along with producer Yasutaka Nakata, began producing music combining chiptunes with synth-pop and electro house;<ref name="bounce_perfume" /> their breakthrough came in 2007 with ''Game'', which led to other Japanese female artists using a similar electronic style, including Aira Mitsuki, immi, Mizca, SAWA, Saori@destiny, and Sweet Vacation.<ref name="allabout">{{cite web |title=Perfume～サマソニの快挙！！ |date=August 20, 2007 |url=https://allabout.co.jp/gm/gc/205887 |publisher=All About テクノポップ |language=ja |access-date=June 22, 2020 |archive-date=August 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810001948/https://allabout.co.jp/gm/gc/205887/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Electro house producer Deadmau5 started his career in the late 1990s, with a chiptune and demoscene movements-influenced sound. Three self-released compilations, Project 56, deadmau5 Circa 1998–2002 and A Little Oblique, were finished in 2006.<ref> {{cite web |title=SectionZ Electronic Music Community |url=http://www.sectionz.com/artist.asp?SZID=5366 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071220011842/http://sectionz.com/artist.asp?SZID=5366 |archive-date=December 20, 2007 |access-date=May 9, 2012 |date=August 20, 2007 |author=SectionZ }}</ref>

In 2007, the entirely chiptune album ''8-Bit Operators: The Music of Kraftwerk'' was released on major mainstream label Astralwerks/EMI Records, which included several prominent and noted chipmusicians, including Nanoloop<ref> {{cite web |title=Nanoloop |url=https://nanoloop.com |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622021052/http://nanoloop.com/ |archive-date=June 22, 2020 |access-date=November 21, 2011 |author=Johan Kotlinski }}</ref> creator Oliver Wittchow, and LittleSoundDJ<ref> {{cite web |title=LittleSoundDJ |url=https://littlesounddj.com/lsd |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160207051248/http://littlesounddj.com/lsd |archive-date=February 7, 2016 |access-date=November 20, 2011 }}</ref> creator Johan Kotlinski who appears as the artist ''Role Model''. Kraftwerk founding member Ralf Hütter personally selected the tracks.<ref> {{cite web |title=8BitFtWorthStar.pdf |url=https://8bitoperators.com/8BitFtWorthStar.pdf |url-status=dead |website=8bitoperators.com |access-date=June 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318070907/http://www.8bitoperators.com/8BitFtWorthStar.pdf |archive-date=March 18, 2017 }}</ref> A vinyl 12-inch single version was released on February 24, 2007 as a precursor to the full-length CD, and reached as high as number 17<ref>  {{cite web |title=Hot Dance Singles Sales ''Pocket Calculator'' |url=https://allmusic.com/artist/8-bit-operators-mn0001937275/discography/singles |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622020644/http://allmusic.com/artist/8-bit-operators-mn0001937275/discography/singles |archive-date=June 22, 2020 |access-date=September 20, 2011 |date=June 22, 2020 |publisher=AllMusic (charts-awards/billboard-singles) }}</ref> on the ''Billboard'' magazine Hot Dance Singles Sales Chart. In March 2007, the CD release reached as high as number 1 on the CMJ RPM (North American college Electronic) charts.<ref> {{cite web |title=pdf of RPM issue #1008 chart(8-Bit Operators at #21 – high position #1 |url=https://hypnote.com/images/RPM.1008.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402171952/http://hypnote.com/images/RPM.1008.pdf |archive-date=April 2, 2012 |access-date=September 20, 2011 }}</ref><ref> {{cite web |title=north american college electronic rpm charts 2007 8 bit 8bit operators |url=https://receptorsmusic.com/news.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401112547/http://receptorsmusic.com/news.html |archive-date=April 1, 2016 |access-date=September 20, 2011 }}</ref> Edinburgh-born electronic musician Unicorn Kid has helped further popularize chiptune, especially with the song "True Love Fantasy" and other songs from the EP "Tidal Rave" being played on late night radio, including on BBC Radio 1, where he played live on the Festive Festival 2011. In Canada, Eightcubed and Crystal Castles helped the popularity further via the Toronto underground club scene and created a lasting impression with the music video "Heart Invaders" debuting on MuchMusic in 2008<ref> {{cite video |title=Heart Invaders |url=https://muchmusic.com/artists/4045/eightcubed/videos/cid/82540/heart-invaders |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022004307/http://muchmusic.com/artists/4045/eightcubed/videos/cid/82540/heart-invaders |archive-date=October 22, 2012 |date=January 6, 2008 |people=Dan Swan (Director) |medium=television |location=London |access-date=June 22, 2020 }}</ref> and the single "Alice Practice" hitting 29th on NME "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years".<ref>{{cite web |title=150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years |url=https://nme.com/list/150-best-tracks-of-the-past-15-years-1257 |first=Rebecca |last=Schiller |date=October 6, 2011 |website=NME |access-date=June 22, 2020 |archive-date=June 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623151457/https://www.nme.com/list/150-best-tracks-of-the-past-15-years-1257 |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the late 2000s, a new wave of chiptune culture took place, boosted by the release of software such as  LittleSoundDJ for the Game Boy. This new culture has much more emphasis on live performances and record releases than the demoscene and tracker culture, of which the new artists are often only distantly aware.<ref> {{cite thesis |title=The Sound of Playing: A Study into the Music and Culture of Chiptunes |url=https://tomgilmore.com.au/dotay/Thesis.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119175130/http://tomgilmore.com.au/dotay/Thesis.pdf |archive-date=November 19, 2016 |access-date=2020-06-22 |date=2007 |last=Yabsley |first=Alex |type=Bachelor of Music Technology |publisher=Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University |publication-place=South Brisbane }}</ref> In recent years, 8-bit chiptune sounds, or "video game beats", have been used by a number of mainstream pop artists. Examples include artists such as Kesha<ref> {{cite news |title=''Music in Video Games: From 8-bit to Symphonies'' |url=https://thebottomlineonline.org/music-in-video-games-1.2660649 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214091201/http://thebottomlineonline.org/music-in-video-games-1.2660649 |archive-date=December 14, 2013 |access-date=June 18, 2012 |date=October 20, 2011 |last=Miklewski |first=Michael |newspaper=The Bottom Line |agency=Frostburg State University }}</ref> (most notably in "Tik Tok",<ref name="Puls" /> the best-selling single of 2010<ref name="ifpi10">{{cite web |title=IFPI publishes Digital Music Report 2011 |url=https://ifpi.org/content/section_resources/dmr2011.html |access-date=June 22, 2020 |archive-date=February 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140206093757/http://www.ifpi.org/content/section_resources/dmr2011.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>), 50 Cent with the hit single "Ayo Technology", Robyn, Snoop Dogg,<ref name="Puls">{{cite web |title=Robyn: Body Talk, Pt. 2 |url=https://puls.no/16375.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2015-08-23 |date=September 10, 2010 |publisher=Puls Music |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200622104106/https://puls.no/16375.html |archive-date=June 22, 2020 }} ([https://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.puls.no%2F16375.html&sl=no&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8 Translation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116085718/https://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A//www.puls.no/16375.html&sl=no&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8 |date=January 16, 2017 }})</ref> Eminem (for example, "Hellbound"), Nelly Furtado, and Timbaland {{Crossreference|(see Timbaland plagiarism controversy)}}. The influence of video game sounds can also be heard in contemporary British electronica music by artists such as Dizzee Rascal and Kieran Hebden,<ref name="guardian_ymo"> {{cite web |title=Back to the future: Yellow Magic Orchestra helped usher in electronica – and they may just have invented hip-hop, too |url=https://theguardian.com/music/2008/jul/04/electronicmusic.filmandmusic11 |access-date=May 25, 2011 |date=July 4, 2008 |last=Lewis |first=John |work=The Guardian|location=London }} </ref> as well as in heavy metal bands such as DragonForce. Grime music in particular samples sawtooth wave sounds from video games which were popular in East London.<ref name="Jong"> {{cite book |title=Mediapolis: popular culture and the city |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bCxd_AC-2-QC&pg=PA106 |access-date=July 30, 2011 |year=2006 |publisher=010 Publishers |isbn=90-6450-628-0 |author=Alex de Jong, Marc Schuilenburg |page=106 }} </ref> Some dubstep producers have also been influenced by video game chiptunes, particularly the work of Yuzo Koshiro.<ref>{{cite news |title=Ikonika interview: Producer and DJ, Ikonika had an incredible 2010 |url=https://timeoutdoha.com/nightlife/features/20343-ikonika-interview |access-date=August 5, 2011 |date=January 11, 2011 |last=Lawrence |first=Eddy |work=Time Out |archive-date=October 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011103953/http://www.timeoutdoha.com/nightlife/features/20343-ikonika-interview |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="self-titledmag">{{cite web |title=Recording Under the Influence: Ikonika |url=https://self-titledmag.com/home/2010/04/21/recording-under-the-influence-ikonika-on-streets-of-rage-dalis-film-buddy-and-why-kode9s-wrong-about-numbers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003194434/http://self-titledmag.com/home/2010/04/21/recording-under-the-influence-ikonika-on-streets-of-rage-dalis-film-buddy-and-why-kode9s-wrong-about-numbers |archive-date=October 3, 2011 |access-date=August 5, 2011 |date=April 21, 2010 |work=Self-titled }}</ref><ref name="timeout_20425">{{cite news |title=Ikonika interview: Dubstep has taken the world by storm over the past 12 months |url=http://timeoutdubai.com/nightlife/features/20425-ikonika-interview |access-date=August 6, 2011 |date=January 18, 2011 |last=Lawrence |first=Eddy |work=Time Out |archive-date=September 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928232032/http://www.timeoutdubai.com/nightlife/features/20425-ikonika-interview |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2010, a BBC News article stated that the "sights and sounds of old-school games" (naming ''Frogger'' and ''Donkey Kong'' as examples) are "now becoming a part of mainstream music and culture."<ref name="bbc_chiptune">{{cite web |title=How computer games are creating new art and music |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10260769 |access-date=August 27, 2011 |date=June 9, 2010 |last=Knowles |first=Jamillah |publisher=BBC News |archive-date=March 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110311014024/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10260769 |url-status=live }}</ref> Complextro pioneer Porter Robinson has also cited video game sounds, or chiptunes, as an influence on his style of music along with 1980s analog synth music.<ref name="nashville_complextro">{{cite web |title=Electro wunderkind and self-described 'complextro' Porter Robinson recognizes no technological constraints |url=https://nashvillescene.com/nashville/electro-wunderkind-and-self-described-complextro-porter-robinson-recognizes-no-technological-constraints/Content?oid=2911857 |access-date=July 28, 2012 |date=June 28, 2012 |last=Hurt |first=Edd |work=Nashville Scene |archive-date=May 18, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518161245/http://www.nashvillescene.com/nashville/electro-wunderkind-and-self-described-complextro-porter-robinson-recognizes-no-technological-constraints/Content?oid=2911857 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2022, trap music producer Popstar Benny cited video game sounds as one of the foundations for the plugg music genre.<ref name="SC">{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_rZyELuIrk |author1=Christian Sutton |author2=Vlad Samedi |author3=Sam Cantner |display-authors=etal|title=SCENES: plugg|publisher=SoundCloud|date=June 7, 2022|access-date=June 7, 2022}}</ref>

== Tracker chiptunes == {{See also|music tracker|module file}}

The Commodore Amiga (1985) with its sample-based sound generation distanced the concept of microcomputer music away from plain chip-synthesized sounds. Amiga tracker music software, beginning from Karsten Obarski's Ultimate Soundtracker (1987), inspired great numbers of computer enthusiasts to create computer music. As an offshoot of the burgeoning tracker music culture, a type of tracker music reminiscent of Commodore 64 SID music was born, that utilized simple waveforms instead of digitized samples. This type of music with small samples came to be called "chiptunes" referring to Amiga's chip memory where such samples would easily fit.

Earliest examples of tracker chiptunes date back to 1989 and are attributed to the demoscene musicians 4mat, Baroque, TDK, Turtle and Duz. Tracker chiptunes are based on very short looped waveforms which are modulated by tracker effects such as arpeggio, vibrato, and portamento. A very common loop length is 128 samples, which at an approximate sample rate of 17 kHz misses a C note by a few cents.

There is at least one commercial game for the Amiga, Nebulus II, that used chiptune style music, although with some conventional sampled instrument sounds as well as speech. The game apparently was initially planned for release for the C64 but was canceled.

The small amount of sample data made tracker chiptunes far more space-efficient than most other types of tracker music, which made them appealing to size-limited demoscene demos and crack intros. Tracker chiptunes have also been commonly used in other warez scene executables such as keygens.

Nowadays the term "chiptune" is also used to cover chip music using actual chip-based synthesis, but some sources such as the Amiga Music Preservation project still define a chiptune specifically as a small tracker module.<ref>{{cite web|date=June 17, 2006|title=Amiga Music Preservation FAQ|url=http://amp.dascene.net/faq.php|access-date=2010-07-09|publisher=DaScene.net|archive-date=July 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716144137/http://amp.dascene.net/faq.php|url-status=live}}</ref> Modern trackers used today include OpenMPT, Famitracker, Furnace and Goattracker.

== Contemporary chiptune music == [[File:Gameboytracker.JPG|thumb|''Little Sound DJ'' loaded onto a Game Boy Advance]] {{listen |filename=The Adventure Lights.ogg |title=Skip Cloud – "The Adventure Lights" (2011) |filename2=Drozerix - Computer Adventures.wav |title2=Drozerix – "Computer Adventures" (2012) |description2=These are examples of modern-day chiptune tracks distributed as stand-alone music files without being a part of a video game soundtrack. }}

The chip scene has become relevant thanks to "compos" being held, groups releasing music disks and with the cracktro/demo scene. New tracker tools are used for making chip sounds available to less tech-savvy musicians. The NES platform has the MidiNES, a cartridge that turns the system into a full blown hardware MIDI controlled synthesizer. Around 2007, the Mssiah was released for the Commodore 64, which is very similar to the MidiNES, but with greater parameter controls, sequencing, analog drum emulation, and limited sample playback. The Commodore PET has the open-source PetSynth software, which uses the PET's 6522 chip for sound, allows the computer to be played like a piano keyboard, and features many effects. For MS-DOS, Fast Tracker is one of the most famous chiptune makers because of the ability to create hand-drawn samples with the mouse. Chiptune artist Pixelh8 has also designed music software such as Music Tech<ref>{{cite web |title=Album on NES Cartridge, Synth on GameBoy |url=https://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/07/04/album-on-nes-cartridge-synth-on-gameboy |date=July 4, 2007 |work=Create Digital Music |access-date=June 22, 2020 |archive-date=August 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100822084721/http://createdigitalmusic.com/2007/07/04/album-on-nes-cartridge-synth-on-gameboy/ |url-status=live }}</ref> for the Game Boy and the Pro Performer<ref>{{cite web |title=Pixelh8 Music Tech Pro Performer Brings Live Performance to Game Boy |url=https://createdigitalmusic.com/2008/03/24/pixelh8-music-tech-pro-performer-brings-live-performance-to-game-boy |date=March 24, 2008 |work=Create Digital Music |access-date=June 22, 2020 |archive-date=August 21, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821235130/http://createdigitalmusic.com/2008/03/24/pixelh8-music-tech-pro-performer-brings-live-performance-to-game-boy/ |url-status=live }}</ref> for the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS which turn both machines into real time synthesizers.

There have been a number of television segments featuring chiptunes and chip music artists in the past few years. On April 11, 2005, 8 Bit Weapon played their songs "Bombs Away" and "Gameboy Rocker" on G4's ''Attack of the Show'' live broadcast Episode #5058.<ref> {{cite web |title=G4 – Attack of the Show – Episode History |url=https://g4tv.com/attackoftheshow/episodes/index_pg31.html |url-status=dead |access-date=2011-06-21 |publisher=G4tv.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329163554/http://www.g4tv.com/attackoftheshow/episodes/index_pg31.html |archive-date=March 29, 2012 }}</ref><ref> Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/9fOvcpG0mL0 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130225231801/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fOvcpG0mL0 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web |title=Intellivision® Music: 8 Bit Weapon |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=9fOvcpG0mL0 |access-date=2011-06-21 |date=January 15, 2007 |via=YouTube }}{{cbignore}} </ref> In 2008, as a parody of ''Masterpiece Theatre'', the first four episodes of ''Boing Boing Video''{{'}}s ''SPAMasterpiece Theater'' opened with a chiptune remix of Jean-Joseph Mouret's "Rondeau: Fanfare" (1735) by Hamhocks Buttermilk Johnson.<ref name="Boing Boing tv 2008a"> Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/7QEFnxaIswM Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20110401200028/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QEFnxaIswM&feature=featured Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web |title=John Hodgman in BBtv's SPAMasterpiece Theater (comedy) |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=7QEFnxaIswM |access-date=September 10, 2016 |date=October 2, 2008 |author=Boing Boing tv |via=YouTube }}{{cbignore}} </ref> Another chipmusic feature included little-scale, Dot.AY, Ten Thousand Free Men & Their Families and Jim Cuomo on the Australian television series ''Good Game'' in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chiptunes |url=https://abc.net.au/tv/goodgame/stories/s2536226.htm |access-date=2010-12-16 |date=April 6, 2009 |work=Good Game Stories |publisher=ABC Australia |archive-date=September 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200916010310/https://www.abc.net.au/tv/goodgame/stories/s2536226.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Electronic Frontier Foundation in December 2010 used a faux 8-bit game with an 8-bit sound track by {{proper name|crashfaster}} to demonstrate its notable legal achievements for that year.<ref>{{cite web |title=EFF 2010: Year in 8bit |url=https://w2.eff.org/victory |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224024840/http://w2.eff.org/victory |archive-date=December 24, 2010 |access-date=2020-06-22 |date=December 24, 2010 }}</ref>

In March 2012, the Smithsonian American Art Museum's "The Art of Video Games" exhibit opened featuring a chipmusic soundtrack at the entrance by artists 8 Bit Weapon and ComputeHer. 8 Bit Weapon also created a track called "The art of Video Games Anthem" for the exhibit.<ref>{{cite web |title=Archived copy |url=https://americanart.si.edu/pr/library/2012/taovg/taovg_release.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324152201/http://americanart.si.edu/pr/library/2012/taovg/taovg_release.pdf |archive-date=March 24, 2012 |access-date=2012-04-05 }}</ref> In September 2015, the first music compilation based on Domo (NHK), Domo Loves Chiptune, was released on iTunes, Amazon, and all major music streaming services.<ref name="Domo Loves Chiptune Promotional Video"> Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/v0nwJkZTrKs Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20160107185943/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0nwJkZTrKs Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web |title=Domo Loves Chiptune | date=September 4, 2015 |url=https://youtube.com/watch?v=v0nwJkZTrKs |access-date=2015-10-19 |via=YouTube }}{{cbignore}} </ref><ref name="Everybody Loves Chiptune & So Do We"> {{cite web |title=Everybody Loves Chiptune & So Do We |url=https://dailyrindblog.com/domo-loves-chiptune |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926080622/http://dailyrindblog.com/domo-loves-chiptune |archive-date=September 26, 2015 |access-date=2015-10-19 |work=The Orchard }}</ref> The compilation features top artists in the Chiptune genre such as Anamanaguchi and Disasterpeace. Domo Loves Chiptune also features the first Chiptune remix of the Domo theme song by Mystery Mansion. The New York City chiptune scene was also the subject of a documentary called ''Reformat the Planet'' by 2 Player Productions. This film was an official selection at the 2008 South by Southwest.<ref> {{cite web |title=Film Screenings |url=https://2008.sxsw.com/film/screenings/date/2008-03-08.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091207232714/http://2008.sxsw.com/film/screenings/date/2008-03-08.html |archive-date=December 7, 2009 |access-date=December 7, 2009 }}</ref>

Chip music has returned to 21st-century gaming, either in full-chip music style or using chip samples in the music. Popular games that feature chiptune elements in their soundtracks include ''Shovel Knight''<ref>{{cite news |title=The Shovel Knight Soundtrack Is So Good |url=https://kotaku.com/1597037664 |access-date=2017-07-27 |last=Hamilton |first=Kirk |work=Kotaku |language=en-US |archive-date=May 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240530002921/https://kotaku.com/the-shovel-knight-soundtrack-is-so-good-1597037664 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and ''Undertale''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Game review: Undertale proves looks aren't everything |url=https://metro.co.uk/2015/12/14/undertale-review-the-quality-of-mercy-5563511 |access-date=2017-07-27 |date=December 14, 2015 |author=GameCentral |website=Metro |archive-date=June 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200623155904/https://metro.co.uk/2015/12/14/undertale-review-the-quality-of-mercy-5563511/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Events == Events take place all around the world that focus around the celebration and recognition of chiptune music.

=== Blip Festival === {{Main|Blip Festival}}

=== MAGFest's Chipspace === {{Main|MAGFest}}

In the United States, during Super MAGFest—a yearly convention that hosts a variety of video game-related events—popular chiptune artists such as goto80 and Chipzel have previously performed on the Concert Hall mainstage. A chiptune-focused mainstage show (aptly named "Chip Rave") typically occurs on the third day of the convention within the concert hall and has featured countless prominent faces in the chiptune community.

Super MAGFest also holds a continuous venue called Chipspace, a place where participants in the chiptune community go on-stage and perform their music through an open mic system.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chipspace Guidelines|url=https://super.magfest.org/chipspaceguidelines|access-date=2020-03-05|website=Super MAGFest|archive-date=March 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325150737/https://super.magfest.org/chipspaceguidelines|url-status=live}}</ref> Originally started by Chiptunes=WIN<ref>{{cite web|title=Chiptunes Equals WIN|url=https://chiptuneswin.com|access-date=January 19, 2021|archive-date=August 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810091010/https://chiptuneswin.com|url-status=dead }}</ref> founder Brandon L. Hood in 2012 and maintained by geekbeatradio,<ref>{{cite web|title=geekbeatradio|url=https://geekbeatradio.com/|access-date=March 25, 2020|archive-date=May 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200506214458/https://geekbeatradio.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> Chipspace has evolved over the course of MAGFest's lifespan to bring chiptune fans closer together.<ref>{{cite web|title=Music|url=https://super.magfest.org/music|access-date=2020-03-25|website=Super MAGFest|date=August 31, 2018|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112041002/https://super.magfest.org/music/|url-status=live}}</ref> Among these daily performances are showcases, many of which are curated by chiptune netlabels such as Chiptunes = WIN, geekbeatradio, and more.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chipspace Showcases |url=https://super.magfest.org/chipspaceshowcases |website=Super Magfest |language=en-US |access-date=2020-03-25 |archive-date=March 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325150744/https://super.magfest.org/chipspaceshowcases |url-status=live }}</ref>

alt=Chipspace (MAGFest 2020)|thumb|center|The crowd area and marketplace for Chipspace during MAGFest 2020

==Suggested viewing== * ''8 Bit: A Documentary about Art and Videogames'' (2006, dir. Marcin Ramocki and Justin Strawhand) - Chiptune and contemporary art in video game culture * ''Reformat the Planet'' (2008, dir. Paul Owens) – 2000s New York chiptune scene with focus on Blip Festival * ''The Chiptune Story'' (2018, dir. Steven Fletcher) - The history of chiptune featuring interviews with Rob Hubbard and Chris Huelsbeck

== References == {{reflist}}

== Further reading == {{Refbegin}} * {{Cite book |last=McAlpine |first=Kenneth B. |date=2018 |title=Bits and Pieces: A History of Chiptunes |location=New York |publisher=Oxford University Press |language=English |isbn=978-0-19-049609-8}} {{Refend}}

== External links == {{Commons category|Chiptune}} {{Spoken Wikipedia|Spoken Wikipedia - English - chiptune.oga|date= June 19, 2020}} * [http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2013/05/bleep-bloop-the-charms-of-chiptune.html "Bleep Bloop: The Charms of Chiptune"] in ''The New Yorker''{{'}}s ''Culture'' blog * [https://web.archive.org/web/20141001081738/http://www.redbullmusicacademy.com/magazine/diggin-in-the-carts Diggin' in the Carts: A Documentary Series About Japanese Video Game Music], Red Bull Music Academy

Category:Video game culture Category:Video game terminology Category:Video game music technology chiptune Category:Demoscene Category:Electronica Category:1970s in music Category:1980s in music Category:1990s in music Category:2000s in music Category:2010s in music Category:2020s in music