This article was taken from the August 2012 issue of Wired magazine. Be the first to read Wired's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
The retro bleeps from our old Game Boys and C64s are back. Chiptune artist Daniel Davis, aka an0va, is on hand to give us a music lesson.
Broaden your aural horizons
"Familiarise yourself with the medium," Davis suggests. "There is an active community of chiptune musicians out there; everyone involved in the scene is very friendly and would love to talk shop."
Source your software
Chiptunes are written using trackers -- spreadsheet-like apps where notes are edited line by line. "FamiTracker and MilkyTracker are good ones to start on," Davis suggests, "and many are freeware."
Learn a cover version
Chiptune versions of well-known songs are popular for a reason: "They are a great way of familiarising yourself with the workflow. You have a tangible piece of audio so you have a building block to work with."
Master more equipment
"I write with Little Sound DJ [a music editor that runs on a Game Boy]," Davis says.
But not every chiptune artist uses the same kit: "There's a huge difference in the sound generated from a Commodore 64 and a Sega Mega Drive."
Get out there and perform
"It's like playing guitar," says Davis. "If you're alone in your bedroom, there's little reason to improve your craft. Getting up in front of a crowd and playing your music gives you a reason for improvement."
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
