Chiptune

Chiptune
Chiptune
	A musician's chiptune setup, involving Game Boy consoles
Other names	Chip music; 8-bit music; chiptunes;
Stylistic origins	Computer music; electronic; progressive rock; soundtrack; video game music; synth-pop (Yellow Magic Orchestra);
Cultural origins	Late 1970s – early 1980s, Japan
Derivative forms	Wonky; hyperpop; kawaii future bass; synthwave;
Subgenres
	Bitpop
Fusion genres
	Complextro; electroclash; future bass; glitch; Nintendocore; skweee;
Regional scenes
	Demoscene;
Local scenes
	New York City; Los Angeles;
Other topics
	Artists

Chiptune is a style of electronic music made using the programmable sound generator (PSG) sound chips or synthesizers in vintage arcade machines, computers and video game consoles.^[10] 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.^[11]^[12]^[13] It has been described as "an interpretation of many genres" since any existing song can be arranged in a chiptune style defined more by choice of instrument and timbre than specific style elements.^[14]

^ ^a ^b "How 8-bit music, or chiptune, moved from illicit origins to mainstream popularity". Australia: ABC News. August 9, 2019. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
^ Limer, Eric (November 15, 2016). "Quit Wasting Time on Phone Games and Write Chiptunes Instead". Popular Mechanics. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
^ Silver, Curtis (July 24, 2012). "Professor Shyguy Gives a Lesson in Chiptunes Pop Rock With Geekotica". Wired. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
^ DJ Zobe (January 7, 2014). "The Asian Electronic Music Connection: Germany had Kraftwerk, Japan had Yellow Magic Orchestra". The Microscopic Giant. Archived from the original on May 26, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
^ Enis, Eli (October 27, 2020). "This is Hyperpop: A Genre Tag for Genre-less Music". Vice. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2021. 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.
^ "Future Bass Music Gets a Kawaii Makeover". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 28, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2021. 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.
^ Reformat the Planet (Motion picture). 2 Player Productions. March 2008.
^ Carnes, Aaron (December 12, 2016). "LA's Chiptune Scene Is More Than Just Nerds with Game Boys". Vice. Archived from the original on March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
^ Jackson, Nate (July 1, 2011). "Saturday: Obsolete collective's monthly chiptune showcase in downtown L.A." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
^ Kevin, Driscoll; Diaz, Joshua (2009). "Endless loop: A brief history of chiptunes". Transformative Works and Cultures. 2. doi:10.3983/twc.2009.0096. Archived from the original on May 25, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2010.
^ "Trackerien tarina – modit soivat yhä" (PDF). Skrolli: 37. September 15, 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
^ Friedman, Ian. "Top 5 Chiptune Artists". DJZ.com. Archived from the original on June 20, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
^ Houston, Niamh (November 4, 2014). "Music Made on Game Boys Is a Much Bigger Deal Than You'd Think". Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.
^ Interactive Composition: Strategies Using Ableton Live and Max for Live. Oxford University Press. 2015. p. 159. ISBN 9780199973828. Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2019.

[ABC-1] "How 8-bit music, or chiptune, moved from illicit origins to mainstream popularity". Australia: ABC News. August 9, 2019. Archived from the original on February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2021.

[2] Limer, Eric (November 15, 2016). "Quit Wasting Time on Phone Games and Write Chiptunes Instead". Popular Mechanics. Archived from the original on December 6, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2024.

[3] Silver, Curtis (July 24, 2012). "Professor Shyguy Gives a Lesson in Chiptunes Pop Rock With Geekotica". Wired. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2024.

[4] DJ Zobe (January 7, 2014). "The Asian Electronic Music Connection: Germany had Kraftwerk, Japan had Yellow Magic Orchestra". The Microscopic Giant. Archived from the original on May 26, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2021.

[5] Enis, Eli (October 27, 2020). "This is Hyperpop: A Genre Tag for Genre-less Music". Vice. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved January 4, 2021. 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.

[6] "Future Bass Music Gets a Kawaii Makeover". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 28, 2022. Retrieved May 4, 2021. 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.

[7] Reformat the Planet (Motion picture). 2 Player Productions. March 2008.

[8] Carnes, Aaron (December 12, 2016). "LA's Chiptune Scene Is More Than Just Nerds with Game Boys". Vice. Archived from the original on March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.

[9] Jackson, Nate (July 1, 2011). "Saturday: Obsolete collective's monthly chiptune showcase in downtown L.A." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 7, 2024.

[10] Kevin, Driscoll; Diaz, Joshua (2009). "Endless loop: A brief history of chiptunes". Transformative Works and Cultures. 2. doi:10.3983/twc.2009.0096. Archived from the original on May 25, 2015. Retrieved October 23, 2010.

[11] "Trackerien tarina – modit soivat yhä" (PDF). Skrolli: 37. September 15, 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2015.

[12] Friedman, Ian. "Top 5 Chiptune Artists". DJZ.com. Archived from the original on June 20, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2012.

[13] Houston, Niamh (November 4, 2014). "Music Made on Game Boys Is a Much Bigger Deal Than You'd Think". Archived from the original on June 22, 2020. Retrieved June 22, 2020.

[14] Interactive Composition: Strategies Using Ableton Live and Max for Live. Oxford University Press. 2015. p. 159. ISBN 9780199973828. Archived from the original on May 30, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2019.

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Chiptune
A musician's chiptune setup, involving Game Boy consoles
Other names	Chip music^[1] 8-bit music^[1] chiptunes^[2]^[3]
Stylistic origins	Computer music electronic progressive rock soundtrack video game music synth-pop (Yellow Magic Orchestra)^[4]
Cultural origins	Late 1970s – early 1980s, Japan
Derivative forms	Wonky hyperpop^[5] kawaii future bass^[6] synthwave
Subgenres
Bitpop
Fusion genres
Complextro electroclash future bass glitch Nintendocore skweee
Regional scenes
Demoscene
Local scenes
New York City^[7] Los Angeles^[8]^[9]
Other topics
Artists