AYTracker by MIDI IN

video upload by MIDI IN

"I've spent a lot of hours this week on this project instead of the usual lucky dip. Here's what I've done so far using my AY tracker terminal-based software for RC2014 computers. I'm very pleased with it.

7-blade helicopter photo by Sgt. Seth Starr - DVIDS.net, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index..."

MIDISID 4 : 'Morpheus' : Demonstration of new features

video upload by MIDI IN

"the SID is the sound chip that was used in the Commodore 64 8-bit home computer, it's a synthesizer on a chip with 3 voices. This has two of those, or modern recreations of, for a total of 6 voices. It has MIDI in so that you can control it from a keyboard, DAW, or anything else that produces MIDI

Find out more / buy at:
https://peacockmedia.software/midisid

New features:
Larger screen
Revised menu
New 'duophonic' mode
Physical 'stereo/mono' switch
USB-C socket, capable of acting as a USB host for MIDI-over-USB
Switch to Kung Fu SIDs rather than SwinSID nanos

0:00 intro
1:18 larger screen and revised menu
2:12 new 'duophonic' mode
2:44 USB-C for MIDI-over-USB
3:44 stereo/mono switch
4:34 the new Kung Fu SID
5:35 rendition of Corridors of Time by Autumn Altair

Echoes Stone Walls by Autumn Altair:
https://altairaudioengineering.bandca..."

Musical Lucky Dip #1 : Maria Mitchell

video upload by MIDI IN

"This is the first 'lucky dip'. I needed to make my music-making more challenging, more fun, less routine. It won't necessarily be weekly, I'll work to constraints generated randomly.
The lucky dip gave me : 3/4 time, tempo Larghissimo - Larghetto ( less than 66 bpm), 5 instruments; electric guitar, hammered dulcimer, shanai, synth strings, featuring tenor sax. electronic, spoken word.
I chose to speak quotes from a lady of science, Maria Mitchell.

Images courtesy NASA, used under their non-commercial use policy
images.nasa.gov

A separate video showing how I made the didgeridoo sound using shenai and e-ther is here: [posted here]

0:00 using the lucky dip tool
0:29 didgeridoo sound using shenai and e-ther
0:46 the music"

Creating a Didgeridoo in Logic Pro using an electronic theremin

video upload by MIDI IN

"How to create a didgeridoo sound using a built-in software instrument and MIDI CC control. Here I'm controlling it with gestures using e-ther, an electronic theremin."

https://peacockmedia.software/e-ther/

Sunday Jam #78 : Chilled Groove for MIDI Tracker on RC2014

video upload by MIDI IN

"Last week on the second channel I revealed a project that I've been working on for a long time, my tracker for RC2014, an 8-bit Z80-based computer. [videos below]

It should sound very similar. In that case I was using MT32 mode on the MT32-Pi, and I've made a few changes as I've transcribed it. RC2014: https://z80kits.com"

Project reveal : Tracker software for RC2014

video upload by MIDI IN

"this is a terminal-based MIDI Tracker for RC2014 (an 8-bit Z80 computer).
I like making music as well as programming, trackers are a traditional method of creating chiptunes and I want to make some more serious software to supply with my MIDI module.
As well as MIDI output, a MIDI keyboard can be used to input notes. You can copy and paste a note, or you can mark a range and copy and paste a block of notes to repeat a phrase, copy to a different track, or even a different pattern.

My Mk2 MIDI Module:
https://www.tindie.com/products/29868/"

Chilled groove - Amiga + MT32-Pi

video upload by MIDI IN

"Something a bit different musically - I wanted to try to capture the chilled groove of a couple of Groove Armada songs.

I composed this in Logic, and then keyed it note-by-note into Octamed (took hours). Octamed is sending the notes as MIDI to my MT32-Pi (details about the setup at the end of the video). I'm really happy with the result. Some of the instruments sound very realistic but some not so good (sampled brass always sounds dodgy!)

0:00 Play song
3:11 A quick word about the setup

A thread about the MIDI adaptor:
/ 1598632711349993472"

Sunday Jam #75 : Dungeon Level : SID music and the puzzle game that inspired it

video upload by MIDI IN

"This kind of puzzle game is my bag and this one has a dungeon theme, which inspired the music I've made this week.

I packed the music into a .sid file which will play on a real single-SID commodore 64 or emulator, dedicated .sid players or even modern music players that support the format such as VLC.

Here's the file. There are two main SID types with different characteristics - 6581 and 8580. If you have the choice, switch to 6581
https://peacockmedia.software/sid/dun... [direct download link]

The game I am playing is
https://rgcddev.itch.io/gravitrix

That game is a remake of an older game, Brain Death (not officially published)
https://www.gamesthatwerent.com/gtw64...

0:00 the talkie bit
0:30 history of the game Gravitrix
2:11 my music and some gameplay"

Sunday Jam #74 (plus game footage) : Music for a racin' type game

video upload by MIDI IN

"Road Rash is an all-time favourite and I've been playing this game since I bought it in the early '90s. The footage is my own, I'm playing from my current game position and bike. The music is inspired by this type of game. I'd like to track this tune for Amiga so that it sounds more authentic for the game, and will probably do so on a future week."

MIDIPan with audio output. Announcement and demo #MIDIPanMarch

video upload by MIDI IN

"This announcement is a bit overdue for reasons given in the video. I feel very happy about this new addition to the family and hope you like it too.

https://peacockmedia.software/drum

0:00 introduction
1:18 So what sounds does it make?
3:14 I just want to hear some sounds
6:52 Accessing the kit drum sounds
7:15 Kit drum demo using looper
7:29 Looping using tongue drum sound"

Sunday Jam : Rough Diamond #MIDIPanMarch

video upload by MIDI IN

"I learned a few things from last week's Jam and decided to roll with it and do something similar, but my own composition this time.

If you're interested in MIDIPan:
https://peacockmedia.software/drum/

0:00 Intro
0:34 MIDI over USB and Cloudrum by Ample Percussion
0:45 the track"

Sunday Jam : 'Urban' handpan cover #MIDIPanMarch

video upload by MIDI IN

"I had a look for sheet music that I could play on my MIDIPan and found this. I used MIDIPan's looper to help me out."

If you're interested in MIDIPan: https://peacockmedia.software/drum/

Midweek MIDIPan Meditation, no commentary : "Iceberg Atmosphere" #MIDIPanMarch

video upload by MIDI IN

"The full title of the field recording used here is 'Iceberg Atmosphere - Water slapping against icebergs. Kittiwakes calling in distance'. Which sounds cold, so I'm grateful to the Natural History Unit's Mike Potts for going there so that I didn't have to.
Using the audio version of the MIDIPan with a metallic handpan sound. Other instruments you can hear are guitar, choir and various orchestral percussion.

The second #MIDIPanMarch video. I hope this inspires you to make some music.
If you're interested in the pan, its homepage is here:
https://peacockmedia.software/drum/"

Sunday Jam : #MIDIPanMarch

video upload by MIDI IN

"Happy #MIDIPanMarch! I'll be using MIDIPan a lot this month to make music and I hope it'll inspire you to do the same. If you're interested in MIDIPan you can find out more here: https://peacockmedia.software/drum/"

0:00 intro
0:26 instruments used
1:15 the track

Sunday Jam #68 : What music they make!

video upload by MIDI IN

"Inspired by '3rd party' music for classic horror films by artists such as Philip Glass and Minima, I've made some atmospheric background music and a jam inspired by the 1931 Universal version of Dracula.

Self-made instruments:
MIDIPan: https://peacockmedia.software/drum/
e-ther: https://peacockmedia.software/e-ther/

Minima: https://www.minimamusic.co.uk

0:00 intro
0:30 Philip Glass and Minima
1:44 Atmospheric music to accompany the scene
3:13 What Music They Make jam"

Midweek MIDIPan Minijam : Plus first look at MIDISID for RC2014

video upload by MIDI IN

"This is a looper jam on the MIDIPan and also a show & tell about a project I'm working on right now. For 8-bit music fans!"

Sunday Jam #65 : improvisation over 5/4 latin feel

video upload by MIDI IN

"Short and sweet this week. Just having fun with a 70s-style synth sound over a latin-style groove."

MIDIPan Midweek Minijam #3

video upload by MIDI IN

"If you are a MIDIPan owner then the looper feature is now in beta, please contact me if you are aware of what that means and would like to help test. If you would like to be a MIDIPan owner, then see here:
https://shieladixon.etsy.com/listing/...
I would be happy to install the beta software onto yours before shipping if you like."

Sunday Jam #59 : 8th wonder

video upload by MIDI IN

"Since it's BF/CM, how about a twofer? You get two tracks for free instead of one for free!

0:00 introduction
0:33 Showing the ES2 instruments I used
2:24 How I used MIDISID
5:16 ES2 version
9:18 SID version

Library video used:
courtesy cottonbro:
https://www.pexels.com/video/side-vie...
https://www.pexels.com/video/low-angl...
courtesy Magda Ehlers:
https://www.pexels.com/video/string-o..."

Midweek MIDPan Minijam #2 : built-in looper

video upload by MIDI IN

"Since last week I've been working on building a looper into MIDIPan. Here's a demo."

Midweek MIDPan Minijams

Midweek MIDIPan Minijam

video upload by MIDI IN

"This midweek mini-jam is partly because I need some footage with this new MIDIPan design being used, partly to experiment with a possible new feature and partly because I just enjoy playing it."

Sunday Jam #55 : Halloween special : 4am again with visualisations

video upload by MIDI IN

After last week's effort I'm kicking back a bit this week and have spent the time on a visualisation. The music is something I first posted in 2020 [video below], at that time with a compilation of some spooky C64 and Vic20 games.

0:00 intro
0:16 talking about Dr.VIP 2040 board
0:42 talking about the visualisation
2:05 the track

"4am" - Original music, with Spooky Vic20 and C64 games (listed in description)

video upload by MIDI IN

"Original spooky music, all sounds are produced by a real C64 (6581 SID). Accompanied by me playing some of my current favourite games on Vic20 and C64.

This time I used the C64 as a midi instrument (via Datel MIDI cart and my own software) and recorded around 30 sounds separately, and mixed them using minimal post-processing (a little reverb and eq).

All of these games have their own music, by better musicians than me. This isn't an attempt to deprecate their music. I've enjoyed the games and the visuals make a great accompaniment to this piece of music.

I am a fan of using real hardware and usually play these games on original computers. However, I don't have a capture device and pointing a camera at the screen looks crap, so I resorted to emulators for the purposes of making the gameplay footage.

Games shown:
Zombie Calavera Prologue, Vic20, from Digital Monastery https://majikeyric.itch.io/zombie-cal...

Pumpkid, Vic20 from Hewco https://hewco64.itch.io/pumpkid

The Isle of the Cursed Prophet, C64 from Icon 64 https://psytronik.itch.io/cursed-prop...

Luna, C64 from Shallan https://shallan64.itch.io/luna"