Gruber posts
Posts: 260
Files: 549
WIP - Bach's Invention #10
This is the first cart. Using all the arps!
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,...
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 EditorIn 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...
WIP - 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 be...
Pico-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.
WIP - Bach's Invention #8
I remember learning this when I was a kid :)
Pico-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 cha...
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_P0qjjiG8G5FBgqwpqMU7rBkI 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 the game.
WIP - Bach Invention #7
Experimenting with creating buzzing with the instrument editor.
Pico-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! :)
Pico-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 hereThe 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 the notes on the rows 'asdfghjkl' and '1234567890...
WIP - 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/956308869516414976Though, the attached cart is more polished, and sounds a bit better.AN EXPLANATIONWhen you say a vowel, there are certain prominent frequencies that give that vowel it’s characteristic sound. These are called formants. Each v...
WIP - 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.
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!
