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8-bit song

original_stickmanoriginal_stickman Registered User regular
edited August 2008 in Artist's Corner
Now, I had made this song a few months ago and hadn't really showed it around much. Then I showed it to a couple of friends, and they immediately said that I should post it somewhere on "the Penny Arcade" site. The more I thought about it, I agreed with them, so here it is. I'm not sure if songs are really a normal thing to see on the forums, but I do hope you enjoy anyway!

:whistle:

http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/1/16/1702503/Bit%20Crushed%20(bounce).mp3

Here's a smaller download of it, too. Granted, it also is lower quality.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/1/16/1702503/Bit%20Crushed%20(small).mp3

original_stickman on

Posts

  • Stupid Mr Whoopsie NameStupid Mr Whoopsie Name Registered User, ClubPA regular
    edited August 2008
    I'm a fan! I don't know what more I can offer than that, but I dig it. Got any more?

    Stupid Mr Whoopsie Name on
  • original_stickmanoriginal_stickman Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    Well my next project, (which includes this song), is all going to be very electronicly based. Right now I'm promoting an album I came out with in Feb. this year, but I am working on this project pretty steadilly meaning there will be more soon! But I'm very glad you like it, and even though it's not at all like this particular song, I guess you could check out my myspace if you'd like to hear what I've been doing. Thanks, Mars!

    www.myspace.com/seansnoise

    original_stickman on
  • Jake!Jake! Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    I didn't particularly like it to be honest, it sounded like it was playing too fast, and you sound like you're lisping on the vocals. I'm not a musician so I can't give it any kind of technical appraisal, I just listen to a lot of music (including 8-bit).

    Jake! on
    my blog | become a fan | http://www.schuhlelewis.com
  • original_stickmanoriginal_stickman Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    No, actually I sent the vocals through an Analog to Digital Converter, and converted it to 8 bits. Maybe even four... But no, not lisping, just digital artifacts making it sound like that.

    original_stickman on
  • Jake!Jake! Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    I know you're not lisping, but it does sound like you are and for me it doesn't work.

    Jake! on
    my blog | become a fan | http://www.schuhlelewis.com
  • original_stickmanoriginal_stickman Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    Oh, okay. Well that's fine. Maybe you'll like something else I do sometime.

    original_stickman on
  • desperaterobotsdesperaterobots perth, ausRegistered User regular
    edited August 2008
    What the hellth wrong with lithping? I don't have speakers at work but I'm keen to check this out at home. Good to see non-visual arts!

    desperaterobots on
    www.martinewills.com
  • JivesJives Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    The singing just feels kinda flat, like you dont have any emotional investmant in it. I dont think the vocal effects really help this.

    The rest of the song is alright though

    Jives on
    fliccccccckr
  • MalkorMalkor Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    I like it.

    For some reason the vocals remind me of Adam and His Package.

    Malkor on
    14271f3c-c765-4e74-92b1-49d7612675f2.jpg
  • srsizzysrsizzy Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    This is interesting, reminds me of the Postal Service. Of course, then it leaves me wanting more depth in the instrumentals. Like, maybe start with the electronic, but then move into something that sounds more "real." Does that make sense? I can imagine it fading into something a lot bigger, louder, and "symphonic." It might also be longer than necessary, I lost interest three quarters of the way through because it wasn't doing anything new really.

    It's a really good start though, and it inspired a little more to get off my ass and start recording stuff.

    srsizzy on
    BRO LET ME GET REAL WITH YOU AND SAY THAT MY FINGERS ARE PREPPED AND HOT LIKE THE SURFACE OF THE SUN TO BRING RADICAL BEATS SO SMOOTH THE SHIT WILL BE MEDICINAL-GRADE TRIPNASTY MAKING ALL BRAINWAVES ROLL ON THE SURFACE OF A BALLS-FEISTY NEURAL RAINBOW CRACKA-LACKIN' YOUR PERCEPTION OF THE HERE-NOW SPACE-TIME SITUATION THAT ALL OF LIFE BE JAMMED UP IN THROUGH THE UNIVERSAL FLOW BEATS
  • MalkorMalkor Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    How would one go about recording 8-bit songs anywho?

    For some reason I have taking apart my old NES and soldering things to other things as the first step in my mind.

    Malkor on
    14271f3c-c765-4e74-92b1-49d7612675f2.jpg
  • kerblokerblo Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    I like it. How long have you been making songs like this?

    kerblo on
    www.ianmccormack.net
    Stop Motion Animation
  • original_stickmanoriginal_stickman Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    Well I've been expirimenting with this sort of thing for 6 or more years. The reason I kept this so minimalist was to keep it like it was truly an 8 bit song that would need to fit into the limitations of a gameboy or a NES. As for making it, I emulated the ADA converter on the computer, and then ran the different square waves and triangle waves through that. Then you can sequence it all through Fruity Loops or something, (but I use Fruity Loops.) I'm glad you guys are intersested and giving your critiques, but keep in mind this is the final version. I can't actually change now anyways because I don't have the files of the recording :P Oops!

    original_stickman on
  • ImpersonatorImpersonator Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    Well, for starters this isn't really an 8-bit song :P

    The melody is really amateurish and simple and the ocasional sound effects are just bland and only noticeable because of their high-pitch. Also, the vocals are really really really dull, The Postal Service got away with it because the song w/o the vocals was more complex and the singer also sang with his heart if you know what I mean.

    You should really try and make more complex melodies first and then make some basslines which might incorporate nicely not only with the melody but also with the singing.

    I'm sorry if I sound way too negative about this but it's my sincere opinion, good luck ;)

    Impersonator on
  • AumniAumni Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    I think the song works fine. The singing is fine, a good sarcrastic and unhappy contrast to the beeps and cheery boops of the music. The beat functions well enough. Sure you could make it less 'amatureish' but then it wouldn't work for the song I think.

    Good stuff mate.

    Aumni on
    http://steamcommunity.com/id/aumni/ Battlenet: Aumni#1978 GW2: Aumni.1425 PSN: Aumnius
  • original_stickmanoriginal_stickman Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    It IS an 8 bit song, however-- When you record it in realtime, it turns into a 36 meg song, heh. So it is in all reality an 8 bit song that was just recorded in real time. Aumni- I'm glad you like it, your description is really what I'm going for. Classic nintendo songs were never complex. They were very funcional with the melodies and harmonies, but it made all the difference in the world when you playing the games to them. Plus Postal Service never bit crushed their vocals. Besides, this is not supposed to be anything but a characature of those songs way back from the 80's and early 90's nintendo/gameboy games. Postal Service was cool, but they had their own thing, and I'm not looking to be compared with that.

    original_stickman on
  • ImpersonatorImpersonator Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    What did you use to compose the song by the way? ;)

    Impersonator on
  • original_stickmanoriginal_stickman Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    Well I sequenced it all in Fruity Loops. It's a great program that I highly reccomend.

    original_stickman on
  • EdmanEdman Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    I think I see where Impersonator is going, and it makes sense. I use FL Studio as well, and just because you use 8-bit samples doesn't make the song 8-bit. If you really want to go 8-bit, I recommend grabbing a game boy and Nanoloop....actually using the equipment, not just the "8-bit" drum kit samples that come with FL Studio.

    As far as the song itself goes, I agree with the repetitive bit as well. Go listen to some Mega Man tracks, and you'll see that they have an actual song structure, not just eight or sixteen beat loops that repeat endlessly.

    All that aside, I think you're off to a good start. I look forward to hearing what else you'll come up with.

    Edman on
    My Portfolio cthulhu-happy-ani.gifMy Blog
  • original_stickmanoriginal_stickman Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    I'm not going to further explain any of the process I went through to create this song. If I do, yet again I will somehow be shot down. IT IS AN 8-BIT SONG. THIS WAS NOT POSTED FOR CRITIQUING. THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT WOULD BE NICE TO SHARE WITH THIS COMMUNITY. OBVIOUSLY I WAS WRONG.

    Sorry for any convenience or inconvenience.

    original_stickman on
  • EdmanEdman Registered User regular
    edited August 2008
    I don't mean to rain on your parade, but the expressed purpose of these forums is to post and critique artwork. It's at the top of the rules.

    Edman on
    My Portfolio cthulhu-happy-ani.gifMy Blog
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Penny Arcade Forums› Artist's Corner