Amiga Music Preservation -

Interview

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,nmm`XXMPX musicians. read about their history in

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,d~' dNNP `YNTb. that's meant to be read while listening to

,~ ,NN' `YNb their modules. read 'em over and over and over..

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Handle:

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Group:

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Date of birth:

1-How did your interest for computers start? Which year was that?

I started with a ZX Spectrum in the middle eighties, after attending a small
"Informatic Introduction" course, programming with BASIC language. The ZX
Spectrum+2 had an advanced (compared to the 48k model) sound chip, that
allowed me to make my first polifonic melodies.

2-What machines did you previously have? What did you do with them?

After the ZX Spectrum+2 (which I sold), I bought an Amiga500 and later, an
accelerated Amiga 1200 (68030@50MHz).

3-For what specific reason did you end up making music rather than gfx, coding?

I also worked a lot on coding, and tried gfx, but no one returned to me such
pleasure and fun as music composing.

4-Which composing programs have you been using? Which one in particular?

In the beginning, with Amiga, I started with MasterSoundTracker, then moved
to ProTracker, MED and OctaMED. I did also some work in 8-track soungs with
Oktalyzer, and after buying my Yamaha synthetizer used Bars&Pipes Pro.

One day I started working with a PC, I went directly to FastTracker2, which was
very similar to OctaMED SoundStudio (much more than 4 tracks, 16 bit samples,
digital effects...), and that I still use sometimes.
I also tried recently MED for PC.

5-With which module did you feel you had reached your goal?

94'Summer (there's a MP3 demo in my home page). In the first version, due to
the 4-track limitation, and even mixing the percussion and bass in two tracks,
the module sounded poor. After adding MIDI, I could spend 4 tracks only for
strings, 2 for melody, 1/2 for piano, etc, and the soung got a very full
sonority, and althrough it has a simple melodie/reefs, I liked very much the
final result.

6-Is there a tune you would like not to remember? For what reason?

No. I have done some work in very different types of songs, simple, speedy,
complex, classical, pop/rock, techno, metal. Almost everything (except Jazz);
and, in some way, every song brings me good memories (even one that I called
"Sunday Night Sadness").

7-In your opinion, what's the value of a music in a demo, game?

In a demo, at least for the nineties kind (which I knew very well), the music
worths 50% of the demo. There was one (that I can't remember the name at the
moment), with one of the best strings compostion ever (my opinion, of course),
and that I tried to transpose for classic guitar (see in my site 'guitar.wav').
For that particular demo, I used to close my eyes and concentrate in the
outstanding music.

8-At present, are you still composing? For professional or leisure purposes?

Sometimes I sit at my synthetizer, or get one of my guitars, and start playing
some new rhythms or ideas, and I record them. At the moment, unfortunately
I don't have time to produce these ideas into complete songs. I hope someday
have time to compile and work them, as I used to.

9-What do you think of today's pieces of music such as mpeg,wave,midi,etc...?

Technology open doors to new worlds for everything, including music.
These tools lets you to invent new sounds, achieve new rhythms, wich would
be impossible to reach without today technology.

10-Could you tell us some of your all times favourite tunes?

My first "idol" was Nik Kershaw, and I'll never forget "Wouldn't it be good" or
"I Won't let the sun don down on me". My favourites remained on pop/rock hits
for a several years until I 'discovered' Metallica. "Nothing Else Matters" and
"Unforgiven" led me knowing the entire discography of the band.
More recently (few years) I found Radiohead: I think I have listened to
"Karma Police" more than 1.000 times. I consider my favourite tune
Radiohead's "Exit Music (for a film)".

11-Are you planning to make an audio cd with some of your music remastered?

In a preofessional way, I don't think so. But the idea of searching a dozen
of my preferred songs and update them with high-quality samples and some
orchestration is indeed very interesting.

12-What bands are you currently listenning to?

I identify myself very much with Dido songs: simple and very strongs melodies,
with a new-age sonority. Radiohead are a great reference,
due to their infinite ability to make alternative sounds. Coldplay sometimes
remind me Radiohead, but with more commercial stuff.

Anyway I have to admit that O-Zone's "Dragostea Din Tei" and Anastacia "Sick and
Tired" are songs that have strong rhythms and melodies, and I enjoy listening to
them.

13-What does/did the amiga/c64 scene give you?

I currently work in a major telecommunications services provider, dealing with
all aspects of data-networks, Internet-services, network-management, in
a engineering department.

I have developped my computing abilities very much with the Amiga, which I think
that was fundamental for my success in dealing with a very large set of systems
and platforms at the company.

14-Are you still active in the scene these days?

No, unfortunatelly I have zero-activity today in the Amiga scene. Anyway, my A1200
is just at my right, and sometimes I turn it on to search for some old stuff.

15-Anyone to greet? Anything left to say? Feel free...

Yes. Huge Greetings to my old friend, and a very talented composer, Matthew
McLellan (•Handle: ConterPoint). I learned a lot with his songs, and he has been
always a reference in module-composing.

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please note: this interview is ©opyrighted in 2005 by crown of cryptoburners
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