Amiga Music Preservation -

Interview

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`qb ,dP'

TLb. ,dMP' all rite, now you get the chance to read

TML.dMMP some facts about some of the major amiga

,nmm`XXMPX musicians. read about their history in

,#MP'~~XNXYNXTb. the scene and their plans in future.yes,

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

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

dNP `Yb.

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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?

Back in the early 80s, must have been about 10 when I got my first computer.
It was a Sharp MZ 700 with built in cassette player - and had most of it's
games built around characters from the ascii table :)

Remember typing in countless pages of Basic code from books to play even the
simplest games.

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

As I said before, I first had a Sharp MZ 700. After that I got my C64 (as most
other kids I knew that time) - cant remember the year but it was the new white
version of it. Remember hours of tape copying, and especially the constant
tuning of the tape head reader with a screwdriver to make it play my friends
tapes. Also remember when the first turbo tapes came, amazing times. We cut
off the beginning of the tape so that the loading of the first game would mean
less "counters".

After that I had an Atari ST, that thing had only one decent game though -
"Super Sprint". One day I played some games from a new machine called "Amiga"
at a computer store, and was blown away. Got a 500 shortly after that. Remember
soldering and soldering, until it was covered by various buttons and switches.
I actually made my own midi board from scratch, and built it into the A500 :)
Some time after I got a A2000, upgraded it to 68030 and still have it
(somewhere at home:)

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

I played several instruments as a kid, piano, organ, some guitar, violin and
actually a tuba (the tuba only for a short time though, that beast was hell
carrying around). In addition to this, I already had friends that coded and was
making gfx - so it was easy to choose music. And to make a good demo you depend
on a killer mod right?

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

Mostly tracking (Various Fasttracker and Protracker versions), but also some
midi later with Octamed etc. The best thing with 4chan 8bits music was the
challenge getting the right quality on the samples and at the same time
squeeze as much info you could into the 4 channels. One common technique was to
mix several instruments into one sample, and playing them in sequence. I did
not have a synth at first, so I had to use "sample floppys".

Musicians were often revealed by using "well known" samples from these discs
at the start - I was no exeption :) If you listen to the module "Usualities"
from the demo Psycode by Cinefex back in the early days you'll see what I mean..
hehe.

We were always trying to improve on the tracking, though, and were experimenting
with all sorts of commands (from 000 to FFF). My favourite was the "A0F" when
that was hot, that really chopped opp the samples nicely - but used with care :)

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

Hm, I really never think I "reached my goal". I had some modules though that I
was kinda satisfied with, but I have loads of unfinished material. Maybe when
the time comes, I will brush'em up into a proper format and release it. You
never know.

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

I joined some compos, but I always seemed to enter the wrong mod - when I
entered a pop mod it was techno mods winning and vice versa :)

Well wait, there was one tune on the hate list. Remember "merging" two modules
into one at a compo one time. We spent all night making a special pack for it
(executable, that was allowed I remember). We gave it to one of the arrangers,
and he put it his back pocket and disappeared. The thing we heard later was
that they had trouble reading the floppy, and that it was excluded from the
contest. We got the floppy back, bent like it had been a shape of an ass all
over it. Thanx a lot.. :)

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

I usually emphasize the music 50% when watching a demo or playing a game. It
is very important that the tune provide the correct "mood", and timings was
very important here. Remember awsome demos that would had been almost crappy
without their mods (no offense coders:).

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

Not really, these days I have stored away all my "midi gear", but I plan to
strike back someday. Have been playing around with some music progs the
latest years, but not produced anything of value i'm afraid.

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

Well I think that the general quality of the music have increased, but I think
that technology is used at "autopilot" in some cases these days. Of course you
have to make a really good piece today to get your breakthrough.

I think too much time today is spent on effects and creating the right
"environment" instead of just MAKING MUSIC. But of course you have some awsome
artists today too, that have come far in the game and even movie industry.
All thanks to Protracker :)

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

Well I guess you are talking about computer music/mods. I think that "Style
Blend" by B.I.T. of EON was one of my favourite "compo tunes" - that one also
won the compo that year (TG93?).

Else I liked funky and technical tunes the best, tunes where you just had to
open protracker and play the mod in slo-mo to check the effects were the best.
People like Dizzie, AudioMonster, Hamre, Heatbeat and Tip/Mantronix are some
examples here.

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

Maybe, we'll see. Look out for a "Best of Echo" CD near you someday :P

12-What bands are you currently listenning to?

Mostly electronic, previously I listened to a lot of trance/techno but I got
bored by it. Stuff like Air, Ralph Myerz, Zero 7, Ozric Tentacles and others
have often been played, but I really listen to all sorts of music.

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

Hm, some good memories to look back to - and not least some good stories about
ancient technologies.. (you "punch card" guys watch out)

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

Not really. Had an "amiga reunion" here the other day, though, with an old
friend and coder in Cinefex. We fired up a laptop with an amiga emulator,
drinking beer and watched some demos and mods from the old days..cool.

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

Yea, B.I.T - if you're up to it we could make some remastering of some of our
old tunes one day. What about making R.O.M.A.N.C.E.3 with some proper
equipment this time? :P

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