Amiga Music Preservation -

Interview

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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.

,NN' `b. · i n t e r v i e w · ___________

______dP _____________ \ /

\ ,N'\____ _____________. _____ \ \_____. ____\ /

\___P___/ .\--\__ __/__ |--\____)---\ _____/__ |--\_ \ _/

| | | \ | | \__| | _ \ / | \__| | /\ |

| _| | | _l_ | | \ / _l_ | ___|

l___/=l___|====l____/===\______|==l______|\ /l___/===\______l____/

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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?

It would have been in 1984 when I was first given a chance to play with an
Acorn BBC Micro B at primary school. I found I had a flair for programming
and mathematics and created a variety of pictures using LOGO.

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

My first computer was a Dick Smith Electronics VZ-200. I bought a C64 in
1987 after being impressed by its sound capabilities. At my peak, I had
around 16 machines, most of them got dumped. I still have two PCs and two C64s.

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

Music came naturally to both my brother and I. I program, but only when I have
to. My family has always been creative and artistic.

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

On the C64, I've always used VoiceTraker v1.0. I'm playing with another editor
at the moment to try it out. On the Amiga I used first Protracker 2.1 and then
3.2. Presently, I'm toying with MODPlug Tracker and GoatTracker to see if they
are suitable to my method.

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

I can't say that I have, yet. My dreams and reality still disagree somewhat,
but I'm still tinkering to see that I can achieve.

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

I have several, the Xiom in-game tune is the most likely since it is my most
unoriginal and irritating song to date. Sadly, it is also the only song that
has earned my any money. Perhaps I earned that money on the strength of other
songs I contributed to the project. There's also an MOD version of the tunes
but I don't think the game was ever completed.

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

The music has many values. It can add atmosphere primarily or set the pace but
I believe that music should be able to stand up on its own merits.

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

Music is a part of my basic nature so I can never stop. I have many projects
underway - a new game from Kitchen Sink Productions, a new demo from Chrome,
a soundtrack to a movie and a series of image music for some stories that I am
writing and drawing.

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

MP2 and MP3 are very useful format to distrubute music in. It keeps the file
small whilst allowing the audience and the artist to experience the full range
of capabilty available to the musician.

WAVE...I've never like any format designed by Microsoft. AIFF is much more
flexible anyway.

MIDI is useful but you're at the mercy of the listener's sound card or
synthesiser. I like it as a portable and useful format but there is too many
unknowns to take into account.

I'd say that the extended module (XM) is my preferred format simply due to its
wide range of features.

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

Hmm..."Lightforce" by Rob Hubbard is the only one that comes to mind...

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

It was for this reason that I formed Project: Synthesis in 1994 and bought an
Amiga 1200. I've not yet fulfilled the dream but all of my music is composed
to be played on any instrument.

12-What bands are you currently listenning to?

Pink Floyd, Electric Light Orchestra, Les 5-4-3-2-1 and a variety of Japanese
Pop and Rock bands.

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

A lot of friendship and varied, creative and inspiring experiences.

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

I'm still around but not actively involved in anything. Chrome are still
making demos and games and we have a few different projects underway.

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

Greetings? No, everyone I greet knows who they are. Otherwise...remember that
music is music regardless of the instrument its played on. Just because its
arranged for SID or Paula doesn't make it any less worthy than classical,
metal or pop.

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please note: this interview is ©opyrighted in 2001 by crown of cryptoburners
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