Amiga Music Preservation -

Interview

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

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Handle:

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Group:

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

It started when I got a VIC-20, see the next question for details.

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

My first computer was a used VIC-20 from a relative which I only played games on. This would have been about 1989-1990, and I think I was in first grade. Shortly afterwards I got a C-64 from the same relative which I similarly mostly played games on, but I did also transcribe all sorts of BASIC program listings from magazines and books. I didn't learn to properly program anything back then, though.

That all changed in the early '90s, though. I remember asking my dad for a NES but he decided a real computer would be a better choice so he got me a used Amiga 500 instead. This must have been around 1991 or 1992, so I was a bit under ten at the time.

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

I guess I simply found making music on a computer such a fascinating concept. It was also the most immediately rewarding artform to me. Also I was never very good at art and programming seemed like too much effort to learn at the time.

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

For the whole of my initial Amiga music "career" I used ProTracker 2.1A by Noxious. It had some kind of a memory leak bug which caused it to run out of memory often regardless of the module size, making it impossible to even save my creations. Lost quite a lot of tunes that way!

In 1998 I bought a used Yamaha CS1X synth, and obviously I needed MIDI so I bought an interface and began using an ancient version of MED (the precursor to OctaMED). It really did anything I required though, so that was what I used for a year until I got my first PC in early 1999.

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

I don't really know how to answer this question. At the time, I was always happy with my latest tunes, but in retrospect they're all terrible and embarrassing save for a handful. Of course, you will never improve either if you're completely happy with your stuff...

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

Most of them, really. I was a slow learner so I made loads of crap tunes for each "good" one (or one with any potential).

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

Music is important because it can make or break the atmosphere! Even if you don't pay conscious attention to it.

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

Yes, for leisure. I've recently started doing Amiga mods again for fun too. I've composed the soundtracks for a couple of freeware indie games, didn't earn a
single cent but it was fun! Nowadays I used Ableton Live for the "serious" stuff, Schism Tracker and ProTracker for chiptunes/Amiga stuff.

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

Or even that newfangled MP3! Seriously though, I think it's pretty awesome how easy it is to spread your music nowadays.

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

I'm assuming this pertains to my own tunes instead of my favourites in general. My own favourites from the '90s include sub-woof woof and Garbage Collection, and some of my more recent chiptunes.

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

No, but I'm planning on making a music disk or two for the Amiga

12-What bands are you currently listening to?

Nowadays most of the music I listen to is streamed from Intergalactic FM or Bassoradio (local station), but to name some favourite artists: Jeff Mills, Robert Hood, Underground Resistance, Surgeon, Jazzanova, Kraftwerk, Pet Shop Boys, William Basinski, etc.
And from the Amiga scene, Jester, Heatbeat, Firefox, Estrayk, 4mat, 2pac, Karsten Obarski of course, and lots of others!

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

I never was really part of the scene back in the days, due to being rather isolated, as I didn't have a modem nor any friends into the same kind of stuff I was. I still don't consider myself as part of the scene yet, although I'm making an attempt to come out of my shell, so to speak.

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

Yes - last year I finally learned m68k assembly which is something I always wanted to do as a teen but didn't have the resources nor the understanding. I'm working on some intro/demo type stuff and have just mostly finished my first game programmed in assembly. All with my own music, of course.

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

I would like to greet my friend and fellow Amigist Archyx (who really should send his tunes on here as well), as well as fellow Exec founder Tsr who was the first person I met who even knew what the demoscene was; as well as wuffe and muzzy for supporting and helping me in my recent Amiga endeavours.

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This interview was kindly sent to us by Hukka via email in Feb 2015. thx!
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