Amiga Music Preservation -

Interview

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

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,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..

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

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| _| | | _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?

I remember my parents buying an 8086 PC - must have been back in 1985 (can't really
remember, but it's darn long time ago). It was used primarily for word processing but
came installed with a few simple games which my brother and I really enjoyed.

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

I started out with an Amiga 500 and immediately got interested in drawing with the
famous Deluxe Paint software. A friend introduced me to 3d graphics using real 3D -
and although the rendering times were high, we had a great time.

The graphics work actually introduced me to Balance. I proposed some work to
TnT / Balance (still a good friend of mine), and got accepted to the group.

I remember having upgraded the hardware a number of times and ended with an Amiga 4000
fitted with a CyberStorm 68080 card and CyberVision graphics card.

Definately not a match for todays high end PCs and server parks I work with on an everyday basis.

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

From age 11 to 14, I was taught drums, percussion and general music rhytm by the percussion
leader of the danish music school (also percussion leader in the royal danish music chapel).

I guess that laid the foundation for understanding music and rhythm.

Later, when I started working with sound (and in particular ProTracker) on the Amiga, the pattern
programming appealed to me - helping me think in terms of beats and breaking sound into
repeatable pieces.

I was already getting into electronic music and attended a number of techno parties - so the repeating
patterns were the perfect way to express and program sound. Most of my modules are heavily inspired by
beats and baselines, directly reflecting the environment and sound I liked.

Today I work professionally as a software architecht at a major danish company and do some freelance
jobs in parallel. I have previously been working as a graphics designer and lead programmer. I plan on
sticking with programming for the time being ..

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

I remember using AudioMaster and ProTracker on the Amiga.

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

It's hard to say - I still listen to my old Amiga modules now and then, and I still think about reprogramming
a few of them with modern high quality samples / gear. There's a probably 2 or 3 modules that stand out.

In general, the modules have a really complex and intrusive sound (which was typical at that time), but then again
I never made music for other people - it was a strictly personal project, but I didn't mind sharing the modules ..

A few modules were made for demos / competition, but I never composed with a demo in mind.

- Global Sun (probably the best sound I've ever produced - love the patterns / sample sequence @ 0:45)
- Crime Mind (first module with a really solid / complete sound - love the patterns @ 01:00)
- Dope C Part 1 (first module with complex pattern programming)
- Monoliner Hard (very pleased with the fast / slow sound from the JD-800 sequences and quarter breaks)
- Pea & Nut (intrusive and calm at both the same time - the rhythm and phase change of the background texture is awesome)
- Mantra-X (I am very proud of the sound part @ 3:08)

The Amiga was left with a meager 4 channel sound design, making it a really hard task to produce
sound that could rival that found on vinyl or CDs. As a result, I always tried to create a sound from
synthesizer string textures and sequences I re-organized in new patterns.

I tried my best to use the tracker to shift the samples from side to side, creating the illusion that
there were more channels available. As a result some of my modules show quite interesting programming
techniques - most quite succesful (as of this writing, I can still remember most of the patterns ..).

Some people wrote me a letter stating, that they had been raving to the module "Hardfloor" an entire
night - that made me smile.

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

There's a few modules I made during experimental stages that are simply too
weird and intrusive to be enjoyed by a regular Amiga fan.

- Velomatrix vs. Tech (just too strange)

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

It's 50% of the impression, no more, no less.

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

I started to get into music a few years ago and managed to buy a Roland JD-800
and a KORG Triton along with some additional hardware. Unfortunately, the music
making never caught on - I was still thinking in terms of patterns and never found
the software on the PC to my liking.

I am still working with music on a hobby basis and have been working with the software from
Propellerheads (Reason, Rebirth 338 and so on). I still feel inspired now and then, so who knows ..

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

It's just another media. I am using some of those formats personally.

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

I guess the best way to express the list is by naming some of the favourite composers I admired. Names such as
Jester, Tip & Mantronix, Jesper Kyd, Misty & Daeron and a long list of techno composers ..

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

No, but I am planning on remastering the Amiga modules (with effects), making them available
from my website at a later time. I have the complete list of modules on disk as well as the large archive of
samples I used on the Amiga.

12-What bands are you currently listenning to?

I am listening to a lot of ambient / eletronic music by The Future Sound of London, Pete Namlook, Dubtractor and so on.

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

The gave me many years of friendly competition and taught me to believe in your skills. The hard work made it possible for me
to be what I am today (professionally).

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

No, but I am trying to track some of the other members from Balance and Scoopex (especially Jazz / Scoopex).

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

I would like to greet everybody at the scene - it was a fantastic time I will never forget and pass on to my children when they grow up.

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please note: this interview is ©opyrighted in 2007 by crown of cryptoburners

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