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?

Duh, it's hard to say. What counts as interest for computers? Pocket
calculators and digital watches were interesting, of course. My best guess is
that I got interested when I was able to read and began to learn something about
them. That must've been soon after 1980. I first typed something on C64, when I
visited some friends. C128, too. 1985 or something like that.

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

Amiga 500 was my first computer, I got it 1989. After that I bought C64,
VIC-20 and ABC80, but I didn't do much with them. For example, I only programmed
one harsh snare-like sound on VIC-20.

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

I just didn't have what it takes to draw fancy gfx or write efficient code.
My coding was limited to AmigaBASIC/Cursor basic and some asm (a68k).
I used assembly subroutines to speed up my BASIC programs written with Cursor.
Music was just a natural choise, even though it was perhaps good luck I ended up
composing. Maybe I would have eventually started composing anyway, but I got
the chance to start with Amiga.
I had played a keyboard for myself from the age of 7 and later on had fun
with C-tapes. When I got Amiga, I watched demos and all, and I really liked the
possibilites of the computer. Soon I started to wonder why there are no "real"
music in demos that I saw and heard, despite of the obvious possibilites of the
hardware. To answer the question, I'm not 100% sure why, but shortly:
I got Amiga, I tried softs, saw demos and finally wanted to create my own music.

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

MED, OctaMED, Jeskola Buzz Tracker. OctaMED Pro 4.00g was my main tool on Amiga.
From 1998 or so I've mainly used Buzz Tracker.

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

There are numerous goals, or "checkpoints". Every piece of work is a goal.
You get the nice feeling when you're succeeded in creating something new, though
later on the results might not look so clever, but the point is the personal
development.

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

There are some stupid ideas... but because usually my songs have not been
released anywhere, it doesn't matter. I'd say no. Sometimes the backgrounds
of a tune can be something not to remember, but the tunes are written and that's
it. Cannot really undo them :)

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

Maybe I'm biased, as a composer, but music is essential in demos. Some games
MUST be free from music, other benefit from music greatly. Music can make the
difference between to otherwise equal productions.

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

Yes, leisure, but I wouldn't draw a thick line between pro and leisure work.
The leisure work is a key to professinal world.

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

The format of the music is secondary. Although, modules are different in that
you know how they are made. From audio file (mpeg or other formats)
you cannot tell how the music is created, what gear is used etc. MIDI files
are problematic because they sound different everywhere. Technologically
oriented persons might not like audio files for that reason. Also, the modules
can give the best audio quality to filesize ratio, and there is nothing missing
when you play a module. However, the focus should always be in the music,
not the tools or methods. Let the composers decide how to release their work.
I've released some 4-track modules in mp3, just because that format was the
only choise for a site. They can be played almost everywhere.

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

I've listened too little :) I may have forgotten some I've liked the best.
There are many that I've liked.

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

Commercial or non-commercial? I've done two audio CD's for myself back then
(1998?), with Amiga + MIDI-gear. Some of the songs were Amiga-only.
They were raw recordings, no mastering. I don't have any plans right now.

12-What bands are you currently listenning to?

System of a Down, Pet Shop Boys (always), various non-commercial artists from
www.mikseri.net, Sandra, Enya, Sting to name a few. These days I mostly
listen to free music.

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

I've always been a kind of outsider, or consumer. Contacts, friends. I've
enjoyed wathing all the things people have been able to do with computers.
I visited Assembly 95. Well, must not forget that the scene gives the channel
where to share the music!

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

Can't say I am, never been.

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

Big thanks to Teijo Kinnunen for MED and OctaMED, Jürgen Forster for Cursor
BASIC compiler, Bjorn Lynne for editing AM/FM and releasing my music in it.
Hello to everyone who has liked some of my tunes. Thanks to everyone who has
written music and software! You really make a difference. Thumbs up for Amiga
Music Preservation that, hopefully, will bring some new listeners for my music ;)

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please note: this interview is ©opyrighted in 2006 by crown of cryptoburners
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