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.

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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?

Aahh... well.. there is a more complete account of computing history on
my website, but I first got interested in computers when I saw my friends
Atari VCS (not really a computer, i know..) this was when I was VERY small,
probably about 4 or 5. I first got my hands on a computer when my parents
bought an Acorn Electron. As I recall I was about 6 years old at the time,
so that was about 1985.

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

Aah, well this is an interesting question for me because I collect
antiquated computer equipment. The history goes something like this:
(from memory... =)

* Acorn Electron

My parents bought an Acorn Electron. I started teaching myself BASIC
on it at a very early age. I loved computers right from the start,
I don't know why...

* Atari VCS

I got an Atari VCS from my friend when he upgraded to an Oric Atmos.
I think it was for free or £5.. not much anyway, so my programming
went on hold for a while.

* Oric Atmos

Same friend again. He wanted his Atari back, and I wanted to do some
programming, so we swapped. This was a curious little machine, but
had cool BASIC sound commands like "Zap", "Shoot", "Ping", "Explode" etc.

* C64

After much begging for my parents to get me an Amiga 500, my parents bought
me a C64 and 1541 diskdrive. Well, there was no way they could afford the
Amiga. But I didn't mind because I thought it was really cool anyway, and
I immediately loved the sound of the SID. I did some more BASIC programming,
although CBM Basic sucked on the 64 =) This was about 1990...

* Amiga 1200

Yeah!! It took months and months of saving up, but eventually I saved up the
money to get an Amiga 1200, although my parents payed half of it for my
birthday in 1993. This was just amazing, and all my friends at school got
Amiga 1200's at roughly the same time. This was my main machine until last
year, and has had many expansions added over the years.

* Amiga 4000

I bought an Amiga 4000 last year, and havent looked back. Finally I could
use the graphics card that refused to work in the Zorro slot I bought for the
1200. I intend to get an AmiJoe G3 for it when/if they ever come out. I have
no intention of buying a PC right now... =)

Apart from my "main" machines, I have been collecting old computers for
quite some time. Here is the current complete list:

* A4000 030/25 8mb fast RAM, CV64/3D, 7.2gb storage
(ugh.. too slow! Come on AmiJoe =)
* A500+ (yay!)
* Atari 1040STFM (boo! =)
* Atari 65XE
* Apple IIe
* BBC B (x2)
* BBC Master 128
* Radio Shack TRS80
* Commodore PET
* Commodore VIC-20
* Commodore 64 (x2)
* Research Machines 380Z
* 48k Spectrum (x2)
* ZX81 (x2, one not built =)
* Sega Master System II

Other old computers I had, but broke or got sold:

* Texas Instruments TI-99a
* Oric Atmos
* Atari VCS (I really want one again...)
* Acorn Electron

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

I do more coding than music these days =) Originally I made music because I
could only program in assembler, and I kinda liked protracker. I just stuck
with it....

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

Well, I started out with Protracker 3 from an Amiga Format cover disk.
On my hard disk I have about 20 music editors, but I only ever use
Protracker 4 or AHX.

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

I don't think I have ever reached my goal. At one point I had a couple of
months where every protracker tune I wrote turned out awesome. Currently
I'm going through a thoroughly bad patch where I can't write anything, and
it has lasted for a worryingly long time :(

However, I seem to be getting the hang of AHX again =)

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

There are so many... A lot of my old stuff is awful. Luckily I'm not well
known enough as a musician for my old stuff to be widely distributed =)

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

Well, code, visuals and music are all very important aspects of any demo,
but music can really add a touch of class to a demo. A really good tune can
evoke emotional responses, which combined with a strong visual can make the
difference between an ok demo and a great demo.

One tune which I liked recently was the one from the Darkage intro
"Disco 2000". I don't think it is a particularily strong tune, and it is highly
repetetive, but there is something about the way the music seems to play around
a "blobby" synth that really pleases me.

The music for games is slightly less important, but there have been some
really classic game tunes. I really love Rob Hubbards work on the C64, and
the Amiga has had its fair share of classic game tunes. Project X,
Cannon Fodder, all sorts.

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

I only ever compose to please myself. I'm inspired too infrequently to make
money at it...

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

Well, from a general point of view, I think mp3 is great because it means
that record companies are going to have to think before ripping us off
any more =)

From a scene point of view, mpeg sucks ass! Competing in .MP3 competitions
at parties is stupid. I really hate it. I'm a big fan of 4 channel and chip
tune competitions, because it is purely the talent of the composer, rather
than the quality of their equipment that makes the difference.

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

Well, my favourite traditional scene and game music list is huge, but some of
my all time favourites include:

* Auf Wiedersehen Monty by Rob Hubbard (C64, Game)

What can I say? Rob was a god on the C64, and imho, this is his finest
hour. I LOVE this tune.

* Condom Corruption (song from "State of the Art")

I really like this tune. An all time classic.

* Weekend (a SID tune, was used by Dominator Bad for their sensitive trainer)

I did an AHX conversion of this. Such a good tune... =)

* AHX.Aftermath

Oxide/Sonik's best AHX tune. This tune is so good it sends tingles down my
spine. Absolutely magic stuff...

There are millions more... =)

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

Ummm... no =)

12-What bands are you currently listenning to?

Well, my taste in "real" music is nothing like my taste in computer music.
I love thrash metal, the noisier the better. Stuff like Slipknot and
Machine Head. I also like Nirvana, and older stuff by The Offspring,
Bad Religion. I like Blur's older stuff, Green Day. I also LOVE the first
and second album by the Foo Fighters... all sorts really.

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

Well, I've been a follower of the scene for many years. I love the demos and
intros on both C64 and Amiga. Its been a great opportunity to make friends.
But TBH, i'm more active on the scene now than I ever have been before,
kinda the opposite of everyone else =)

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

See above =)

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

Well, thank you very much for the interview, its nice to know that people
out there like my music enough to want to know more about me. Hello to all
my friends past and present, you know who you are...

Everyone look out for the Amiga diskmagazine "Devotion" coming soon,
(coded by me =), its gonna be great...

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