Chiptunes is a growing scene that uses old video game hardware (Game Boys, Nintendos, Commodore 64s, etc) to make music. Co-taught at Site 3 coLaboratory by local chiptunes musician Jeff "jefftheworld" Alyanak and Site 3 member Jonathan Guberman, this introductory workshop will focus on the most popular synthesizer program for Game Boy, Little Sound DJ (LSDJ). The workshop will cover the basic theory of digital sound synthesis; navigating and using the LSDJ software; how to create a wide range of sounds on the Game Boy; and tips and tricks for composing songs. We'll also touch on the basics of live performance techniques and, if time permits, discuss software options for other platforms (such as NES).

Get in touch if you have any questions!

Please note: course fees are non-refundable!

Prerequisites

The course is aimed at total beginners: no musical experience is necessary! The software isn't simple, so the workshop is recommended for ages 14 and up.

Materials

Game Boys and cartridges will be available to borrow! Please bring your own headphones, otherwise we might not be able to hear what each student is doing.

Game Boy - available to borrow or purchase; if you have a ticket, we'll have a Game Boy for you! If you'd like to bring your own, know that the software will only work on Original, Pocket, Colour, and Advance SP; it will NOT work on Advance, Micro, or DS models.

Flash cartridge - rewritable flash cartridges with LSDJ will be available to borrow or for purchase in advance only. Cartridges are extremely limited, so sign up early! The USB flash cartridges allow you to back up your song data to your computer, and to replace the software on the cartridge, but are only compatible with Windows systems.