Chiptune

Chiptune, also called chip music, is a form of electronic music created using the sound-generating chips of vintage computers, consoles, and arcade hardware, or by software that emulates those chips. It emphasizes the distinctive timbres and engineering constraints of 8-bit and 16-bit systems, often featuring square waves, other simple waveforms, arpeggios, noise percussion, and limited polyphony to create a nostalgic, game-like aesthetic.

Origins and production methods: Chiptune emerged in the 1980s and early 1990s with home computers and consoles such as the Commodore 64 (SID), the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Game Boy, as well as arcade boards. Musicians sequenced music for these chips with tracker software like ProTracker, FastTracker II, and LSDJ, or used emulators and samples that reproduce the hardware sound. Many artists perform with actual hardware during live shows.

Culture and influence: The style flourished within the demoscene and video game music culture, and has since expanded into various subgenres including bitpop and nintendocore. Notable groups and solo artists include Anamanaguchi, Sabrepulse, 8Bit Weapon, and YMCK. Early pioneers such as Rob Hubbard and Koji Kondo are frequently cited as influences for their work on C64 and NES titles.

Contemporary scene and tools: Chiptune remains active in indie games, concerts, and online releases, with software tools like Famitracker (NES sounds), LSDJ (Game Boy), and modern digital audio workstations that simulate chip hardware. The approach continues to favor creative manipulation of limited sound channels to produce distinctive, retro-focused music.