Description:

Video games have a legacy of music that sometimes goes unappreciated. From the fields of Green Greens to Catfish Maw cave, soundtracks have inspired and motivated players for decades. This course will teach you the foundation for the 8bit music production and composition. Transcribe your favorites, create new sounds, and add incredible depth to your musical/programming skill set!

Class Goals:

Students will become familiar with 8bit music sequencing programs (LSDJ), notable soundtracks from video games, and will arrange and share their own creations. We will also speak to how 8bit, chiptune, and circuit bent music can be incorporated into broader compositions.

Prerequisites:

Computer (laptop) proficiency, some knowledge of the basics of music composition/theory (tempo & swing, time signatures, etc).

Materials:

Students should bring headphones and a laptop loaded with LSDJ (purchased here http://www.littlesounddj.com/lsd/) and the GameBoy emulator (http://www.emulator-zone.com/).

Instructor Biography:

Michael Sadler was raised on Nintendo; the sounds of video games and television feature prominently in the work he does as a musician, sound artist, and noise maker. He has been making and recording music for 12 years and have always found pleasure in discovering new sounds.