BeepComp is a program for composing 8-bit music, allowing you to generate songs just like those from the video games of the 1980s. The platform offers 10 channels, 9 synthesizers, and a drum, so you can compose using your keyboard.
Popular 8-Bit Tunes
The most popular 8-bit songs can be found in video games like Pac-Man, Galaga, and Donkey Kong.
The Interface
Once you download the program from its official page, you'll notice its outdated interface. The environment is actually a great tool for those nostalgic for the video games they played and their first steps in computing.
Channels and Composition
Of the 10 channels, one is dedicated to drums, another to the drum kit, and the rest to global settings such as volume and tempo.
Notes for each channel are written with the keys 'CDEFGAB', separated by '~' to lengthen the note, ':' for silence, '#' for sharps, and 'b' for flats.
The drums can also be programmed to create a custom composition. The kick is triggered with the 'K' key and the hi-hat with the 'H' key, allowing you to create your own hi-hat patterns.
Melodies are developed using text files (.txt). If you want to incorporate templates and modify them, just click 'LOAD' to add them to the interface. When you finish composing, you can export your work in MP3, OGG, and WAV formats.
The platform is a great option for creating 8-bit music, which became popular with the video games of the 80s. Although composition is a bit complex, the results are very good.
Here I leave you a composition
@Neoteo Generación de los 80
MASTERVOLUME = 94
TEMPO = 40
@ 1
AEE: CE: G
O5L8::C<B~AbB~AbG~[8AbGF]G~~G~~:GFDAbG
G # A E A# C A G Fb: C # E # A # F # B # E:# E # F # D #
::>C<B~AbB~AbG~[8AbGF]G~~G~~:GFDAbG
Ab~ADG~GAb~AbG>C<BAb~AbbG~GAb~A# b:G~
C # G E A B Bflat A G G F E D C
Ab~AbG~GAb~AFG>C<BAF~FbG~GAb~AEL16G~~D~G~~D~~BeepComp is a free program available for Windows operating systems.
