My desire has always been to capture feelings and moods using music. I started doing this on the Commodore Amiga using Soundtracker Pro II since the 1990s. I also use Octamed 4 along with Synthesizers via MIDI. These days alongside using vintage technology, I also use a modern stand-alone tracker called Polyend Tracker.
Where To Find My Music
The main place I release my music is Bandcamp, this is where you can buy digital files (FLAC) of my album and single releases. As well as any physical releases, such as cassette, CD or hopefully in future Vinyl record.
For modern music listeners, I also release my albums and singles on streaming sites such as Spotify, Itunes and Amazon Music.
Music Trackers
I create music using music trackers, both old (Amiga) and new (Polyend). Latching onto that way of music creation after so many years. I get questioned a lot as to why I don’t use modern DAWs with soft synths. I have dabbled with modern DAWs and sequencers and as interesting as the experience is, It doesn’t quite hit the spot for me.
Nothing beats the feeling of using Octamed 4 on a real Amiga connected to a Yamaha DX7 or a MOOG SIRIN or Mother 32 via MIDI. It just feels nicer.
I sometimes create using the stand-alone Polyend Tracker sometimes connected to synthesizers via MIDI also and it gets me different results. I firmly believe that using both means of music creation gives me more varied results.
Why Use Old Technology?
Why not? I get asked why I use the Amiga as it’s so “Limited”. However in the same way as early programmers created wonders on the Commodore 64 despite the limitations, it forced creativity with little resources. Similarly, the limitation forces creativity when it comes to music creation. I firmly believe that this makes one become a better creator, whether it’s music, graphics, programming, whatever the means may be.
Also, who says Octamed 4 is limited? 4 Amiga Paula sample tracks + 12 MIDI tracks totalling 16. That is more than what my Polyend Tracker can do with 8 tracks. (The newer Polyend+ now has 16 tracks).
Also, many are trying to sound ‘Lo-Fi’ using modern DAW with an abundance of memory and processing power. To me, that makes less sense than actually using a C64 to create using actual raw sound of the legendary SID. Or Octamed 4 on an Amiga along with both vintage and modern synthesisers, if you have these computers.
Short answer, variety and change of environment encourages creativity. I have noticed that the music I compose on the Amiga feels different to the music I compose on Polyend Tracker. Don’t ask me why there is this shift in my feeling when using different tech, It’s just how it works for me.
Art is more interesting when there is a journey that has been made to create it.
What About Modular Synth?
I have only just taken the dive into the world of modular synth. I hesitated quite a bit, understandably. But I’ve been really enjoying the world of modular synth lately. I have to say, it’s the first time since the Amiga days in the 90s, that I’ve felt the same sort of excitement for something current. I have to admit this now, I’m officially addicted to synths and I’m loving it.
Want To Know More?
Want to know more in depth about how I create my music, the synthesizers I use and my history with music creation? Click below to read on…