Tofugu: An Interview With Japanese Chiptune Musician TORIENA

Tofugu, a website geared towards people wanting to learn Japanese, posted this article this morning - interesting her mention of WARP Records as an inspiration for making her own music:

http://www.tofugu.com/2015/07/20/interview-with-toriena-japanese-chiptune/

Here's some of her tracks:

Are you learning Japanese boss?

I actually like the tracks, especially the 1st one. Ceephaxy.

Something sounds off about the mastering though big time.

I saw her at a chip festival this year, her music is mind-melting in a live setting. So full-sounding for just 1xLSDJ productions.

  On 7/20/2015 at 7:01 PM, StephenG said:

Are you learning Japanese boss?

 

I actually like the tracks, especially the 1st one. Ceephaxy.

 

Something sounds off about the mastering though big time.

Been a Japanaphile since my middle-school days... from anime and importing games from Japan back in the early 90's to an overall appreciation of Japan and its culture. Need to finish learning to speak and read (better) Japanese in the next three years...

  On 7/20/2015 at 7:01 PM, StephenG said:

Something sounds off about the mastering though big time.

How so?

  On 7/21/2015 at 3:22 AM, modey said:

 

  On 7/20/2015 at 7:01 PM, StephenG said:

Something sounds off about the mastering though big time.

How so?

 

Sounds as if it's mega compressed. Not dynamic at all. Could be the 4 bit origin of the samples but compare those songs to something like say..... Ceephax's "Arcadian" (I know, not chiptune. Just a similar vibe).

Well, it's probably something to do with the gameboy's sound chip; it's not samples (although the wave channel is capable of sampling/wavetable stuff) but is 4-bit, so everything tends to be pretty loud! I haven't really heard much subtle music made with gameboys (unless processed externally).

Oh yeah, another reason is that a lot of channel switching tends to happen, e.g. using the wave channel for kick, bassline and any sampling/wavetable stuff, but only one at a time, so creative channel use is required in order to switch quickly between the different sounds; this tends to make it seem like the kick is obliterating the whole signal (because it is, depending on how busy the track gets). Chiptunes are a whole other side of electronic production, there are weird things that need to be done in order to make them sound anywhere near 'normal', but everything still retains the gritty, square wave style sound which is mostly unavoidable.

Interesting, thanks for the explanation. =)

  On 7/20/2015 at 11:25 PM, Joyrex said:

 

  On 7/20/2015 at 7:01 PM, StephenG said:

Are you learning Japanese boss?

 

I actually like the tracks, especially the 1st one. Ceephaxy.

 

Something sounds off about the mastering though big time.

Been a Japanaphile since my middle-school days... from anime and importing games from Japan back in the early 90's to an overall appreciation of Japan and its culture. Need to finish learning to speak and read (better) Japanese in the next three years...

 

Do you have any tablet aps you can recommend that you've found helpful?

  On 7/20/2015 at 11:25 PM, Joyrex said:

 

  On 7/20/2015 at 7:01 PM, StephenG said:

Are you learning Japanese boss?

 

I actually like the tracks, especially the 1st one. Ceephaxy.

 

Something sounds off about the mastering though big time.

Been a Japanaphile since my middle-school days... from anime and importing games from Japan back in the early 90's to an overall appreciation of Japan and its culture. Need to finish learning to speak and read (better) Japanese in the next three years...

 

Are you being transferred there for work or something? (Why the 3 year time limit?).

I too appreciate Japan and most of it's culture. Generally respectful people with good family values.

The used panties vending machine thing kind of creeps me out though lol.

the three year timespan would be to get his act into gear. You're too young/organised to understand this yet. Also three years is just long enough that the end timeframe is a nebulous future that may never come, bon chance with it though Joy.

  On 7/21/2015 at 6:34 AM, StephenG said:

 

  On 7/20/2015 at 11:25 PM, Joyrex said:

 

  On 7/20/2015 at 7:01 PM, StephenG said:

Are you learning Japanese boss?

 

I actually like the tracks, especially the 1st one. Ceephaxy.

 

Something sounds off about the mastering though big time.

Been a Japanaphile since my middle-school days... from anime and importing games from Japan back in the early 90's to an overall appreciation of Japan and its culture. Need to finish learning to speak and read (better) Japanese in the next three years...

 

I too appreciate Japan and most of it's culture. Generally respectful people with good family values.

- generally respectful people with good family values -

that was the lol of the week for me

by the way, i've been studying japanese for a while myself

tofugu is a pretty good site which posts a lot of great stuff although i'm not fond of their learning materials

imo the best gateway into japanese is genki by far