What Is 8 Bit Music? How To Make Chiptune Beats
Nov 29, 2023
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Tero Potila
If you've ever played a classic video game from the 1980s or early 1990s, you've heard 8-bit music. Also commonly known as chiptune, this style of electronic music was created using the sound chips found in vintage arcade machines, computers, and video game consoles.
What makes this genre of music so interesting is how composers transformed severe hardware limitations into an art form.
With only a handful of audio channels and basic waveforms, early video game music composers crafted melodies that are still stuck in our heads decades later.
I’ve spent most of my career working with modern production tools and massive track counts, but there’s something uniquely creative about the constraints that shaped 8-bit composition.
It forces you to think outside the box.
The influence of 8-bit music extends far beyond nostalgic gaming soundtracks.
Today, you’ll find its DNA in mainstream electronic music, indie game development, and modern genres like hyperpop.
Understanding 8-Bit Sound and Hardware
When we talk about bit depth in modern music production, it’s usually in reference to the resolution of digital audio, like 16-bit or 24-bit audio.
In the context of 8-bit music, the term actually refers to the processing power of the era’s 8-bit microprocessors, rather than the audio bit depth itself.
An 8-bit system, like the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) or the Commodore 64, could only process small amounts of data at once.
This meant sound chips had to generate audio in real-time using basic mathematical waveforms rather than playing back high-quality recorded audio samples.
Why Constraints Drove Innovation
During this era, game developers had severely limited storage and RAM space. Music composers had to find innovative ways to create engaging tunes within the incredibly tight constraints.
The Commodore 64’s legendary SID (Sound Interface Device) chip, for example, allowed musicians to produce impressive sounds with only three simultaneous audio channels.
This chip played a massive role in developing and popularizing the chiptune genre.
I’m very familiar with the relevant 8-bit computer gear myself; when I was a little kid, my first computers were the Spectravideo 328 and then the Commodore 128, the evolved version of the Commodore 64.
What Are the Common Wave Types of the Chiptune Sound Chips?
Programmable sound generator chips created sound using basic geometric waveforms.
In chiptune production, these are the fundamental building blocks you’ll be working with:
- Square Wave: Has a hollow, buzzy, and sharp timbre. It serves as the primary melodic instrument in most chiptunes.
- Triangle Wave: Offers a softer sound with reduced harmonic content. It is less aggressive and is frequently used for basslines.
- Pulse Wave: Created by adjusting the duty cycle of a square wave. This lets you change the timbre from thin and nasal to fuller and richer.
- Noise Channel: Included on most sound chips specifically designed for percussion and sound effects like explosions or hi-hats.
Comparing Vintage Hardware Capabilities
Different consoles had different sound capabilities:
| Platform / Chip | Available Channels | Sound Generation Characteristics |
| Commodore 64 (SID) | 3 Channels | Variable pulse width, resonant filter, ring modulation |
| Game Boy (LR35902) | 4 Channels | 2 Pulse, 1 Custom Wavetable (4-bit), 1 Noise |
| NES (2A03) | 5 Channels | 2 Pulse, 1 Triangle, 1 Noise, 1 DPCM Sample channel |
| Sega Master System (SN76489) | 4 Channels | 3 Square channels, 1 Noise channel (Classic 8-bit PSG) |
Cultural Impact and Iconic Soundtracks
8-bit music transformed from a technical necessity into a cultural phenomenon.
When you played classic games in the 1980s and early 1990s, the soundtracks established emotional contexts, signaled danger, and celebrated victories.
It’s incredible how deep the emotional connection of the old classic sound is; I just heard the Super Mario Bros original 8-bit main theme the other day, and I was immediately taken back to when I was playing the game for the first time as a little kid until I had blisters on my thumbs!
The technical restrictions actually pushed composers to focus on memorable melodic hooks rather than complex arrangements.
Here are some of the original, specific compositions that I think demonstrate well why this music endures:
- Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda: Composed by Koji Kondo, these tracks became globally recognized melodies that defined entire gaming generations.
- Tetris: The catchy Russian folk-inspired tune Korobeiniki brought an urgent, unforgettable rhythm to puzzle gameplay.
- Mega Man Series: Known for fast-paced electronic beats that perfectly matched action-packed platformer gameplay.
Who Were the Pioneer Composers of the 8-Bit Era?
Several early chiptune artists made a massive impact on the genre’s development:
- Rob Hubbard: Showcased what skilled composers could achieve with his brilliant Commodore 64 work, particularly on the Monty on the Run soundtrack.
- Tim Follin: Known for squeezing impossibly complex, multi-layered arrangements out of limited sound chips across the ZX Spectrum, C64, and NES.
- Martin Galway: Pushed the physical boundaries of Commodore 64 audio hardware, using software tricks to play back raw samples.
Influence on Electronic Music and the Modern Scene
8-bit music fundamentally shaped electronic music development globally. Early adopters influenced many genres, ranging from house and techno to electroclash and modern hyperpop.
In the late 1970s, Yellow Magic Orchestra was already sampling arcade games, bridging the gap between video games and mainstream electronic music.
Today, chiptune has evolved into a thriving scene with a dedicated fanbase:
- Live Performances: Artists perform around the world using modified Game Boys, trackers, and hardware synths.
- Preservation Archives: The High Voltage SID Collection contains over 55,000 pieces of SID music preserved by Commodore 64 enthusiasts.
- Chiptune Festivals: Events like Chipwrecked, a chiptune festival hosted on a Danish island, celebrate the ongoing legacy and evolution of the genre.
Today, the DNA of 8-bit music is truly everywhere.
How To Make Chiptune Beats in Your DAW
Originally, 8-bit music was programmed directly in assembly code or composed using early 8-bit tools like Sound Monitor.
Nowadays, creating chiptune music has become incredibly accessible inside modern DAWs.
Soundtrap is a great option for this, as it lets you emulate the sound of vintage hardware using 8-bit MIDI instruments and blend it with contemporary electronic music.
Here is the step-by-step workflow for crafting authentic chiptune beats in Soundtrap Studio:
- Select your lead synth: Open up a new track and select Synth. Choose an 8-bit instrument preset that fits your vibe.
- Dial in retro settings: Experiment with settings like Delay, Frequency, and Resonance to capture the signature sound of early portable game consoles.
- Master the arpeggio trick: Since early sound chips had limited polyphony (often just three to four voices), composers couldn’t play full block chords. Use rapid note sequences in the MIDI editor to create the illusion of harmony.
- Blend retro with modern: Try mixing Soundtrap’s 8-bit presets with the Hyperpop sound packs like Coins and Flimmer to create modern, wonky chiptune variations.
- Chain your production effects: Add effects like Vibrato, Pitch Modulation, and EQ to fine-tune your sound and givex it that slightly unstable, retro character.
Soundtrap
Soundtrap
My biggest production tip for modern chiptune: Set limits for yourself.
We don’t have any of the storage or processing restrictions of the 1980s with our gear today.
Try limiting your project to as few instrument tracks as possible, simple waveforms, and retro-sounding drums. This will help capture the true essence of retro game music.
Conclusion
Chiptune can evoke powerful memories for those of us who grew up playing early game consoles, but its appeal goes way beyond just nostalgia.
The limitations of the 8-bit era created a distinct sonic palette with a clarity and rhythmic precision that still stands on its own today.
Working within sound constraints like this forces you to develop innovative techniques and push your creativity. This is exactly what makes 8-bit music so unique; sometimes less really is more!
I highly recommend loading up a few simple synth waveforms and seeing what you can build when you limit your toolset.
It’s one of the most fun and rewarding challenges you can take on as a producer.
About the author
Tero Potila is a professional music composer and producer. His career combining knowledge and experience from music, TV, film, ad, and game industries gives him a unique perspective that he shares through posts on teropotila.com.
