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How to Make Songs With 8-bit Sounds

Arcade machines and games for microcomputers and older consoles often used 8-bit music, a digital format that used very little memory storage space but still could include complex tunes and multiple instruments. Because of the similarities between 8-bit music and the contemporary MIDI format, you can create new music that sounds just like the classic scores of games from the 1980s and early 1990s.

Instructions

    • 1

      Open a music notation application, such as Sibelius, Finale or Noteworthy Composer. Input notes to create your song and export it as a .MID file. The steps necessary for this will vary from program to program -- consult your application's documentation if uncertain. Save the output file to your desktop.

    • 2

      Download GXSCC and run it. Drag the icon of your MIDI file into the GXSCC window to open it for conversion.

    • 3

      Click the "Config" button, marked with a hammer icon. Open the "Instrument Select" combo box and choose "Famicon like Set" from the list. Click "OK."

    • 4

      Click the "Authoring" button, marked with a page and a sine wave. Wait for the program to convert your original MIDI file into a .WAV with 8-bit-style sounds, compatible with any media player.

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Digital Music

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