Creating 8-bit music requires the installation of both a digital audio workstation and a plug-in. The plug-in provides the sound, while the DAW provides a way to organize and process the information.
If you use Windows 8.1, use any application that supports VST plug-ins, such as Cubase, Sonar or the free Reaper application. For Mac OS X Mavericks users, select GarageBand, Logic Pro X or Digital Performer to play AU-compatible plug-ins. The process to enable these plug-ins varies slightly, but most require you to place them in a plug-ins folder that you specify during the initial installation.
After you install the plug-in on your computer, you can select it as the default sound for an instrument track and use the built-in software keyboard or a MIDI instrument to record your 8-bit music. Optionally, you can manually input the music using either the score or MIDI data view.
The YMCK Magical 8-bit Plug comes in both an AU and VST format. This means you can use the sounds on either a Mac or Windows computer. Many 8-bit programs provide the basic sounds needed to create 8-bit music, but the free Magical 8-bit Plug also includes support for the low-resolution static noise that characterizes 8-bit music. After you input the music into your DAW, you can modify each note to get the right volume, attack and release. You can also purchase and download the iOS YMCK Player app to play 8-bit songs on any of your Apple devices.
OpenMPT provides a free application with native support for VST effects and instruments. The program requires no installation and you can run it from a USB device for added portability. The program also functions as a DAW, so you can run the VST instruments from directly within the program. When you open the application, you can select the plugin you want to use by selecting the "General" tab and choosing an option from the "Plugins" drop-down list. As with any DAW, you can input music by opening a MIDI file, playing music on a MIDI instrument or manually input notes into the application.
This commercial VST or AU plug-in allows you to create 8-bit music using any DAW. One of the unique features of the program is its ability to down-sample and play 4-bit music. The player comes with several options to arpeggiate music and create the warbling sound characteristic of 8-bit music. QuadraSID also supports commercial expansion packs (for a fee) that contain several classic video game effects, sounds, background rhythms and famous melodies from 1980s video games like Commando.