4 Minimoog VSTs That Perfectly Replicate the Original
By Jack Barton
Moog's Model D is one of the most iconic synths ever. Now you can capture its magical sound with these faithful Minimoog VSTs and plugins.
6 Kontakt Libraries for Retro Game Music (Free & Paid)
By Jack Barton
Looking for nostalgic bleeps and bloops for your chiptune tracks? Here are some Kontakt libraries for making retro-style video game music.
How to Make 16-Bit Music (SNES & Genesis Chiptunes)
By Jack Barton
The SNES and Genesis had legendary music. This guide will help you learn how to make 16-bit music using both free and paid plugins.
8 Sample Library Companies To Check Out In 2024
By Jack Barton
Need some new virtual instruments for your digital collection? These are some of our favorite sample library companies you should buy from.
Byte Riot: Shockingly Great, Even For Non-Maschine Users
By Jack Barton
Byte Riot is a Native Instruments expansion brimming with delightful chiptune samples. Find out what we think about it in our review.
PCM2612: The Dead-Simple Bitcrusher for Sega Genesis Fans
By Jack Barton
If you need a simple bitcrusher, look no further than PCM2612. It’s free to download, so you can add that tasty 16-bit crunch right away!
What Instruments Were Used in Banjo-Kazooie?
By Jack Barton
Want to recreate the whimsical sound of Banjo-Kazooie? Here are the original instruments Grant Kirkhope used to compose the Banjo soundtracks.
Exploring the Sounds of Digidesign’s Sample Cell Library
By Jack Barton
Digidesign’s Samplecell sounds were often used in Nintendo 64 games. Learn more about the library’s history and what games they appeared in.
Zero-G Ethnic: The Sounds Behind Zelda & Other Classic Media
By Jack Barton
These world instrument sounds have shown up in Zelda, Mario, and other games. Learn a little more about Zero-G’s Ethnic Flavours pack.
How to Make Commodore 64 Music
By Jack Barton
The Commodore 64 has an iconic sound that stands out from other 8-bit devices. And if you’re a media composer or just a chiptune fan, ...
How to Make 8-Bit Music (With Free & Paid Plugins)
By Jack Barton
8-bit music is the definitive sound of retro gaming, and has seen a resurgence in the indie game scene. Whether you’re an aspiring game composer ...
The Best Chiptune Software for 8-Bit & 16-Bit Music [2024]
By Jack Barton
Thanks to a wealth of chiptune software, there’s never been a better or easier time to write 8-bit and 16-bit music. Whether you’re writing for ...
SNESVerb Review: The Secret Sauce to 16-Bit Music
By Jack Barton
There’s something magical about SNES music. Part of it was the faux reverb effect that many soundtracks used. And with a plugin like SNESVerb, you ...
PS1 Reverb: Free Impulse Responses for Retro Gaming Reverb
By Jack Barton
Reverb is one of the secret ingredients that makes certain retro game music shine. And now, fans of the original PlayStation can use its digital ...
RYMCast: Why Chiptune Composers Need This VGM Player
By Jack Barton
There are loads of chiptune plugins and software applications out there. Most of them are virtual instruments. But RYMCast is different. Yes, it’s a VGM ...
DefleMask Tracker: An All-in-One Chiptune Solution
By Jack Barton
Aside from using original hardware, trackers are arguably the most authentic way to write chiptune music today. Over the years, DefleMask Tracker established itself as ...
SocaLabs Commodore 64 SID: It’s Free, but Super Buggy
By Jack Barton
Over the years, dozens of plugin developers have tried to emulate and sample the Commodore 64’s SID chip. Many have succeeded with incredible results. Others ...
8-bit VST Plugins for Retro Chiptunes in 2024 (Free & Paid)
By Jack Barton
We’ve sorted out the best 8-bit VST plugins. These virtual instruments faithfully recreate the sounds from the '80s game consoles.
Commodore 64 Sessions Deluxe: Free C64 Sounds for Kontakt
By Jack Barton
Level up with this free Kontakt instrument from Rhythmic Robot. Commodore 64 Sessions Deluxe delivers the chiptune goodness you’ll love.
The Official WinGROOVE Plugin You Don’t Know About
By Jack Barton
For many people, WinGROOVE was the definitive General MIDI sound of the mid-90s. Some of you reading this will want to re-experience those magical samples ...
Exploring the Voice Spectral Sample Library by Best Service
By Jack Barton
Voice Spectral is a collection of over 1000 vocal hooks and phrases. Learn more about it's history and what games they appeared in.
Super Audio Cart: Is This Chiptune Software Worth It?
By Jack Barton
Super Audio Cart is the definitive collection of retro game samples. It's a must-have for any working composer. See why in our review.
Nintendo VST Review: The Best (Free) Chiptune Plugin Ever
By Jack Barton
Looking for a cheap way to write 8-bit music? There are loads of free apps and plugins out there. But by far, Nintendo VST by ...
VSTSID Review: The Free Commodore 64 VST
By Jack Barton
VSTSID is a free plugin that mimics the iconic sound of the Commodore 64's SID chip. But is it worth your time? Find out in our review.
Ugritone Koji: 16-bit Chiptunes Made Simple (Review)
By Jack Barton
Disclaimer: Prior to writing this review, I provided demos for the official Koji store page. However, I did pay full price for the instrument. This ...