If you're a fan of retro game music - either as a listener or a creator - then you'll be interested to learn that Impact Soundworks has teamed up with OverClocked ReMix to release Super Audio Cart, a library packed with classic samples dating all the way back to the '70s.
Used in conjunction with the Kontakt music making package, this collection grants access to over 5,000 samples captured directly from the original console hardware.
Here's the feature list:
- Seven legendary video game systems - NES, SNES, GB, 2600, C64, SMS, GEN
- Over 5,500 samples
- Over 600 unique sound sources
- All-new SNES ROM sample bank
- Classic GEN game instruments
- Meticulous editing to preserve authenticity
- Recorded using actual hardware
- Four independent sound source layers
- Integrated sound source browser
- Over a dozen filter models
- 5 FX racks with 8 modules each
- Includes custom SNESVERB
- Poly arpeggiator, gate & sequencer
- 64-slot modulation matrix
- Full NKS compatibility: Komplete Kontrol & Maschine
- Compatible with the FREE Kontakt Player
On your computer you'll need Kontakt or Kontakt Player version 5.5.2 or higher, 4GB of disk space, 2GB RAM (4GB is recommended) and a CPU made in 2008 or later.
Super Audio Cart is quite a unique undertaking, and has attracted praise from some of the best in the business:
Yasunori Mitsuda (Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, Xenogears): Super Audio Cart is so much fun, and absolutely spot-on for simulating retro game sounds. This is absolutely a fantastic sample library for all game music fans.
Yuzo Koshiro (Streets of Rage, ActRaiser, Revenge of Shinobi, Etrian Odyssey): It's extremely convenient to be able to create arrangements with such diverse sounds so quickly, just using MIDI. Of course, Super Audio Cart isn't just for 'retro' sounds - it's also very useful for modern music as well.
[source impactsoundworks.com]
Comments 8
Awesome! I've always been looking for the samples used in Super Nintendo games!
This sounds fantastic. I am going to love playing around with this.
Interesting the C64 has been included in with all the consoles featured, but let's face it, the SID chip is a legend in itself!
Geez, these system requirements seem crazy, I don't know if my gaming PC can run this.
lol
Sweeeeet! Now this will be fun! Mitsuda and Koshiro are two awesome audio endorsements WOW!
This looks great for anyone wanting to embed 'classic' sounds into a modern composition, or even just wanting to write a retro sounding piece with a modern interface.
For a slightly more stripped down, 'DIY' approach, tracker (e.g. MilkyTracker, FamiTracker) software does a very good job at allowing you to create your own chiptunes, with a slightly more 'retro' interface. It takes a little while to learn (maybe a hour or so), but the results can be quite impressive.
I haven't mastered any of the funky effects, but I put this together, and was quite happy with the results.
For a more professional example of what can be done, see this cover of Sonic's Green Hill Zone.
I recommend it for anyone thinking of putting together a chiptune. : )
Whenever I can spare 150 big ones, I will surely pick this up.
Cool, looks brilliant!
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