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DREAM IN

8 BIT

Inspired by Retro Video Games

Your music remixed

Whether it's Pop or Thrash Metal, most things in life are better in 8-Bit
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Contact for details!​
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'Dream in 8-Bit' is a project of Michael Macdonald with the purpose of creating custom remixes of your music inspired by retro video game soundtracks of the 80s and 90s and the characteristic, nostalgic sound of the game consoles, arcade machines and personal computers of the time. Common terms for this style of remix might include '8-Bit' and 'Chiptune'*.
 
Get in contact to discuss a project and see how your music can find a new (virtual) life and engage both current and new fans!

EXAMPLES

Requirements

Stems / Multitracks
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It's possible to create a remix with just a copy of your song. However, the best method for developing your remix is to send 'stems' of your track. These are separate files for each instrument group (e.g. Vocals, Drums, Bass, Rhythm Guitars, Lead Guitars, Keys, Synths, etc).

More detailed stems can also be helpful, e.g. separate drum tracks for Kick, Snare, Cymbals, etc, or individual Lead and Backing Vocals.

Stems can be in any sample rate and bit depth, and are ideally .wav or .aiff format.

 

It helps to have all stems consolidated into one file per-track (no chopped up files, please), all with a ‘zero’ start time (i.e. all files start from the beginning and line up perfectly if loaded into a blank session). See the image above, for example.

 

Clearly labeling your files is a big help. The audio files can be placed in a folder, 'zipped' into one file and sent via any common method, such as Dropbox.

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If you require any help whatsoever with any of this process, don't hesitate to get in contact!

Tempo & Time Signature

Please send your tempo and time signature information.

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This can be provided as a MIDI track, but a manually written .txt file detailing the tempo and time signature information can also be used.

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OPTIONAL

Optional (useful) extras. These are not requirements, but can sometimes be useful if they are already available:

- Any MIDI tracks in use in your project (drums, keyboards, synths, programming, etc)

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- Any transcriptions / scores / tabs / Guitar Pro files / etc available. Lyrics also help, if applicable

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- Links to any reference material that you enjoy, including actual video game soundtracks and/or other 8-Bit/Chiptune/similar covers and remixes

 

 

- A fun optional extra: Have any retro-style catchphrases that you think might sound good in the track? Record some with your vocalist, and send them over! (They don’t have to be edited - one file containing all the samples will suffice)**

NOTES

*(The terms '8-Bit' and 'Chiptune' are used throughout this page in a broad sense of 'a track which takes heavy inspiration from the sounds of retro video game consoles, computers and related sound chips'. Tracks are created using a combination of real, synthesized and sampled console/computer chips and, unless specifically requested, are created to best represent the artist's music in a retro format using a variety of 'chip' sounds. This differs from a strict, limited 8-Bit format that uses only one 'chip' with limited voices and polyphony.
A useful analogy for what the final product sounds like would be a whole 'band' made up solely of retro consoles instead of instruments!)
**(Generally, it is best to record generic-sounding phrases, exclamations or other vocalizations/sounds (grunts, Kiai-style 'karate chops', epic 80s-style deep voiceovers, etc) that are not specifically attached to a franchise. No responsibility is taken for the use of trademarked or copyrighted words, phrases or material in your music. Use discretion)
Please note that by using this service you accept responsibility for ensuring any submitted materials are your own musical and intellectual property, or that you have express permission for its use in this manner.
Background image by p_double from Pixabay
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