Safari #27: Boston CyberArts Festival - Demo Shows and Chiptunes

The April 24th Demo Show and Chiptune concert, part of the Boston CyberArts 2011 festival, left me in complete awe.  It was truly an experience like no other.  Both visually and musically appealing, the show was a combination of electronic music, graphic design, expert computer programming, and a large dose of creativity.

Demos are computer programs written to exploit the limits of an older computer system such as Commodore 64 or Amiga.  With a restricted file size and other constraints, programmers, graphic designers, and musicians compete to create the best multimedia performance.  Some examples of the excellent work on display:

• Fairlight and CNCD “Agenda Circling Forth” -http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5w7Gh7WBjw
• Andromeda Software Development (ASD) “Midnight Run” -http://www.youtube.com/user/TheDemoTube#p/c/9B1F8F30333AE512/36/9W7x6AGm8g4

Chiptunes, a subgenre of electronic music, use video game system sounds, synthesizers, and other sound effects to create music.  Two local groups gave brief performances demonstrating the ability to create music with old Game Boy consoles, synthesizers, and live vocals.

• Bright Primate – Boston-based duo Bright Primate showcased 4 of their most popular songs including both instrumentals and vocals.  Visit http://brightprimate.bandcamp.com/ for more information.
• Attic Bits – This New Hampshire based duo played songs from their most recent album. Visit http://www.myspace.com/thefloppybunchto hear and learn more.