The guy who originally created the arduinoboy (Trash80) and released the schematics so other people could build it has also recently built a new device called the M8 Tracker. It's not cheap, but it's really cool. It's designed to be held and used like a gameboy but is a fully functional tracker capable of various forms of synthesis and can easily connect to other hardware. I totally want to get one some day as long as they're still being made (my understanding is that he's building these things by hand and shipping them out to people, what an awesome dude).
I've got an M8 on preorder, but probably won't see it until some time in September. ☹️ If you want to mess with it, you can set up a headless M8! Buy a Teensy 4.1 and install the M8 firmware. Plug the teensy into your computer (with a couple bits of free software) and use a USB game controller for navigation. Now you have an M8 for about $40!
If you want to go EVEN cheaper you could try getting LSDJ! (Maybe just to run on an emulator if you don't have a GB/flash cart/etc), since the M8's basically LSDJ on ultramega steroids and really good enhancements, I feel like you could have a go on LSDJ to get the hang of the whole workflow with the more limited OG experience - might feel less overwhelming, even? And then jump-start your experience with the M8 already knowing all about how to start making tunes with it!
I don't plan on ever doing this but I'm thankful you're being so thorough with the instructions. A lot of tutorials just say "plug your thing into your thingy and you're good to go!"
I love the sound of taking it through Microcosm - it shows how it goes well beyond just a nostalgic toy (which isn't bad!) into a very real tool for musical expression that can go well into workflows.
This is how I got into electronic music a looong time ago, and I've just realised how much of a failure it is that I can't/have never tried to play the Pokemon intro theme on keys. Sweet video. Subbed.
You two have some of the best freaking intros for your videos. Instantly hooked. Emily's joy as she finds the right notes, that's something any non-pianist musician has definitely experienced while playing the piano 😂
This is exactly the type of video I was looking for! I was looking at some reels on Instagram and when I found you and you had a video I had to come and see it!! Thanks for the high quality content!!
Love those moody chiptunes you made, the effects pedal one reminds me of Disasterpeace. And just generally your format is great, solid tutorial but then you really dive in and actually make great music with whatever you're showing!
Yaaaasssss!! So AWESOME to see this Emily!!! I also recently just got one of these from Catskull and posted a jam controlling it with an Arturia Keystep Pro on my channel!! lol Freaking killer video from you, that sounded so sick with that Microcosm pedal, OMG!! Always enjoy your content, but this video was especially right up my alley! lol 🤣😁🙌🐀
@@StephenMcLeod Hahaha! Yaaasss! Glad to see you here too man! Emily is AWESOME, love her pedal reviews and harp performances... So you know when I saw this video drop I was on it like a rat on a Cheetoh hahaha 😁🤘🐀
Making music with a Gameboy is dope. It truly is the sound of our childhood, at least for me. I want to do some chiptune-y music but having to do stuff all the time in a daw kind of sucks... That voice you used for the plugins line was awesome XD #noplugins
Or a tuned famitracker if you want to use a PC, although intended originally for NES emulation the 2A03 is very similar in sound and architecture to the GB's PSG
I bought one of these a while back- they are totally fun to play with! Also really cool with a looper so you can build up a bit more sounds and even use the noise channel for percussion sounds.
so jealous that you actually got an Arduinoboy - Catskull has been soldout of them for ... years? but this video just reawakened my interest in getting one. guess its time to learn how to solder! thank you for such an inspirational video!
@@kassiacomposer i can't thank you enough for alerting me. i've been wanting one of these for years and even started teaching myself electrical engineering and PCB design just to try to make it (like Emily - i still kinda wanna make it). just placed my order - all thanks to you! now i'll at least be able to compose music and maybe even perform while i'm figuring out what ICs do exactly haha. this is so cool - the musician side of me hasn't been this excited in years! Cheers!
You're just tugging at my love of geeking Nintendo tunes, takes me back. Still have my GB classic but its been through the ringer over the years and needs a complete re haul! Love the opening Pokemon playing, takes me back to many hours playing Red when it came out!
I'm half expecting a video where Emily converts a Game Boy into a time machine that's powered by a potato. Another excellent video, I always enjoy the stuff you come up with.
Hahaha! The voice is back! It’s great and so is this demo and i love chip tune cuz its total nostalgia. I am Atari OG so ya i go waaaay back with all the consoles. The EQD pairing reminded me of my fav game called “a boy and his blob” theme song. I hear it and i get super happy seriously. It’s really koool one can do this and here i am thinking how do i make my guitar do this now hahaha
Okay 7 months later and I can neither confirm nor deny that I have just purchased a modded backlit custom GB DMG and arduinoboy just because this awesome video finally made me cave …..happy holidays everyone!!!
Gameboy Musician of 10 years here. Cool video. Pick up a DMG-07 splitter. Some roms will let you create some really interesting synth voices layering multiple synced wave patches at once. Multiple units will even net you >= 6 or more voice polyphony for those jazzy chops. There is PC software that lets you route the MIDI config such that multiple channels can be controlled with pedals, otherwise you're going to have to program the arduino yourself. It has fascinated me to no end while the world moves towards more complex and powerful computers just how relatively capable this 30 year old kid's toy is. I bring it with me everywhere, mainly to write down ideas and draft compositions on the go using LSDj. A single cartridge save can easily absorb a sonata of four movements. It's ridiculous. If it keeps giving as it has for all these years, I'll buckle down and write useful software for it next year. Welcome to the club.
I remember years ago something similar that lets you play the original NES via midi out from the NES cartridge . This is even cooler because it’s portable.
Arduinoboy Pro will be my next thing to buy, for sure, I didn't know it's existence. It's funny that somewhere in 2007/2008 TH-cam barebone algorithm showed me for the first time what Chiptune was all about, and 13/14 years later the same grown up algorithm showed me this video out of the blue, like I was rewatching a mix between Trash Theory and GVMERS videos when the algorithm put this video into the mix
I was a chiptune nerd back in the day. They used to have something in NYC called the BLIP festival at THE TANK There was a circuit bending workshop there I met Nullsleep. That device is better than Nanoloop and LSDJ put together I need that kit because I hate trackers Thanks Emily good one
I never thought I'd give up a career in Pediatric ER Nursing to become a Harpist Groupie...but here I am...sigh. On more serious note, I love these videos with the crazy pedals, midi machines, and random GameBoy's.
OH MY GOODNESS, 😂😂😂😂😂😂 I can't stop laughing about how candid and funny her custom neon sign is! Totally my humor! and nice video I guess, I love musicians on youtube!
Not just a great harpist, but a creative electronic musician as well! Way to go Emily!
thanks Bill!
The guy who originally created the arduinoboy (Trash80) and released the schematics so other people could build it has also recently built a new device called the M8 Tracker. It's not cheap, but it's really cool. It's designed to be held and used like a gameboy but is a fully functional tracker capable of various forms of synthesis and can easily connect to other hardware. I totally want to get one some day as long as they're still being made (my understanding is that he's building these things by hand and shipping them out to people, what an awesome dude).
I've got an M8 on preorder, but probably won't see it until some time in September. ☹️ If you want to mess with it, you can set up a headless M8! Buy a Teensy 4.1 and install the M8 firmware. Plug the teensy into your computer (with a couple bits of free software) and use a USB game controller for navigation. Now you have an M8 for about $40!
OMG I’m gonna try this!!! I’ve wanted an M8 Tracker for SO long so badly :(
If you want to go EVEN cheaper you could try getting LSDJ! (Maybe just to run on an emulator if you don't have a GB/flash cart/etc), since the M8's basically LSDJ on ultramega steroids and really good enhancements, I feel like you could have a go on LSDJ to get the hang of the whole workflow with the more limited OG experience - might feel less overwhelming, even? And then jump-start your experience with the M8 already knowing all about how to start making tunes with it!
@@AntFactoryMusic LSDJ is definitely next on my list!!
The handheld sure ain't cheap, but the headless only costs you a teensy and an SD card! 🥰
I don't plan on ever doing this but I'm thankful you're being so thorough with the instructions. A lot of tutorials just say "plug your thing into your thingy and you're good to go!"
Thank you so much!! ❤️ ❤️
I love the sound of taking it through Microcosm - it shows how it goes well beyond just a nostalgic toy (which isn't bad!) into a very real tool for musical expression that can go well into workflows.
yeah same, i love this part. i wish there were more
This is how I got into electronic music a looong time ago, and I've just realised how much of a failure it is that I can't/have never tried to play the Pokemon intro theme on keys. Sweet video. Subbed.
Love the production quality of this video. Super solid y’all
You two have some of the best freaking intros for your videos. Instantly hooked. Emily's joy as she finds the right notes, that's something any non-pianist musician has definitely experienced while playing the piano 😂
+1 good cold opens are a gift
She is a good pianist though
Thank you Travis!!!! I appreciate you :)
That pokemon intro is gold! I LOVED IT 👍👍👍
And amazing how you turned the gameboys into midi controllers 👍🤘🤘🤘
That's an instant subscribe from me, fantastic content. Can't wait to dive into more of your videos! Thank you!
Thanks will!!!
Hey it’s the Reddit guy
@@369TurtleMan caught in the wild
@@WillHatton when’s the lofi harp collab EP dropping?!?!?
@@369TurtleMan I’d love to collab with Emily if she was ever game!
All that the section following 3:30 to 4:47 needed is a slappin' DnB drum beat, some subs and off you go. Banger!
That's some pretty cool tech...
The joy you two have with your videos is apparent and infectious.
Happy Wednesday and be good to you (both!)!
Thanks Scott!
This is exactly the type of video I was looking for! I was looking at some reels on Instagram and when I found you and you had a video I had to come and see it!! Thanks for the high quality content!!
Love those moody chiptunes you made, the effects pedal one reminds me of Disasterpeace.
And just generally your format is great, solid tutorial but then you really dive in and actually make great music with whatever you're showing!
So cool and such a throw back with that intro music
It sound so good through some effect, beautiful:)
Great job!!! Definitely inspiring as that's exactly the sound im into atm. Old 90's games. Absolutely loved it. Liked!!
gotta say those GB noises are really iconic. I never had one myself so im not that attached to it. But its that synth retro sound I simply adore.
Thanks Anna!
The Microcosm section was cool!! Thank you, Emily!
This is fantastic. Thanks for the vid!
Cool! It gives me nostalgia flashbacks of LSDJ on the Game Boy. Such a cool little music tool.
Thanks for another interesting audio adventure Emily, this was a hoot. Loved hearing it through the Microcosm
Noice use of that arpanoid!
it's really cool. and the pedals you hooked it up to are awesome choices too. very nice
Thanks George!!
Yaaaasssss!! So AWESOME to see this Emily!!! I also recently just got one of these from Catskull and posted a jam controlling it with an Arturia Keystep Pro on my channel!! lol Freaking killer video from you, that sounded so sick with that Microcosm pedal, OMG!! Always enjoy your content, but this video was especially right up my alley! lol 🤣😁🙌🐀
I thought I might find you lurking here haha
@@StephenMcLeod Hahaha! Yaaasss! Glad to see you here too man! Emily is AWESOME, love her pedal reviews and harp performances... So you know when I saw this video drop I was on it like a rat on a Cheetoh hahaha 😁🤘🐀
I love your cartoon character voice and this guide was RAD
I'm a musician heavily inspired by the 1990's, and this is an awesome idea! This would be fun to experiment with
Just want you to know that I love synthesizers so much, nice to see you roll your sleeves up and dig into them things :)
The level of Nerdness in this video is off the charts, and I love it!
Thanks Pauly!!
I'm so happy that yt recommended this vid cos It's exactly what I was wishing for to sequence gameboys with keys and piano roll sequencers! ❤️
3:30 this sounds fascinating and hypnotic.
Making music with a Gameboy is dope. It truly is the sound of our childhood, at least for me.
I want to do some chiptune-y music but having to do stuff all the time in a daw kind of sucks...
That voice you used for the plugins line was awesome XD #noplugins
You should try lsdj with a gameboy emulator/cartridge
Or a tuned famitracker if you want to use a PC, although intended originally for NES emulation the 2A03 is very similar in sound and architecture to the GB's PSG
Youre so dang talented dude ❤
Edit: frog voice yaaaaasss
Okay, okay, okay, *okay* ... How the hell did I miss this?! So much nostalgianessness love it. ❤️
okay okay okay OKAY how did i miss THIS comment?
@@emilyharpist 🤣LMFAO
no explanation needed for why it's cool lol it just is!
especially with that EQD pedal and then the Chase Bliss? wow that was awesome
Sweet and creative video! Your studio setup still impresses me when I see it :) You 2 are awesome!!
I bought one of these a while back- they are totally fun to play with! Also really cool with a looper so you can build up a bit more sounds and even use the noise channel for percussion sounds.
That's so cool1 And the sound is amazing! Love it, thank you for sharing this geeky gear!
Thanks Chris 😊
so jealous that you actually got an Arduinoboy - Catskull has been soldout of them for ... years? but this video just reawakened my interest in getting one. guess its time to learn how to solder! thank you for such an inspirational video!
They recently restocked their shop which is when I got one!!! Maybe last month? I was so happy hahaha
@Bobby Hutter
They're back in stock now! I bought one earlier today!
@@kassiacomposer i can't thank you enough for alerting me. i've been wanting one of these for years and even started teaching myself electrical engineering and PCB design just to try to make it (like Emily - i still kinda wanna make it). just placed my order - all thanks to you! now i'll at least be able to compose music and maybe even perform while i'm figuring out what ICs do exactly haha. this is so cool - the musician side of me hasn't been this excited in years! Cheers!
You're just tugging at my love of geeking Nintendo tunes, takes me back. Still have my GB classic but its been through the ringer over the years and needs a complete re haul!
Love the opening Pokemon playing, takes me back to many hours playing Red when it came out!
I'm half expecting a video where Emily converts a Game Boy into a time machine that's powered by a potato. Another excellent video, I always enjoy the stuff you come up with.
That section was cut for time, unfortunately.
That sounds awfully like she's about to become an alternate reality version of GLaDOS
This so so much fun and ugh could listen to the microcosm tunes on a loop forever.
I wish everything on youtube was explained like this. Or in life.
3:30 Really like this segment.
Hahaha! The voice is back! It’s great and so is this demo and i love chip tune cuz its total nostalgia. I am Atari OG so ya i go waaaay back with all the consoles. The EQD pairing reminded me of my fav game called “a boy and his blob” theme song. I hear it and i get super happy seriously. It’s really koool one can do this and here i am thinking how do i make my guitar do this now hahaha
*ATARI* REPRESENT!!🤘😎And a midi guitar with that setup would be SICK👍
@@sov777 yesss with a band name like the Atari Chiptuners 😆
This is SO COOL. Also hearing you play that Pokémon red & blue song was transcendently nostalgic.
Oh man, so many possibilities! Going through the Microcosm made me think of using it for djent and electronic music (jungle in particular).
This is your best video so far. I've wanted to do this for years and haven't put the effort into figuring this out. Super cool. Also wii shop music.
Oh wow. This is some 8bit nostalgia. Great stuff.
My 2 fave things right now are old video game sounds & effects pedals, so this hit me right in the feel goods. Excellent!!
That sound.... is Absolutely Amazing! I'm partial to square waves, and the GB used them beautifully!
Okay 7 months later and I can neither confirm nor deny that I have just purchased a modded backlit custom GB DMG and arduinoboy just because this awesome video finally made me cave …..happy holidays everyone!!!
Whoa! That's freaking awesome!!! I love it!!! :)
That was a much needed hit of nostalgia
Hahaha I do love nostalgia!!!
THAT'S SO BADASS! Love you guys!
That's the best neon sign I've ever seen.
Hahaha thank you so much!!
just now I saw that sign for the first time and it made my day!
That's awesome. 💛 Sounds amazing.
I love this so much!! What a cool and fun way to make chiptune music!
Omg that first tune took me back to my simple childhood!
thats realy awesome .... uff i like it so much ...
Much love from Germany ♥
❤️
Thanks Emily. As soon as I saw these were available I snagged one. Always looking for small, cool gear to compliment my setup. 😎
The habit is so sick.. definitely gonna have to pick one up soon.
I love habit!!!’
That was pretty cool, would have been awesome if there was a way to see it hooked up to your harp 😁
I’m gonna be doing this for a video SOON!!
@@emilyharpist freaking sweet 😁👍
This is really cool, I love chiptune so freaking much. Thank you Emily and the youtube algorithm. xD
Your videos are always very enjoyable! Thanks for making music even more fun than it already is!
Nah this is hella cool! thanks for sharing :D
Gameboy Musician of 10 years here. Cool video. Pick up a DMG-07 splitter. Some roms will let you create some really interesting synth voices layering multiple synced wave patches at once. Multiple units will even net you >= 6 or more voice polyphony for those jazzy chops. There is PC software that lets you route the MIDI config such that multiple channels can be controlled with pedals, otherwise you're going to have to program the arduino yourself.
It has fascinated me to no end while the world moves towards more complex and powerful computers just how relatively capable this 30 year old kid's toy is. I bring it with me everywhere, mainly to write down ideas and draft compositions on the go using LSDj. A single cartridge save can easily absorb a sonata of four movements. It's ridiculous. If it keeps giving as it has for all these years, I'll buckle down and write useful software for it next year.
Welcome to the club.
Very cool. Always great content. Watched this twice
OMFG!!! This is the greatest thing ever
Wow, this is so cool!
I had so much fun with it!
Im from philippines a cult follower of gameboy cheers!
Cheers!! Welcome :)
I think it's awesome too. Awesome performance as well!
Oh and I love your silly voice.
sounds wicked 🎮
so this is how beck made soldier jane
Maybe!!
@@emilyharpist you listen to beck's mid 2000's stuff?!?!?!?!
came for game boy midi control, stayed for emily's goofy voice
Hahaha THANKS FOR BEING HERE!! 😂❤️❤️❤️
the gameboy with da fx pedal sounds insane 🔥🔥🔥
I remember years ago something similar that lets you play the original NES via midi out from the NES cartridge . This is even cooler because it’s portable.
Arduinoboy Pro will be my next thing to buy, for sure, I didn't know it's existence.
It's funny that somewhere in 2007/2008 TH-cam barebone algorithm showed me for the first time what Chiptune was all about, and 13/14 years later the same grown up algorithm showed me this video out of the blue, like I was rewatching a mix between Trash Theory and GVMERS videos when the algorithm put this video into the mix
Retro composition... may the fermata be with you!
😊
I love everything about this video.
Well now I'm definitely getting these for soundtrack composition.
Thats actually beatiful
OMG THIS IS AWESOME!!! BTW LOVE the desk!!!
I think my kid left some kind of old gameboy in my studio...
Hi Russ!
Best thing I have seen all week! I wish this would be done at baseball games for an inning or two instead of the organ.
Sounds amazing!
thank goodness catskull is back
Somebody told me to come here to check this out, and it is indeed wizardry.
that is pretty sweet. I wanna do this now
It’s super fun!
I've always wanted to do this, it's so cool
I definitely recommend! It’s so fun
Love your channel. I have gained an appreciation for the harp. Just not really thought of a harp in a modern sense before.
welp, guess I need to go play Pokemon Yellow now... amazing what you can do with all this stuff!
"custom neon sign" this is the ironic-funniest joke I've seen on youtube in years, subscribed.
Haha thank you 😊
You're my hero.
No u
I was a chiptune nerd back in the day.
They used to have something in NYC called the BLIP festival at THE TANK
There was a circuit bending workshop there I met Nullsleep.
That device is better than Nanoloop and LSDJ put together
I need that kit because I hate trackers
Thanks Emily good one
Interesting idea for the good old game boy
Thanks!
I never thought I'd give up a career in Pediatric ER Nursing to become a Harpist Groupie...but here I am...sigh. On more serious note, I love these videos with the crazy pedals, midi machines, and random GameBoy's.
OH MY GOODNESS, 😂😂😂😂😂😂 I can't stop laughing about how candid and funny her custom neon sign is! Totally my humor! and nice video I guess, I love musicians on youtube!
Thanks so much!! 😂 I love that sign!
Thank you for making this vid, I've been wondering how to do something like this for a while. Thank You !
So cool!! Love it!!
Awesome! Dream come true
I’m suddenly starting to regret getting rid of my GameBoy. Another awesomely creative video!