8-bit Nintendo Sounds as a Free Windows/Mac Plug-in (Add an NES to GarageBand, Stompbox NES FX)
The best way to get 8-bit sounds is to employ a real NES system or Game Boy for fifteen bucks and go to town — nothing else sounds quite the same. But for the next best thing, and the ability to do evil things to those sounds within a serious host, this free plug-in from Japan that will do the job:
YCMK Magical 8bit Plug [ Official Site ]
Totally free, totally cross-platform (Windows VST, Mac AU). Via Adrian Anders and the CDM forums, where we’re trying to figure out why it’s crashing someone’s installation of Ableton Live. Not Universal: Note that this plug-in is not Intel-native (nor any of the other examples listed here, as far as I know), so you’ll need to go elsewhere for 8-bit sounds on an Intel Mac, ironically enough. Also, as several readers note over on TUAW, GarageBand has its own Atari Sings patch, though I don’t think it clips as realistically as this does for a true NES sound. (Makes sense that it doesn’t, since those patches are built with Logic’s synths.)
Anyway, here’s what it sounds like, emulating the compositional style of classical NES tunes of yore:
[audio:magical8bitPlugSample.mp3]
The authentic sound comes from the choice of 8-bit waveforms, limited to square, triangle, pulse, and noise waveforms, plus envelope shape. This version is simple, sounds just right, and does the job, and the price is certainly right. Here’s one beginner and one advanced example of how you might use this.
Beginner Tutorial: Add Nintendo Love to GarageBand
First off, here’s how to insert this as an effect in GarageBand, giving any Mac free access to an NES sequencer. (Actually, I’m labeling this beginner, but for advanced users who’ve never used GarageBand, it’s not at all intuitive!) You’ll need to first install the plug-in file (the Mac file has a .component extension); drop it in your Library > Audio > Plug-Ins > Components folder. Then, in GarageBand:
1. Create a new track.
2. Click Software Instrument in the New Track window. Click the disclosure triangle next to “Details…” to open advanced options for this Software Instrument track.
3. Choose “Magical 8bit Plug” as your Generator. GarageBand won’t yet let you edit the options for the plug-in, because you need to save this as a preset.
4. Choose a category. There’s no “Vintage Game Consoles” category, so I chose Synth Leads. Click the “Save Instrument…” button at the bottom of the dialog, and choose a catchy name for your instrument.
5. Now that you’ve saved, you can edit the options for the instrument. Click the pencil icon next to “Manual” to open up the editor for the plug-in.
6. The track is active, so you can try adjusting the settings in this dialog, paying particular attention to the “OscKind” setting for choosing different waveforms. The results will actually sound far better than an 8-bit sound should, because by default Apple has some of their high-quality effects turned on. You can relish the delays and reverbs, or go back and uncheck some of those for a pure, dry sound.
Silly “Advanced” Example
Just to demonstrate how much you can abuse something like this, I’ve rendered a couple of bars of a pattern in Ableton Live dry (sounds like an NES), then with various effects presets from Native Instruments’ Guitar Rig 2:
[audio:8bitexample.mp3]
Guitar Rig works really well as an effects package, and can easily be inserted into a track, giving you some evil sounds that emulate running your Game Boy through a giant chain of stomp boxes and amps. The results are utterly ridiculous. Mostly I want to fire up the real thing and play with that. But this plug-in will be very helpful for the occasional 8-bit touch. One idea: try mixing the noise patch with a fuller drum sound, so you alternate 8-bit hats/snares (or whatever that’s supposed to sound like) with other drums.
I’ll see if this finds its way into some real musical projects of my own, but in the meantime, let us know how it works for you here.
Alternative Options
There are many other options for creating chiptune style music. A few of our favorite plug-in versions: (thanks to W. Brent Latta, our resident gaming music editor, for suggestions)
Triforce, free plug-in from Tweakbench with all the 8-bit fixin’s (Windows only)
Chip32 is unique in that it features editable wavetables (as opposed to the fixed wavetables in the YMCK plug) and a fantastically retro interface:
Chip32 (Windows version, Japanese page but you can figure it out)
Apulsoft Chip32 Mac port (scroll down — or grab some of those other free Mac goodies)
Chip32 and Triforce are completely free, but for a commercial option, you might check out Reaktor’s Oki Computer. Brent notes that it was created “by Timothy Lamb of Trash80 fame - he did some of the music for the game Darwinia. Oki Computer started out as a user-created Ensemble for Reaktor, and then NI later picked it up and had him do an offical version for Reaktor 5.” And, of course, that means if you don’t like any of these options, you could use an environment like Reaktor, Max/MSP, or Pd to build your own.
Intel Mac Users
An updated version of this plug-in is now available with Universal binaries for compatibility with Intel Macs.
Previously:
Mobile Music: Tracker for Nintendo DS, DS Homebrew Music Roundup
Analog Industries Gets a MidiNES Nintendo Music Cart
Avoid Generation NEX; Get a Real NES for 8-bit Music
Prototype Nintendo Music Keyboard from 1984
See also the CDM forums, where you can discuss using real 8-bit systems:
66 Comments
Leave a CommentAJ
Dude, where’d you get that funky flash audio player? I want one!
July 10, 2006 @ 10:56 pm
AJ
Found it!
http://www.1pixelout.net/code/audio-player-wordpress-plugin/
July 10, 2006 @ 11:00 pm
inasilentway
I just posted a crash report on the forum thread. I would recommend that anyone interested should proceed with caution.
July 10, 2006 @ 11:33 pm
Peter Kirn
Good advice, but that’s the case with any plug-in. I’ve had more than a little instability from the occasional $500 plug-in. (Not naming any names here.) I try to test plug-ins individually.
As for this one, I keep trying to get it to crash (with what would seem to be the same setup as you), but can’t. Such is the way with these things, I’m afraid.
July 10, 2006 @ 11:39 pm
Metro:Sonus
You know.. just like how your toster explodes, right after the warranty expires…
I see this, right after I’ve been offered a working NES by my brother in law..
I get my new laptop harddrive tommorow. Once I’m back up and running, I’ll check this out.
And yes, everything was backed up!
July 11, 2006 @ 7:45 am
Pants
While picking this up… also spend some time at the YMCK page. They’re a great band and you can get their releases domestically through http://www.recordsofthedamned.com
Also… while searching for that link I found that they have a handful of video on Youtube… and the one I watched just blew my mind.
July 11, 2006 @ 10:10 am
Pants
While picking this up… spend some time at the YMCK page. They’re a great band and you can get their releases domestically throughhttp://www.recordsofthedamned.com
Also… while searching for that link I realized they have a handful of video on Youtube.com… …..and the one I just now watched just blew my mind.
July 11, 2006 @ 10:14 am
W. Brent Latta
As an alternative, let’s not forget the classic Chip32 by SAM. Available for Mac at http://www.apulsoft.ch and KVRVST for the PC folks.
July 11, 2006 @ 10:47 am
Create Digital Music » YMCK: Japanese 8-bit Virtuosos, Music Videos
[...] It would be unfair to mention the free Magical 8-bit Plug-in without acknowledging who created it: the insanely talented Japanese chiptune band, YMCK: [...]
July 11, 2006 @ 10:57 am
Joey S
I dropped the plug-in in my components folder but it isn’t showing up in garageband. Any ideas? I’d really like to try this out.
July 11, 2006 @ 1:46 pm
Peter Kirn
Hmmm… two things to try. One, I’m assuming you restarted GarageBand; it scans the plug-in folders on launch. Second, there are two sets of components folders, one in the home Library folder of each userid, and one in the root directory. It’s possible it’s in the right place.
I’m not sure about different GB versions. I’m using GB 2.
Let us know if that works.
July 11, 2006 @ 1:51 pm
Inside Home Recording » Bleep bloop bleep!
[...] Here’s a free cross-platform plugin that lets you create old 8-bit video game–style sounds, like in the original Nintendo games, in any modern DAW, from GarageBand to ProTools (via John Gruber). Cool! [...]
July 11, 2006 @ 2:18 pm
glacial23
Joey S: Are you on an Intel machine or PPC? It looks like the component is PPC only, as far as I can tell…
July 11, 2006 @ 2:19 pm
Jowey
Yeah, I can pretty much verify this does NOT work on Intel macs. No idea how/why to get it going. Anyone have a clue?
July 11, 2006 @ 3:42 pm
glacial23
The only real way to get it going on an Intel is to get the developers to release a Universal Binary version of the plugin.
July 11, 2006 @ 4:16 pm
Create Digital Music » 8-bit Nintendo Sounds as a Free Windows/Mac Plug-in (Add an NES to GarageBand, Stompbox NES FX) at blackrimglasses.com
[...] Create Digital Music » 8-bit Nintendo Sounds as a Free Windows/Mac Plug-in (Add an NES to GarageBand, Stompbox NES FX): this is positively glorious. [...]
July 11, 2006 @ 8:16 pm
Midipixel
There is another good VSTi that emulates the Nintendo 20A3. It´s called Syntendo, and you guys should take a look:
http://www.jackdark.net/syntendo.html
The same guy (Jack Dark) also has a commercial version called NeoRetro, with more oscillators and SID emulating capabilities
July 12, 2006 @ 9:42 am
Eston
Don’t forget that Tweakbench has other microsample-based 8-bit VSTis, such as Peach and Toad. That said, YMCK’s Magical 8-bit Plugin works in AU form with both Logic Express and Logic Pro as well (I use it in Logic Express.)
July 12, 2006 @ 12:08 pm
FORT90.com
[...] And sticking with music from game systems, here’s something that Jason gave me the heads up on. All those wannabe chiptunes musicians now have an alternative to getting Nanoloop or Little Sound DJ or hacking your NES: there’s now a plug-in for GarageBand that emulates the sounds of the NES. And its from the much loved Japanese chiptunes outfit YMCK. Here’s some more info, and best of all, its in English. Though in the end, I have to wonder who accurate the sound reproduction is. Though that’s something which is best answered by someone like Jeremiah… [...]
July 12, 2006 @ 1:34 pm
Tony
It’s pretty cool. I’m surprised people are just finding out about it more recently. I messed around with it a while back, but don’t really remember how I got it to set up.
YMCK is a GREAT group by the way. Family Music is a excellent combination of pop and 8-bit with a real nice jazzy/improve construction to it.
I definitely encourage people to check that out.
July 13, 2006 @ 10:27 am
M.Bischoff
Wow! Thanks a bunch, this is insanely great! :)
July 14, 2006 @ 8:06 am
Create Digital Music » How to Force Universal Mac Apps to Run PowerPC Plug-ins
[...] Note that it’s not just us audio folks who have to suffer through this — the same is true for graphics and Web plug-ins. But now you can finally run that free PowerPC-native 8-bit music plug-in we saw earlier this week. Physics for Music, Visuals: Free pmpd Patch for Pd, Max/MSP, SuperCollider [...]
July 14, 2006 @ 3:02 pm
LCBTech » Rhapsody - Full-length music, videos and more - FREE
[...] Create Digital Music 8-bit Nintendo Sounds as a Free Windows/Mac … Create Digital Music 8-bit Nintendo Sounds as a Free Windows/Mac Plug-in (Add an NES to GarageBand, Stompbox NES FX) at blackrimglasses.com … [...]
July 15, 2006 @ 1:59 pm
Trunk Guy
I was doing alright until you said about changing the category - how do you do this? I could not find it and as a result nor could I save the instrument.
July 16, 2006 @ 7:03 am
The Modern Temper » Blog Archive » Select-Start a Fire
[...] I’m so excited about it that I’ve already created a remix of one of the songs. Not a remix, exactly — more like an alternative arrangement. Here’s how “Started a Fire” could have turned out if I had found this toy a few months ago: [...]
August 14, 2006 @ 9:56 pm
Timothy Clark
If you go to the Contact page on the YMCK Official Website [link], it says “The Intel Mac version is now being developed.”. Hooray!
August 23, 2006 @ 12:19 pm
richel
How can i use this on my windows machine?
September 27, 2006 @ 9:57 am
pit0r
Wow… nice plugin.
The sweep function is only available in the japanese .zip file.
December 19, 2006 @ 5:25 pm
Create Digital Music » Free YMCK Magical 8bit Plugin Now Universal for Intel Macs
[...] Previously: 8-bit Nintendo Sounds as a Free Windows/Mac Plug-in (Add an NES to GarageBand, Stompbox NES FX) [...]
January 24, 2007 @ 4:00 pm
Barney
Im not getting any audio from the right channel, this only comes out on the left. I tried the panning but turing it to the right just decreases the left volume and nothing else. Anyone else having this problem or anybody want to point out to me that this does in fact just come through the left channel?
February 26, 2007 @ 9:42 pm
Atticus
yeah, i have the same problem of only the left channel working. Occasionally the generator freaks out and starts playing crazy, loud drone noises through the right…
any fixing ideas?
March 22, 2007 @ 12:30 am
hl
I have the same problem. What to do?
April 15, 2007 @ 4:02 pm
Sam
When i choose Magical 8-bit plug as the generator (in garageband) all other options become greyed out. and i cant see where to save it. whats going on!?
April 16, 2007 @ 2:45 pm
Strafverteidiger München
I have the same problem. Can somebody help me. I dont know what to do. Looking forward to an answer.
April 19, 2007 @ 8:18 am
Bobby Digital says
Yep same here. Cna’t figure out how to fix this. I use the plugin in Live and the sound only comeso ut of the left channel and sometimes screams in the right one!!! Elt’s figure this out. Great plugin otherwise.
April 23, 2007 @ 11:05 am
eric
i downloaded this and installed it in garageband and it works fine but i dont have the sweepswitch and sweep time options, ive tried reinstalling and i havent recieved any more options, any ideas?
April 24, 2007 @ 2:28 pm
Rob
Yeah I’m getting the same problem with only sound in the right channel. Also it seems to fail Logic’s AU Instrument test and thus it is not usable in Logic. Darn it.
April 24, 2007 @ 8:45 pm
Rob
All this is on a MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 2.66ghz by the way.
April 24, 2007 @ 8:46 pm
thomas
yeah only the left channel on mine is coming through what the hell is that all abut otherwise amazzziing plugin thanx hopefully ill get an answer
May 30, 2007 @ 11:24 am
Faire de la musique 8bit dans GarageBand
[...] un petit article pour ceux qui auraient du mal à le configurer sur createdigitalmusic.com [...]
May 31, 2007 @ 10:02 am
Peter did it! » Blog Archive » incredible linklist
[...] Music Freesound 8bit Sounds NanoLoop Making Music Blog [...]
June 22, 2007 @ 11:30 am
nathan
Yeah, why does the left side only work with this plug-in?? The right side is just this annoying buzzing.
Help!
July 4, 2007 @ 3:52 am
SneakySir
I’m having the exact same problem everyone else seems to be having. When using the plug in Garageband on my core duo macbook, the sound just comes from the left speaker, and every so often freaks out completely and generates this extremely persistent noise from the right speaker. When this happens, the only way to get rid of the noise is to either turn off the plugin in garageband, or quitting the entire application. Simply turning down the volume or muting the computer won’t do a thing. Such a pity, I was really looking forward to using this plug-in.
Hopefully it’s just an unresolved issue with the new universal version of the plug, and will be fixed soon. Since so many people seem to have the same problems, it shouldn’t take too long.
July 5, 2007 @ 5:21 pm
hrmmpf
WTF…..anyone know where this .dll goes for WINXP?
August 21, 2007 @ 10:45 am
Chuck
Every time I try to use the 8bit plug with garageband using the same setup as you, I get a loud POP noise, and then no noise comes out of my speakers. If I switch instruments, or restart the program, any other instrument will work, but not the 8bit plug.
August 29, 2007 @ 4:40 pm
music » Create Digital Music " 8-bit Nintendo Sounds as a Free Windows/Mac Plug-in (Add an NES to GarageBand, Stompbox NES FX)
[...] paulgermana wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt [...]
October 7, 2007 @ 12:27 am
Jenn
Is there anyway to open this with Soundtrack Pro? Or how to aply a plug in with Soundtrack pro? There is virtually no info on that stuff
October 16, 2007 @ 12:23 am
Bobby
I get the two loud pops in the left channel at the beggining of the track and then no sound after that!
October 27, 2007 @ 9:14 pm
Josh of Pixetlon
Same here on the pops. I’m guessing you’re using Leopard as well? Or maybe the later Tiger updates are causing this?
No more 8-bit plug-in love. *sniff*
December 3, 2007 @ 6:20 pm
waß
A temporary fix to the pops is to put the pan position to left on any 8bit tracks you create.
I just don’t know how to extract in mono.
January 9, 2008 @ 6:24 pm
grayson
I had the popping in garageband too. what i did to fix it was make the track, save, close garageband, reopen it, and it worked great.
January 9, 2008 @ 7:31 pm
jim
destroyfx.smartelectronix.com has a plugin called monomaker, i use it to make the sounds mono on my intel mac
January 24, 2008 @ 1:10 pm
Dubhits
Heelooo.,,,
plese give me a simple 8 bit music maker software….
i believe i can do it!!!!
please….
January 25, 2008 @ 2:42 am
yuri
ymVST
http://www.preromanbritain.com/ymvst/
VST plug-in for authentic Atari ST chipsounds
Emulates the built in YM2149 sound chip with a decent plugin user-interface on your PC.
ymVST was created by Atari chip music freak Gareth Morris aka gwEm.
March 2, 2008 @ 8:59 am
enertron
i know there’s a Intel Mac version out now, but how did you get the PPC version to show you frequency sweep options in this 2006 article? is it just garageband that doesn’t show these unless you’re using the Intel version?
March 28, 2008 @ 1:20 am
Add Nintendo sounds to GarageBand with this free 8-bit Plugin | The Studio Files
[...] You can download the plugin here. For install information check out this article. [...]
March 31, 2008 @ 2:22 pm
Isaac
I know this is an old article, but I thought I’d comment anyway. I’m getting both problems mentioned here. Sometimes I get a popping from the speakers, but no other sound. Sometimes I’ll get the really loud buzzing noise from the right channel only. And then every once in a while, it will work just fine and I can get cool sounds to flow from my Mac. I’m using Garageband on a MacBook by the way.
It’s sad, it truly is.
April 23, 2008 @ 12:19 pm
Seba
@Isaac:
I had the same issue with the left channel going full scale noise on me, but I found a work around. I’m using Digital Performer but I’m sure you can do this in Garageband. Once you add the instrument and see its default stereo output, just change the output to mono L only. This will drop out the right channel noise and you can then route your new mono signal to another stereo bus or anywhere you like. Works like a charm.
April 27, 2008 @ 11:02 pm
Marvin
I guess Leopard doesn’t support it :(
I don’t have GarageBand on my Panther Mac. :(
Does this work on Tiger without any updates? I’m trying to upgrade my Panther PC.
May 3, 2008 @ 9:14 am
Rudy
Hey.
Where is the Component folder for GarageBand? I can’t find it…
June 2, 2008 @ 5:18 pm
Rudy
nevermind
June 2, 2008 @ 5:48 pm
casey
hey…this looks great but if i have an old gameboy and a mac how what equipment do i need before i can create some jams in garageband?
June 20, 2008 @ 6:58 pm
Alex
Hey, has there been a fix on the speaker problem yet? or can someone please suggest an alternative plug in for garageband?
July 9, 2008 @ 5:06 pm
Anonymous
I’ve also got that problem in Garageband - maybe it’s a bug in the UB version. Anyone figured out a workaround?
July 21, 2008 @ 2:15 am
caleb
any word on whether or not the bug is being fixed? i’d really like to use this plugin, but the speaker problem makes it impossible.
July 30, 2008 @ 10:51 am
Gordo
My plug-in does not seem to be working properly with garageband.
I get a lot of popping in my headphones and it only works sometimes on specific sounds. Others produce feedback.
If it works it only works for a short time and if I try to change the sound, not at all. I have to restart after.
Could you help me fix this?
_G
October 11, 2008 @ 6:18 pm
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