If you want to compose chip-music :
http://www.woolyss.free.fr/chiptuning.php

The only reason I use the real chips is becuase in many cases I simply have no other option. The archaic software I’m forced to use is extremely overrated by its fanboys. Usually the is no live performance methods possible, just extremely complicated composition and rigid structure. For me, my favorite way to write music is to just get some loops going and then start experimenting, often in real-time. Its fun to run a ZX spectrum beeper sound threw a granular delay, then slice the sample up and re-sequence it. Then layer an NES triangle wave bassline on top and then say put a breakbeat on top of that. Or maybe add a nice piano loop sampled from some dusty vinyl? The possibilities are endless. But if your using just old hardware you can hit a wall really quick. I often enjoy limitations (especially in terms of polyphony), but I enjoy raw experimentation more. Nevermind the fact that I can write chiptunes in a modern DAW that can fool anyone into believing they were done on original hardware, regardless of the platform. All the tricks done on classic trackers can be done in a modern enviroment. That myth needs to be put to rest.

I also love with you said about tracker live performance. Just hit play and then bounce around like a jerk-off so you look really hip. This really pisses me off. My live performances involve nanoloop 1.3 mostly improvised in REAL-TIME. This prevents me from bouncing around and looking cool, as it takes a lots of careful concentration and consideration, but the musical results I feel provide a much more unique listening experience for those at THAT particular show THAT particular night. I’m working hard trying to make my performances more visually pleasing, but its a long and slow process involving trial and error, at least for me its is. But these unoriginal just press play on LSDJ fools who get credit as great live acts absolutely infuriate me. It all goes hand and hand with boring, stagnant, chip music elitist mentality that pushes interesting musicians and creative newbies away from the genre.

My first and only reason for using mostly chipsounds in my music is that I love the sounds themselves (ever since I was little kid playing Metroid and getting chills from the creppy minimal soundtrack). All the other reasons are pointless to me (aside from having fun that is). I commend Plogue and people like them. If the sounds are 100% accurate than thats awesome. If they are not then thats just more new sounds for me to work with in a much more open enviroment.

-Matt

PS sorry about my terrible spelling and grammar.

One, your plugins rock.
Two, AMEN.

I made most of the Tweakbench plugins specifically to bring fun & unique sounds to people for free, enabling people who can’t get vintage hardware in their hands, or just want to add some new kind of sound to their existing work, without going down some extremely geeky circuit bending route, only to find out they don’t really like the sound.

I’ve never once claimed that I’ve create perfect reproductions, or even that they are close within a percentage, BUT.. they are free, make nice sounds, and people genuinely enjoy using them. I’ve literally gotten well over 500 tracks back from people who are just thrilled that they’ve been able to put themselves into the shoes of a chiptune composer, even if only for a few minutes (and not doing even close to the amount of work).

Chiptune has never been about the purity of the sound (for me).. It’s always about bringing lots of expression out of a minimal sound pallete.

Just my $0.02.