As seen in the video from last month’s Music Makers event, LittleGPTracker is a tracker for Linux-based GP2X and GP32 systems. The GP-series boxes are terrific little game machines that, unlike proprietary commercial game systems from Sony and Nintendo, are completely open. (Well, even if there is a certain pleasure to hacking PSPs, Game Boys, and DS machines to play homebrew anyway.)

LittleGPTracker’s interface is modeled after LSDJ, the cult favorite tracker for Game Boys. That interface can be archaic at first if you’ve never seen trackers, but with adjustment, many swear by its unique approach to structuring patterns — it can push users in less linear directions than more conventional sequencer interfaces.

Because the GP isn’t a Game Boy, though, you get some major extras. There’s sample playback, in the form of 8 monophonic 16Bit/44.1Khz stereo sample playback channels. And you can drive external hardware (or even computers) using MIDI.

If you want to try out LGPT before you buy a GP, or if you want some tracker action at your desk as well as on the go, you’re in luck. There’s a desktop version available for Windows, and now even one entering testing on Mac; Linux might follow. Of course, you get made fun of by the developer for running the Windows and Mac releases instead of the mobile versions.

LittleGPTracker Home
LGPT on the GP2x Wiki

There are two basic ways to approach computer music making: work with a system that’s already built for you (think traditional sequencers), or build your own, modular, unique way of working. Both approaches can be valid, but for a small but dedicated band of hard-core computer musicians, only the latter will do. The Buzz project for Windows attempted to merge modular capabilities with a tracker-style sequencer. (Buzzmachines.com isn’t working for me at the moment; see also the Buzz Wikipedia entry.)

There’s a new hope, however. Linux-native but build-able on Windows, free, and intensely powerful, early versions of the new Aldrin software for Windows look very promising. Formerly called Mute, Aldrin offers tracker capabilities, modular features, planned “1:1 compatibility with Buzz,” and integration with the Freesound creative commons sample library.

I can do better than a static screenshot here. The developer has just posted a video of the program in action. Let the techno commence:

Heck, you can even use DSP sources directly in your projects. Andy Selby writes with more: