ZX Spectrum 48K Live Performance (Sinclair 1-bit music) "Jarre ing"

Описание: A piece of music I've written ("Jarre-ing"), performed on custom software, on two 48K ZX Spectrums hooked up to old tellys, in my kitchen.

The lead-line in the second half, ideally should be played on a laser-harp. I don't think Sinclair made a laser harp though.


Technical:
The computers are standard 48K Sinclair ZX Spectrums. The only modification on them is the common 'composite video out' mod to make them work with modern TVs.

1 Bit Music:
The ZX Spectrum (1982) had notoriously limited sound, and is only capable of '1bit' audio - just a beeper-speaker that can be in only two states. Despite this, programmers quickly began to experiment with simulating polyphony and different effects through clever programming with intricate timing considerations to move the speaker back and forth.

The Software:
The software used here is my own take on that process - I've been exploring the idea of adding user control to allow some degree of 'performance' and improvisation in a meaningful way.

Audio:
The audio was recorded directly from the ZX Spectrums into a Tascam DR-40 recorder. Noise reduction and level tweaking was performed on this, but the audio is essentially 'as is' as a live take.

Credits:
The music here is being performed and controlled in real time, using software I've written in Z80 assembly language, which is based in part upon source code created using the Windows Beepola software developed by Chris Cowley.

During this video I start using both ZX Spectrums running a modified version of the Tritone audio engine (written by Shiru) triggering patterns I've composed, then I switch on of them to a new synth engine I've written to (clumsily) play the lead-line.