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Thanks for the lovely comments! I'm the creator of picoSYNTH and it was a really fun project to work on. I don't have much experience in synths so it was a big learning project for me. If there are any questions around the program, just let me know!
What's up with the difference in name? Program seems to be called picoSYNTH not pico8? Pico8 if meant to be like perculate is actually a nice pun for modular style synthizers.
Thanks for the lovely comments! I'm the creator of picoSYNTH and it was a really fun project to work on. I don't have much experience in synths so it was a big learning project for me. If there are any questions around the program, just let me know!
Beautiful program. I'd love to be able to set different sequence length in the sequencers. then its a great ambient generator.
Really cute!
Judging by demo videos, I think that the UI is not very efficient. For example, let's count how many gestures an user has to make to add an oscillator and connect it to a speaker:
- click "+"
- carefully read the menu, locate and click "oscillator"
- maybe drag the oscillator to a desired location
- click "+"
- carefully read the menu, locate and click "cable"
- drag the cable to the oscillator
- catch another end of the cable, which is swinging and trying to escape from your mouse cursor
- drag it to a tiny speaker's socket
This takes too much time. I believe the UI can be significantly improved. Or maybe this can be turned into a game where the devices are playing against you, jump and crawl trying to escape from you (but you can bind them with cables), and so on.
Also, "+" button is too close to a trash button, and it is easy to accidentally click it.
I am not a user of Pico8, and probably never going to use this app, but wanted just to comment on usability. Judging by demo videos, I think that the UI is not very efficient. For example, let's count how many gestures an user has to make to add an oscillator and connect it to a speaker: - click "+" - carefully read the menu, locate and click "oscillator" - maybe drag the oscillator to a desired location - click "+"…
Yeah adding a cable is a bit frustrating instead of just adding one when you click on a jack input (like in Reason IIRC).
Thanks for the lovely comments! I'm the creator of picoSYNTH and it was a really fun project to work on. I don't have much experience in synths so it was a big learning project for me. If there are any questions around the program, just let me know!
what were some of the biggest challenges when making a synth?
Biggest challenge was that I basically don’t know anything about how synths work in real life, and made up my own way as I went along. This lead to unnecessary rewrites as I needed to sometimes change assumptions that stopped me from progressing.
I am not a user of Pico8, and probably never going to use this app, but wanted just to comment on usability. Judging by demo videos, I think that the UI is not very efficient. For example, let's count how many gestures an user has to make to add an oscillator and connect it to a speaker: - click "+" - carefully read the menu, locate and click "oscillator" - maybe drag the oscillator to a desired location - click "+"…
I can totally understand where you’re coming from, but the program is not designed to be efficient. I think of it more as a toy, or and interactive machine that you can figure out how it works. The fact that you can make loops and beats with it is almost a bonus.
This is very cool! I've been wanting to play around with synthetizers / trackers (?) for a bit. I played around with TIC-80 (another fantasy console like PICO-8) amazing track + SFX editor, but I'm very lost as to how to actually make... music, instead of noise. Does anyone have any beginner resources on music theory, specifically oriented to working with synthetizers and trackers?
If you want lower-level stuff and program a synth manually, then you can try PureData, but it might be too low-level for you and require dealing with math equations and algorithms. Also, its GUI is a little outdated.
If you want to know how certain sounds are created, you can look for tutorials or Youtube videos. Or you can take any virtual synthesizer, choose the preset you like and see how it's made. You can disable units one by one and see how it changes the sound. For example, you can take Dexed or Surge, both of which are free.
Of course, beforehands you have to learn the basics (what kind of waves are there, what is a spectrum, an envelope, how filters work and so on).
Regarding music theory, I think that tracker or 8-bit music uses standard notes and chords and you don't need any special music theory for it. Also if you can hear the notes then it will help you a lot. A good ear is important because it helps you to hear what is wrong with the sound and how to fix it.
Also, a desktop DAW like Ableton (which is recommended by neighbour comment) might be easier to use than a tracker.
Also, you can listen to the melodies you like and reverse-engineer them, if they are available in a tracker or MIDI format.
This is amazing. I love how the cables are animated
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Yay yeah he is! I remember playing Icy Tower for hours! [1]. Love his game designs and aesthetics. If I get it right, I first came in contact with his work when I was learning allegro [2], but TBH I'm not sure now. I think he used to use allegro in some of his games! 1: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icy_Tower 2: https://www.allegro.cc/
Aw thanks! Yes, allegro was my first foray in to making games in c. Used it extensively 98-02 iirc. :)