As some of you may have noticed the Software page from my blog has been removed. The Music Tech Software of the past will no longer be distributed from these pages. I have recently had the good fortune to do a project called the “Super Chip Tune Samba Band” which encourages large groups of people to come together to create and perform music. The project has attracted a lot of attention from both big companies to the people who the software is intended for, and for this I am grateful. It has also changed my focus from primarily instrument maker to more educational related software.

It has also now made me change the way I do things, no longer will I reverse engineer / hack computers to learn about them, it’s all gone, all of it, destroyed (much to my friends and colleagues despair). From now on it will be official development only. Developing for several hand held platforms with the intention to create small but useful music related software. With iPhone and Android development already underway, and with the intention of developing for DSiware, PSP Go and Symbian in the future. I feel going the legitimate and official route will allow those who are unaware of the music making on these devices more aware of their potential, and by “their” I wholeheartedly mean the individuals.

This is by no means an attempt to legitimise chip tune music, it is something I feel I need to do as an individual. I love chip tune music, I have always striven to push it as far as I can take it, from making software for all to projects like Obsolete? and this is where it has lead me.

I hope you”ll join me on my new adventure.

For more information follow @room1studios & @pixelh8 on Twitter.

New double album “The Schematic” out soon!!!

Well I can honestly say I feel that the opening night of “Childhood Remixed” was a success, we had loads of visitors and lots of fun. For many visitors it was there first experience with either circuit bending / automation or chip tune and many found it an enjoyable one. Children of all ages from 8 to 80 were happy at play on the modified toys to make sounds. Both the Mayor and Dr. Michael Doherty gave speeches about my work and said nice things about me too, so all in all it was a good night. Sincere amount of thanks to James Noble and Julia Devonshire for all of their continued help and support during the install week, I couldn’t have done it without them.

Click on one of the photos to see more on my Flickr page.

Childrens’ toys are often seen as transitional objects that let the child gain mastery of the world around them. Paradoxically “Childhood Remixed” seeks to re-purpose the toys of Pixelh8’s childhood with the skills and understanding of the world he has as an adult. By rewiring, re-purposing and re-using them he will essentially be remixing his own childhood to form an orchestra of automated toys and interactive instruments.

Scouring the local car boot sales, charity shops and in some cases rubbish bins, Pixelh8 was able to reclaim some of the toys that informed him musically and creatively as a child, by re-working them with new acquired skills it will in turn create a learning curve that folds back on itself.

Childhood Remixed was commissioned by Ipswich Borough Council & Turnstone Arts Grants sponsor Ip-art Award 2007- 2010 and will be on display in Town Hall Galleries from May 29th to July 12th as part of the Ip-art festival.

I am really pleased to announce that Marshall Amplification have sponsored the Super Chip Tune Samba Band, by way of several Marshall MS-4 Micro Amps. I am incredibly thankful for their contribution, it means the band can now be a full on marching band, no complicated wires and PA systems, just plug and play. More videos and pictures from the upcoming workshops soon!

Thank you so much Paul and all at Marshall Amplification.

On January 31st, 2010 I ran a day long workshop at FACT, Liverpool, teaching people how to use the “SUPER CHIP TUNE SAMBA BAND” software, the new software is made to encourage people to perform chip tune music together in groups. The day long session included an introduction to chip tune music, why and how I made the software, the rehearsal and the performance by the participants. The software was designed to mimic the sounds of a samba band albeit a very chip tune samba band with a Sirdu, Caixa, Rep, Ganza and an Agogo, and utilising the participants existing hand-eye coordination, muscle memory and general video game playing skills to learn new and additional musical skills.

You can read my paper on it below, the research forms part of my Masters Degree at the Centre for Design Innovation, University Suffolk College, UK.

Cultural perceptions, ownership and interaction with re-purposed musical instruments

The event has attracted international press here and here thanks to Wired & GeekDad.

The feedback from the workshop was very very positive and some nice stories about families coming together for the event to make music. Very pleased that they really took to the idea of creating something with the DS instead of just being a passive consumer of it. I also gave them copies of SUPER CHIP TUNE SAMBA BAND and Music Tech Master Stroke so they can go away and make there own music. minus the conclusion which I will write up next week.

This event forms part of FACTs “Space Invaders: Art and the Computer Game Environment” season and is delivered in partnership with Netherlands Media Art Institution, Amsterdam. Special thanks to all staff at FACT and special thanks to Anna Kronenburg for organising the event.

Two days in a row I did a Q&A with two different schools the Academy of St.Francis of Assisi and Holly Lodge Girls College and others at FACT, it was great some good questions coming out of the students, I demonstrated circuit bending, discussed “Obsolete?” and did a short mini-gig where the participants could ask questions in between songs about how and what I was doing to create the music.

Photos courtesy of Anna Kronenburg and Louise Latter @ FACT, Liverpool

Today I did a Computer Graphics Workshop with two different schools the Academy of St.Francis of Assisi and Holly Lodge Girls College at FACT, Liverpool as part of the current Space Invaders exhibition. They were a fantastic group, so good in fact we even had time to make sound effects for the game as well. The space was perfect as we could beam the game on a huge cinema screen as we were making it.

The game will be all edited and back to them in a week for them to play on in school and at home. Next up tonight “An Evening With Pixelh8” all sold out!!!

Firstly many thanks to Anna, Hamish, Ben and the support staff at FACT.  Secondly the adults and children who took part.

Today I ran  a day long workshop, teaching people how to use the new “SUPER CHIP TUNE SAMBA BAND” software, the new software is made to encourage people to perform chip tune music together in groups. The day long session included an introduction to chip tune music, why and how I made the software, the rehearsal and the performance by the participants.  Already the event has attracted international press here and here.

The software is designed to mimic the sounds of a samba band albeit a very chip tune samba band with a Sirdu, Caixa, Rep, Ganza and an Agogo, it’s time to turn those game playing skills in to Samba music.

Despite many technical hitches due to several cables being a bit flaky (grrr just bought them for the event, but I can sort this out with a bit of funding or sponsorship) the feedback was very very positive and some nice stories about families coming together for the event to make music.  Can’t post any pictures tonight left my camera adapter at the lab will update this post later in the week.

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I really enjoyed it and the families did too. Very pleased that they really took to the idea of creating something with the DS instead of just being a passive consumer of it. I also gave them copies of SUPER CHIP TUNE SAMBA BAND and Music Tech Master Stroke so they can go away and make there own music.  You can read my paper on it below on the how, what and why of the workshop, minus the conclusion which I will write up next week.

Cultural perceptions, ownership and interaction with re-purposed musical instruments

Some minor hitches with the software (if one drum is exited before it is finished playing it holds it in memory especially the Agogo) and I think the PC/MAC Player software needs to have several more patterns and more simpler patterns as well apart from that it was great.

When it’s all done and written up all the software and teaching notes will be available for download so you can make your own samba band in your schools and homes.

This event forms part of FACTs “Space Invaders: Art and the Computer Game Environment” season and is delivered in partnership with Netherlands Media Art Institution, Amsterdam.

“Our Lady Of Perpetual Succour Catholic Primary School in Widnes collaborated with artist and FACT education freelancer Ross Dalziel on a piece of music using acclaimed artist and musician Pixelh8’s Tech Master Stroke ‘chiptune’ software for Nintendo DS…

FACT’s engagement and education team invited the DS Orchestra to play at the opening of the exhibition “Space Invaders – Art and the Computer game Envirionment” at FACT in Liverpool which continues to run from 18 December 2009 to 21 February 2010.” FACT.

Many thanks to Ross Dalziel of Sound Network and all the staff at FACT, and of course the fantastic DS Orchestra, look out for “Super Chip Tune Samba Band” software, workshops and videos coming soon.

On January 31st, 2010 I will be running a day long workshop, teaching people how to use the new “SUPER CHIP TUNE SAMBA BAND” software, the new software is made to encourage people to perform chip tune music together in groups. The day long session will include introduction to chip tune music, why and how I made the software, the rehearsal and the performance by the participants. For booking details contact FACT at their website. Already the event has attracted international press here and here so book early to avoid disappointment.

The software is designed to mimic the sounds of a samba band albeit a very chip tune samba band with a Sirdu, Caixa, Rep, Ganza and an Agogo, it’s time to turn those game playing skills in to Samba music.

After the event the software will be released to download for free as well as some play-along videos for you to get started using it.

This event forms part of FACTs “Space Invaders: Art and the Computer Game Environment” season and is delivered in partnership with Netherlands Media Art Institution,  Amsterdam.

Very pleased this article got out there, which talks about Mobile App development in Suffolk, the work I am doing with UCS students to prepare them for the workplace with the most current technology we can offer them. Not only are they developing for the iPhone, but the Nintendo DS and Java based phones.

It also talks about fellow local developper Paul Hutson and the success of his Kingdom Game and Outer Empires projects, all good news for Suffolk and University Campus Suffolk and I am sure I will update you on my students progress.