When Bell Labs first taught an IBM computer how to “sing”, they had no idea what they were unleashing on the world. While the first video games only had a smattering of beeps or buzzing to accompany the graphic action, it wasn’t long before you could hear arcades before you could see them. At home, the earliest consoles and home computers features ways to get sound and make music.
As the technology advanced, the sound got better. Simple one-voice melodies were replaced by lush soundtracks rivaling anything from a Hollywood production. At the same time, the computer became an instrument in and of itself. It can emulate real instruments, but also create new and interesting sounds unlike anything made before.
Tune in to “Bits and Bytes” on Thursday nights at 11:00. We play the best music exclusive to video games, and also treat you to music that was never released on any media other than computer code.
