What is chiptune, chipmusic, 8-bit sound ?

Because I am French, I will explain it with simple words and examples. And why is it in english ? Because most of resources are in english (and japanese too !). Commonly on Internet, "chiptune", "chipmusic" and "8-bit sound" mean the same thing. But for me, it is a little bit different.

Just one thing before to start : the difference between the terms "chiptune" and "chipmusic" is not very important ! ;) We do not need to debate during long hours. Historically, the term "chiptune" came before "chipmusic". Today, these terms mean same thing.

Chiptune

So, in general, Chiptune define music written in sound formats where all the sounds are synthesized in realtime by a computer or video game console sound chip, instead of using sample-based synthesis. The 'golden age' of chiptunes was the mid 1980s to early 1990s, when such sound chips were the most common method for creating music on computers. In short, it is the sound of the first demos and video games.

For the MSX several sound upgrades, such as the Konami SCC , the Yamaha YM2413 (MSX-MUSIC) and Yamaha Y8950 (MSX-AUDIO, predecessor of the OPL3) and the OPL4-based Moonsound were released as well, each having its own characteristic chiptune sound.

The Nintendo Gameboy do not have a separate soundchip. It uses digital logic integrated on the main CPU.

Also, there is no soundchip in the Apple II, but there is a 16 channel 8 bit Ensoniq ES5503 DOC wavetable soundchip in the Apple IIGS (GS = Graphics and Sound).

Sonic the Hedgehog - Music track of the famous video gameTrack using only PSG processor Track using only FM processor

Example of a 'real' chiptune :Chris Huelsbeck - 'Shades' - Original chiptune composed in 1986 on Commodore 64 and directly recorded

In 1991, few artists (as 4-Mat and Random Voice) composed modules (MOD, IT...) with big chip influences, on digital trackers. They used really short samples. These chiptunes are 'sample based' because no real soundchip are used. However, they respect demoscene and video-games spirit, and sometimes specificities of a real soundchip.

Today, many composers continue to use computers or consoles with real soundchip (Nintendo Gameboy is one of the favorites but Atari ST, Commodore 64 and others are used too !).

Example of a modern and 'real' chiptune on Nintendo Gameboy :cTrix - 'Live Tek House Set' - Original chiptune composed on lonely one Gameboy, in 2009

Moreover, when the sound is less than 8-bit (1, 2, 3 or 4 bit) it is generally considered as chiptune too. Sound of Nintendo Gameboy is not 8-bit sound at all. The Gameboy sound chip offers four channels with 4-bit sound.

8-bit sound

Often, there is a confusion between sound relative to chiptune/chipmusic and 8-bit sound from 8-bit computers or consoles. On this following example, samples are all coded in 8-bit but it's not a chiptune/chipmusic at all ! Note that on this website I use '8-bit sound' term to define chiptune/chipmusic because everybody do it. For your knowledges, now, you know the difference. ;)