How to Make Videogame Sounds

Nostalgic Beeps Recreated on the MODAL Carbon 8   23-Aug-26

It's common knowledge that I'm fairly obsessed with vintage computers. So when MODAL asked me to take a closer look at their Carbon 8 Experimental Synthesizer, I thought it would be fun to recreate a bunch of classic videogame sounds on the hardware; by using the Carbon's sequencer and tone-shaping options.

The Carbon 8 contains whole worlds of timbres - 56 waveform cores alone, and within these depths are everything we need to recreate these bleeps and bloops of yore:

• Square wave oscillators with PWM, Hi Nick!
• Triangle waves with DeRez, to simulate those classic 4-bit NES basslines!
• Clocked noise, variable from full-spectrum white noise all the way down to burbling chaos. Used to simulate hi hats, percussive tones and explosive SFX!
• A Sequencer with parameter automation to add movement to all of these waveforms - perhaps bringing in a pitch envelope on certain steps to mimic a bass drum, or changing the noise volume and clock speed per step to create compelling, syncopated percussion!

So join me for this adventure into 8-bit sound. We'll pay tribute to the legendary composer Rob Hubbard and later, recreate some spooky NES lead sounds!

https://modalelectronics.com/carbon8/

https://www.instagram.com/modalelectronics/?hl=en-gb