Sony PSP users: turned off by new-fangled graphical drum machines and wireless Ableton Live controllers? Want to kick it oldskool with a tracker? Check out PSPSeq, which has now matured to version 1.0 (from 0.2). Here’s what’s new:
- editable parameters on instruments
- customizable instrument groupings
- multiple loops/song sequence
- tap tempo
- multiple audio presets, new generators/fx
- improvements and optimizations to many of the generators and fx
- configurable step length
- proper swing handling
I have to say, those are some pretty luxurious features for a portable game system tracker, all while maintaining the feel of similar homebrew trackers on systems like the original Game Boy. Not to be overlooked are PSPSeq’s formidable synth capabilities, which sound appropriately glitchy and 8-bit but are capable of producing some unique results. The demo here, built in 0.2, sounds really fantastic — “A Day in the Life of an Android” by billy:
A Day in the Life of an Android
A next-gen game portable sounding like a tripped-out Game Boy? Priceless.
In fact, between this and the aforementioned, more modern software, the PSP is becoming a pretty impressive music system between games of Lumines. Earth to Sony: resistance is futile. Win back much-needed credibility in your core market (ahem, rootkit) and embrace the homebrews instead of fighting them. Sure, that might make the lives of pirates easier, but it’d also attract new attention — and likely hardware sales — to a platform that could use a little extra buzz. And think of the great parties you could hold with PSPSeq DJs glitching out in the booth.
On the subject of great user-built creations Sony has unwisely disabled, this is one of them. Read the fine print for compatibility information:
“PSPSeq runs on all firmwares between 1.0 and 2.71, along with 2.71 SE. PSPSeq is not compatible with 2.80/2.81 and cannot be loaded via devhook or Hen-C.”
For Nintendo fans, visit our sister site CDMotion and witness the Nintendo DS acting as a wireless VJ controller, cueing, scratching, fading, and effecting live video and animation over Wi-Fi:
Nintendo DS as VJ Controller, with vvvv and Homebrew Developer Tools