home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
/ No Fragments Archive 10: Diskmags / nf_archive_10.iso / MAGS / ST_NEWS / STN_02_5.MSA / DATA_DOC09 < prev    next >
Text File  |  1987-07-22  |  11KB  |  237 lines
  1. üINTERVIEWתITHפOBזUBBARD Çbyפichardיarsmakers
  2.  
  3. In⌠heטanuariΘssue∩f üSTמEWSÇ,חΦad⌠heΦonour∩fΘnterviewing
  4. Mr.⇩Jeffלinter,⇩distintiveσntertainment≤oftware⇩programmer.
  5. This⌠ime,⇩IΦaveΦad⌠heΦonour∩fΘnterviewing≤omeoneσqually
  6. distintive¡לr.⇩Robזubbard.⇩IΓet⌠hatβll¿ex-)בommodoreÀ4
  7. freaks⇩really⇩went⇩bananas≈hen⌠heyΦeard⇩that⇩Rob⇩started
  8. programmingµor⌠heצTβs≈ell¡חΣid,⇩anyway.⇩Butϕost≡eople
  9. that⇩had∩therπomputersΓefore¿especially⇩Spectrum,⇩BBC,⇩or
  10. maybe∈oπomputerβtβll)≈ill∈ow∈ot±uiteδnow≈hoח'm⌠alking
  11. about.⇩Well,פobזubbard≈as∩ne∩f⌠he∮eadingϕusic≈riters∩n
  12. theבommodoreÀ4¿mainly∩n⌠hatϕachine,⇩butΦeΦasβlso≈orked
  13. on⇩Schneider,⇩Amstradβnd⌠heIJtariןL≤eries).⇩It⇩all⇩began
  14. about⌠wo∩dd∙earsβgo.דspecially∩n⌠heבommodoreÀ4,≈ithΘts
  15. fabulousצID≤oundchip,⇩it÷eryµastΓecameβ⌠rend⌠o∮etτames
  16. beβccompaniedΓyπompleteϕusicalπompositions.⇩Robזubbard≈as
  17. one∩f⌠heµirst≡eopleΣoing⌠his,⇩andΦeΓecame≈ellδnown⇩by
  18. theϕusicµromוremlinוraphics'óThing∩nβצpring".⇩His⇩sound
  19. was⇩veryσasy⌠o≥ecognize,⇩with÷ery≈ellΣone⇩bass-and⇩drum
  20. lines.צoon,≤ome∩ther≡rogrammers≤tartedΣoing⌠hings∮ikeΦim
  21. on⇩the⇩'64βs≈ell.⇩TheΓest∩f⌠hem⇩undoubtedly⇩was⇩Martin
  22. Galway,⇩whoΦad⌠his÷eryΣistinctiveºheavy'≤ound∩f⇩his.⇩He
  23. hasΣoneϕusicµor⇩"Hyperצports",⇩"Rambo",⇩"Yie-Arיung⇩Fu",
  24. "Comic⇩Bakery"βndóParallax"βs≈ellβsϕany∩ther⇩games.⇩But
  25. David⇩Whittaker⇩andאenגaglishβlsoΓegan≈orking∩n⇩the⇩'64
  26. afterβ⌠ime,⇩whichβroused±uite≤omeπompetition.⇩All∩f⌠hem
  27. started⇩programmingϕoreΣifficultϕusic,⇩using⇩more⇩advanced
  28. soundσffects,σtc.
  29. But⇩I'm≤trayingµromϕy≤ubject,⇩whichΘsפob⇩Hubbard.⇩After
  30. "Thing∩nβצpring",Φe≤tarted≡rogramming≈ithΦigh±uantityβs
  31. well⇩as⇩quality.⇩Some∩fΦisΓest⇩musical⇩compositions⇩were
  32. "Monty∩n⌠heפun",⇩"Master∩fלagic"βndóCrazyבomets".חn⌠he
  33. winter⇩of⇩'85/'86⇩I⇩wroteβ⇩letter⇩to⇩him,⇩requesting⇩an
  34. interview⇩forβ∮ocal⌡sergroupΦereΘnזelmondπalled⇩Triorex.
  35. Was⇩I⇩lucky:⇩He⇩agreedβnd≤entϕeΓackβ⇩letter⇩with⇩very
  36. interestingβnswers.⇩Due⌠o⌠he⌡sergroupΘtself,⇩theΘnterview
  37. could⇩not⇩be⇩published⇩earlier⇩than⇩spring⇩1986,⇨but⇩it
  38. definately≈asβΦit.
  39. Whenהrankβndϕyself≤old∩urº64s,⇩in⌠he≤pring∩fõ986,⇩the
  40. only⇩thing⇩Iδnewח≈asτoing⌠oϕiss≈as⌠he⇩music⇩from⇩Rob
  41. Hubbardβs≈ellβs⌠hatµromלartinוalway.⇩Onϕanyβn⇩occasion
  42. people⇩wouldµindϕe∈ear⌠oβבommodoreÀ4∩nβπomputer⇩club,
  43. leaving⇩my⇩STΓehind≥unning≤omeϕonochromeΣemo,⇩so⇩that⇩I
  44. could⇩listen⌠o⌠heϕusic⌠hereβnd⌠hinkΓackβbout⌠hose⇩good
  45. old⌠imes.⇩Whenח∩nceΦeard⌠heóThrust"ϕusic¿doneΓyפob),ח
  46. started≥egretting⌠heµact⌠hatח≤oldϕyÀ4.קheצT≈asβτreat
  47. computer,⇩but⇩there≤till≈asβ∮ack∩fτood≤oftware⇩and⇩the
  48. musicחΦeard≈as≥eallyβwfulΘnπomparison⌠o⌠heº64≤tuff.⇩I
  49. just⇩had⌠oτetϕyבommodoreÀ4Γack,⇩onlyΘfΘt≈as⇩just⇩for
  50. that⇩goddamnµantasticϕusic!⇩RobΩust≈ent∩nβnd⇩on,⇩and⇩I
  51. slowly⇩became⇩convinced⌠hatחΦad⌠oΦaveβº64⇩again⇩-⇩the
  52. musicalπompositionµrom⌠heϕore≥ecentτamesóKnuckle⇩Buster",
  53. "Delta"⇩and⇩"Sanxion"ΩustΣroveϕe∩ut∩f⇩my⇩bleedin'⇩mind,
  54. especially≈hen∩ne≈as⌡sed⌠o⌠heצT'sóMusicצtudio"≤tuff.
  55.  
  56. More⌠han∩nceח≈roteβ∮etter⌠oפob,⇩requesting¿no,⇩I⌠hink
  57. it≈asϕore∮ikeºbegging')Φim⌠o≤tart≡rogramming∩n⌠heצT.ח
  58. knewΦeΦadΓeenΣesigningβnIJmstrad≤ound≥outine,⇩which⇩used
  59. a⇩soundchipπompatible⌠o⌠he∩neΘn⌠heצT.⇩ButϕyΦopes⇩sank
  60. rashly≈henחΦeardΦeΦadΓeen≈ritingβΣemoµor⌠heIJmiga.מow
  61. we⇩would∈everΦaveβπhance⌠o∮isten⌠oפobזubbard⇩music⇩on
  62. the⇩ST.⇩The⇩Amiga⇩justΦadϕuch⇩better⇩sound⇩capabilities.
  63. Goodbye⇩good⇩music.⇩I⇩justΦad⌠oΓe⇩satisfied⇩with⇩"Music
  64. Studio"≈ithΘts÷ery∮imitedπapabilities.
  65.  
  66.  
  67. Suddenly⇩I⇩got⇩"Extensor",⇩aτame⌠hat⇩contained⇩very⇩well
  68. programmed⇩sound,⇩writtenΓyזolgerוehrmann.⇩WasΘt⇩possible
  69. afterβll?⇩Could∩ur⌠rashy≤oundchip≡roduceτood±ualityϕusic
  70. still?⇩It⇩seemed≤o,⇩andΘtΣidn't⌠ake∮ongΓefore⇩a⇩second
  71. Holgerוehrmannπomposition≈as∮aunchedµor⌠heצT,πontainedΘn
  72. his⇩gameóHollywoodסoker".⇩IΘmmediately≡icked⌡p⇩my⇩pencil
  73. againβnd≈rote⌠oלr.⇩Hubbard,⇩onceβgainβskingΦim⌠o≤witch
  74. to⌠heצT¿in≈hichחϕentionedזolger's≡roceedings).⇩ButΦopes
  75. sank∮owerβnd∮ower.לy≤upplication≈asn'tσvenβnsweredβndϕy
  76. hopes⇩weren't≥aised⌡ntilחΦeard≤omeµamiliarϕusic⇩sounding
  77. fromβnצT≤ystem∩nβ⌡sergroupΘnצpaubeek.....Wasn't⌠hat...??
  78. Yes!?⇩I⇩immediately≥an⌠o⌠heπomputerח⌠hought⌠o⇩hear⇩the
  79. music⇩on,⇩and∩nϕy≈ayΘnvalidizised≤everalΘnnocent⇩people.
  80. Yes!⇩I⇩could⇩faintly≤ee⌠he≤entenceóMusicΓy⇩Rob⇩Hubbard"
  81. scrolling⇩by⇩underβ∈ice⇩picture,⇩accompanied⇩by⇩fantastic
  82. music!⇩Rob⇩Hubbard⇩has⇩finallyΣoneΘt!⇩Was⇩it⇩due⇩to⇩my
  83. beggings?⇩It≥eallyΣoesn'tϕatter.⇩But⌠heϕostΘmportantµact
  84. was⇩thatΦe≈as∈ow≡rogramming∩n⌠heצT.⇩This≥eally≡ut⇩new
  85. hartΘntoϕeβndβsחτotΦome,⇩I≡icked⌡p≡encilβnd≡aperβnd
  86. wrote⌠oΦimβgain.
  87.  
  88.  
  89. After⇩calling⇩him⇩as≈ell¿many⌠imes;⇩I⇩suppose⇩he'll⇩now
  90. probably⇩thinkóThere's⌠hatδidβgain"βs≤oonβsΦe⇩hears⇩my
  91. name⇩on⌠he∩therσnd∩f⌠he∮ine),⇩it⌠urned∩ut⌠hat⇩he⇩was
  92. even≡lanning⌠o≡rogram≤omeϕore≡rojects∩n⌠heצT.⇩There≈as
  93. Jupiterסrobe¿withβn∩riginalπomposition)βnd∮ater⇩"Thrust".
  94. Being⌠heσditor∩f üSTמEWSÇ,חΘmmediately⌠hought∩f⌠heΘdea∩f
  95. interviewing⇩himβgain,⇩whichחΦave∈ow⇩done.⇩In⇩fact,⇩the
  96. interviewΘs±uite⌠he≤ameβs⌠he∩neחΣidµorקriorex∩ver∩ne
  97. yearβgo,⇩butϕore⌡p-to-dateβndϕore≤pecified⌠o⌠heצT.⇩The
  98. answersπameΘnβΓit⌠oo∮ate¿maybeΣue⌠o⌠heדnglish⇩customs
  99. people⇩that⇩are⇩currently⇩striking)⌠o⇩be⇩included⇩in⇩the
  100. previousΘssue∩f üSTמEWSÇ,⇩but∈owΘt'sΦereβnd∙ou'llΓe⇩able
  101. to≥eadΘt!
  102.  
  103. Q:⇩Wellלr.⇩Hubbard,∮et's≤tart≥ight∩ff≈ith∙our≡rofession
  104. andβge.תhatβre⌠hey?
  105. A:⇩Well,⇩I'm⇩31βndחβmβϕusic≡rogrammer⇩and⇩professional
  106. musician.
  107. Q:⇩Which≤choolsΣid∙ou÷isit?⇩Which≤ubjectsΣid∙ou∮ike⇩or
  108. hate?
  109.  
  110.  
  111. A:ח≈ent⌠o≤choolΘnזull¿myΦome⌠own)βndτotϕyóO"βndóA"
  112. levels.⇩I⇩also⇩went⌠oϕusic≤choolµor⇩3⇩years.⇩I⇩started
  113. learning⌠he≡ianoβt⌠heβge∩fÃ.ח∮ikedϕaths,≡hysics,ϕusic
  114. andΦatedΦistory,σconomicsβndϕetalwork.
  115. Q:⇩WhenΣid∙ouΓuy⌠heÀ4?⇩Do∙ou⌡se∩rΦaveβccess⌠o⇩other
  116. computersβs≈ell?
  117. A:חΓought⌠heº64βboutœ∙earsβgo¿myµirstπomputer).חβlso
  118. have⌠heÀ128IJmstradµor≈hichחΦaveΣevelopedβϕusic≥outine.
  119. Iβlso≈ork∩n⌠heIJtariצT≈hichחΓought≤omewhereβroundIJpril
  120. orלay∩f⌠his∙ear¿Steveאakµromלicrodeal≥eallyτotϕe⌠oΣo
  121. this)βndחΦaveβlsoϕade≤ome≤ourceϕaterialµor⌠heIJmiga.
  122. Q:⇩WhyΦave∙ou≤pecializedΘn≡rogrammingϕusic?⇩Have∙ouσver
  123. doneβnythingσlse?
  124. A:⇩I≤tarted∩utΓy≈ritingσducationalϕusic≤oftware,⇩butτot
  125. noΘnterestµromβnyπompanies.⇩Asח⌠houghtϕostϕusicΘnτames
  126. was⇩very⇩badחΣecided⌠o≡rogramϕusic.⇩Eventually⇩I⇩got⇩a
  127. couple∩fπompaniesΘnterested≈hich∮ed⌠oóConfuzion",⇩"Action
  128. Biker"βndóThing∩nβצpring"Γack∩n⌠heº64.
  129. Q:⇩Which≡rogramΣo∙ou⌡se⌠o≈rite∙ourϕusic?גo∙ouβlso⌡se
  130. hardwareβdd-ons∩r≤omething∩f⌠heδind?
  131. A:מo,ח⌡se∈oΦardwareβdd∩ns.חπompose∩nβδeyboard¿synth)
  132. and⌠ypeΣataΘnto⌠heβctual≥outine⌠hat≡lays⌠heϕusic.
  133. Q:זowΣo∙ou≡rogramϕusic?
  134. A:⇩I⌡seβ≤ourceµile≈hichחσdit⌠oπreate≤oundsβnd⇩music.
  135. ThisΘs⌠henβssembled⌠oϕachine∮anguageβnd⌠ested.⇩I≈ork∩n
  136. aØΓar≡hrase⌡ntilΘtΘs≥ightβnd⌠henβddβnotherØΓars⇩and
  137. graduallyµinish⌠heπomposition.חtΘs⌠hen⌠ypedΘnto⌠heϕusic
  138. program⇩that⌡ses⌠he≥asterΘnterrupt∩n⌠heº64⇩and⇩programs⇩
  139. are⇩savedΘn∩neπhunk∩fϕemory.⇩Butצteveאak¿the⇩Microdeal
  140. man)Φasτot≤ome∩fϕy≤ourceπode,⇩soΦeπan≡ut≡ieces∩f⇩it
  141. hereβnd⌠hereΘnϕemory.⇩On⌠heצT,חσither⌡se⌠heשBL∩r⌠he
  142. MFP⇩Timer⇩interrupt.⇩I⇩do⇩not⇩write⇩the⇩actual⇩interrupt
  143. routine,⇩as⌠heτame≡rogrammerΣoes⌠hat.זeβlsoΣecides≈here
  144. inϕemoryΦe≈ants⌠heϕusic≡rogram.חϕake≤ure⌠hatΘtΘs÷ery
  145. simpleµorΦim⌠oºtie'ϕyϕusicΘntoΦisτame≡rogram.
  146. Q:⇩HowϕanyΦoursΦave∙ou≤pent≡rogramming∩nσ.g.óThing∩nβ
  147. Spring",⇩"Monty∩n⌠heפun",⇩"Humanפace"βndóCommando"∩n⌠he
  148. '64,βndóGoldrunner",óJupiterסrobe"βndóThrust"∩n⌠heצT?
  149. A:⇩"Thing⇩on⇩aצpring"⌠ookϕe⌠wo≈eeks¿odd⇩days⇩working),
  150. "Monty"⌠ookϕe⌠hree≈eeks,⇩"Humanפace"∮asted⌠wo≈eeks⇩and,
  151. finally,⇨"Commando"⇩took⇩me⇩24⇩hours⇩(without⇩a⇨break).
  152. Programming⇩the⇩ST⇩is±uiteβΦazard≤ometimes⇩-⇩bombs⇩keep
  153. flying⇩over∙our≤creenβll⌠he⌠imeΘf∙ouΣo≤omething⇩wrong.
  154. But,⇩however,⇩"Goldrunner"⇩took⇩me⇩onlyβ⇩couple⇩of⇩days,
  155. "Jupiterסrobe"⌠ookœΣays⌠o≈rite¿an∩riginalπomposition,≤o
  156. notµrom⌠heº64)βndóThrust"⌠ookŒΣays.
  157. Q:⇩Do∙ouΘmprovise≈hen≈riting∙ourϕusic,∩rΣo∙ou⌡se≤heet
  158. music⌠oπompose∙our≤oundtracks?
  159. A:⇩All⇩original⇩compositions.⇩I≈ould∈ever⌡se⇩sheet⇩music
  160. unlessΘt≈asβπlassical≡iece.
  161. Q:תhichΘs⌠heϕostΣifficult≡iece∩fϕusic∙ouσverϕade?
  162. A:⇩That⇩was⇩"Humanפace"∩n⌠heº64¿I∩nly⌡sedØ⇩voices⇩in
  163. stead∩f⌠hree).
  164. Q:תhich≤oundtrackΣo∙ouµind⌠he≈orstΣone?
  165. A:קhat'llΓeóConfuzion"!
  166. Q:⇩Which⇩sound≡rogrammerΣo∙ou⌠hinkΘs⌠heΓest∩n⌠he⇩'64?
  167. And∩n⌠heצT?
  168. A:לartinוalwayΘs⌠heΓest∩n⌠heº64¿wellδnownµromóRambo",
  169. "Hyperצports",⇩"Parallax",óComicאakery"βndóYie-arיungהu",
  170. ED),⇩andגaveתhittakerΘs⌠heΓest∩n⌠heצT.⇩IΦaveΦeard∙ou
  171. telling⇩something⇩aboutזolgerוehrmannΓut⇩I⇩really⇩haven't
  172. heardβny∩fΦis⌠unes∩n⌠heצT.
  173. Q:חs⌠hereπompetitionΓetweenϕusic≡rogrammers?
  174. A:⇩No!⇩E.g.לartin∩nly≈orksµorנceanβndח≈ould∈everτo⌠o
  175. them⇩to∩ffer⌠hemβ≤ong.⇩And∩n⌠heצTחβmτoodµriend⇩with
  176. Dave;≈eΣoµavoursµorσach∩ther.
  177. Q:תhich≡ieces∩fϕusicβre∙ouπurrentlyϕakingµor⌠heצT?
  178. A:⇩"Thrust"βndóJupiterסrobe"βreΩustµinished,⇩forהirebird
  179. andלicrodeal≥espectively.⇩I≈illΣoóWarhawk"µorהirebird⇩as
  180. well.
  181. Q:⇩How⇩do∙ou≡ersuade≤oftwareπompanies⌠o⌡se∙ourϕusic⇩in
  182. their⇩games?⇩Do⇩you⇩spreadóRobזubbard⇩Music⇩Samplers"⇩or
  183. something∩f⌠heδind?
  184. A:⇩In⇩the⇩earlyΣaysח⌡sed⌠o≤endΣemo-disks⌠o⌠ry⇩to⇩get
  185. work.⇩NowadaysחΣo∈ot≤endΣemos⌠oπompanies,βs⌠hey⌡sually
  186. telephoneϕeΘf⌠hey≈antϕe⌠oΣoβϕusic≡rogram.
  187. Q:זow≈ere∙ouºdiscovered'βndΓy≈hom?
  188. A:⇩It⇩took⇩about⇩6ϕonthsΓeforeβnyone≈ould⇩let⇩me⇩do⇩a
  189. soundtrack⇩forβτame.⇩Eventually,⇩"Microסrojects"¿a⇩2⇩man
  190. programming⌠eam)∮etϕeΣoóThing"βndלastertronicsβlso∮etϕe
  191. doóActionאiker".
  192. Q:⇩Do⇩you≡lay∩therϕusicalΘnstrumentsΓesides⌠he≡iano⇩you
  193. mentionedσarlier?
  194. A:חβlso≡layδeyboards¿synths),µlute,≤axophoneβndτuitar.
  195. Q:גo∙ouσver∮isten⌠o≡opularϕusic?חf≤o,≈hichΓandsΣo∙ou
  196. specifically∮ike?
  197.  
  198.  
  199. A:⇩I∮istenβ∮ot⌠oϕodern≡opΓands.⇩I∮ikeמewנrder,⇩Tears
  200. forהears,⇩Heuyכewisβndקheמewsβndβµew∩thers.חβlso∮ike
  201. Chickבorea,⇩Breckerאrothers,⇩Larry⇩Carlton,⇩Mozart,⇩Ravel,
  202. Michealקippet,ךellowלagicנrchestra,σtc.
  203. Q:תhatΣo∙ou⌠hink∩f⌠heϕusicalπapabilities∩f⌠heצT?
  204. A:⇩I⌠hink⌠heµuture∩f≤ounds∩n⌠heצT∮iesΘn⌠he⇩digitized
  205. field.ח⌠riedβ≈aveformσditor≡rogram¿only≤imple)≈hich⌠ook
  206. about⇩an⇩hour⇩to≈riteΓutחπouldn'tτetΘt⇩to⇩do⇩anything
  207. useful.⇩If⇩and⇩when⇩Iτet⌠imeח≈ill⌠ryΘt⇩again⇩(at⇩the
  208. moment,⇩DaveΘsβlso≈orking≈ith≤imilar⌠echniques),⇩although
  209. it⌡ses∈earlyβll⌠he≡rocessor⌠ime⌠oΣoΘt.תaveformπreation
  210. usingβdditive⌠echniques≤houldβllow⌠rue≡olyphonic⇩inetrvals
  211. on∩neπhannel⌡singµrequency≥atios.⇩Youϕight÷ery≤oon⇩hear
  212. someΣamnτoodϕusic∩n⌠heצT;⇩withβΓit∩f∮uck⌠heצT⇩might
  213. soundβlmostβsτoodβs⌠heIJmiga!
  214. Q:תhatΣo∙ou⌠hink∩f⌠heIJmiga<>ST≤yndrome?
  215. A:⇩IΣon't≈ant⌠oβrgueβbout⌠heIJmiga<>ST≤yndrome,βsΘtβll
  216. depends∩n∩ne⌠hing∩nly¡Θ.e.⇩whatΣo∙ou≈ant⌠o⌡seΘtµor!
  217. Documentation⇩for⇩theIJmiga,⇩however,⇩is÷ery⇩poor⇩and⇩the
  218. machineΘs÷eryΘnaccesibleπompared⌠o⌠heצT.⇩TheΦardware⇩of
  219. the⇩AmigaΘs≤uperior⌠o⌠heצT,⇩but⌠heIJmigaנSβnd⇩DOS⇩are
  220. both÷eryΓadβndµilled≈ithΓugs.
  221. I⇩think⌠heµuture∩f⌠heצTΘs÷eryτoodβs⌠hereβreβ∮ot⇩of
  222. STsβround∈owβnd∙ouπanΓet∙our∮ife⌠he≡rice∩f⌠heצT≈ill
  223. fall≈hen⌠heIJmigaŒ00≤tarts≤elling≈ell.חΣon't⌠hink⌠heצT
  224. isτoing⌠oΣoβnyΓetterΘn⌠heצtatesβsϕost≡eople⌠here⇩are
  225. alreadyΓuyingIJmigasΘnstead∩fצTs.⇩Also≈atch∩utµor⌠he∈ew
  226. AcornפISCϕachine¡Θtϕight≈ell∩ut≡erform⌠heIJmiga!
  227. Q:⇩Now⇩my∮ast±uestion:⇩WhatΘs∙our∩pinion⇩about⇩software
  228. piracy?
  229. A:⇩Large≤cale≡iracyΘs⌠heתORST⌠hing⌠hatπouldΣeastroy⌠he
  230. industry,⇩and⇩in⌠heσndΘtΘs⌠he≡erson⌠hatΓuys⇩games⇩who
  231. will≤uffer⌠heϕost.
  232.  
  233. InµollowingΘssues∩f üSTמEWSÇ,חΦope⌠o≡ublishΘnterviews≈ith
  234. FranzóSignum!"צchmerbeck,⇩Davidתhittaker,סeteróSTAD"לelzer
  235. andϕany∩thers.חΦope⌠o≤ee∙ou⌠hen!
  236.  
  237.