System of a Sound pt. 1

Why does a NES game sound like a NES game? How is music even synthesized at all? Alex and Lindsey try to find an answer in the first part of this system-focused series.

Tweet us @OfSymphonica or email us at [email protected] with questions, additions, and corrections - we might just feature you in Free DLC.

Big thanks to the people behind The Pudding for putting together this amazing waveworms website and visualizer: https://pudding.cool/2018/02/waveforms/

Also huge shout to Karen Collins, who literally wrote the book on game music and implementation history. Check out her essential textbook, Game Sound, right here: https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/game-sound

Songs played in order of Appearance:
- Tales of Symphonica Theme by Alex Pagano
- Rusted Sands on Horizon: Forbidden West by Oleska Lozowchuk
- Edge of the Sundom on Horizon: Forbidden West by Niels van der Leest
- Loop Blues on Loop Hero by  Blinch
- Cosmic Temperance on Loop Hero by  Blinch
- Muda Kingdom on Super Mario Land by Hip Tanaka
- Chill on Dr. Mario (NES) by Hip Tanaka
- Kraid's Lair on Metroid by Hip Tanaka
- Game Sounds on Pong by Allan Alcorn
- On the Right Path on Murder by Numbers by Masakuza Sugimori
- Title Theme on BMX Air Master by  uncredited
- Stage 3 on Journey to Silius by Naoki Kodaka
- Matoya's Cave on Final Fantasy by Nobuo Uematsu
- Bloody Tears on Castlevania 2 by Kenichi Matsubara
- Fortress on Super Mario Bros. 3 by Koji Kondo
- New Donk City - Daytime on Super Mario Odyssey by Naoto Kubo
- Energy Zone Theme on Contra by Kazuki Muraoka
- Town Theme on Ultima: Exodus (NES) by Tsugotoshi Goto
- Flash Man on Mega Man 2 by Takashi Tateishi
- Bright Man on Mega Man 4 by Minae Fujiii
- Stage Theme on Clu Clu Land by Akita Nakatsuka
- Title Theme on The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle by Paul Wilkinson
- BGM 2 on Silver Surfer (NES) by Tim Follin

Credits:
Podcast by Alex Pagano and Lindsey North
Art by Kevin Flanagan

Sources: Too many to list. Contact us directly for details.