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Thanks to Warp, I spent most of my morning looking at old Amiga demos.
In particular, I remember as a young teenager reading a review of a demo
named "Jesus on Es" by LSD. The reviewer clearly rated it extremely
highly. I always dreamed that one day, I'd get to see this apparently
legendary demo.
Well, about a year ago, I discovered an online video file of the demo.
(Presumably made using a TV digitiser.) It's compressed to hell, so some
of the visual effects don't come out very well. I'm also fairly sure
some of the shorts aren't that jerky on a real Amiga. [Because I've seen
other programs do it smoothly on the same hardware.]
The results of watching this were... well, interesting. The demo is
pretty tame, technically. It doesn't "do" all that much. In fact, the
visuals quickly become downright repetative. But the music... damn, they
just don't *make* music like that any more! I can remember when you used
to be able to go into shops and *buy* music like this. But alas, rave
music is now unspeakably unfasionable.
Damnit, I *like* rave music! :-(
Of course, there's rave music and there's rave music. Sometimes all you
get is distorted sounds and pointless audio samples over a repetative
beat. And sometimes you get something really enjoyable to listen to. I
can't define exactly what the difference is - surely if I could, I'd be
very rich by now! But let me put it this way: the music to this demo is
the good stuff.
Yes, it sounds crunchy and low-tech. But that's how rave music is often
meant to sound, so the Amiga's hardware is no real limitation here. Heh,
back when rave music was actually popular, the idea that you could make
it with a mere home computer didn't seem so ridiculous. I mean, this
demo pumps out high-wattage excitement almost as good as any CD you
could buy in the shops at the time. (Count how many Prodigy samples you
can hear...)
So yeah, the demo doesn't do very much. But what it does, it does with
style. It's only throwing some pixels round and playing back some
samples, but the overall effect is quite good. I sat for a full 30
minutes watching this thing. The visuals are a little poor in places and
could *really* do with more variety. But the rest is really quite good...
I did wonder a little why the reviewer liked this demo so much. And then
I found videos of some *other* Amiga demos - some much newer. Although
many were significantly technically superior, few were as much fun to
watch, and almost none had decent music. It is kind of impressive to see
realtime 3D lightsourcing and texture mapping on a machine with an 8 MHz
CPU and no FPU, but... beyond being technically impressive, most of the
demos are boring to watch.
Note: Jesus on Es fits on 2 double-density floppies. (DD = the one
*before* HD. Holds about 720 KB or something, NOT 1.44 MB.) Running it
*requires* two physical disk drives, and a specific variant of Amiga. I
am almost 100% certain my Amiga won't run it - too many modifications.
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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Orchid XP v8 <voi### [at] dev null> wrote:
> Damnit, I *like* rave music! :-(
Personally I find goa trance to be particularly interesting.
Of course 90% of the goa music out there is rather boring (which is true
for *all* types of music), but the rest are rather good IMO.
I'd post some samples, but since I have been raving (no pun intended)
so much about internet piracy during the years, that's a rather big
deterrent from doing so. OTOH I can give you one example as a search
string for youtube, so you can listen it there if you want (the sound
quality is obviously not the best possible, but you get the idea):
Phreaky - Paranormal Activity
(There are even better ones, but youtube doesn't have them.)
--
- Warp
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Warp wrote:
> I'd post some samples, but since I have been raving (no pun intended)
> so much about internet piracy during the years, that's a rather big
> deterrent from doing so.
Actually, Gregory Blake did some very nice Goa, and he gives most of it
away free. Hiberneria, FirstMix, and my favorite of his "Spring". I
pulled a whole bunch (like five to seven) of CD-length MP3s off his
site, so they're probably around somewhere.
(Not that I'm a conneseur of Goa, so maybe these are actually pretty
bad. :-)
--
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
Helpful housekeeping hints:
Check your feather pillows for holes
before putting them in the washing machine.
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>> Damnit, I *like* rave music! :-(
>
> Personally I find goa trance to be particularly interesting.
I enjoy trance. I'm not really very sure of the fine distinctions
between the different subtypes, but if I go into a shop and buy
something that says "The Best Trance Anthems Since The Start Of The
Universe Ever Volume 1384925", I usually like the contents. ;-)
> Of course 90% of the goa music out there is rather boring (which is true
> for *all* types of music)
Ain't *that* the truth!
> but the rest are rather good IMO.
Mmm, OK.
> I'd post some samples, but since I have been raving (no pun intended)
> so much about internet piracy during the years, that's a rather big
> deterrent from doing so.
;-)
> Phreaky - Paranormal Activity
Interesting... it's certainly in the right general direction anyway.
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:
> Actually, Gregory Blake did some very nice Goa, and he gives most of it
> away free. Hiberneria, FirstMix, and my favorite of his "Spring". I
> pulled a whole bunch (like five to seven) of CD-length MP3s off his
> site, so they're probably around somewhere.
Strange, a google search on Gregory Blake doesn't seem to give any
relevant hits...
--
- Warp
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Warp wrote:
> Strange, a google search on Gregory Blake doesn't seem to give any
> relevant hits...
I noticed that. Weird. I'll see if I can track down where it went. If I
recall, I was introduced to the work by a friend. I'll ask around.
Also, by the way, while it's not Goa, you might want to listen to some
Jean-Michel Jarre stuff. Particularly "magnetic fields" (maybe
translated to "magnetic dances" in non-english), and Zoolook. At least
listen to whatever clips you might find on Amazon. Not Goa, but sort of
more like synchopated goa kinda? Hard to describe, but you might enjoy
it if you're not familiar with it. He's one of my favorite composers. Be
aware he does a fair number of different styles over the years.
--
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
Helpful housekeeping hints:
Check your feather pillows for holes
before putting them in the washing machine.
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Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:
> Also, by the way, while it's not Goa, you might want to listen to some
> Jean-Michel Jarre stuff.
I have a CD collection called "Synthesizer greats", and it has 3 Jarre
compositions (Oxygene, Magnetic Fields and Fourth Rendezvouz).
They are cool. Other great compositions in that collection, IMO,
include Crockett's theme and Miami Vice theme by Hammer, Theme from
"Rainman" by Zimmer, and Blade Runner by Vangelis.
Of course there are many others too, such as Chariots of Fire by
Vangelis, which is great, but has been (ab)used so much everywhere
that it has become a bit tired... :)
--
- Warp
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Warp wrote:
> I have a CD collection called "Synthesizer greats", and it has 3 Jarre
> compositions (Oxygene, Magnetic Fields and Fourth Rendezvouz).
Very cool. Then you know what I'm talking about. I myself have AFAIK
every Jarre album. In there is Pink Floyd and Vangelis, ELO, Moody
Blues. I think those are my favorite bands.
I recently found out an artist I really like (Isao Tomita) who stopped
making stuff 20 years ago didn't stop after all. They just stopped
exporting it from Japan to America. Love the internet, there. :-)
The other album that's about Jarre's closest to goa would be the zoolook
album.
<http://www.amazon.com/Zoolook-Jean-Michel-Jarre/dp/B000001ZS8/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1214798111&sr=8-1#moreAboutThisProduct>
In particular, the Zoolookologie and Zoolook tracks. Which is actually
useful advice, now that you can buy this stuff one track at a time. :-)
> They are cool. Other great compositions in that collection, IMO,
> include Crockett's theme and Miami Vice theme by Hammer, Theme from
> "Rainman" by Zimmer, and Blade Runner by Vangelis.
Yeah, all very fun.
> Of course there are many others too, such as Chariots of Fire by
> Vangelis, which is great, but has been (ab)used so much everywhere
> that it has become a bit tired... :)
Vangelis does great theme music, but he also has a few klunkers. Of
course, he has 3x the music of everyone else I like, so having 1x
klunkers isn't much of a problem.
--
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
Helpful housekeeping hints:
Check your feather pillows for holes
before putting them in the washing machine.
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Hmm... you mean I'm *not* the only person alive who likes ELO, Pink
Floyd, Jean Michel Jarre and Tangerine Dream?
Never would have suspected that...
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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On Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:57:49 -0700, Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom>
wrote:
>I recently found out an artist I really like (Isao Tomita) who stopped
>making stuff 20 years ago didn't stop after all. They just stopped
>exporting it from Japan to America. Love the internet, there. :-)
Memories :) I had a copy of his "Pictures at an Exhibition",
brilliant!
--
Regards
Stephen
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Stephen wrote:
> Memories :) I had a copy of his "Pictures at an Exhibition",
That one you can still get on CD. Bolero is the only one I had on vinal
and can't find on CD. But there are a number of others you can find if
you go to his official web site. I'll be looking into it soon. :-)
Oh, except they really screwed up the mixing on the Pictures remaster or
something. All the stereo is flakey, like they got the phase reversed or
some such. Very annoying.
--
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
Helpful housekeeping hints:
Check your feather pillows for holes
before putting them in the washing machine.
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On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:46:01 -0700, Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom>
wrote:
>
>Oh, except they really screwed up the mixing on the Pictures remaster or
>something. All the stereo is flakey, like they got the phase reversed or
>some such. Very annoying.
Tisk, tisk :)
--
Regards
Stephen
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On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:07:57 +0100, Stephen wrote:
> On Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:57:49 -0700, Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:
>
>>I recently found out an artist I really like (Isao Tomita) who stopped
>>making stuff 20 years ago didn't stop after all. They just stopped
>>exporting it from Japan to America. Love the internet, there. :-)
>
> Memories :) I had a copy of his "Pictures at an Exhibition", brilliant!
That is a fun album. Tomita's version of The Planets is also pretty good.
Jim
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On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 07:16:29 +0100, Orchid XP v8 wrote:
> Hmm... you mean I'm *not* the only person alive who likes ELO, Pink
> Floyd, Jean Michel Jarre and Tangerine Dream?
>
> Never would have suspected that...
PF and TD are standards in my collection....Don't have many albums, but I
do like them.
Jim
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On 30 Jun 2008 15:59:24 -0400, Jim Henderson <nos### [at] nospamcom>
wrote:
>On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:07:57 +0100, Stephen wrote:
>> Memories :) I had a copy of his "Pictures at an Exhibition", brilliant!
>
>That is a fun album. Tomita's version of The Planets is also pretty good.
>
>Jim
I've not heard it but will look out for it.
--
Regards
Stephen
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Stephen wrote:
> I've not heard it but will look out for it.
They're all on Amazon.com in the USA at least. Snowflakes, Firebird, and
Kosmos are the others I have. All equally wonderful.
I'm missing Bolero and Bermuda Triangle, that I had on LP. I'll have to
track them down somewhere.
--
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
Helpful housekeeping hints:
Check your feather pillows for holes
before putting them in the washing machine.
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On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:34:26 -0700, Darren New wrote:
> Stephen wrote:
>> I've not heard it but will look out for it.
>
> They're all on Amazon.com in the USA at least. Snowflakes, Firebird, and
> Kosmos are the others I have. All equally wonderful.
>
> I'm missing Bolero and Bermuda Triangle, that I had on LP. I'll have to
> track them down somewhere.
Yeah, Firebird is good as well. I might have Bermuda Triangle at home
(on LP as well, now I think of it).
Jim
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On Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:34:26 -0700, Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom>
wrote:
>They're all on Amazon.com in the USA at least. Snowflakes, Firebird, and
>Kosmos are the others I have. All equally wonderful.
When I fall over it second hand I'll buy it. I've been stuck in the
Baroque grove for quite some time. I wouldn't spend real money but
thanks for the thought.
--
Regards
Stephen
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Orchid XP v8 wrote:
> Thanks to Warp, I spent most of my morning looking at old Amiga demos.
>
> In particular, I remember as a young teenager reading a review of a demo
> named "Jesus on Es" by LSD. The reviewer clearly rated it extremely
> highly. I always dreamed that one day, I'd get to see this apparently
> legendary demo.
>
> Well, about a year ago, I discovered an online video file of the demo.
> (Presumably made using a TV digitiser.) It's compressed to hell, so some
> of the visual effects don't come out very well. I'm also fairly sure
> some of the shorts aren't that jerky on a real Amiga. [Because I've seen
> other programs do it smoothly on the same hardware.]
I just found a higher-quality version of the video online.
Two versions, actually. One uses "DivX", the other uses "H.264". Neither
of these videos will actually play on my PC, but if I rename the DivX
one to ".avi" suddenly it plays. (The other one refuses to play no
matter what I do to it.)
The sound is clearly, the visuals are sharper, and they move faster.
However, half way through watching I realised with some irritation that
sound and picture aren't synced properly. I don't know whether the whole
thing is out of sync by a constant amount or whether they slowly slide
out of phase; either way, I'm not sure how to fix. But it's damned
annoying in a carefully synced high-BPM audio-visual experience!
I notice also that the visuals aren't exactly the same as the first
video. I presume the exact sequence is randomised.
Also, I did thing about getting hold of an Amiga emulator. It used to be
that only M68k Apples could run such a thing - but today, PCs run so
much faster than an Amiga that in principle it should be possible to run
hardware emulation purely in software.
I did in fact discover two such emulators. One costs money, and the
other requires you to get hold of a ROM image from somewhere.
[Obviously, CBM holds the copywrite on the contents!] I'll have to see
if I can find software for taking such an image. (Also, there is NO
DOCUMENTATION ANYWHERE!)
Watching this demo, you do wonder why the reviewer all those years ago
was so excited about it.
...and then you go watch some other demos. They all do stuff that is
wildly more technically impressive, but... I think the longest demo I
saw was about 9 minutes? Jesus on Es runs for THIRTY MINUTES. During
that time, the music is non-stop and never repeats. (The graphics, on
the other hand, repeat far too much!)
Even if you just think of it as a music compilation with a few visuals
thrown in just for giggles, it's still quite impressive that you can fit
30 minutes of sound on two 720 KB floppies, no? ;-)
[Before anybody flames me: Yes, I know how sampling works. I have
personally DONE it. :-P Still, that Rolf Harris sample is quite big...
wonder how they got it all to fit?]
It's also quite amusing the number of synthesizer samples that I
actually *recognise*! ;-)
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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Orchid XP v8 <voi### [at] devnull> wrote:
> Two versions, actually. One uses "DivX", the other uses "H.264". Neither
> of these videos will actually play on my PC, but if I rename the DivX
> one to ".avi" suddenly it plays. (The other one refuses to play no
> matter what I do to it.)
Get a proper media player. In the modern world you can't rely solely
on what Windows installs by default. You might not like it, but you just
have to get over it, if you want to watch any "underground" videos.
--
- Warp
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Warp wrote:
> Get a proper media player.
Such as...?
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
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Orchid XP v8 wrote:
> Warp wrote:
>
>> Get a proper media player.
>
> Such as...?
>
Such as VLC from videolan.org.
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