An Interview with Chris Huelsbeck
What other c64 composers do you like?
Rob Hubbard, Martin Galway, Ben Daglish, Jeroen Tel
What other sids do you like?
I always loved the synth sample demos (was that Hubbard?😉 )
What tunes that you have composed are amongst your personal favourites?
C64: R-Type Title, Starball
What were your likes/dislikes about the sid chip?
The SID Sound is absolutely unique and can't be accurately produced by any other Synthesizer that I know. Specially the pulse-with modulation is the holy grail of its power. There was not much to dislike, besides maybe the SID chip / C64 filter design, which caused each machines filter to sound almost unpredictably different.
How do you feel about people covering or remixing your old sids?
As long as there is no commercial usage I have no problems with it.
Why did you start making c64 music?
I did music using organs and synths for a while already and one of the reasons I decided to get a C64 was the SID chip, since I didn't own any synthsizer myself. I became interested in programming and when a friend who programmed a game needed music I was 'in business". My very first music player was pretty basic, but I learned fast and the sound got better.
What are your fondest memories of the c64?
The day I bought the machine (with some financial help of my grandma) I felt like being in heaven.
What do you miss most about the c64?
The whole system was so manageble, specially when I learned programming. I felt like really mastering the machine, not like today where computers have so many complicated (though also more sophisticated) parts and software. I feel much more like a normal user today than like an administrator.
Most of your c64 music was not heard outside of your native home country for many years. Did this disappoint you?
Well, I had most success in Germany, because the games I worked on where done mostly for the german market. But I had fun and didn't think about it that much.
Shades, To be on top, and Great Giana Sisters are possibly your most popular tunes from the c64, why do you think this is?
Shades was my first published tune and got a lot of attention, because it won a competition in the biggest selling C64 magazine at the time. That helped to establish my name and basically also got me the job at Rainbow Arts, the first big german games developer. To be on top and Giana Sisters did become very succesful titles for the company and all that helped to spread the word.
It seems that many of the old famous C64 musicians have left their origin countries to go to the US. I.e. Rob Hubbard and David Whittaker at EA. Martin Galway at Magic Anvil/Microsoft, and your goodself at Factor 5. Why do you think this is becoming a trend?
Specially in Germany it is hard nowadays to develop high profile games, because investors don't like to take risks like they do in the US. So besides some companies who focus on media and advertisement software there are not much game developers left in Germany.
For those people who do not know of Factor 5, could you explain who they are, and what you are doing currently with them?
Maybe it's best to recite from the Factor 5 website:
Factor 5 is a software development house originally founded in Germany in 1987. At that time, there were five friends and computer game enthusiast, today the company has grown to 25 people from all around the world, among them programmers, graphic artists, level designers, musicians and sound designers.
In addition to original and license-based game developments for publishers as diverse as LucasArts Entetainment, Konami, Hudson Soft, and Nintendo, Factor 5 has developed sound and music tool technology under the name of MusyX, which is exclusively licensed to Nintendo for all Nintendo game systems. Factor 5 also was involved early in the design and implementation of the Nintendo Gamecube next-generation hardware.
Factor 5´s German localization department has been established in 1994. Included in the list of projects are titles like X-Wing vs. Tie Fighter, X-Wing: Balance of Power, and a number of Electronic Arts´ sports titles.
Originally located in Cologne, Germany, Factor 5 was offered in 1995 due to close collaboration with LucasArts a move to Northern California. In May 1996 the staff moved to San Rafael, CA (Marin County). Factor 5, LLC remains to be a privately held company with no outside financial involvement.
How much of a different world is it composing with real instruments when comparing it to the c64?
The basics of a good song remain the same: good melody, accompaniment and a strong and interesting arrangement. All other elements like sounds and recording technique are exchangeable.
Your new Album Chris Huelsbeck - In The Mix
, what can you tell our readers about this album?
I was approached by a DJ and producer who works with ZYX music, which is one of the larger independent labels in Germany. He asked if I would allow him to do a remix of Giana Sisters and after some time he told me that ZYX was even interested in a whole album. It was an interesting prospect because ZYX has worldwide distribution and a strong marketing. But unfortunately I had not much time since I was very busy working on Star Wars Battle for Naboo. But they told me they would produce most of the remixes and it would become a very professional product. I feel fine with the album but I didn't like their single release of Giana Sisters. The remix from Tom Novy is quite sad and they didn't let me hear it before the release. That learned me a lesson for the future to be more careful and make contracts that warrant more control on my side. But the album came out quite nice and I was very surprised when I even found copies in our local Tower Records shops…😉
How much of a demand have you found for the C64 mix cd's?
They are usually not selling enough copies to be interesting for the regular CD market, but there are a couple of thousand fans out there, who over time maybe order one, so little labels like our own synSONIQ Records can survive. But the profits would usually not pay our rent…
What do you look at when composing a new tune?
That depends on what the music is used for. If it is a game, I look at the concept, artwork and in the best case play the game itself if it is already far enough developed. That gives me ideas about mood, speed and character of the music. Even if I compose music just for fun, I like to have a basic concept about sounds and style.
I have noticed that you have worked on many formats producing game music, but I have never witnessed an Atari ST production. Is this correct, and if you haven't what were your reasons?
I have done a couple of Atari musics, like Gem'x and Jim Power for example. But since I used my own custom player and the games where not very successful I don't think anyone ripped those tunes.
Why do you think the c64 has such a fan base?
At the time it was introduced it was a multimedia wonder that almost anyone could handle and even program. There was nothing like it before in the world.
Have you ever thought of remixing a c64 tune from another composer?
Not really, I have enough of my own music in my head…😉
What are your thoughts on modern day game music when comparing it to the c64?
It's very professional nowadays and it is very close if not as good as film music. But in the C64 days music didn't need to match a game, it could even stand out and it had a revolutionary charm.
How did you feel when you first saw your name on the credits of a game?
I was proud as hell, though from todays standpoint it was a lousy game and didn't really matter. What really made my day was the competition in the magazine that I won.
What Equipment/Software do you use?
Here is a list from my webpages:
Sampler & Synthesizer:
- KURZWEIL K2500S (66MB RAM, SMP-K, P-Ram, All Roms)
- AKAI S1000PB (26MB RAM, SCSI)
- Clavia Nord Modular
- ensoniq SQ80
- E-MU UltraProteus
- Roland JV1080
- Roland M-OC1 Orchestra Module
- Roland M-SE1 String ensemble Module
- KORG 01R/W
- KORG Wavestation A/D
- Waldorf PPG Wave 2.v (virtual wavetable synth)
- Waldorf Attack (virtual percussion synth)
- reFX QuadraSID (virtual SID synth)
- reFX TBL (virtual bassline synth)
- rgcAUDIO Square I (virtual synth)
- Native Instruments Pro 52 (virtual synth)
- MAZ-Sound Vsampler (virtual sampler)
- G-media M-Tron (virtual Mellotron)
- Propellerheads Rebirth (virtual synth & drum-machine)
Mixing:
- YAMAHA 02R Digital recording console (40 Channel version)
- ensoniq DP/4
- Lexicon LXP1
- BOSS SE-70
- dbx Project 1 Microphone Processor 286
- Cubase VST Mixer
- lot's of plug-ins for VST and DirectX
Recording & Periphery:
- DAT SONY DTC 57-ES
- CD AIWA XC-500
- Surround Amplifier Yamaha DSP A2070
- Mackie HR824 Studio monitors * 5 (for surround mixing)
- SONY Headphone MDR-7506
- SONY Headphone MDR-CD 270
Computer, Periphery & Software:
- Notebook IBM Thinkpad T21, P3-850, 384mb Ram, 32 gig HD, USB Midi, Win98
- PC AMD Athlon 700, 256MB, SCSI 20 Gig, 32xCD/8xDVD, Win98
- Egosys Wami-box PCMCIA Audio interface
- external SCSI-Minitower w. 640 MOD & 4xCD (for the Kurzweil)
- TripleDAT Harddiskrecording, Cubase VST5/32, Wavelab, Soundforge
- Soundblaster Live
- Opcode 8Port/SE Midi-interface (8 individual INs&OUTs)
If there was one tune you wish you could claim as your own, what would it be and why?
No idea.
If you could turn back the clock would there be anything you would change?
Maybe there are some things that I would have done different, but who knows how my life would have developed then. Maybe I did everything right and doing something different would have had worse consequences… it's very fictional.
Has there been a remix or a cover from one of your tunes that has impressed you?
There is a nice Katakis megamix from g2 and an impressive Turrican 2 Title remix/cover from Nebularia. I like them so much that I featured them on my mp3.com page (www.mp3.com/huelsbeck) and on my new album in the mix
.
How did you become part of the Back In Time CD?
Chris Abbott contacted me a long time ago and told me about his project and I first thought he is one of those people who talk alot but don't do anything further. But he did it and it became a really nice product.
Do you follow the c64 Remix scene at all?
A little bit, but I don't have the time to check out everything.
Do you think that C64 music can make a real impact commercially?
I don't think it will go mainstream, but now and then there will be quite successful tunes with C64 music elements. It's just an outstanding and unique sound.
Lastly, What would you like to say to the C64 community?
Keep it rolling! 😊
Crikey, not only does Chris still amaze us with his great tunes. But just look at that equipment. I doubt i've interview many that even come close to owning as much as Chris. End of the day of course talent rules extreme, and Chris has that in abundance.
- Neil
