An Interview with Texx Sound

by Neil Carr

Texx likes his remix of Ikkiuchi out of all the remixes he has done. He tends to use sid in his remixes because it honour's the original artist above many other factors.

Real name: Philipp Strahl

Handle: Texx Sound

Born: 1983

Nationality: Austrian

Interview date: 13 June 2001


Neil

What C64 composers do you like?

Texx Sound

Chris Huelsbeck, mITCH & dANE

Texx Sound
Neil

What are your favourites sids?

Texx Sound

Nearly everything from mITCH & dANE (these guys ROCK!), The Antics and R-Type by Chris Huelsbeck

Neil

What equipment/software do you use?

Texx Sound

My hardware-equipment is: a Yamaha PSR-270, a Roland TB-303, TR-909 and TR 808 and my Computer.
Software: Cakewalk ProAudio 8, Cool 96, MadTracker, (rarely Rebirth) and Music Maker

Neil

Which remix are you most pleased with?

Texx Sound

From my work I like most Ikkiuchi but Makke's Great Giana Rastas is the work of a genius!

Neil

What do you look at in a sid when remixing it?

Texx Sound

The special touch of something nearly finished, but not done in it's best way. And, of course, the it which nobody can describe😉

Neil

You mix sid within your remixes, why do you choose to do this?

Texx Sound

Because of many reasons… first to honour the original artist who had done the sid on the C64 in many hours, days or even weeks without having the benefits of today's composing abilities of a computer.
Second to show how a sid takes place instead of a expensive synthesiser.
And third: to create a bit of the good ol' C64 feeling!😉

Neil

What other arrangers do you like?

Texx Sound

Makke, as I said; Djlizard and many others I forgot. Sorry!

Neil

Who do you think gives the scene the biggest boost?

Texx Sound

I can't tell you a name because every single arranger keeps the game-music of yesterday-scene alive with his work.

Neil

So far you have remixed tunes that are not well known, why is this

Texx Sound

Because of nobody done it before😉 and to show the audience what else was done nearly twenty years ago, which sounds like today's music (with some additions)

Neil

Where do you get your musical influences?

Texx Sound

Nearly everywhere. I can sit in front of my keyboard, watch TV, play C64 games or try to sleep.

Neil

What are your fondest memories of the c64?

Texx Sound

I remember when I was four or five years old. My neighbour invited me to play on his Commodore a new game. He put in the disk, typed the meaningful letters R U N and after some seconds The Great Giana Sisters appeared and scrolled over the big screen. I was deeply impressed and listened for about ten minutes to the title sid. At home I tried to play the music on my recorder.. well, I started very young =)

Neil

What piece of equipment that you do not own would you like to own?

Texx Sound

The SID-Station! For more info visit http://www.sidstation.com

Neil

What are your likes/dislikes regarding remixing c64 sids?

Texx Sound

I prefer clear and well formed sample-shapes because it is much easier to guess every note. I hate bugged and confusing sids!

Neil

If there was a tune you wish you could claim as your own, what would it be, and why?

Texx Sound

It would be the Giana Sisters theme! That's the very first sid I experienced and I still love the mystic and great ambience.

Neil

Why do you remix c64 music?

Texx Sound

I use the sidAMP plug-in for Winamp and I can listen about one hour to all the sids I got, but after that I can't stand the electric sound of a sid. And there's the problem: The SID-Chip can't fight the quality of today's music. It was unbelievable for the 80's but nothing lasts forever. And to keep my loved sid music I convert them to a quality everyone likes listening to.

Neil

What are your thoughts of music in modern day games?

Texx Sound

Today you make music for a computer game like you make music for a CD or a film. The poor game musicians of 2001 don't care about the player's computer-configuration and sound-ability. Because they don't have to. They don't have to deal with hardware problems like only 3 synthesiser tracks or programming special tools for composing. When you are able deal with these huge problems and limitations then you are good. When you are able to make really good and groovy music you are a genius. Like Rob (Hubbard), Chris (Huelsbeck) and David (Whittaker) and some others.

Neil

Why do you think that c64 music still is popular to this very day?

Texx Sound

Because of the quality, the popularity and the nostalgic flair.

Neil

Lastly, What would you like to say to the scene?

Texx Sound

Keep remixing! Keep the sids alive!

Limitations make good musicians. It seems that todays musicians don't produce great music because they have few boundries. Chris Abbott also mentioned this in his interview, so check out that one too for more on this.

- Neil