Nanoloop experiment #123009

A month or so ago I picked up a new audio experiment, nanoloop. Maybe it’s a toy. Maybe it’s an instrument. It’s a bit of a blur, but that’s part of what makes it fun.

nanoloop is “a synthesizer / sequencer cartridge for Game Boy consoles,” according to the site. It was developed by Oliver Wittchow. With this cartridge you have access to a 4-track audio sequencer. There are 2 monosynth tracks (designated “r” and “l”), a polysynth (“s”), and a rhythmic noise track (“n”). Combined together with some deft programming you can create bleeps and blips that sound like Daft Punk in Hyrule. And if you organize your digital snippets well you can use the interface to perform it all live.

What fascinates me is the re purposing of an electronic device into something that, in the right hands, can produce valid musical ideas. Anything can become an instrument. And it doesn’t have to be all that cost prohibitive.

Here is one of my first experiments into the nanoloop.

A special thanks to Bayshorts for donating the Gameboy.