Not really. PC speaker is an on-off device with a timer that lets you generate square waves. That's it, one square wave channel. Even Amiga 2600's audio is more impressive. There are some games, like Golden Axe, that managed to squeeze something enjoyable out of the PC speaker, but that's a huge challenge. C64's SID is 4 channels of pretty good synth audio. There were audio FX boards of similar capability for PCs, but they got really quickly surpassed by sample audio, which also happened to the consoles. 4th gen still had some synths, like on the Genesis, but SNES already used custom samples. And by fifth gen, we had CD audio. C64's SID existed in a very narrow slice of time where it made sense, and it was exceptionally good at what it did.
I know Chris Hülsbeck is the king, but mad props to Kris Hatleid, he put out some of the most badass SID riffs ever. This tune in particular (Best listened to in a real sid-player though) nearly makes me cry.
johnny johnson This one definitely belongs in the C64 music hall of fame. Together with at least one tune from Last Ninja, several from Last Ninja 2 and Wizzball
@@teofilledYeah, I especially liked what he did on “Skate or Die!” I used to load up the game just to listen to the music. Now thanks to the miracle of emulation, I can experience it all again. However, I do have a Commodore 64 and a Commodore 128 along with the associated disk drives.
Really amazing how this C64 version actually sounds way more "badass" then the Amiga version. Technically, the Amiga version has a better sound quality. But it is too soft. Like rock & roll without rock. Or soup without seasoning. I'm still amazed how they managed to cram this much sound out of 3 sound and 1 "virtual" crappy PCM channel. Simply stunning.
I love what music Kris Hatlelid did with Frantic Freddie, but this is so different and smashing great in a totally different way! WOW! He surely was a genius! 🎶🤩🎵
"And the line up on the grid sees the Brazilian Ayrton Senna again on pole position, beside him in the same dayglow Marlboro McLaren is his teammate Alain Prost who is in first place except for the car in front of him. In third is Nigel Mansell and next to him in the Ferrari is Gerhard Berger who put in a stunning qualifying lap yesterday to get to 4th on the grid!" - Murray Walker with this soundtrack in the background.
While technically way more superior than the dos version, i just can't get over my nostalgic mind that keeps pushing me back to the ms-dos version intro music.
jakubkrcma For those who like it: You can still play a version of this if you like, I've setted up some very fast times in it, calling myself The Stig: www.freegameempire.com/games/Grand-Prix-Circuits
The 6581 SID (Sound Interface Device) is what made the Commodore 64 special. What they accomplished with this chip was amazing. The Commodore 64 still has a more than 80% brand recognition, long after Commodore International went bankrupt. Details about this special chip: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOS_Technology_6581
+Fantastic Furry From what I tried and know, the Macintosh port of this game didn't have music, just some SFXes. Was your experience with it different?
Solid OST when it comes to composition, and I think the title theme is great, but the sample mixing is wonky, much like most songs that used the trick.
![Grand Prix Circuit - C64 Soundtrack [emulated]](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
