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Chiptune player/remix app GaMBi coming to iOS


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GaMBi is an iOS app for chiptune fans, performers, DJs, and remix artists, allowing deep customization of classic video game sound and connection with other music-making apps via channel control, AudioCopy and Audiobus. Collaborating artists include: Jon Dunn, Jeroen Tel, C-jeff, Blitz Lunar, Hally, Tappy, and more!

Check out our trailer and sign up for news: http://ichigoichie.org/gambi

Twitter: http://twitter.com/gambi_app

Facebook: http://facebook.com/gambiapp

Thanks for letting me share this!

- Dave

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  • 1 month later...

Hello,

My chiptune player is now out for iOS devices running 7.0 on the App Store, with support for Audiobus in the latest update.

Available on the App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/gambi/id840190547?mt=8

ssPlay.jpg

Key features include:

- loop, shuffle, track favorites

- library sort and search

- playlist creation

- channel toggle and built-in equalizer

- AudioCopy, Audiobus, export to iTunes

Supported formats include, NSF, GBS, SPC, VGM, HES, KSS, AY, SAP, and more.

Check out our trailer, manual, and get support at: http://ichigoichie.org/gambi

Twitter: http://twitter.com/gambi_app

Facebook: http://facebook.com/gambiapp

Thanks for checking out the post, and I'm happy to explain the features or answer any questions here or via the support mail on our site.

Cya,

David

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Oh wow, this looks great! Unfortunately, I don't own a current iDevice...

Is there any chance of an Android port? The Android alternatives I found so far all lack most of your app's features... :-(

Jandalf, I'm not sure yet. A big part of the app's functionality is AudioCopy and Audiobus connectivity for adding realtime effects and sampling, and these technologies don't exist on Android. I'm not too familiar with chiptune players on Android so I'll have to check out the competition and see if GaMBi could succeed on that platform. It would take a lot of work because the UI is all built on Apple widgets.

Edited by HeroOfSpielburg
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Two quick questions:

  1. Were all the various chiptune playback engines written from scratch, or were GPL components used, as with Modizer?
  2. If GPL components were used, is the full source code for GaMBi available anywhere?

I ask because I'm not seeing any libraries cited, like Modizer does, nor am I seeing any source posted, as Modizer does, and since writing all of that sound emulation code from the ground up is a tall order, I'm just curious whether that's the case, or if perhaps credit where credit is due (and source where source is due) is an issue here? If you're charging for an app (again, as Modizer does) that uses other code, and especially if that code is licensed under the GPL, well...

GUI is very nice, not trying to be confrontational, but clarification on this point would be appreciated...

Edited by djpretzel
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I stayed away from code using the GPL for the limitations you mention. In particular I know that modizer uses libsidplay, which I do not.

Part of the emulation in GaMBi is based on LGPL code. Code for that is available online on my Github page. I don't have any information regarding the LGPL libraries directly on my product page, maybe it should be there as it is in my source code repositories, which credit the authors as you suggest.

Edited by HeroOfSpielburg
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Well, https://www.gnu.org/copyleft/lesser.html

4. Combined Works.

You may convey a Combined Work under terms of your choice that, taken together, effectively do not restrict modification of the portions of the Library contained in the Combined Work and reverse engineering for debugging such modifications, if you also do each of the following:

  • a) Give prominent notice with each copy of the Combined Work that the Library is used in it and that the Library and its use are covered by this License.

I don't think having the mention on an unlinked source code repository would qualify as prominent notice, so yeah, even for LGPL there are still some rules.

Do you have a list of all the libraries used along with the license they employ, for each chiptune format/engine?

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Do you have a list of all the libraries used along with the license they employ, for each chiptune format/engine?

Game Music Emu uses LGPL and that covers all the systems I support (NSF/GBS/SPC/GYM/VGM/AY/SAP/KSS/HES) except for TinySID, which is distributed freely with no license restrictions.

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Jandalf, I'm not sure yet. A big part of the app's functionality is AudioCopy and Audiobus connectivity for adding realtime effects and sampling, and these technologies don't exist on Android. I'm not too familiar with chiptune players on Android so I'll have to check out the competition and see if GaMBi could succeed on that platform. It would take a lot of work because the UI is all built on Apple widgets.

I don't know much about coding, but considering the competition (I found) you'd have at least one customer for an Android Version! I'd use it mainly as a pure player. Not sure what functionality AudioBus and AudioCopy provide under iOS. Are these essential to playing chiptunes?

Only worthwile alternative I found is DroidSound which is... not so great, at least in my opinion... If you happen to know comparable apps let me know, please.

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I don't know much about coding, but considering the competition (I found) you'd have at least one customer for an Android Version! I'd use it mainly as a pure player. Not sure what functionality AudioBus and AudioCopy provide under iOS. Are these essential to playing chiptunes?

AudioBus is an audio routing tool in iOS that allows you to stream audio from one app to another app. It's the backbone of inter-app connectivity for music production apps on the platform.

AudioCopy is essentially a clipboard for audio on iOS. It's also incredibly useful for moving audio data between apps.

Those two things are not essential for playing chiptunes, but given that a huge part of Gambi's functionality is dedicated to remixing and audio manipulation, not having those things present in an Android version essentially guts the application and turns it into just a chiptune player—which is what you're looking for, obviously, but porting Gambi seems like it would be a waste, because it wouldn't even be the same application.

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Thank you for explaining these to me!

I understand that these components are an important part of this app and that AudioBus and AudioCopy will most likely not be present on Android (at least not as a standard almost all apps use). Since Android is mostly open I take it one could (in theory) create these standards himself. I understand if this is too much work for one programmer.

But, well, I'm jealous of you iOS guys! You get this sexy app and what is there in Android? Oh well...

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