Shawarma

8-bit music, made by asking

Describe the music you want, like "a fast 8-bit level" or "a sad dungeon tune". Shawarma makes it with the sounds of an old game console: square waves, a triangle bass and crunchy drums.

Then ask for changes while it plays: a faster tempo, a new melody, less noise in the drums.

Overworld

150 BPM, square arpeggios and a bright lead

  1. The mapdrums, bass, arp
  2. The adventuredrums, bass, arp, lead
Make yoursOpen this song in Shawarma

Two more in 8-bit

Then ask for changes

Once your song plays, type what it needs. It changes while it plays, and you keep only what you like.

  • Youfaster, about 170 BPM
  • Youa happier melody
  • Youmore crunch in the drums
  • Youadd an echo to the lead
  • Youmake a short jingle for when you win

Made like an old console

  • The real 8-bit sounds

    Square and triangle waves and crunchy drums, the sounds old game consoles made.

  • Loops that come back round

    Each part is whole bars long, so the music loops on the beat in your game.

  • Yours to use

    You own what you make and can use it in your videos and games. Some built-in sounds ask for a credit; the list is on the Terms page.

See the code of “Overworld”
setcpm(37.5) // 150 BPM, G major, an 8-bit overworld

const drums = s("bd ~ sd ~, [~ hh]*4").crush(5).gain(.34)
const bass = note("<[g2 g3]*4 [e2 e3]*4 [c2 c3]*4 [d2 d3]*4>").s("triangle").gain(.45)
const arp = note("<[g4 b4 d5 b4]*2 [e4 g4 b4 g4]*2 [c4 e4 g4 e4]*2 [d4 f#4 a4 f#4]*2>")
  .s("square").decay(.08).sustain(.2).lpf(4000).gain(.08)
const lead = note("<[d5 ~ g5 ~ b5 ~ a5 g5] [e5 ~ g5 ~ b5 ~ ~ ~] [c5 ~ e5 ~ g5 ~ a5 g5] [f#5 ~ a5 ~ d6 ~ ~ ~]>")
  .s("square").decay(.12).sustain(.4).gain(.1)

arrange(
  [4, stack(drums, bass, arp)],        // the map
  [8, stack(drums, bass, arp, lead)],  // the adventure
)

Questions

Is it free?
Yes. Your first song needs no sign-up, and making, editing and sharing songs is free.
Does it sound like a real game console?
It uses the same kinds of sound: square and triangle waves, noise and short, crunchy drums. Ask for "more like an old handheld" and it changes.
Can I use the music in my game?
You own what you make and can use it in your videos and games. Some built-in sounds ask for a credit; the list is on the Terms page.
Do I need to know music?
No. Say what you want to hear in your own words, then ask for changes the same way.

The sounds that ask for a credit: Sound credits on the Terms page.

Make your own 8-bit song

A platformer level is already typed in. Describe yours, or press the button.

Free. No sign-up for your first song.

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