"I think we should try to push the envelope a little bit". Yeah, a "little bit". He pushed the envelope so hard we are still listening to his tunes 30 years later.
I saw in a short interview with Rob once that he once was tasked with creating the music for some game (don't remember what it was), but they only had something like 128 bytes of available RAM for him to use! He took the job though and the publisher was happy with the results.
One thing I’ve noticed is people who don’t « get it » think the old music was bad due to it not sounding more like modern music. Many of us couldn’t disagree more. Systems like the C64 had great character, and working within limitations was part of the experience. Said restrictions revealed and developed very cunning artists.
Exactly. Don't get me wrong, the full orchestral arrangement versions are a lovely companion. But you can't beat the original SID sound of these timeless classics.
Mr Hubbard is, and will always be, an absolute legend. I just wish someone had told kate that the zipstik doesn't have a fire button on the top of the stick.
Rob Hubbard, Tim Follins, Jonathan Dunn, Ben Daglish, David Whittaker - in no particular order - are among my fave C64 game musicians. They all contributed with something extra special. Of course, I'm still not mentioning a ton of others who produced equally great material on the system. I think the sound of SID is going down as one of humankind's greatest achievements and something we should bring with us when we're heading for other planetary worlds out there. This is interstellar music - probably our only means of gaining acceptance by extraterrestial beings.
That, in a way, is actually one of the most prolific things I've ever heard. Indeed, it puts music down to its very core without too many bells and whistles... I gotta think about this for a while. 🤓
Thank heavens for composers like Rob Hubbard for taking the time and care to overhaul computer music. They could have just 'dialed it in' and taken the pay cheque but they took the time to put in the extra effort.
I am so happy Rob's and the other chip artists music lives on like this! I loved the music back in the 80:s and it has followed med through life since then. Whenever I listen to it it really brightens my day and I often have it in the background when I work.
C64 Legend. Loved his main theme music for the space shoot-em-up Delta. Also memories of the ZZAP! 64 cover tape which featured his music for the game Sanxion.
Am I the only one who prefers the 8 bit version? Besides that, many of Hubbard's compositions were arranged like a typical rock band, not to mention his iconic lead sound that sounds very close to a distorted electric guitar. I would have preferred a band over an orchestra, but that's just my personal taste. While other sound guys (like Chris Hülsbeck) may have driven the SID even closer to its limits, Rob Hubbard's tunes were and to this day are my favorite ones in terms of musical quality. The Monty On The Run and Commando tunes still send shivers down my spine.
It’s staggering what they did with memory they had. I was one of those that got games purely because Rob was on it. Still listen to the tunes. Man is a genius in my book.
I hope they also covered several other great C64 (and other system) composers. Martin Galway's Rambo High Score music is a work of art, as is Ben Daglish's Last Ninja soundtrack.
@@PaulEMoz That's good to hear because there is plenty of talent in that arena. Heck, even now the demo scene is alive and well and SID music has progressed even more. Of course, these guys have had 37 years to reverse engineer and perfect it!
It's one of those once in a lifetime things. I saw Ennio Morricone at Hammersmith some years ago (introduced by Jonathan Ross of all people) and it was an incredible night.... now no longer possible to see.
Commando was his epitome, I suppose. And the game itself was actually beatable, unlike most other C64 games that wasted my childhood in frustration... 🙃
I remember playing commando as a kid on my C64.. like 30 years ago. This music today popped up in my head randomly and I knew the name. The brain is strange. xD
I was one of those who would buy the game just for the music and not bother playing the game, I would recorded them to tape so I could listen to them out and about on my Walkman. Rob was definitely the best.
No.1 C64 Sid chip musician. Kentilla is my favourite. UPDATE: OMG they mentioned it 2:25. There were a few odd private club DJ gigs with retro 8-bit music, that Emily Booth from "Bits" on channel 4 went to one down in London I think with her brother. I think Jeff Minter 'may' have been there, dunno if that's true.
Ended up here after trying to listen to Another Millennial on a National FM Radio Programme tell everyone that Super Mario was the beginning of Computer Music..
One thing this missed, IMO, isn't even really the quality of the music that does it, but it's how it fits the atmosphere of what's going on in game. It was vital in these days of low resolution, low colour depth graphics to have something to help set the tone and get your imagination in gear, which helped turn those basic images on screen turn into, in Commando for instance, a battlefield, rather than a big brown screen with smatterings of greenery and/or roads.
"[...]brought games in our living rooms and bedrooms" Pretends to play and pathetically rubs the knob pretending it's a fire button when fire buttons are on the base. 😐
The idea of combining three simple tracks together to make a more complex tune is something still relevant as its what Ed Sheeran does with his loop pedal
I used to enjoy the C64 loader music more than the game. It would first load a space invaders type mini-game with music while the main game loaded. Remember this was tape loading so it took a l-o-n-g time to load. Edit: Found it, it was called Invade-a-load!
0:21 Oh no she didn't' "Sounds a bit basic", excuse me woman, Commodore had the best catchy melodies of all time, still unmatched today, hardly anything is catchy these days, today's rubbish is less than basic, back then it was purely professional, I think because once Commodore was over, you can't beat or match what was already perfect, so they gave up trying. One thing for sure it's awesome to see Commodore official "Commodore" that is, has made a return, just goes to show, you can't kill Commodore, I welcome Commodore with open arms. Hey Rob, it's Zro, your homie, love your work as always, never stop creating, have a good one buddy.
Millions of people listened to this music in the 80s. Probably more than some notable recording artists. It was way fewer that paid for it because the games were heavily copied.
"I think we should try to push the envelope a little bit". Yeah, a "little bit". He pushed the envelope so hard we are still listening to his tunes 30 years later.
Could not have phrased it better than that ! Working with the man on these projects was a childhood dream come true (C64 Orchestra).
Dam right
"Push the envelope" - a synthesizer enthusiast's in-joke 😂
he didn't just push it, he addressed it, put a 1st class stamp on it and MAILED it 😂
40 😂❤
Rob Hubbard is Music God for me. I'm still listening to his 8-bit music in 2020.
I'm happy for you and I'ma let you finish but Tim Follin is one of the best 8-bit composers of all time.
@@magicstix0r Chris Hulsbeck, Alberto Jose Gonzalez, Jeroen Tel, Matt Furniss, Jonathan Dunn...
still gives me the shivers
Never stop. Rob is a legend ! And a great person as well !
2023 8-Bit Music 4 Ever ! :-)
Thanks for the music Rob 👍
Rob is a really nice guy. I was privileged to meet him while he was at Electronic Arts.
Given the technical requirements and resource restraints of the time and the creativity he brought, Rob Hubbard is a bona fide genius.
I saw in a short interview with Rob once that he once was tasked with creating the music for some game (don't remember what it was), but they only had something like 128 bytes of available RAM for him to use! He took the job though and the publisher was happy with the results.
One thing I’ve noticed is people who don’t « get it » think the old music was bad due to it not sounding more like modern music. Many of us couldn’t disagree more. Systems like the C64 had great character, and working within limitations was part of the experience. Said restrictions revealed and developed very cunning artists.
Exactly. Don't get me wrong, the full orchestral arrangement versions are a lovely companion. But you can't beat the original SID sound of these timeless classics.
Rob Hubbard is a king for C64's fans
Rob Hubbard.. back in 1985 when i was 14 and heard Commando for the first time. I nearly fainted. Rob has achieved god-level with #easylab4kids :)
Rob is the man. I still listen his C64 masterpieces on SID emulators.
Mr Hubbard is, and will always be, an absolute legend.
I just wish someone had told kate that the zipstik doesn't have a fire button on the top of the stick.
My favourite Rob Hubbard composition for the C64 is the music he created for the game 'Thrust'. Masterpiece!!
I'll stick with LightForce.
Rob Hubbard, Tim Follins, Jonathan Dunn, Ben Daglish, David Whittaker - in no particular order - are among my fave C64 game musicians. They all contributed with something extra special. Of course, I'm still not mentioning a ton of others who produced equally great material on the system. I think the sound of SID is going down as one of humankind's greatest achievements and something we should bring with us when we're heading for other planetary worlds out there. This is interstellar music - probably our only means of gaining acceptance by extraterrestial beings.
and Jeroen Tell!
That, in a way, is actually one of the most prolific things I've ever heard.
Indeed, it puts music down to its very core without too many bells and whistles... I gotta think about this for a while. 🤓
@@1letteroff881 Thanks, 1 L less, 1letteroff indeed. 😆
Martin Galway anyone? He played the sid like a synth, he is still a legend!!!
Absolutely the godfathers of PC-Music……Hubbard, Dalglish, Galway and a few others. I loved it in 1984….i love it today.
One of the best SID composers.. some say the best... thanks Rob!
Thank you RUclips for putting this on my playlist.....Rob Hubbard is a legend!
Thank heavens for composers like Rob Hubbard for taking the time and care to overhaul computer music. They could have just 'dialed it in' and taken the pay cheque but they took the time to put in the extra effort.
Rob Hubbard is a legend.
Rob Hubbard and Martin Galway are the king of C64 music.
Matt Gray with Last Ninja 2?
Someone should tell her, the fire buttons on that joystick are the big yellow buttons on the base. It's cruel to just let her spong out like that.
He should get the knighthood. I cant think of a better way to honor his accomplishments and gift to the world.
Incredible! Inspiration beyond the obvious and beyond. Rob Hubbard is a Gift!
The elegance that comes from the symphony is just breathtaking.
I am so happy Rob's and the other chip artists music lives on like this! I loved the music back in the 80:s and it has followed med through life since then. Whenever I listen to it it really brightens my day and I often have it in the background when I work.
C64 Legend. Loved his main theme music for the space shoot-em-up Delta. Also memories of the ZZAP! 64 cover tape which featured his music for the game Sanxion.
So much amazing good music in computer games, from the VIC-20, C64, Ataris, Amigas, PCs and all the rest... true performances of wonderful tunes !
Kate handles that joystick like a pro.
Am I the only one who prefers the 8 bit version? Besides that, many of Hubbard's compositions were arranged like a typical rock band, not to mention his iconic lead sound that sounds very close to a distorted electric guitar. I would have preferred a band over an orchestra, but that's just my personal taste.
While other sound guys (like Chris Hülsbeck) may have driven the SID even closer to its limits, Rob Hubbard's tunes were and to this day are my favorite ones in terms of musical quality. The Monty On The Run and Commando tunes still send shivers down my spine.
The music of the Spectrum and the C64 should not be lumped together in the same category!!!
What an iconic era. Thank you for all amazing memories.
It was a fantastic night - and I got to meet Paul Norman..... Unforgettable.
@Stefan W. Scariest game (also because of the music) I ever played... 🕸
Rob Hubbard is an absolute 8 bit music legend.
'Sanxion' theme was bloody marvelous.
It’s staggering what they did with memory they had. I was one of those that got games purely because Rob was on it. Still listen to the tunes. Man is a genius in my book.
Rob Hubbard and Jeron Tell - gods of 8bit music
Too bad Jeroen turned out to be a robbing prick that stole over $27,000 :(
The Road Rash soundtracks that he composed were incredible
My kid has Reason for making music on his computer and one of the demo songs was a remake of the Commando music by Rob Hubbard and it was AMAZING!
He was a legend and still is to me.
I hope they also covered several other great C64 (and other system) composers. Martin Galway's Rambo High Score music is a work of art, as is Ben Daglish's Last Ninja soundtrack.
Well, not in this piece but it focused on Rob for a reason. Galway and Daglish's music featured heavily in the actual concert, though.
@@PaulEMoz That's good to hear because there is plenty of talent in that arena. Heck, even now the demo scene is alive and well and SID music has progressed even more. Of course, these guys have had 37 years to reverse engineer and perfect it!
@@JustWasted3HoursHere I was at the concert and they played an absolutely beautiful tribute to Ben.
@@JamesW81 Nice.
And don't forget Tim Follin
I was there! A great night with some excellent music!
so was i :)
It's one of those once in a lifetime things. I saw Ennio Morricone at Hammersmith some years ago (introduced by Jonathan Ross of all people) and it was an incredible night.... now no longer possible to see.
I hear all your tunes so much long long long after c64 live
Legend! Master! TY!
Genius of songwriting
Commando was his epitome, I suppose. And the game itself was actually beatable, unlike most other C64 games that wasted my childhood in frustration... 🙃
I remember playing commando as a kid on my C64.. like 30 years ago.
This music today popped up in my head randomly and I knew the name. The brain is strange. xD
Such a shame this wasn't on time! Wonderful memories and WELL DONE for getting the latest KS funded!
I was there! Sadly, I couldn't stick around to chat to people at the end, but it was a great night. :)
A funny bit is the bewildered look on Mark Strong's face at the end, as though he has no idea what he's applauding.
Rob Hubbard and Martin Galway. The two pillars of 80's gaming for many.
I was one of the people who bought a game for Robs music.
THE Gordon Houghton? Editor of the behemoth that is ZZAP! 64?
@@marksims3904 No not that one, I was nearly famous :)
Astounding
I was one of those who would buy the game just for the music and not bother playing the game, I would recorded them to tape so I could listen to them out and about on my Walkman. Rob was definitely the best.
Excellent
Rob is The Goat ❤
Outstanding!
Legend
Wish a kinda thing like this would happen again, so would go
what a legend, I still prefer the old Sid Chip Sound.
Brilliant!
Nice to see at 2:44 Chris Abbot's T-shirt 'Code of the Ninja' (making me think of The Last Ninja:) Cheers for uploading the clip.
This is amazing ❤️
Nice! Would be cool to hear the three separate tracks for Commando :)
Shame they didn’t get rob himself to arrange the score but great to see so much appreciation for the man.
Rob arranged half the scores in the concert!
For those who wonder: 2:15 --search for "Commando Hiscore"
Bravo Rob.. Bravo !
His Skate or Die 2 soundtrack stunned my 5 year old self
The hero of my childhood
Legend!
Genious 💪
No.1 C64 Sid chip musician. Kentilla is my favourite. UPDATE: OMG they mentioned it 2:25. There were a few odd private club DJ gigs with retro 8-bit music, that Emily Booth from "Bits" on channel 4 went to one down in London I think with her brother. I think Jeff Minter 'may' have been there, dunno if that's true.
Kentilla such a underated unknown gem!
Back in Time Live 2002 in Gossips, Soho, which I arranged...
the hubbard is so nice - great sharing👍
"I thought that we should try to push the **envelope** a bit" (very good very good!)
There's actually 4 tracks. It's just that the 4th track produces static and can be controlled by volume.
Excellent!
I thought I'd dreamt this.
A gaming legend...!
C64 At The Proms.......make it happen
You have no idea how much I have lobbied for this, but they decided to orchestra Tim Follin's "Chronos" instead.
love desert strike on the mega drive.
Master of magic, inspired by Larry fast and a piece from the album Synergy, although Rob took the music to new heights imo.
Respect to the orchestral piece and all who put effort into it, but I still prefer Rob's originals.
Hie dare they mention the Spectrum linking it to the SID. The SID in the C64 was ahead of its time. Even the ST struggled to beat it.
Ended up here after trying to listen to Another Millennial on a National FM Radio Programme tell everyone that Super Mario was the beginning of Computer Music..
too many legs on that IC for a SID chip, its the process 6502, VIC-II or one of the multiplexors.
Came here to say the same. That was not a SID.
Let's just be thankful it wasn't a SID she was holding: they're getting rarer by the day, after all, and we don't need any more dead ones...
One thing this missed, IMO, isn't even really the quality of the music that does it, but it's how it fits the atmosphere of what's going on in game. It was vital in these days of low resolution, low colour depth graphics to have something to help set the tone and get your imagination in gear, which helped turn those basic images on screen turn into, in Commando for instance, a battlefield, rather than a big brown screen with smatterings of greenery and/or roads.
"[...]brought games in our living rooms and bedrooms"
Pretends to play and pathetically rubs the knob pretending it's a fire button when fire buttons are on the base. 😐
The idea of combining three simple tracks together to make a more complex tune is something still relevant as its what Ed Sheeran does with his loop pedal
The unlike is due to people they never have c64 😅😅😅😅❤️❤️❤️❤️
People have very few heroes. This man is one of the real heroes of 40+ yo guys. And will be after his death.
Rob if you are reading this you were a huge influence on my musical ability.
And people say theres no way Hull should have got UK City of Culture 2017. This is my Exhibit A on why it deserved it
I used to enjoy the C64 loader music more than the game. It would first load a space invaders type mini-game with music while the main game loaded. Remember this was tape loading so it took a l-o-n-g time to load.
Edit: Found it, it was called Invade-a-load!
Rob, the man, the legend!! - Jesus this show is embarrassing as hell, are they unable to do ANY research?
Yeah, I literally hit my head on the desk when she said "ess eye dee sound chip" (SID chip).
...and held up and chip that was too big for a SID 😂
A bit basic???? get real its still better than most stuff today.
That's the thing. It wasn't BASIC. ;)
Is that Crazy Comets at 0:44?
To mention the music of the Spectrum and the C64 in the same sentence is a major crime. 😉🤣
I totally agree with you.
0:21 Oh no she didn't' "Sounds a bit basic", excuse me woman, Commodore had the best catchy melodies of all time, still unmatched today, hardly anything is catchy these days, today's rubbish is less than basic, back then it was purely professional, I think because once Commodore was over, you can't beat or match what was already perfect, so they gave up trying. One thing for sure it's awesome to see Commodore official "Commodore" that is, has made a return, just goes to show, you can't kill Commodore, I welcome Commodore with open arms.
Hey Rob, it's Zro, your homie, love your work as always, never stop creating, have a good one buddy.
I'm just guessing that he must have done the music for Bomb Jack and The Last V8.
The whole hall in Hull was overhauled.
Mobile phones in the 80s? Not the mobiles as we all know them... Bricks attached to a suitcase, yes...
Millions of people listened to this music in the 80s. Probably more than some notable recording artists. It was way fewer that paid for it because the games were heavily copied.
Lol, what a sad ending!
Good reportage, though!
I asked for a photo at back in time and he said no!
Did you ask to take a photo with him?