A type of computer music production emerged in the mid-80's, defined by the term "Tracker." Trackers date back to 1987 with Karsten Obarski's Ultimate Soundtracker, an audio application for the Commodore Amiga. Although limited in features and fidelity, skilled programmers created elaborate pieces using the four track 8-bit synthesis and sample playback. Originally a composition and sound effects tool for game development, Soundtracker was eventually released as a commercial product. This era of personal computer music went hand-in-hand with the early days of programming and game development.
| During the pre-Internet days of computing, people connected by way of Bulletin Board Systems (BBS), a network dialed from personal computers outfitted with modems to the host computer's phone number. Within these BBS groups, Obarski's code was modified, resulting in different versions of trackers. Music created with trackers became part of the computer "demo scene" culture as software evolved. With the introduction of the popular Internet in the early 90's, the scene migrated and grew into larger communities spanning the globe. |
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Throughout the Internet tracker groups, people showcased their music, shared software hacks, and distributed sample sets called "Mods". The early influence of BBS groups established the practice of handles (usernames), text abbreviations, file sharing, and competition. Most important was the spirit of open source fellowship, which carried over into the world of ReBirth. |
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