Rubikon Lab

Projects & experiments in 8-bit computing and music technology

MSX VGM Analyzer & Player

  • MSX
  • Music
  • DEV

A tool for analyzing and playing MSX PSG and SCC music, featuring a visually appealing interface inspired by modern software synthesizers, along with a timeline, piano roll, and the ability to export any selection as WAV or VGM.

MSX VGM Analyzer & Player

  • MSX
  • Music
  • DEV
MSX VGM Analyzer & Player screenshot 1
MSX VGM Analyzer & Player screenshot 2
MSX VGM Analyzer & Player screenshot 3
MSX VGM Analyzer & Player screenshot 4
MSX VGM Analyzer & Player screenshot 5
MSX VGM Analyzer & Player screenshot 6
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Web based tool to analyze and play MSX PSG (AY-3-8910/YM2149) and SCC (K051649/K052539) VGM/VGZ format music.

Features:

  • Timeline view like any modern DAW
  • Channel lanes including Solo and Mute options
  • Zoom & panning options, discover how the music was made
  • Piano roll shows note, key and bpm information
  • Export any selection to WAV or VGM format
  • Select your favorite MSX music using the VGM Explorer, powered by File-Hunter
  • Game cover art and detailed information available

SCC Synth

  • MSX
  • Music
  • DEV
  • MIDI

Konami SCC+ soundchip morphing wavetable synthesizer. Includes: waveform editor, ADSR, FX, and 5-voice MIDI keyboard or MIDI-file play in the browser.

SCC Synth

  • MSX
  • Music
  • DEV
  • MIDI
SCC Synth screenshot 1
SCC Synth screenshot 2
SCC Synth screenshot 3
SCC Synth screenshot 4
SCC Synth screenshot 5
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Web-based SCC+ morphing wavetable synthesizer for the Konami SCC / SCC+ (K051649/K052539) sound chips.

  • Edit wavetables (32 bytes).
  • Morph between keyframes to creating complex waveforms.
  • shape ADSR envelopes (volume/amp).
  • Play using external MIDI, or MIDI files.
  • Keyboard pitch-bend and aftertouch supported.
  • Effects: stereo widening, reverb and vibrato.
  • save/load your patches.

AY-3-8910 to CV

  • Music
  • DEV
  • HW
  • Eurorack

Converting PSG sound-chip register data into Eurorack CV signals preserves the original tuning and frequency modulation—details that are often lost in conventional MIDI conversion. This project demonstrates how the same sound can be exactly recreated on modern (modular or semi-modular) synthesizers using control-voltage (CV).

AY-3-8910 to CV

  • Music
  • DEV
  • HW
  • Eurorack
AY-3-8910 to CV screenshot 1
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AY-3-8910 to CV screenshot 3
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Hardware/software exploration of converting AY-3-8910 (PSG) register data to Eurorack control voltages. The goal is to drive modular synths from classic chip-tune pitch and modulation data while keeping original tuning and frequency-modulation behaviour intact.
A SoundCloud sketch demonstrates how the chiptune sound can be exactly recreated using Aleste game music material as source.

Space Invaders meets Eurorack

  • Music
  • DEV
  • Eurorack
  • HW

A Eurorack module prototype featuring a RGB LED matrix which can be controlled by Gate signals. Space Invaders features a classic arcade-style animation engine, incl. CV-controlled glitch effects. Besides a software-emulated version is available for VCV Rack.

Space Invaders meets Eurorack

  • Music
  • DEV
  • Eurorack
  • HW
Space Invaders meets Eurorack screenshot 1
Space Invaders meets Eurorack screenshot 2
Space Invaders meets Eurorack screenshot 3
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Space Invaders visualizer – prototype.
Eurorack - 6hp

Prototype features:

  • The classic Space Invaders game, now invading your eurorack setup.
  • Starring Squid, Octopus, Crab and Cuttlefish
  • Four different animations that can be combined to match your creativity
  • Walk, moves the invaders 1 pixel left or right and animates the walking motion.
  • After 32 gate signals, the invaders change direction and move one row down or up.
  • Fire, shoot! from a random position. the Invader flashes white when hit
  • Crash, inverts the entire display (negative)
  • Zoom, 2x zoom level
  • Crash and zoom length depend on your gate signal length
  • 1 knob to set the display brightness level
  • 1 knob for color selection


Contact me if you're a vendor and are interested in producing this module.

AstroVibe

  • Music
  • DEV
  • HW

An audio-reactive visualizer, analyzing incoming audio signals — showing a full 7-band spectrum analysis or a starfield simulation. Created using a MSGEQ7 and LED matrix driven by a Raspberry Pi Pico.

AstroVibe

  • Music
  • DEV
  • HW
AstroVibe screenshot 1
AstroVibe screenshot 2
AstroVibe screenshot 3
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AstroVibe visualizer – prototype.
Eurorack format - 6hp

Prototype features:

  • Visualizes the incoming (line-level) audio signal
  • Starfield visualization with animation and colors driven by the input signal
  • More energy = more stars
  • Kick and snare detection with visual feedback
  • Classic EQ mode, 7->10 bands
  • Knob controls for Brightness, Color selection and Attenuator
  • Thru jack outputs the input signal (trs)

Midi live monitor

  • Music
  • MIDI
  • HW
  • DEV

A companion for live performances. This MIDI monitor prototype shows live BPM, track count, elapsed time and song position based on incoming MIDI clock and transport messages.

Midi live monitor

  • Music
  • MIDI
  • HW
  • DEV
Midi live monitor screenshot 1
Midi live monitor screenshot 2
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Midi live monitor – prototype.

A compact MIDI utility that listens to MIDI clock and transport and displays playback status on a 16x2 LCD.
While playing it helps you keep track of song/track position.

Features include:

  • Live BPM readout while playing
  • Start/stop/clock/midi data status leds
  • Song position / bar:beat style transport display
  • Beat count


Created using a arduino connected to a midi shield and 16x2 LCD matrix connected via a breadboard.
    FAC Soundtracker Pro title art with piano keyboard and starfield

    FAC Soundtracker Greatest Hits

    • MSX
    • Music

    Remastered versions of classic MSX FAC Soundtracker tracks from the early 1990s. FAC Soundtracker (1.x, 2.x, and Pro) is MSX computer music software for the Philips NMS-1205 Music Module extension (MSX-AUDIO Y8950).

    Pixel art of a woman holding an AY-3-8910 PSG chip at an MSX desk

    AY-3-8910 Synth

    • MSX
    • Music
    • DEV
    • MIDI

    A prototype that connects the MSX PSG sound chips—the AY-3-8910 (a.k.a. YM2149) to MIDI, allowing the soundchip to be played from a MIDI controller. It runs on an RP2040-based Raspberry Pi Pico board and uses a PCM5102 DAC for audio output, with PSG sound generation handled by the emu2149 emulator.

    Woman with headphones among MSX computers and CRT screens reading AI Generated Game Music

    FAC Soundtracker & MSX Music AI Covers

    • AI MUSIC

    AI-generated covers of classic MSX FAC Soundtracker Pro tracks and MSX game music, created as an exploratory experiment using Suno.

    Wammes Witkop - MSX Computer Magazine archive

    MSX Computer Magazine Archive

    • MSX
    • Website
    • Archive

    Co-founder of an interactive archive of MSX Computer Magazine (1985–1997), built together with former colleagues. Published BASIC listings can be launched directly in an online MSX emulator WebMSX.

    I worked for the publisher as a systems engineer from 1992 to 1997 and contributed articles from the late 1980s onward. I later also wrote for PC-Active.

    Rubikon Elektrik cosmic synth artwork

    Rubikon Elektrik Music

    • Music

    Electronic music I created myself, kind of blending spacesynth and darker atmospheric textures style. Produced with analog synthesizers and mixed in Bitwig Studio.