Tim Follin - "Bionic Commando (C64)" Soundtrack [Oscilloscope View]

[@shagheadguy4805]

Stage 4 is where Tim released his inner musical wizard on this soundtrack

[@richeeeee]

I can't agree, for me the point where he diverges from the arcade original in Stage 1 (roughly 1:37) is absolutely genius all the way until it loops. Every single time I hear it get the goosebumps ❤

[@RedTsarOldChannel-INACTIVE]

3:48 [Insert Tim Follin staring at the binary sunset thinking about his future]

[@bitcrushed-thing]

OH MY GOD I DIDN'T CATCH THAT

[@MechanicalRabbits]

3:47 that's the star wars force theme! such a cool way to reference it!

[@doopdee]

Wait what

[@a_userMUSIC]

fun fact: in an interview in the early 2000's, Tim Follin himself said that the "star wars reference" was pure coincidence and was not intended.

[@Jrockten]

Oh shit, never noticed that

[@DrTune]

Oh man that Stage One music, starts off all classic jolly videogame and then goes full LSD trip and then at 2:40 just when your brain can't take it any more it's wooosh back to happy.. Genius

[@Nadstratosfer]

I scrolled down into the comment section exactly for this one. I heard the music a thousand times before but with the oscilloscope view one gets more insight :)

[@matijalenic2923]

And the triangle made the bass at the beggining 1:23

[@GregDaniel78]

That title tune is such a mad piece of precussion. There is almost NO melody. I bet the veins on Follins neck were ready to burst trying not to stick a load of prog-flute solos into it! Could I request Peter Pack Rat's soundtrack. As far as I know, it might be the only time you hear samples in Tim's C64 stuff.

[@FukiMakai]

I didn't even know C64 could handle samples

[@RedTsarOldChannel-INACTIVE]

@@FukiMakai Actually Jeroen Tel used samples quite a lot (Turbo OutRun, OutRun Europa,2400 A.D.(unreleased),Hot Rod,After Burner). Tim Follin also worked with samples in the C64,such as in Ghouls 'n Ghosts.

[@FukiMakai]

@@RedTsarOldChannel-INACTIVE Yes, I did know that later. Turbo used an additional 4th channel. Tim's c64 versions of Peter pack rat is also the other game Tim used the 4th channel

[@RedTsarOldChannel-INACTIVE]

@@FukiMakai Fun fact: it wasn't exactly an addition, but an exploit of a bug in the SID chip.

[@FukiMakai]

@@RedTsarOldChannel-INACTIVE Wow. Interesting

[@adamp9553]

6:29 that two-instrument slide... and the simulated drums later on in that track. ... And that Stage Five - constructed to sound like it has another channel.

[@ggffhhh123]

2:00 part always kicks my mind to the boundary of cosmos

[@4lpha0ne]

Wow, this is a very powerful part. Sounds very modern to me.

[@Lekingogames]

If you really want to listen the boundaries of the cosmos then listen to 6:47 it is epic

[@markwrightrf]

Give me a second to catch my breath. That Stage 4 track around 05:50 is so above and beyond what would have been necessary to deliver.. I think we forget how much we suspended disbelief back then with graphics to imagine our little bionic guy was real that the best soundtracks also caught our imagination and this still sounds spectacular. Sorry Rob, but this may be the pinnacle of C64 music. Tim for the win.

[@foureyedelf6151]

My nine month old approves and is bouncing along in his bouncy seat

[@foureyedelf6151]

@MemphisOFICIAL777 A year and a half, yeah.

[@liviopochettiavv.9048]

The music is so good that it totally stands the test of time despite it coming from an 8-bit machine. The arrangements are so good and polyrhythmic that I’d like to hear it played by a real band

[@jet_punch6872]

stage 3 is just.. *chefs kiss* the way it just suddenly transforms into a jazzy solo gets me every time

[@CosmicDisturbance]

Thank the lord someone actually recognizes Stage 3

[@team56th]

Absolutely insane even by Tim Follin standard - Amazing...

[@odinlindeberg4624]

3:48 Oh, I think I recognized a melody here...

[@Eli_Santin]

star wars

[@jet_punch6872]

i’m hearing agent x II in the baseline.

[@theallknowingsause8940]

Same here, I think it's from Bionic Commando

[@tinarenee2433]

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

[@kqzo]

3:56 for a second kinda sounded like that one tiny bit from cybernoid 2

[@VJFranzK]

Somehow, particularly interesting to watch the waves transform.

[@bluebull399]

The title theme is mind blowing. Just amazing that this is coming out a SID chip. It's almost like real MIDI drums from a sound module.

[@Plasmariel]

Rob Hubbard: Commando Tim Follin: Bionic Commando

[@andrewkovnat]

Amazing filter work.

[@StookyDoo22]

I saw stage five mentioned none. On first listen, it and high score are easily my favorites

[@WindowsDrawer]

6:53 I like how that sequence from level 3 (or at least a variation of it) comes back here

[@redpandachannel7981]

Incroyable 1:38

[@fhydibdab1752]

Remember pausing the game every new level and listening to soundtrack, just in case I died before I'd heard it all😂

[@oscwavcommentaccount]

IT'S JUST STAGE ONE, TIM

[@robertwilson7532]

Thoroughly excellent. Great memories and nostalgia triggered hearing this. Utterly excellent and all too unsung musical talents of Mr Follin and his predecessors and contemporaries. With the limitations of the technology, to borrow a phrase;. What music they make!

[@timoloef]

This is how I imagine Eddie van Halen being able to program the SID chip. Awesome!

[@mrsid6581]

Truly a masterpiece!

[@DrTune]

"Stage One" is literally a DMT trip. It's really unfair to the game because no C64 title could be anything like as good as this music

[@dutchpropaganda558]

ghouls 'n' ghosts

[@LarsTragel-zh7ei]

That drums in level four were insane in 1987.

[@doopdee]

This is SICK

[@Luse_kororo]

I love the soundtrack for the high score part.

[@elvisrobotbeta3299]

I recently discovered that a C64 version of Bionic Commando existed!!!! Unreal!!!

[@noanime5762]

3:48 Sounds familiar, hmm...

[@DobygamesGC]

With only 3 channels wow that's impressive:o

[@thiscateatspancakes2451]

Oh boy seems the C64 actually had a good soundchip even if it's old

[@Sinistar1983]

It was so good, not even its own creators knew of its true power

[@HJE1974]

@michael64 True, and even didnt knew about Rob Hubbard, Jeroen Tel... So sad somehow...

[@robertwilson7532]

Agreed, for someone who lived through discovering or, absolutely excellent

[@bangerbangerbro]

We knew that already

[@HJE1974]

@@LarsTragel-zh7ei Lamer? Ah, ok ;-) Many Years ago we had a little Game-Project together: Rob, Jeroen, Ben and me. Unfortunally the company went bancrupt and the project was canceled before it could start... it was an honour for me to talk and plan things up with the legends of my childhood, you can believe me! Thats why they came in mind first, to answer your stupid question! ...and you are who anyway? You didnt got my point about Bob Yannis, did you?

[@Sinistar1983]

Good lord, is this really a commodore 64, sounds more like a sega genesis with those drums

[@Sh-hg8kf]

1:00 Sounds like the begenning of Stage 1 Outrun theme

[@RedTsarOldChannel-INACTIVE]

Aka Magical Sound Shower.

[@jamiewilliamson9829]

If we're talking the original arcade version of OutRun, then there isn't any stage music. Just a selection of three tracks at the start.

[@Sh-hg8kf]

@@jamiewilliamson9829 I meant Magical Golden Shower, srry

[@Mnnvint]

@@Sh-hg8kf That's a different kind of shower

[@Sh-hg8kf]

@@Mnnvint XD

[@brazencoronet17]

It's been a while since I heard the source, so I may misquote some things, but apparently the C64 is very versatile in how sound can be programmed in it, despite only having 3 channels. The thing with the 3 channels is that they can switch from square/triangle whatever they're called, opposed to something like the NES that had 5 channels, but the channels can't change their sound type. I see this illustrated really well here, and the music itself sounds amazing. Tim Folin made some extremely impressive stuff with such limited means. At 4:07, the middle channel seems to be switching these types rapidly

[@bangerbangerbro]

Nor to mention that I is a proper subtractive synth and bot just a basic tone generator.

[@bitcrushed-thing]

I HAD MY VOLUME AT MAX the beginning scared the crap outta me

[@BobNoobin]

I had this as a kid and only heard up to level 3. This music is timeless

[@gj8313]

One best C64 game music ever, and a great game to boot🎶🎶.

[@MadJedfox]

What kind of sorcery is it? xD Masterpiece ♥

[@jarnotrast6430]

Golden memories 80's-90's.:)

[@metarotta]

stage 4 theme just needs a good drumline to sound vastly better

[@Ti0Luch0]

i've always thought that he wanted to do so much more with the stage 4 theme, but something hold him off.

[@ashkirby8896]

Wow, for a C64 track, this sounds amazing!😄🤩😎👌

[@Plasmariel]

It sounds amazing in general Ash

[@nawletorre7136]

normal c64 SID song

[@midlowreborn]

those waveforms be lookin' like curled fries

[@neliz2k]

0 downvotes, like any masterpiece deserves!

[@segaking5846]

nope not anymore

[@GyroMan5136]

my issue with these comments is always some loser sees them and goes "I'm gonna dislike this" xD

[@TtEL]

@@GyroMan5136 I don't see any dislikes :(

[@Plasmariel]

We should abolish these types of comments

[@marcelgross478]

best c64 track

[@toretronio9030]

Stage 2 is my favorite

[@MauveDash]

I can see more tim follin style in it than most of the others

[@theblenderfiddler4434]

It has some bits from stage 2 of agent x 2

[@Plasmariel]

1:54 how the fu-

[@Theel25]

I2 arpeggio's simultaneously at different rates with the filters of both being changed(and because you can only amplify 1 filter at a time they close up with that sound) and one of the voices rapidly jumping up and down. Other songs use similar techniques on the C64 involving multiple different filters at different rates with amplifying volumes(such as Thrust II).

[@Plasmariel]

@@Theel25 Yep, it's always a joy to hear it

[@bangerbangerbro]

Lol it's like it was made to be looked at on an oscilloscope.

[@Formula_Zero_EX]

Epic

[@SuperJet_Spade]

Looks like I don't need to do this one. I visualized the ZX Spectrum 128k version of this game's soundtrack sometime last year.

[@Sh-hg8kf]

9:06 Holy fuck how did it sound like the genesis for a quick second?

[@jammerc64]

Ringmod with appropriate pitch both for carrier and modulator channel ;)

[@Sh-hg8kf]

@@jammerc64 Ah I see, thank you!

[@petersimon791]

6:37 whole tone scale

[@XYZB0RG]

how do you fit that much music into 3 channels?

[@Mr.Atari2600]

3:48 Star Wars?

[@kyladie]

Makes me smile every time I listen to it..

[@AndreaTovey]

Try not to explod when listening to this

[@stuCameraman1]

the c64 had so much creativity in its music, the arcade had better quality sound with little creativity. like Bionic commando Level 1 sounds better (creative wise) than the arcade.

[@LettersAndNumbers300]

If you like this check out the NES version!

[@shagheadguy4805]

What does he compose when he’s bored

[@NEStalgia]

8:37

[@shaunbebbington6411]

The title theme is just too weird for me. Also, how to describe this music? No words can do it justice.

[@CosmicDisturbance]

Unpopular opinion: Stage 3 is the best theme

[@fogvarious2478]

Ste Ruddy needs some credit for the c64 driver The Follins used also

[@donaldthompson4044]

The unsung heroes of music.

[@farzingharahgozloo]

stage 4 and nothing else 😬

[@attackofthecopyrightbots]

i like the part where they play the star wars theme

[@umescribaodocrioulistao]

02:58 Thanks me later.

[@jimmypk1353]

Many Thanks :)

[@Sh-hg8kf]

1:28 Holy fuck that's straight out of Guitar Slinger on Amiga by Jogier Lieldahl(did I get his name right?)!

[@Plasmariel]

Except this came befofe it

[@marcelgross478]

please translate in modern sounds

[@sassoleo]

Really can SID do this??

[@pschiptunes64]

the power of SID

[@SamplrDesigns]

who better this ?

[@JohnJTraston]

Where is the music?

[@Mykst]

You probably had the sound off by accident. Check to see if you need to unmute the video the next time you play.

[@gametalk3149]

This soundtrack made my ears deafen

[@TheWingless]

Nope, still don't get why they call them square, triangle and saw waves.

[@donaldthompson4044]

The shapes they make when they make sound.

[@Sloposse]

Spectrum 128k tunes of this game are far superior to this crap

[@nawletorre7136]

XD

[@LoLzZ85]

For the most part I too am preferring the Speccy version, odd as it maybe, This isn't crap though.

[@kikofernandez8165]

You are a troll ,o maybe...no have ear....a crimen if you like the music....

[@theallknowingsause8940]

Ha, funny joke... I hope

[@FZuloaga]

1st track its a huge piece of crap, sorry. The rest its gorgeus.

[@Plasmariel]

The first track is very impressive even if it seems like a huge mess at first

[@brash_hown]

L + no one asked + ratio