Nanoloop is a minimalistic electronic music program for handheld platforms.
Nanoloop 1.6 is a sequencer for Game Boy. Sound is generated by the Game Boy's analog sound chip and restricted to raw rectangular waves, noise and a 4-bit wave form.
Nanoloop 2.5 for Game Boy Advance is a sequencer and software synthesizer. Filtered waves, filtered noise and simple FM are produced digitally.
The iPhone and Android versions share the same sound engine and file format and have a similar interface. They combine an enhanced version of nanoloop 2.5's synthesizer with a simple sampler. Both allow to record audio on the device and to import samples via PC. They also can re-sample their own sound output.
Technically, only nanoloop 1.6 may be considered a "chiptune" or "8-bit" instrument. It runs on an 8-bit system with a soundchip while the other versions are digital synthesizers for 32-bit systems.
Nanoloop for iPhone / Android does not simulate vintage hardware, nor was it designed to "sound like a Game Boy".
Allthough the general minimalism and the lack of effects and clip art may often lead to raw, somewhat "chippy" results in the beginning, you can tweak nanoloop in entirely different directions, too, if desired.
The original nanoloop was a study project at the University of Fine Arts of Hamburg.
The first public performace took place at the Liquid Sky club, Cologne (which no longer exists) in early 1998.
Nanoloop cartridges have been commercially available within Germany since late 1999, worldwide sales started in 2000.
In 2002, the first nanoloop-only album, nanoloop 1.0 was released on Disco Bruit, followed by a few other CD- and countless online releases.
(c) 1998-2011 Oliver Wittchow
"Game Boy" and "Game Boy Advance" are registered trade marks of Nintendo