8chip — Renoise Chiptune Toolbox

8 modules for chiptune composition. Requires Renoise 3.5+

Open via Tools → 8chip or the assigned keybinding.

Most important things below, for full length manual, go to https://github.com/halebop17/8chip
Credit to Adventure Kid for his single cycle waveforms of which some are included in 8chip. https://www.adventurekid.se/akrt/waveforms/

Tabs

Top menu is arranged as 2 rows (4 tabs per row).

1. Waveforms

Generates a mathematical waveform into the selected instrument’s sample slot.

Waveform types: Sine (pure), Pulse (variable duty, default 25%), Square 50% (fixed), Sawtooth, Triangle, Noise, FM (two-operator).

Controls: Waveform, Frames (cycle length), Duty % (Pulse only), FM Ratio/Mod (FM only), Sample Rate, Bit Depth, Loop Mode, Preview, Generate.

2. Presets

Browse and load chip instrument presets. Sources: real NES APU recordings, Genesis YM2612 samples, bundled GB/SID chip single-cycles, or mathematical waveforms.

• Preview — non-destructive audition (temporary instrument is removed after playback)
• Load Preset — adds a new instrument slot with the selected preset
• Load Full Kit — adds all presets in category as separate slots ([ch.XX] naming for phrase routing)

3. Arp

Writes arpeggio phrases into the selected instrument. Always creates a new phrase.

Three modes:

• Hardware (0A) — 0A XY effect, most hardware-authentic
• Explicit — each chord note on its own phrase line
• Script (pattrns) — Lua script phrase, algorithmic, live-tweakable (Renoise 3.5+)

Controls: Mode, Root Note, Chord, Octave Span (1–3), Pattern (Asc/Desc/Ping-Pong/Down-Up/Skip/Random), LPB, Length, Loop, Preview, Write Phrase.

Live Mode (Script only): Any change to Root, Chord, Pattern, Octave, LPB, or Loop instantly rewrites the current script phrase — no Write click needed. Overwrites the selected phrase rather than creating a new one. Disable before switching to a different phrase.

4. Pitch

Writes pitch effect commands into a new phrase on the selected instrument.

Presets:

• Laser Zap — 0U pitch sweep up over N lines then 0C cut (upward sweep, laser effect)
• Kick Drop — 0D downward pitch sweep (pitch-drop drum)
• Bass Glide — 0G portamento between two notes
• Portamento Bass — root/fifth pattern with continuous 0G glide

Controls: Preset, Note/Root, Target Note (Glide only), Speed, Sweep Lines, LPB, Length, Loop, Preview, Write Phrase.

5. Drums

Percussion phrases using volume step-fades and effect commands. Works on any instrument — noise or sine work best. Always creates a new phrase.

Presets:

• Kick — volume step-fade over Decay Lines then 0C cut
• Snare — 0R retrigger burst + 0C cut
• Hi-Hat — short 0C on every line; optional 0Y probability for shuffle feel
• Noise Burst — volume step-fade over Decay Lines then 0C cut

Controls: Preset, Note, Decay Lines (Kick/Noise), Retriggers (Snare), Cut Tick (Hi-Hat), Probability % (Hi-Hat), LPB, Length, Loop, Preview, Write Phrase.

6. Mod

Injects vibrato (0V), tremolo (0T), or auto-pan (0N) into a phrase or pattern region.

Target — New Phrase: creates a new phrase, writes effects on every line, adds a sustained trigger note on line 1.
Target — Pattern Region: injects effects only onto lines that already have a note — does not write or remove notes.

Controls: Quick Preset, Effect, Speed (0–15), Depth (0–15), Note, LPB, Length, Loop, Target, Preview, Write/Inject.

7. Probability

Applies 0Y (probability) and 0Q (delay) to notes in the selected pattern region. Select notes in the pattern editor first.

Tools:

• Probability Scatter — adds 0Y to selected notes at a given density
• Humanize — scatters small 0Q delay values for a loose, human feel
• Fill (Every Nth) — marks every Nth note with 0Y

8. Single Cycles

Browse internal Adventure Kid waveforms or add your own folder.

Core actions:

• Use Internal — load bundled curated AKWF banks
• Browse — pick a custom folder (subfolders become banks)
• Insert Single — insert selected waveform as a looped sample
• + Add to Wavetable — stage up to 4 waveforms in the queue
• Insert as Wavetable — insert queued waveforms and auto-spread keyzones across C0-B9

Tips

• Phrase LPB vs song LPB: Phrases have their own LPB. High phrase LPB (32–64) = ultra-fast chip arps at any song tempo.
• Kit routing: Trigger the phrase-holder slot in your pattern. Use the instrument column inside the phrase to route lines to different sound slots.
• Every Write creates a new phrase (except Arp Live Mode). Use Undo (Ctrl+Z) if you write by mistake.
• Combining Arp + Mod: Use Mod’s Pattern Region target to inject effects onto existing arp notes without creating a separate phrase.
• Safe combinations: Pitch + Mod ✓ — Arp + Pitch slide ✓ — Arp + Tremolo/Auto-Pan ✓ — Arp + Vibrato ✗ (both modify pitch, unpredictable results).