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Early computer sound chips had only simple tone and noise generators with few channels, imposing limitations on both the complexity of the sounds they could produce and the number of notes that could be played at once. In their desire to create a more complex arrangement than what the medium apparently allowed, composers developed creative approaches when developing their own electronic sounds and scores, employing a diversity of both methods of sound synthesis, such as pulse width modulation and wavetable synthesis, and compositional techniques, such as a liberal use of arpeggiation. The resultant chiptunes sometimes seem harsh or squeaky to the unaccustomed listener.

The chiptune scene was recently the subject of a documentary called Blip Festival: Reformat the Planet by 2 Player Productions. This film was an official selection at the 2008 South By Southwest Film Festival in Austin, Texas. The Premier took place on March 8 2008 at the Dobie Theater.