Rob Hubbard
Encyclopedia
Rob Hubbard is a music composer
best known for his composition of computer game theme music, especially for microcomputers of the 1980s such as the Commodore 64
. His work showcased the potential of the Commodore 64's sound hardware and provided many examples of how appropriate music can improve the gaming experience.
and machine code
for the Commodore 64.
, a platform game.
Hubbard went on to write or convert themes for games such as Monty on the Run
, Crazy Comets, Master of Magic
and Commando. Some of his most popular tunes include also Thrust, Spellbound
, Sanxion
, Auf Wiedersehen Monty
and International Karate
. The game Knucklebusters includes Hubbard's longest tune: a 17 minute opus.
in 1989 to work for Electronic Arts
in America as a composer. He was the first person devoted to sound and music at EA, and did everything from low-level programming to composing. One of his most famous compositions during his period at EA is the music featured in the loading sequence of the C64 version of Skate or Die, which features samples of electric guitar. Playback of samples was facilitated by exploiting a flaw in the SID
sound-synthesizer chip: altering the volume register produced an audible click, and altering the register thousands of times per second enabled a crude form of sample playback.
He eventually became Audio Technical Director, a more administrative job, deciding which technologies to use in games, and which to develop further. After the Commodore 64 period he wrote some soundtracks for games which appeared on the IBM PC
and Sega Mega Drive
.
In 2005, music from International Karate
was performed live by a full orchestra at the third Symphonic Game Music Concert
. The event took place in Leipzig
, Germany
. Hubbard arranged and orchestrated the piece.
Hubbard left EA in 2002 and returned to England. He has recently resumed playing in a band, and has even revisited his past game music work in concert. Recent composition jobs have included music for mobile phone games. His original SID music can be found from The High Voltage SID Collection
though emulated SID files occasionally sound quite different compared to authentic SID sound.
The SOASC=http://www.6581-8580.com collection offers the HVSC#49 files recorded on real C64 machines.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
best known for his composition of computer game theme music, especially for microcomputers of the 1980s such as the Commodore 64
Commodore 64
The Commodore 64 is an 8-bit home computer introduced by Commodore International in January 1982.Volume production started in the spring of 1982, with machines being released on to the market in August at a price of US$595...
. His work showcased the potential of the Commodore 64's sound hardware and provided many examples of how appropriate music can improve the gaming experience.
Early career
In the late seventies, before scoring games, he was a professional studio musician. He decided to teach himself BASICBASIC
BASIC is a family of general-purpose, high-level programming languages whose design philosophy emphasizes ease of use - the name is an acronym from Beginner's All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code....
and machine code
Machine code
Machine code or machine language is a system of impartible instructions executed directly by a computer's central processing unit. Each instruction performs a very specific task, typically either an operation on a unit of data Machine code or machine language is a system of impartible instructions...
for the Commodore 64.
Gremlin Graphics
Writing a few demos and some educational software for learning music, he approached Gremlin Graphics in 1985 with samples of his work, in an attempt to market his software. Gremlin was more interested in the tunes than the software, and he was asked to create the soundtrack for Thing on a SpringThing on a Spring
Thing On A Spring is a side-scrolling platform/puzzle game produced in 1985 for the Commodore 64 by Gremlin Graphics. Gameplay involves controlling a character resembling Zebedee from The Magic Roundabout through a toy factory while avoiding evil toys....
, a platform game.
Hubbard went on to write or convert themes for games such as Monty on the Run
Monty on the Run
Monty on the Run is a computer game created by the software house Gremlin Graphics and released in 1985 for the C64, Spectrum, Amstrad CPC and Commodore Plus/4, written by Peter Harrap for the Spectrum with music by Rob Hubbard....
, Crazy Comets, Master of Magic
Master of Magic (Mastertronic)
Master of Magic is a computer role-playing game for the Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum home computers. It was distributed by Mastertronic in 1985 under its M.A.D. label.-Description:...
and Commando. Some of his most popular tunes include also Thrust, Spellbound
Spellbound (computer game)
Spellbound is a computer game that was designed and programmed by David Jones with music by Rob Hubbard and released in 1985 for the ZX Spectrum and Amstrad CPC home computers...
, Sanxion
Sanxion
Sanxion is a 1986 side-scrolling shoot 'em up by Thalamus Ltd., developed by Stavros Fasoulas, along with Delta, another shoot 'em up, and Quedex.-Gameplay:...
, Auf Wiedersehen Monty
Auf Wiedersehen Monty
Auf Wiedersehen Monty is a computer game for the ZX Spectrum, Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC and MSX. Released in 1987, it is the fourth of the Monty series, following Monty is Innocent, Monty on the Run and the successful original Wanted: Monty Mole...
and International Karate
International Karate
International Karate is a karate fighting game created and published by System 3 for various home computers. Of these versions the 1986 releases for Commodore 64 and Atari 8-bit computers, created by Archer MacLean with music by Rob Hubbard, stand out for their good playability and overall high...
. The game Knucklebusters includes Hubbard's longest tune: a 17 minute opus.
Move to Electronic Arts and the USA
After working for several different companies, he left NewcastleNewcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
in 1989 to work for Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
in America as a composer. He was the first person devoted to sound and music at EA, and did everything from low-level programming to composing. One of his most famous compositions during his period at EA is the music featured in the loading sequence of the C64 version of Skate or Die, which features samples of electric guitar. Playback of samples was facilitated by exploiting a flaw in the SID
MOS Technology SID
The MOS Technology 6581/8580 SID is the built-in Programmable Sound Generator chip of Commodore's CBM-II, Commodore 64, Commodore 128 and Commodore MAX Machine home computers...
sound-synthesizer chip: altering the volume register produced an audible click, and altering the register thousands of times per second enabled a crude form of sample playback.
He eventually became Audio Technical Director, a more administrative job, deciding which technologies to use in games, and which to develop further. After the Commodore 64 period he wrote some soundtracks for games which appeared on the IBM PC
IBM PC
The IBM Personal Computer, commonly known as the IBM PC, is the original version and progenitor of the IBM PC compatible hardware platform. It is IBM model number 5150, and was introduced on August 12, 1981...
and Sega Mega Drive
Sega Mega Drive
The Sega Genesis is a fourth-generation video game console developed and produced by Sega. It was originally released in Japan in 1988 as , then in North America in 1989 as Sega Genesis, and in Europe, Australia and other PAL regions in 1990 as Mega Drive. The reason for the two names is that...
.
Recent activities
Hubbard recently contributed a few re-arrangements of his themes to Chris Abbott's C64 tribute Back in Time Live. Hubbard has performed several times with the Danish C64 cover-band Press Play on Tape who have covered many of his early tunes using a full rock-band arrangement. Hubbard has also performed his old music on piano with the support of violinist madfiddler.In 2005, music from International Karate
International Karate
International Karate is a karate fighting game created and published by System 3 for various home computers. Of these versions the 1986 releases for Commodore 64 and Atari 8-bit computers, created by Archer MacLean with music by Rob Hubbard, stand out for their good playability and overall high...
was performed live by a full orchestra at the third Symphonic Game Music Concert
Symphonic Game Music Concert
The Symphonic Game Music Concerts are a series of award-winning, annual German video game music concerts initiated in 2003, notable for being the longest running and the first of their kind outside of Japan...
. The event took place in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Hubbard arranged and orchestrated the piece.
Hubbard left EA in 2002 and returned to England. He has recently resumed playing in a band, and has even revisited his past game music work in concert. Recent composition jobs have included music for mobile phone games. His original SID music can be found from The High Voltage SID Collection
The High Voltage SID Collection
The High Voltage SID Collection is both the name of a project to build a collection of music created on the MOS Technology 6581/8580 SID sound chip in Commodore CBM-II, Commodore 64 and Commodore 128 home computers and the collection itself...
though emulated SID files occasionally sound quite different compared to authentic SID sound.
The SOASC=http://www.6581-8580.com collection offers the HVSC#49 files recorded on real C64 machines.
External links
- C64Audio.com, Rob's publisher and record label
- Interview with Rob Hubbard at C64.COM
- Rob Hubbard's profile at MobyGamesMobyGames-Platforms not yet included:- Further reading :* Rusel DeMaria, Johnny L. Wilson, High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games, McGraw-Hill/Osborne Media; 2 edition , ISBN 0-07-223172-6...
- Artist profile at OverClocked ReMixOverClocked ReMixOverClocked ReMix, also known as OC ReMix and OCR, is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and paying tribute to video game music through arranging and re-interpreting the songs with new technology and software, as well as by various traditional means...
- Rob Hubbard's Music at CVGM
- Rob Hubbard at Last.fm
- Remix64's Interview with Rob Hubbard
- Legends of the C64 article on Rob Hubbard
- C64 Orchestra A classical orchestra that performs C64 game music of Rob Hubbard