LSDJ is one of the most popular trackers for chiptune. And since it was developed for the Game Boy, it is designed to use a limited set of keys: the cursor and four others that were on the Game Boy. Plus, the interface is optimized for a small screen. On paper — the perfect program for the iPhone SE. And in practice too.
Initial conditions
I’m going on vacation. For a week. Without a suitcase. I have to save on weight and size: the MPC stays at home. So does the Novation Circuit. Say goodbye to the laptop! The only devices coming along are my old iPad mini and iPhone.
If only the iPad weren’t so old and without storage issues, I could install something on it. A few years ago, I was into making music on mobile devices and bought quite a lot of software. But now, nothing can be installed: either there’s no space or the OS version is too old.
Why LSDJ?
The problem with music apps on iOS is their focus on the iPad. Very few developers bother making the interface convenient for a small screen. The majority of musicians use iPads. On the phone, all control elements shrink to tiny sizes or start overlapping.
The touchscreen doesn’t provide the needed precision on a small screen. You want to move the filter adjustment by a couple of percent, but damn it, because of thick fingers, it moves at least a quarter. And to get the necessary accuracy, you have to buy an Apple Pencil. And for that pencil, you need a new tablet. It doesn’t work with my phone.
There are apps that work well on a small screen. GrooveRider (GR 16) is well adapted. NanoStudio 2 works pretty well. Beathawk is relatively convenient. Maybe there’s something else, but these apps cost money. I don’t want to buy anything else.
Let’s try another approach. Why not try LSDJ? Everything is perfectly visible on the smallest screen. There are very few controls: four buttons and a D-pad. But you need a Game Boy… or do you? It will work…
Sameboy
To run LSDJ on iOS, you need a Game Boy emulator. The best emulator for macOS is Sameboy. About two years ago, when I wanted to make chiptune on my phone, I couldn’t find any emulators. Since last year, that’s no longer a problem: RetroArch has been available on iOS since May 15, 2024, and Sameboy since December 11, 2024.
Just in case, I have both emulators installed. RetroArch with the Sameboy core and Sameboy as a separate app. Both apps were installed from the official store. No extra steps needed.
Then I downloaded the latest stable ROM from the LSDJ website, opened it in Sameboy, and I’m ready to make tracks. Sound-wise, this is the best emulator. I don’t have a real Game Boy, but all the examples I downloaded work well. Which can’t be said for other emulators.
On Android, there is RetroArch. The Sameboy core works. There is also FamiStudio — not a tracker, not a Game Boy, but quite a chiptune tool. On iOS, you have to pay for it.