CVGM.net - Chiptune, Retro & Video Game Music
Platform - Computer » Atari 8-bit (XL / XE / 400 / 800)
Atari 400/800 was released in 1979.
Atari XL is 8-bit Atari computer released in 1982. Its expanded edition was called Atari XE.
Pokey chip used in these machines was designed earlier in the 1970s. Pokey handles samples relatively well and has a distinctive square wave sound which is easy to recognize.
During the early 1980s just few significant game songs were made for Atari XL but later especially some Polish composers have made fine music with it.
The word "POKEY" is derived from POtentiometer and KEYboard.
Despite of machines being technically relatively good, 8-bit Atari computers were not very successful in 8-bit home computer markets.
Audio features
-4 semi-independent audio channels with following configurations for channel frequency resolution (not sample bits!): 4x8-bit, 2x16 or 1x16-bit + 2x16bit channels
-Per-channel volume, frequency, and waveform
-High-pass filter
The chip is designed by Atari's Doug Neubauer