Given that soul and R&B is typically slower than rap, artists who wanted to get soul samples up to an appropriate speed distorted the sample and rendered it high-pitched. In an oral history from the Red Bull Music Academy, Just Blaze notes that technology (and its limitations) were a major factor in the advent of the chipmunk sample. Just Blaze is also credited with contributing to the prevalence of Chipmunk sampling. Now artists have the luxury of being able to affect the pitch shift digitally in real time. The voices of Daffy Duck and select characters in The Wizard of Oz also used this technique. Like Chipmunks creator Bagdasarian, RZA recorded then later sped up songs to achieve the squeaky audio effect. “For Heavens Sake” was released in 1997 and samples King Floyd’s “Don’t Leave Me Lonely” (1971) in the chorus, employing a Chipmunk-esque distortion. The de facto leader of the Wu-Tang Clan is tremendously respected for his sampling abilities and vision. While there are widespread instances of Chipmunk sampling in the 90s, most people credit RZA with bringing the Chipmunk sample to hip hop. Many popular songs have featured the pitch shift associated with the Chipmunks: Jay-Z’s “Hard Knock Life,” Ludacris’ “How Low,” and Akon’s “Lonely.” Apart from these chart toppers, there are endless examples of Chipmunk-ed tracks: Mos Def’s “Miss Fat Booty,” Juelz Santana’s “Oh Yes,” and J Dilla’s “Two Can Win.” It doesn’t refer to a sample from Alvin the Chipmunks’ music, but to a sample that is pitch-shifted in such a way that it is reminiscent of the Chipmunks’ voices. To clarify, “Chipmunk sample” is a shorthand. The Chipmunks infiltrated hip hop in the 90s and have since carved out a lasting place for themselves. Though they had a comic book and a Christmas special, the Chipmunks are firmly tethered to their music and it is through their voices that they continue to thrive in pop culture.
![chipmunk basic sound example chipmunk basic sound example](https://venturebeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018042818564600-bd0eb87287646f662eb9875856fe05ab.jpg)
But before the television show and the feature films, the Chipmunks were first and foremost a musical act. Their success spawned a franchise worth of media and won them no fewer than five Grammys. Their first incarnation was developed to go along with a novelty record. The brainchild of Rostom Sipan Bagdasarian, the chipmunks are globally recognized for their high pitched voices and enduring appeal.
![chipmunk basic sound example chipmunk basic sound example](https://assessment.tki.org.nz/var/tki-assess/storage/images/media/images/ab-images/assessment-and-data-analysis-a-process/65137-1-eng-NZ/Assessment-and-data-analysis-a-process.png)
It’s also helpful to give each panel a different color (unlike the included alternates).Tracing the roots of the high-pitched, sped-up sample.Īlvin and the Chipmunks were introduced to the world in 1958. When editing or creating your own data, you’ll probably want to make better use of white space and separate data statements to group related items, like this. The data listed in cbsimon.bas is condensed. To use these or other layouts comment out the default data statements and uncomment or insert the desired layout data. The default layout is shown in the screenshot above, but others are included: The layout defines the number of game panels, their size and position, their colors, the notes heard when they are played, and the keys associated with them. The layout and some of the behavior of the game “board” is read from data statements at the end of the program. You need Chipmunk Basic to run this program. There are some rough edges: the game may become confused if you hold down keys too long or type too rapidly. The game is playable but is primarily intended as an example. Each time you successfully mimic the computer’s play the pattern is lengthened. The game is played by attempting to repeat the pattern played by the computer.
![chipmunk basic sound example chipmunk basic sound example](http://www.styrowing.com/images/hicktonpuppet.jpg)
This is a simple version of Simon Says written in Chipmunk Basic.