Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

FamiStudio VS Surge XT

Compare FamiStudio VS Surge XT and see what are their differences

FamiStudio logo FamiStudio

FamiStudio is very simple music editor for the Nintendo Entertainment System or Famicom. It is designed to be easier to use than FamiTracker, but its feature set is also much more limited.

Surge XT logo Surge XT

Open-source subtractive-hybrid synthesizer formerly sold commercially as Vember Audio Surge.
  • FamiStudio Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-19
  • Surge XT Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-31

Surge XT is an open-source hybrid synthesizer and the synth which started the Surge Synth Team project!

FamiStudio videos

FamiStudio -- NES/Famicon Style Music Editor (Free & Open Source)

More videos:

  • Tutorial - FamiStudio 2.0.0 Tutorial - Part 1 - Your First Song

Surge XT videos

Free VST - Surge Synthesizer plugin

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to FamiStudio and Surge XT)
Audio & Music
62 62%
38% 38
Email Marketing
16 16%
84% 84
Audio
100 100%
0% 0
Work Management
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using FamiStudio and Surge XT. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Surge XT seems to be a lot more popular than FamiStudio. While we know about 178 links to Surge XT, we've tracked only 13 mentions of FamiStudio. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

FamiStudio mentions (13)

  • Looking for information about nes music.....
    Broadly speaking, most would compose on actual instruments, notate on staff paper, and then program the audio chip instructions manually, in Music Macro Language, or using a custom utility developed by the musician or studio. Tracker programs became available starting with the Amiga platform in the late 1980s, but most trackers were still written specifically for the hardware the program ran on. Today, NES... Source: about 1 year ago
  • any tips for nes style chiptunes?
    You can use a program like FamiTracker (tracker-style interface) or FamiStudio (midi/piano-roll-style interface) which reproduce the NES's limitations and can export .nsf files which you can play back on an actual NES or emulator. Source: over 1 year ago
  • What do you guys use to make audio effects and music for your game?
    Recently using FamiStudio for Chiptune music. Its like FamiTracker but with a regular DAW like workflow - https://famistudio.org/. Source: over 1 year ago
  • Everdrive N8 Pro - Gray
    Here you go dude. Pretty sure there is every game here, and all of the nsf files for them. AND if you want to actually delete an instrument or change it, there is a way to edit them on pc. https://famistudio.org/. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Ocarina of Time - Lost Woods (NES Version)
    For this cover I used FamiStudio to be as close as possible to the sound of the original NES. Source: about 2 years ago
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Surge XT mentions (178)

  • Ask HN: Comment here about whatever you're passionate about at the moment
    Good stuff! I started getting in to this at the start of the year. Already had an old, dusty MicroKORG and MIDI interface to use it as a controller, but recently splashed out on a bigger controller as the Korg's tiny keys were hurting me - plus, I wanted something bigger to get better at piano! A couple of free soft synths I'd recommend are Surge XT, and Vital. https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/... - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Obsolete (or not) DAW recommendations for windows 8?
    Https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/ and https://asb2m10.github.io/dexed/ should work like a charm. Source: 11 months ago
  • Hi, I'm new
    To get the equivalent of a symphonic orchestra in your computer, the solution is basically money; you buy the instruments you need. In the case of synthesizers, things are much cheaper - if you put in the effort yourself. https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/ is excellent and could even be used if you wanted to make a more retro-style soundtrack. Source: 11 months ago
  • So is serum worth the money? Can someone ELI5 why I should buy it rather than use a free synth like synth one?
    Instead of Synth1, try https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/ . It's pretty much better in every aspect except for the UI which is going to look a lot more daunting to you ;). Source: 11 months ago
  • These just appeared in my Facebook, anything to be excited about? I’m waiting on prices.
    For the DW-8000, check https://www.fullbucket.de/music/fb7999.html . Alternatively, https://surge-synthesizer.github.io/ can use single-cycle waveforms (basically wavetables that don't change) which can get you close. Source: 11 months ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing FamiStudio and Surge XT, you can also consider the following products

SunVox - SunVox is a small, fast and powerful modular synthesizer with pattern based sequencer (tracker).

Vital - Vital is a spectral warping wavetable synthesizer with drag'n'drop modulation workflow and animated preview of the synth's inner workings where needed. Comes with many modulation sources (including audio-rate), MPE support and FX chain.

MOTU Digital Performer - Get inspired, then refine your mix — all in a singular workflow.

Serum - VST for FL Studio, Ableton Live, and many other VST supported DAWs. Heavily utilized in EDM.

Cubasis - Cubasis is Steinberg’s streamlined, multitouch sequencer for the iPad.

ZynAddSubFX - ZynAddSubFX is an open source software synthesizer for Linux, Mac OS X and Microsoft Windows.