Make Beats/Songs on the PSP

While searching for homebrew programs for my PSP, I came across a new breed of programs for the PSP that allow you to create musical compositions right on the unit with no aid from a PC. (other than for file transferring) There are a few out there. Two are free, one is actually a legit UMD called Traxxpad. It's about 40 bucks, but good luck finding it. It's sold out at WalMart and Target. (Stopped checking for it after that)

The other two are true homebrews, meaning you have to have custom firmware on your PSP to play them. Don't have it, or have no clue what I'm talking about check out these sites: http://www.psp-hacks.com/ or http://www.consolespot.net/ Also check YouTube for some vid tuts on how to do it. It's perfectly legal, so no worries about Sony knocking down your front door and its the easiest mod to do to ANY console. (I've done mine and my buddy's. Probably gonna do my cousin's too)

Ok so you've got a modded PSP (Or if you don't we'll pretend you do) There are two free options to take. You've got PSPSeq 3.0 and PSPRhythm 8.0 (there are older versions available as well, I haven't checked 'em out, but apparently the all work a little differently.) I've used both. PSPSeq is OK. It's a little limited in the user interface department, kinda difficult to navigate, (Button assignments are not so user friendly) and looks archaic at best. BUT, it is a versatile program. PSPSeq contains both realtime synthesis and sample playback capability, along with multiple FX modules of widely varying types for modifying instruments in countless ways. PSPSeq also has a powerful and unique step sequencer for triggering samples and arranging loops into full songs.

The other one, PSPRhythm, is my personal choice. It has easy enough button assingnments. It looks very nice. It has a more easily accessed functions. It is also easier to import your own .wav's in 16-bit 44.1kbps format. (Just stick them in the ms0:/psp/game/psprhythm/samples/ folder) It has 16 slots for instruments and/or samples with 64, one bar patterns to be created for those 16, and they can all be used simultaneously. You can then switch to sequencer mode and assign any of those 64 patterns to 999 bars available, but theres more. Each instrument/sample has its own track in the sequencer, so you can trigger each instrument when its needed for the pattern. Basically meaning, you can choose which instruments/samples will trigger at specified times. It's incredibly versatile and once you getthe hang of the button configurations and how to switch beetween modes, you're off and running.

Here's the first track I did using PSPRhythm 8.0: Open Wide

Here's the commercial for PSPRhythm 8.0

Any PSP user with custom firmware here should check this out!