We’ve all been there. You’re building an indie game, and you need background music. You don’t have the budget to license tracks, and you definitely don’t have the time to learn music theory.
So, I asked myself: Can I build a machine that generates infinite, royalty-free, copyright-cleared retro game music using Python?
The answer is yes. But to make it actually good, I had to do something a little crazy. I had to abandon standard computer randomness and use Quantum Vacuum Fluctuations and Google’s Gemini 2.5 Flash.
Here is how I built the Quantum Retro Composer.
The Problem with random.randint()
My first attempt was simple: use Python’s random library to pick notes from a scale.
# The "Robot Chaos" approach
note = random.choice(['C', 'E', 'G', 'B'])
The result? It sounded like a robot falling down the stairs. It was random, but it wasn't music. Music isn't just random events; it's structure, repetition, and "vibe." Standard pseudo-random number generators (PRNGs) are deterministic and boring. They don't have souls.
To fix this, I needed two things:
- True Entropy: Randomness derived from the physical world, not an algorithm.
- Musical Intelligence: Something that understands the difference between a "boss fight" and a "stealth mission."
Step 1: Harvesting Entropy from the Vacuum
To get "organic" variation, I connected my Python script to the Australian National University (ANU) Quantum Random Numbers API.
This API measures the quantum fluctuations of the vacuum in real-time. By measuring the noise of a laser, we get true, unpredictable entropy. I combined this with my computer's hardware entropy and the current nanosecond time to generate a Cryptographic Seed.
def get_quantum_seed():
# 1. Get Hardware Entropy
hw = secrets.token_bytes(32)
# 2. Get Quantum Vacuum Data (from ANU API)
qw = requests.get("https://qrng.anu.edu.au/API/jsonI.php...").content
# 3. Hash them together
hasher = hashlib.sha256()
hasher.update(hw + qw)
return int(hasher.hexdigest(), 16)
Now, every song my script generates is mathematically unique in the universe.
Step 2: The Conductor (Gemini 2.5 Flash)
Randomness gives us variation, but it doesn't give us structure. This is where Gemini 2.5 Flash comes in.
Instead of writing complex rules for music theory (which is hard), I treat the LLM as a "Composer." I feed it my Quantum Seed and a prompt describing the vibe I want ("High energy retro game boss fight"), and I ask it to return a JSON "Music Sheet."
Here is the secret sauce: I don't ask Gemini for audio. I ask for Data.
prompt = f"""
You are a legendary Retro Game Composer. Seed: {seed}.
Create a BUSY, CONTINUOUS Retro Game Soundtrack (3 Phases).
JSON Structure:
{{
"bpm": 125,
"phase_1": {{ "kick": [0, 4, 8...], "bass": [ {{ "step": 0, "freq": 55.0 }} ] }},
"phase_2": {{ ... }}
}}
"""
Gemini understands syncopation. It knows that if the kick drum hits on beat 1, the snare usually hits on beat 2. It handles the "music theory" so I don't have to.
Step 3: The Synthesizer (Pure Math)
I didn't want to rely on external sample packs (MP3s) because that limits variation. Instead, I built a Digital Signal Processing (DSP) engine in Python using numpy.
Every instrument is generated from scratch using sine waves, noise, and math.
The "Retro" Kick Drum: To sound like a 90s console, you don't use a real drum recording. You take a sine wave and pitch-shift it down rapidly.
def synth_kick_retro():
t = np.linspace(0, 0.4, int(44100 * 0.4))
# Drop pitch from 150Hz to 40Hz quickly
freq = 150 * np.exp(-12 * t) + 40
wave = np.sin(2 * np.pi * freq * t)
# Clip it for that "crunchy" 16-bit sound
return np.clip(wave * 1.5, -0.8, 0.8)
I built similar mathematical models for:
- Snare: White noise + a short sine wave "thud."
- Bass: A square wave (NES style).
- Keys: Pulse waves with a simple LFO (Low Frequency Oscillator) for tremolo.
Step 4: The "Glue" (Solving the Silence)
The early versions of the script had a flaw: they were too sparse. The AI would write a cool beat for 2 seconds and then leave 2 seconds of silence. It sounded like a ticker tape.
To solve this, I wrote a Density Enforcer.
Before rendering the audio, my script scans the JSON returned by Gemini. If the drum pattern is too empty, or if the loop doesn't extend to the end of the bar, the Python script mechanically injects "filler" notes—like a steady hi-hat or a drone pad—to ensure there is never dead air.
def ensure_density(data):
# If the AI forgot to write Hi-Hats, force 8th notes
if len(data.get("closed_hat", [])) < 16:
data["closed_hat"] = list(range(0, 64, 2))
return data
I also added a Pad Drone—a low-volume background synthesizer that plays the root note continuously. This acts as "audio glue," blending the disjointed AI notes into a cohesive track.
The Result: Infinite Retro Bops
The final script exports a .wav file that is:
- Seamlessly Looping: It calculates the exact sample count to cut the file on the beat.
- Bit-Crushed: I added a downsampling algorithm to emulate the SNES audio chip.
- Copyright Free: Generated by math + entropy.
I can now generate a unique, 3-minute evolving boss theme in about 15 seconds. It starts with a stealthy intro, builds into a groove, hits a chaotic climax, and fades back out—all dictated by the roll of a quantum dice.
This project was completed by Gemini in the browser. Visual Studio Code was used for testing. As always, I am a very blind individual, and I use special tools to help me do my projects. Centaur Model ftw! (for the win)