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[JekylHyde]

Hi
could i make chip tunes without knowing how to play and make music? 
thanks

[Saga Musix]

That's exactly why trackers got popular in the 80s and 90s: They allowed people to produce music without expensive equipment and a lot of knowledge. Having some knowledge on music theory does always help with making your stuff sound good, though. You should either have that or listen to other people's music and understand why their stuff sounds good.

[CommanderKeen]

Hi
could i make chip tunes without knowing how to play and make music? 
thanks

What you are asking is: can I bake a pie, without knowing how to bake a pie?

If you are making a chip tune, you *are* making music.

That said, there's no one stopping you from trying! What SagaMusix said is very true. Start up your favorite tracker, load up your favorite tunes and just look and listen to what's going on in that tune. Learn from it and use that knowledge in your own music!

[JekylHyde]

what is the simplest software i could use at first?

[Saga Musix]

The software that suits you best. Chiptunes are typically made using trackers, so you should look for the tracker that you like most. Popular trackers are e.g. MilkyTracker, OpenMPT, Schism Tracker.

[CommanderKeen]

Schism Tracker allows you to make .IT files, probably the most powerful format for chip-tunes.

MilkyTracker allows you to create .XM files, which is a more widely supported format. Also, MilkyTracker has the option to "draw" samples, which comes in especially handy when creating chip tunes.

Both trackers have a vastly different interface. So, try both and see what you like best.

I'm not familiar with OpenMPT, so I can't tell you the pros and cons of that tool, but feel free to try it out for yourself!

[Saga Musix]

OpenMPT is basically SchismTracker and MilkyTracker combined, but with an usable user interface. ;P (It's OpenMPT's most distinctive features; people either hate or love it because of it.)