C+C my first Midi

auhsor · Sat 30/08/2003 08:18:34

Well yeah this isnt for a game or anyhting at the moment, but i wanted to put some of the stuff i was playin on guitar into a song so here it is ...

http://auhsor.free-host.com/Josh%20-%20A%20Random%20Melody.mid

Comments would be appreciated.

12431 · Sat 30/08/2003 09:05:00

Didn't work...

auhsor · Sat 30/08/2003 12:29:06

Hmm, thats strange. It works for me. Is it the link or does the file not run?

I made it in guitar pro, so it might have done something funny with it...

Andail · Sat 30/08/2003 12:54:21

It works fine.

Pretty nice, sounds like those old nes-tracks for CastleVania and similar.

Gonzo · Sun 31/08/2003 13:54:58

It downloaded as a .mp3 for some reason, but I changed the extension to .mid. The opening notes were some weird organ voice on my computer, and when I opened the midi in Cakewalk I found that there weren't any channels set for the four instruments. I think most people's soundcards set channels automatically and MIDIs will play without them assigned, but mine is dodgy like that. I think I've got the wrong drivers or something. But once I set 3 MIDI channels for guitars and bass it played fine. I really don't know that much about the technical side of MIDI, but I think that Guitar Pro MIDI exports don't have set channels so they can end up sounding weird for people like me. (If anyone can help me out about my MIDI playback, much appreciated BTW)

Anyway, onto the MIDI itself. I agree with Andail about Castlevania. Also I like the way the bass builds the song up and then it crashes into that section where the drums really kick in, about 50 seconds in. It's a simple trick but always a nice touch. The use of percussion throughout is pretty well-done, with nice cymbal work especially. I like the section which is just the bass drum being quickly pounded, and the cymbals crashing over it, and them gradually the toms are worked into it.

You've managed to make the song nicely evolve into different sections too. I often find with my MIDIs that I get about 2 ideas to fit together but then the piece doesn't go anywhere. That gets boring fast - and irritating in a game. This MIDI is really good because it has a lot of different moods. The time signature changes help there, although the one at bar 174 was a little bit sudden after the big build-up, but maybe that's the intention.

The outro is really great, a nice guitar riff and the gradual tempo drop is a lovely way to end it. Very good work overall. You said that it probably wasn't for use in a game, and I think it's hard to see how it would fit in. As general background music, I'd guess it's mostly too erratic and heavy in parts. It could work great for dramatic cutscenes though, but not many game cutscenes will be 5 minutes +.

Look forward to hearing more.

Archangel (aka SoupDragon) · Sun 31/08/2003 14:01:02

I think that everything I could have said has been summed up so far, except for one thing: GET A BAND TO DO THIS! I'm sorry, but guitars are one of MIDI's weakest points.

PeaceMan · Sun 31/08/2003 14:11:21

This is good stuff. I agree with Andail that is sounds sort of like the old console classics (It kind of reminds me of Y's and Wonder Boy 3 in the Master System in some places). It deserves to be put into a game.

Hobbes · Sun 31/08/2003 20:42:28

Sounds good!

Reminds me (partly) of the Moonlight Sonata from... Beethoven(?) I think. Sonata Quasi Un Fantasia, I believe the full title is.

The drums fit the song really well. It would work well for an opening menu of a game! Or its credits.

auhsor · Mon 01/09/2003 05:27:08

Thanks for the comment guys. Yeah, i'm a fan of progressive stuff, so i wanted to have a few different parts to it. Heh, i didnt think the drums were all that great, since i have not much experience at drums and that. But i guess they did turn out alright.

When my brother buys his guitar, i'm thinkin of recording some proper stuff, which is why i wanted to use guitar, but i agree, guitars dont sound all that great on midi.

Heh, i havnt played castlevania. Maybe i should someday to get musical insperation... heh

Well i reckon now that i could do the music to my game, which i should finish/start making after i finish school (which is only 2 months away)

remixor · Mon 01/09/2003 06:14:18

haha, the first thing that came to my mind (believe it or not) was Castlevania as well.

I like it Auhsor. I'm not crazy about when the bass drum is doing those really absurd 16th notes (or whatever they are) in that one part near the beginning, and I'm not sure if you need that repeating A note at the beginning, but that's about it. Good job! It'll be nice to hear some more stuff from you.