Adventure Game Studio

Creative Production => Critics' Lounge => Topic started by: Oz on Sun 29/08/2004 04:29:00

Title: Cut scene music
Post by: Oz on Sun 29/08/2004 04:29:00
Well, this one is meant to play during parts of the intro for my game "The Prophecy". The intro will depict the outbreak of a global armed conflict and I'm thinking about using still images to portray this. Just a short clip here:

http://hem.bredband.net/jericho/microbe.mp3

I'm not sure if it's too mellow to use as background music for an intro depicting a violent conflict, but I'm hoping to produce a feeling of sadness and dejection.
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: [Cameron] on Sun 29/08/2004 04:33:56
This piece kicks ass. It definatly emotes that feeling you were aiming for, it's not to mellow. And for some reason the word "reflection" kept popping into my head. Very good. In fact brilliant, if this is a clip i would love to here the rest.
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: Albert Cuandero on Sun 29/08/2004 07:36:07
Great track, Oz!

Reminds me a bit of the FF X opening scene.

Very, very good. I hope you will show us the whole intro some time soon!
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: Gregjazz on Sun 29/08/2004 09:03:55
I dig the harmonics, bro.

It's a great tune, but here are some ideas I had: (feel free to accept/decline them)

1. Start the song with only the main guitar part and no harmonics. The second repeat add the harmonics, and from there go just like you have it.

2. Add a very quiet oboe with good vibrato doubling the top note in the string chords.

3. Remove a few of the low notes in the string chords and replace them with a very low, subtle warm pad sound. Either that or a quiet cello. I have a good cello soundfont you could have if you're into that soundfont thing.

4. Turn the volume of the strings down just a tiny bit.

5. A fretless bass would add so much. But you'd need the proper fretless bass sound. There is no synthesized sound I have ever heard that captures that beautiful fretless bass sound. PM me if you'd like me to record you a bass track for it.

Anyways, these are all merely suggestions. You have some good stuff going on, and I wanted to let you know some areas you could possibly improve it in.

Sorry if I'm sounding a bit condescending -- great tune -- just trying to help.
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: Damien on Sun 29/08/2004 09:07:02
Good work man.

Did you play the guitar part yourself? Cause it sounds soo real.
The only suggestion I have is to add some variation to the guitar part.
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: Gregjazz on Sun 29/08/2004 09:14:34
Sounds synthesized to me. :)
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: Andail on Sun 29/08/2004 09:58:18
This is professional!
A tad bland perhaps - some sort of variation would have improved it substantially, but on the other hand, as background music for a game, it's probably just subtle enough
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: Oz on Sun 29/08/2004 13:50:56
Hehe, yeah the guitar part is sequenced (nothing beats the real thing!). And yeah, a real soothing fretless bass would sound great in there, but I agree that it's almost impossible to get right without actually recording it live. There are so many subtle sounds to fretless bass playing that is hard to mimic in sequencing (slides, scrapes, hollow tones). However, this is just a quick draft, no tweaking done yet. :)

Geoffkhan,

No no no, I REALLY appreciate your elaborate criticism, always helpful. :)

Thanks for the crit everyone!
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: Gregjazz on Sun 29/08/2004 21:38:40
The guitar sounds familiar. What sound are you using for it? (you don't have to tell me if you don't want to give away anything)

EDIT: Ooh, got another suggestion. Place the main guitar a bit to the left and the harmonics a bit to the right. It'll give it more of a dynamic stereo sound.
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: Gregjazz on Sun 29/08/2004 22:47:18
http://www.sonic.net/~schlae/herculeaneffort/microberemix.mp3

Just some ideas... :)

P.S. Sorry for the double-post.
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: Oz on Mon 30/08/2004 01:15:45
Nice touches Geoffkhan. :)

The guitar sound is from a sample pack called Hans Zimmerman Guitar Vol 2 (if I recall correctly).
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: Gregjazz on Mon 30/08/2004 04:04:43
Hmmm... can't find it on Google. Is it something you pay for?
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: n3tgraph on Tue 31/08/2004 08:52:18
Piracy!!!  ;)
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: Oz on Tue 31/08/2004 15:04:28
Yeah, it's a commercial package.
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: Gregjazz on Wed 01/09/2004 21:37:14
What format is it and where did you get it?
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: Minimi on Wed 01/09/2004 21:49:26
Hans Zimmer is teh rockzorz!!! I have like almost everything from Hans Zimmer!! Can music actually be better???
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: loominous on Wed 01/09/2004 22:46:15
It s made in akai format only to my knowledge but can be converted to any using cdxtract or similar.

Most descent samplecd retailers have it, and it s quite common in alternative sources as well.

Pretty nice library, although quite old (small instrumentsizes) and the decision to provide only bends in forte velocity drags it down further.

Edit: Nice tune btw
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: n3tgraph on Thu 02/09/2004 08:15:08
Hans Zimmer is really fantastic indeed, I loved the work he did on Gladiator!

better is matter of taste
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: Oz on Thu 02/09/2004 20:33:19
Quote from: loominous on Wed 01/09/2004 22:46:15
It s made in akai format only to my knowledge but can be converted to any using cdxtract or similar.

Most descent samplecd retailers have it, and it s quite common in alternative sources as well.

Pretty nice library, although quite old (small instrumentsizes) and the decision to provide only bends in forte velocity drags it down further.

Edit: Nice tune btw

Yeah, it's actually quite limited, but I always find it useful. There is another package called Yellowtone Guitars (or something similar) which is really good.
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: loominous on Sat 04/09/2004 16:38:51
Some pretty sloppy modifications taking it in a slightly different direction:

Edit: Added the new modified version

First modification (about 700 kb) (http://w1.865.telia.com/~u86517123/AGS2/micro_probe_mod1.ogg)

Second modification (still about 700 kb) (http://w1.865.telia.com/~u86517123/AGS2/micro_probe_mod2.ogg)

The score (a nonplayable midifile) (http://w1.865.telia.com/~u86517123/AGS2/micro_probe_mod1.mid)

Edit: Scorelink fixed
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: Daniël Brooks on Sat 04/09/2004 17:34:39
Damn you, Loominous!!

You've made me cry!  :'( ;)



Oh, and the second link is not working!
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: Gregjazz on Sat 04/09/2004 19:52:57
More comments (sorry):

Have the pad behind the guitar fade in.

When the strings switch chords, there isn't enough release. Apply some reverb. Also, they might be a bit on the loud side. Either that or make them more dynamic, so they build up more to that volume.

An idea for the already beautiful guitar line. The notes the guitar plays are pretty much straight 8ths. Maybe try adding in an occasional 16th note.

Over all, nice improvements!
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: loominous on Sat 04/09/2004 22:37:45
About the fade: I tried a complete fade in before but I found a subtle fade, from soft to loud, to sound best, though the present fade is clouded by the incoming violin harmonics and viola tremolo, and perhaps too subtle.

The "pad", for the record, is two female soprano and one alto section singing 'oos' (I like to keep it acoustic, no pads etc).

About the reverb: the strings already have hallreverb applied to them, so I m reluctant to add any further, since it ll become too appearant.

About the releases: the samples also already have releases (which were recorded, no fake) so they shouldn t really lack any, although I noticed a gap between two chords, but otherwise I don t find them too seperated atm.

About the string volume: The loud part is too loud I agree, but the other parts are fine imo. I like fairly loud strings so the timber is really audible (too low will make them more smooth-pad like).

Appreciate the comments though.

Edit: Modified version:

About 700 kb (http://w1.865.telia.com/~u86517123/AGS2/micro_probe_mod2.ogg)
Title: Re: Cut scene music
Post by: Gregjazz on Sun 05/09/2004 00:27:14
Gigasampler. :)