Hola!
Now everyone who can make digital music, listen to this. (http://koti.mbnet.fi/petteri-/futuristic.ogg) (It's an OGG file, which means that you can listen to it for example in WinAmp or AGS.)
Now - many people know I can do pretty good midis. But I want to get better with digital music aswell and I find it harder to do. So, now I'd like to hear what I can do better with this digital piece of music. I actually enjoy more making digital music, I can do some things that are not possible with midi.
So, rip it to pieces, thank you!
I love it. I think that the drums should have a little echo to them. Not much, just a little. Because they still sound like midi, although the rest of the song doesn't.
Very good. I believe it could fit any game with a dark side...
Try to change instruments. And add violins. Definetely. Make them slow and daark.
Very good!
I agree with Haddas on the echo. Reverb may do the trick as well.
You could also try adding some cybals and hi-hat...
If you speeded the intro up it would be Metal...
The song has a great mood to it and I think it would be great intro music!
Some modifications:
About 800 kb (http://w1.872.telia.com/~u87210460/AGS/futuristic_mod1.ogg)
Score (midifile, ment to be viewed, not played) (http://w1.872.telia.com/~u87210460/AGS/futuristic_mod1_score.mid)
(i) Added some sound effects at the start since it sounded very empty.
(ii) The chord progression was very repetative so I added two violin sections and a viola section and made a more fluid and varied progression. (a female choir is also doubleling the string parts to give more warmth).
Tip:
When using strings or similar multipart instrument it makes a hugh difference in what way the chords progress to the next.
A general rule of thumb is to make as small changes as possible when changing chords, that is, the individual parts should make as small jumps as possible. In the original version the chord is simply transposed to the next, meaning the changes are pretty big each chordchange.
I m presuming you are using a tracker and have a single instrument that has a recorded chord. This saves some effort and in the older days saved precious channels but should be avoided today in my opinion since it doesn't give you any control over the individual parts.
Illustration:
(http://w1.872.telia.com/~u87210460/AGS/futuristic_pic.gif)
To the left the chords are simply transposed meaning all parts change each chord.
To the right the changes are minimal creating a fluid arrangement.
Edit: Forgot to include the midi file
Minimal changes in the inversions of the chords, so they stay in about the same place. But other than that, if a note is common in two chords, instead of making two repeating notes, just make one longer note. Also, you're going to want to split up the "string section" into individual instruments so you can craft pitch bends and expression changes. It's a lot of work, but it's definitely worth it to make a realistic string section sound.
Excellent! Now that is what I call C&C! Thanks a lot everyone.
loominous: Thanks for the nice edit, and explaining the thing about the chords. I'm using tracker-like program, Fl Studio, but the instrument I'm using for chords isn't recorded chord. It's just that when it comes to chords, I'm completely newbie.
Geoffkhan: Thanks. About the pitch bends, I'm trying to get hold of them all the time, I know what can be done with them it really adds a lot when you get them right.
If anyone thinks (s)he has something to add, go ahead and tell me.
What proggy do you use to make Digital Music?
Gah, I cant afford that, any freeware proggys anyone know of?
I wonder if you can still get Audition?