Problem's music problems

[Problem]

Hi folks, it's been a while since I posted here.
In this thread I'll share some of my music with you. I'd like to hear your opinions, criticism and suggestions.

So let's start with two completely different tracks:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1891681/music/demo/captain.mp3
This is actually an old tune I did for a game that was never finished. I re-recorded it completely and added a new part, and I'm quite happy with the result. This is a "loopable" version, so it doesn't have a real ending.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1891681/music/demo/scifi1.mp3
This is a new track, more on the eletronic side and much darker. I did this one as an exercise and it has no special purpose (yet). It was tough to mix, and I'm still not sure if I got it right, so any criticism is welcome.

That's it for now, but I'll post more music during the next weeks.



Links to all the tracks scattered over this thread:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1891681/music/demo/captain.mp3
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1891681/music/demo/scifi1-loop.mp3
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1891681/music/demo/hesitation.mp3
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1891681/music/demo/grounded.mp3
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1891681/music/demo/blacksmith.mp3

[tamatic]

Hey, nice tracks.

Lovely progression in the SciFi Demo 1 one. Love that tiny twist around the 1 minute mark.
If anything, I think, I would make SciFi Demo 1 into a loop.  Lose the outro. Cut the last bit off: from around 3:03/3:18. Since, the unwinding/repetition/breakdown from that point seem to make the total weaker. The fade seems out of place too.

Depending on what kinda game you made Captain for... As tune on itself I would like to hear a more quirky version of it. Not by redo/expand the lines... but rather by using some weird tempered instrument. One that sometimes freaks out, hehe, just a little. Dosed to keep the slumber going- yet teasing.
Anyway keep em coming!

Oh, and would you like to list the programs/your setup you use for these? 
Thanks for sharing.

[Problem]

Hi tamatic, thanks for your comments.

You have a point about the ending of the SciFi Demo. It is intended to be loopable, so the ending (when the track fades out) is identical to the beginning. That's also the reason why the music is slowly calming down from around 3:18. I should probably shorten that part.

The "captain" music was made for a game that never was finished, because the team lost interest in the project.
At the moment it has no purpose, I just re-recorded it for the fun of it.

Oh, and would you like to list the programs/your setup you use for these? 

For these tunes I used a hardware synth (Yamaha MOX 8), a classical guitar and electronic drums.
I recorded and edited the tracks using free software like Ardour under Linux.

[Squinky]

Those are really good. Well, at least it suits my tastes. Seems like you would do good with light hearted music like you would hear in a humorous game.

[Problem]

Thank you Squinky. 
The captain's theme is definitely something for a humorous game, though most of my other music isn't. I can do many different styles, but usually there's a lot of melancholy in my music. I'll upload more tracks soon.

But now, for those who like to compare, here's the original version of the captain tune. It's an oldschool FastTracker Module:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1891681/music/demo/captain.xm (not every media player can handle these)

[tamatic]

But now, for those who like to compare, here's the original version of the captain tune. It's an oldschool FastTracker Module:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1891681/music/demo/captain.xm (not every media player can handle these)

YAY FT2
Hehe, talking about melancholy: I just had to open it in Milkytracker since ft2 is crap under windows these days. VLC works to play it.. but not see it.
Yup, thats more quirky already. Hehe, shame the violin/strings didnt make it into that one. But yeah, thats more charming to me than making things sound like they "should"... and more humorous too. I think thats why I suggested some freak instument, the writing is fine. Although I think in the "refined" version you vary the measures in between parts at some point... but I might be wrong, hehe, i don't feel like counting.
Anyway, thanks for uploading. 

[Problem]

I also use MilkyTracker whenever I want to do do XM music. I rarely do that anymore, but it's still fun. And sometimes it's a good choice for game music, smaller than MP3 yet better sounding than MIDI, and you can easily put more than one music into a single file and control the music through scripting.

The strings are not completely gone in the new version, but they are toned down. The new version has more emphasis on guitars (which are quite dull in the XM). Bringing up the strings would make the sound too thick and muddy. It might work if I changed the sound of the strings and made them higher. Thanks for your opinion!

And now for something completely different.
Here's a short piece of "classical" music. Sometimes all you need is a piano:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1891681/music/demo/hesitation.mp3

[tamatic]

I also use MilkyTracker whenever I want to do do XM music. I rarely do that anymore, but it's still fun. And sometimes it's a good choice for game music, smaller than MP3 yet better sounding than MIDI, and you can easily put more than one music into a single file and control the music through scripting.

Yes, reading that AGS supports those old formats was a pleasant surprise. Hehe, I noticed you are about the same age as me. I take it you had the same fun with the old trackers in your teens as I did. 
  I rarely use any old trackers anymore either. I been mainly using Musagi these last years.  (That is a nice lil program for creating chiptune- or custom synths like music. It can also support wav samples and some stuff. The only downside to Musagi is when you want to restructure songs, the interface is not too helpful for that.)
Havn't been very productive myself last months either way. I might however open a general WIP thread in the comming weeks and share some of my musical experiments too.

And now for something completely different.
Here's a short piece of "classical" music. Sometimes all you need is a piano:

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1891681/music/demo/hesitation.mp3

Oh Kinda Chopin, Bach and Yann Tiersen all in one exploration, sweet.

[Problem]

I take it you had the same fun with the old trackers in your teens as I did. 

Indeed It was ProTracker on the good old Amiga (RIP) that brought me into composing. I never heard of Musagi, sounds interesting though. I'll definitely have a look at it.

I might however open a general WIP thread in the comming weeks and share some of my musical experiments too.

Yes, please do that, I'm curious.

Oh Kinda Chopin, Bach and Yann Tiersen all in one exploration, sweet.

This might be the first classical piano piece that I ever finished. It was fun, so I'll probably do more. It's short and not very difficult to play, so I might even expand it. I'm quite happy with the composition, but I think I could have played it better.

[tamatic]

I take it you had the same fun with the old trackers in your teens as I did. 

Indeed It was ProTracker on the good old Amiga (RIP) that brought me into composing. I never heard of Musagi, sounds interesting though. I'll definitely have a look at it.

Yeah, musagi can be great fun. If you like it and want some extra fun with it you can also try MUSAGI v0.23 [t 1.68]. That is a mod made by Taron, with a few glitches but a lot of extra tools.
There has been talk about musagi 2 this year, but I guess I'll have to wait and see.

This might be the first classical piano piece that I ever finished. It was fun, so I'll probably do more. It's short and not very difficult to play, so I might even expand it. I'm quite happy with the composition, but I think I could have played it better.

Nice, I never masterd playing any instruments well. Thats why I like to just record and use the best parts, HEhe.

[Problem]

I've been playing around with musagi a bit, it's a lot of fun. The font is a bit too small for my taste, but otherwise it's nice to use. I'll definitely come back to it whenever I want to do some chiptune music.

Here's another old tune. Once an XM in a "Maniac Mansion" fangame, now completely re-recorded:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1891681/music/demo/grounded.mp3
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1891681/music/demo/grounded-loop.mp3 (loopable version)

[tamatic]

I've been playing around with musagi a bit, it's a lot of fun. The font is a bit too small for my taste, but otherwise it's nice to use. I'll definitely come back to it whenever I want to do some chiptune music.

Here's another old tune. Once an XM in a "Maniac Mansion" fangame, now completely re-recorded:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1891681/music/demo/grounded-loop.mp3 (this is the loopable version, hence the abrupt beginning)

Well I agree its small, but that also induces some form of concentration. HEhe, my main problem with musagi is that restructuring a long song is hell... hehehe. Glad you liked it tho.
Btw: should you want to adjust a slider/knob/dial in musagi... you can usually hold Shift to get more tiny steps.

This new song you shared is very soothing and complete. Can't think of anything to make it better.

[Diamond16]

I really like both tracks, they'r really well suited to game music, pleasant to listen to and loopable without becoming repetitive. You've also got the mix sounding really good in both.  Keep up the good work!

[Problem]

Thank you very much, Diamond16! 
I suppose your comment refers to the first two tracks? I should probably update the first post and add all the other tracks I posted later in this thread.

[Problem]

Following tamatic's suggestions I shortened the ending of the scifi demo and made it loopable:
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1891681/music/demo/scifi1-loop.mp3

And here's another track I'd like to share. The fades are intended. I composed this for a project that might become commercial, so I can't give away the complete track. Still I'd like to get some feedback.

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1891681/music/demo/blacksmith.mp3

[tamatic]

With blacksmith.mp3 my problem is with the sound rather than the music. I find the space/panning of the low string-like distracting. Not just the panning, also how it is more less doubled by the bass in centre and then just suddenly stops, to later suddenly come back. I don't know if its just the panning that makes it seem a bit harsh. While other things sound too wide.
The percussion could use some spice too. Again sound rather than music.
If you are going to use it for a comercial project I would focus on the mastering. Perhaps find someone to do it for you, because it can be hard.
But yes nice tuun, it sure does grow on you when you let it settle in.  Then again it seems of lower quality than, for example, your scifi1-loop. That one is well balanced and sounds lush! 

[Problem]

Thank you for your comments, they are really helpful!
Yeah, the sound of this one is definitely worse, simply because it's older. Back in 2011 I was hired for a game that may or may not become commercial. Since then I've upgraded my equipment significantly and learnt a lot about mixing and mastering, so the first tracks I produced sound rather outdated compared to the newer ones. Anyway, development is on hold for that game. But in case it starts again, I guess I'll have to remaster the older tracks - your comment confirms that.