Critic on a whole soundtrack

Dualnames · Fri 03/04/2009 14:02:05

With the last changes in the H2G2 crew, especially on the music compartment, I'm wondering how the soundtrack composed (most of) sounded..so here's a link to a rar file, containing the whole soundtrack. For reasons I'm sure you all are aware of, please don't use it without permission.

http://ledzepforever.googlepages.com/hhgtgoriginlsoundtrack.rar

Bulbapuck · Fri 03/04/2009 18:47:43

I've listened up to track 13 and so far it's sounding good, REAL good

I only have two small things to say:

On MUSIC1: It's a bit too random for my taste, but it might be just me...

On MUSIC8: Is the second part really supposed to be that long? After a while I was wondering why it was still playing.

But that's it, the rest is great

Bob · Fri 03/04/2009 19:16:37

I'll listen to it later. Downloading it right now.

Edit: How do I play an OGG file?

Bob · Sat 04/04/2009 02:32:20

A critique from a musician. I love music, and actually memorized the music from games like KQ and MI, as well as Jurassic Park, Incredible Toon Machine, Beyond Atlantis, the Mario Bros. series, and countless others. Remember you're being compared to games that won awards for their music, and don't be offended by this critique.

1 is rather interesting. It sounds tropical, but I don't think that's how H2G2 starts.

I'd make tracks 2, 3, 6 a bit longer. Otherwise, musically inclined people will notice it looping.

I love the sound of 7. It sounds so young and alive, like a nursery. It could probably stand to be a bit longer, too.

8 feels like it's looping. Then it changes and loops WAY too long. But I love the military sound to it.

9...ha! It's Hey Jude! Only problem with this is that Apple Records holds rights to this song, so I think you'd need permission to use it.

10...wow. The fade in sure is annoying. You've got the right idea, but maybe it needs to fade in a little less or even fade back out occasionally. Sounds like it's looping after awhile. The same progression keeps repeating, and it's only 16 notes long. the third minute loops again....oo, I like the modulation at the end of it.

11 cool. It could use some more variation, but it's a start.

12 Here we go with loops again. Not many notes and very short.

13 Woah. What is that? That's not a MIDI, and it sounds out of place in this soundtrack. I'm guessing the game is supposed to have better graphics than the 2005 remake. The music should match the graphics. This music matches high quality graphics, and the MIDIs match low-res old VGA graphics.

16 Unpredictability is good! Not too distracting, either. Note that this would loop awkwardly, since the beats cut out like that.

17 Short. Way too short. It will loop.

18 Sounds looped. It's a start, though.

19 Too short again.

21 Sounds good. Really good. You might consider a different chord progression occasionally, though.

22 Awesome. Hmmm....there must be a cutscene here? If not, the unsubtle change in atmosphere will be awkward during gameplay.

23 Weird sound, but I like it. I like how the parts where the music cuts out kind of wakes you up for a second. Looping isn't bad at all on this one, since the portion being repeated is a considerable length (as opposed to the 16 notes found in many of the others). I like the feeling it gives you that you'd better hurry up before someone finds you doing what you shouldn't be doing.

24 Ouch! Static! Is that supposed to be music? I think you must have made a mistake here. Technical problems. Don't publish that one.

26 Looping too quickly again. And for far too long. Why did you bother to make that one longer than five seconds? It would loop on its own, you know.

27 Chord progression loops a bit too quickly. This song has a long way to go before it becomes pleasant to listen to. The smearing makes it more difficult on the ears.

28 There's that fading again. And the quickly looping chord progression for too long. Hint: it takes more than two chords to write an instrumental song.

29 What A Wonderful World. With too much fading. Appropriate song, but Keen Records holds the copyright yet on this one; you'll need permission.

30 Another technical problem here. Static.

32 Ambience. Nice. Ambient tracks should always be at least three minutes before they loop back to the beginning (no looping in the middle). There's a bit too long of a pause between the chords struck in the middle of the song. Cut that pause in half. And don't loop those two chords for more than ten seconds they become annoying after that.

33 Short; it'll loop fast.

34 Neat. Reminds me of King's Quest VI. VERY well done. The part from 2:10 to 2:26 doesn't belong in this piece. 3:12...and...cut. Get rid of the rest...it doesn't fit and doesn't even sound enjoyable. Make these cuts and this track is perfect. It's enjoyable and not too random or boring.

Sorry I'm such a critic, but I'm a musician. I notice these things.

Geratuza · Sat 04/04/2009 11:38:17

I did not listen to each song in its full length as I found many of them annoying, but I did enjoy #23 and #34, they are special.
What I was missing the most (especially considering that this is meant to be a soundtrack, not just a bunch of different note- and percussion sequences) are recurring motifs that go into the ear and can be found in different tracks in different variations, depending on the scene the tune is written for. But perhaps I did not listen long enough to get them.

Dualnames · Sat 04/04/2009 23:34:08

Quote from: Geratuza on Sat 04/04/2009 11:38:17
I did not listen to each song in its full length as I found many of them annoying, but I did enjoy #23 and #34, they are special.
What I was missing the most (especially considering that this is meant to be a soundtrack, not just a bunch of different note- and percussion sequences) are recurring motifs that go into the ear and can be found in different tracks in different variations, depending on the scene the tune is written for. But perhaps I did not listen long enough to get them.

I'm glad you liked those two they were originally created for two cutscenes(Whale and some other).

Oddsea: First no worries, I do have the feeling that the soundtrack isn't really doing the job it's intented to do. I do recall many theme songs from many games, and I wish to make a soundtrack that will give the same feeling.

1 is rather interesting. It sounds tropical, but I don't think that's how H2G2 starts.
(This is used for..Damogran scene in a boat.)

I'd make tracks 2, 3, 6 a bit longer. Otherwise, musically inclined people will notice it looping.
(That's the problem, I'm only good with loops. That's why I hired a musician, I just wanted to know if the soundtrack would go to waste this way..)

I love the sound of 7. It sounds so young and alive, like a nursery. It could probably stand to be a bit longer, too.
(That's the reason, and quite of the few I'm satisfied with, some have commented the music is really good.)

8 feels like it's looping. Then it changes and loops WAY too long. But I love the military sound to it.
(Not 100% happy with this one, I'd ditch it if something else is found)

9...ha! It's Hey Jude! Only problem with this is that Apple Records holds rights to this song, so I think you'd need permission to use it.
(It goes for midi's too? Thanks for the info anyway)

10...wow. The fade in sure is annoying. You've got the right idea, but maybe it needs to fade in a little less or even fade back out occasionally. Sounds like it's looping after awhile. The same progression keeps repeating, and it's only 16 notes long. the third minute loops again....oo, I like the modulation at the end of it.

(This was my pride, second to be precise, but yeah have to agree. This is of the few big tracks inside the game)

11 cool. It could use some more variation, but it's a start.
(This went under many edits, and I'd ditch this too for something better)

12 Here we go with loops again. Not many notes and very short.
(This is supposed to loop this way, but gets boring fast.)

13 Woah. What is that? That's not a MIDI, and it sounds out of place in this soundtrack. I'm guessing the game is supposed to have better graphics than the 2005 remake. The music should match the graphics. This music matches high quality graphics, and the MIDIs match low-res old VGA graphics.
(This is only kept for i couldn't find a midi version, it wouldn't make it to the full game. No worries.)

16 Unpredictability is good! Not too distracting, either. Note that this would loop awkwardly, since the beats cut out like that.
(This is Marvin;s treadmark sound (initially thought to be used when he enters the room))

17 Short. Way too short. It will loop.
(Yep a loop, not happy with that as well.)

18 Sounds looped. It's a start, though.
(It is looped)
19 Too short again.

21 Sounds good. Really good. You might consider a different chord progression occasionally, though.
(Ravenous Bug. Beast of Traal stage track. Quite satisfied with this one, but it good go better.)

22 Awesome. Hmmm....there must be a cutscene here? If not, the unsubtle change in atmosphere will be awkward during gameplay.
(That's the main menu song, that's why I didn't bother to change it much, first song to compose ever, and one I'm still happy with.)

23 Weird sound, but I like it. I like how the parts where the music cuts out kind of wakes you up for a second. Looping isn't bad at all on this one, since the portion being repeated is a considerable length (as opposed to the 16 notes found in many of the others). I like the feeling it gives you that you'd better hurry up before someone finds you doing what you shouldn't be doing.

24 Ouch! Static! Is that supposed to be music? I think you must have made a mistake here. Technical problems. Don't publish that one.
(Couldn't agree with you more.)

26 Looping too quickly again. And for far too long. Why did you bother to make that one longer than five seconds? It would loop on its own, you know.

27 Chord progression loops a bit too quickly. This song has a long way to go before it becomes pleasant to listen to. The smearing makes it more difficult on the ears.
(indeed it does..)

29 What A Wonderful World. With too much fading. Appropriate song, but Keen Records holds the copyright yet on this one; you'll need permission.

(Even for a midi cover of it?)

30 Another technical problem here. Static.
(Yep, that's probably the worst)

32 Ambience. Nice. Ambient tracks should always be at least three minutes before they loop back to the beginning (no looping in the middle). There's a bit too long of a pause between the chords struck in the middle of the song. Cut that pause in half. And don't loop those two chords for more than ten seconds they become annoying after that.
(I think this song sucks badly.)

33 Short; it'll loop fast.

34 Neat. Reminds me of King's Quest VI. VERY well done. The part from 2:10 to 2:26 doesn't belong in this piece. 3:12...and...cut. Get rid of the rest...it doesn't fit and doesn't even sound enjoyable. Make these cuts and this track is perfect. It's enjoyable and not too random or boring.
(This is a cover of the Yeux Noirs bu Django Reinhart(probably mispelled it))

Sorry I'm such a critic, but I'm a musician. I notice these things.
(No worries at all my friend, I didn't post it here to recieve congrats)

Note: The soundtrack is the one we abandoned to go for something better.

Bob · Sun 05/04/2009 07:36:56

About the ones that didn't play correctly...this was an error on my end, not yours. I had my sound driver set to play at a frequency it was incapable of. Just now fixed that when I realized it was messed up.

Dualnames · Mon 06/04/2009 14:59:00

Quote from: oddsea on Sun 05/04/2009 07:36:56
About the ones that didn't play correctly...this was an error on my end, not yours. I had my sound driver set to play at a frequency it was incapable of. Just now fixed that when I realized it was messed up.

No worries.