Update #14: The Music of Project Eternity

[Vampero]

Great music to my ears !

[diablo169]

Your work isnt bad at all Justin and I would be interested in seeing what you can do with the games score. To be honest though I would need to hear your take on the games main theme to really make my mind up. no presure or anything

[RosesandAshes]

Uh oh, for some reason my Windows Media Player won't play the files! I've made sure the box next to .WAV under supported files is checked, WMP is apparently up to date. What gives?

[Justin Bell]

Uh oh, for some reason my Windows Media Player won't play the files! I've made sure the box next to .WAV under supported files is checked, WMP is apparently up to date. What gives?

 

It might be the sample/bit rates. They are 48k 24-bit... Is anyone else running into a similar issue?

 

No presure or anything

 

Hahahahaha... Haha.. Ha... ha. hmmmm...

 

(must resist pressure!)

[Uwon de Toster]

Nothing really meanigfull to add (like "horns too loud at 440Hz freq" ) just gotta say music and Justin's attitude brings real joy to my heart ;]

[NoxNoctum]

Ya I share the sentiments of those who are sick of Epic^tm choirs. Slow melancholy stuff though can be amazing. Just no O Fortuna type stuff please.

 

Justin, are you familiar with Arvo Part? Now that's the kind of choral music I could get behind

 

Here's an example, has a nice mystical vibe to it that I really really dig :

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdoafPTSQpE

Edited October 2, 2012 by NoxNoctum

[Monte Carlo]

I love the mellow music, I'm not a musical person but to my tin ear that music was pretty good and as good as any game music I've heard for a while.

 

Having said that, I loved the kind of Gothic-Russian-Balalika-Cheese of Diablo's music.

 

Seriously, we need bagpipes. Bagpipes are awesome.

 

[Archmage Silver]

Uh oh, for some reason my Windows Media Player won't play the files! I've made sure the box next to .WAV under supported files is checked, WMP is apparently up to date. What gives?

 

It might be the sample/bit rates. They are 48k 24-bit... Is anyone else running into a similar issue?

Tested playback with WMP 12 and the latest Foobar2000 release, no problems found.

[Justin Bell]

Nothing really meanigfull to add (like "horns too loud at 440Hz freq" )

 

Well, the middle part of Predule is in d minor... so I guess that makes sense!

[Karranthain]

Thanks for the update.

 

As for the pieces themselves : I've written before that I, too, wasn't a big fan of the Prelude's choral parts - but I understand it's been composed to serve a certain purpose.

I like the Dirge, I'm getting definite Icewind Dale vibes from that piece. The ending to the Road is quite nice as well. All in all, it's a nice teaser, Justin

 

P.S.

 

Bagpipes + battle themes :

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIOjEAgrNrM

[bunia]

I knew the game's music will be great! Thanks for the update - it's awesome! :3

Edited October 2, 2012 by bunia

[bronzepoem]

My feeling...The music in PS:T is better.

[vortican]

These songs rule.

 

Please include Armand Mirpour's Bard Songs in the game somehow! This guy is a big fan and has some talent. I envision a bard character sitting around a pub and the PC can pay him to recite some of his songs.

 

[rjshae]

Yes, it's very good; setting a proper mood for a serious drama. I enjoy celtic music so the Dirge of Eir Glanfath works for me, while The Road to Eternity had a nice dreamy quality to it. The prelude had a less than smooth transition at the 0:50s mark, but that might be from the little speakers on my HP laptop. It was otherwise nicely operatic.

[Brockololly]

Really dug the music in the update! Kind of reminded me a bit of the music from BG2 around

, which is some of my favorite from Baldur's Gate.

[Alvin Nelson]

Ya I share the sentiments of those who are sick of Epic^tm choirs. Slow melancholy stuff though can be amazing. Just no O Fortuna type stuff please.

 

Justin, are you familiar with Arvo Part? Now that's the kind of choral music I could get behind

 

Here's an example, has a nice mystical vibe to it that I really really dig :

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdoafPTSQpE

 

That song was awesome. I would put that in some sweet dungeon or an old God's tomb.

[generic.hybridity]

Hey guys, really digging the tunes. They had a certain quality to them, particularly the last two, which put me in mind of the old IE soundtracks. Maybe its just wishful thinking but If the quality of the music keeps to this calibre then I will be a happy chappy.

[Sensuki]

Here's how to do a senses overload with choir / strings

 

 

Not the type of overload you would have wanted for the video though, hahah

[Tigranes]

First one seemed generic fantasy bada-boom, liked the second and third more. All in all does the job of recalling IE games and general high fantasy. Given the attention to different cultures and subdivisions within races in the setting, it will be great to see such variation in musical styles and instruments as well in the full game, so that each culture has its own musical signature.

[LadyCrimson]

Well, I for one still like the "over-used in fantasy" or bombastic sound, so I always appreciate having a few pieces of that sort in game soundtracks. But I certainly don't want all the music to be like that.

 

I was listening to "The Road to Eternity" and all the bell/chime sounds (or whatever they are) were lovely - I love that type of instrumental note punctuation, it sets a nice mood imo, so of the three I'd say that one is my favorite so far. I would love if some pieces had emphasis on flute or other wind type instruments too....just an eager suggestion.

[Bos_hybrid]

Thanks for this update Obs, I enjoyed listening to the music.

 

Have to say Dirge of Eir Glanfath is my favorite.

Edited October 3, 2012 by Bos_hybrid

[JonVanCaneghem]

Wow, just, wow. I am loving Dirge more each time I hear it.

 

I also like some of the environmental sounds you used, they can really convey a sense of place. Sometimes when the current locale in the game is really imposing, the place itself can dominate the narrative.. it's great when these sorts of places have really memorable music.

 

Here are a couple good examples of mystical music with a sense of place, if you'll excuse the sound quality. I've always wanted to hear some of these de-midi-fied.

 

 

Overall, looks like the soundtrack is in good hands. I look forward to attaching some fond memories to these new tracks!

[Kopi]

I love all the soundtracks, very smooth on the ears!

[JeremyR]

I would love to see studies on how many people actually care about music in a video game and how many people are like me and turn it off the first chance they get so they can listen to what they want to...

[Zeckul]

You have good ears... I suspect you are a musician or have a musical background... Am I right?

Yes, I studied music for 10 years and played piano for 17 years. I'm terrible at composing though.

 

RE the bass drum... Low frequencies are such a tricky thing aren't they. I'm always wrestling with them. Those bass drums are really just sub hits more than anything. Truth be told, I rolled back a lot of low end right before we launched the campaing because I was concerned about how well the mix would translate across an untold amount of listening devices. I'll think about what you said though, there's probably a middle ground here that I just haven't found yet.

Yeah it didn't sound that much like a bass drum to me either but that's how I interpreted it anyway. I like natural, live-sounding instruments and I felt like a good bass drum hit with proper reverb would've been more effective there (Road to Eternity).

 

Oh and I totally second the recommandation of Arvo Pärt. Best living composer of deeply mystical music.

 

Edited October 3, 2012 by Zeckul