Some of you may know that I am working on some music for a game called Hero of Allacrost that is in development. I am fashioning many of the orchestrations and compositional qualities of the soundtrack to resemble those found in the game Final Fantasy VI, which is probably my favorite game ever. A large reason for this is the amazing musical identity present in the soundtrack. Nobuo Uematsu arguably created one of the greatest soundtracks ever in Final Fantasy VI. The motif development along with the strength of the character themes makes FFVI one of the better soundtracks available. Anyways, I am hoping that I am staying fairly true to the Final Fantasy VI idiom. This theme is written as the 'Empire theme'. Empire Comments? Thanks for listening! Ryan

I'm no musical expert by any means but I couldn't help but share my two-cents anyway.

I like how you managed to keep that Super NES-like sound font while using all the finer elements of high quality, modern, digital music. The volume balancing and adjustments were excellent for the bells and drums.

One particular aspect that I think you nail perfectly was to not allow it to sound too much like it's inspirational source. I find music like that tends to confuse my mind and leaves me a bit unsatisfied ;)

Quote: Original post by lack o comments
I'm no musical expert by any means but I couldn't help but share my two-cents anyway.

I thank you for it!

Quote: Original post by lack o commentsI like how you managed to keep that Super NES-like sound font while using all the finer elements of high quality, modern, digital music. The volume balancing and adjustments were excellent for the bells and drums.

Cool!

Quote: Original post by lack o commentsOne particular aspect that I think you nail perfectly was to not allow it to sound too much like it's inspirational source. I find music like that tends to confuse my mind and leaves me a bit unsatisfied ;)

Thanks! I am glad that you think so. I really want the soundtrack to stand on its own two feet but I want to think of the soundtrack as the extremely unofficial spiritual predecessor to the FFVI soundtrack. I remember being so blown away by Uematsu's earlier works...and I haven't felt that in a long time. I just don't hear quality soundtracks like that any more. I am hoping to bring some of the good stuff back! :)

Ya know, your name is a bit deceptive. ;) I appreciate you taking the time to listen and respond.

Cheers!

Ryan

it definitely feels very much like FFVI. compositionally, it doesn't feel like it ever truly reaches a high point. Does it loop? It faded out in the end, but that sounded like the beginning again. The reverb on some of the instruments seems a little strong, it muddies the mix up a bit. What did you use to make it?

Overall I really do like it!

Quote: Original post by Funkymunky
it definitely feels very much like FFVI.

Excellent! Thanks for saying so.

Quote: Original post by Funkymunkycompositionally, it doesn't feel like it ever truly reaches a high point.
Does it loop? It faded out in the end, but that sounded like the beginning again.

When writing this kind of music, which will be looping possibly hundreds of times, I am tempted to go all out but know that that might not be a good idea. I am trying to make it as smooth as possible while covering enough ground that it won't become TOO boring. You don't feel that it reaches a high point? If so, can you clarify? I've heard different from a few different sources. I would appreciate it. :)

Quote: Original post by FunkymunkyThe reverb on some of the instruments seems a little strong, it muddies the mix up a bit. What did you use to make it?

Yea, I use the reverb to hide the seams of my sampling library which is Reason and doesn't feature the most realistic sounding orchestral instruments. I will try to rewrite this theme using a better sampling library, soon. :)

Quote: Original post by FunkymunkyOverall I really do like it!

Thanks for listening!
Ryan

Hey I'm no music expert but this sounds nice... as a gamer, and never having playehttp://www.gamedev.net/community/forums/images/icons/icon14.gifd FFVI, I would say that it definitely sounds like RPG music, it also sounds a little bit on the dark side. Maybe two armies are meeting. Maybe the prince has just made his way to the dark castle (that game pwned). Maybe this is the theme song (background music on credits). Well that's my little bit. It does seem to rise and swell about 3/5 of the way through. Well, there you go.

It sounds like music for a small city or a safe area in a forested area. I like it.

About 1/10 of the way through, the new instruments that come in seem to not quite get along with the instrument that starts the song.

Overall, though, I think it would make a great supplement to gameplay, depending on what exactly is going on at the time.

Quote: Original post by adam_o
Hey I'm no music expert but this sounds nice... as a gamer, and never having played

A 'gamer' who has never played Final Fantasy VI? Shame, shame! You are really missing out on one of the great games of all time.

Quote: Original post by adam_ohttp://www.gamedev.net/community/forums/images/icons/icon14.gifd FFVI, I would say that it definitely sounds like RPG music, it also sounds a little bit on the dark side. Maybe two armies are meeting. Maybe the prince has just made his way to the dark castle (that game pwned). Maybe this is the theme song (background music on credits).

This particular piece will actually serve as the theme of the Empire. Fairly cliche within the telling of the fairly modern day fairy tale, the Empire is usually the storyline antagonist that resembles a civilization gone wrong or humanities dark side when the netherfruit of power is presented usually bringing out a most malign quality. There is a perversion of sorts that has twisted the civilizations nature into something far more grotesque...not to give too much away. :) Hopefully, the darkness in the music represents that to some degree.

Quote: Original post by adam_oWell that's my little bit. It does seem to rise and swell about 3/5 of the way through. Well, there you go.

A little bit goes a long way, I find. :) I am glad that you find that the piece moves enough along between peaks and valleys to stay interesting. Thanks for your comments.

Peace

Ryan

Quote: Original post by Lukewarm
It sounds like music for a small city or a safe area in a forested area. I like it.

Hmmm...interesting! Thanks for your input.

Quote: Original post by LukewarmAbout 1/10 of the way through, the new instruments that come in seem to not quite get along with the instrument that starts the song.

I think you are referring to the grating dissonance of the horns. However, hopefully this dissonance resolves itself well enough over the course of the song's playing. :) I know what you mean though. I almost felt it was a bit much at first too. It has since grown on me a bit. I hope that others will feel the same.

Quote: Original post by Lukewarm, though, I think it would make a great supplement to gameplay, depending on what exactly is going on at the time.

Thank you! I certainly hope that you are right! :)

Thanks

Ryan

Damn it Ryan, I don't have time for this.

You have single handedly made me fire up my emmelator and play ffvi through again and I know I don't have time for that.

Damn you. Good job.

Tony