Hi, First sorry for my english, I'm french. I've been composing for a progressive rock band since 1984 and now I try to compose for videos game. I've realize a web site to promote my project and I looking for advices for situate my work (critics, remarks..). On this web site you will find video montages made from "ingame" shots and games trailers edited with my compositions. The purpose is not to rob the shots that were used as a simple basis of work , but to take advantage of an appropriate support to create an original music. My web site : My site cordially [Edited by - The Jos on April 25, 2008 12:40:42 AM]

Hello,

After a lot of discussions on various forums I have been accused of not having in my music demos "banckgroung atmosphere." The demos are too oriented soundtrack trailer. So I begin to rectify that and this is a test, which is still in draft form:
The Battle is coming.

Enjoy

[Edited by - The Jos on April 20, 2008 2:24:07 PM]

Looking at the videos with your music and listening to your attempt at 'background atmosphere' music I can hear your talent with cinematic sequences, but you have been relating the music directly to the visuals. With your new peace, I still get that effect, even though there are and probably never were any visuals going with it. What I think you are aiming for, though you may not realize what they were talking about, is music that can loop indefinitely to provide auditory background to the gameplay. You need music that is fairly unrelated to the direct visual cues, instead it needs a tempo in line with the gameplay and a steady sound, not a constantly changing sound as in compositions for cinematic sequences. I recommend finding video taken by players of themselves playing a game and creating a piece that can loop.

(Just ask for clarification if you didn't understand all that.)

Some examples of what I mean:

I like the battle is coming piece. It has a good atmosphere. The high tom is a bit too loud in my opinion and too much in the front centre. I would consider moving it back a bit or mix it out on both speakers, but not in the middle like this.

Furthermore I really enjoyed your trailer music and though I understand the critiques that it is too much cinematic focused I would like to notify you that you did that very well.
Your music has a nice ambiance, enough variety, some good effects and also some really nice melodic themes floating by now and then.

I think the suggestion Jas is giving is good. Try to create also some tracks that shows who YOU are and not the story you are writing music for. Ofcourse it is important that you can put music underneath a story, but I think it is as much important that you show your own signature in style.

Thanks for sharing your music!

Quote: Original post by JasRonq
What I think you are aiming for, though you may not realize what they were talking about, is music that can loop indefinitely to provide auditory background to the gameplay. You need music that is fairly unrelated to the direct visual cues, instead it needs a tempo in line with the gameplay and a steady sound, not a constantly changing sound as in compositions for cinematic sequences. I recommend finding video taken by players of themselves playing a game and creating a piece that can loop.

(Just ask for clarification if you didn't understand all that.)

I see what you mean. Let it seemed to me that the background music (loop) was not necessarily the most difficult to write, and it was better to show some ability to compose music with developments (with a video support). But I will fill this gap.

Quote: Original post by Jaap1978
I like the battle is coming piece. It has a good atmosphere. The high tom is a bit too loud in my opinion and too much in the front centre. I would consider moving it back a bit or mix it out on both speakers, but not in the middle like this.

Yes I agree with you, but the sample is just a test, there is no mastering and no mixing work.

Quote: Original post by Jaap1978
Furthermore I really enjoyed your trailer music and though I understand the critiques that it is too much cinematic focused I would like to notify you that you did that very well.
Your music has a nice ambiance, enough variety, some good effects and also some really nice melodic themes floating by now and then.

Thanks for the compliments, I am glad that you like it.

Quote: Original post by Jaap1978
I think the suggestion Jas is giving is good. Try to create also some tracks that shows who YOU are and not the story you are writing music for. Ofcourse it is important that you can put music underneath a story, but I think it is as much important that you show your own signature in style.

Yes, I will get to work.

Thank you for your comments.

The Jos

PS : I hope my English is understandable.

[Edited by - The Jos on April 17, 2008 4:43:23 AM]

Your English is fine Jos :) I have no problems with it. A lot of people here are not native English speaking (me neither) and if something is not clear, we will ask.

Keep up the good work and looking forward to hear more in the future.

Jaap1978 I just listen to your work. I love especially energetic songs like "deus ex machina" or "end". The work of "sound design" is also very successful. Your site is added to my favorites, I would look at it more closely.

The jos

[Edited by - The Jos on April 17, 2008 4:12:37 AM]

Thank you Jos for your very kind words!