Hey, MikeViper here. I recently composed a song that I titled "Random Action Theme". It's similar to something you maybe here in a Metal Gear Solid game or perhaps an FPS gmae.

You can listen to it here:

There's some nice ideas here but the production could be polished quite a bit more to give the song more impact and make it better align with current AAA-level game music. Some of your samples are quite weak and that's distracting. Also the string samples have a slow(er) attack than this style of music requires. I do love the direction however!

Hope that helps!

Nate

There's some nice ideas here but the production could be polished quite a bit more to give the song more impact and make it better align with current AAA-level game music. Some of your samples are quite weak and that's distracting. Also the string samples have a slow(er) attack than this style of music requires. I do love the direction however!

Hope that helps!

Nate

Well I know the samples are a bit weak; but you must understand that that's the best that can be done with soundfonts. Anything better requires something like EQWL or Garritan; which I don't currently have the money for. But thanks for the critique.

Well I know the samples are a bit weak; but you must understand that that's the best that can be done with soundfonts. Anything better requires something like EQWL or Garritan; which I don't currently have the money for. But thanks for the critique.

My critique wasn't meant to be overly harsh or offensive to you but to rather point out the standard at which your music will be judged when going for work. Even with the samples set you have, I do believe the production value could be pushed quite a bit more. Experiment more with velocity settings, automation and even slight changes in tempo/note placement.

At some point, if you really want to compete for game jobs, you're going to have to spend some more cash on your toolset as it's really holding your back. That's what birthdays and holidays (like Xmas and such) are for!! :)

You must understand that that's the best that can be done with soundfonts.

Nah, you CAN do magic with soundfonts alone :) It just takes a lot of time to layer and tweak them. Personally, I tend to combine several different string soundfonts for the best result. Sometimes I even add a VST into the mix. Sure, it's the hard way of doing things. But that's just how it is, without a proper toolset ;)

As for the track itself, a word of advice - those hi-hats shouldn't be playing the same rhythm across the whole piece. After a minute it will become just "white noise" for the listener. Try doing some variations!

Personally, I tend to combine several different string soundfonts for the best result. Sometimes I even add a VST into the mix. Sure, it's the hard way of doing things. But that's just how it is, without a proper toolset ;)

So very true! In fact, the tricks and work-arounds you learn while dealing with less than awesome samples can teach valuable lessons that you'll still use even after getting better samples/tools!

Well I know the samples are a bit weak; but you must understand that that's the best that can be done with soundfonts. Anything better requires something like EQWL or Garritan; which I don't currently have the money for. But thanks for the critique.

My critique wasn't meant to be overly harsh or offensive to you but to rather point out the standard at which your music will be judged when going for work. Even with the samples set you have, I do believe the production value could be pushed quite a bit more. Experiment more with velocity settings, automation and even slight changes in tempo/note placement.

At some point, if you really want to compete for game jobs, you're going to have to spend some more cash on your toolset as it's really holding your back. That's what birthdays and holidays (like Xmas and such) are for!!

Oh no, it's no problem. Critique is a good thing for me.

And I do plan to eventually maybe get EWQL Silver or something like that... But for now, I'm stuck with using soundfonts.