AoD music

Need some opinions. These are music demos composed for AoD by two different artists. Which musician/style/melody/whatever do you prefer and why? It's an important decisions, so I'd appreciate opinions from everyone who cares enough to post. Again, these are demos, not final products.

#1
Demo 1
Demo 2

#2
Demo 3
Demo 4

I'm liking the first guy's more. Though truth be told, neither really seems to fit the image I had in mind for the game. I dunno, I was expecting maybe something more 'Fall of the Roman Empire', for which the music seems too happy to convey in feeling.

Oh and a highly cultured and smart and beautiful person I know, also voted for #1.

I will admit to knowing nothing about music, but I like 3 and 4 the best. I like the way they build and they both have a haunting quality to them which (I think) would fit the gameworld well. I also think they're the kinds of tracks that will stick with you and you might find yourself humming when you're not playing. Out of 3 and 4, I'd probably say that I like 3 the best only because I like the use of the violins.

I prefer #1, as I can imagine it setting the in-game atmosphere (ex. the first composition feels like a town, the second like wilderness). #2 seems a bit too overbearing, as if it would be most suitable for a title or menu screen.

First of all, I have to tip my hat to the makers of those demos, and doff it cordially. As an avid music collector, I will honestly say that all four snippets have been much better than I have expected.

Second, the first two snippets are really too short to form a good opinion, but I will try anyway.

Third, as the PHB would say: 'Let's do both!'. I mean, can't you get those two to collaborate? Is there no way of accomplishing this? Listening to those tunes makes me think that one artist would be better suited to secular settings and town music, the other for epic stuff ala Soule. [And Soule composed some really good soundtracks, let's just think of Total Annihilation]


On to the nitty-gritty!

#1
AoD.mp3 (0:29)

This one would make a fine camp, small village or evening music. It's calm and soothing, the melody is very simple, but most good ones are. It could become tiresome and repetitive if it continues in this style for more than 1 minute and, say, 30 seconds. Said whistle is also a tiny bit too high pitched to my ears. If it was just a tiny bit lower, it would be hauntingly beautiful.
The style seems to go well with your setting, too.
I give this seven out of ten tubgirls. [7/10]

AoD2.mp3 (0:32)

Hmm, what to say? It sounds well suited for a harbor town, while in its outskirts, or a fortified one, but by benevolent fortifiers. The melody seems a bit more complex in this one, and the scarce use of instruments and the clever application of a brass instrument in the background make this a well thought-out demo, but sadly, it's far too short to correctly judge it. Still, it doesn't move me as much as the first one, and doesn't convey as much atmosphere. Very fitting style, though.
I give this six out of ten goatse.cx'. [6/10]

#2
F Aod.mp3 (1:28)

Ah, this starts out nicely Arcanumesque, which is a very good thing, It's a pretty moody melody, and the guitar (mandolin? harp? dulcimer?) in the background is a nice touch, especially with its variations that are very subtle. It's a bit anticlimactic, but then, it's just a demo. I feel it would make a good song for the nighttime, or the late evening. Somehow, the style is a bit... Sicilian, which, again, fits the game quite well. Also, it reminds me of the soundtrack to 'Die Gilde', maybe known as Europa 1400 here, which is not a bad thing.
I believe this song earned seven random links to furry porn, and a scat story from Rex. [7.5/10]

F AoD2.mp3 (1:51)

The voice sucks. It needs to be toned down, I think. Or replaced by an oboe, or something. At first, I thought it would be backed up by an orchestra, and at first it sounded like that, but, eck.... it's just an annoying voice. Get rid of that, artist #2! It sucks so much that the melody, which is feasible and good, actually suffers. Also, the choice of instruments must be reworked. However, 0:50 to 1:15 are excellent, especially at the beginning, when all the instruments kick in. I would replace the flute that tries to harmonize with the voice by a pan-flute, and, of course, rid the voice, in the parts that follow. No, forget the pan-flute, just substitute the voice. The style does NOT fit your game, from what I have read about, but maybe that's just because the voice really spoils it for me.
This gets five posts from Volourn, out of ten. [5/10]

----

Seems like the first artist won by 0.5 points. However, if that is deserved, I can't say, because the demos of him were short.
Overall, his style is more up my avenue, though.

Hm, didn't care much for any of the four pieces (#4 was particularly horrible - what was up with those vocals?). Would like to see something more akin to that piano track from Arcanum - perhaps you could hire Mr. Teatime?


On another note, will it be possible for the player to use a custom soundtrack? (Perhaps by replacing .mp3/.wav files?)

Listening to those tunes makes me think that one artist would be better suited to secular settings and town music, the other for epic stuff

Click to expand...

Dito. Both styles are good and I would enjoy them if implemented in the right game scenes.
But if I really had to choose one set I would go for #2.

Well, I like the mood and the instruments selection of the first artist for a game as yours. The second one do a impressive exhibition, if i were to judge this without any knowledge of the game I would take him/her, but i agree on the fact that it can sound as a steampunk setting (that evolves into some kind of batman returns). That's not cool. I`d ask the second artist to make a composition that suits better the theme before making a decision, but i don't know if you could arrange this.

In short, I like the first set more, especially #1. While I find #3 interesting, I don't feel it fits so well.

#2's stuff seems more in line to a post apocalyptic setting, though the composer's work seems a bit too heavy (especially track 4).

#1's stuff is lighter, though it does strike me as JRPG-ish for some reason.

I think it would help a lot if you could also tell us what the composer's intended the tracks to be used for, or their general aim otherwise.

#4 is the one I like the best. I would rank 1,2, and 3 as equals. All are great though. I disagree with the guy that said the voice in 4 was bad. I thought it was good.

Do you want an opinion as to the quality of the music, if we liked it, or simply whether if it is appropriate?

Since gamers are going to be playing the game, I don't think you should be too concerned with the technical critiques of the songs. That leaves me with only two variables that would be useful to you; which song I liked and whether it's appropriate.

The first two songs sound environment specific, but convey absolutely no emotion. While different, they sound too generic for their respective categories.

The second two songs sound more out of place with the general setting, especially if you are trying to get a Fallout-type feeling. They do convey more feeling than the first two songs, but I hope the composer has more range then that, or were looking at another Jeremy Soule.

The most important aspect for me in terms of music, is variety. Both composers seem competent enough, it should now be a test as to which composer can show the most range and still make it sound unique.

Contestant #1 is the one you should go with. Although I would've liked to hear a combat tune for each one, all these were downtime/exploring looping music rather than anything that got you excited - no particular buildups or anything. Hire Basil Poledouris! :D

Edit: Oh, and I didn't mind the voice - but it would get tedious if the track's used often. I believe voice should be avoided in background music. Maybe tune it down (alot) and it would work.

serch said:

I`d ask the second artist to make a composition that suits better the theme before making a decision, but i don't know if you could arrange this.

Click to expand...

That's why there are two demos for each artist. It's not hard to find a talented artist, it's much harder to find an artist who can "feel" your theme and make what you want. After the first demo, each artist was explained again about the game, the setting, and the town the music is for:

"Alamo a few days before the fall: a small town that's preparing for something it might not survive, but without the heroic stuff. It's a refuge, but not a peaceful place. It's not a great place to live, but if you are there, you ran out of luck and options. Maybe a Wild West mood, but not that of successful, growing towns. Sorta "welcome to hell", but not too dominant. "

Vault Dweller said:

"Alamo a few days before the fall: a small town that's preparing for something it might not survive, but without the heroic stuff. It's a refuge, but not a peaceful place. It's not a great place to live, but if you are there, you ran out of luck and options. Maybe a Wild West mood, but not that of successful, growing towns. Sorta "welcome to hell", but not too dominant. "

Click to expand...

Its hard, they both fit the discription well (2 and 4). They're both great, so I guess its left to what fits the game/setting better. I think they both fit, so I guess I'm no help.

I've always liked the more ambient music for PC RPGs (when you're got maudlin melodrama like jRPGs, the more overbearing the better!). On that criterion, the first seem better. As others have noted, they don't convey that much emotion, but, then, if this is background music (as opposed to event-specific music), you don't want that much emotion, other than the game's general feel. I'd go with the the first composer.

I like track 4, but considering your given specification.. I'm not sure. " Maybe a Wild West mood"... hmmm.. maybe with Firefly. But will it fit in AoD, dunno.
Give us some more samples.

I think composer #2 just edges out composer #1, though both have produced music that I wouldn't mind hearing in a game.

I liked the first guy best. Especially his second song sounded like it fit the setting

I like the entries from #2 better, though the intro of demo #4 I didn't like.

I liked the first composer, especially the first track.

IMO, they are approximately equal to one enother in quality. However, 3 and 4 have a synthetic aftertaste, because of vocals and whatever high-frequency wind instrument is used there.

I think this theme is too easy to diffirentiate composers. Heck, I think even I can improvise along these lines without too much trouble (it might be just my ego, though - I never submitted any of my "good" tracks for public scrutiny). The point is, I think quality combat music is much harder to comppose.

#1 sounds too happy for a decadent world IMO. Reminds me of Zelda for some reason. I think #3 goes better with the description you gave, although I think it sounds more like a town which has already given up all hope.

Artist #1
The music sounds more professional, but more "standard" too, if you know what I mean.
It made me remember Oblivion, for some reason.

Artist #2
The music is more interesting and original (catchy, without being intrusive), although not as professional sounding as the first one. But then, his music makes me know that he is capable of getting the feel of the game.


Conclusion: I'd choose Artist #2, but you wouldn't be wrong in choosing Artist #1.

In all honesty, I gotta say I liked artist #2 better. The music... It just felt to me that it fit the scene. It seemed darker in some respects, less repeating, I dunno, it just sounded better to me is all.