First hand at techno music

#1 1_23 has a very interesting feel to it ... I like the back beat, and the ambiance .... though, I'm not too sure I like the way it slows down and goes into the bleep bleep sounds around the 20 second mark ... that would really mess with the feel of the level, unless the level has something that changes at that point ... the vocals, you'll probably want to leave out ... unless it goes with the theme of your game ... most vocals don't work for game background music, except in some cases ... like in Need for Speed, hehe ... but picture Mario with vocals ... ? Nah ...


2_1 is quite nice ... I could see playing it in the car, haha ... again, vocals ... a no no ... just an opinion of mine ... as for using it as a 'boss' music track, depends on the game I guess ...

All in all, great sounds ...

#2 Haha! Thanks!

I didn't know vocals were that big of a no, no. I thought they usually make songs.

So, vocals aren't a good thing for video game music anymore? I know they drew me into games when I first started playing them back in NES, SNES, Master System, Genesis, and Arcades pre 2000 days. I'm trying to create games with that type of feel to them.

#3 Kevin, I didn't say they were a no no flat out, just all really depends on the game ... for me, personally, I dislike vocals in video game music, unless it's an actual song ... like in Need for Speed, the game music is supposed to simulate listening to your car stereo ... so vocals make sense .. but in a platformer game, or a general casual game ... they don't really fit in ... and, if the game requires you to concentrate ... such as a puzzle game, or a platformer that requires you to solve a puzzle or something ... vocals can throw you off and make you lose concentration ... especially if the song loops, or the vocals are repetitious ... such as they are in techno tracks ... cause you start to sing in your head ... and sometimes out loud ... along with the music ... Oh my! ... haha

But, I believe my last comment sums it all up ... "great sounds" ... awesome job ... and don't take too much weight in my opinions, haha ... i'm not really much of a gamer :)

#4 Haha! I can see where you're coming from with singing the song in your head!! lol!

No problem. I just wanted to make sure that I do things right is all. Yeah, so don't worry about hurting my feelings or anything. I just want to make sure that I understand.

Thanks again, David!

#5 Vocals? Where? If you mean the tiny bit of vox on the second one, then that's not a vocal (it's a sample) but I guess it does fit with the vibe of the tune.

I'm really, really bored of generic techno in computer games though. Can't we move on people? If I boot a game up and the music sounds like it was made using a PIC chip from a NES or something I will instantly shut it down. Come on, try something NEW and put the goddamn arpeggiator away. Old school games were forced to use crappy monophonic synth lines because they were restricted by file size (remember when Zelda 64 came out on a 256Mb cart? *ooo*) and console specifications (single oscilator synth chips being controlled by a single step sequencer) - a problem that has long since been resolved.

Sorry, a bit of a rant, I'm a DJ and music producer and have been accused of being a musical snob by many - something I've had to come to terms with so I hold my hands up and apologise if I sounded too harsh. My advice, if you want to go down the techno route, listen to some modern underground techno or breakbeat (try www.dancetracksdigital.com), it's moved a long way from the dirge of early console games.

Just out of interest, what software did you use to put it together? Did you programme the synths yourself or are they samples?

#6 I used FL Studio. And I actually LIKE the NES chip sound and old school music. To be honest, I don't think there's enough of that style out there. I'm all for trying new things, but I don't think people should do something just because it's new, and I don't think something sounds great, JUST because it's different or a new style. I MUST sound good! I'm all about melodies.

I'm sorry about that as well. I've been complaining about these new artists, hip hop in particular, and how their music sounds. It sounds so terrible! So when you said that, it made think of my argument with other people telling me I should move on, and I don't think it's about "moving on". It's about creating something new and using the basics from tunes that actually sounded good to do it.

I'll listen to your site though, to see what type of tunes they have. Thanks for the link.

Can you recommend some artists to listen to?

#7 Here's an example song that I like and I want to make tracks like this for the game. So I'm really basing my songs off of it to give them this type of feel.

profile.imeem.com/xhRjFV/music/3VS4nkoB/tiger_track/

#8 I took a quick listen and the track seemed to kind of...punch me in the face. I think you need to really identify what you are going for. The elements you introduce into the track aren't given time to introduce themselves or mature in any way. It's kind of like *smack* have a kick/snare loop with a follow up *smack* 8th-note bassline, and then 16 bars later the melody throws a left hook.

www.beatport.com/ is where I buy the majority of my tracks. I live, primarly, in the progressive and electro house genres.

Marble Blast Ultra was based on progressive trance. If I find the track list of "concept" music I'll post it, but I think it's probably in a text file some obscure place or lost.

I'm an armchair producer. One day I will dedicate the time to learning, but I'm currently stuck at the point where I know what sounds I want to make, but have no way to describe them or create them.

Some stuff to check out that is in similar vein to the track you posted is by 'Freq'. Here's two albums on Beatport:
GOSUB 20 - I'd call this progressive psy, for the most part, check out Spacenoodle and Singularity

Strange Attractors - A little harder psytrance, FREqTAL is a track I really like off this one. Good psytrance with tech sounds.

#9 @Pat -- So what you're saying is that techno tune are better when they gradually get to the "punch in the face" part of the song right?

I know what type of sound that I'm going for. I just want the songs to be as clear as FREqTAL for example, but with the melodies that I've done, the two in my first post. Thanks for these sites. I really think they will help me as well. Yeah, I'm an armchair guy too, and I'm just learning. So thanks for taking the time to spare some of your knowledge. I know it's going to take time, but I'll get there! :)

#10 Hey, Kevin

I liked those songs. I think " being punched in the face" would be good for boss music, but perhaps gentler stuff for background music. Fade-ins, Fade-outs etc.

I think straight-up thrash metal would be sweet for a game!

;)

#11 @Kevin -- Thanks! :)

Hey I tried to clean this up some, and wanted to know if it's still hurting your ears.

I also create another unfinished tune. I just want to make it's clear. Does it sound clear and not too loud to you?

Revised:
www.unitedmindsgames.com/new_2_1_techno_2.mp3

New Unfinished Tune:
www.unitedmindsgames.com/new_2_20_techno_3.mp3

#12 I like how your songs sound different from each other. Some techno tends to be the same song over and over, but you're doing good so far, Kevin.

The songs never hurt my ears and if they did, that's what the volume knob is for. :D

If you plan on using TGB to make a game out of this music, you can adjust volume on the fly. I even have some functions that fade in music manually in TGB.

#13 Oh yeah? Cool! Can you send it to me? That would be great if you could.

Yeah, I plan on using the finished versions of those tunes in one of my next products, "Space Renegades 3", which is a space shooter that I will start after I finish "Path of Steel" in July.

#14 Sweet! Let me know of any .plans that you post!

I sent an email to: eppskevin@unitedmindsgames.com.

Enjoy!

#15 I like them all except for the very 1st of the 4... that one is too generic. But the others all have a nice retro feel and remind me of the glory days of DOS games. :D