Samples

Game Music, Music Production, Software

Get Your Complete Video Game Sample Set with Super Audio Cart

June 8, 2016 | Brenna Wilkes | Comments Off on Get Your Complete Video Game Sample Set with Super Audio Cart Share this

Impact Soundworks has been busy recently in creating the perfect sample library for the retro game music enthusiast; Super Audio Cart! Eight years in the making, Super Audio Cart aims to be the go-to sample library for both retro game music composers and hobbists.

The most complete set of classic video game samples ever produced. Features seven legendary systems from the 70s to early 90s, unparalleled accuracy, and a powerful synth engine to transform them into a limitless variety of modern sounds.

The library features sample from the NES, SNES, GB, 2600, C64, SMS, GEN and over 1,000 presets to be used with Kontakt and recorded with actual console hardware.

“Super Audio Cart is without doubt the best plugin for all your chiptune needs, it’s got the lot and they’re all glorious!! Having all these authentic sounds in one place is the best idea since someone said, ‘Let’s put a rap in Donkey Kong’ … oh wait.” – Grant Kirkhope (Donkey Kong 64, GoldenEye, Banjo-Kazooie)

Super Audio Cart can be purchased for $149.00 with various tutorials already being released by Impact Soundworks to help introduce the basics of the new software to new and seasoned music creators alike.
Featured, Gear, Software

Rhapsody: Orchestral Percussion (Review)

October 29, 2014 | Michael Hoffmann | Comments Off on Rhapsody: Orchestral Percussion (Review) Share this

Here on OSV we primarily focus on soundtracks and remix albums for videogames. However, every once in a while we like to take a look at some of the music software that’s available for composers to implement in their virtual instrument libraries. Such is the case with today’s review. This time around we will be looking at Impact Soundworks new percussion library Rhapsody: Orchestral Percussion.

The software, as the name implies, is focused on providing a realistic orchestral percussion library for composers and musicians. You won’t be dealing with any synth or electronic drums in this program. The primary focus here is on acoustic instruments, both from western and eastern parts of the world. Impact Soundworks has created and released various types of instrument libraries over the years. These have included guitar libraries, vocal ensembles, and a hybrid synth program, the latter of which we reviewed on OSV earlier this year. This new instrument library was designed by Dickie Chapin & Andrew Aversa. Like their previous products, the program is designed to work with any DAW (Digital Audio Workstation) through the software application Kontakt 5. For this review, I’ll be examining the program, analyzing how well the instruments work, and the overall quality of the product for the end user. With all of that said, let’s take a look at Rhapsody: Orchestral Percussion. (more…)
Game Music

A Soundtrack With Force: Kinect Star Wars

May 21, 2012 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on A Soundtrack With Force: Kinect Star Wars Share this

[Originally posted on Destructoid]

We now know that Kinect Star Wars was not the hardcore Kinect experience that it was originally touted to be. As a collection of Kinect mini-games best suited for younger players, I figured the game’s music would take a similarly lighthearted and playful approach, but the score composed by Gordy Haab and Kyle Newmaster is as hardcore and true to the Star Wars franchise as anyone could have possibly hoped for.

With that in mind, I wanted to highlight this ‘serious’ aspect of the game. Along with some video footage from the recording session with the prestigious London Symphony Orchestra at the legendary Abbey Road Studio where the original film scores were recorded, we also have three full-length music samples on Destructoid’s Soundcloud account for you to enjoy as you read through what the composers have to say about their approach to Kinect Star Wars’ soundtrack. (more…)
Game Music

Meet Diablo III’s Sound Team, Samples Included

May 17, 2012 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on Meet Diablo III’s Sound Team, Samples Included Share this

[Originally posted on Destructoid]

Diablo III has easily been one of my most anticipated games of the past five years (c’mon, we all knew it would be coming someday), and now it’s less than a week away. A lot has changed at Blizzard Entertainment since the release of Diablo II: Lord of Destruction in 2001, and we wanted to delve into the audio with Blizzard Entertainment’s audio director, Russell Brower, as well as with some of the composers and sound designers who have been toiling away on the game’s sound.

Although Diablo and Diablo II composer Matt Uelmen has long since left the company, the sound he crafted for the first two games in the series is still alive, and I think fans will be surprised by just how much respect that the entire team has the groundwork he laid down for Diablo III. As always, we also have some samples of the soundtrack for your enjoyment, so sit back, stay awhile, and listen. (more…)
Game Music

A Journey Through Journey’s Soundtrack

April 10, 2012 | Jayson Napolitano | 3 Comments Share this

[Originally published on Destructoid]

Waiting for Journey’s soundtrack release today was like waiting for the game itself all over again. I not only had a great time playing through Journey, no doubt thanks to my steadfast companion who stuck with me through the entire experience, but I loved the dynamic range of the soundtrack and how it swelled to highlight several key moments in the game.

We reached out to Austin Wintory as soon as we knew he was working on the title, and we thought it would be a good time with the soundtrack release on the horizon to have him explain in his own words how he went about creating the score and how the individual pieces take you through the journey that unfolds on the screen. We also have samples from the score for your enjoyment as you read his commentary on four of the pieces from the game. Note that the full-length version of “THRESHOLD” is exclusive to Destructoid’s Soundcloud and you can hear even more samples beyond the four presented here on Austin Wintory’s Soundcloud.

Check it out, watch for the soundtrack release next week, and let us know about your own favorite musical moments in Journey! (more…)
Game Music

Sounds Promising: Chill SQ Samples On YouTube

May 12, 2010 | Jayson Napolitano | 1 Comment Share this

So, it wasn’t an April Fool’s joke (thanks for all of that, Cedille!). Chill SQ is coming out this month, and it’s sounding damn good. I suppose it helps that this kind of album is right up my alley. Square Enix has posted several (7, actually) minute-long samples from the album on YouTube, which covers everything from Seiken Denstsu, SaGa, Live a Live!, and Front Mission to Final Fantasy IV, V and VI. It’s good to see more variety compared to last year’s Love SQ.

And after all that talk of variety, I have to say that the English trance version of “Aria” from Final Fantasy VI and the funky version of “Theme of Love” from Final Fantasy IV sound quite promising. I’m also excited to see Mitsuto Suzuki handling SaGa, and the Live A Live! track sounds pretty sweet as well. I’m definitely looking forward to this album on May 26. And how about that cover art?

The samples are currently availalbe on Square Enix’s official YouTube channel.

What do you think of the samples that Square Enix has posted to YouTube? Which track is shaping up to be your favorite?
Game Music, Reviews

Soulcaster: An XBLA Indie Game With Heart (Game Review and MP3 Samples)

April 17, 2010 | Jayson Napolitano | 1 Comment Share this

This is one of those games that’s unfortunately way too easy to miss. A friend of mine shot me a message a few weeks ago asking if I wanted to check out some music he wrote for a game called Soulcaster, an indie game that was released on the XBLA Indie Games service in March. I checked out his music, and liked it a whole lot, and was determined to learn more about the game. Upon playing it, what I found was an amazingly well thought-out and awesomely retro gaming experience that I later learned was programmed, composed, and graphically rendered by this one friend, Ian Stocker.

So, what is Soulcaster? Think of it as a cross between Gauntlet and a tower defense game. Yes, this concept sound vaguely familiar to you, as we just ran a news item this week about Ancient Corp.’s Protect Me Knight which will feature the very same blending of genres along with music by Yuzo Koshiro. The graphics, music, and gameplay are all intensely retro and also incredibly addicting, and hey, the price is right as well!

But I’m getting ahead of myself, as usual, so hit the jump for our review of Soulcaster! (more…)