Video

Chip Music, Featured, Music Production, Software

Chiptune TED talk features Dan Behrens (Danimal Cannon) at TEDxBuffalo

November 16, 2013 | Haroon Piracha | Comments Off on Chiptune TED talk features Dan Behrens (Danimal Cannon) at TEDxBuffalo Share this

TED talks have always been about presenting ideas worth spreading, so I’m glad to see they’ve put Chiptunes on display. TED talks try to gain a deeper discussion in a local field, TEDx is more for local programs, and Dan (Dan Behrens, aka Danimal Cannon) hit it off. As Dan described Chiptunes, he defined it as…

… Any music made using, or emulating the sound of, old video game consoles and their soundchips.
-Danimal Cannon

Technically with that definition, the PS4 could also be considered platform for Chiptunes, but it’s the sound that Dan and the others are attracted to, not particularly a beefy console. Dan’s chip of choice being a classic Gameboy, he continued into his list of consoles that other artists use to make Chiptunes. Consoles such as the NES, Genesis, Commodore 64, Atari Amiga, and many others. As Dan described, it’s really about taking minimalist hardware, and pushing it to the maximum potential.

The talk itself features some excellent music past the 4:35 mark. Take a listen.

Dan went further to talk about a trend taking place in music software, one that makes music controls easier to use, but leaves you ignorant to what the controls directly changed to achieve its sound. For instance, if you use a plug-in that has a fader controlling a “Smash” parameter, what is the “Smash” doing exactly? Does it EQ the sound? Is something being filtered? Does it matter? By using plug-ins like that, Dan considered it a failing to learn.

Dan also stated that such software is good for businesses, which is true. Music software that gives the end user the sounds they desire is often the goal developers strive for. However, Dan insisted that Chiptune is not a response to such easy-to-use music software, but rather it evolved by itself into where it currently stands in the community.

What are your thoughts on the subject? Do you agree that simple and easy to use software actually does make you less curious about how the sound was achieved?
Game Music

VIDEO GAMES LIVE: LEVEL 3 needs your support!

September 5, 2013 | Jayson Napolitano | 4 Comments Share this

We really dug VIDEO GAMES LIVE: LEVEL 1 and LEVEL 2, and while both albums had big record industry backing, concert co-creator and composer Tommy Tallarico is trying to bring LEVEL 3 to fans with Kickstarter.

Why take to Kickstarter for a third volume when the first two were industry-supported? That’s because LEVEL 3 caters to hardcore game music fans, featuring music from titles like Shadow of the Colossus, Mega Man 2, and Beyond Good & Evil, which don’t have the mainstream recognition of titles like Halo, Mario, and God of War.

With a week left for the campaign, VGL is getting closer to its goal, but it’s not quite there yet. That’s where you can help. They’re looking for a final push to take them over the top, and in addition to the impending album, the backer rewards for this campaign are pretty awesome (how about lunch with the Blizzard Entertainment audio team and a tour of the facilities?). I just pledged, and encourage game music fans out there to do the same so I can get my Shadow of the Colossus on. Oh, and there will be a remix by electronic artist BT as well (I really am excited about this!).

Chime in and let us know what you think of the effort. Will you be supporting this?
Game Music

This Smooth Jazz Track Sounds Like Flashman From Mega Man 2

April 15, 2013 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on This Smooth Jazz Track Sounds Like Flashman From Mega Man 2 Share this

Okay, so maybe only briefly. Skip to 1:30, and you’ll hear how similar the chorus sections are. Not that the melody from Mega Man 2’s “Flashman” is groundbreakingly original, but after hearing this song several times on the radio and thinking, “Man, this sounds like Mega Man,” I thought I’d share.

What do you think? Know much about smooth jazz artist Mindi Abair? She’s all over the radio lately despite having been at the smooth jazz thing for awhile.
Featured, Miscellaneous

Jeremy Soule Takes to Kickstarter to Fund His First Classical Symphony: Support It!

April 10, 2013 | Jayson Napolitano | Comments Off on Jeremy Soule Takes to Kickstarter to Fund His First Classical Symphony: Support It! Share this

[Disclaimer: I, Jayson Napolitano, was hired by the Max Steiner Agency to prepare and distribute a press release regarding “The Northerner,” but I’m also sincerely passionate about it being funded on a personal level]

In case you weren’t aware, Jeremy Soule launched a Kickstarter campaign last month to fund his first classical symphony, “The Northerner.” You should care not only because Jeremy Soule is one of the most talented game composers working in the industry, but also because “The Northerner” channels a lot of the energies Soule visited while working on Skyrim just by the nature of its far North theme.

I ran a feature over on Destructoid with exclusive commentary from Jeremy Soule himself on the project as well as a preview on YouTube (above) and SoundCloud. Check them out, and support this project towards reaching its stretch goal of $100,000 to record at a prestigious recording studio before the campaign ends in just three short days!

Do you see this as a potential way to fund classical music in the future? Let us know if you’re on board for “The Northerner!”
Featured, Game Music

OSVchannel: Halo 4 Original Soundtrack Limited Edition Unboxing Video

November 5, 2012 | Jayson Napolitano | 4 Comments Share this

There are those who said this day would never come. What are they to say now?

Halo 4 is on the horizon, and people have been wondering what composer Neil Davidge would do in Marty O’Donnell’s and Michale Salvatori’s place. While I personally enjoy the soundtrack album, it is admittedly different. Still, don’t let that dissuade you, as the music in-game is incredibly effective and will have you thinking of Metroid Prime fairly often.

In the meantime, check out the limited-run limited edition soundtrack above. It contains the soundtrack, a remix disc (with arguably better versions of the songs than found on the OST), and a making-of DVD. Also inside is a vinyl record, a code for an exclusive shirt for your XBLA avatar, a signed print, and a massive booklet walking fans through the music production process and each track on the album.

It’s available on the Halo 4 soundtrack website for $74.99, and is definitely worth your consideration.
Featured, Game Music, Reviews

A Fantasy Realized: Theatrhythm Final Fantasy (Review)

July 30, 2012 | Jayson Napolitano | 2 Comments Share this

I nearly lost it when Theatrhythm was announced for the Nintendo 3DS. I was already excited about the 3D visuals offered up by the platform, and a dream game combining the music of Final Fantasy with rhythmic elements was not only completely unexpected, but was seemingly too good to be true. But true it was, and I watched the game closely leading up to its release.

Now it’s here, and I’ve had a lot of time to play it. Complaints are already flying that the game is built as a DLC platform, but is the game a whole lot more than that, and does it pave the way for other exciting Theatrhythm games encompassing other Square Enix franchises?

Check out our review after the jump. (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…)