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XCOMUFO & Xenocide

SND - ACTIVE MUSIC - Xenocide Main Theme


ATeX

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So far so good,

 

 

I had almost no time during last two weeks, so after looking for a gap for a while, I spent a couple of hours trying to find the right sound. This is what came out of it today. "Hans Zimmer Action Movie" style, based on the GMSTORY midi file from the UFO DEFENSE CE edition.

 

Any Suggestions for improvement so I can go on making the bigger picture?

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas_Torfs_(a.k.a._ATeX)_-_Main_Theme_v0.1_-_tryout.mp3

 

BASED ON: GMSTORY.MID

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Sounds good.

 

However, the pipe-ich sound that comes in at 00.25 is quite repetetive, and in my opinion doesn't really fit this way.

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- can you specify pipe-ish sound? I need an instrument name. I used a digital saw wave, a drum kit, a bass drum, a timpani, a snare drum, a women choir, violins, violas, cellos, basses, horns and trombones.

 

Now which one is it?

 

 

- By the way, after listening back to it, I think it's too adventurous. It needs to be darker.

 

What do you think?

 

 

 

EDIT: added some more explanation

Edited by ATeX
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eh.....

 

the annoying one at 24-25. The looped music peace. You know. "The one" one.

 

You shouldn't make it too dark. It fits nicely here - it's not ingame battle music. It's just the main theme.

Edited by mikker
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i agree, we already have loads of dark music. i mean, just because we're battling aliens doesn't mean the whole game has to have dark music ;)

 

oh and i tried to "crop out" the annoying sound so you can see which one it is. it starts at 0.24.50 and ends at 1.12.50

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I think what u mean is the violas playing a lead towards the real main theme. All this is just an intro, which is not even finished. I've got violas playing staccato all the time and violas playing quite softly in the background, a legato. It was a quick tryout, not permanent, because without any voices on it, it sounds like a karaoke track <_>

 

But anyways, that one was going to disappear anyways. just a tryout from a concept, remember :wink:

 

 

I'll work on it when I get some more time

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I think what u mean is the violas playing a lead towards the real main theme. All this is just an intro, which is not even finished. I've got violas playing staccato all the time and violas playing quite softly in the background, a legato. It was a quick tryout, not permanent, because without any voices on it, it sounds like a karaoke track  <_>

 

But anyways, that one was going to disappear anyways. just a tryout from a concept, remember :wink:

 

 

I'll work on it when I get some more time

 

I :wub: it. Really cool, cinematic clip. You've got some skills. :)

 

I think the "annoying sound" they're referring to is the repeating "bzzt bzzt bzzt" sound, is that the saw wave? The violins sounded great to me.

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I think what u mean is the violas playing a lead towards the real main theme. All this is just an intro, which is not even finished. I've got violas playing staccato all the time and violas playing quite softly in the background, a legato. It was a quick tryout, not permanent, because without any voices on it, it sounds like a karaoke track  <_>

 

But anyways, that one was going to disappear anyways. just a tryout from a concept, remember :wink:

 

 

I'll work on it when I get some more time

 

I :wub: it. Really cool, cinematic clip. You've got some skills. :)

 

I think the "annoying sound" they're referring to is the repeating "bzzt bzzt bzzt" sound, is that the saw wave? The violins sounded great to me.

 

It's the violin.

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This theme is PERFECT for the globe portion of the game....I personally didn't find any of the clip annoying.....and to be honest, to me, the theme is supposed to be a little darkish....due to the nature of the game.....excellent work and you are very talented... ^_^
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It definitely is a testament to your talent and it is one of your finer works that I have heard here.

 

My concern is that it's epic... but in a subdued way. It says finishing credits to me. It feels like some music you would want to play to congratulate the player and let him off the hook.

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To be honest, that's exactly the way I felt about after listening back to it the day after production. That's why I said that I felt it should be darker, not too optimistic or epic, like you say. I think I'm going to start over with the same sounds but a darker arrangement. Maybe keep it for the winning theme or something similar. Or just modify it and make it sound darker. We'll see.

Thanks for the feedback ^_^

 

 

-ATeX

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remember, this is the main theme. It's not gonna get played as bagground sounds, other than maybe the credits. For christ sake, don't make it dull and dark. Keep it as it is, this is much better. It's a MAIN THEME, not a simple song.

 

You can make a dark version of it later, for more in-game uses.

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Don't wanna be a pain in the .. neck here, but here's what I think:

 

The X-Com Theme is pretty poor listening... The beginning part is a 'jaws-ish' part (high tones, sinister feel), then some 'screams' from the aliens/civvies. The musicish part only starts when we see the X-Com craft taking off, and the X-Com troops moving in for the kill. That's where the action is.

 

However, when listening to it I still get a good feeling. You know why? Because I listen to it while seeing the movie. The screaming sound thingy suddenly makes sense when you see the Alien Commander throw his fist down and open his mouth.

 

Now, ATeX' theme is Good Stuff, but it lacks that emotional involvement because it's not coupled to a movie of sorts. I think that in this case it's really true that the sum is greater than it's elements together. So basically: Don't say "This is the theme we'll use! Hurray!" yet... wait till Graphics (or whoever is going to do this...) comes up with an intro movie, and choreograph the music to that for maximum effect.

 

Just €0.02,

 

--K

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Of course, I think that statement was obvious already!

 

And I'll say it again, it is just a small tryout from only a concept that isn't even finished. The topic title says: a glimps. It's just a quick workover on an idea. An idea of how it should sound, nothing more nothing less. By this I mean, really the sound and not the composition or used harmony. :innocent:

 

 

Mikker, we'll see what comes out. I'm not making a second BattleScape track here.

 

 

-ATeX

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It's indeed a very good "alpha version" song. I like these "crystal"-tiny sounds at the start of the song. Piano fits perfectly and has the right tempo.

Unfortunately, the ending is a bit bad, because it ends instantly... no release, no outro!

 

Great work Atex! :happybanana:

 

 

P.S. May I also have the samples you used? :rolleyes:

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 5 weeks later...

Amazing work, ATeX. Although I must say I would also love to see you and Whitewashed's Xenocide Break in the intro movie, this would fit just fine as well.

 

If you don't mind me asking, what VSTs did you use in making this? I know that you use Reason already, and I was just curious.

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Amazing work, ATeX. Although I must say I would also love to see you and Whitewashed's Xenocide Break in the intro movie, this would fit just fine as well.

 

If you don't mind me asking, what VSTs did you use in making this? I know that you use Reason already, and I was just curious.

 

some replies above I said the following:

"I used Cubase SX 2, Reason 2.5, Absynth 2, Gigastudio3, Vienna Smphonic Library (first version) and Voices of the Apocalypse 2.1. That's it. I suggest you get a bit of money aside and go buy it Wink.gif"

 

So, actually it's not made with VST's. It's a bunch of programs linked togheter thru ReWire; Cubase as sequencer, Reason as studio emulator and gigastudio as sampler.

 

cheers,

ATeX

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"I used Cubase SX 2, Reason 2.5, Absynth 2, Gigastudio3, Vienna Smphonic Library (first version) and Voices of the Apocalypse 2.1. That's it. I suggest you get a bit of money aside and go buy it Wink.gif"

 

So, actually it's not made with VST's. It's a bunch of programs linked togheter thru ReWire; Cubase as sequencer, Reason as studio emulator and gigastudio as sampler.

 

cheers,

ATeX

Whoops, I didn't see that you had already posted it above. Awesome setup you have there. I used to have a demo of Absynth 2, so I got quite proficient in working with it for a while. Soon I will also be getting Edirol Orchestral HQ from a friend of mine, which is supposed to be one of the most powerful orchestral modules out there. Hopefully I'll be able to put that to good use.

 

Anyway, would it be possible to maybe include a brass section to your piece? I'm not sure if it would sound good in the long run, but if you have samples to work with, I think it may be worth the experimenting to listen to.

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  • 4 weeks later...
Whow... maybe I just don't know enough about music to even make comments or properly critisize, but this sound track is just excellent, I am really impressed with your ability ATeX :D , this is just amazing =b
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Hi there!

 

Long time not been here... this month has really been too busy. Several projects going on and no spare time at the moment. Nice to have some feedback :)

 

 

XerO: love to hear the Edirol in action :D

A brass section is planned idd, I think they will play the theme itself. I'll continue on this piece somewhere in March, when the projects are finished. Meanwhile, hope to hear some more work from the sound department. Keep it up!

 

Azrael: Thx for the feedback! Really no ideas for future development? :huh: :D

 

 

 

cheers,

 

ATeX

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Impressive, most impressive, ATeX!

 

I'm not very good at articulating what I mean when it comes to sounds and music, but I hope you can understand the gist of it.

 

The beginning's very ambient- I like it a lot.

 

The violin sounds a little "rough" compared to the smooth ambience when it's first introduced, but I get used to it quickly.

 

For some reason, the violin? (the repeated 4 note progression) sounded very familiar to me... hm... I think it reminded me of the last boss in Chrono Trigger?

 

The "feel" is very cinematic, I can practically see the various scenes panning across the screen.

 

Two scenarios:

 

- Aliens attack, troops fighting valiantly (but with difficulty), driving the alien spaceship off, end of song.

 

- Aliens attack, troops sent in, they fight bravely, but are slowly forced back into an increasingly hopeless situation, and they are about to make a last stand, black screen and end of song.

 

The second scenario might be good if the intro shows a scene from before the X-Corps was founded- the nations were terribly outequipped and outgunned.

 

Overall, your piece doesn't stray into adventurous territory, the chord progressions are familiar, but it is effective, projects a mood, and gets the job done. I like it very much! Keep up making awesome sounds, ATeX! =b

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Azrael: Ok, we'll see what comes out of the box in a couple of weeks. Man, I hope I get some more time soon ^_^

 

Astyanax: Wow, nice comment there :D I think it's better to use this score for some video like you describe idd. So, maybe it's better not to use it as main theme. Some time ago I started on the fifth version. Sounds completely different, very dark and mysterious. I'll trow it on the web as soon as finished ;)

 

 

cheers!

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