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XCOMUFO & Xenocide

SND - USELESS - Interceptor Theme


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Hey everyone, I completed it sooner than expected..

Here is the interceptor theme I've been working on:

[url="http://stormhaven.ecn.purdue.edu/~djchrisp/music/interceptor.ogg"]http://stormhaven.ecn.purdue.edu/~djchrisp...interceptor.ogg[/url]

I can also post as mp3 if needed. It's a fast and short trance track. It's only
a minute long (interceptor battles shouldn't be much longer than that), and is
meant to be looped (so that's why it climaxes at the end and cuts).

Let me know what you think!!! I can handle brutal honesty.

Edit: This link should work now also. :) Edited by Raven Squad
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Hi!

I like it but I would very much like to hear some kind of guitarish lead that "catalyze" the energy (LOL sounds weird)

Good so far but could use a little more tweaking...

what HW/SW are you working in?

(btw I'm part of the music team, just not too active these days for many reasons hehe)
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Sweet! Glad people like it. :D

Raven Squad: Yeah I wanted those hits to add some intensity, but I think they stand out
a little too much. I'll have to play around with it...

Xcen: I would also like to add guitar. I'm not very advanced w/ guitar, so if we have any
guitar players that would like to contribute please do. Just make sure a post has just
the guitar track (on it's own), so I can mix it in and still make changes. Otherwise I can
try using guitar samples (I have a lot). I prefer haveing a live guitar though.

I primarily compose everything on my computer. I use Reaktor 2, FruityLoops 3, Acid 1&4,
and Sourd Forge 6 mostly. My computer is a bit on the slow side, so I can't use most
of the newest versions (Fruity 4 is too slow). I use Sonar or Samplitude for multitrack
recording and sometimes for mastering.

Deimos: The interceptor theme is already loopable. Just hit the loop button on WinAmp
(or whatever you use to listen to it). If it delays in between loops, then it's probably just
due the player loading it. It should loop seamlessly.


Since I recently joined Xeno, must of you probably don't know me.. so I'll explain what I do
in terms of music..

I'm a dance music (mixing) dj and producer. I do mostly trance, ambient and some techno.
I've been djing for 4 years, and producing for about the same amount of time. I have a
good deal of music experience before that.

Being a trance dj/producer, I'm more adept at creating loop-based music than orechestrated
pieces. I think this will fit well w/ Xeno though. I also noticed some very good orechestrated
music already being posted.

So that's me. I'll see yous around. -chris :D
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I love it :rolleyes: Edited by zwn
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[quote name='chrisp_21' date='Jun 21 2003, 08:11 PM']Deimos:  The interceptor theme is already loopable.  Just hit the loop button on WinAmp
(or whatever you use to listen to it).  If it delays in between loops, then it's probably just
due the player loading it.  It should loop seamlessly.[/quote]
Sorry about that it must be the an incomplete download or something cause the version I got comes to a crecendo with a lot of orchestra hits and then restarts at the beginning. I'll try re-downloading it again.
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Very much inspiring... :naughty:

hmmmmmmmmm... :huh?:

*get bad thoughts and start his 3d program*

Muhahahaaaaa... *infernal laugh* :devillaugh: Edited by Crix Dorius
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[quote name='Deimos' date='Jun 22 2003, 10:11 PM']Sorry about that it must be the an incomplete download or something cause the version I got comes to a crecendo with a lot of orchestra hits and then restarts at the beginning. I'll try re-downloading it again.[/quote]
yup thats what it does :). most players add a space when you set them on loop.

very good theme btw :)
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"Sorry about that it must be the an incomplete download or something cause the version I got comes to a crecendo with a lot of orchestra hits and then restarts at the beginning. I'll try re-downloading it again."


That's just becuase it's made as a loop. When looped it will crescendo and then go straight
back to the beginning (and rebuild). So, it's complete lengthwise. I'm coming up with a
finalized and mastered version. Been sorta busy recently, so may be a few more days. It
will sound kinda weird through most players, but in the game would sound nice. I'll make
a non-loop version to give everyone a better feel for what it would sound like.

-chris
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  • 2 weeks later...
Sorry I've been absent for so long. I've been a little busy recently.

Deimos: The new version cuts to a breakdown before looping. That
in turn will blend into the beginning of the loop. I'm still putting some
finishing touches on it. There's plenty of time to finalize things. Right
now I'm working on a Geoscape concept. I plan on posting them at
the same time. Probably sometime next week.
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Hey everyone! Sorry the updates have been a little slow.

Here is a new version of my interceptor theme:

[url="http://stormhaven.ecn.purdue.edu/~djchrisp/music/interceptor.ogg"]http://stormhaven.ecn.purdue.edu/~djchrisp...interceptor.ogg[/url]

I still need to fill it out more and make it loop more seemlessly, but it's
pretty close to being final. Imagine layered snare drums and brass lines
in with it.

and here is a geoscape concept:

[url="http://stormhaven.ecn.purdue.edu/~djchrisp/music/Geoscape_Concept.ogg"]http://stormhaven.ecn.purdue.edu/~djchrisp...ape_Concept.ogg[/url]

The geoscape concept is sort of a dark atmospheric ambient piece.
It's just sort of thrown together and will most likely end up being very
different. I just wanted to get a feel for what people think. It may
be a little TOO ambient. I found myself vegetating while listening
to it. I don't know if that's good or bad.... :wacko:

-chrisp
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the intercepter theme is awesome! i love trance.

the geoscape concept is kinda freaky with those pulses.

nice work!
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woah, they are nice.

for interceptor, at the place at the end were it goes bazerk, the small piece after that could go from bazerk level, to the low level in the start.

for the geoscape, i would call that alien base/mars music, not geoscape music. Its quite good.
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[quote name='mikker' date='Jul 8 2003, 08:49 AM']woah, they are nice.

for interceptor, at the place at the end were it goes bazerk, the small piece after that could go from bazerk level, to the low level in the start.

for the geoscape, i would call that alien base/mars music, not geoscape music. Its quite good.[/quote]

Great! I was less sure of the Geoscape one since it is kind
of experimental. It's good to know that I'm at least going in
the right direction.

On the interceptor comment: The end is still in question. It
will definitely go back to a low level in some way, just before
the point where it reloops back to the beginning. I've been
playing with some ideas like cutting to digital silence.

For Geoscape: That's a good point. It may be a little too
eerie for the Geoscape. I remember the original X-Com
Geoscape music was actually a little upbeat. I'll continue
it with the assumption that it's an alien base or cydonia
theme.
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for the interecepter music, in the beginning of the game (atleast for me) i would take that thing down in like 2 seconds. would it have to be faster in the beginning because of this? im probly wrong.
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[quote name='c4t' date='Jul 8 2003, 05:28 PM']for the interecepter music, in the beginning of the game (atleast for me) i would take that thing down in like 2 seconds.  would it have to be faster in the beginning because of this?  im probly wrong.[/quote]

Yeah that was the biggest problem with coming up with a decent
length for this. I'm hoping the interceptor fights are a little more
in depth in Xeno than they were in X-Com. The loop is a minute
long, and I figured that would be a decent length for an interceptor
fight. It shouldn't be too complex, but I think a minute is reasonable.
I haven't put forth any arguments to that effect though, so it's all
up in the air. I guess we'll just see what ends up going into the game
and then figure out how it fits best. I think the interceptor fights
were the weakest part of X-Com.. they could use an upgrade. IMHO :)
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Here it is.. the final draft of the interceptor theme. Many improvements
on this one. There is still some possiblitiy of adding a guitar line, but
that would be off in the future. If anyone has some suggestions,
let me know! Otherwise I'll consider it pretty much done. :)


[url="http://stormhaven.ecn.purdue.edu/~djchrisp/music/interceptor.ogg"]http://stormhaven.ecn.purdue.edu/~djchrisp...interceptor.ogg[/url]
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[quote name='mikker' date='Jul 9 2003, 09:31 PM']Yes, it loobs great now! Someone fetch the mugs, and the next is on me! :beer:[/quote]
Ooh ooh, free beer, free beer! Where? :whatwhat:
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  • 2 weeks later...
Guest Jim69
Hi, it sounds great :) 1 Thing tho, if u put it in win amp and click on repeat, this is what it is gonna sound like in game. If the beat comes in straight away instead of an intro it would be perfect. Then, what the heck do I know about game music :P Bout as much as everything else I spose, very little :LOL:
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[quote name='Jim69' date='Jul 23 2003, 07:34 PM']If the beat comes in straight away instead of an intro it would be perfect. Then, what the heck do I know about game music :P Bout as much as everything else I spose, very little :LOL:[/quote]

Most of what people "know," just comes down to plain reasoning.
It may be better to bring the beat right in, or it may not be. It's
hard to say until we start integrating the music into the game.
Since I can't run the game until I get a new computer, :( I can't
really say what would work best. Also depends on how long we
make the interceoptor battles.

The best way to listen to it would be in SoundForge (if you happen
to have it). SF is very good at replaying it as a loop. Winamp
tends to pause at the end of loop.
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  • 2 weeks later...
I use Winamp ([url="http://www.winamp.com"]here[/url]) but im sure there are other progs that you can use.

EDIT: If you do go for Winamp, which I would suggest, then I would head for Winamp 2.x not Winamp 3.x. I prefer the 'classic' version to the new one, much like a lot of people. Winamp 2.91 can be found [url="http://classic.winamp.com/"]here[/url]. Edited by miceless
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  • 2 weeks later...
As someone mentioned the beat should come right in....its Atmosphere music...its not spose to make you think...wow good music its spose to make your heart start pounding and think ACTION!.


Listen to the original it comes in at almost full force full force...
This
Yours sounds like the intro theme to the original in how it is laid out.
It comes in with a beat after going for awhile relaxes a bit then goes with a gutair solo LOL..well I figure its a gutair who can tell with old midi's :)

Interceptor music should just HIT full force smack down :)

Not to be mean or anything.
But it seems to be just BEAT....nothing else except for a bit near the end
Even that follows the beat.
DUM DUM DUM DUM DUM DUM DUM DUM
you need some melodey not just rythem.
Banging my head continusouly agasint a wall ihs Rythem, doesnt mean its good thou.
Also shouldnt diffrent Instraments be following diffrent cycles too...I notice some are comming up at the same time as others and they end up destorting each other.

Listen to the original music if you dont get what I mean, im also not trying to be picky just adding my 2 bits....if its worth anything is up to you to decide :)

Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata very good song to get across what I mean
only about 1-2 notes is played at any time, while others are still their in the fall of stage only 1-2 begin at the same time.

To note..music changes your brainwave pattens.
beethoven I beleive it is has all his songs composed in a rythmic 30second patten, and beleive it or not, this is the normal cycle time of the human brain, end result is people that listen to it even if they find it annoying find themselves thinking better and becomming less stressed.

Lastly have you ever heard any classical techno...VeryVERY good :) it combines melody with beat :)It manges to be both relaxing, fast and blood pumping at the same time, a contradiction but one that works :)

Search on kazza with Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Techno classical should bring up some stuff to download.


PS:I have never made a song in my life, so IM just judging on what I like, and what I know about music in general.
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Sorry for the late response FireHawk.

I like some of your suggestions, but I think some of them may be more
appropriate to other parts of the game. The great thing about Beethoven
was that he mastered both the wall of sound, and the lack of it. Moonlight
Sonata is a good example of something that lacks this. This kind of music
is more cerebral and blends into the background. Whereas a "wall of sound"
smacks you over the head and demands your attention (think 9th symphony).
Most musicians rely on one or the other. I attempt both because I think
their is a time and place for both.

>Interceptor music should just HIT full force smack down

I agree.

>But it seems to be just BEAT....nothing else except for a bit near the end

That seems odd to me. I tried very hard to deemphasize the beat.
Maybe I'm just too used to creating club music.. :/ I don't really now
how to fix this. A breakbeat definitely wouldn't work w/ this track.

>you need some melodey not just rythem

I like to use melody as much as possible, but I really had power chords in
mind for this one. Doesn't mix very well with melody. We could
come up w/ alternate tracks though.

>have you ever heard any classical techno...VeryVERY good

Yes and I agree! Melodic trance is my fav form of music. Good stuff, too
bad it mostly died out in the mid-90s and was mostly replaced by fat
cheez. I'm a big William Orbit fan.

>IM just judging on what I like

Nothing wrong with that. In fact I tend to find input from people like
yourself very useful. I'm most concerned w/ how it sounds and so
much concerned w/ fancy chord progressions and such. I still have
a long way to go in terms of music theory.

This is really only a conceptual piece, until it gets integrated w/ the game.
At that point, it may change dramatically. How hard it hits at first depends
on how quickly we can load it. It definitely will need to come in quick.

Maybe my next post will give you an idea of what I had in mind for this...
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THE GRANDADDY INTERCEPTOR CLUB MIX!

If you were wondering where I disappeared off to, here is your answer. I've
taken the original concept and completely redid it as a full length club track.
It's much more complex and has more depth than the original. Give it a listen
and see what you think. It wouldn't work in the game (wasn't meant to). It's
hard-hitting trance, the bass really hits hard on this one. I thought it would
be fun to come up w/ full length remixes for the music to Xeno, and here
is my first effort.

Sometime down the line I'll revamp the original mix to incorporate the improved
instruments etc. that I used in the club mix. This mix was retitled "Avenger."
I didn't want to create a club trance track titled "Interceptor," since there is
already a very well known track by that title.

Give it a listen:

[url="http://stormhaven.ecn.purdue.edu/~djchrisp/music/Avenger.mp3"]http://stormhaven.ecn.purdue.edu/~djchrisp...sic/Avenger.mp3[/url]
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Hmm, the interceptor track could use a little punch. You could try and replace the standard kick with something heavier. The orchestra hits gives a nice feel of stress, but they just sound weird at the end of the track.
Maybe you could try with a bass instead?
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Hey Cubik. I agree with most of your comments.

Listen to the full mix. It really is a substantial improvent. To put it in
perspective, I put about 15-20 hours into the original "loop" and about
400 hours into the full length version. Everything is much more thought
out, and I plan on basically completely redoing the original loop to reflect
all of the improvents. Actaully somebody could probably just edit 30-60
seconds of the full mix and come up w/ something. This is how I do most
of my production. I come up w/ short concepts, pick what I like the most
and take it to the max. For the time being I'm not going to be working on
this. I need to take a couple weeks to develop some of my other ideas
and then I'll come back and redo the original loop.

The only comment I (somewhat) disagree w/ is the bassline. The difficulty
in producing substantial bass/kick lines for games is that many computer
systems have B-A-D speakers that muffle anything under 150hz making
the music sound AWFUL.. I mean really really bad. That makes it hard to
come up w/ a dominant bassline. It can be done, but it's tricky.

Get the full mix here:

[url="http://stormhaven.ecn.purdue.edu/~djchrisp/music/Avenger.mp3"]http://stormhaven.ecn.purdue.edu/~djchrisp...sic/Avenger.mp3[/url]

You'll have to right-click and do a "Save As" to get it. I've tried uploading it,
but even when it's cut in two and compressed at low bitrates it won't upload.

-chrisp
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Well I got a bass box hooked up 2 my comp, I can turn it off so I can get a view from no bass and much bass :)

I'm crap at describing sounds, but at the mo it is a dull boom, boom, boom, boom, altho everything apart from the bass sounds fine. I'd say it needs more woomf, if u don't understand what I mean I will find a choon that has the kind of bass line.

Edit: I also like the bit where it drops off and come back in :) Edited by Jim69
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Both. In general, it has many point were it repeats itself 3 or 4 times. That could go with just 2.

Ingame, the battles in X-com took 5 secs. you don't even get into the song like this. I'd think we need to prolong the battles a little.
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Yeah, prolong battle's, yeah :)

It doesn't matter if it is a little too long, as it is possible ( if I get my way ) that battles could last a lot longer if the player so wishes. And cutting things down is something that can be done l8r, tho obviously lots of repeats should prob be lost I spose Edited by Jim69
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I agree. The interceptor battles could be a great deal longer. There is a lot of
possiblity that never got explored in the xcom games. I doubt that will happen in
version 1 though. Since v1 is just aiming for a remake of the game the
interceptor battles probably won't be any more complex.

Next weekend I'll come up with a verision that's only 15 seconds or so, that will
use all of the new instruments. Maybe that will be short enough. If not well..
chop chop. :)

I'm used to doing club style trance music and when I first did this, I thought this
could be a good concept for a full length trance track. I made the avenger mix a
little long and repititve for a reason. That's just becuase people that are dancing
have a hard time adjusting to quick changes in music. That's why a lot of trance is
done in 8/4 time. That's also why almost every club track of any genre has a
radio edit to go along with it, just so people who are just "listening" don't get
bored. I probably should have done a 4 minute "radio" style mix to post here,
but I'm not sure if it's worth it since it's a side project. I'll put this in my DJ sets
and see what kind of reaction I get. :) Free Xenocide publicity.

For the time being I'm trying to do more orchestrated style tracks. Once I stop
waking up in the middle of the night w/ that synth line going through my head,
I'll finish up my work on it.
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Crisp sorry for my late reply too, thou its nice to see someone who can actually read what someone says without taking it as a direct attack on their person and getting all upset and offensive.

I personly dont have to high a regard for Trance/dance in general :)
[url="http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail45.html"]http://www.homestarrunner.com/sbemail45.html[/url]

this sums it up pretty nicely for me
and if funny :)

So I dont really like any of the stuff your done, but remember I dont like dance in general I just cant get the THUMP THUMP THUMP it all sounds the same to me.

I think they should be alot less beat and alot more melody... However if majority of people like it I think it should be kept as in the end :) one person not likeing something out of a 100 doesnt count :P
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[quote name='FireHawk' date='Aug 27 2003, 02:26 AM']Crisp sorry for my late reply too, thou its nice to see someone who can actually read what someone says without taking it as a direct attack on their person and getting all upset and offensive.[/quote]
Well I live in Indiana, so I'm pretty used to being around people who
don't like any form of dance music, other than hip-hop (which is actually
produced the same way pretty much all dance music is). I don't take offense
to people saying they don't like my type of music, only when they are insulting
or worse (and more common) both ignorant and insulting. Music is a
personal thing to me. Everyone should listen to what they like and not what
everyone else likes.

That said.. that website was pretty funny. It reminded me of Space Ghost.

If you don't like the thump thump 4/4 beat of trance, techno, house, etc. you
could check out breakbeat or Drum and Bass. Check out LTJ Bukem and his
Good Looking records label. You may find some things you like there.

Dance music has to be either 4/4 or 8/4 (and very rarely 6/4) to be mixable
by DJs. Funky time signatures don't blend very well, so that's why most
dance music sticks to the 4/4 beat. If you don't produce a song that can be
mixed by DJs, guess what? No one will ever hear it unless you're on a major
label.

When it comes to dance music you can either get a complex melody or a
complex beat, but rarely both. Trance is dominated by string and melody
parts, so anything other than a 4/4 beat almost always clashes. There is
some breakbeat trance out there, but it's very dificult to produce. Check
out DJ Tomcraft if you want to try that. He's one of the few producers that's
really good at this.

The most funny thing about being a trance dj in Indiana is everyone complains
about 4/4 beats, but no one can dance to anything BUT a 4/4 beat. It's a
dicotomy.

In the end it will be up to those in charge of overseeing the project to determine
what music goes into the official game. The great thing about a project like this
is that there can be different music packs available to people of different
tastes. So then everyone can pick the music he or she likes. :)
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