In-game music

[grady404]

So here's my sample track for Blockade's in-game music. Tell me if you like the style of it, or if you think it should be more tranquil/relaxing than it currently is. Be sure to listen with headphones if you're able to.

Blockade Music - Sample.mp3.zip

EDIT: Follow all soundtrack updates here.

[grady404]

Oh yeah, listen with headphones if you can. (I edited the post)

[cooperuser]

Music sounds cool, but I think that it is a bit too complex for the game, I was thinking maybe less stuff happening? sort of like what Besiege did with how you sometimes here sounds come and go.

[grady404]

Sure, I can make something more relaxing if you want

[cooperuser]

Awesome

[grady404]

Oh and, for the sound effect that plays when you finish a level, do you want it to be more of a "chime" (which might clash with the music but not if they're in a similar key), or a sound more similar to a drum hit or soft tone (see N++'s level win sound)?

[grady404]

This is what I meant by a "soft tone"

[cooperuser]

Hmm, not sure

[grady404]

Do you want any sound when a block initiates movement? Or only when it finishes sliding?

[cooperuser]

Maybe a small thud when it hits a wall

[grady404]

But nothing when it starts moving?

[cooperuser]

Well, the moving sound will start

[grady404]

Well yeah, so no then?

[cooperuser]

Yeah, no sound on start

[grady404]

Alright, here's my second attempt at in-game music. It's a lot more mellow than my last track (and I think better, too), but still not nearly as mellow as Besiege's music (which is probably a good thing to be honest, since I didn't find that game's music to be memorable at all). Tell me what you think.

Blockade Music B.mp3.zip

[cooperuser]

Awesome, I'm not at my computer right now so I couldn't listen to it that well, how well does it loop?

[grady404]

I could loop it, but I wasn't planning on it. I was going to shoot for the music flow of N++, where each song is about five to eight minutes long (estimated) and it works like a regular music playlist, where you can choose to play the songs in order or shuffle them.

[cooperuser]

Ah, I see.. But I think that would add unnecessary complexity to the settings

[grady404]

Have you seen N++'s settings? Don't talk about complexity until you see that shit. But on a separate note, N++'s music controls are completely separate from the settings, if you press and hold left trigger and right trigger at the same time, an interface comes up where you can select a song from a list. I think we should implement something like that.

[cooperuser]

Oh, yeah I guess that makes sense

[grady404]

Same thing goes for themes, a la N++

[grady404]

Just uploaded the finished (finished, but not finished) in-game music here on my SoundCloud page (which I literally just created). Let me know if there's anything you think I should change, add, or get rid of to make the track better/more interesting.

[cooperuser]

Awesome, I shall listen to it now.

[grady404]

I recommend using headphones.

• [ ] will use them

[cooperuser]

• [x] Am currently using them
• [x] ok good

[cooperuser]

Just finished listening to it, I think its great, but would it sound bad if it were slowed down a little bit?

[grady404]

I can mess around with the tempo and see how it sounds. Anything else I should change? Are there any parts that you think I should try to add more to?

[cooperuser]

No, I like the simplicity

[grady404]

So you want the tempo slowed down just a "little bit" or, like, a fair amount? It's at 85 bpm in the version I posted. I tried 82 bpm and 80 bpm. 82 bpm still sounds fast enough to keep a strong beat going, without giving the feeling that it is going too fast. 80 bpm sounds significantly slower and more relaxing. I can replace the file on SoundCloud with one of the two versions, and if you don't like the tempo I can try the other one. Which one should I go with first?

[grady404]

As you requested, I have slowed down the tempo of the song, and I also completely reworked the second half. Here it is, tell me what you think.

[cooperuser]

Listening to it now

[grady404]

Also, another thing is, in the older version the main melody would start to seem repetitive/get on my nerves near the end of the song if I listened all the way through. But luckily that doesn't seem to happen anymore, maybe it has something to do with drowning that tune out with the other instruments or something?

[cooperuser]

Not sure, But I think I understand what you are saying

[grady404]

Tempo sound good, or should I drop it down one more notch?

[cooperuser]

Yeah, I think it should still be at least a tiny bit slower, and quieter, but I think the volume can be controlled through the programming.

[grady404]

Quieter, as in actually just making the entire song quieter, or is one (or more than one) of the instruments too overpowering? And I'll update the tempo and repost the link right now.

[cooperuser]

Quieter as in turning town the master volume, which is always re-adjustable, and even the user can adjust it.

[grady404]

So the mixing is fine?

[cooperuser]

Yeah

[grady404]

Finished slowing the tempo down and changing a couple more things to make it sound nicer. I made a playlist here (also up at the top of this thread), so I shouldn't have to keep reposting the link.