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When composing music for a project that requires a large number of music tracks within a short period of time, utilizing thematic variation can save you enormous amounts of time. This variation also helps with impacting a more memorable soundtrack on the listener. The key to effective thematic music is short, catchy motifs, that are repeated by varied instrumentation, over several different tracks in a game’s score.

This article looks at writing game music for the iPhone and aims at giving suggestions towards producing varied video game music.

Is thematic music important?

Thematic music is derived from motifs; short melodic or rhythmic lines played to elicit particular feelings from a listener. The motifs could be used to create any kind of feeling, from intrigue, to surprise, to sadness. In computer game music, themes are often used to remind a listener what game they are playing and can be used to instill a game more vividly in a player’s mind.

Thematic music has another function however, and that relates to productivity. For a composer, an enormous amount of time is spent on creating melodic material, be it woodwind lines over a percussion loop, or a vocal melody over hip hop beats. By basing a game’s soundtrack on as little as two or three main themes, more time can be spent polishing the production of the game’s individual tracks .

Once the motifs have been established, creating more tracks in a game simply comes down to the use of varied instrumentation.

Repetition vs. variation

Repetition can be very annoying, but it is also a necessary part of music, especially music that accompanies visual material. Without repetition it would be easy for a player to forget where they were in a game and even what game they were playing. Varying instrumentation is a clever compositional technique that allows motifs to be repeated without incurring the same repetition that individual instruments are prone to suffer from. By passing a motif from one instrument to another the thematic ideas can be more subtly instilled in a player’s memory.

The choice of instrumentation ultimately comes down to what the game level requirements are.  If it is a tense, war battle scene, then some large orchestral brass and woodwind sections might work well. If it is a mystical forest scene, then some wood and metal percussion would most likely hit the spot.

Instrument choice for video game music should be based on the feelings the instruments elicit. This is an area of composition that any creator of game music needs to strive to be an expert in.

How were the themes varied in Plushed?

In the case of Track Eight of Plushed, the brief was to create a music track the followed the main character through the room of a princess. The keywords and phrases were; ‘huge’, ‘creepy’, ‘dollhouse’, ’symbolizing a young girl’s dreams’, ‘zombie/skull twist’, and ‘princess is a little insane now’. From this, it was immediate that some kind of music box or toy piano sound was needed to satisfy the ‘young girl/dollhouse’ element, whilst also needing some dark ambient sounds to take care of the ‘creepy’ element.

By taking a closer look at the first track of Plushed it is more clear how effective varied instrumentation can be. The first track of Plushed consists of one flute melody, introducing one of the main theme motifs, whilst being supported by light cello pizzicato. It also has a repeat of this motif played by violas, and an ending with oboe and clarinet. Track Eight of Plushed is a variation of this track.

The pizzicato cellos from Track One were replaced by a toy piano, a glockenspiel and a vibraphone.

Track One: Pizzicato Cello

Track Eight: Toy Piano

The main flute motif from Track One was then replaced with a bassoon, which gives a darker, and also more playful effect than the flute.

Track One: Flute

Track Eight: Bassoon

The oboe motif from Track One was then reinforced by a choir section to add more texture to the theme. This building of the theme’s texture helps to the notify the player that they have progressed further in a game. A short harmonizing clarinet line also helps to add texture the the motif that was introduced in Track One.

Track One: Oboe

Track One: Oboe and Choir

As can be seen from the manuscript above, very little has changed when transferring the Track One motifs to Track Eight. However, for a listener playing a game, this technique of varied instrumentation can show development in game’s storyline, create a more memorable soundtrack and also help a composer make better use of their precious time.

Final Thoughts

It is incredibly useful to have the earlier version of a theme for a player to reference against. Since Track One of Plushed is so light and harmonious, by the time the player has reached Track Eight, they realize that the game has turned a lot darker since the time they first began playing.

From the manuscript in this article, it is easy to see that after a main theme has been composed, it is only a matter of varying the instrumentation to create a whole new track. This can save that precious extra time needed, for a composer to find the difference between creating a good game soundtrack and great game soundtrack.

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For your reference, the two final versions of Track One and Track Eight, from the iPhone game Plushed, have been added below;

Track One (Final Version):

Track Eight (Final Version):

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Related posts at Spencer Sternberg:

1. Writing Music for the iPhone
2. Plushed Released for the iPhone
3. Music for Live Art
4. Choosing the Right Royalty Free Music
5. Programming Orchestral Instruments for Games

Microphones Used for Recording Fireworks

The following four microphones were used for recording fireworks sound effects; Firstly, the Takstar SGC-578, a shotgun microphone for dialogue and sound effects. Secondly, the Takstar PCM-6100, an instrument microphone mostly for orchestral and piano recordings. Thirdly, a compact stereo condenser microphone that ships with the M-Audio Microtrack II. And lastly, a Sony lapel condenser microphone.

All four microphones gave acceptable and usable recordings, but in regards to quality and convenience of recording, they are very different microphones. To understand the fireworks recordings below, we need to take a closer look at each microphone.

Note: All samples below are straight from the audio recorder and have been normalized for easier listening. The process of mixing samples will be explained in more detail in Fireworks Sound Effects – Part Three.

Shotgun Microphone

The Takstar SGC-578 is a decent location sound effects microphone with a bright, clean middle range. Its two polar patterns make it useful for choosing between directional and more ambient sounds. Its large size and the essential use of a shock-mount make using this microphone less convenient than the other smaller microphones. Whilst its bright mid-range delivers clear and results full of presence, its gradual roll-off above 5K misses some of the nice ‘fizzing’ sounds heard from many fireworks. It also seems to be lacking a good low-frequency response compared to the other microphones.

The first fireworks sample was recorded with a cardioid pattern.

Whilst the second fireworks sample was recorded with a hyper-cardioid pattern.

Instrument Microphone

The Takstar PCM-6100 is an instrument microphone mostly for orchestral and piano recordings. Apart from its peak at around 9K it has a reasonably flat response.

Stereo Microphone

The M-Audio Microtrack II ships with a compact stereo condenser, that with its mini-jack, conveniently plugs into the recorder. Surprisingly, this microphone offers a very wide and accurate frequency response, with an adequate stereo image. There is a noticeable proximity effect, though when recording ambiance or the high sound pressure sources such as fireworks this is not a noticeable issue.

Lapel Microphone

This very small microphone is designed for speech recordings and so has a very good mid-range response for fireworks recordings. Most small capsule condensers, like the lapel and the stereo microphone, also have a bright high-frequency response making them highly effective for capturing the complex characteristics of fireworks.

Final Thoughts

Microphone choice for recording fireworks samples is dependent on many factors. Of course quality is of utmost priority but its not always easy carrying a larger microphone, especially in crowded or dangerous locations. While small capsule microphones can provide excellent results, it is an ideal situation to have several microphones and spend the time recording enough samples that you can later go through and edit.

For more on mixing and editing fireworks samples, read through Fireworks Sound Effects or keep an eye out for the next audio industry article by Spencer Sternberg.

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Related posts at Spencer Sternberg:

1. Fireworks Sound Effects
2. Making Sound Effects

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5. Music for Live Art

Is Music that Important?

If a project has the intention of eliciting feelings or actions from viewers then music is not only important, it is integral. Music has the powerful function of changing the impact and ingestion of a visual project completely. Understanding how different styles of music and music compositions affect audiences is a field in itself and often a task given to music composers and music directors.

In many cases a project may not have the luxury of a musical director or contracted music composer. It may be left to the editor to simply experiment with different tracks, placed together with the visuals, until the desired effect has been met. This is a technique composers often use to establish the most suitable musical styles and compositional technique for various kinds of visual productions. Before looking more closely at editing experimentation, it may be faster to simply consult a composer.

Consult a Composer

So you have come across a high-quality royalty free music library with hundreds or even thousands of music tracks and you have no idea where to begin in your search. Of course you do not have hours of time available to listen through the samples and the search options may not be working for you either.

Consulting the composer of the royalty free music library may reap much faster and more tailored results. By explaining your project and desired outcomes a composer can find an appropriate track quickly and accurately. To make your communication easier you should consider the following points;

1. Outline the specifics of your project; “We are working on a two-minute promotional video for a financial company. The first thirty-seconds is a fast sequence of city buildings. The next minute is slower paced pans of office interiors ending with thirty-seconds of statistical graphs and animations. The whole two-minutes has a voice-over.”
2. Outline the audience of your project; this can help to make music genre choices. By understanding the audience, more appropriate music styles can be chosen.
3. State the desired outcome of the project; “We want to inspire the viewer and motivate them into contacting us.”
4. Reference other music tracks; where possible it can be helpful to a composer to reference other music compositions.
5. Speak with language that easily bridges fields of expertise; replace abstract art terms with simple emotional descriptions.

You may also benefit from asking a composer to tailor a royalty free music track for your project. The cost may be much lower than a custom composed track, especially if you choose a track from an existing music library and ask the composer of the library to alter the track to suit your individual project needs.

Experiment with Music Editing

A production company will either have a large collection of royalty free music or will need to go in search of new libraries. Both scenarios are completely different for editors. Full access to a music library is by far the most ideal situation allowing the editor to experiment by placing different tracks together with the visuals and seeing which works better. However, listening to online samples from a music library may be limited to short samples, interfering library voice-overs and timing issues.

The benefit of experimenting with different music tracks is that directors and editors can experience the varying effects the music can produce. The downside of course is that it is time-consuming and projects may be pressed for time. If time is tight, then at least experiment with two or three different tracks to see how the rhythm of the music plays with the cuts of the edit.

Choosing Music for a Stop Motion Piece

As an example, and to illustrate how royalty free music can work with different kinds of visual projects, here is a stop motion piece supported by a track from the Spencer Sternberg royalty free music library. The music track is titled ‘Conducting Experiments’ and comes from the documentary album ‘Fossil Hunters‘.

The stop motion is a fast paced construction sequence and on first glances an editor would most likely consider a fast paced music track to be an appropriate support. However, after experimenting with some of the music tracks from ‘Fossil Hunters‘, it became apparent that a more effective mood was created by having a contrasting music track. ‘Conducting Experiments‘ contains ‘light piano and xylophone with rich synthesized swells’, with each instrument connecting with the visuals in different ways. The xylophone’s rhythm and melody support the motion of the construction workers, while the synthesizer swells support the subtle shadow movement of the sun. The piano adds melodic interest and also subtle rhythmic syncing with the end titles.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right royalty free music for a visual project is a difficult and time consuming task. From the point of view of a director or editor, experimentation is often an effective way to find the most suitable royalty free music track. If time permits however, a project can benefit greatly from consulting a composer. A music composer can offer valuable knowledge and insight to a production team, even if it is only to advise which music track from a royalty free music library is most appropriate.

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Related posts at Spencer Sternberg:

1. Thoughts on Royalty Free Music
2. Royalty Free Music on Istock
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‘Plushed’ was a very interesting iPhone game to work on in regards to game music composition, with multiple environments and battle stages, and was documented in the article ‘Writing Music for the iPhone’ which was later published on GameDev.net. Communicating with Blacksmith Games was always friendly and professional and they were extremely open to the style and production of the game music.

Here is the final trailer for the game ‘Plushed’;

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This article follows the thoughts and processes of creating a thirty minute music composition to be used by an artist in the Live Art field.

What is Live Art?

Live Art put simply is the creation of an artwork in real-time, influenced by outside stimuli, in this case a prewritten musical composition. It is a broad field, encompassing all kinds of performing and visual arts. This article focuses purely on music for Live Visual Art.

The artist presses play and the track begins. They pick up their tools and start to add to their canvas. The style of the music sets the scene and the slight nuances give the artist new ideas. The track develops and so does the artist’s work.

How is Live Art Music Different?

Music for Live Art is definitely unique. To begin with, an artist is performing a primary task so the music is secondary. A composers approach to themes and repetition are different to those of other kinds of compositions. In Live Art Music repetition can be used to instigate and help build ideas for the artist.

The Structure of a Thirty Minute Composition

The composition from this article consists of piano, strings, various electronic elements and a drum track. The track is dominated by the piano and strings which play the main motifs and chord progressions. Here is a brief outline of the composition’s structure;

Movement One:
* Solo piano plays the first theme
* Rhythmic electronic elements with drums
* Strings play main chord progression with drums
* Piano plays second theme supported by strings

Interlude:
* Ambient soundscape with dreamlike pads
* Rhythmic electronic element reintroduced

Movement Two:
* Rhythmic electronic elements with drums (extended version)
* Strings play main chord progression with drums (extended version)
* Piano theme variation with rhythmic elements, drums, and strings
* First piano theme with light rhythmic accompaniment
* Solo rhythmic element
* Piano plays second theme (extended version)
* Piano plays second theme supported by strings

Interlude:
* Ambient soundscape with dreamlike pads (extended version)
* Rhythmic electronic element reintroduced

Movement Three:
* Rhythmic electronic elements with drums (extended version)
* Strings play main chord progression with drums (extended version)
* First piano theme with rhythmic elements, drums, and strings
* Solo piano plays first theme as outro

Movement One: Introducing Thematic Elements

The track opens with light piano, introducing the main theme of the composition and the chord progression that is the basis for the piano development and string progressions. A heartfelt mood is created immediately by the piano theme as the intention was to create a composition that would have impact when the artist was producing their artwork.

The introduction of the rhythmic elements, provide the artist with a surprising array of colors and contrasts the solo piano. The composition needs to blatantly, and at times subtly, provoke the artist into making creative choices. The large percussion hits help to add impact and depth to the soundscape, while the electronic elements lay the foundation of the rhythm.

The drum track is added briefly, serving only as an introduction to be used later in the second movement, and more extensively in the third movement. It is intended to spark ideas that later the artist will hear again and help to develop those ideas.

As the drums abruptly stop, the hi-hats continue while the first string progression is introduced. It is based on the chord progression the first piano theme is centered around. Again, this is only briefly introduced and will be used more in the later movements.

The first movement comes to an end with the piano playing the second theme which is used as an outro to movement one and two. The second theme has a slightly darker feel and helps with the changeover to the interlude.

Strings are used to support the piano playing the second theme and also help extend the length that the piano theme can be played, by offering variation to the musical texture.

Interlude: Bridging the Movements

Writing a composition that spans half an hour is a challenging task and is why this composition has three movements. By using an interlude between movements, the artist can find more space to develop their ideas, as well as have a stronger impression when the themes are re-introduced in later movements. The interlude is made up of two elements; an ambient electronic pad and dreamlike bell synthesizer. They create a sparse, yet provocative soundscape for the artist to continue working on their ideas.

A third electronic element is slowly introduced, which is part of the rhythmic element from the first movement, and helps to bridge the interlude to the second movement.

Movement Two: Addition and Variation

The second movement is basically an extension of the first movement with a longer buildup to the drum section, a longer drum section, and a variation on the first piano theme.

It also has a much longer middle section, where the first piano theme is supported by the electronic rhythmic element.

An extended version of the second piano theme ends the second movement.

These new elements allow the duration of the second movement to more than double the first movement’s length without giving the artist too much repetition.

Interlude: Preparing for the Third Movement

This is essentially the same interlude as the first, with a longer length before the rhythmic element is introduced.

Movement Three: Linking Elements and Expansion

The third and final movement is a culmination of the first and second movements in an extended form, with a much longer drum and string section, and the first piano theme played in its entirety.

The solo piano then plays the first theme as an outro.

Compositional Style and Choice of Genre

The composition that is created is ultimately going to inspire and direct an artist of Live Art, so compositional style and choice of genre are of incredibly importance. Conceptual ideas can be discussed between the composer and the artist if the collaboration requires, while some projects may produce other interesting results if there is no prior communication. The point is that a composer needs to understand how different styles of music can affect an artist.

Final Thoughts

Writing music for artists of Live Art requires a different outlook on thematic development and variation. Since visual art shares a similar theory in regards to themes and variation, it is important to recognize how these technical traits can be portrayed in musical compositions and successfully interpreted by an artist. The key is to find an effective balance in the repetition and development of themes, and to add subtle textural nuances to spark creative ideas in the artist.

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Related posts at Spencer Sternberg:

1. Writing Music for the iPhone – Part Two
2. Writing Music for the iPhone
3. Choosing the Right Royalty Free Music
4. Programming Orchestral Instruments for Games
5. Thoughts on Royalty Free Music

The latest trailer has been put online and can be seen below;

Related posts at Spencer Sternberg:

1. Plushed Released for the iPhone
2. Lush Sounds for Plushed