Okay, so I dug out some old minidisks I had of when I was messing around with Cubase, and Atari ST, a Yamaha TG55 sound module and a nice little Korg keyboard (for the life of me I can't remember the name of it). So, after messing around with those tracks for a few days I go into the attic, grab the USB interface I have (a Tone Port UX2) and my guitar. After a few hours I suddenly think... yeah, I could easily get right back into this. So, the question for any games development enthusiasts is whether it is best to submit MIDI material in order to impress games companies or audio snippets? I'm going to try and piece together a 'portfolio' and start approaching companies with incidental music & elevator music ;-) Anyone who has ever been involved with sound production / engineering for a games title please give me some pointers. I really want to do something positive & active with my hobby now. Too much time has been spent on the 'other' side of this for my liking. I'll see whether I can piece together a MySpace page soon so that snippets can be heard. I'd also appreciate comments on the music whether positive or negative. :thumbsup:
Hey I can contribute,I have a guitar line that would go great with a video game.Hope you get your music uploaded and working.
Your portfolio should include as diverse a range of material as possible in as many formats/fidelities as possible. MIDI, MP3s, sheet music you have written, different game genres etc. Write about each piece of music indicating the setting, theme and purpose.
Audio, don't go MIDI. Noone uses GM any more, MIDI is used to control other outputs, so it won't have the right impact. The normal showreel is to have several pieces of several genres. Doing it to video is a good idea, e.g. take a segment of a movie (or a trailer) or a game, and make your own music. Maybe even comment on why you think your music is more suited, if you so think.
I was actually really meaning whether I should produce live material or demonstrate the ability to use MIDI. As I can, I assume just stating so will be sufficient. It's common place in every studio anyway and goes way beyond the use of GM, as you clearly indicate. MIDI functions can even be imbedded into the MIDI track for full automation of digital synths & mixing desks. As I am not looking for a job IN their studios, but externally as an independent it makes no odds! Thanks though and the video / games titles with 'newly' produced music with my own version of theme etc sounds interesting. I'll really need to look into a virtual studio package. Plenty to choose from!
Okay, I have taken the plunge and created a MySpace site, but tbh I am not sure which of the MIDI material I should post. Not really sure just how interested anyone here is in this, but I have posted 2 newer tracks I hastily decided to piece together in order to showcase my guitar playing rather than games music material at present. 1) Guitar Interludes. I play the guitar from time to time with my son, which involves keeping quiet and not getting too complex. Certain sounds are calming and relaxing and he will respond by gently falling asleep! 2) 1970's Demo, which I attempted to piece together using the theme 'Prog Rock, Pink Floyd, 1970's sound'. I've no idea how this sounds on surround-sound, yet it is best played in stereo. I'm a completely self taught musician and play several different instruments, but at the moment I'm stuck with a battered old, cheap Yamaha guitar (laughingly I got it free when someone I know couldn't pay me for something he attempted to buy, so he offered me the guitar). Nothing is sampled or copied, I sat with Garageband and just overdubbed, which I found hellishly difficult because GB is nowhere near as accurate as more professional audio packages. Hammering in drum parts for instance on an iMac keyboard is not ideal and prone to errors. Not wishing to blame the tools at hand, the errors are all mine, but it's me and feel free to comment. If you hate it, then fair enough, I'm not so fragile that I cannot accept it. :thumbsup: http://www.myspace.com/theparrisexperiment
Parris, have you ever heard of the Swedish alternative/Indie rock band kent ? since your music reminds just a bit about them. And I think your music is quite good.
Thanks! I know the name "Kent" and I am sure years ago I heard a promotional CD of theirs, but if I am not mistaken there was also a French band called "Kent" as well, so I may have them mixed up! However, thanks for the feedback. I'm just waiting to have sufficient cash to buy a MIDI keyboard and get going properly.
