Big Fat Pile o' MUSIC! Options

[TheBen]

Well... I've been working with FL Studio for awhile now, but it wasn't until I could find a good file host of sorts - Dropbox - that I could publish any of the songs I made with it.
I'd like to think that my work isn't limited to any particular genre, but they usually fall into the range of techno or more classical compositions. They're usually rather short - I think my overall record is a measly three minutes (which is harder than it looks, especially when you want to try and avoid padding things out and are making instrumental pieces), but the majority of them are designed to loop well and come in mp3 format for smaller file size.

Now hit the music!

[Show/Hide] Wingman's Theme

Here it is.
Also known as "Brandon's Theme", this is a pan-genre (but mostly hip-hop with bits of DnB to round it out) work that was originally created for my good friend Brandon and his alter ego, Wingman. The name's a bit of an in-joke, but the music ain't - it relies on various bass and drum samples to back up some strings/piano and a surprise guitar climax at the end. Probably the one I'm the most proud of.

[Show/Hide] Mountain Humor

Here you go.
This is actually a pseudo-classical remix of Legend of Zelda's Tal Tal Heights (I forget the exact game it appeared in). It starts with the main theme and adds layers of harmony and bass as it goes along, eventually introducing a snare drum of sorts and dissolving into big percussion and a blatant Crono Trigger reference near the end. Bit too short - I hope to add on to it when I have the time.

[Show/Hide] Finality

Go on a journey...
A much older piece than the previous two songs, Finality is a journey of sorts that was meant to be a foray from the looping VGM-style music that I usually write. It starts out with some fast-moving ad lib-style pianos and rolling drums that turns into DnB for a spell and then returns to its roots... albeit with the DnB still lingering. Doesn't loop, I think.

[Show/Hide] A Time for Battle

TONIGHT WE DINE IN... um... where is it, again?
A heavy sort of battle music that uses classical insturments. Very much in-your-face, but without the middle-finger attitude typically associated with that phrase.

[Show/Hide] Paradox

Ugh... contemporary.
I'll admit it. It's a pretty slow song that likes to loop a bit too much and doesn't do anything for the genre other than stick to the "guitar-drums-pretty cello song" vibe that you'd get in a lot of other songs. That said, I had to get this thing down - the theme was stuck in my head from the Crysis 2 TV Spot! and I had to get it out while it slowly became something a bit different than that. Either way, I hope you enjoy it.

Concerning usage, any of these pieces can be used in non-commercial games as long as you give TheBen credit for the songs used. Commercial games, well, I think a good "professional" game should use more professional music, so if you're making a professional game, PM me and maybe we can work something out.

Please have fun with these songs, rate, comment (profusely - I need feedback on this stuff; this is the first time I've ever put anything like this out), and don't firebomb my house for making crappy music. Or the ancient 300 reference. Either way, enjoy!

This post has been edited by TheBen: Feb 22 2012, 04:48 PM

[vvalkingman]

I listened to em from the bottom up sooooo yea lol here yah go:

Paradox is well done. When I hear it I feel it being an ending theme where someone is walking away into the sunset or something...that or possibly someone reminscencing and smiling before they die. That's just where your song threw me lol

A Time for Battle feels like it would be a boss battle theme. There is this drum solo from 0:36 - 0:48 that honestly feels alittle forced...it just didn't feel transitioned into well, it sounded abrupt and actually threw my imagination off. Just calling as I hear it. I like the beginning and the ending though, sounds like something I'd actually use

Finality sounds alot like a traveling song...like I'm flying through the air in an airship or the back of a dragon. Or hitting the high seas on a fast ship. The music in the background is tranquil like it's wanting me to take in the wonder around me, the fast beat you have going as well makes it feel like I'm moving very quickly.

Mountain Humor...yep I am definently in a mountain village lol I can feel the hammer & anvils. It could also be used for a secret village hidden in the trees or in the valley of a mountain...idk it kind of feels like it could almost be a fortress theme too. But I will say that the splash of chrono trigger at 0:57 didn't flow well to me. Honestly if you just keep looping what you've been playing so far you'd have a very good theme for a village in the mountains.

Wingman's Theme is well done, though I'm not particularly fond of how long you held out the cymbal crash at 0:31-0:35, maybe hold it for only two seconds? It's definently feels like a theme for a bad ass or a group of bad asses. I see the drum n' bass is strong in you lol i like it. But I will say that the speed of the drums 1:19-1:32 and 1:41-1:52 take away from a strong bad ass feeling that I felt you were trying to go for. Rapid drums like that make it feel like we are supposed to be seeing something fast paced like a race, a fight, or something like that.

These are all just my take though. They are well done and I can tell you worked hard on em. Keep it up!

This post has been edited by vvalkingman: Aug 25 2011, 01:50 PM

[Lavapulse]

Hope it's not too late to revive this post...

Anyways, I quite enjoyed your music.
Wingman's theme felt very urban to me, and felt varied and layered enough to be interesting the whole way through.
Finality felt like it would fit well within a space-exploring sci-fi. It could do with better samples/voices, but I know those are expensive and hard to get. It shows as being the oldest piece since it's the most melodically simplistic.
A time for battle felt short, but it was decent musically. It's more fitting for a boss battle than any other type.
Regarding Paradox you're right that there are a lot of songs of that type out and about. It did get a bit boring about halfway through. Despite that, it wasn't bad.

What's your policy on use of these songs?

[TheBen]

Ooh, hey, glad somebody took an interest in this old junk! Yeah, this stuff is back from my... relatively early days in FL Studio and music composition in general, before I took the plunge and really got my game on (well, that and Garritan Personal Orchestra). I'd practically forgotten about this thread, though I hadn't entirely forgotten about the songs, and I liked both your critiques of them. I'll be sure to try harder next time, alright?

Concerning usage, any of these pieces can be used in non-commercial games as long as you give TheBen credit for the songs used. Commercial games, well, I think a good "professional" game should use more professional music, so if you're making a professional game, PM me and maybe we can work something out.

Ooh, and I have new tracks!

[Show/Hide] Bronz's Battle

Get ready... GO!
I'd been trying for awhile to do something deceptively easy - make a "basic battle theme" that you can listen to while fighting everyday baddies... and, one day, this came out. It's got lots of familiar stuff in it - cello, drums, and... a proper orchestral ensemble? Well, hey, first time for everything.

[Show/Hide] Little Drummer Boy

Needs more cowbell cello, suckers.
Look, I hate to say this, but I need to get my favorite instrument out of the equation for awhile. Unfortunately, I'm afraid this ain't going to happen here. It's got plenty of native drums from all around the country and is meant to be my "Middle East" take on the traditional Christmas carol.
Has a bit of a swing feel, don't it?

Unfortunately, the not-actually-there-but-I-feel-it-anyway pressure to keep pushing out new songs is clashing with the fact that I make new songs at a veritably slow rate compared to other composers. I mean, sure, when you're working on a game, then it's easy to get into music making, because you want to give the game and the scene this kind of mood, and this kind of feel, but when there isn't that inspiration... well, there's not a lot going on. In other words, this thread might take awhile, but I can assure you that my next song will not contain a cello. Not even in the background where it's practically unnoticeable. Or only present for a single pizzicato-pluck microsecond. Or even as an ensemble.
(Or, better yet, I could actually record live cello playing for once. Hey, that'll be great! More cello for all!)

This post has been edited by TheBen: Feb 22 2012, 05:10 PM

[kaz]

Moving this to the new audio submission forum.

[TheBen]

Ah, thankee. This thread is pretty old, and I don't think I have any songs left for it at the moment, so I'll leave it be.
If you have questions or comments, of course, feel free to speak your mind...

[GappieMikan]

Indeed~ Interesting music
BTW, Do You accept requests?

[TheBen]

... Well, it depends. Schoolwork is a bit pressing right now, so I'd like to see what you had in mind before taking it up. PM me, and we can talk about it. (Same goes for all requests. I can't work on more than a few at a time, but that shouldn't be too much of a problem.)

As an addendum, I will not accept money for requests. As for why, well, Paypal is complicated and whatnot. If you do offer money, then it won't put your request any higher on my list of priorities, especially seeing as I've probably got a 5-page paper on John Updike due in the near future. Well, near past. Um. You know what I mean.

This post has been edited by TheBen: Apr 26 2012, 04:08 PM