Influenced composing - MSX and the real world

Ambassador (5671)

13-12-2004, 15:33

For the ones among you playing in a band, or making other non MSX-related music (like techno or something).

Every composer makes use, with or without knowing it, of things heard before.
When you're composing a song, do you notice some influence from MSX music?

I know I do. Even when I compose a song for a heavy metal band I play in, I sometimes think "Shit, this sounds too much like this-or-that game, let's change it."
Not often, but it does happen. I poisoned my mind with MSX music, folks.
No, seriously, I actually learned a lot by listening to and arranging MSX game music.

Subquestion: Does it also work the other way around for you?

By [D-Tail]

Ascended (8263)

13-12-2004, 19:51

I poisoned my mind with MSX music, folks. I just wouldn't say 'poisoned'.

By wolf_

Ambassador_ (10109)

13-12-2004, 20:43

a.t.m. my Realms of Adventure (Moonsound/640) music is heavily inspired by actual filmmusic, some PC-games (of which the music itself is inspired by movies again ) and Vangelis. I'm generally not inspired by MSX music, it could be because I don't need to make 3- 6- or 9-channel music.. tho an optional scaled-down FM-Pac version of the RoA music will then be based on 24-channel music There's only a few games that I find interesting, musically speaking. The other games are nice but not groundbreaking orso..

By snout

Ascended (15187)

13-12-2004, 20:52

I guess the music I make for MSX is little inspired by the music I usually make or listen to. I have been thinking to do a guitarpop-project based on MSX game songs though, but haven't had the time to actually do something with it

By Edwin

Paragon (1182)

13-12-2004, 20:55

So, wolf, do you make remakes of msx game songs because they are something special or to make them something special?

By wolf_

Ambassador_ (10109)

13-12-2004, 21:16

uuhm.... I don't remake all music, only music in which I find some element that sounds symphonic to me, something that invites to make it bigger, and that's for sure not every game. For example: Usas, MoG, Metal Gear etc. etc. tho 3-channel have all the elements to create something big out of it. And then I try to make something that keeps the atmosphere/function but sounds waaaaaay bigger.. as in: this is how it had to be when the MSX had the sound-equipment I use today

It isn't limited to Konami, there's some not so common titles here and there, fully unplayable JP RPG's which I once only watched for the intro-demo orso etc. Some o' them still stick'n me head mate..!

By Edwin

Paragon (1182)

13-12-2004, 21:25

Go for it! And then send them my way.

By wolf_

Ambassador_ (10109)

13-12-2004, 21:30

All in good time .. atm I'm more in the mood for programming and Moonsound music for RoA ..

By robertwilting

Champion (467)

13-12-2004, 23:03

No influence from my side. But then again I can't think of a single MSX tune with a standing out baseline.

I do know one good example the other way arround. However only MSX related.

IN YS4 (PC ENGINE) you have JDK covering Far Beyond the Sun from Yngwie Malmsteen.

By RobertVroemisse

Paragon (1327)

13-12-2004, 23:19

Yes John, it does work the other way round as well. When the musicdisc Twisted Reality got sold I was asked if I listened to metal a lot. without noticing myself I used a lot of metal influence in the (house) music. Especially Slayer some guy thought. AND HE WAS FU***NG RIGHT!!!!!!!!!!

By JohnHassink

Ambassador (5671)

13-12-2004, 23:23

I'm generally not inspired by MSX music, it could be because I don't need to make 3- 6- or 9-channel music..Don't forget about the solid basis any piece of music should have. One could bring any orchestral piece of music down to a 3-polyphone structure. Melody, harmony and baseline, that's what matters. If something sounds big or not, is merely a secondary matter.
Someone could make a 32 channel song which has nothing in it, and vice versa.
Any music could be useful to learn from.

But then again I can't think of a single MSX tune with a standing out baseline. Dude, I'm not even gonna start with giving examples. Are you joking or am I just misunderstanding something?