DESCENT: My best freakin song yet!! With TRACKER!!

I just downloaded modplug tracker and gave it a whirl. I came up with something fierce! (I admit, I've used it before heh but not in ages) I really like this song, and it is by far the most linear song I've created to date! It's an action paced song, very fast, very fierce, with lots of changes. The song has compression filter and is stereo enhanced for goodness. The mp3 file is almost 6 megs! BUT.. the .IT file is only 550kb!! :O

I would love to hear your feedback here. I haven't posted my latest songs as an announcement in a while, but this song is just so good I really want everyone to hear it! If you haven't used me yet I AM available to make music for you. Now that I can do IT/XM anything is possible!! 8)

You can hit the stream up here:
http://mattmcfarland.com/audio.php

If you're feeling lazy, Direct Download here:
http://mattmcfarland.com/cmsys/uploads/audio/descent.mp3

Not really the kind of person who enjoys stuff like that. However, if I could do better, I would be amazed (for the record, I am utterly incapable of making music on my own). So: good work, I guess.

Thank you Mister!

Though I'm not in the position to listen to it just yet (though I will make sure I do), why - given the continued reports of non-workingness in B3D at least - would you use .IT format if you had a choice to save the same piece as something different, XM, for example?

Nah I just used IT because that's what I used back in the 90's - Actually whichever works better is what I would use!! :) I had no knowledge of IT not being compatible with blitz3d, as well. Sorry bout that! But I think there are converters our there.. IT to XM etc.

This could use some editing, and perhaps a harmonizing melody.

Something to play counterpoint to the frantic rythm structure.

After the first few times through the beat cycle it gets very reapetative and even grating.

I would suggest something slower over the top... wither strings or something else warm and soothing to stave off the jitters of the fast pace. Perhaps double whole notes or even just whole notes in a progession.

thanks dampes8n. I think I know what you're saying. Although its not repetative at all, it changes through out the whole song. But, there are simple parts that are repetative (but didnt think anyone would really notice ;) lol

I could do something with strings.. hmm.. sounds interesting.. I could also change up some of the channels becuase of their over-use..

Maybe, maybe not.. I love to just move on to the next project.

Yeah, modplug is cool. I'm using it since years.

Your song is pretty groovy (baby :) ) , a good soundrack for some action games etc. Personally I prefere classical soundtrack lately, although it's almost impossilble to create classical music with modeplug.

I like the arpeggio in the middle. It is a bit repetitive, the drums never pause or change (do they?)

Matt, I would not say this is your best work to date, I've heard you make much better stuff.

My advice would be "Less is More", try and get the instruments/sounds to play off each other to create a groove, at the moment is a bit like a bad soup, the flavours are indistinct and don't complement each other very well.

Listen to something like "Elektro Kardigramm" by Kraftwerk, simple but very effective.

When I do some IT it's usually the other way around.. 4MB MP3, based on a 50MB IT or sometimes multiple IT files, being around 300MB together.. :D

btw, try to work with decay (D0x in the fx-column) on that random/harsh chipsound (starts @ 00:14). Also apply it on the bassline. It'll be like having ghostnotes and it will sound more groovy..

So, instead of:

taaang  taataataataataaang

you'd get:

taaang  tk Tk tK tk taaang

@CS: Hmm D0x on the fx column? Where's that? Or is that the reverb I added? or do I just edit the compressor and add more decay? I'm thinking about changing that harsh chipsound (I like it, but not many others do)

@Tim: Really? I guess after I hear my old stuff so much I tend to think of it less and less.

Yeah Matt, I've got all the stuff from your site on hy HD and some of them are better for sure. I like "Just Plain Stupid" :-) It's got great samples.

If you're feeling creative and generous, check out my thread:

http://www.blitzbasic.com/Community/posts.php?topic=57066

Matt, it didn't sound like compression.. just like a typical instrument without decay. :P

D0x goes to the fx-column in the pattern-editor, @ the channel with that harsh chipsound.

Like, D08 does a medium decay, D0F a giant decay, etc.

So, you'd get something like:

C 4 01 63 D04
--- -- -- .--
C 4 01 63 D0F
C 4 01 63 D0F
--- -- -- .--
C 4 01 63 D0c
C 4 01 63 D04
--- -- -- .--

(experiment with it.., ghostnotes bring a bassline alive)

get t-racks, set it to "Club!" and you'll be set :)

uh whats t-racks and what is club?

another method of using the D command is to use the same effect ammount (ie, D0A is a favourite of mine) and vary the volume in a way that it matches the beat.

t-racks is a mastering suite with the compression, equalization, reverb, etc. all rolled into one with a few decent one-click-does-it-all presets.