I'm going to say right now I think we should actually announce what songs we are making, because this is getting sort of ridiculous with everyone posting duplicate songs, sometimes forsaking
mastering in order to seemingly pump out as much as possible. Few of the songs here are in any quality to be featured in this product. Not that they're bad musically, but they're bad sound-wise. No one has any excuse, there are plenty of freeware and open source programs out there that let you use more advanced sounds. Heck, even the demo version of FL studio would let you remaster your MIDI to something acceptable in one sitting. It's easy.
So how about we actually do some official claiming? And while we're at it, lets lay down some guidelines on what the songs actually need to do. Might as well refresh our memories on what the stages are actually about.
Songs that can be made are:
Gravity Garden 1 - Unclaimed
Not sure what the substantial difference will be between these acts, so I can describe them in one go. The levels themselves are biospheres, artificial environments within a satellite. The music has to represent the freedom, natural, uplifting nature of the biomes within, while having the overlaying feeling of it all being someting artificial. Not in a bad way, as this is a beautiful place, but more of a "wonder of technology" sort of feel.
Gravity Garden 2 - Unclaimed
As said above, these levels are just an expansion of ideas, so music will not need any substantial mood change.
Cloudy Domain 1 - Unclaimed
Will this be the tower act? I'm not quite sure. I'll assume it is. The music here needs to represent a few things. Sky, of course, the feeling of freedom and openness. But this is also a tower. Am I wrong in assuming this is some ancient tower built by the olden people? It should carry a sort of holy, reverent feel to it. Like any good temple theme. I mentioned
this song before, a composition of mine. This might not be quite ideal, but it's a good picture of the general mood.
Cloudy Domain 2 - EvilEnternity
This one has been done. EvilEnternity did a fantastic job on catching the high flying, ambient feel. I'm currently doing a final remaster of his song, because the original was MIDI. Boinciel offered a nice alternative, but I'd prefer to touch this one up with some dynamics and better sounds.
Cryonic City 1 - Unclaimed
Haven't heard any mention of these two yet. The first act will be in a frozen city. Not sure if that means abandoned or simply wintertime. That alone could warrant some serious mood changes in the music. Obviously, the music should be of a chilling, urban sort. If the level is abandoned, it would be necessary to portray the lonely feeling. I opt more for a city that still functions, as it is more original.
Cryonic City 2 - Unclaimed
Based off of Blade's Frost Factory, this song would be an issue of blending the ice level music and the industrial sort of song. Never been my forte, (see Snowcap Nimbus) but I wouldn't put it past any of you.
Zany Ziggurat 1 - Unclaimed
The first act taking place in a sort of swamp jungle leading up to ruins, this song would call, most importantly, for a sense of adventure. I'm quite partial to
this song, moodwise. How much the musician chooses to focus on the jungle and swamp aspects is really up to them. Even being a swamp stage, I think the music should be more cheery then downbeat. Also, worth mentioning, I think the level will take place at that time of late day when the sky is yellow.
Zany Ziggurat 2 - Unclaimed
Here's where things get a bit more intense. You're inside ancient Mayan ruins, and every footstep could be your doom. Sand pours about inside here, mixing with the lava eating away the lower reaches of it. It's a quiet yet oppressive atmosphere. Yet, the sense of adventure should still wring throughout it. Who doesn't have fun exploring treacherous ruins?
Honeyhive 1 - EvilEnternity
This one isn't a beehive theme so much as it is an outside the beehive theme. This being the level I'm gonna make, the first act takes place in a wonderland-esque forest outside the forest hive. Perhaps a few ABSOLUTELY TRASHED town segments. What else happens when robotic bees spray rivers of sticky yellow honey all over the landscape? It tends to destroy things. But no need to explain it any more. EvilEnternity already made a great song, though again, the quality is quite poor. I'm going to remaster this one too when the time comes.
Honeyhive 2 - Charybdizs
More sinister than the first. You're in the heart of the problem. Honey flows everywhere, the place is teeming with larvae, and deadly drones lurk in the pits. I'm making this one by all means.
Haunted House 1 - MonsterIestyn
MonsterIestyn already has this one and the next under production. The first act, a sinister dark mountain forest leading up to the abandoned castle. Even though this is already covered, I must link
this song, because it inspired me about this stage when I heard it. Except, a bit creepier than the one MonsterIestyn has planned.
Haunted House 2 - MonsterIestyn
Covered by MonsterIestyn even better than he covered the first. A creepy, dark, foreboding theme. Perfect for a silent castle with only death for company.
Steam Engine 1 - Unclaimed
This one is a tricky one. What is steampunk music, exactly? Does it needsto be sort of a mix of classical orchestral and industrial, quite like what you find in Jamestown? Or does it need to be modeled after some sort of older music, like the music from the 1920's and 30's? Obviously with an industrial side, though.
Steam Engine 2 - Unclaimed
Not quite sure what the difference between acts 1 and 2 are. All I can say is, these two themes need to be epic and orchestral. They are final zone themes, anyways, aren't they? I kind of just assumed Steam Engine Zone would take final place.
Boss Theme - Unclaimed
Nuff said. It'd be nice if we could get something in the style of the Genesis Sonic games, though.
Final Zone - Unclaimed
Seeing as we don't know and don't care about the final boss at this point, let's leave this one untouched.
Title Theme
What is the title, anyways? I guess we can decide later.
And Ultimate, to answer your question. I use FL Studio, though a number of the other DAWs out there are pretty nice, and probably better alternatives. I bought the full version of FL though, so I'm well off in that regard. As for sounds, that's a tricky one. I just have a large collection of sounds I've collected from over the years. Things that I've found, bought, and such. A few free resources I can mention are the Titanic GM soundfont, Squidfont Orchestral, Kik Arse Bass Soundfont, and... I dunno, just download lots of VSTi's and try them. Some suck, but some are absolute keepers.