295 réponses à ce sujet

[MELTOR13]

MDesigner wrote...

Morning, guys, I -- *sees what he's walked into* ....I should go.

But seriously. I wanna add my two cents to this whole crazy "synth vs orchestral" discussion. I'll come back later and comment in full.

It has been a topic of some debate ever since ME2 was released. As you have no doubt noticed, there is quite a bit of fear that ME3's music wont feel "Mass Effecty"*. I think we'd all love to hear your thoughts on the issue. 


*I myself am not one of these people...IMO the most memorable tracks in the ME series have been the sweeping orchestral pieces like "Victory", etc.. There really aren't THAT many synth, electronica-type tracks in ME. I think it's more of a generic sci-fi rule that you must have futuristic synth-type stuff and so people freak out when they don't hear that type of music in a sci-fi setting.

[JeffZero]

Would love to hear your thoughts on the matter, Sam. As for me, I think I'm pretty firmly in MELTOR's camp on this one. But there are definitely some great synth tracks all the same, and they're mostly to be found in ME1, so I did get a rush of refreshment when I heard the music from the CE trailer several weeks ago.

It's definitely not a major issue to me either way, since I loved ME2's OST just as much -- if not moreso -- than ME1's. But there's no denying that both soundtracks set somewhat unique tones for their games; naturally folks who prefer one style over the other are going to take up arms. Such is fandom!

[didymos1120]

twisty77 wrote...

didymos1120 wrote...

twisty77 wrote...

Lizardviking wrote...

Anyone else getting an epilogue vibe from the music teaser?

Yeah, I most definitely am as well. Especially with the ending music from after the SM of ME2 woven in at the end of the track.

That melody isn't originally from the ME2 ending.  It's from the main ME theme.

Ah, if it's there too, then it's in both places. It is played in ME2 just as they are showing the Reapers approaching the galaxy.

Yeah, I know. That's why I said "isn't originally from".

[Fredvdp]

I always thought the orchestral sound in ME2 made sense because ME1 builds up to orchestral music in the end.

[Annihilator27]

MDesigner wrote...

Morning, guys, I -- *sees what he's walked into* ....I should go.

But seriously. I wanna add my two cents to this whole crazy "synth vs orchestral" discussion. I'll come back later and comment in full.

Prepare yourself for the whine fest,flames, and your opinion is wrong.

[didymos1120]

Fredvdp wrote...

I always thought the orchestral sound in ME2 made sense because ME1 builds up to orchestral music in the end.

It's got orchestral stuff throughout the entire game. People just seem to forget about that and have this distorted "It was, like, all synths all the time, man!" view of the ME1 score.

[CroGamer002]

didymos1120 wrote...

Fredvdp wrote...

I always thought the orchestral sound in ME2 made sense because ME1 builds up to orchestral music in the end.

It's got orchestral stuff throughout the entire game. People just seem to forget about that and have this distorted "It was, like, all synths all the time, man!" view of the ME1 score.

Also you have to add that there's a plenty of soundtracks in ME2 that aren't just orchestral and even not at all.

[Someone With Mass]

What's so wrong with a orchestral score anyway?

It can be pretty awesome sometimes.

[MassStorm]

I honestly think it is a matter of personal taste. I personally like more synth music over orchestral and thinks that in a sci-fi series it works better(loved ME1 music, loved Blade Runner music ecc..) but that is just me. Obviously someone will think different....the truth is...that there is no real truth...it is just a matter of personal choice...as long as there will be some good synth tracks in ME3 i will be happy.

Modifié par MassStorm, 20 décembre 2011 - 06:49 .

[adamross]

Hope there will be more then 2 cd's, or maybe an extended score!!! We need that!

[AdmiralCheez]

My personal opinion on the whole synth/orchestra shebang:

Orchestra for power, synth for atmosphere. Frozen planet? Synth. Creepy laboratory? Synth. Crusin' around in deep space? Synth. But when the final battle rears around, you break out your whole army. Horn section, rally the troops! Trumpet section, circle back to the south! Violins, flank 'em to the east and cut of their retreat! Cellos, kettle drummers, hold the high ground! Woodwinds, to me! Chaaaaarge!

[LGTX]

AdmiralCheez wrote...

My personal opinion on the whole synth/orchestra shebang:

Orchestra for power, synth for atmosphere. Frozen planet? Synth. Creepy laboratory? Synth. Crusin' around in deep space? Synth. But when the final battle rears around, you break out your whole army. Horn section, rally the troops! Trumpet section, circle back to the south! Violins, flank 'em to the east and cut of their retreat! Cellos, kettle drummers, hold the high ground! Woodwinds, to me! Chaaaaarge!

I'm thinking of a valid way to apply the cowbell joke to all this.

[Rob Blake]

The direction for the Mass Effect music from the beginning was to have an orchestral score with certain elements replaced by synths in order to create an interesting retro-futurism style that gave it a 'timeless' quality... thus working well in sci-fi and lasting us through the years.

If we'd made something modern sounding at the time when ME1 came out then it would either feel very dated now or we'd have to change the style to keep it 'modern'... thus losing a bit of identity and character with the franchise.

Likewise, if we had a purely orchestral score it would lose its sense of character and identity, becoming too generic and pulling you out of the world and feel that we're trying to create.

There is no intention of changing this style at all. We did push it a little more towards orchestral in certain areas of ME2 because it was a darker story with more thriller/horror inspired moments at times. But that has no reflection on where we're going with ME3. It is it's own story with a whole lot more ups and downs, interesting characters and locations but most of all with far more emotion and plot twists than we've ever had before.

Now, sometimes we bend the music rules for effect on specific scenes where we want to focus more on the emotional angles (which orchestras tend to work slightly better for as they're more expressive and culturally more emotive) or the techy/stylistic angles (which synths are much better at portraying in the ME universe) or even intensity/action (which both angles can emphasize in different ways). So basically, we try to find the most suitable style or feel for each particular moment.

Thanks everyone

[didymos1120]

Someone With Mass wrote...

What's so wrong with a orchestral score anyway?

It can be pretty awesome sometimes.

That's exactly like many of ME1 tracks style-wise: begins with some moody synth stuff, then transitions into predominantly orchestral mode, but with synth elements still there in the mix.  The main ME theme or "Spectre Induction" for instance.

[LGTX]

Rob Blake wrote...

The direction for the Mass Effect music from the beginning was to have an orchestral score with certain elements replaced by synths in order to create an interesting retro-futurism style that gave it a 'timeless' quality... thus working well in sci-fi and lasting us through the years.

If we'd made something modern sounding at the time when ME1 came out then it would either feel very dated now or we'd have to change the style to keep it 'modern'... thus losing a bit of identity and character with the franchise.

Likewise, if we had a purely orchestral score it would lose its sense of character and identity, becoming too generic and pulling you out of the world and feel that we're trying to create.

There is no intention of changing this style at all. We did push it a little more towards orchestral in certain areas of ME2 because it was a darker story with more thriller/horror inspired moments at times. But that has no reflection on where we're going with ME3. It is it's own story with a whole lot more ups and downs, interesting characters and locations but most of all with far more emotion and plot twists than we've ever had before.

Now, sometimes we bend the music rules for effect on specific scenes where we want to focus more on the emotional angles (which orchestras tend to work slightly better for as they're more expressive and culturally more emotive) or the techy/stylistic angles (which synths are much better at portraying in the ME universe) or even intensity/action (which both angles can emphasize in different ways). So basically, we try to find the most suitable style or feel for each particular moment.

Thanks everyone

I don't think we could have hoped for a better answer. This is awesome, Rob. Thanks for taking the time and writing this  

[AdmiralCheez]

Rob Blake wrote...

The direction for the Mass Effect music from the beginning was to have an orchestral score with certain elements replaced by synths in order to create an interesting retro-futurism style that gave it a 'timeless' quality... thus working well in sci-fi and lasting us through the years.

If we'd made something modern sounding at the time when ME1 came out then it would either feel very dated now or we'd have to change the style to keep it 'modern'... thus losing a bit of identity and character with the franchise.

See, this is why there will never be dubstep in Mass Effect.  You don't want to date your material.

Likewise, if we had a purely orchestral score it would lose its sense of character and identity, becoming too generic and pulling you out of the world and feel that we're trying to create.

And this is why there's no Hans Zimmer.

There is no intention of changing this style at all. We did push it a little more towards orchestral in certain areas of ME2 because it was a darker story with more thriller/horror inspired moments at times. But that has no reflection on where we're going with ME3. It is it's own story with a whole lot more ups and downs, interesting characters and locations but most of all with far more emotion and plot twists than we've ever had before.

Ah, so the slight change in music reflected the change in overall mood!  By the way, the guy who thought to have a different theme for each character?  Give him a pat on the back.

Also, uh, if you had to put a number on that emotional content ratio versus the other two games....

Now, sometimes we bend the music rules for effect on specific scenes where we want to focus more on the emotional angles (which orchestras tend to work slightly better for as they're more expressive and culturally more emotive) or the techy/stylistic angles (which synths are much better at portraying in the ME universe) or even intensity/action (which both angles can emphasize in different ways). So basically, we try to find the most suitable style or feel for each particular moment.

Makes sense.  Don't want to use a hammer when you need a screwdriver...

Thanks everyone

Thanks for commenting/giving me the opportunity to try to make myself sound smarter and more important than the common forum rabble yet again!

See, I reply to developers, guys!  That makes me cool!

[MELTOR13]

Rob Blake wrote...

The direction for the Mass Effect music from the beginning was to have an orchestral score with certain elements replaced by synths in order to create an interesting retro-futurism style that gave it a 'timeless' quality... thus working well in sci-fi and lasting us through the years.

If we'd made something modern sounding at the time when ME1 came out then it would either feel very dated now or we'd have to change the style to keep it 'modern'... thus losing a bit of identity and character with the franchise.

Likewise, if we had a purely orchestral score it would lose its sense of character and identity, becoming too generic and pulling you out of the world and feel that we're trying to create.

There is no intention of changing this style at all. We did push it a little more towards orchestral in certain areas of ME2 because it was a darker story with more thriller/horror inspired moments at times. But that has no reflection on where we're going with ME3. It is it's own story with a whole lot more ups and downs, interesting characters and locations but most of all with far more emotion and plot twists than we've ever had before.

Now, sometimes we bend the music rules for effect on specific scenes where we want to focus more on the emotional angles (which orchestras tend to work slightly better for as they're more expressive and culturally more emotive) or the techy/stylistic angles (which synths are much better at portraying in the ME universe) or even intensity/action (which both angles can emphasize in different ways). So basically, we try to find the most suitable style or feel for each particular moment.

Thanks everyone

<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

Thanks for the response, Mr. Blake! I have no doubt that ME3's soundtrack is going to be the best yet. As an owner of both the ME1 and ME2 soundtracks, I am very excited to see what you guys have hidden up your collective sleeves. 

[Someone With Mass]

Rob Blake wrote...

The direction for the Mass Effect music from the beginning was to have an orchestral score with certain elements replaced by synths in order to create an interesting retro-futurism style that gave it a 'timeless' quality... thus working well in sci-fi and lasting us through the years.

If we'd made something modern sounding at the time when ME1 came out then it would either feel very dated now or we'd have to change the style to keep it 'modern'... thus losing a bit of identity and character with the franchise.

Likewise, if we had a purely orchestral score it would lose its sense of character and identity, becoming too generic and pulling you out of the world and feel that we're trying to create.

There is no intention of changing this style at all. We did push it a little more towards orchestral in certain areas of ME2 because it was a darker story with more thriller/horror inspired moments at times. But that has no reflection on where we're going with ME3. It is it's own story with a whole lot more ups and downs, interesting characters and locations but most of all with far more emotion and plot twists than we've ever had before.

Now, sometimes we bend the music rules for effect on specific scenes where we want to focus more on the emotional angles (which orchestras tend to work slightly better for as they're more expressive and culturally more emotive) or the techy/stylistic angles (which synths are much better at portraying in the ME universe) or even intensity/action (which both angles can emphasize in different ways). So basically, we try to find the most suitable style or feel for each particular moment.

Thanks everyone

I don't think there can be a better clarification than that. Thank you and good luck with your work. 

[llandwynwyn]

Is it Victory I detect? Loved it

[AdmiralCheez]

llandwynwyn wrote...

Is it Victory I detect? Loved it

Ah, I'm not the only one who caught it!

[CroGamer002]

AdmiralCheez wrote...

llandwynwyn wrote...

Is it Victory I detect? Loved it

Ah, I'm not the only one who caught it!

I caught it on my very first listening.

[llandwynwyn]

Mesina2 wrote...

AdmiralCheez wrote...

llandwynwyn wrote...

Is it Victory I detect? Loved it

Ah, I'm not the only one who caught it!

I caught it on my very first listening.

It's a serene, kinda melancholic Victory. Very beautiful.

Now, if Vigil is in too I can die a happy woman.

[Icinix]

FlyinElk212 wrote...

Icinix wrote...

Its a beautiful piece - but it doesn't sound Mass Effecty.

I've never understood this. What defines a "Mass Effecty" type of music? And if a piece isn't Mass Effect-y, does that make it not good for Mass Effect?

Does Mass Effecty mean that the scores include a moody synth, with beeps and boops here and there to give a type of futuristic feel? Because to be honest, the tracks that I remember from the Mass Effect series are NEVER these types of tracks. The "orchestrated" ones, like the song after Sovereign's defeat, the end of the suicide mission, and this teaser, are the songs that stick with me most.

Because you didn't quote or read the whole post originally - I'll put it here again for you.

Icinix wrote...

Its a beautiful piece - but it doesn't sound Mass Effecty.

I suppose context is needed, because the romance music from ME1 felt out of a place with the rest of the music.

But its still a fantastic piece, the first half is very haloish. Which is always a good thing.

Edit : Never mind - just saw this post - http://social.biowar...56159/2#8856617
Sounding superb.

[aridor1570]

Mesina2 wrote...

AdmiralCheez wrote...

llandwynwyn wrote...

Is it Victory I detect? Loved it

Ah, I'm not the only one who caught it!

I caught it on my very first listening.

I cought it after hearing the original Victory.