Code-Name: Iceman

[Tom]

I've been playing Iceman this afternoon, and began recording the soundtrack.  I haven't played it since I had my old Tandy 1000 PC, which sort of struggled to keep up with the game back then.  Fourteen years later, even my slowest Pentium is a bit much when it comes to controlling the submarine.  (Damn thing is touchy!)

Anyway, I have all my saved games from my previous play fourteen years ago.  I'm trying to recall if there was any significant musical themes during the operation of the sub, other than the 'Iceman Theme' that plays once you've destroyed the Russion sub.  There's also some music upon first entering the Blackhawk.  But other than that, I don't remember anything else.  

So, instead of fighting with the Blackhawk's sensitive controls, I've restored to the underwater scene where I'm setting explosives on the oil rig....and thought I'd play (and record) from there.   Does anyone know if there's any other significant music while driving the Blackhawk to its destinations...other than what I already mentioned?  I've already recorded 17 songs up to this point.

[Alistair]

The part of the game I got up to when I started playing a month ago was controlling the sub, getting the papers from the sergeant guy (or whoever he is). Can't stand the military copy-protection side of the game. But very fun otherwise so far..

I've got a folder of extracted MIDI's from the game, Tom, which should be roughly in order.. if you want, I'll upload 'em for ya. Did you ever get anything by way of Sierra in terms of C:I music?

- Alistair

[Tom]

I have a few songs from Sierra, all of which I've also recorded.  And, I extracted all the MIDI from the game many years ago, but again, nothing that I haven't also recorded.  That's why I'm guessing there isn't any real significant themes during the 'controlling the sub' scenes.  I just want a second opinion from someone else who's played through the game to confirm this.  If there is any other music, I'll have to play through those parts so I know what the music is for.

[Tom]

Well, I finally did manage to pilot the sub and completed the game this morning...and finished recording the music.  There was no new music during the sub scenes that isn't heard in other areas of the game.  Hopefully this weekend, I'll be able to finish putting together all the music and can post it.

I'll also create a General MIDI version of this one, which shouldn't be too hard.

[Alistair]

This soundtrack'd be worse in GM.. a lot of poor sounding instruments in SC-55 GM for this score (GS'd keep the typewriter strokes, though I guess Woodblock plus agogo or something could be used). Fretless, whistle, synth strings.. but I suppose piano tracks and others would be fun. I'm looking forward to hearing GM of this as much as CB..

- Alistair

[HondaSiR]

I'm looking forward to it also...I can't wait to see how Tom would render the keystrokes on the title theme. We've already heard the XG (well, when I had my cheap YMF-XG card back then)...I'm betting that Tom can render it well even if its just on Sound Canvas GM. Man, Tom's on a roll here folks.  

[Tom]

Yeah, what the hell's the matter with me.  I better kick back a bit for a while.  Naw...I've already dug out my Camelot, Police Quest III,  and Heart Of China games from the basement.

I started converting the Willy Beamish soundtrack for XG, but I kind of forgot about it when I got involved with Colonel's Bequest.  Maybe I should get back to that, next.

[Alistair]

WB in XG. Sounds cool..

Camelot, PQ3 and HOC are definitely worthy games to record from.. what can I say. Well the first and last anyway. PQ3 had 20 minutes of awesome music and 30 of boring synth backgroundy stuff. Similar to HOC in that respect I suppose.. just replace 'boring synth backgroundy stuff' with 'boring ethnicky backgroundy stuff'.

- Alistair

[Tom]

You're definitely entitled to your opinion.

[achile464]

I remember Iceman, I love the music of Tahiti

[Alistair]

Aw, don't get me wrong, Tom.. some AWESOME stuff in HOC! But when you replay it, you'll see what I mean.. A lot of background pieces with synthy strings and random bassoons, kotos, etc that simply aren't that flash on their own.
Of course there's the possibility that since it's one of those weird Dynamix games that has plot forks, I might've missed a good 30 mins of music in the game at least!

Iceman is my type of score. Some cool pieces, synthy stuff that sounds GOOD, and background music that is better than just background music.. I really love what I've heard so far.

- Alistair

[Matt W]

Hey Tom,

Just wondering but is all the reverb in the soundtrack CDs intentional? I guess I'm used to what I'm hearing on my SC-55 & MT-32 but, I notice that yours have quite a bit more reverb.

Just curious,

Matt

[Tom]

Do you mean, all of the digital recordings, or just selected soundtracks.  In the case of CNI, the game uses a lot of reverb.  Generally, I do increase Master Reverb on the MT-32 for many songs, but not by much.  (From the default of 5, to 7.)    Depends on the song, and my judgement as to whether more or less reverb may enhance the sound of the instruments and/or performance.

[Matt W]

Actually, the digital soundtracks in general. CNI I suppose, seems to be a bit more than normal. (Which would make sense given that you mentioned that there is a lot in CNI already)

I'm thinking that part of what I may be hearing is the fact that I generally prefer my RWI MT-32 over  the stock units. It seems that the default reverb on the MT can be a bit "overbearing" at times. (at least it can be on my unmodded unit. Very '80's digital.) If I recall, the reverb modes on the RWI modified units are from the D-110 which seem a bit more subtle and natural sounding. Don't get me wrong though, I like the verb on the MT when used sparingly. On the other hand, with the  SC-55 it usually sounds sort of unnatural to my ears.

By the way, are you quantizing the midi's for the digital soundtracks at all? Some tracks seem to be a bit more "staccato" or choppy than the originals.

Matt

[Tom]

Nope, no quantizing.  Don't think I've ever done that with anyone's music but my own...and rarely at that.  I'm sure there was some quantizing by the original musicians, from time to time, since everything usually plays right on the beat in Sierra soundtracks.