Been a while coming.. (an audio link from me)

[Alistair]

Well, although I've been recording various Sierra soundtrack CD's over the last few months, today I decided to start another one close to my heart, because I had to resetup all my modules and move 'em around anyway. (Besides, I'm not up to much else right now than starting a new CD!)

Today it was.. Quest for Glory IV- Shadows of Darkness.

I recorded my original CD for this game about a year ago, and it was reasonably good.. for what it was. But, I employed a lot of really poor techniques- I didn't really know that much at the time. For example, I recorded my waves from the MT-32, SC-55 and ED modules separately for example, then mixed them together in Cool Edit. I normalized everything. Basically, I could do better then.. and certainly can now. QFG4 is a popular score, and one people regularly request and want to hear, especially with MT-32 tracks it seems, so I'm updating my CD from December 2003.

Today with all 4 modules I began a new take on the score. Here's a demo track, none other than the everfamous QFGIV theme. It's been edited/enhanced in the same sort of vein as recent QuestStudios enhancement tracks. All 4 modules used (MT-32/SC-55/SC-8850 ED/MU100R XG).
http://smc.sq7.org/miscfile/QFG4Track02.ogg

Feel free to post comments or queries about the track/project. Not like it'll be finished anytime soon, I'm on too many painkillers to stay focused all day, but I'd like to think a (one of the) CD I'm working on might be done before 2005.
Regards,
- Alistair

[Ghost_Rider]

Hey Alistair,

I had posted a reply but it was lost... trying to remember what I said.  Anyway, in short, I really like the guitar in the mid section of this track.  The only thing I thought didn't fit was the high notes on the piano/keyboard near the very end.  Just don't seem to fit in with the overall mood... but that's just my opinion.  Overall sounds good!  

[Alistair]

This track has actually been updated (twice) since I posted it here.. nothing major, just panned a bit better. Will upload it soon.

And there's no piano track in this OGG.. in fact, I can think of only 2 or 3 tracks containing piano pieces that exist in QFG4!

Guitar is the default overdrive and the GS feedback of the SC-55. I like the 55 guitars in this score. The ED ones sound 'wrong' for some of the tracks (I'll try to use 'em where possible though).

Maybe the high notes you're referring to are the 'brass solo' at the end. Or the harp.. (Whichever, it was there in the original piece in-game I'd wager ) Regardless, thanks for reposting despite the board quirks of the last few days. It's much appreciated.

I love the Shadows of Darkness score. One of Sierra's finest. It always had so much potential for quality mixes, which is why I always had a desire to make a double CD for myself, despite a QuestStudios 2 CD effort being 'on the market' already.

Only Aubrey Hodges could make a track containing only nylon guitars sound good.

Regards,
- Alistair

[Ghost_Rider]

Yes I agree, QFG4 has a great soundtrack.  

I'm just listening to your track again... and I think it must be the harp.  Guess I can't really complain now that you've pointed out it was always there     I thought maybe you had added that in.

Guitar with nylon strings?  Yeah, I much prefer metal strings, even for acoustic.  Sounds much better I think.  When I had an acoustic, I had metal strings on it... now I just have an electric one though... and those don't work too well with nylon strings.   :lol:

[Marten]

Hmmm.

I like, although I prefer to reserve most of my judgement until it's finished
During the extended opening of the song (0:22 to 1:05), it sounds like there are only background notes, and the foreground melody is absent, when I'm expecting the song to really start.  That was a little off-putting.  I'm not too fond of the drum sample used during that segment either, but I'm not sure why... I can only suggest experimenting with it.

The rest of the theme comes in after that, and then it sounds more familiar, and it's all good.

And yeah, the harp was always there; if anything, Alistair has subdued it a little, and that's a good thing.  In the original, it felt to me that the harp was too strong.

[Alistair]

I like, although I prefer to reserve most of my judgement until it's finished  
During the extended opening of the song (0:22 to 1:05), it sounds like there are only background notes, and the foreground melody is absent, when I'm expecting the song to really start. That was a little off-putting. I'm not too fond of the drum sample used during that segment either, but I'm not sure why... I can only suggest experimenting with it.

That's probably because you're used to the old QuestStudios track for the score. Tom cuts off the flythrough sequence bit, and misses instruments. Interesting analysis still, John- thanks.

The drums for the flythrough are the MT-32 drums. I'll see what I can do with 'em.

The rest of the theme comes in after that, and then it sounds more familiar, and it's all good.

And yeah, the harp was always there; if anything, Alistair has subdued it a little, and that's a good thing. In the original, it felt to me that the harp was too strong.

Cheers..

And the harp in Tom's version is the default SC-55 harp, which is one of those SC-55 patches I hate with a horrible hate.. sounds awful. Best harps I heard are from the MT-32 and Sound Canvas ED.. so I used a combination of the two. The ED harp is 'Harp Strings', which is a really nice realistic-sounding patch.

I have updated this.. I'll post it here Tuesday.

QFG4 is such a good score! I forgot how good. I'm going to enjoy this, I think.

- Alistair

[Marten]

Aha.  To be honest, I have never felt like the flythrough was a proper part of the song.   Maybe it's just how there was always an annoying disjoint between the flythrough end and the start of the theme on the title screen, and that bothered me.  It seemed unpolished.

[Alistair]

Aha. To be honest, I have never felt like the flythrough was a proper part of the song. Maybe it's just how there was always an annoying disjoint between the flythrough end and the start of the theme on the title screen, and that bothered me. It seemed unpolished.

Well, my aim is to recreate Sierra soundtracks.. I never was a fan of cutting bits of themes out. I always try and get all of a theme in.. because the flythrough 'builds up' and reaches a crescendo, which is accompanied well by the main theme following up quickly, I feel it should all be there.

- Alistair

[Tirone]

I've always enjoyed the QFG4 soundtrack, one of my favs!

Amazing work, Alistair - if this is a taste of things to come with this new rendition of the soundtrack, I can't wait... bring it on!

I just love what Aubrey did with the guitars throughout the entire game, very realistic midi pitch wheel programming.  And you've used the perfect instrument for it too.

[Marten]

Aha. To be honest, I have never felt like the flythrough was a proper part of the song. Maybe it's just how there was always an annoying disjoint between the flythrough end and the start of the theme on the title screen, and that bothered me. It seemed unpolished.

Well, my aim is to recreate Sierra soundtracks.. I never was a fan of cutting bits of themes out. I always try and get all of a theme in.. because the flythrough 'builds up' and reaches a crescendo, which is accompanied well by the main theme following up quickly, I feel it should all be there.

If you're really recreating the soundtrack, it should glitch between the two parts

[Tom]

Glitches like that, and other flaws were probably unavoidable due to game programming.  We ran into those kind's of problems when doing KQ2VGA.  There's quite a few improperly looped Sierra tracks in various games, as well.  'enry the 'ermit from QFG1 is a good example; you have to do some slight offsetting of the time signature to fix the loop.

I'm sure the original compositions are just fine before they get programmed into the game.  I prefer to fix those kinds of problems whenever possible when presenting a soundtrack; I'm sure the composer would appreciate it, too.  

We're trying a new method in QFG2VGA; some of the songs are actually divided into three or four layers, and their playback is precisely timed and controlled by AGS programming.  We'll see how that works out.

[Alistair]

I've always enjoyed the QFG4 soundtrack, one of my favs!

Amazing work, Alistair - if this is a taste of things to come with this new rendition of the soundtrack, I can't wait... bring it on!

I just love what Aubrey did with the guitars throughout the entire game, very realistic midi pitch wheel programming. And you've used the perfect instrument for it too.

As always, thanks for your kind words, Tirone. Always a pleasure reading what you have to say.

I've done some major reworks to the track, and this version is probably the last (5th or 6th version) I'll do. Can be found here:
http://smc.sq7.org/miscfile/QFG4CD1Track02.ogg

A fair few changes, mostly subtle ones. Any feedback appreciated.

If you're really recreating the soundtrack, it should glitch between the two parts

Heh.. I do remember the sequence glitching as a kid.. my first Sierra glitch (Hadn't played SQ4 at that point.) But seriously, this is a musical piece. I really dislike cutting bits of Sierra tracks. Though there are times when it's appropriate.

Interesting comments, Tom. Should be fascinating to see how that works out.

Finally; while I'm doing all this QFG4 stuff, my GK1 CD is 99% finished. Wanted it released in 2004, but I'll take 'released by January 7.'

- Alistair

[Ghost_Rider]

Hmmm, when I try to download this I just get "suspended.htm"

Seems the file is missing or the link is broken?

[Alistair]

Neither, I'm afraid. From what I can gather, the SQ7.org team either hasn't paid their bills, or has left the server they were with. I'm trying to find out.. my site may not be back online until I switch servers to Eperfect.net. We shall see, I'll post here with a solution.

- Alistair

[Alistair]

And to let everyone know, thankfully SQ7 has resolved its' difficulties with the dodgy server, (or rather scrapped them) and so the whole site is back online.

Annoyingly enough my site's reverted to a previous backup so the link for the QFG4 track will be up in about .. 10 hours. (After everything else is resolved.)

- Alistair

[Alistair]

Bit later than 10 hours, but I finally got it online:

http://smc.sq7.org/miscfile/QFG4CD1Track02.ogg

Regards,
- Alistair

[Ghost_Rider]

Better late than never!    

I'll give this a listen now.