Best soundtrack

[achile464]

What is your three best sierra's soundtrack?

Me

1)Space Quest 1
2)Leisure suite larry 3
3)King quest 6

The intro song of Quest for glory 4 put me on tear everytime I hear the Overdrived electric guitar because it's sooooo beautiful

[Ghost_Rider]

My three favourites:

1)  Quest for Glory 4
2)  King's Quest 2+ (AGDI)
3)  Quest for Glory 1


If my #2) doesn't count, since it's not an "original Sierra" game, then I'd say QFG1 moves up and my next would be King's Quest 5.

[Alistair]

Heh.. didn't feel like a new year until we'd had another 'which Sierra soundtrack is the best' thread.

I don't like answering, but best I can do is:

1. Quest for Glory IV
2. King's Quest VI
3. Codename: Iceman

Pretty contentious, LSL3 and 6 are very closely next. PQ1 as well.

- Alistair

[WildmanCAL]

Hmm...tough one.  I guess I'd have to go with:

1) King's Quest 5 - first Sierra game I played with a SoundBlaster.  BLEW ME away!
2)  Codename: Iceman - Just a great soundtrack.  Sets the mood.
3)  Leisure Suit Larry 1 - Hearing it brings back memories.

Runner-up would be Eco-Quest 1.  I like this one alot.

[captain Nemo]

King's Quest 6
Laura Bow 2
Space Quest 4

I think I'm fan of Chris Braymen. I like his music, especially love themes. I nearly cried listening Girl In the Tower from KQ6, Soap Opera from LSL1 and Steve Dorian from LB2. And SQ 4 music I like more than other SQ's soundtracks. My favourite from SQ4 is 'Estros Submarine Ride'.
But this is my very humble opinion. I still didn't hear lot of Sierra music, so it's the best I heard.

[laxdragon]

Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers
Eco Quest
Leisure Suit Larry 1 (VGA)

Speaks of my very varied tastes and/or moods. I sometimes feel like a some dark voodoo of GK1. Other times the light hearted bubbly Eco Quest.

[Ari]

That's easy:
Space Quest 4
King's Quest 6
Space Quest 3

[Alistair]

For me, SQ3/4's music is overrated, and SQ5 and 6's scores are underrated (I know you like all SQ soundtracks, don't worry, Ari, I'm just saying ). SQ5 and 6 are far more 'mature' scores for my money, and I find it weird that anyone can say they 'like SQ3's soundtrack' as in one of the best Sierra scores. Groundbreaking for its' time, but really only 15 minutes of good music there. SQ4 too; I feel the soundtrack was excellent, but the later SC-55 scores for SQ games were so much better. More music (well, more in SQ6, less in SQ5, the game that was scored in 2 weeks) and more quality music. A lot of 'backgroundy' music in SQ4. Lot of SQ4's music sounds so-so on the MT-32, as well. SQ5/6's music sounds usually *good* on the Roland Sound Canvas (55). Still love the score, just love SQ5/6's music more than SQ4's.

That's just me; of course. I just felt like a rant, been very little discusion here lately.

- Alistair

[Ari]

Don't worry, I'm not taking it personally.
I guess one of the reasons I like SQ3's soundtrack so much is that 1988 demo tape I used to listen to over and over again when I was a kid.
Still, I think some of the themes there are simply amazing. The intro, for starters, is brilliant IMO if not too short. a lot of atmosphere as you like to say... :wink:
Another great theme is the Robot Garbage Freighter theme. Even though it's slightly monotonous, it seems to capture the scene very well IMO.

Granted, the soundtrack is short, but then again - so is the game. I once tried to see how quickly I could finish the game and I think I got to about 40 minutes for full score...

SQ4 is my favorite. So many great themes, and I really disagree with your opinion that some themes just don't sound very good with the MT-32. I'd appreciate it if you named one or two.

I like the SQ5 soundtrack too, but just not as much as the others I mentioned. As you've most likely noticed, I really dislike the SC-55's STANDARD drumkit, and that affects my opinion on most of Sierra's GM soundtracks.
KQ6 could rate better in my list had the ORCHESTRA drumkit been allowed to be used.

[Alistair]

Don't worry, I'm not taking it personally.
I guess one of the reasons I like SQ3's soundtrack so much is that 1988 demo tape I used to listen to over and over again when I was a kid.
Still, I think some of the themes there are simply amazing. The intro, for starters, is brilliant IMO if not too short. a lot of atmosphere as you like to say...  
Another great theme is the Robot Garbage Freighter theme. Even though it's slightly monotonous, it seems to capture the scene very well IMO.

Those are my two favourite SQ3 pieces, don't worry! And I love them both in their own right. Black Hole too.

SQ4 is my favorite. So many great themes, and I really disagree with your opinion that some themes just don't sound very good with the MT-32. I'd appreciate it if you named one or two.

By 'sound very good' I mean rather that the MT instruments aren't the best they could be..
I actually rather like the SQ4 MT-32 score. But as an in-game score there's weak bits.
Well, the 'Cyborg' piece is a good example, as is Format Countdown, Vohaul Battle, Our Hero, Thoreen, Professor Lloyd, Monochrome Bikers..

Don't get me wrong, they're all excellent pieces. But solely on the MT-32 they sound bad in places, and in-game sometimes the score isn't great. I love all the music, there was just.. interesting Ken Allen composing sometimes. (For example, using 'Acou BD' for Our Hero instead of a drum cymbal).

I like the SQ5 soundtrack too, but just not as much as the others I mentioned. As you've most likely noticed, I really dislike the SC-55's STANDARD drumkit, and that affects my opinion on most of Sierra's GM soundtracks.

SQ5 is good and bad in places, I know. I think the SC-55 module isn't as good as the MT-32, letting it down. Obviously the MT-32 score of SQ5 was complete rubbish, too..

You may not have read it when I posted, but SQ5 was originally composed for the Orchestra kit (and Jazz and Room kits I think) in many tracks. Sounds different with them used..

I really dislike Standard too. But it does work in some Sierra pieces. Usually though, it's crap; no two ways about it.

But I disagree with your GM score comments. For me, Sierra's General MIDI scores are better than the MT-32 ones (not a blanket statement, Iceman's a great score, as is PQ1, as is EQ1, as is many Sierra MT scores), by and large- more musically mature, better instrumentation, better use of panning, and better soundtracks, broadly speaking. KQ6/7, GK1, QFG3/4, SQ5/6, to name off the top of my head.

There's more good MT-32 scores than SC-55 scores, but the SC-55 soundtracks rate higher on my list for the reasons I gave, if that makes sense.

KQ6 could rate better in my list had the ORCHESTRA drumkit been allowed to be used.

You always say this, yet I wonder if I did this it would sound better. I don't think that much of the Orchestra kit. I think if you use 'Orchestra', you really have to use ED Strings, Harp and all that jazz. And even then I probably wouldn't like hearing it. I don't think Orchestra would work for the majority of KQ6's tracks.

- Alistair

[Doctor Creep]

For me, SQ3/4's music is overrated, and SQ5 and 6's scores are underrated (I know you like all SQ soundtracks, don't worry, Ari, I'm just saying ). SQ5 and 6 are far more 'mature' scores for my money, and I find it weird that anyone can say they 'like SQ3's soundtrack' as in one of the best Sierra scores. Groundbreaking for its' time, but really only 15 minutes of good music there.

IMO in the later releases MT-32 support wasn't that good anymore cause many times they just mapped the MT-32 to a sort of gm mode for the tracks written for gm.
So you have to listen to the later sierra releases with your SC55 to get the best sound IMO.

And that's why I love SQ3 so much on the LAPC-1, cause Bob Siebenberg did an excellent job with the MT32 sounds!
And not always the longest track is the best

Later SQ5 and 6 was IMO disappointing in MT32 mode.

Lutz

[Ari]

Don't worry, I'm not taking it personally.
By 'sound very good' I mean rather that the MT instruments aren't the best they could be..
I actually rather like the SQ4 MT-32 score. But as an in-game score there's weak bits.
Well, the 'Cyborg' piece is a good example, as is Format Countdown, Vohaul Battle, Our Hero, Thoreen, Professor Lloyd, Monochrome Bikers..

Could you be a little more specific? where does the MT-32 fail in those tracks?

Don't get me wrong, they're all excellent pieces. But solely on the MT-32 they sound bad in places, and in-game sometimes the score isn't great. I love all the music, there was just.. interesting Ken Allen composing sometimes. (For example, using 'Acou BD' for Our Hero instead of a drum cymbal).

I agree with you on this though

You may not have read it when I posted, but SQ5 was originally composed for the Orchestra kit (and Jazz and Room kits I think) in many tracks. Sounds different with them used..

I do remeber you wrote something to that extent. nevertheless, it's a shame they didn't get Siebert's approval.
It should be an interesting project to redo those soundtracks with the appropriate drumkits

You always say this, yet I wonder if I did this it would sound better. I don't think that much of the Orchestra kit. I think if you use 'Orchestra', you really have to use ED Strings, Harp and all that jazz. And even then I probably wouldn't like hearing it. I don't think Orchestra would work for the majority of KQ6's tracks.

I'm not saying all tracks should be done with the orchestra drumkit, but some - like the closing themes - definitely sound better with the drumkit.
I'm not talking about the Orchestral strings, btw. I wouldn't mind if the whole soundtrack was GM except for the drumkits (which aren't even part of the GS standard)

[Zemus]

Drumkits... You know, both Warcraft 2 and Privateer used the different drumkits found on the SC-55, and both of them claimed to have GM soundtracks. The composers at Sierra should have done that. Most people wouldn't have noticed it anyways...

[Alistair]

Lutz: No comment.

Could you be a little more specific? where does the MT-32 fail in those tracks?

Most of them are orchestral tracks, and fail on that behalf, and Monochrome Bikers is pretty obvious. Easy to enhance, but in the game it sounds quite lame.

I do remeber you wrote something to that extent. nevertheless, it's a shame they didn't get Siebert's approval.
It should be an interesting project to redo those soundtracks with the appropriate drumkits

I've got Clarke's original MIDI files, with the kits as whatever they wanted to use. I would suggest Mark Seibert himself changed them before they made it into the game.

I'm not saying all tracks should be done with the orchestra drumkit, but some - like the closing themes - definitely sound better with the drumkit.
I'm not talking about the Orchestral strings, btw. I wouldn't mind if the whole soundtrack was GM except for the drumkits (which aren't even part of the GS standard)

I know you weren't talking about Orchestra variation 8, patch 49, but I was saying, to just have 'orchestra' as drums and the other default SC instruments would sound bizarre.. IMO at least. I certainly don't like the closing themes with variation 49 drumkit. Alex is the winner, he's not in an opera. It sounds wrong. I hate the SC-55's standard for the piece, don't get me wrong. I did a special digital version a few months ago. When I redo it, I'll be using the MT-32 and ED kits mixed. Not orchestra.. The track doesn't work that well for most Sierra pieces, for my money.
BUT- you put it to good use in that SQ4 OGG. I grant you that!

Drumkits... You know, both Warcraft 2 and Privateer used the different drumkits found on the SC-55, and both of them claimed to have GM soundtracks. The composers at Sierra should have done that. Most people wouldn't have noticed it anyways...

Very true, Zemus, and well said. I would've thought if a gamer didn't have a GS-compat soundfont or module it'd just playback the capital tone Standard anyway.

But they're not 'different drumkits found on the SC-55' so much as GS drumkits, if you know what I mean. Any GS device had them. Though it's a petty and flawed difference.

Never blame the composers at Sierra for the shortcomings of SC-55 soundtracks. If there's one thing I've learnt from the composers themselves, is that it was almost always Seibert's decision. Except for Robert Holmes, who hated the Roland Sound Canvas anyway. The rest, and even Holmes, ALL wanted to use GS, not just drumkits, but full GS. Clarke even submitted his pieces for SQ5 with GS kits.

- Alistair

[Ari]

I've got Clarke's original MIDI files, with the kits as whatever they wanted to use. I would suggest Mark Seibert himself changed them before they made it into the game.

Would you be willing to share them? (if that's not against Clarke's will)

I know you weren't talking about Orchestra variation 8, patch 49, but I was saying, to just have 'orchestra' as drums and the other default SC instruments would sound bizarre.. IMO at least.

Why bizarre? There are plenty of games that use only GM instruments + the ORCHESTRA drumkit and sound very good: Wing Commander 3, Privateer, The Elder Scrolls and more.
Why is it so weird to you?

I certainly don't like the closing themes with variation 49 drumkit. Alex is the winner, he's not in an opera. It sounds wrong. I hate the SC-55's standard for the piece, don't get me wrong. I did a special digital version a few months ago. When I redo it, I'll be using the MT-32 and ED kits mixed. Not orchestra.. The track doesn't work that well for most Sierra pieces, for my money.

Well, you're entitled to your opinion, of course, but how does it make the theme sound like it's from an opera?

[Doctor Creep]

IMO Sierra + MT32 was magic in the early "MT-32 only" years
I'm not so sure about the later releases.
What do you say (from 1992/93 on) are the best 3 sierra soundtracks written for GM (SC55)? I'm asking cause I got my SC55 in the mid 90s so perhaps I missed some excellent Sierra SC55 stuff...

So far I think other games like Privateer,

http://home.nikocity.de/goerke/sc55.mp3

Creature Shock, 7th Guest, Terminator, Descent (using lot's of different drum kits btw) did the "SC55 magic".

Lutz

[Ari]

This piece is probably one of the best examples of what you can do with the SC-55's guitars. It's a shame you cut it a little short.

Nenad Vugrinec & co. are nothing short of genius.

[Zemus]

But they're not 'different drumkits found on the SC-55' so much as GS drumkits, if you know what I mean. Any GS device had them. Though it's a petty and flawed difference.

Well, back then the SC-55 was pretty much the only GS synth available (if you don't count Yamaha's and Boss's so-called compatibles).

A bit off-topic:
A couple of months ago I ripped and recorded the entire Privateer soundtrack for the remake team. I don't know if they've put it into the latest beta, but the site's here.
We still have some problems with the flightmusic. It's not fluid enough like the MIDIs were.

[Ari]

I recorded all of Privateer's music for WCNEWS a couple of years ago.
If you need help, let me know.

[Zemus]

You're the Mad Hatter?
I was originally going to use the MIDIs on that site, but some of them were Adlib versions and others had been converted with the XMI2MID program which messes up the tempo. The problems mostly come from the sucky sound library we're using. It won't allow us to play more than one OGG at a time without running multiple instances and so on. I just hope they add a better one, but I don't think that'll happen soon. Everyone's busy getting rid of all the bugs.