Update: 05Apr06 - QUEST FOR GLORY 4 XR VERSION!

[Tom]

A new Roland XR version of Aubry Hodges' Quest For Glory 4 soundtrack is now available for download:  http://QuestStudios.com/quest/qfg4cd/qfg4cd.html

shad0wfax has been keeping his XR synth busy -- that's for sure!  There's some really nice conversions in this batch of music files.  Check it out, and...THANK YOU, shad0wfax!!

[Ari]

Wow, I had no idea he was even working on it.  

Does that mean there's a chance for a Space Quest V soundtrack at some point as well?

[Ghost_Rider]

WOOOOOHOOOOOOO!!

I am going to download this tonight.  

[jbltecnicspro]

I like it, but I thought the XR had better strings?  Or did you not use your Strings expansion card, shadowfax?  Not meaning to criticize someone who takes their time to make this stuff for us fans, but I was just wondering.

EDIT:  It's also worth mentioning that this is the first time I've heard any QFG4 song other than the opening, and I must ask this... Why are some tracks like Hotel Mordavia given credit to Aubrey Hodges as being the original composer?  After all, she (or he?) just ripped off Edvard Grieg's Anitra's Dance...

[gortmertl0]

Outstanding!  The Fantom XR really showcases this soundtrack -- realistic instruments enhance many of the 'orchestral' songs (like the clarinet on the Hero's Guild - Track 12), while the ethereal synthy soundscapes lend an aire of 'spookiness' and 'something's not right' to environmental / background music...

And the realistic electric guitar top it all off for the action cues!

Minor quibbles:
A couple of tracks appear to have some errors on them, most likely from the conversion to MP3...

Track 11 - Mordavia General Store (Olga) @ 1:10-1:12
and
Track 24 - Faerie Battle @ 1:07


Aside from that, a most impressive conversion, and I want to say thanks for your efforts, Shadowfax.  They are much appreciated.  I have enjoyed all of you efforts thus far, and look forward to many more!  

G

[Saurax]

Oooh! *slobbers all over Quest Studios floor*

Downloading right now!  I can only imagine how amazing this is going to sound...

[Tom]

credit to Aubrey Hodges as being the original composer?

Aubrey Hodges arranged the music he may not have personally composed.  He created the QFG4 soundtrack and that's how it's being credited.  I don't remember ever seeing anywhere in the original game's documentation, credit given to Edvard Grieg.  Plus, Edvard Grieg is way past copyright anyway.  

[jbltecnicspro]

credit to Aubrey Hodges as being the original composer?

Aubrey Hodges arranged the music he may not have personally composed.  He created the QFG4 soundtrack and that's how it's being credited.  I don't remember ever seeing anywhere in the original game's documentation, credit given to Edvard Grieg.  Plus, Edvard Grieg is way past copyright anyway.  

True, he's been long dead to care.  I was just wondering, that's all.

[Alistair]

It's credited in the game. Nowhere does it say in the game it's Hodges' work. I guess it was an overlook by Tom, besides, Hodges MIDI-fied it and there's countless ripoffs by Sierra musicians anyway that we probably wouldn't recognise (eg LSL3's Nontoonyt Hotel music).

EDIT: My brother and I, both massive QFG4 fans, listened to lots of the new XR tracks when I came over for dinner. I'm sorry, but other than the intro, it's all.. awful! Well, not all. Some are great, as always- Thieves' Guild, Introduction. But the majority of the rest weren't great- my brother and I gave up on bothering with disc two (but I'm sure I'll check it out later).

To clarify, there's some good efforts. And I'm not trying to cause offence- this is just one of those cases where more than 50% of tracks I would consider unlistenable. Maybe it's because QFG4 is my favourite game and soundtrack. But seriously, tracks like Dr Cranium's Lab, and Outside the Caves.. terrible. <shakes head> I just don't know what else to say.

- Alistair

[Tom]

From "awful" and "unlistenable", to "great", huh?  Other than RAP, I've rarely used those negative adjectives with music.  For some reason, you must really find this offensive.  Even though QFG4 isn't one of my favorite soundtracks, try as I might, there's absolutely nothing I could even come close to describing as "awful" or "unlistenable" or "terrible" in the XR arrangement.  Wild.

Anyway, my game says "Music & Sound Effects By Aubrey Hodges" in the Credits.  Where do you read credit given to others for individual songs?

[Alistair]

From "awful" and "unlistenable", to "great", huh? Other than RAP, I've rarely used those negative adjectives with music. For some reason, you must really find this offensive. Even though QFG4 isn't one of my favorite soundtracks, try as I might, there's absolutely nothing I could even come close to describing as "awful" or "unlistenable" or "terrible" in the XR arrangement. Wild.

Well, <blush> let me explain. You know QFG4 is my favourite soundtrack, right?

I'm trying not to make a blanket statement. At the beginning, we were like "Wow! That QFG4 intro sounds awesome!". That sentiment was quickly lost when we heard tracks like the Badders, Ouside the Caves and roughly the next 15 tracks. I liked the Hero's Guild Hall and the Thieves' Guild, but basically from the Intro->Thieves Guild, between those I actually strongly disliked every track- keeping in mind I love the original pieces.

I suppose at least part of it was that I disliked the way you did things originally, Tom- not to put too fine a point on it of course, since we'd all edit MIDI files differently, and I did so when I made that old "reply" to your double CD with the one I made in early 2004, where I did certain tracks differently, and kept some the same.

The reason I don't like the tracks isn't blanket. Some have very poor instrument conversions, like the Badders. Some have nasty sounding timbres (IMO), even though they're the "right" ones, like Mordavia or Erana's Staff, or Dr Cranium's Hallway and Lab.

I admit he's used reverb well where he has, but I really don't like over half the XR instruments used in the recordings AT ALL. They're either harsh or unrealistic. It sounds to me much less like "live" or enhanced music than a lot of his previous efforts.

But then again, maybe it's just sacred to me.

Anyway, my game says "Music & Sound Effects By Aubrey Hodges" in the Credits. Where do you read credit given to others for individual songs?

There's a reference in the "Credits" area if you click the 'Credits" section in the "sound, volume, detail, save, restore, restart" menu in-game.

Regards,
- Alistair

[shad0wfax]

Wow! I think that now it's clearer than ever that Alistair and I have radically different musical criteria and tastes. I believe that each conversion I do is a bit better that the previous one, in terms of overall warmth and balance, and QFG4 is no exception. I think that by now I'm able to get about the 50% out of Fantom's sonical capabilities. But it's evident that we have very different points of view.

It's very sinthomatic that tracks that Alistair judges as "great conversions", are barely average or even poor ones from my point of view (for instance, LSL5's Ivana Skates). On the other hand, the examples he highlights as bad conversions (Dr. Cranium, LSL5's Hard Disk Café's tracks and so on) are usually tracks were I put the greatest amount of "creativity" and personal likings. I sincerely believe that original Dr. Cranium's tracks sound poor and thin when compared to my versions, but it's obvious that Alistair doesn't think so. By the way, I already take for granted that no matter what I do, Alistair will with no doubt find lots of defects

A bit more seriously, the main reason why I'm doing this (taking Sierra midi soundtracks and arrange them to my Fantom XR) is that I like very much many soundtracks and I think they can benefit from Fantom's great soound quality. It's mainly a work for myself, but given that I think that maybe some other people might be also interested in it, and Tom is kind enough to let me upload the tracks to QS' server, I share this work (and, honestly, I like very much to share it). But in any case I'm not looking for nor asking for anyone's "approval". And if people think that those music is "awful", "terrible" or "unlistenable", then I think I shouldn't waste QS' server space to put this rubbish, and keep it to myself, because I'm nerd enough to enjoy it. I won't stop making conversions of the music I like, but maybe this is the last time I ask Tom to let me put them in QS.

As a final comment, I'd like to say I'm usually polite enough not to harshly criticize other people's efforts. With the exception of LSL3, I don't like every track of every soundtrack I convert, but nevertheless I've never put them to shame nor put them aside and not convert them.

[Tom]

It's very sinthomatic that tracks that Alistair judges as "great conversions", are barely average or even poor ones from my point of view (for instance, LSL5's Ivana Skates). On the other hand, the examples he highlights as bad conversions (Dr. Cranium, LSL5's Hard Disk Café's tracks and so on) are usually tracks were I put the greatest amount of "creativity" and personal likings. I sincerely believe that original Dr. Cranium's tracks sound poor and thin when compared to my versions, but it's obvious that Alistair doesn't think so. By the way, I already take for granted that no matter what I do, Alistair will with no doubt find lots of defects

I'd like to say I'm usually polite enough not to harshly criticize other people's efforts. With the exception of LSL3, I don't like every track of every soundtrack I convert, but nevertheless I've never put them to shame nor put them aside and not convert them.

I used to think it was a cultural thing, but later learned differently -- the lack in taking personal responsibility for statements.  Instead of, "I don't like it", it becomes "it's not good"...making a judgement call that doesn't reflect one point of view, but speaks for all.  Just keep in mind that these "awful" or "terrible" comments are only personal opinion and in no way reflects the majority of listeners.  Over time, I've also noticed quite a contrast between these personal comments, and those from listeners who also happen to be musicians.  I'm not sure why that is, though.

[the_doctor]

I won't stop making conversions of the music I like, but maybe this is the last time I ask Tom to let me put them in QS.

Don't do that!  I really liked the Fantom conversions of the LSL series you have done so far, as well as KQ6.  I never played the QFG series (outside the original one when it was still Hero's Quest) so I didn't check that one out.

But you should definitely keep it up and sending them our way!  (hoping you attack SQ3-4-5 eventually)  If someone doesn't like the Fantom conversion, they can always download the other version(s) on the site that they do ... I actually have both versions of LSL3 and LSL5 depending what I feel like hearing ... heck, I even have some tracks captured out of DosBox using the Tandy driver, because that's what I grew up with ... so to me, anything that's not in that good ol' 3-voice sounds like a remix to me!

[Alistair]

Yes, I completely agree, they're my comments, they don't speak for all. I agree my word choice was poor.

And no, I'm no musician. However I've worked with many synths and soundmaps oover the years and I have a fair idea what sounds good and what doesn't. I'd suggest that Tom perhaps doesn't care so much about QFG4's music and perhaps (only perhaps) he hasn't listened as hard he might.

Re: Ivana Skates, I don't think that's one of your best- I just didn't like most LSl5 ones, and that one sounded reasonable. I genuinely didn't like Hard Disk Cafe Part anything.


Don't take it like "I don't like anything you do", David man. Seriously- I've loved some of your works. I try and make that clear every time I comment. I've said stupid things about others, namely Tom, in the past and wouldn't post just to idly criticise you or anyone else.

I just don't like the QFG4 work, and it's my least favourite effort of yours so far- that's all I mean by it, nothing personal, nothing more, nothing less.

I don't think it works musically or sounds nice as opposed to the SC originals. However, some of your conversions, like most of the LSL3 ones sound pretty good, and I haven't even heard the new ones yet. SO don't take anything I say as a blanket statement.

Regards,
- Alistair

[Fancia]

I'll agree with The Doctor - I've liked most of your conversions, and I'd be quite happy to hear more in the future, too.

[MusicallyInspired]

I haven't listend to this one yet, but you can't leave it now. We're only just beginning to discover the range and scope of ability that the XR is capable of (as well as its user ). I haven't listened to your QFG4 work yet (I haven't even played the game properly), but I have no doubt I'll enjoy it much like KQ6 and PQ1VGA, those being my favourites of yours. And besides, you have to finish the SQ4 soundtrack before you quit recording!

[Ari]

Shad0wfax, I think you're doing a terrific job with your conversions, and while I have had some criticism of your work on the KQ6 soundtrack, it usually was more specific and technical and less general than the criticism Alistair tends to give.

I don't think you should be discouraged by one opinion, and Alistair's does seem to be a minority. I'm sure a lot of people would be sad or disappointed if you stopped uploading your work.

Alistair, just to put things in perspective, could you, perhaps, give an example of what you would do with some of the tracks you disliked. Maybe post a conversion or two of some of these tracks? It doesn't have to be a finished product even, just a small example. You do have a wide assortment of synths, and you've said you've worked on some of these soundtracks yourself, haven't you?

[Dustin]

I've yet to find anything I dislike in regards to any of your XR conversions shad0wfax. Everytime I listen to your work I am only further impressed with ability to make these spectacular converisons. While I do like the originals, I find that I like your XR conversions a great deal more. Do keep up the good work.

[jbltecnicspro]

Shadowfax, please don't think that your recordings aren't appreiciated - they most certainly are.  I think that the reason that some people do not like your recordings is that they are so used to the originals, that upon hearing your new and modern sounding Fantom recordings, they dismiss it as sounding terrible and such.  While I admit that some of your recordings struck me as sounding akward, I soon find myself getting used to your recordings, and becoming fond of the instrument quality of the Fantom XR.  

With that said, I still have to voice my opinion against some of the pieces of the Quest For Glory 4 soundtrack.  If I may - I thought the Fantom had rich strings and such, and yet your XR conversion of QFG4 sounds like a slightly more advanced Sound Canvas and nothing more.  In fact, I'll be bold and tell you that I believe an SC-8850 could create the same quality strings.  Did you do this on purpose, or are the strings not that great?  I'm not griping at your skills here, I'm just saying that after reading everybody's lavish reviews of the Fantom XR's "ultra realistic" instruments, I just feel a little underwhelmed.  

Still, your soundtrack balances out very nicely, and I do like it, it's just that some of the instruments don't sound real at all.  When you converted this soundtrack, were you aiming for a realistic rendition, or a mixture of both classic Sound Canvas synth sound, with some newer, more realistic instruments?  Thanks,

jbltecnicspro