Understanding Game Scoring by
Understanding Game Scoring explores the unique collaboration between gameplay and composition that defines musical scoring for video games. Using an array of case studies reaching back into the canon of classic video games, this book illuminates the musical flexibility, user interactivity and sound programming that make game scoring so different from traditional modes of composition. Mack Enns explores the collaboration between game scorers and players to produce the final score for a game, through case studies of the Nintendo Entertainment System sound hardware configuration, and game scores, including the canonic scores for Super Mario Bros. (1985) and The Legend of Zelda (1986). This book is recommended reading for students and researchers interested in the composition and production of video game scores, as well as those interested in ludo-musicology.
The Game Music Handbook by
The Game Music Handbook leads the reader on a journey through numerous soundscapes throughout video game history, exploring a series of concepts and techniques that are key to being a successful game music composer. Writing music for games is an art that requires conceptual forethought,specialized technical skill, and a deep understanding of how players interact with games and game audio. The book organizes key game music scoring concepts into an applicable methodology, describing them with memorable distinctions that leave readers with a clear picture of how to apply them tocreating music and sound.This book is for every music composer or musician who wishes to begin a career in game composition. Readers will gain a solid understanding of the core techniques for composing video game music, as well as the conceptual differences that separate it from any other compositional field. Some of thesetopics include designing emotional arc for non-linear timelines, the relationship between music and sound design, discussion of the player's interaction with audio, and more.Advanced readers and game audio professionals will find detailed discussion of game state and its effect on player interaction, a composer-centric lesson on programming, how to work with version control, information on visual programming languages, emergent audio, procedural audio and otherindispensable knowledge about advanced reactive music concepts. The book explores the effect that music has on a player's interaction with a game. It discusses the practical application of this interaction through the examination of various techniques employed in games throughout video game historyto enhance immersion, emphasize emotion, and create compelling interactive experiences.
Music for Film and Game Soundtracks with FL Studio by
Create and compose production-quality music with the power of FL Studio 20 along with MuseScore and Wwise Key Features: Develop widely applicable music composition techniques and create full orchestral scoresLeverage the power of FL Studio to create your own production-level soundtracksUse cutting-edge tools to fuel your creative ideas and launch your composer career Book Description: FL Studio is a cutting-edge software music production environment and a powerful and easy-to-use tool for composing music. In this comprehensive guide, you'll discover how to use FL Studio's tools and techniques to design exciting soundtracks for your films, TV shows, video games, and much more. You'll start by understanding the business of composing, learning how to communicate, score, market your services, land gigs, and deliver music projects for clients like a professional. Next, you'll set up your studio environment, navigate key tools, such as the channel rack, piano roll, playlist, mixer, and browser, and export songs. The book then advances to show you how to compose orchestral music using MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) programming, with a dedicated section to string instruments. You'll create sheet music using MuseScore for live musicians to play your compositions. Later, you'll learn about the art of Foley for recording realistic sound effects, create adaptive music that changes throughout video games, and design music to trigger specific emotions, for example, scary music to terrify your listener. Finally, you'll work on a sample project that will help you prepare for your composing career. By the end of this book, you'll be able to create professional soundtrack scores for your films and video games. What You Will Learn: Compose production-ready music for films and video gamesPlan and deliver a soundtrack music score for clients like a professionalApply practical music theory using themes, leitmotifs, scales, and modesCompose orchestral music with MIDI programmingDesign music for specific emotionsCreate sheet music with MuseScore, score music for films with Fruity Video Player, and make diegetic musicDesign interactive music by leveraging horizontal resequencing and vertical remixing Who this book is for: This book is for musicians and programmers who want to take their music composing skills to a professional level. Film directors and game designers who want to get involved in scoring music for their own productions will also find this book useful. All you need is a computer and FL Studio to get started.
A Composer's Guide to Game Music by
A comprehensive, practical guide to composing video game music, from acquiring the necessary skills to finding work in the field. Music in video games is often a sophisticated, complex composition that serves to engage the player, set the pace of play, and aid interactivity. Composers of video game music must master an array of specialized skills not taught in the conservatory, including the creation of linear loops, music chunks for horizontal resequencing, and compositional fragments for use within a generative framework. In A Composer's Guide to Game Music, Winifred Phillips--herself an award-winning composer of video game music--provides a comprehensive, practical guide that leads an aspiring video game composer from acquiring the necessary creative skills to understanding the function of music in games to finding work in the field. Musicians and composers may be drawn to game music composition because the game industry is a multibillion-dollar, employment-generating economic powerhouse, but, Phillips writes, the most important qualification for a musician who wants to become a game music composer is a love of video games. Phillips offers detailed coverage of essential topics, including musicianship and composition experience; immersion; musical themes; music and game genres; workflow; working with a development team; linear music; interactive music, both rendered and generative; audio technology, from mixers and preamps to software; and running a business. A Composer's Guide to Game Music offers indispensable guidance for musicians and composers who want to deploy their creativity in a dynamic and growing industry, protect their musical identities while working in a highly technical field, and create great music within the constraints of a new medium.
Creating Music and Sound for Games by
Get ready to step into the mysterious world of the video game sound designer and composer. Creating Music and Sound for Games examines the responsibilities associated with each of these roles and offers tips and insight for breaking into the business. With focused sections for each of these important roles, this book offers an insider's look into how the sound designer and compositor fit into the game production team and how these roles interact with one another. You'll cover the essential tools of the trade and will examine sound design and compositional tips that can save you time and make you more efficient.
Music for New Media by
(Berklee Guide). Videogames, web sites, and other new media are creating more opportunities for contemporary music writers than have ever existed before. In this book, you will learn to write effectively for these new forms, mastering the devices, sounds, and techniques for supporting stories and responding to user actions. It details the technical and dramatic requirements necessary for each type of new media. In engaging language, illustrated by countless real-world examples and practical workshops, writers at all levels will find ways to create music for new markets, and find new opportunities for creative expression. Guided hands-on projects will help you create music in all these forms. A CD of examples and practice files illustrates all concepts and lets you practice the techniques. Readers will learn to: * Score videogames, developing music for different characters, addressing the standard types of scenes and cues, and the formats required by game publishers * Develop music for web sites, including HTML and Flash code * Use sound technologies within mobile devices to create distinctive ringtones and other sounds * Create demos and portfolios for getting clients.