Fake RPG Soundtrack: Main Title Theme

This is the main title theme for an RPG (as in, video game) that doesn't actually exist (outside of my head, anyway). It's an orchestral piece with strong emphasis on melody and emotion.

This song is part of a larger project, actually. My goal is to write many songs, all of which belong to a particular aspect of this hypothetical RPG. I hope to be able to emulate the styles of the great "classic" Japanese RPG composers, such as Nobuo Uematsu (of Final Fantasy fame) and Yasunori Mitsuda (of Chrono Trigger and Xenogears fame).

• play
• pause
• min volume
• max volume

posted by zhaytee (7 comments total)

That's a really neat idea, to record music for something like an RPG (or a movie etc) that doesn't exist. Really stirred up Chrono Trigger memories within me. I especially like the horn you used. Are these live instruments or digital? They are very convincing, at least to me.
posted by Corduroy at 8:52 PM on November 22, 2009

Hi Corduroy. I'm glad my song stirred up Chrono Trigger memories: that's just what I hoped would happen. ;) In answer to your question: this is not a live recording, but rather a multi-tracked series of digital instruments. I use Logic 9 as a multitracking suite. Thanks for listening!
posted by zhaytee at 12:27 AM on November 23, 2009

This is cool; I actually get more of a TV-Olympic-montage vibe from it, but still, it's neat. The bit right before 2 minutes is extra neat. Are those Logic's jampack orchestral instruments? I'd forgotten how nice they sounded.
posted by uncleozzy at 5:45 AM on November 23, 2009

Very evocative and touching.
posted by bearwife at 3:31 PM on November 23, 2009

pretty good... kinda reminds me of the music that plays when you finally get to the end of what ever rpg you are playing.....
posted by Greynaab at 12:56 PM on November 24, 2009

Good work. The piano entrance is a little jarring...change in tempo and orchestration comes as a bit of a surprise. Maybe prep the listener by using piano a bit in the beginning of the piece, and make the horn more prominent once it enters under the piano. This will help unify it.

And though I'm glad Cordoury thinks this sounds real, to me it certainly does not ( : Though I am an orchestral musician, and know what these instruments actually sound like, so I guess that means I'm "biased" (try to play a synth guitar for anyone though and they will freak out, since everyone knows what THAT sounds like). But I bring this up just to encourage you to try and find friends who play these instruments to come in and do some recording for you. It will instantly set you apart from the pack if you have live musicians on board, and make the whole act of music making that much more rewarding.
posted by The3rdMan at 4:30 PM on December 9, 2009

Wow, spot on! This is some excellent work. I feel like questing now! (well, buying potions, then questing)
posted by EatTheWeek at 3:08 AM on December 11, 2009