Skyrim Theme in Sound Interview needs louder/more defined ch : V - Skyrim

» Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:06 am

So you can find the video here, the theme plays near the end: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X78Zg9WfzeA.

My opinion is that, although it is an early and a relatively low quality video/audio, the theme should have a more defined choir, they don't have to record anything new, just mix it differently. I find that the reason why so many video game soundtracks sound so bad in comparison to film ones is because they blend all the instruments and vocals at the same volume or whatever and the results are very muddy and not poignant enough, and it is a shame because the acapella version of the theme is truly beautiful and the strings should only support the choir rather than be on the same level. But anyways, I'm no music major or anything and this topic seems very minutial. I also hope that some of the music sounds like that of Arvo P?rt, I especially like the silence that he uses in his music. I sometimes explored the world in Oblivion listening to this and it made a very beautiful, atmospheric experience. This particular song I think would work perfectly, but I always found that it felt sort of fake playing custom music in the game because there was no battle music and it didn't go with the flow of the diverse landscapes or situtations: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxDc24zSuzU&feature=fvst.

I do not agree with you att all

it's perfect, this is not a loud nordic choir cd, this is the game music, ment to be in the background aswell. I think it is loud enough, don't want them to go too far with volume

» Tue Mar 15, 2011 4:21 am

You really should wait until they release the theme. It's like standing 30ft away from an HDTV and saying the picture needs to be sharper.

» Tue Mar 15, 2011 1:21 am

As it is now, it's almost overdone, too bombastic. If they want viking style, just grab a bunch of baritone voiced men and let them sing with a lot of rhythm (like epic Germanic and later on Norse poetry was supposed to be) and repeated lines (that convey the central idea of the story) while keeping the drum functional as it should be. No, the original choir is in my opinion much more pleasant to listen to. Less is more.

» Tue Mar 15, 2011 12:55 am

Comparing P?rt to atmospheric music is not okay...

I was quite sceptical when I first heard that there would be a choir in the soundtrack. Choirs is the bane of movie/game music where composers always seems to strive fpr massive chords with the whole choir, with melody in sopranos. A good example, which is not bad music bot still a good example, is Duel of Fates by John Williams.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbPX4xrKNlM
The choir is the main tonal focus of the piece with the orchestra doing the middle parts and accompanying the choir.

I find the intro with the men's voices doing a speaking choir somewhat tasteful by those standards. It's raw and simple. When the main theme is introduced, the melody lies in basses but mostly brass, succesfully merging the orchestra and choir. The women's voices on the other hand is only doing ornaments.

Also, I don't think we need to worry, it's Jeremy Soule doing the music and not Inon Zur.

» Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:33 am

I think it is going to be great!

But there were so many different music clips that I do not know what parts are in or out, but all parts sounded great.

» Mon Mar 14, 2011 9:22 pm

Nah. I'm quite fond of the low, almost Gregorian choir - it has this powerful bass to it that sends chills down your spine and gives you goosebumps.

Gregorian chants is never in an especially low register as it is melodic monophony. The only time there is a bass in gregorian chant is when a drone is added, but that's not very common and also mostly just historians speculating.

» Tue Mar 15, 2011 1:32 am

I don't care what other people think, but I enjoyed it very much.

» Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:31 pm

As long as there's no Blind Guardian or Bolt Thrower, I'm a happy man.

» Mon Mar 14, 2011 6:08 pm

I think it's perfect the way it is. They don't need to change anything.

» Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:52 pm

I think it sounds absolutely awesome

» Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:52 pm

As a music producer myself, I thought it was mixed extremely well. The orchestral elements are in your face, and the choir is nice and aggressive. No frequency fighting, lots of depth and layering.. I think once we hear a full stereo, mastered mix of it.. it's going to blow us away. I've always loved Morrowind's theme, even more so than Oblivion's (which I really enjoyed), so to hear a new take on my favourite theme from this series is fantastic. Can't wait to hear the final version! Very impressed.

» Mon Mar 14, 2011 6:16 pm

The new theme is just as good as Mass Effect 2's suicide mission theme. :celebration:

» Mon Mar 14, 2011 5:33 pm

I find this a very silly thread, everyone here besides the OP loves the theme and there is nothing fake about it, metal gear solid for example has bazaar music at times but its done by harry gregson williams who does hollywood movies. Games nowadays have budgets that rival most films these days if not most standard films. Skyrims theme is perfect, is has the grit the loud cultural drums and just the epic theme of TES.

» Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:32 pm

No, no, no, that's not what it's missing! It needs more cowbell!

» Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:01 pm

I find this a very silly thread, everyone here besides the OP loves the theme and there is nothing fake about it, metal gear solid for example has bazaar music at times but its done by harry gregson williams who does hollywood movies. Games nowadays have budgets that rival most films these days if not most standard films. Skyrims theme is perfect, is has the grit the loud cultural drums and just the epic theme of TES.

Then I love it how all people somehow look over my post. :laugh:

» Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:29 pm

I don't care what other people think, but I enjoyed it very much.

As I do. It gave me some major goosebumps.

» Tue Mar 15, 2011 12:46 am

Choir is perfect. Theme is perfect.

No need to change anything

» Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:59 pm

I agree, the choir itself, without instruments, sounds much better to me, so maybe they should change it a bit. Anyway, it's still plenty of time, so they will do everything to make everything perfect.

But still, it's increadibly epic and definitely the best title song in TES series.

» Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:58 pm

Then I love it how all people somehow look over my post. :laugh:

Haha I am sorry I didn't notice your post at all

put into consideration

ON TOPIC Its an immense tune

» Tue Mar 15, 2011 2:12 am

Nah, don't change anything. Perfect the way it is, although I'm sure they tweaked it a bit more to fit into the game.

Once we get the entire soundtrack (this won't happen until the game comes out), we'll get the full picture of Soule's vision. While the theme is a classic, I'm still interested in how Soule will handle the rest. Hopefully, he incorporates some celtic into the equation.

» Mon Mar 14, 2011 11:08 pm

The music isn't any more or less epic it's Morrowind with a twist. Both variations are equally epic in their own way.

All I hope is that the soundtrack for Skyrim isn't dominated by men singing songs.

» Mon Mar 14, 2011 9:36 pm

I agree, the choir itself, without instruments, sounds much better to me, so maybe they should change it a bit. Anyway, it's still plenty of time, so they will do everything to make everything perfect.

But still, it's increadibly epic and definitely the best title song in TES series.

A mono-thematic soundtrack of nordic men? You can't be serious.

» Mon Mar 14, 2011 9:05 pm

its just low quality on the video, I am guessing it will be like the one in the trailer, and that was just awesome

» Tue Mar 15, 2011 5:22 am

So you can find the video here, the theme plays near the end: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X78Zg9WfzeA.

My opinion is that, although it is an early and a relatively low quality video/audio, the theme should have a more defined choir, they don't have to record anything new, just mix it differently. I find that the reason why so many video game soundtracks sound so bad in comparison to film ones is because they blend all the instruments and vocals at the same volume or whatever and the results are very muddy and not poignant enough, and it is a shame because the acapella version of the theme is truly beautiful and the strings should only support the choir rather than be on the same level. But anyways, I'm no music major or anything and this topic seems very minutial. I also hope that some of the music sounds like that of Arvo P?rt, I especially like the silence that he uses in his music. I sometimes explored the world in Oblivion listening to this and it made a very beautiful, atmospheric experience. This particular song I think would work perfectly, but I always found that it felt sort of fake playing custom music in the game because there was no battle music and it didn't go with the flow of the diverse landscapes or situtations: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxDc24zSuzU&feature=fvst.

Well, you are entitled to your opinion, but don't you think the guy they have hired to do this would know what he is doing? People go to school and get training for this sort of thing, I'm sure he knows what he is doing, and from what little I heard, it sounded perfect.