Music and Sound update

[skynet464]

So whats everyone's opinion of the sound and music in the trailer? I thought it was pretty good, but I'm hoping that a few more of the songs sound like the music that was in the first trailer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgz-89c8 ... r_embedded

[Tolwrath]

I like the idea of added layers to differentiate between different amounts of tension. I thought it was a really cool effect in Resonance of Fate (or End of Eternity depending on your location) when all the instruments would come in when you started using move attacks instead of just normal attacks. It allows it to fade in and out without ever actually breaking the melody. I would give a YouTube link to show this, but most the videos I find are reviews/let's plays with the sound dimmed.

One thing I noticed in the trailer was a lack of vocal sounds. All we get is some combat grunts. It makes me wonder if it'd be possible to use the same tension system to determine what level of gruffness or other emotion is put into a vocal line. Of course, doing such a thing would require numerous recorded versions of each line for a single voice. Not to mention if different voices are added.

I think the sound effects work nice. Uhh.. how would music/tension hold up when you have two squads far apart and switch between them? Gotta go for now. Like the sound so far.

[Pain]

I like all the sound effects very much.

Music, doesn't really matter that much as long as it is atmospheric. I really liked the music from the old trailers, always reminds my of the old spaghetti westerns ("A fistful of dollars"). But I also enjoy the music from the this new demo.

Could work both...

[Potocobe]

I was quite impressed with the background music. Really liked the idea of layers of sound emphasizing what you are looking at and transitioning between scenes. I'd say this guy pretty much nailed the sound effects for the doors and weapons. There were some nice meaty thwacks during the combat scene. Good call hiring him.

Can I request closed mouth screams and groans of pain in lieu of open mouthed screams and shrieks of agony? There is going to be a lot of pain going around in my Kenshi game and I think ear piercing screams would get old in short order. I imagine if my old veteran gets hurt or angry he would be gritting his teeth and growling the pain and not howling like a child. Plus who wants to keep their mouths open while fighting in desert sand? What is to stop your enemies from tossing a handful of sand in your bees hole while you are howling in pain from a serious cut to your leg? So there. Logic. No shrieking screams!

[skynet464]

Can I request closed mouth screams and groans of pain in lieu of open mouthed screams and shrieks of agony? There is going to be a lot of pain going around in my Kenshi game and I think ear piercing screams would get old in short order.

So your into that sort of thing, huh?

[Tolwrath]

why do we even have that emote?!

[Mattk50]

we don't.

The sound design looks great, lots of nice noise there. i want to know how the sound will actually work though, will incoming sound be based on where your camera is placed? your characters? if so, which character?

[Isen3C]

The sound that we saw as a prototype was amazing... right until the end.

I realize its up to the creative artist to properly express whatever he feels works in as is his vision.
However, PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, STAY CLEAR OF THAT STRING INSTRUMENT CRAP. MY LIFE IS PLENTY EMOTIONAL AS IS, I DON'T NEED FEELINGS TO BE FORCED ONTO ME!

I much rather the wasteland style/western-eastern influenced, heavy industrial/fallout post-apoc feel than well...

This:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3lWwBslWqg

[iSuck345]

Just put some industrial rock since games workshop put it for orks... ok seriously now without 40k jokes, I have the same preferences of isen.

[Tolwrath]

However, PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, STAY CLEAR OF THAT STRING INSTRUMENT CRAP. MY LIFE IS PLENTY EMOTIONAL AS IS, I DON'T NEED FEELINGS TO BE FORCED ONTO ME!

I disagree. Also: with the layered sound, I wonder if it'd be possible to replace some of the sound files for the individual layers. I find myself thinking of making a trolltastic occapella melody with more voices added as tension rises. Maybe I'll do an occapella of Iron Maiden's the Trooper.

[adders666]

Personally the only thing i didn't like in the demo was the sword sound while moving it in inventory was a little too diablo 2 and was quite grating imagine looting a big group of bandits and hearing clink click click would really jar imho something more along the lines of a sword being sheathed/unsheathed would be better the rest sounded great though. looking forward to some ambient sound while playing will make it a lot more enjoyable

[KoleHicks]

Hello Everyone! Kole here (the Audio Designer).

Thanks for all of the feedback, comments, and concerns. I've got a bit of work to finish up here, but just wanted to let you know that I'm reading these threads & plan on responding when I have time.

Definitely hope to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the Kenshi community & am excited for the future. Talk soon!

[hbrown]

Congrats and hope you do a great work on this great game, is goo to know we have some sound aon the way and good sound.

Didn t comment on before but i liked the layers changeing depending on the situation (maybe with new biomes new ones would be added with more diversity as well), but even just this demo was good (imo), tho as someone said, would like to see some music like the ones in the trailer , still good none the less.

Great work

[skynet464]

By the way, does anyone know what music was used in the first trailer? Because i really liked it. And when i say really liked i mean REALLY liked it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXcuZV77UJY

[skynet464]

Double

[Isen3C]

However, PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, STAY CLEAR OF THAT STRING INSTRUMENT CRAP. MY LIFE IS PLENTY EMOTIONAL AS IS, I DON'T NEED FEELINGS TO BE FORCED ONTO ME!

I disagree. Also: with the layered sound, I wonder if it'd be possible to replace some of the sound files for the individual layers. I find myself thinking of making a trolltastic occapella melody with more voices added as tension rises. Maybe I'll do an occapella of Iron Maiden's the Trooper.

Well I hope at least there are instructions for modding the sound and the mood, I know first hand that in Morrowind you could do this and create a totally different setting with your own custom music files.

[Tolwrath]

Well I hope at least there are instructions for modding the sound and the mood, I know first hand that in Morrowind you could do this and create a totally different setting with your own custom music files.

Ah yeah... I remember replacing the Morrowind music with the sound track from The Summoner once when I got bored. Good times.

[KoleHicks]

One thing I noticed in the trailer was a lack of vocal sounds. All we get is some combat grunts. It makes me wonder if it'd be possible to use the same tension system to determine what level of gruffness or other emotion is put into a vocal line. Of course, doing such a thing would require numerous recorded versions of each line for a single voice. Not to mention if different voices are added.

I think the sound effects work nice. Uhh.. how would music/tension hold up when you have two squads far apart and switch between them?

Hi Tolwrath! VO/Dialogue is something Chris & I will have to discuss in more depth. It definitely can add another layer of immersion, but there are quite a few added complexities that come with it. I like your Gruffness Idea too I have an idea on how we could maintain the tension as you're switching between 2 far squads, but nothing "official" yet.

Can I request closed mouth screams and groans of pain in lieu of open mouthed screams and shrieks of agony? There is going to be a lot of pain going around in my Kenshi game and I think ear piercing screams would get old in short order. I imagine if my old veteran gets hurt or angry he would be gritting his teeth and growling the pain and not howling like a child. Plus who wants to keep their mouths open while fighting in desert sand? What is to stop your enemies from tossing a handful of sand in your *CENSORED* hole while you are howling in pain from a serious cut to your leg? So there. Logic. No shrieking screams!

You make a fantastic point! Depending on the conversation Chris & I have about VO, this may be something we try. The only concern I have with closed mouth screams/groans is if it'll come across very well. Recording them w/ the same amount of "emotion/intensity" will be a little more difficult, but my main concern is if it'll "articulate" correctly in-game with all the other sounds/music going on at the same time. Something we may try though!

I want to know how the sound will actually work though, will incoming sound be based on where your camera is placed? your characters? if so, which character?

We'll have to do a bit of testing to see what works best. I have an idea on "trading" sounds as we zoom in/out, but nothing official yet.

Personally the only thing i didn't like in the demo was the sword sound while moving it in inventory was a little too diablo 2 and was quite grating imagine looting a big group of bandits and hearing clink click click would really jar imho something more along the lines of a sword being sheathed/unsheathed would be better the rest sounded great though.

Solid point! It could get a bit tedious on the ear, so we may experiment with different sounds that are less intense... perhaps multiple variations & all tied to a specific weapon.

---

As for modding sound & inserting your own... I'm not sure on this part. Chris & I've yet to talk about it. Great to hear so many people enjoyed the music from the original trailer as well (not mine). I still have quite a bit of work to do with designing the music system, so who knows... perhaps at one point in the game (if it's appropriate) you may run into a situation where Heavy Spaghetti Western music pops in. All a bit up in the air at the moment

Thanks for the feedback everyone!

[pii]

I loved all the sounds - the different sounds for each menu was an unexpected and neat idea. The music, the first part, was fantastic. But the classical sounding guitar didn't sit too well with me. I'd like either no melody or something unusual, like in a Japanese scale; classical/European sounding music doesn't fit the atmosphere IMO.

But anyway, I'm most excited to hear the game after playing in silence.

[Eiron]

But the classical sounding guitar didn't sit too well with me. I'd like either no melody or something unusual, like in a Japanese scale; classical/European sounding music doesn't fit the atmosphere IMO.

Just my two cents worth, and maybe overpriced at that, but I really enjoyed the nylon guitar melody. Obviously, it doesn't fit with every situation, but it seems to suit the lone wanderer feel of that scene from the video extremely well.