Tuesday, August 15, 2006

XNA officially to support XBox 360 and PC

Check the XNA site, for tools announcements and other stuff.
It is great news for all the indie game creators.

Sunday, May 14, 2006

Algorithms & Music

So it looks like if you want to get involved in any music engine, some basic knowledge of logic and programming is really necessary or at least, very convenient.

What you need to create some sort of music engine and to create music for that engine, is to create a set of rules, something that will serve for the musician as well as the programmer.

Have in mind that a programmer with a good set of rules (what we call specification) will have an easy time coding your music into the game and it will work perfectly well from the beginning, but it you don’t give good rules the guess work on the programming side could ruin your musical results.

Programs follow what we call algorithms, in other words, a set of rules to solve a problem, check this out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algorithm

Algorithms usually solve problems following a very easy logic path, which can be graphically displayed with flow charts:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flow_charts

Examples of algorithms applied to music are here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algorithmic_music

http://ccrma-www.stanford.edu/~blackrse/algorithm.html


Don’t think is something new; check this out from the ccrma page:
“Mozart, too, used automated composition techniques in his Musikalisches Wurfelspiel ("Dice Music"), a musical game which "involved assembling a number of small musical fragments, and combining them by chance, piecing together a new piece from randomly chosen parts" (Alpern, 1995). This very simple form of "algorithmic" composition leaves creative decisions in the hands of chance, letting the role of a dice to decide what notes are to be used.”

If you want to go even further:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finite_state_machine

Monday, April 10, 2006

Tuesday, April 04, 2006

More links, this time from the UCLA course, reproduced with permission here

Audio Tools Cubase SX/Nuendo/Wavelab Cubase SX3 and Nuendo 3 are Cross-platform Audio/MIDI creation software. Wavelab is an audio editing software.

Digital Performer Audio/MIDI creation software for the Mac

Live Cross-platform Audio/MIDI creation software

Logic Pro Audio/MIDI creation software for the Mac

Pro Tools Cross-platform Audio/MIDI creation software

Reason Cross-platform Audio/MIDI creation software

SAWStudio PC audio editing software. Similar in function to Pro Tools.

Sonar PC Audio/MIDI creation software

Sound Forge PC audio editing software
Composers

Bill Brown
Composer for the TV series CSI:NY

Videogame Credits:
The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction, The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-Earth **, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon 2 **, Rainbow Six 3: Black Arrow, Lineage II: Chronicle 2 - Age of Splendor, Lineage II: Chronicle 1 - Harbingers of War, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Jungle Storm, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3, Command & Conquer Generals: Zero Hour **, Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword, Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Tides of War, Rt Castle Wolfenstein: Operation Resurrection, Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory, Command & Conquer: Generals **, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Island Thunder, The Sum of All Fears (PC), Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon - Desert Siege, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, Rogue Spear - Black Thorn, Clive Barker's Undying, Michael Crichton's Timeline (PC), Rainbow Six - Covert Ops Essentials, Rogue Spear - Urban Operations, Shadow Watch, Disney's Villains' Revenge **, Arcane Online, Xena - Warrior Princess PSX **, Tom Clancy's Rogue Spear, Rainbow Six - Eagle Watch, Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six, Trespasser: The Lost World, Tom Clancy's Politika

** denotes a collaboration


Sascha Dikiciyan (aka Sonic Mayhem)
Gameography
Terminator 3 "War of the machines", Quake II, Quake II:Ground Zero, Quake II:The Reckoning, Quake III Arena, Quake III Arena: Team Arena, James Bond "Tomorrow Never Dies", Wild 9, Weapon sound design for Unreal Tournament


Alex Kharlamov
Videogame Credits:
No Respect, Dragonshard*, War of the Ring*

* Additional Music Composer


Billy Martin
Videogame Credits:
Chicken Little, Finding Nemo: Learning with Nemo, Memorick, the Apprentice Knight, Spy Kids 3D: Game Over , Disney-Pixar Learning: Buzz Lightyear 2nd & 3rd Grade (2002 GANG Award , Best Edutainment/Children Audio), Disney's Royal Horse Show, Treasure Planet Training Academy (2002 GANG Award nominee), The Book of Pooh, Search For the Secret Keys, Tarzan Untamed (AIAS Award nominee), Zoog Genius, Phonics Quest (AIAS Award nominee), Mickey's Active Learning Series, Jungle Book Rhythm and Groove, Winnie-the-Pooh Early Learning Series, Lion King II: Simba's Pride, Aladdin's Reading Quest, The Great Reading Adventure, Hunchback of Notre Dame: Topsy Turvey Games, The Great Word Adventure, Arcade America, Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones*

* Additional Music Composer


Lennie Moore
Videogame Credits:
Outcast, Dragonshard, War of the Ring, Plague of Darkness, Villain's Night Out*

* Additional Music Composer


Tommy Tallarico
Videogame Credits:

PLAYSTATION
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, Spider-Man, Tomorrow Never Dies, Treasures of the Deep, Evil Dead: Hail to the King, Pac-Man World, Earthworm Jim 2, Spot Goes To Hollywood, Time Crisis: Project Titan, MDK, Wild 9, Point Blank 2, Apocalypse, Tales of Destiny, R/C Stunt Copter, Skeleton Warriors, Black Dawn, Agile Warrior F-111X, VMX Racing, Battle Arena Toshinden 3, Burning Road, Wargames: Defcon 1, NCAA March Madness 2000, NCAA March Madness 2001, NFL Blitz 2001, NHL Face-Off ’98, Test Drive 4, Test Drive 5, Test Drive 6, Test Drive: Off-Road 2, Demolition Racer, Tilt!, MTV Sports: Skateboarding with Andy Macdonald, Spec-Ops: Airborne Commando, MTV Sports: T.J. Lavin's Ultimate BMX, WWF Smackdown 2!: Know Your Role, Army Men: Air Attack, Twisted Metal: Small Brawl, Hardball 99, Powerslave, Golden Nugget, 1st Sony PlayStation Demo Disk, Major Damage, Felix the Cat, Deuce

PLAYSTATION II
Maximo, Maximo vs. Army of Zin, Pac-Man World Rally, Jaws Unleashed, Spy Hunter 2, Knockout Kings 2001, Blood Rayne, War of the Monsters, Bard’s Tale, Fight Club, The Incredibles, The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer, SpongeBob SquarePants The Movie, Scooby Doo: Night of 100 Frights, And 1 Streetball, Street Hoops, Black & Bruised, MX Superfly, Casper: Spirit Dimensions, Fugitive Hunter: War on Terror, WWE: Crush Hour, X-Files: Resist or Serve, Black 9, Moto X

PC
Unreal 2, Unreal Tournament 2004, Unreal Mission Pack: Return to Na Pali, MDK, Advent Rising, Spider-Man, Lineage II - Chronicle 3: Rise of Darkness, Exteel, Jaws Unleashed, Messiah, Bard’s Tale, Sacrifice, Earthworm Jim 1 & 2: The Whole Can O’ Worms, Earthworm Jim, Earthworm Jim 2, Pac-Man World Rally, The Incredibles, The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer, Blood Rayne, Wargames, The Wheel of Time, Evil Dead: Hail to the King, Test Drive 4, Test Drive 5, Test Drive 6, Test Drive: Off-Road 2, Demolition Racer, Devastation, Jeff Gordon XS Racing, Beavis & Butthead Do U., Beavis & Butthead: Bunghole In One, Redline, MTV Sports: Skateboarding with Andy Macdonald, Luftwaffe Commander, Aladdin, Adrenix, Ultra Fighters, Hardball 6, Hyper 3-D Pinball, Duckman: Legend of the Fall, Powerslave, Agile Warrior F-111X, Golden Nugget, Monopoly Deluxe, Shuttle, Net Warrior, Flying Tigers, Akolyte, Jetz

XBOX
Advent Rising, Unreal 2, Unreal Championship 2, Jaws Unleashed, Pac-Man World Rally, Spy Hunter 2, Oddworld: Munch’s Oddysee, Bard’s Tale, Fight Club, The Incredibles, The Incredibles: Rise of the Underminer, SpongeBob SquarePants The Movie, And 1 Streetball, Street Hoops, MX Superfly, Toxic Grind, Fugitive Hunter: War on Terror, Scooby Doo: Night of 100 Frights, Aquaman: Battle for Atlantis, WWE: Crush Hour, X-Files: Resist or Serve, Black 9, Moto X


Cris Velasco
Videogame Credits:
Splinter Cell: Double Agent**, God of War**, Van Helsing**, Battlestar Gallactica**, Terminator 3: Redemption**, Maximo: Army of Zin**

** denotes a collaboration


Jack Wall
Videogame Credits:

Jade Empire, Myst IV: Revelation, Rise of the Kasai, Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow, Wrath Unleased , Myst III: Exile, Unreal II, Ben Hur, Mark of Kri, Animorphs, Ultimate Ride Coaster Deluxe, Extremely Goofy Skateboarding, Barbie: Secret Agent, Mission Bravo, Vigilance, 10-Six The Million Player Game, Mighty Ducks Pinball Slam, Flying Saucer


Inon Zur
Videogame Credits:
Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War - Winter Assault, Gauntlet: Seven Sorrows, Exteel, Champions: Return To Arms, Men Of Valor, Shadow Ops: Red Mercury, Crusader Kings, Power Rangers: Dino Thunder, Syberia II, Champions Of Norrath: Realms Of EverQuest, SOCOM II: U.S. Navy SEALS, Lionheart: Legacy Of The Crusader, War And Peace, Icewind Dale II, Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel, Baldur's Gate II: Throne Of Bhaal, Star Trek: Starfleet Command II, Star Trek: New Worlds, Star Trek: Klingon Academy

Associations

Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS)
Sponsor of the D.I.C.E. summit, held in Las Vegas every year. Sponsor of the AIAS Awards.


American Composers Forum
An excellent national organization for emerging composers


Gamasutra
Great industry resource


Game Audio Network Guild
One of best organizations around. Very supportive of emerging composers by the industry veterans.


Game Developer Magazine
You get an automatic subscription if you attend GDC (Game Developers Conference). Lots of inside-the-industry articles from programming to art to audio.


Game Developers Conference (GDC)
A must-attend for anyone interested in working in the game industry. Lots of great panel discussion on relevant topics. Always about advancing the Art of making videogames and meeting developers, publishers, and fellow audio professionals.


Game Music Radio
A great Web radio site devoted to videogame music.


International Game Developers Association
Another excellent organization. Sponsor of the Game Developers Choice Awards.


Music 4 Games
An awesome website devoted to Videogame Music.


Society of Composers & Lyricists
Sister organization to G.A.N.G. with mostly film and television composers as it's members

Sample Players

Gigastudio GS3 Orchestra
A powerful sample playback system, best as a standalone programm running on a separate computer from your sequencing host.


Halion
Sample playback for Cubase SX


Kontakt
A great plug-in sample playback if you have a surround sampled library like the East-West Quantum Leap Orchestra library.


Logic EXS
Sample playback system for Logic Pro.


MachFive
A sample playback plug-in from MOTU




East West
Large collection of sample libraries for all formats, including the Quantum Leap Orchestra, Symphonic Choirs, & Storm Drum.


Gigastudio
Tascam has many sample libraries for Gigastudio, including Dan Dean, Garritan, Larry Seyer, and others.


Ilio
Many of the best sample libraries around, including Spectrasonics, Skippy's, and Vienna Symphony Libraries

Sample libraries

ProjectSAM
Some of the best Brass and Percussion libraries around for Gigastudio.


Sonic Implants
Great orchestral libraries for Gigastudio


Spectrasonics
Maker of some of the most used libraries in film, TV, and videogames. Distorted Reality 1 & 2, Symphony of Voices, Vocal Planet, Bass Legends, Backbeat, Metamorphosis, Liquid Grooves, Burning Grooves, Bizarre Guitar, Han Zimmer Guitars to name a few.


VSL (Vienna Symphony Library)
A staple of the Gigastudio orchestral libraries.

Softsynth

Arturia
Maker of Arp 2600 V, Minimoog V, Moog Modular V, and CS80 V softsynths.


East West
Over 135 virtual instruments to choose from, including all Drumkit from Hell, Percussive Adventures, Quantum Leap, Vocaloid, and Yellow Tools plug-ins.


Ilio
Distributor for Spectrasonics plugins (Stylus RMX, Atmosphere, Trilogy), Plugsound, Lounge Lizard, and the new Vienna Instruments.


Native Instruments
Home of Reaktor, Absynth, B4 II, FM7, and PRO-53 softsynths.


Spectrasonics
Maker of Atmosphere/Trilogy/Stylus RMX.


Steinberg
Maker of Virtual Guitarist/Bassist, The Grand, Groove Agent, and Hypersonic plug-ins.

Friday, March 24, 2006

Added links

Check links on the right. I added Lennie Moore, the teacher of the UCLA course. Gamasutra a good source for industry news and info. And one of the headlines that got my attention recently there music morphing.

Welcome

Ludus Musicus, is just a pretentious name for Music composition and technology regarding Videogames.
I am a software engineer and musician, and lately, I am getting really interested in Music for Videogames.
I am about to start the UCLA course on Videogame music composing and I thought it might be interesting to keep this channel open for discussion of materials, technologies, SDKs, tools, you name it.
I'll add some links and some extra info as soon as I have some time to do it.
Thanks for visiting and enjoy.

DCP.