Post by carolynhacker on Sept 24, 2007 9:50:06 GMT -5
Hello Heroes!
It's time to perk up your ears again! We have a new track for you on the Sacred Music-Player. This time we bring you something from one of the most important tracks of all: The Sacred 2: Fallen Angel main menu theme!
You can find the Sacred Music-Player in the right column of the Sacred 2: Fallen Angel official website, just below the style switcher. Simply click on it to tune in to our Ancarian audio!
But wait, there's more!
In addition to the new track, we also have a great new interview for you. As “the man behind the sound,” Lars Hammer is the one who can give us the best answers and most precise details about this track. Lars is our "Lead Audio Designer.“ He's responsible for anything you hear in the game.
We hope you enjoy this interview and the glimpse it gives into the process and thought that goes into what you hear while playing. If you have questions for Lars, or comments about the track or music in Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, please post them to our discussion thread here. We'll do our best to get as many answers as we can to any questions you may have.
Your Sacred 2: Fallen Angel team.
Stefan
Hi Lars. Thanks for your time.
Lars
Hi. No problem. When it comes to my favorite subject, I always have some time!
Stefan
Could you explain to our fans what that new track is all about?
Lars
As the name already suggests, it's a snippet from the "Sacred 2" main menu. In the final game the track will be approximately 4.5 minutes long and (as is the case with the entire soundtrack) will be available in a true 5.1 mix as well as in stereo.
Stefan
Where in the game would we hear that track?
Lars
Any time you're in either the main or the sub menus.
Stefan
What particular issues do you have to address when designing a computer game's menu theme?
Lars
That very much depends on the concepts for game and soundtrack. Sometimes you want the menu main theme to be highly recognizable - players are supposed to "whistle along" when playing the game. In some games the main menu music complements the story, and always appears in the game as well, when you're playing an element of the main story.
In "Sacred 2" we chose another approach: since people will be playing the game for a very long time, there have to be many variations of everything, including the music. That is why we designed the soundtrack to be very location and character specific. That means the battle music is linked to the game character you're currently playing. The Shadow Warrior has a different version of the music than, for example, the Seraphim. His origin is also reflected by the music.
These character themes alternate with regional tracks, so they are also location specific and depend on where you are in Ancaria. That's why we have innumerable combinations of tracks you may hear in the game, and it never gets boring. We have over 100 different music tracks in the game with a total running time of more than 3 hours. And, as already mentioned, each of them is both in stereo and 5.1. That's something we're particularly proud of. In one of the blogs on gamona.de I've already explained the differences with the help of some audio examples.
Stefan
Once again, here's the link to your blog on gamona :
gamona article
[Lars' English blogs are split into multiple parts and can be found here: www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?publicUserId=5847049&bId=8249604
www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?publicUserId=5847049&bId=8272698]
Sounds like a feast for the ears.
So, we won't hear that track in-game?
Lars
Exactly, you'll hear that track only in the main menu. It has a different style than the in-game music, but then again, it has a different function: it's supposed to prepare players for the impending action and get them in the right mood. You really feel like going into battle when you hear that music!
Stefan
Does the production of a menu track require more work?
Lars
In this case, yes. It was the most complicated track of the entire soundtrack. The track consists of 34 different instrument tracks, all of which had to be mixed properly to complement each other. Just for comparison: some of the calmer regional tracks only have four instrument tracks without being less effective.
Stefan
This gives us very interesting insight into Ancaria's world of sounds.
Thanks Lars for your extensive answers and explanations.
Lars
Don't mention it, you're welcome!
It's time to perk up your ears again! We have a new track for you on the Sacred Music-Player. This time we bring you something from one of the most important tracks of all: The Sacred 2: Fallen Angel main menu theme!
You can find the Sacred Music-Player in the right column of the Sacred 2: Fallen Angel official website, just below the style switcher. Simply click on it to tune in to our Ancarian audio!
But wait, there's more!
In addition to the new track, we also have a great new interview for you. As “the man behind the sound,” Lars Hammer is the one who can give us the best answers and most precise details about this track. Lars is our "Lead Audio Designer.“ He's responsible for anything you hear in the game.
We hope you enjoy this interview and the glimpse it gives into the process and thought that goes into what you hear while playing. If you have questions for Lars, or comments about the track or music in Sacred 2: Fallen Angel, please post them to our discussion thread here. We'll do our best to get as many answers as we can to any questions you may have.
Your Sacred 2: Fallen Angel team.
Stefan
Hi Lars. Thanks for your time.
Lars
Hi. No problem. When it comes to my favorite subject, I always have some time!
Stefan
Could you explain to our fans what that new track is all about?
Lars
As the name already suggests, it's a snippet from the "Sacred 2" main menu. In the final game the track will be approximately 4.5 minutes long and (as is the case with the entire soundtrack) will be available in a true 5.1 mix as well as in stereo.
Stefan
Where in the game would we hear that track?
Lars
Any time you're in either the main or the sub menus.
Stefan
What particular issues do you have to address when designing a computer game's menu theme?
Lars
That very much depends on the concepts for game and soundtrack. Sometimes you want the menu main theme to be highly recognizable - players are supposed to "whistle along" when playing the game. In some games the main menu music complements the story, and always appears in the game as well, when you're playing an element of the main story.
In "Sacred 2" we chose another approach: since people will be playing the game for a very long time, there have to be many variations of everything, including the music. That is why we designed the soundtrack to be very location and character specific. That means the battle music is linked to the game character you're currently playing. The Shadow Warrior has a different version of the music than, for example, the Seraphim. His origin is also reflected by the music.
These character themes alternate with regional tracks, so they are also location specific and depend on where you are in Ancaria. That's why we have innumerable combinations of tracks you may hear in the game, and it never gets boring. We have over 100 different music tracks in the game with a total running time of more than 3 hours. And, as already mentioned, each of them is both in stereo and 5.1. That's something we're particularly proud of. In one of the blogs on gamona.de I've already explained the differences with the help of some audio examples.
Stefan
Once again, here's the link to your blog on gamona :
gamona article
[Lars' English blogs are split into multiple parts and can be found here: www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?publicUserId=5847049&bId=8249604
www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?publicUserId=5847049&bId=8272698]
Sounds like a feast for the ears.
So, we won't hear that track in-game?
Lars
Exactly, you'll hear that track only in the main menu. It has a different style than the in-game music, but then again, it has a different function: it's supposed to prepare players for the impending action and get them in the right mood. You really feel like going into battle when you hear that music!
Stefan
Does the production of a menu track require more work?
Lars
In this case, yes. It was the most complicated track of the entire soundtrack. The track consists of 34 different instrument tracks, all of which had to be mixed properly to complement each other. Just for comparison: some of the calmer regional tracks only have four instrument tracks without being less effective.
Stefan
This gives us very interesting insight into Ancaria's world of sounds.
Thanks Lars for your extensive answers and explanations.
Lars
Don't mention it, you're welcome!