How ulillillia processes his music (part 1 of 4)

[HerbertTheHamster]

He's listened to final fantasy world 1 for 54 days of his life

wow

[ulillillia]

If you're after total plays, there's one song with an estimated 1 to 1.3 million total plays. I call it Out Where the Lake Is. This totals nearly a whole year's worth of listening to it.

[HeltOkejFilmer]

Also, you should start creatinging music of your own. I prefer using Ableton, but if you can find Reason then you should definitely get it, or at least get a trial version and try it out.

[ulillillia]

I've got FL Studio, though it's primarily intended for making the music with Platform Masters.

[HeltOkejFilmer]

@ulillillia FL studios is a decent program, but it's a bit simple. You can do amazing things with it, but if you want to dig deeper into creating music you should check out Reason.

Always a fan!

[ulillillia]

My 2 primary weaknesses with music is instrument identification and genre identification, the latter is especially bad.

[HeltOkejFilmer]

That's okay, genres only matters if you choose to abide by them. In video games most of the music has a theme, like sadness or nostalgia or fighting spirit, and that is really all you need to make a good song. Just find something you want to convey and then find an interesting way to convey it.

I am also purchasing your book as a christmas gift for my friend, is there any way to get a signed copy?

[HeltOkejFilmer]

I love the fact that you have the cosmos ending theme there. Are you a fan of the show?

[ulillillia]

I watched it a while back when they released the remakes, but I've since otherwise haven't seen it again afterwards - it otherwise disappeared like the Looney Tunes have.

[JimmyCos]

What music do you like, besides videogame music?

[ulillillia]

There really isn't anything... except the occasional song from the 1950's or 1960's and a few children's songs.

[daspolemon]

"A lot of math" - yeah, sure... Aren't you a bit over excited about that?

[SonofDust777]

Are you MP3s available for download anywhere?? Thanks.

[ulillillia]

No. I don't have any of my own creations posted. Besides, this is only a remix.

[LatestUFOSightings]

@ulillillia Don't be scared. Nothing will happen if you torrent something from time to time.

[vitralizer]

I like to get my chiptunes in tracker form. I get my VGM in MP3 320-192Kb/s

[ilikeche2]

How did you end up listening to that 54,000 times? It's incredible

[ulillillia]

54K is nothing to my all-time-high, even for a single streak. With breaks between sessions allowed, Bubsy's level 10 ("Out Where the Lake Is" as I call it) has something from 1 to 1.3 million plays (and counting as I type this). Bubsy's level 7's second half ("Desert Zone" as I call it) has something from 350K to 650K plays. If breaks are not allowed, then it's 132K, using a 4-second song (Tiny Toon Buster's Hidden Treasure, after defeating a boss).

[PhinnyCobbler]

@ulillillia How on earth would you not get bored of a 4 second song?

[ulillillia]

Changing speeds helps. If I recall, I mostly ranged from about 60 to 115% true speed. A wide range of good-sounding speeds has helped. Combine this with a high compatibility and my motive for seeing what happens when Winamp's play counts exceeded 65,535 (a 16-bit value's maximum, when unsigned), I had plenty. At the time, it was 2 loops in one. I was getting bored of it around 90,000 or so plays in but I pushed myself further and got 132,500 (give or take 750).

[peacekid]

this isn't really difference, I mean just changes rates and stuff

why don't you try remixing music like other people? I'd definitely love to see the FF9 opening music remixed with something with more drums to it.

[Kingzogre]

When I think music, I think ulillillia

[MarioMastar]

Hm...seeing how this is a remix you made, is this similar to the style of music you plan to go for in Platform Masters? or What general style are you planning to go for? Personally, I find it easier to work with the music I made playing, and you aren't alone with the long plays. My music may play for 3-5 hours non-stop without me noticing that it's still playing (I know you probably beat me on that though). Also, how will you account for the speed of the music, since you like music slowed?

[MarioMastar]

Also, what software did you use to make it? Sounds interesting, and unique. Honestly, if you like Sonic style music at 100, 140, OR 160 beats per minute (only those three speeds so far, with some being in the 200s but with double length notes or in 3/4 time), you'd like my music.

Oh yes, and similarly, I tend to open Gamemaker first and load my game (which is the only software that loops MIDI files perfectly), then play whatever I made...Yeah, I listen to MIDIs a lot, takes up little space.

[ulillillia]

This, I think, is an older video. I believe there's a version 2 available which is much more up to date. I used DirectMusic Producer to "transcribe" an existing song, for the remix. Trouble is, it doesn't appear to have an option to save as WAV, MIDI, or something else. I'm considering using this freeware program that is used to make SNES style music. I'm after the peaceful, cheerful, and/or active types.

[MarioMastar]

Alright! Well, the best music making software I can think of that's free is Anvil Studio, but I'm sure you might find something that suits you. Also, all of my music is cheerful and upbeat. Even the haunted stages make you feel excited, how's that? The only peaceful songs are this theme song for an Angel character I made and this Beach level for the game I'm working on. The Angel's theme is 250 bpm, but it's in 3/4, and the Beach is 140 bpm, but the instruments are serene; all have drums though.

[ulillillia]

3 to 5 hours... try 52 1/4 days of the same song, 17 days of the same song and speed, or 132,500 plays of the same song, my current records. It's tough getting to those kinds of extremes.... I haven't worked out the fine details for the music in Platform Masters yet. WAV is not an decent option - 32,000 Hz, 8-bit, mono will add 28 MB to the download size (and that's compressed!).

[MarioMastar]

I know, but I just meant in one play (as in, you click play and don't click stop, pause, or anything at all until you are done). I'm sure the total listening time for me is much longer (though I never kept track), but I'm just saying that my song is playing for 3 to 5 hours straight. What's the longest a song has played for you without stopping the song at all? Yeah, you are right though, even small WAVs (for music, not sound effects where WAVs are better) add at least 10 megabytes to the game.

[ulillillia]

On the same source, it's probably about 15 days straight, though it may not be the same song all the way. Without changing the song, it's 106 days (if I recall) for the same song being played on one device (FF9's battle music, which holds the record for the second-longest actual steak (46 days) and the same for the same speed (12 days). For 32,000 Hz, 8-bit, mono going 90 seconds, that's 2,880,000 bytes (compresses to ~1 1/4 MB; 15,876,000 for CD quality (compresses to ~7.4 MB).

[MarioMastar]

Ah, okay. That's impressive! So, you don't pause the music or turn it off while sleeping or using the bathroom? Yeah, my music is on my computer and I use headphones. I would have to turn it off before going to bed or using the bathroom (or leaving somewhere).

By the way, I don't mean to sound like I'm pestering, but how's progess on Platform Masters? I mean, I may not be good at programming language, but I'd love to help in any way I can, for free of course. Your videos motivate me aswell.

[ulillillia]

That case was actually a test case. I noticed that, randomly, the player would seem to press the "stop" button itself (it has the exact same effect). I wanted to know how long it'd take. Platform Masters is going slow. The reason involves that of the large hills. Small hills are not to be shown on the overworld. There's still small mountains and large mountains to add yet. I've redone the texture about 15 times by now.... I'm now kind of thinking of 15 levels per world instead....

[MarioMastar]

Ah, yes, that is wise. I'm starting small too with only 8 levels per world, with only 4 being mandatory an the other 4 being hidden, but then again, I have 30 worlds (240 levels total, not including bosses, but when the levels range from 5000 x 1000 to around 50000 x 25000 pixels (estimated)... the levels don't get that big overall). Comparing 300 levels to 225 levels may seem big, but that's a good range.

Ah, so the sound player just stops itself? Alright, now I understand.

[ManfredMitchum]

So, what songs sound best at true speed for you? Or is there a section on your site detailing this?

[ulillillia]

Desert Zone (Genesis version only) is the only one I can think of that sounds optimal at true speed. Almost every song sounds better at slower speeds.  There's a few that sound bad at true speed and lower and are best faster (Target Zone is one such case).

[frostytheaussie]

So when playing Genesis/Mega Drive games, for example, you'd prefer the PAL version over the NTSC for some as the sound playback is slowed?

[ulillillia]

I'm 100% unable to play anything but the US NTSC version. PAL wouldn't work with my TV anyway - wrong format.

[saxxonpike]

Using the following method means you will hear exactly what you are recording, and you will be able to make sure your voice isn't too loud or too soft compared to the rest of the signal. Use headphones to avoid feedback.

You can go into your Mixer, turn up the output of your Microphone (keep talking to test it and get a good level), switch to the Recording level panel and select "What U Hear". You will now hear your mic and the computer. If you don't have "What U Hear", try using "Wave".

[ulillillia]

What U Hear doesn't work - I've tried it. It doesn't take input from the microphone. I keep my music's volume low - rarely going beyond 50 dB. On top of that, I've got almost 3 feet of distance between the microphone and the nearest speaker (which is also obscured some by a box, which further filters the sound).

[94029374938402048]

instead of pressing a microphone against the speaker, you should find a method of routing the audio directly in to your computer, for the purpose of audio fidelity. Using your method, what you hear will greatly depend on your microphone and its components, its placement, and the soundcard of your computer.

ulillillia is god !

[ulillillia]

While I could use "Wave" to record the sound as it's coming out of the computer, but then, I won't be able to get my voice recorded. Unless you have a way to record both sound being played on my computer at the same time as that of sound received from the microphone in a separate channel, it cannot be done.

[MarioMastar]

Well, if you could, you could record the two sounds separately, then put them all together in a video editing software, but that actually sounds more like a hassle since you'd have to get the two sounds to sync well (while recording) or it would sound wierd. I know you said "Same time" though, which is why I say it would be a hassle to record both at the separately.

[ulillillia]

Because, later on when I add the vocal track, I won't know what I was doing and it doesn't seem right. My solution was to have the microphone both near me and also near the speaker. I did testing to optimize quality and overall volume.

[FiveAgainstOne]

Some PEOPLE!

Am I right?

[ulillillia]

What do you mean "failure"? What failed?  Everything works as expected.

[ulillillia]

... any what? Could you ellaborate?

[XXXMASTERISEXXX]

Btw, he likes music martin, so please, go "get some" if you don't like this guys music.

[ManfredMitchum]

just ignore him, Uli. he's makin' adult jokes lol. and as for you, MartinStarFlash, Ulillillia doesn't know these kind of jokes. he just isn't that kind of person.

[alarmagent]

Your versions sound a lot better than the originals, I could actually listen to them independent of playing the game. Nice job!

[ulillillia]

It's why I listen to music at different speeds. It sounds different enough at a certain threshold that it's like a whole new song! With a 2x best zone speed span, it's like 10 songs in one almost. An 8x span is more like 30 songs in one.... Changing the sample rate is the best way to do it (using WAV files) - it doesn't result in any quality loss, no matter how many times you change the speed.

[11111110]

If I were a game director, I would hire you as a tester in a heartbeat.

[famouspogs]

I think you would enjoy composers harold budd, brian eno, steve roach. please check out brian enos song 2/2 on youtube, i think you would espically enjoy a song by harold budd called the golden oak of dreams, if you can find it.

[numbersreverywhere]

Do you realize that there's a much easier way of changing the speed on tracks like this? You can do this through the 'effect' menu, along with a lot of other interesting things. You seem to enjoy the math though, so I can understand if you prefer to do it this way.

[ulillillia]

Changing the waveform, what "change speed" does, is the worst way to change the speed when done repeatedly as it deteriorates the quality over time. Changing the sample rate (and bytes per second) is the best way: it's more accurate, there's no deterioration, it's very fast, and the math is easier. It's also easy to do after learning how (I use a hex editor.). "TrueSpeedSampleRate*Speed" is the formula. For 82% true speed, it's 41,000 for 50,000 Hz true speed (82,000 for 100,000 Hz).

[SubliminalPeni]

are you from the Midwest?

[ulillillia]

I actually wouldn't know for sure. North Dakota has been considered as the Midwest on some regional maps, but I've also seen it occasionally as being in the mountain states (strange as I've never actually seen real mountains outside TV and photos (of which can't be trusted all the time)).

[DevannB]

hey you have audicity too!

[FullofEbak]

i did some googling, i think its called 'overfocused adhd', where its like having both. one with this is like the rabbit from winnie the pooh, he gets caught up in the details while having trouble shifting attention to other things. music is also mathematical in its notes and pitch. its pretty interesting to study and explore

[ulillillia]

Yep, half-steps have a frequency based on "PreviousFrequency*2^(13/12)" with middle C (octave 5) around 500 Hz. Middle C in octave 6 is around 1000 Hz.

[FullofEbak]

i checkout out ur site. i thought the motive/compatibility column is very interesting! haha. i have ADHD and OCD. is that a deadly combination? i am a big fan of video game music as well, and would one day want to do it professionally. i view music mathematically as well. You should be a great musician !

[ulillillia]

Do note that it is a work in progress. I'm no psychologist or doctor, and I don't know what the opposite of OCD would be (I'm thinking it's ADHD where one can't keep at something even for a short time). Essentially, the two should cancel each other out, though it may depend on the activity. I also view music using numbers as well. A consider the 16th note/rest as the basis. This makes a whole note 16 "units", a quarter note (my basis for beats) is 4 units, and a dotted 8th is 3.

[vs24bv]

No one cares if you have emulators and ROMs anymore.

[HillDueceua]

wow talk about neurotic. No offense, we all have our things. I mess around with music my music quite a lot using garageband.

[Walczyk]

ulillillia what program is this

[ulillillia]

Audacity. You can get it on SourceForge as it's an open source GPL program just like Firefox and GIMP.

[BrownsRtheBest]

Are you going to make custom music for your game?

[ulillillia]

For The Supernatural Olympics, music is very unlikely, but for my 2D RPG game, my next project after this, custom music is very likely.

[KonungurAfPina]

I love the videos where you explain stuff, I can watch them for hours.

[EffDeeEll]

Why is your voice so soothing?

[veyronman]

omg yes! it's so relaxing

[SYN7HOR]

Whatever keeps your boat floating.

[KiiiiingOfPaaain]

You could also get the musicplayer Deliplayer 2 who supports alot of tune from videogames in exotic formats. And from Deliplayer 2 you can directly record the tunes in stereo -> wav. Alot of the tunes from nes/sega/amiga/c64 games is availible on the net.

[mattau2000]

god don't round 29467 up to 30,000 that is just inconsiderate what if you were reading out a compass heading and you rounded it off and fell off a cliff... don't laugh man it could happen anytime

[juavt]

Wow, you listen to midis only?

Poor.

[ulillillia]

I don't listen to MIDIs. What I listen to are actually WAV files that I recorded by microphone (near the TV's speaker) while playing the actual game itself. The song here was originally a MIDI since that's all I can create and I had to use the microphone-to-the-speaker method to get it into WAV format so I can change the speed.

[dignan501]

you know you can record straight from the signal right?

unplug the audio cable from the back of your tv (the one coming from your console) and plug that into your recording source (you'll prob need a plug converter from radio shack, RCA to 1/8" headphone)

[ulillillia]

At the time I made the song, I didn't know about it. I do know now - use "line-in" as the recording device.  BTW - I use a coaxial cable as my TV doesn't use RCA cables.

[Mopnkeyoffury]

You have an amazig capacity for musical calculation- Maybe you should get some albums of Chamber Strings music! You know, Violins and Cellos and the like!

[julyzerg]

yes, ability to multiply and divide truly is something awesome!

[Larz9220]

it's almost kinda funny

I can kinda relate to your habits, I like to mess around with speed and such myself :D

and I do like Sonic music too! and Final Fantasy as well hehe

I just happen to use a program called nero wave editor, couldn't really pinpoint which you were using in this clip

[ulillillia]

I used Audacity - it's an open source program (search SourceForge for it).  I use 1.2.3 as the later versions don't function properly. My habits came from using the Talkboy tape recorder and curiosity. The computer versions started to come 5 or so years later with WinDAT, a Windows 3.1 program I still have.

[Tarkusine]

Does slowing down the music invoke emotion for you or do you just like to hear the waveforms and image them in your head?

[ulillillia]

It mainly boosts compatibility. Double compatibility means double motive and remaining at the song for 4 times longer. Around 68 to 78% true speed is the most common "good range" and the preferred speeds are determined by the amount of "activeness" the song has and my mood.