Ah, nice! It's not for any event or anything, but I am hoping to have it compelted and on the workshop before the 'Monkey King' update. In terms of instrumentation, it's orchestral based for the majority. Mostly because that's what I wanted to do, thought I do think it suits the game the best too. Some of the less energetic tracks - laning, for example - are a bit more melancholic than you'd find in other packs. That's just my style. Those laning tracks are also mainly constructed around piano themes too, which is unique for dota (I think). I guess I'd say some of my pieces are maybe a bit more 'pure' than other packs? I don't know if that sound pretentious. What I'm trying to say is that whilst others try to go for that blockbuster and very processed sound, my stuff is bit more grounded perhaps. I don't know. I'm probably talking shit. Judge for yourself, I'll attach some private soundcloud links below with some drafts I bounced out for you.
The difference between your pack and the original sounds of the game is that they're mostly emotionally neutral and leaning towards positive. It's something to appreciate, since even though you may not necessarily care whether you win or lose, being stomped might still hurt, and having music itself on your side helps to not give up. Your music leans more towards melancholic, as you've noted, but I also find it depressing. I wouldn't want to hear a dirge every time my character dies. Laning-phase track I also find too melancholic, even though it has hints of something I like, which I can't point out exactly, having no experience in the field of music. The battle track is energetic enough to combine into "epic", on the other hand. I'm not saying "don't do the pack": I'm saying "be careful with the mood you inspire". Maybe it's just me, though: I've been leaning towards depression lately. Still, I think that a lot of people play Dota 2 for fun, and the pieces of your pack that I've heard don't provide that. Instead, they take on a deeper string in one's soul. I think the pack's music would be fantastic in videos of feats in the game: that epic battle near the enemy base or that one Space Cow run where you've bashed an enemy hero into Roshan's pit... You know what I mean?
Thanks so much for your insight, I think you hit the nail on the head. I certainly understand the risk the you're highlighting. Especially with the laning phase track. In that case I may have veered too much into melancholy. They were generally supposed to sound sightly creepy and tense more than anything. I'll will be going back and reviewing them. It seems a difference between you and me is that when I hear melancholic and/or depressing music, it actually fills me with positive energy (the point still stands on the laning tracks though). More importantly though, the tracks pulling "on a deeper string one's soul" is precisely the aim of my pack. I am trying to do something different to the emotionally neutral packs. I'm trying to think what an event means during the game in a narrative sense. Someone dies valiantly in a grand battle of the ancients? They get an epic lament. As if the greatest hero just died and the world is mourning. I am trying to create a deeper emotional connection. So I'm glad that i'm succeeding in that, even if that's not you'd personally what want out of a music pack. I'd rather try something slightly different and fail than just make something like everyone else. I'm trying to create the music pack I'd like to buy. There's already plenty of 'middle-of-the-road' ones for people to choose from if that's what they desire. That's really cool. My question would be why wouldn't someone want that music directly in the game then? I figure at least some people in the 13,000,000 unique players a month that DotA gets would like it. I mean, plenty have people like the deadmau5 pack and for me that is antithesis of DotA's feel. Though again, like you say, it is quite emotionally neutral. But thanks for sowing a seed of doubt in my mind. That's sincere and not sarcastic. I always prefer to hear what people is think with wrong my music verses the standard "that's cool". It gives me a new perspective and potential areas to work on. I hope this response doesn't sound like I'm getting defensive or anything, it's more trying to share my mindset. I will be keeping your points in mind as I continue work....Maybe it's just me, though: I've been leaning towards depression lately. Still, I think that a lot of people play Dota 2 for fun, and the pieces of your pack that I've heard don't provide that. Instead, they take on a deeper string in one's soul.
I think the pack's music would be fantastic in videos of feats in the game: that epic battle near the enemy base or that one Space Cow run where you've bashed an enemy hero into Roshan's pit... You know what I mean?
Off-topic, but - that would explain why so many people have a kick out of songs that make me want to retreat to my safe place in terror. It doesn't, and also... You don't have to justify what you do. I think there's a bigger task before you than it was before deadmau5. He wanted to create something that's a mix between Dota's and his style. You want to create a story out of things that happen seemingly sporadically and for people to care about it. I'm not saying it's impossible. I will only personally attest that not everyone's going to look for that because of how some people play the game: to relax, to have a fun hour-or-so. There is also the fact that you don't have enough control over the sound design that the game engine employs to weave the narrative, which is a shame, because with the kind of music that you create, one can really tell a story. You should keep that in mind as you go along. I wish you all the best on your journey. I hope it turns out well for you, no matter the result. If you ever publish the pack or the music from it, do give me a link to it: I'd like to see what it turns into. And if you ever need another perspective, I'll happily lend your music an ear.It seems a difference between you and me is that when I hear melancholic and/or depressing music, it actually fills me with positive energy
I hope this response doesn't sound like I'm getting defensive or anything
I'd rather try something slightly different and fail than just make something like everyone else.
For sure. The most control you have from the sound engine is during the laning stages. Each laning track has to be split into 3 layers of intensity which is mixed dynamically depending on the ongoing action. The only control you get over the other track are loop points and that's it. Still, I'm enjoying the exercise of making the tracks and learning some things which is what's important. I'll definitely send you some more stuff further down the line. Honestly, the laning and death track I showed are among the most melancholic out of all of them, so perhaps you'll view the others as more balanced. We'll see I guess. What's your steam? I'll throw you an invite. Maybe we can have a game sometime. Though I'm not too great and I tend to watch more than I play!