The Game Composer’s Blog

TSN… #1: TSN use FF samples softly.

Many moons ago I found gently resting upon the highest mountaintop a piece of parchment. It was written in a long-forgotten language, but after endless nights of translation I finally unlocked its secrets. Indeed, it was the lost Ludus Sonitus Decretum, or the “Game Music Edicts”. I pored over its many rules and saw the usefulness, even today, of every last one of them. Now, on the pages of this blog, I will share each edict one at a time in the new “Thou Shalt Not” feature.

…use fortissimo samples softly in your mixes.

I have noticed this one far too often from inexperienced composers. This one especially applies to brass and percussion. When a bass trombone plays a fortissimo low F, it’s going to be loud. Very loud. Make sure it’s not buried in the mix. It won’t sound natural at all. The only exception to this rule is if you want the effect of having the instrument off stage. But then you need to compensate with EQ, delay, and reverb settings.

June 30, 2008 - Posted by thegamecomposer | Thou Shalt Not | tips