Diablo 3 Music
 

So, the Internet is buzzing with news about Diablo 3, but I was wondering what everyone thought of the game's audio based on the 20 minutes of in-game footage. I ran an item over at OSV with embedded videos if you haven't seen it yet.

I hope that somehow Matt Uelmen gets to work on the project. I enjoyed what I heard in the videos, but for the sake of nostalgia, it'd be awesome to hear new music from Uelmen. What does everyone else think? Think Derek Duke (who wrote the cool ambient music for the Zerg in SC) is doing the ambient music in D3?

I heard that Eminence is recording for Diablo 3...

From who? I'd be surprised if they were involved in this project.

You'll see... :)

Psst, sources has told me that the artwork trailer might be the one Eminence recorded.

And I don't see what's so surprising. Eminence perfomed WoW music in concerts before and even had a deal with Blizzard where they provided WoW prizes for some concerts they had. Its not like they had zero contact with that company.

And no I cannot cite my sources to anyone.

On a bit off topic note, I knew about Diablo 3 ages ago thanks to a friend I know who works in Blizzard. I refrained from saying anything naturally, not just cause of the whole "confidential" stuff, but also cause I don't care much about Blizzard games.

Eminence Official website

Site has a big maintanence during the Diablo 3 announcement day? Work had to be done to prepare something that's coming? Hmmm....

Regarding the composer of D3

Blizzard Worldwide Invitational: Day One

Russell Brower - WoWWiki - Your guide to the World of Warcraft

At least one composer is confirmed...

Thanks for all the info. Great for a news article. I didn't know that Eminence performed on WoW.

We did perform WoW music for our concerts however we did not record for the original soundtrack.

I know Seraph, thats why I used the word "performed" and not "recorded". :P

They obviously met the company when they asked for permission to perform the music in concerts. The WoW prizes I saw at the concert indicated that they had further dealings with the company.

Haha, Kairi Li and her wealth of information as always!

Anyway, the Diablo 3 theme hit YouTube today, and I ran an item about it on www.originalsoundversion.com if you don't want to dig the video out.

Ok, that main theme on that youtube link you posted played in the Artwork trailer, meaning if my sources were correct, Eminence at the very least has recorded the main theme from Diablo 3.

As to whether or not they contribute to the rest of the soundtrack, we shall see...

And regarding the youtube video, VGL does great work, but that video... Was the conductor off or the video itself? Cause there were times I heard the Brass players were not in sync with the beat. Compare it to the official artwork trailer to see what I mean.

What you heard is NOT the main theme of Diablo 3.

Official title is Diablo 3 Overture.

Ah, I see. Tommy Tallarico misspoke then!

It'll be interesting to hear the actual theme... and perhaps you've said too much, Seraph! Maybe Kairi is right? =D

Ok, after several listens to the youtube video, I realise something horrible that makes me wanna outright insult Tommy.

The orchestra was playing over the original recorded track, the one in the artwork trailer.

Some performers were a bar off or something, came in too early and made the track sound like shit. The trumpet player was the obvious one.

Please watch the artwork trailer from gametrailers or official Diablo 3 site and see the horrible major difference.

Seems like Tommy got VGL to karaoke badly over the original track.

This is a huge insult to everyone that worked on the music, especially the original performers of the recorded track. *hint hint*

Part of me hopes that its simply a crappy video quality that butchered the sound, but the more I listen to it, the more I am convinced that this is as bad as Ashlee Simpson on SNL. If I am correct, than Tommy has lost all integrity for me.

First Play!, now VGL? Is there no more integrity in any industry? How can you possibly believe having a full orchestra lipsync to the original track? Ashlee Simpson couldn't do it as one person, no way can a large group pull it off and fool everyone. I am digusted.

It's actually fairly common for VGL to use playback. It's the only concert I'm aware of that does this, though. I agree both VGL and PLAY! have disappointed, but there are still concerts with integrity out there -- Eminence's productions, Symphonic Shades, Distant Worlds, and Press Start all come to mind.

I know that VGL used synth tracks for certain pieces like MGS, but the LA Hollywood Bowl performance was great and I never heard any actual backing track like some karaoke bar that night. This is the first time that I am aware of such thing as backing tracks for an orchestral performance and I am appalled.

Not to mention having your performers coming in early is the biggest mistake ever, and having a backing track just made that mistake more jarring and obvious. Either way, its digusting and unprofessional, and it shows they didn't take this seriously despite the fact Diablo 3 is BIG to the entire gaming world.

Also regarding Eminence recording for Diablo 3:

Eminence Forums • View topic - Eminence in Soundtracks

This is the closest thing to an official announcement till they front page it or Blizzard says something.

Check here:

SoundtrackNet : Article - Video Games Live

This was the very first performance of Video Games Live and the reliable writer states:

"The second half of the concert sounded different than the first. Where the orchestra was occasionally struggling with some of the cues, the second half had some obvious overlays of the original recordings. This also resulted in some odd sonic warbles when the choir was slightly off-pitch from the recording."

Haha, this is really nothing knew. Everyone knows they do this. You can't get the same full orchestra sound with 30-40 players on the stage.

BUT..... BUT INTEGRITY!!

Putting on a concert and then playing back a tape so you can fumblingly attempt to mimic it isn't a question of "integrity", it's a question of "why even bother".

Guys we're going to put on a play! Ok actually we got a tape of somebody else performing the play, they're much better than we are so just watch that instead.

Maybe if they charge for admission, it'd be worth the hassle?

Also, it's quite possible that the VGL CD track listings (announced here) will feature past studio recordings. It's possible that the studio recordings are new with the Slovak National Orchestra, but I doubt it. We won't know until the release whenever that will be.

God, despite my distaste with Play! and VGL, I'm probably gonna end up getting their CDs, especially if they have tracks not done in love orchestra before.

But that's probably all I am gonna get from them.

From now on, I think I will have to live with the fact that Night in Fantasia 2007 by Eminence will be the greatest and last game concert I will ever have the pleasure of listening... Since I will be moving to the US the second my visa is done processing.

I mean I will try and visit Sydney during times when a concert is on, but money can get tight for airline tickets...

Anway back to Diablo 3. The overture sounds fantastic in the original recording artwork trailer. Eminence did very well.

A friend of mine pointed me to this link today and thought it would probably be best to reply. I didn't realize these forums were back up again. I'll make sure to go through the VGL thread when I get a chance... currently still in France working on our show here in December.

My first reaction to the comments were certainly a bit disappointing. Comparing us to things like "playing over a CD", Ashlee Simpson, "having no integrity", bad karaoke, etc. is insulting. Not only to me & Jack, but to Russell Brower and Blizzard who produced the show with us.

Just for the record... there were NO background tracks being played at all. (If I remember correctly, the only background track played the entire night was a voice-over for the end of Burning Crusade).

What people need to understand is that these are LIVE performances and not every musician (especially when there are over 110 on stage!) is going to be perfect every time... ESPECIALLY for such a highly synchopated track such as the Diablo III.

What people don't know is that the click track system (which helps to keep all of our video and lights synchronized to the music) had gone down 2 songs into the show. Click boxes were literally sparking and blowing up on stage. Something happened in the convention center with the power during our performance that sent a spike through everything... it even blew the power-amp running the piano (which is why Martin's piano piece was virtually ruined as well).

Everything had been rehearsed with a click-track... and now there was none. Jack and the musicians did the best they could and pulled through it well.

All that being said... the YouTube video is also off-sync with the audio performace (which I find happens frequently on YouTube).

Sorry to have disappointed some of you so much. Babe Ruth didn't hit a home run everytime he stepped up to the plate either.

:)


What is most hurtful however is that everyone here is so quick to insult us and all of the hard work we've been trying to accomplish. Maybe it's best that I wasn't aware this place was still around.


Tommy




Additional Spam:


This is correct. The name of the song we performed is entitled "Diablo III Overture". I have no knowledge whether this is a main theme or not.


Tommy





Additional Spam:

Quoting an 3 year old article of our very first performance?
If you don't mind my asking... What is the point of your arguement? I'm a little confused.

thanks,


Tommy




Additional Spam:
Actually Jayson you're completely wrong and clearly don't know much about orchestras, mixing, arranging or orchestrating.

I'm not sure what you mean when you say "Haha... everyone knows they do this..." maybe you would like to go into a little more depth??

thanks buddy.


T.T.




Additional Spam:
All of the tracks have been re-recorded in the studio and mixed at Abbey Road and 3 are live recordings from Brazil & Mexico performances.

Not sure why you are so negative towards us. Maybe you would like to further explain your animosity?


Tommy

I dunno, it's mostly just Kairi Li throwing a hissy fit over her precious Eminence.

Nothing new there. Has Kairi Li ever done anything that was worthwhile? If she's not whining about Nomura, she's whining about something else she fangirls over.

We should probably ban her or Tommy Tallarico will never forgive us!