Eminence to be Featured on Soul Calibur IV Soundtrack

Eminence just revelead that it will be working on the upcoming release of Soul Calibur IV. We have a small news item and a brief interview with Hiroaki Yura about the project:

Eminence to be Featured on Soul Calibur IV Soundtrack

I'm pretty excited about this given their past performances. With Valkyria Chronicles and this, there's a lot to look forward from Eminence.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Arcubalis

With Valkyria Profile and this, there's a lot to look forward from Eminence.

I personally would rather know the responsibilities of other Namco folks like Keiki Kobayashi and Masaru Shiina, than Sakimoto whose involvement is, IMO, very unlikely. Anyways, a good article and interview. Thank you.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I keep typing Valkyria Profile! ARGHG!

Also, if it had been a live interview, it would have probably been different. It was written some time ago right on the heels of the Valkyria Chronicles (I typed Profile AGAIN), so I had Sakimoto on my mind, and when I submitted the list of questions, it looked a lot better than when the answers were there. Oops!

I liked Rio Hamamoto's work on the series particularly. I'd love to hear more.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I thought "Healing Winds" (and it's reprise) on the Soul Calibur III ost were phenomenal pieces....
Hope SCIV produces more gems then!

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I've known this for quite a while from Hiro, but its good to see the game music sites getting notice about this. I'm glad that they're getting more and more work from reputable games or composers.

As I speak, they're already been recording for the soundtrack for a while. Though I am not sure if its being done locally in Sydney Australia, or somewhere else... More than likely, Sydney if its the full orchestra.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Isn't this just an orchestra.

Is this some kind of big deal.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

If you read, they are only recording 15 minutes of music. Intro, credits, and a few other tracks. Soul Calibur soundtracks tend to be at least two discs, so there must be a lot of music that Eminence is not recording. Also, he was unable to answer the questions about the size and number of players who are being recorded.

Also @ Kairi: We've known about this for quite some time as well. It took us awhile to get the feature cleared through Namco Bandai, Etc, or this would have been up a month or two ago.

FELIPE NO

Originally Posted by Megalith

Isn't this just an orchestra.

Is this some kind of big deal.

I think its a big deal for them, since its like an indepedent film maker suddenly getting the call from a reputable director to work with him on something. Eminence is by comparison, a newer group to the orchestra business, and they have been focusing their work on games and anime since their beginning.

To see them grow from an orchestra that peforms these music pieces for fans in Australia to go and listen, to a group that has recorded for actual games and anime soundtracks, its a pretty huge deal for them. And for me too in a way, cause I like seeing my fellow Aussie gamer and anime fans + musicians getting some postive media attention.

@ Arcubalis: I had a feeling that's the reason why nothing was formally announced, so I kept my mouth shut on that. :P

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

The calibur of the musician really makes a big difference in a soundtrack.
It really was a big deal for us because we need to live up to our previous reputation and the reputation that of Soul Calibur IV. Also, take note that we are the only orchestra in the world to really specialise in this field of music, I want nothing less than the best from Eminence.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by -=SeRaPH=-

Also, take note that we are the only orchestra in the world to really specialise in this field of music

Somehow, I doubt that.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Yeah... Specialism doesn't require exclusivity. The FILMHarmonic orchestra immediately comes to mind for a very accomplished orchestra that specialises in video game recordings. However, I'm glad that composers that wouldn't usually be able to afford to hire orchestras are now able to do so.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I dont see FILMharmonic orchestra performing game music regularly o.O but yes, I do know they record a lot.

Well, I will retract my comment if that makes you happy. I just don't see any other orchestra really putting a good push into this kind of music. I never said we were exclusive either Mr X, and we do not want to be.

I just hope in times to come, there will be professional orchestras like us around the world who will really put this kind of music in their repertoire in their own programmes and perform. It'll even be better if city orchestras engage in their own programmes to advance such music.

Although I do not see that happening immediatley, I have been approached by a few orchestras for Eminence to programme a full season for them. Maybe one day~

Soul Calibur was an exciting project for us, it was the first game which was actually quite huge overseas more so than in Japan in which we have worked for, and first time we work directly with Bandai Namco. Our client went home happy, now we just have to cross our fingers that the game itself does well! We also recorded to picture which was quite fun to do, picture references making things easier to put together as well.

Mr Nakatsuru did prepare his end of work extremely well (i.e. no last minute music submission, changes and errors in score, well prepared pro-tools session file) and you can really tell how much he value efficient recording.

All in all, I am looking forward to the final mix after the insertion of synth tracks, I think it'll turn out fantastic!

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

I think it is great that Eminence is one of the main orchestras for performing concerts, but I still think it has a long way to go until it becomes a leading force in game soundtrack recordings. As far as I know, your game soundtrack recordings are 15 minutes of Soul Calibur IV, a 30 second title theme for Deltora Quest (I don't know if this actually got used in the game), and an undefined amount of music for Senjou no Valkyria (any idea how much?). Though I think you did a great job with these and I was pleased with your achievements in Romeo X Juliet, there are many other orchestras that have recorded actual full game scores. Given it is probably more profitable than concerts, I assume that Eminence will be involved in more game recordings in future. The scope of its work definitely seems to be increasing in that regard and I'm very pleased composers like Hitoshi Sakimoto and Junichi Nakatsuru have been able to use a proper orchestra to record their works. Good luck in the future!

I was speaking idiomatically.

Somehow I doubt there are that many games with fully orchestrated scores

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Originally Posted by Bigblah

Somehow I doubt there are that many games with fully orchestrated scores

It's moderately common in the United States. I think most end up using the orchestra in Seattle because they're not in the union, and thus cheaper to work with over the long-term.

FELIPE NO

Yeah, there aren't many fully orchestral scores in Eastern game music mostly for economic and technical reasons. However, there are still lots of orchestral recordings for opening themes, ending themes, etc. and lots of streamed solo instrument recordings. As for the East, orchestral recordings seem to be pretty commonplace along with convincing sequencing. My basic point is that many orchestras are experienced in game recording and, by recording less than an hour of music for a selection of games, Eminence is hardly the leading force of the industry. I'm excited by their potential though!

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

Originally Posted by Mr. X

My basic point is that many orchestras are experienced in game recording and, by recording less than an hour of music for a selection of games, Eminence is hardly the leading force of the industry. I'm excited by their potential though!

Well, even I'd argue that. They've recorded parts for Opoona, Soul Calibur IV, Valkyria Chronicles, and some other stuff I'm sure. They really are a leading force in my mind because they're dedicated to performing this type of music for both recording and performance. Other recording orchestras record game music because they are paid to do so, and I haven't heard of any other orchestra that actively seeks out game projects. Regarding performances, tours like VGL and PLAY! don't use a dedicated orchestra whereas every Eminence performance features the Eminence Symphony Orchestra. The annual concerts are events associated with this specific orchestra, which is different from anything else out there. I think that goes a long way towards building a brand that is associated with the game industry.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by Arcubalis

Well, even I'd argue that. They've recorded parts for Opoona, Soul Calibur IV, Valkyria Chronicles, and some other stuff I'm sure. They really are a leading force in my mind because they're dedicated to performing this type of music for both recording and performance. Other recording orchestras record game music because they are paid to do so, and I haven't heard of any other orchestra that actively seeks out game projects. Regarding performances, tours like VGL and PLAY! don't use a dedicated orchestra whereas every Eminence performance features the Eminence Symphony Orchestra. The annual concerts are events associated with this specific orchestra, which is different from anything else out there. I think that goes a long way towards building a brand that is associated with the game industry.

The problem with haven't a specific orchestra associated with these events is that it restricts their location. Plane tickets are so expensive and it is simply not possible for PLAY! and VGL to fly entire orchestras around. It would be financially disastrous. I still cannot fathom how or if Eminence were able to finance their performance at Singapore, although they seemingly used small ensemble in their States performance. I think the Sydney location also restricts their involvement in game music recordings since most composers are located in Japan, Europe, or the States. This isn't such a big problem though.

I forgot about Opoona. The rip doesn't have many orchestral performances, though, from my superficial listen.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Well then, you'd still have to admit that they're one of the key players behind this push. =)

I think they did piece work on Opoona. Hopefully there's a soundtrack release with some detailed credits.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by Arcubalis

Well then, you'd still have to admit that they're one of the key players behind this push. =)

Yeah, I don't really see how that could be disputed.

[necro'ed!]

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Only 7 months late on that one, huh, Larry? ;D

Haha.

I was speaking idiomatically.

A bit late but the post caught my interest.

Originally Posted by Mr. X

I still cannot fathom how or if Eminence were able to finance their performance at Singapore, although they seemingly used small ensemble in their States performance.

Actually, a small ensemble was used for the 2006 Singapore concert as well. I do hope Eminence gets to perform in Singapore again. The response to its last concert here was good and I really enjoyed it.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?