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The Impact of Jungle Music in 90s Video Game Development

(pikuma.com)
699 points atan2 | 2 comments | 13 Nov 24 18:43 UTC | HN request time: 0.488s | source
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Buttons840 ◴[13 Nov 24 21:40 UTC] No.42130313[source]▶
I've recently been into game development, and I needed music which lead me to discovering synthesizers--I was hooked the first time I saw so many buttons, knobs, and flashing lights--and now I've gone off on a huge tangent and am studying music theory instead of making my game. Oh well, it's all for fun.

Does HN have any advice on how to get started with synthesizers, with an eye towards creating a game soundtrack?

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1. depingus ◴[14 Nov 24 15:42 UTC] No.42137299[source]▶
> I was hooked the first time I saw so many buttons, knobs, and flashing lights

I fell down the synthesizer rabbit hole during covid. And the urge to acquire more hardware is real. Resist! Try not to chase synth youtube gear cycles. Remember, synthesizers make sounds, not music. Not that there's anything wrong with enjoying sound design, it is fun. But if your goal is to make music, it can be a trap.

> Does HN have any advice on how to get started with synthesizers.

For me, synthesizers didn't click until I got my first super basic knob-per-function synth. There was just so many things I didn't know, that a VST like Vital had way too many options. Once I figured out most synths are just oscillators -> mixer -> filter -> amp, plus envelopes and LFO's for modulation... I could use pretty much any synth.

Here is Wendy Carlos explaining the above concepts in under 4 minutes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SBDH5uhs4Q

Once you understand those basics, maybe look at videos that show you how to recreate famous sounds. Probably start with simple classic sounds so you get a feel for how the synthesizer controls shape that sound.

Here is Anthony Marinelli showing you the bass sound from Madonna's Holiday in under 8m. He does a good job explaining why you use a certain setting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVedA7H4qpQ

My last piece of advice: the online synth community can be a bit toxic <cough>reddit</cough>. Ignore them and just do what feels fun. It's a hobby after all!

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2. racl101 ◴[14 Nov 24 18:53 UTC] No.42139739[source]▶
I think it's a rite of passage for every programmer to play with a DAW, contemplate a career in music, maybe even buy an expensive synth, make a bunch of boring beats, find out that it's just not the technical aspect but that you actually need to be musically creative. Then get discouraged when you meet a creative and talented musician who does more with less money and equipment. Like pretty much any guy that has played keyboards at a church service or a wedding using a freaking Casio.

I did this and know other devs who did this in the early 2000s lol.