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

Quote:

The website and forums are now back online. We apologise for their unavailability during much of today. Unfortunately the maintenance took longer than expected, however the work was necessary to prepare for what is to come (stay tuned!). We hope everyone has been enjoying their weekend.

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

Quote:

A troupe of Fire Dancers who performed to composer Russell Brower’s latest composition from the soundtrack of Diablo III.

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.

Originally Posted by Arcubalis

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.