OmriLahav

Hello @tmm88! My sincere apologies for the huge delay, I've been in the process of moving and starting over my studio in Los Angeles, so it was a hectic year. I'm getting back to you now regarding your music - I have listened to it and it's well done, but you will need to find a way to create a more realistic simulation to be included in the game, as hearing a MIDI driven track will really distract from the game's sense of timelessness. It is particularly noticeable in the repeated patterns of the last submission, mostly in the high strings and winds. If you can create a well sampled version of the track, I will be happy to assist with some live instrument recordings. Feel free to reach out to me by email and keep me posted of your progress. Good luck to you my friend, O.

Sorry for the late reply - I just stumbled on this post now. Sadly I don't have the time to write the entire score, but please send me a private message with the pieces you're interested in, and I will write them for you as soon as possible. Thanks,

No problem.

Anytime, happy to be of assistance PMed you two tracks, will finalize and send some more in a few days.

Sure, I've got several tracks that might fit just sitting around... Let me know where to send / upload them

It certainly can, it uses instruments that originated in both Japan (Taikos, Koto etc) and China (Guzheng, Erhu etc). By using a blend of instruments from different origins, the music doesn't sound typical of any specific culture - and I think it can reasonably apply to many different things.

I've been making music inspired by traditional Asian music for ever now, just waiting for an Asian civ. to be added to the game So yea, I'm all for it!

I could use the general Hellenistic sound scheme with some added middle-eastern flavors.

Do we have even the slightest idea what their music might have sounded like?

As a true Caesar fan I will be glad to help when it comes to music.

Many thanks my friend, happy you liked it

Many thanks my friend, glad to hear it

I'm from Israel (GMT+2), and my nickname is my actual name- Omri Lahav

If you've got a really good track ready but not recorded, I could record a few of the solo lines myself - but that'll be on a free time basis. In other words, no need to wait until you have musicians ready, send me your tracks whenever you're ready Thanks again,

Hi Augustin, First of all thanks for your interest in 0 A.D. I noticed most of the things have already been said - so I'll be brief: Of course there's no need to record an actual orchestra, none of my tracks were done that way. I just make sure to add enough of the "live" element to compensate for the MIDI sounds, and also I take great care to enhance my MIDI sounds with proper mixing etc... Bottom line - as long as your music is appropriate for 0 A.D. (nothing electronic, no digital effects etc...) and sounds like a fairly convincing orchestral simulation - that's fine You can contact me with any questions via email, Omri (@) OmriLahav.com, feel free to send me samples of your work there if you want my feedback. Thanks again,

Awesome idea, team! Can't wait to start making zombie music

Yea, will def. start the export on the drum roll. LAVS, will get .wav files for all civs sent this week and we'll take it from there.

OK, found a short motif that works well in all styles! http://wildfiregames.com/users/omri/SFX/Carthage_1.mp3 http://wildfiregames.com/users/omri/SFX/Carthage_2.mp3 http://wildfiregames.com/users/omri/SFX/Celtica_1.mp3 http://wildfiregames.com/users/omri/SFX/Celtica_2.mp3 I went with a simple, easy to recognize three note pattern, with harmonies that resolve from minor to major for extra gratification! Here are very basic, hastily recorded examples for Carthage and Celtica, just to illustrate how this mini-melody works in both eastern and western styles. The second phase reach effect is enhanced with a cymbal swell and a larger chord in the string section, and also played an octave higher. At the moment they're a bit bare and small but I figured it'd be best to leave some room for cheering instead of filling them up too much. If you like this general direction I'll record them properly (for all civs) and get the raw files to LAVS for integration. Omri

As far as I'm concerned you're welcome to use the existing soundtrack if you like.

Well, after messing around with a whole bunch of short motifs I've decided to ask - how important it is to use the same melody for all the civs? The instruments and musical styles are very different, and while it is (of course) possible, sometimes it just doesn't sound natural. For instance, the motif I originally thought of sounded great on tin whistles, Spanish guitar, mandolin and even bouzouki, but was completely "lost in translation" to the oud, saz and fretless guitar. That said, I'll keep searching for a motif that works all around. Omri

I have received the files, I'll probably get to recording on Sunday! I'll try to keep a simple, easily recognizable melody, and simply change the instruments playing it to match the various civs. I'm also aiming for a small, phase I effect, and a larger phase II effect. If you think of anything else I should be aware of, let me know

I'd like to freshen the score up a bit, when we have an approximate date I'll know how much I can get done. Ideally, I'd like to add another peace track for each civ. that's a little more festive. At the moment most of the peace music is kind of mellow, so I'd like to add some more upbeat music like the last part of Rise of Macedon, for instance. I've also asked Jeff Willet to create a new combat track, he thinks he can have it done soon. Also, now that my schedule is a little less of a mess, I'm gonna bring in the musicians I have on stand by - a pro tin whistle player to redo the Celts / Gauls, a trombone player to record the low brassy parts on Honor Bound / Elysian Fields, and the Qanun player to add another unique color to the Ptolemies. At the moment I'm prioritizing the recordings, scheduled the first session for early next week. I already have draft ideas of some of the new peace tracks, once they're coherent enough I'll post them on the music forum. Last but not least, I'd like to help out LAVS with the musical aspect of the phase reach sounds. Omri

OK, thanks for the pointer, here are my two cents: I agree that some of the sounds are a little too modern (especially that high synth-bell-like sound). It can be nice to have one, easily recognizable melody for it, and just have it played on different instruments for the different civs. Personally, I like that you used a percussion swell before the melody, makes it stand out. Pausing the music may be a little intrusive in terms of continuity, but the music can certainly be dimmed for the duration of the sound, for emphasis. If you like, send me the percussion swell you made and I'll record a nice, uniform melody on it with the instruments I used in the score: The Spanish guitar for Iberia, the treble / bass tin whistles for Gaul / Celtica, the bouzouki for the Athenian factions, the mandolin for the Romans, the duduk for Carthage, the fretless guitar for the Mauryans, the oud for Egypt and the Saaz for Persia. Then for phase 2 reach I can orchestrate the melody, or add a second percussion swell on the end of the effect, or maybe record some other gratifying sound, like chimes or a harp glissando. On another note, I do agree with Michael - cheering would be a great addition to these SFX Omri EDIT: I just now saw that LAVS did send a message to me asking for my opinion, I just didn't get the notification and failed to notice it until now... Sorry.

Fastel, Thank you for your interest in 0 A.D. Your music sounds great! I'm Omri Lahav, music team lead for Wildfire Games, I'd love to work with you if you wish to contribute. If you're 100% sure you understand and agree to the terms of the CC-BY-SA license, we can proceed! Not all the pieces in the score are acoustic only, but my "golden rule" is that each peace features at least one or two acoustic, live recorded instruments. I don't want to use any pure VST sound. Are you capable of studio grade audio recordings? If not, you can send your contributions to me and I will see to the recordings - but that will be on a free-time basis, and may take a while to complete. Please have a thorough listen to the existing soundtrack over here, and let me know what you feel you can contribute. As you may notice, each in-game faction has it's own unique sound, and I wish to keep it that way. If you'd rather not be so specific - I'm always happy to include more "generic", unassociated peace tracks. These are often orchestral in nature, but I'm open to suggestions. Please email me at Omri (at) OmriLahav (dot) com, and we'll talk further. Thanks again,

Jodupher, Thank you for your interest in 0 A.D. If you'd like to contribute music, please see the dedicated thread. Once you've read it feel free to contact me (or comment on it) with links to your works. Thanks, Omri