Metal Gear 2007

On August 10th, 2006, a bit more than a year ago, Wolf_ released an impressive amount of his compositions and re-arrangements in our downloads corner. One of the re-arrangements, an orchestral version of the main theme of all-time Konami classic Metal Gear has been a steady factor in our monthly Downloads Top 10 ever since. In fact, his Metal Gear re-arrangement is the most downloaded file from our website with no less than 2222 downloads (and counting) - wasting close to 9 GB of our datatraffic already.

This success encouraged Wolf_ to make a brand new re-arrangement of the same tune, this time in a way that could actually be performed by an orchestra and choir, even though the score is not available (yet). The result is called Metal Gear 2007 and is available for download as of now. This version is performed by a set of softsamplers but, perhaps, one day a true orchestra will perform the tune as well. MSX should, after all, give some competiton to the C64 orchestra ;).

Relevant link: Metal Gear 2007

Comments (23)

By Metalion

Paragon (1625)

03-09-2007, 07:30

Once again, a truly amazing piece of work from Wolf_
Congratulations on that new masterpiece !

I discovered the C64 orchestra website while reading this news. The news said also that MSX needed to react to the C64 orchestra.

Well Konami already did it in the good ol' days : they released 3 CDs of orchestral re-arrangements : Gradius in classic, Gradius in classic 2 and Gradius suite fantasia. If you never heard them, I strongly recommend them to you. They are available for download on the french MSXCafé website.

EDIT : I believe they might be available for download ONLY if you are a member

By hap

Paragon (2042)

03-09-2007, 11:54

Sounds good What VSTi did you use (if any)?

By wolf_

Ambassador_ (10109)

03-09-2007, 11:59

reViSiT for tracking, Halion3 [oops]and some Kompakts for sound.[/oops]

[edit]Check, that's wrong, I was confused with another tune I did this weekend, I only used Halion3 instances[/edit]

[edit2]oh arf arf, kick me, I did use one Kompakt after all [/edit]

By nikodr

Paladin (750)

03-09-2007, 14:37

Wolf_ Congratulations!Very good arragement,very nice orchestration,and the quality of the textures of the sound is so well done without ever making it overcluttered.And to think that the original was done on a psg sound chip.Again congratulations.You must have studied music for many many years right?

By Prodatron

Paragon (1843)

03-09-2007, 19:27

Really cool voice samples!

By shaiwa

Champion (392)

03-09-2007, 22:15

Another great one wolf_
(Anyone noticed that it's almost only wolf_ at the mp3 dowload section?)

By wolf_

Ambassador_ (10109)

03-09-2007, 22:19

tnx all,

About the DL section: well, it's free for everyone to send MSX-related tunes (e.g. rearranges or recordings of MSX extensions) to MRC, if they may be hosted and offered freely, but if hardly anyone does so..

By chaos

Paladin (809)

04-09-2007, 19:40

great song!!
A lot better than the MGS (playstation) version

By [DK]

Resident (59)

05-09-2007, 06:18

What would the MSX remade songs scene be without Wolf! I think this is just a piece in a great collection where the remakes for The maze of Galious and some demos (Wings, Sphere or Coral) shine! Thanks, Wolf!

I have always been sure of the quality of many MSX tunes, regardless the chip used, the melodies are sometimes brilliant. That's why I find this scene particularly satisfying, apart from editing levels, of course

Now it's time to say: where are the other composers that used to remake MSX songs? I miss some of them, being true that it requires much work and that some of them still do what they can. Just know, whatever you do, that many people actually listen to your stuff, so brains on your favourite tracker now!

Bugas!

By Arjan

Paladin (787)

05-09-2007, 15:32

Am I the only one who doesn't like the tune? It sounds too cluttered to me...

By snout

Ascended (15187)

05-09-2007, 17:47

I like Wolf's previous Metal Gear remake better than this one, but think this version would be overwhelming if an actual orchestra (as opposed to softsamplers) would perform it.

By wolf_

Ambassador_ (10109)

05-09-2007, 17:56

Can't serve 'm all ofcoz, and there's the subject of taste. One thing this rearrange has and previous rearranges didn't is the ability to be played by a real orchestra, as it's genuinely orchestrated following all the official guidelines. I might do a printed score of this one when I feel like doing so.

By nikodr

Paladin (750)

05-09-2007, 18:24

I think that a computerized version can't do much compared to a real orchestra.It would be VERY powerful and good to hear it with a live orchestra.Again as a musician i have to say that it is a very proffesional arragement and that Wolf_ really knows what he is doing.He is a a very talented musician and arranger.

By wolf_

Ambassador_ (10109)

05-09-2007, 20:01

nikodr:
The problem with a real orchestra vs a computer version is the low chance of getting it played in the way it was composed. Note that orchestral samples have been recorded with top-notch players, who don't need to have studied your piece. Also, the number of players used is usually the number you'd expect in a conventional symphony orchestra. Next, I usually use some more unconventional instruments such as contrabassoons, altoflutes and such, well, try to find those! Many brass/woodwind players don't end up in orchestras but in fanfare/military bands and such ensembles. Esp. with youth orchestras this becomes obvious. I've spoken to someone who knows all kinda stuff about youth orchestras, and here's what you have to deal with:
- Prolly oodles o' violins, but no violas, perhaps 1 cello, no contrabasses.
- No harps
- prolly like 6 flutes and 3 clarinets, but no oboes, english horns, let alone basoons or even contrabassoons. (note that 2 flutes are a typical quantity in even large orchestras!)
- Prolly 2 trumpets, perhaps 1 trombone, but no tubas, french horns, basstrombones 'n such.
- There's likely to be a piano player around who'll be put on timpanis for the simple reason that pianoplayers can read the bass clef. Otherwise the piano player takes over the cello and contrabass parts that are missing.

You could hire missing players, but that's gonna co$t you, think about rehearsals even! The advantage of an ensemble/club/group is that they're acting -and studying- as one. Add hired players and.. well, it's just gonna cost you. Simple as that.

Adult orchestras then, are usually occupied with their Bach/Mozart/Strauss tours and are like "huh, Metal Gear? what's that? No audience, don't bother".

So, while a computer orchestra *might* appear to be a class below real orchestras, here're the advantages:
- no rehearsals and their silly costs
- all the instruments are present in the correct quantities
- played without flaws, and in this case you may assume that with flaws I really mean doing a take again, I'm not talking natural human errors.
- freedom of orchestra halls
- being able to mix/edit individual instruments

In the end however, give me the London Symphony Orchestra and it'll prolly work out well, but in other situations I'd say: don't underestimate musictechnology and don't overestimate the practical issues you have with medium orchestras.

By Arjan

Paladin (787)

05-09-2007, 23:50

I have to say, after listening to it with my headphones it sounds a lot better! but still, I don't like some stuff in the beginning, and the part starting ~ 0:55 sounds too messy to me; there's just too much going on in that part.

By Sama

Ambassador (2068)

06-09-2007, 00:31

Partly I like the song and partly I don't. Personally I love these kinds of arrangements (orchestral versions), but I have the feeling it does not completely do justice to the original piece of music. I think I have this feeling because there is quite some change of atmosphere between the first and the second half of the song, whereas this difference is very much less clear in this arrangement. I would probably have liked it more when the contrast had been clearer than it is now between the first and the second part. Apart from that, I think it's very nicely done - though it wouldn't fit the actual game anymore (considering the atmospheres of both the game and the song), but that mustn't spoil the fun .

By wolf_

Ambassador_ (10109)

06-09-2007, 00:36

'fitting the game' was not my objective this time.., in fact, the primary object was to actually have a test case I could create a score for in Lilypond. So I wanted something fast, and so this one only took me 2 days to make.

By Latok

msx guru (3938)

06-09-2007, 14:35

I like the arrangement, thx wolf! I think you would have received only positive reactions if you wouldn't have connected the first part with the second part that much. The greatness of the original is the sudden twist in melody, the song really builds up to that second part........

By Alex

Master (205)

06-09-2007, 20:05

Hi,

I like this song a lot. Regarding the 'cluttering': it seems to depend on the equipment. When I listened in my computer room (Sony Super Legato Linear amplifier with Studiocraft ST 200 speakers) it sounded too much cluttered in the transition from the first to second part. However, when I listened in my living room (NAD T-751 amplifier with B&W DM603 speakers) the transition was very well defined. It was not too cluttered anymore. It sounded full but that added to the atmosphere of the song.

Kind regards,
Alex

By ARTRAG

Enlighted (6935)

06-09-2007, 20:43

OMG! Amazing arrangement !
GREAT!

By wolf_

Ambassador_ (10109)

06-09-2007, 21:00

Alex: I'm completely not into HiFi, but those computerroom speakers, what are they like? Full-range? (<30hz..20k) I made the mix based on 3 situations here:
- quality Sennheiser headphones for pinpointing instrumental transitions and other details
- Eltax Symphony HiFi speakers (25Hz..20KHz) for the full range situation
- Genelec 1030 studio monitors (56Hz and higher) for a neutral situation

I can somewhat imagine that smaller speakers might crunch the whole shebang a bit..

By evulopah

Paladin (669)

07-09-2007, 23:11

I don't like the song... those vocal samples don't fit in this one....

And I have the feeling this song must equal the first song Wolf_ made of this Metal Gear Theme...

Hell yeah.. that first song rocks.. On occasional times I listen to this perfect, bombastic version of the Metal Gear Theme...

So.. in my opinion... you better do a remake of a different game (theme)...

By Alex

Master (205)

08-09-2007, 00:05

wolf_: studiocraft is (or was?) a sub-brand of bose. They exist in five version : the st100 (the smallest), st200, ..., st500 (the biggest), so the st200 is definitely in the low range of the series. Unfortunately the booklet that came with them does not specify the frequency range but they contain two speakers (a 3" tweeter and a 5-1/4" woofer). Anyway, based on my listening experience they are weak in the low frequency range. They served me well when I was still studying and lived in a small student room. However, once I graduated, got a job and moved into a house, I bought bigger/better ones for in the living room and these speakers moved to the computer room.

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