Re: about dynamic music

Phil Goetz (goetz@zoesis.com)
Mon, 28 Sep 1998 20:41:58 -0400 (EDT)

This is the big extropians mailing list, right? I'm not subscribed, just browsing the archives...

>Well, about the mental-music, I'm seeking works about dynamic music, this
>is, music that changes when the environment changes.... music is only static
>information, I think it's possible to add "procedural" or "funtional"
>information, so, music will change and will sound different on the night
>than on afternoon, for example, or when it's hot than when it's cold... or
>maybe the music could detect others factors like happyness, the existence of
>wars.... even we can install sensors on the net that changes our dinamic
>music on all planet long....
>
>What do you thing about it??
>Greetings, Juan Pablo.

Dynamic music is a hot topic in the computer games industry. We don't want soundtracks; we want music that changes according to what is going on in the game. If an enemy is on your tail, the music should get more exciting. If you lose your wingman, those ominous bass notes should become dominant.

The Sept. 1998 Game Developer magazine (www.gdmag.com) had an article on Microsoft's Direct Music (part of DirectX), which is an interactive music authoring tool, and also on Headspace. There was an excellent talk on interactive music at the 1998 Computer Game Developer's Conference (http://www.cgdc.com), and you can go to their site and find out how to order the audio tape ($11), or just call 619 483 4300.

Phil goetz@zoesis.com