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Game Theory

Posted on 27/03/2013 by Andy

Game Theory is our latest audio visual mashup performed live on re-wired video game controllers.

2013 marks 35 years of video game music (Space Invaders, released in 1978, was the first game to feature a continuous soundtrack). So we took the opportunity to take a look back at some of our favourite examples of video game music and build a 19 track mashup, combining them with some other tracks we love.

The tracks used vary from some of the original 8-bit tracks from the Atari, GameBoy, through to 1990s N64 and PS1 classics, right up to modern day symphonic epics that accompany some of todays blockbuster games…

Grab a free mp3 download of the track via our facebook page.

Tracks used:

Tetris Music A (Game Boy)
Abba - Mamma Mia
Doctor Who Theme
Super Mario Bros
Street Fighter II Turbo
Arkanoid
Goldeneye - Chemical Warfare
SBTRKT - Wildfire
Lana Del Rey - Video Games
Michael Jackson - Beat it
Grand Theft Auto IV Theme
Final Fantasty VIII Theme
Time Crisis
David Bowie - Let’s Dance
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 - Main Theme
Sonic
Basement Jaxx - Where’s your head at
Run DMC - It’s Tricky
Super Mario Bros - Game Over (..and a bit of GLaDOS)

The set-up

We needed to convert the controllers so that they could send midi data to Ableton Live. This was a two step process involving converting the controllers to HID compliant USB devices (you purchase simple kits online to rewire the controllers or alternatively, USB adapters to plug the controllers into into). Once the Contollers were outputting a HID signal through USB to the laptop all that was left was to convert this to midi.

We created a Max/MSP patch, which converted the HID data into MIDI note on/off signals

HID to MIDI MAX/MSP Patch

You can download the Max/MSP patch here. You will need the free Max/MSP runtime application available here.

Instructions

This patch can control 1x N64 controller and 4x NES controllers (or possibly other game pads) converted to HID compliant USB devices. The first dropdown box is for the N64 the others for the NES controllers.

Select any N64 controllers from the first dropdown box from the left
Select any NES controllers from the other dropdown boxes
Noteout 1 sends the N64 buttons out as MIDI, Noteout 2,3,4,5 send the NES buttons out as MIDI. ctlout 1 sends the N64 joystick out as controller data for controlling variable parameters such as volume, filter cuttoff etc. If you are using a Mac then setup an IAC bus if you are on PC then setup midi yoke (these will enable you to send MIDI data from MAX/MSP to another application.
Click on noteout 1,2,3,4,5 and ctlout and select either your IAC Bus (mac) or your midi yoke output (PC).
If using Ableton live, in Live->Preferences toggle ‘Remote’ input on for IAC Driver (mac) or Midi Yoke input (PC).
Click the small MIDI button in the top right hand corner of Ableton and when highlighting clips or parameters, press any of the controller buttons to assign the controller.

The Mixtape

Posted on 12/12/2012 by Chris

The mixtape celebrates the 50th anniversary of the cassette and the home sampling and mixtape culture that resulted from the formats proliferation.

Created using a 23 year old Tascam MSR-24 1″ tape machine, we blended 16 tracks together to produce this mashup:

Loops for the performance were edited, time stretched and pitch shifted using Ableton Live before being transferred to tape for the performance.

During playback, each loop can be triggered by un-muting the individual track. A particularly tricky aspect of the performance was muting the tracks again when you want them to stop. Weaving all the parts in and out of each other required a large amount of planning and we ended up devising our own score for the performance.

The Mixtape Score for Tascam-MSR24 Tape Machine

For the video work we used a Canon 600D DSLR and three lenses.

For the macro shots we used the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM

The closeups were shot using the Canon EF 50mm f1.8

The main shot used a Canon EF 17-40mm f/4 L USM. This wide screen lens was mainly used as the camera needed to be very close to the tape machine due to space restrictions.

Business Continuity for Dummies

Posted on 03/10/2012 by Chris

Ithaca Audio was asksed to create a light hearted sound track including sound design elements for Wiley publishings new promo video for “Business Continuity for Dummies” in association with the Cabinet Office.

The animation was created by the excellent Alan Warburton: http://www.alanwarburton.co.uk/

The audio was inspired by classic TV themes such The Noveltones - “Left Bank Two” (The gallery theme from Vision On)

Never Break Me

Posted on 03/10/2012 by Chris

Ithaca Audio was asked to create the intro music and sound design for hardstyle producer Brennan Heart’s latest track “Never Break Me”. No sound was recorded on location during the shoot so we were required to recreate all the audible elements in the scene.

Here is the full video featuring Brennan Heart’s track “Never Break Me”

Red Bull - Enjoy your ride

Posted on 26/03/2012 by Chris

We were recently asked by Berlin production company Moist Creation to create all the audio for their new animation for Red Bull. This included sound design for each of the different scenes in the video and music to tie the whole piece together.

Here is the video with just the sound design elements:

World of Sounds

Posted on 12/10/2011 by Chris

We were recently asked by Directors/Animators Jeff Han and Paul Sangwoo Kim to create the audio for their new short film World of Sounds.

The film is centred around the idea of a ‘world of sound’ being created when a musician plays an instrument. The character in the film plays the keyboard and around him an entire world evolves into being, containing the different elements of the sound, for instance the large floating ships represent the bass element of the keyboard sound.

The film allowed us to be very creative with the sound design and we were able to layer the audio to give the feeling of an industrial space where all these sounds are being created.

If you are interested in obtaining a copy of the film for presenting then please email [email protected] and we would be happy to provide a copy.

Credits:

Directors/Designers/Animators
Jeff Han
Gyum Kevin Heo
Paul Sangwoo Kim
Jeewon Kim

VFX Advisor
Ming Tai

Cinematographer
Charles Rose

Product Manager
Paul Saskas

Actors
Colton Scott
Ronnie Alveras

Makeup Artist
Jessica Yu

Sound Design
Ithaca Audio Ltd

Blog: Diego Stocco

Posted on 17/08/2011 by Chris

Take a look at this great interview with composer and sound designer Diego Stocco. Diego uses some really interesting techniques to create the sounds that make up his compositions.

You can download some of Diego’s great music here: http://diegostocco.bandcamp.com/album/the-broken-suite

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2: The Sound

Posted on 14/07/2011 by Chris

It’s finally here, the last instalment in the film adaptations of the Harry Potter books. The SoundWorks have done another great job in interviewing the crew behind the sound of the film. This importance of the sound design elements looks to be far more integral and intensive in this film than the previous one. The film score has been created by composer Alexandre Desplat who also composed the music for part one and last years big success ‘The King’s Speech.’

Here is the video:

Don’t hold back, push things forward

Posted on 13/06/2011 by Chris

This is a 9 video, live av mashup created by Chris from Ithaca Audio using Ableton Live and an Akai APC40.

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