Bofu's 14-Track MIDI Hell (updated 6/16)

[bofu]

I'm currently in the progress of creating a one-man megawad (that's for another thread, I won't link it here), and one of my goals for it was to write an original MIDI track for every single level. (I did end up commissioning the talented Mr. Jackson for a track and plan on getting one or two more.) Although I'm new to Doom mapping, I'm a longtime composer. I studied music throughout college and grad school and even taught music theory at a major US university for a few years before moving into other endeavors.

 

Eventually, once I finish Diabolus Dominus (my megawad), I'll probably go into commission work, but for now, I want to share SC-55 renderings of some of the original MIDI files I've written. There's some electronic-synth stuff, some orchestral stuff, some rock stuff, some Latin/ska-inspired stuff, even some Zappa-inspired stuff (we're talking 80s Zappa).

 

 

I apologize if Soundcloud messed with some of the tracks - it tends to do that. I hope you all enjoy! Below is some quick info about the tracks.

Spoiler

ESCAPE - MAP03 of Diabolus Dominus

I first wrote this track probably back in, uh, 2006 or so? I lost the original file and had to recreate it from memory. This is a synth-heavy track with a driving beat and what I think is a really cool offset rhythm in the melody.

 

HELTER SKELTER - formerly MAP02 of Diabolus Dominus, currently unused

Did you know that I'm a 90s ska kid? This one doesn't have a horn section, but it's very much inspired by ska-punk. I'm actually planning on recording a full version complete with horns and vocals (along with a third verse/chorus) when I get back into recording.

 

SAD AND SORRY - formerly MAP01 of Diabolus Dominus, currently unused

Another old track I wrote and had to recreate from memory. My style used to rely very heavily on stacking different basslines and panning them out. I will probably remix this one some day.

 

SUPERIORITY - Unused

I wrote this one back in 2007 and managed to find the original MIDI file. This was mostly an experiment in metric modulation and some unusual meter (for instance, it starts in 12/8, goes to 4/4 for a few bars, then goes to a pattern of 3 bars of 11/8 followed by a bar of 13/8). It's a little too attention-grabby, so I probably won't be using it in a project, but I'm still proud of the rhythmic work I did in it.

 

TENSION - MAP04 of Diabolus Dominus

This was the first MIDI of Diabolus Dominus that I wrote explicitly trying to match the mood of the level I was making. The level, "Demolition Zone," takes place in a corrupted UAC building nestled in the mountains that has been slowly taken over by a hellish influence. As such, the mood is very uneasy and foreboding, and it's more ambient than any of the other tracks on the playlist or in the WAD.

 

SI SE PUEDE - MAP05 of Diabolus Dominus

A Latin/ska-inspired piece based on an original tune the band I used to be in played until it dissolved. It's pretty straightforward, but I feel like it makes for great action music.

 

GUN 'N RUN - MAP06 of Diabolus Dominus

In addition to being a 90s kid, I was raised on id and Apogee games. I also listened to my dad's Jimmy Smith (jazz organist) records. This is basically me combining those days spent playing Commander Keen with my days spent listening to those records.

 

ORGAN FAILURE - MAP07 of Diabolus Dominus

Puns are the highest form of comedy. Another track that was specifically written with a level in mind, its level — "Simplicity" — is set in a chunk of a demon-infested city, and one of the key fights of the level takes place in the courtyard of a corrupted cathedral. As such, I thought having a pipe organ would be appropriate, and I'm very, very pleased with the result.

 

TECHCRINGE - MAP08 of Diabolus Dominus

Another track written for the map it accompanies, though the bass line was stuck in my head long before that. Its map, "Reviled," takes place in a volcanic techbase, and although it's a hectic level, this fairly chill (but not too chill) music seemed appropriate, particularly for the parts involving the volcano. It has a Latin feel and uses some auxiliary percussion that I'm real fond of.

 

MANGOES - MAP09 of Diabolus Dominus

Another song from that band I was in that I ripped chunks out of. It's a short, driving, dissonant track that uses a lot of tritones/diminished fifths.

 

DOOMED DESTINY - MAP10 of Diabolus Dominus

This orchestral track contains some of the ideas that I had to cut out of Organ Failure, recontextualized into a moody, somber dirge. This was me taking some of my orchestration experience writing for actual breathing concert bands and orchestras and putting it to work in MIDI form. Probably tied with Organ Failure for my favorite track of the whole list.

 

OFFICE BLOCKED - MAP02 of Diabolus Dominus

After deciding that maybe ska-punk wasn't the best fit for Doom, I wrote this track for MAP02. It has a very unique chord progression in my opinion, as well as a very good drum pattern.

 

CARNIVAL OF FIRE AND BRIMSTONE - MAP12 of Diabolus Dominus

A creepy track for the first Hell level. Very inspired by the music from E2M8 of the original Doom.

 

HELL IS OTHER PEOPLE - MAP09 of Diabolus Dominus

My first real attempt at writing metal. Despite occasional moments of dissonance, I find it pretty listenable, and the unusual time signature changes make it pretty unique.

 

Edited June 17, 2022 by bofu
now has 14 tracks

[Egregor]

I agree with you about Doomed Destiny and Organ Failure being the strongest/most thematically appropriate compositions for Doom being presented here, though I must admit I am bias toward ultra-serious, soundtrack-like, epic sounding compositions. I do appreciate the effort put into some of the wackier tracks but they feel a bit corny/cheesy for Doom. Gun 'n Run feels like the music during the opening of an 80s comedy movie with a montage introducing all of the characters doing goofy shit! With that said these are well made compositions, and a fairly wide range of styles covered here. Thanks for sharing!

[TheBlurCafe]

Best way for me to approach is to go MIDI by MIDI:

 

ESCAPE: parts of it remind me of Lee Jackson's "Adagio for Strings (G Minor)" used in "Rise Of The Triad", fitting, seeing as you state to have used his music as an inspiration, and it definitely shines through in a good way, it also awards bonus points from me because I like that particular track, I also dig the change around the 1 minute mark, this is a good track.

 

HELTER SKELTER: the melody itself is kinda goofy sounding but I love it, I really like that last part at 1:26, which has a more "hopeful" tone? But at the same time it's happy, I can just about picture Doomguy's smiling sprite, another good one.

 

SAD AND SORRY: nice drumming and synth melody starting from around the halfway point, parts of the melody sound fittingly melancholic, others not so much, I suppose the triumphant parts serve to balance out the more melodic and sad sounding ones. Neat song.

 

SUPERIORITY: ohhh we're starting with a bang, an explosive intro, a slightly menacing interlude to a pretty powerful and uplifting melody, it makes you feel like you're at an advantage point, really interesting drum pattern, and I also really like the lead guitar's melody, all in all, a really cool song, definitely one of my favorites among this compilation.

 

TENSION: I really like the swirly almost watery effect you can hear at the beginning and throughout some parts of the song, also some neat panning on that synth bass, but I feel like the melody itself kinda gets drawn out a bit, seeing as it's repeated throughout the whole track, some stronger elements like percussion, timpani or even low gunshots could elevate this to amp up the tension.

 

SI SE PUEDE: now this is really fun to listen to, I immediately started bouncing around when the song started, it's pretty fast-paced and the guitars don't hog the spotlight too much. Not much to say honestly, it's just really fun to listen to and I like it a lot, good stuff!

 

GUN 'N RUN: the beginning where it's just the bass and drums kinda gives me "Crash Bandicoot" vibes, which ain't bad, same goes for that "Zombies Ate My Neighbors" style organ. This sounds slightly mischievous, and it also gives me some sort of "surf rock" vibe. Really groovy bassline, another really nice track that's fun to listen to!

 

ORGAN FAILURE: I really, really like that intro section, and when the organ hits, it hits hard. You are right to be pleased with this one, it's beautiful and haunting; that guitar part at the end is nice, although I wish the organ played more of a role, especially the way it did at the beginning. Still, a very remarkable track, good job on this one!

 

TECHCRINGE: nice track, pretty chill despite you saying it's meant for a volcano (oh, the irony), I think the flute and marimba sell the idea pretty well, as well as the guitars coming into play. Overall, pretty nice.

 

MANGOES: this style of dissonant melodies is not my cup of tea, so I can't quite say anything about it without it coming off as out of nowhere, but I like that the latin influence is still present even in the most unlikely of tracks, it adds a lot.

 

DOOMED DESTINY: it's ironic that the strings remind me more so of "Marathon", that aside, this is quite the magical piece, I really like this one, it's very pretty on a musical standpoint, the somber melody, the twinkling instrument past the halfway point, the best part has to be around 2:40, where the music starts to swell up, I love the oboe, and the follow-up is as wondrous as the rest of the song. Really, really nice track, definitely my favorite out of this whole compilation.

 

Overall, there's a lot of good stuff! I believe that even the most un-Doom sounding track can be used to great effect in a map pack, even for shits and giggles.

Really solid compilation!

Edited April 26, 2022 by TheBlurCafe

[bofu]

Added three more tracks to this one, both from my project: Office Blocked, Carnival of Fire and Brimstone, and Hell Is Other People! Hope you all enjoy them.

Edited June 17, 2022 by bofu

[Ravendesk]

Good stuff!

Organ Failure is my favorite of the set.

 

Are you planning to upload the original midis?

[bofu]

7 hours ago, Ravendesk said:

Good stuff!

Organ Failure is my favorite of the set.

 

Are you planning to upload the original midis?

 

Eventually, after the WAD they're used in is released.