Custom MIDI selection when making a map

[TheCaneOfTheTophat]

When making a map,
- Do you usually consider music selection an afterthought?
- Do you usually add a MIDI track before, during, or after development?
- If you do add a MIDI track during or before development, does the choice of MIDI influence your mapping in any way?
- Do you usually constantly swap tracks and see what works for the map and what does not?
- If you know how to arrange MIDIs, would you rather compose an original track for a map or select an already existing track?

Edited November 11, 2023 by TheCaneOfTheTophat

[MFG38]

50 minutes ago, TheCaneOfTheTophat said:

Do you usually consider music selection an afterthought?

 

No. To me, music selection is an integral part of the process more often than not - a MIDI either makes or breaks a map.

 

50 minutes ago, TheCaneOfTheTophat said:

Do you usually add a MIDI track before, during, or after development?

 

Varies from map to map, but after in most cases.

 

51 minutes ago, TheCaneOfTheTophat said:

If you do add a MIDI track during or before development, does the choice of MIDI influence your mapping in any way?

 

It does to the extent that I wouldn't want to make a map where the MIDI feels totally out of place. A recent example of this is MAP06 of a WIP mapset of mine where I already had a MIDI in mind and sort of had to make the map to fit the MIDI. The Stars of Styx MAP01 was also made in this way - in fact, the map was inspired by the MIDI in that I wanted to use the track I'd just composed back then in a Doom map.

 

1 hour ago, TheCaneOfTheTophat said:

Do you usually constantly swap tracks and see what works for the map and what does not?

 

Nope. Usually I'll just listen to different MIDIs until I find one that I feel works and slap it in.

 

1 hour ago, TheCaneOfTheTophat said:

If you know how to arrange MIDIs, would you rather compose an original track for a map or select an already existing track?

 

The former.

[volleyvalley]

I'll usually add the MIDI track before I even start making my map, so I could start building off the level accordingly, based on the mood of the MIDI.

[Plerb]

I almost always pick a music track before starting to work on a map. If I don't, I'll become too used to the placeholder and it'll feel wrong if I change it.

[Vajjer'sDoomThings]

i usually just decide the music after once i figure out the aesthetic and vibe of the map and what fits best

[Cutman 999]

Usually the gains to map comes from hearing some cool midi, other times during development I shuffle choices for a midi.

Edited November 11, 2023 by Cutman 999

[Sonikkumania]

On 11/11/2023 at 2:55 PM, TheCaneOfTheTophat said:

When making a map,
- Do you usually consider music selection an afterthought?
- Do you usually add a MIDI track before, during, or after development?
- If you do add a MIDI track during or before development, does the choice of MIDI influence your mapping in any way?
- Do you usually constantly swap tracks and see what works for the map and what does not?
- If you know how to arrange MIDIs, would you rather compose an original track for a map or select an already existing track?

- Very rarely, it's usually the 1st thing I pick.

- Mostly during.

- Very much tbh. I want the bgm add to the ambience.

- Very rarely, unless I find something really mind blowing by accident.

- I actually prefer to make real music in .mp3 format.

[bofu]

I write all the music for my own levels. I usually don't have a MIDI in mind until well after I finish the level, so I create the MIDI to match the mood of the level. I'd do the same if I were picking a custom, pre-made MIDI as well.

[pcorf]

With Zone 400, 2022ado and many of my projects past I often composed the MIDI first for the map in a way I would imagine the map to turn out to be like so the songs fit with the mood of the map according to my point of view. No don't expect Jimmy's Arch Violence in my maps, epic song for sure.

Edited November 15, 2023 by pcorf

[rita remton]

On 11/11/2023 at 12:55 PM, TheCaneOfTheTophat said:

When making a map,
- Do you usually consider music selection an afterthought?

no.

 

On 11/11/2023 at 12:55 PM, TheCaneOfTheTophat said:

- Do you usually add a MIDI track before, during, or after development?

usually during development.

 

On 11/11/2023 at 12:55 PM, TheCaneOfTheTophat said:

- If you do add a MIDI track during or before development, does the choice of MIDI influence your mapping in any way?

no.

 

On 11/11/2023 at 12:55 PM, TheCaneOfTheTophat said:

- Do you usually constantly swap tracks and see what works for the map and what does not?

yes.

 

On 11/11/2023 at 12:55 PM, TheCaneOfTheTophat said:

- If you know how to arrange MIDIs, would you rather compose an original track for a map or select an already existing track?

i don't know how to compose an original track though. but it does seem like a fun thing to do. maybe i'll try it some day :)

 

cheers! :)

[MEMEAIDS]

My development style is fluid, and my choice of midis follow suit.

Often, I start with a track in mind, though if, during building and testing, I find that the song and visuals of the map do not go together, I will try and find something more appropriate.