LeapDay (Nitrome) winter theme

The title track for a fun little game called "A La Mode" for the Bigmode Game Jam!

Play it here!
https://scarpmetal.itch.io/a-la-mode

A La Mode! (Theme Song)

This is the first MIDI cover I've made in fucking aaaaaaaages that uses Microsoft's GS Wavetable Synth built into windows. The last time I made a MIDI in this manner was like... 6 years ago?

I wanted to see if I could use it to match certain sounds used in the original song with those from the MSGS synth. Well I say that, but I'm actually not using anything Microsoft-y in this cover, I'm instead using a soundfont based on MSGS run through a MIDI engine, in this case, Qsynth, a Qt frontend for FluidSynth that runs on Linux.

But I've stayed true to the limits of MSGS the whole way through, not using any Chorus or Reverb effects, everything you heard is as accurate to MSGS as can be. If I wanted to do an echo, I had to duplicate a channel, and copy/paste notes around, detune and change the volume of said notes, just as you would with the real thing. It also adds a bit of a chiptune-y charm to the creative process, and the sound itself. It was a bit of a pain trying to get everything where it needed to be, especially cuz I had to do a bunch of channel changes using MIDI CCs to get everything to fit. I very nearly ended up using all 16 channels, and even considered breaking the limit and using 32 instead, but I kept it to 15, and used MIDI CCs where necessary, as I said.

This also means that, considering I wanted to match the ADSR envelope on each of these sounds, and the sounds themselves have their own ADSR that can't be changed with CCs, I had to actually automate the volume knobs on each one myself, semi-manually. FL Studio makes it really really easy to work with MIDI automation events, and copy/pasting stuff is painless, I'll spare you the details right now, but I'll just say there's a good reason I use FL for MIDI stuff, it's got all the joys of an old-school MIDI sequencer with none of the frustration.

But yeah, that's about all I have to say about this one. Hope you enjoy listening as much as I did making it!

[Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth] ~ Hexion: "The Hexagon I've Dreamed Of [Form Select Mode]" MIDI Cover

Sushi Cat 2 - temple level

Hot Swap (Nitrome) dark version

Beneath the Lighthouse (Nitrome) intro

the bomb. run

Extremely Funky beat that captures the "Jack Swing" style made popular by Teddy Riley

U Don't Have 2 B Sleazy

Pink Panter Jazz Remix

Country Rock while Gaming (8)

Composition, Arrangement: Yoann Turpin. 2020
Artwork: https://www.deviantart.com/andylittle/art/Super-Mario-UFO-Land-772076238

Chiptune: "What if I have a Spaceship !?!" (For Christophe. K)

Please follow me on Spotify 🙏 https://open.spotify.com/artist/5madlC6WiD1njtV9ryyRtg?si=k2_GT21qT6i1QxADsqPh5Q

I was lucky enough to make music for computer games from 2008 - 2020. My main client over the years was Nitrome. 

My new musical project is ‘Brew’ which features my original songs. Check it out! :)

Hot Swap (Nitrome) dark version

Dave Cowen

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