Chudah's Corner - Liner Notes

# A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Another Mind Original Soundtrack

Catalog Number: SSCX-10024
Translation By: Ongakusei

Liner Notes

Several years have now passed since I first began working as a composer, and so from the beginning of this project, "Another Mind", I wanted to try writing in a different style, even if only slightly, than I ever had before. The majority of the music in this game was produced through the Playstation's internal sound chip. Usually, I compose by constructing sounds using sampling and hard disk recording techniques. But in this game's case, save for the music in the movie scenes, there really wasn't enough memory allotted to allow for music created through those methods to be reproduced through the Playstation's sound chip. Thus, I abandoned that composition technique, and went back to the more traditional and musical method of creating sounds, and then writing a piece based largely on musical aspects and features. It felt like a bare test of all my musical experience and instinct up to that point. The schedule was very tight on this project, and it was imperative that I conceive my images quickly. So I adopted the simplest system I could, and went about composing with practical efficiency. Even with the high pace of composition -the fastest completed piece taking some ten minutes, other pieces taking at most a few days- I made no sacrifices in quality, and work proceeded steadily. (Although in the final stage of development, additional music cue requests kept me working until the last minute of the schedule...) Finally, as I'd initially hoped, I think I managed to compose music with a slightly different style for me. Last but not least, thanks to the cooperation of synthesizer programmer Mr. Iwasaki, we were able to skillfully reproduce the final tone colors and tonal clarity of this high quality music. It was only within a short, crowded schedule of 2 months, but thank you very much. I'll be looking forward to our next opportunity.

-Junya Nakano, Composer

I wonder how long it's been since I first heard the term "Desktop Music" (or DTM)? When you say DTM, I get the image of an amateur informally creating music on their PC with a lone sound source, or analyzing someone else's MIDI data. I think that we manipulators, who create sounds using multiple synthesizers, are the antipodes of those people in terms of our sonic restrictions. The first group tries from start to finish to figure out how to get the most out of very limited equipment, while the other group relies on all the resources at hand.

I had come to feel that the latter camp in this conflict naturally exercised more tactics. That's why I've continued to work as a manipulator. However, on this project, I was forced to reevaluate my position. The MIDI data I received from composer Junya Nakano at the end of July was created with only a Roland SC-88 Pro. With a tinge of anxiety, I opened up and looked at the data, and the foundation of my belief was capsized by the music therein. An overpowering atmosphere...phrases with miraculous tonal balance...to think this Tangerine Dream-esque music, and then drum n' bass, Ryuichi Sakamoto, and super pop (my personal interpretation) was really all done on just an SC-88...It was truly a succession of surprises. What's more, when I looked closely at the data, I saw that the envelope and filter parameters had already been adjusted to beautiful effect. This was incredible. As a result, when I converted the data for Playstation playback, I simply sampled and inserted about 90% of the sounds as they already were. The original sound world was so well realized to begin with, I decided if I messed it up too much, that sense would be lost. About all I did to optimize the sound for Playstation was add compression and EQ to the original sounds. It's a defeat for manipulators everywhere. How mortifying! But the point is, what sort of sense you possess and bring to the music is far more important than what equipment you're using. Someday, I'm going to absorb Nakano's ability to produce these roaring sounds.

Instruments: Bass MIDI Mini Piano Emulator IV Music Box JV2080 Others SC-88 Pro

-Hidenori Iwasaki (VAG40), Synthesizer Programmer (Manipulator)

Of prime importance in the world view of "Another Mind" was the adult sensibility that lies in the valley between the surface and the underneath, the easily comprehended and the inscrutable. Within the lyrical echoes of its urban sound, Nakano's music possesses strength borne of a core of stoicism. I suggest you try submerging yourself in the unique, mature sensations of Another Mind. It's a work made for anyone to enjoy, even those of you who just wish to smile. It's a great honor for me to have been able to create this project together with my friend Nakano.

-Keizo Kokubo, Development Director