Music has been an integral part of the video game experience from the first time that consoles and computers were capable of producing sound.

As technology has evolved, so too the options available to composers have expanded. Modern games can boast any kind of soundtrack to suit their theme, from the soaring strings of Skyrim to the jazzy big band bombast of Super Mario Odyssey to the amazing variety of tunes found on casino sites like Casumo.

Of course, electro has also had a huge influence over gaming in the past-half century, so if you are looking to play something with a synth-drenched soundtrack, here are a few of the best options around.

Mirror’s Edge

Released back in 2008, Mirror’s Edge was a boundary-pushing game that focused on free-running and movement rather than combat.

With a story set in a curiously pristine near-future city in which a group of underground parkour enthusiasts ply their trade on perfectly-maintained rooftops, it made total sense for the developers to choose an electro soundtrack to amplify its most intense moments.

Much of the composition work was handled by Swedish electro stalwart Solar Fields, and the results are suitably pulse-pounding, as well as having their calmer, more ambient periods.

The 2016 sequel Mirror’s Edge Catalyst has a similarly impressive soundscape, once again put together by the same artist. It is also a great idea to check out the Chvrches song “Warning Call”, which was the official theme for the whole game and is a slice of electro-pop perfection.

Hotline Miami

Like the game itself, the soundtrack to top-down shooter Hotline Miami is dripping with 80s charm and evokes that neon-soaked decade incredibly effectively.

The lazy synths of certain tracks are juxtaposed jarringly against the more eclectic and discordant elements of the soundtrack throughout, reflecting the fact that this game as a whole is a bit of an oddball and does not want to conform to any preconceived notions the player might have.

Rather than being created by a single composer, Hotline Miami was scored by a number of different artists including MOON and Jasper Byrne. This helps to add to the overall eccentricity, yet it all comes together to leave a lasting impression long after the final bullet has been fired.

VVVVVV

You may not have heard of this retro-inspired puzzle-platformer, but before you dive in beware that it is punishingly difficult and very much aimed at an audience who is happy to take a trial and error approach to overcome challenges, often only attaining victory after tens if not hundreds of deaths.

Thankfully the stunning electro soundtrack that accompanies the unusually named VVVVVV is enough to keep you going, providing a mixture of polyphonic melodies, pounding drums, and soaring synths.

Composed predominantly by Magnus Palsson, a major force on the chiptune scene, the music mirrors the game in being a love letter to a bygone era.

Portal

While a lot of the soundtracks mentioned so far can be divided neatly into tracks that can be enjoyed in isolation, a lot of Portal’s music is entirely contextual and is difficult to appreciate when stripped out of the game itself. Even so, it deserves a place on this list because of just how well the ambience is enhanced through the use of electro.

Like the game itself, the soundtrack starts out subtly and gradually amps up over the course of the relatively short single player campaign, climaxing in a terror-inducing tune to accompany the final boss battle, before easing off with an end-credits song that is the mother of all memes.

Known for spreading his message of love, peace, and unity through music, Sir Ivan (Peaceman) wants to help out-of-work DJs. Dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic isn’t easy for artists. Certainly, financial burdens are affecting most of them. With this in mind, Sir Ivan launches a MegaMix competition for DJs from all over the world.  He shows his generosity by making a $10,000 contribution to this cause in the form of a $5,000 donation to Insomniac’s “Rave Recovery” fund. He will also award additional cash to the Top 5 winners ($1,000 each).

First of all, make sure you fill the form here ➡️ https://sirivan.com/megamix-contest

Sir Ivan’s team will send you a link to download the songs you must use in your DJ set that must be uploaded via Mixcloud. If you haven’t entered yet, hurry up! The deadline for submissions is June 22th, 2020. Big names in the EDM industry like Paul Oakenfold, Bassjackers, DJs From Mars, Tenishia, and Exodus will be the judges of this epic competition. The main runners-up will also receive amazing prizes from sponsors:

• Signed copies of the 4th edition of the legendary ‘The Dance Music Manual’.
• A project with Peak Hour Music.
• A publicity package with Matt Caldwell PR.
• Interviews and mix opportunities on EDM Sessions Radio.

What are you waiting for? Enter the competition right now!

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Have you just started with your piano lessons? Continue reading this blog to find out what are the common piano mistakes that you can avoid as a beginner. While diligent rehearsal is the key to become a pianist, even experienced musicians often doubt their practice. The best pianists are the ones who practiced for efficiency, who did not count the number of hours they put in, but who counted the number of techniques they mastered in.

So let’s read what you can avoid during your piano lessons to speed up your practice.

Mistake 1: Ignoring How the Fingers Work

A good pianist knows the importance of each finger in playing the instrument. Just because you are comfortable using the ring finger instead of the 4th finger, it doesn’t mean you are doing it right. While it may feel uncomfortable in the beginning, your hands will get accustomed to the positions soon after. Fingering or finger position in piano lessons is crucial because it:

1) Keeps our hands, fingers, and wrists steady
2) Keeps our fingers moving as little as possible while creating the perfect music
3) Helps us use all our fingers equally and prevents using one more than the other
4) Helps us distribute the music notes across all fingers uniformly

Mistake 2: Not Practicing the Basics Enough

Practicing the basics until you can even play in your sleep is a must to form the ground of your music. Learners often skip the difficult steps and jump to the next one only to return to it and try. Clear one step at a time and focus on practicing the difficult passages again and again. Moreover, just because you got stuck at a point, do not go back and restart from the beginning. Focus on it and once you pull it off, then you can revise for one last time before moving on to the next lesson.

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Mistake 3: Practicing Only at a Fast Pace

Practice and more practice. You should practice enough to not forget your learnings. However, you should also remember that slow practice is more effective than fast practice. Confusing? Okay, here’s something simple. When you learn a piece, do not play it at the top speed. Playing at a fast note may seem easy but it won’t help you master the passage accurately. Playing slow will give you control over your music and the small details. Practicing the basics, every day, slowly will not only keep your mind engaged but also help you stay focused on the notes, sounds, and fingering.

Mistake 4: Playing More, Listening Less, and Looking at the keyboard More

Your focus should not be on the keyboard but the notations and the music created. It’s like riding a car, but instead of concentrating on the road, you focus on the steering wheel. It is not about how often you practice, but it is about how often you listen to music and recognize the notes and sounds. You have to make a habit of listening to not just what you learn but also what others create.

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Also, you have to slowly cultivate the habit of reading music and relying less on keyboard image or numbers. This will help you practice pattern reading that allows musicians to recognize notations moving up and down.

Mistake 5: Not Getting a Passage Right Multiple Times

Most often when practicing a difficult passage, we tend to repeat a spot only until we get it right. And then we move on to the next note. But, what would you remember at the end of a week – playing wrong 20 times or played right one time? The wrong one, right? It is because we practiced it more. Therefore, your goal should not be getting it right once, but getting it right multiple times, in different surroundings and scenarios. Only then you should move on to the next section.

Article by Aarif Habeeb

Have you always dreamed of becoming a music producer? Well, nowadays making music isn’t as far-fetched as it was in the past. As long as you have the right equipment, you can transform one of your spare rooms into a music studio.

Commence your journey by choosing a digital audio workstation and a top-notch computer as your basic tools. These are essential for transforming your creative thoughts into pieces of music.

The following tips will certainly be helpful in the process of making your first song.

Choose the right DAW

The initial thing to consider is choosing a digital audio workstation (DAW), which is a software that you need to install in order to record and edit music pieces. This program needs to be adapted to the operating system of your computer so as to be functional.

Prior to making an ultimate decision, you are advised to check out the plethora of online tutorials that explain the features of the DAW you find most suitable. These tutorials serve the purpose of familiarizing you with the layout of the software, which is particularly beneficial for complete beginners. If you wish to master the program faster, you could also try some of the online courses that teach you about its features in detail.

Purchase a computer

After selecting the right type of DAW, you’re supposed to purchase a computer or a laptop that matches the software requirements. It’s paramount for the computer to be armed with high processor speed and RAM of a minimum of eight gigabytes. Also, a hard disk space of at least 500 gigabytes is essential for the computer to run well and store all of your audio files.

Nevertheless, in case your budget isn’t enough to purchase a brand new computer, you can upgrade certain components of your current gadget to make it more powerful. Focus your attention on upgrading the processor, the RAM, and the hard drive space, as these components, are of greatest importance. Visit this page for some useful tips on upgrading a laptop.

Purchase production equipment

Apart from computer equipment, you’d also need production accessories that contribute to music quality. Instead of using plug-ins for certain instruments, you could purchase an instrument that you are keen on playing, such as a guitar, drums, synthesizer, etc. Make sure you purchase a keyboard and a microphone as well.

Work on the melody

Coming up with a melody is undoubtedly the trickiest part of recording a track, as you need to make the right choice of instruments. It’s essential to pair the number of vocals with the number of instruments for better synchronization.

Furthermore, your melody would be catchier by choosing a few additional instruments to emphasize the chorus or other sections of the song structure. However, bear in mind that these instruments won’t be effective if being included in almost every part of the track.

There isn’t a general rule when it comes to highlighting specific parts of a song since every music producer decides which sections of its track deserve to be emphasized. Besides instruments, you could use sound effects like wind, rain, storm, or waves to stress certain parts of the lyrics. Websites, such as dawvsthub.com, provide reviews of the most popular music plug-ins.

Finish the song

The ultimate thing to do is assembling all individual sections into a single track. Your DAW has useful tools for boosting the quiet sounds while weakening the loud ones.

Moreover, be prepared to spend most of your day making adjustments, regardless of how minor they are. There is supposed to be a smooth transition between sections and a constant volume in every part of the song.

Upload it online

Prior to uploading your track online, make sure you select the right file format. Choose between WAV and MP3, as these provide the best sound quality.

Finally, you’re expected to upload your track to some of the free music sharing sites or streaming services. Don’t forget to share it with your closest friends and family, as they won’t hesitate to give you honest feedback.

Conclusion

Becoming a music producer is more possible than ever.

Give it a shot!

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As most amateur musicians know, certain paths tend to result in more successful careers. Moving to big music cities, playing live gigs, and investing in management are typical building blocks to musical success.

However, it’s not just about doing all the right things. It’s also about not doing the wrong things. There are certain actions that musicians should avoid if they want to reach a level of notoriety. Mistakes like these can hold a musician back and keep them from reaching their goals without them even realizing it.

For your best shot at musical success, we’re outlining five of the biggest mistakes musicians make when first starting—and how you can avoid them.

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1 – Investing in the Wrong Places

Investing in yourself as a musician is a big part of pursuing a career in music. If you’re not doing it for yourself, why would anyone else want to invest in you?

However, a big mistake that newcomers make is investing their time, money, and energy in the wrong places.

Blowing your savings on that “cool-looking” Les Paul guitar isn’t going to inch you any closer to your goals.

Telling yourself that going out to the elite bars and clubs on the weekends is a “networking cost”? Not quite the best way to go about it.

Instead, focus your investments on marketing yourself, renting a high-quality recording studio, and finding an experienced manager to support your journey.

© [Aleks] /Alamy

2 – Creating to Sell

Creating music to sell it and get loads of fame is not the route to take. If you’re playing with this mindset, you’re not true to yourself or the music.

No artist wants to feel pigeonholed into one genre or style of music, even if it is going to sell the best. Artists want the freedom to create what they want as they see fit.

While aiming for the charts at first might seem like your best track to #1, after a while, it will become draining. Don’t produce music you don’t love.

3 – Playing in Private

Many artists become protective over their work, fearing bad reviews or trying to ‘perfect’ a piece before releasing it. While creating in private is an excellent method of discovery, it won’t generate any hype around your music.

Get your music in front of people. See how they feel about it and create some buzz around your name. Even small gigs at local bars or a few hours playing on the street can create decent exposure and train you for your big stadium concerts one day.

4 – Assuming Legal Protection

Assuming that you and your music have legal protection can be a fatal flaw for musicians just starting. Without the proper use of copyright and trademarks, people can steal your music and your identity for illicit purposes.

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Additionally, if you ever decide to join a record label, you should never assume that they have your best interests at heart. Do your due diligence. Too many artists have been victims of predatory labels.

If you want to avoid this, hire an experienced third party entertainment lawyer. Agencies such as RecordLabelAgreements.com will draw up contracts and protect your interests.

5 – Sacrificing Creativity for a Record Deal

For many artists, the ultimate goal is a record deal with a huge label. In the desire for fame and notoriety, though, many artists sacrifice their creative liberty.

These artists almost always regret these kinds of tradeoffs, but finding a way out of the complex contracts can prove challenging. It’s better to start on the right foot and refuse to sacrifice your creative freedom for the sake of a deal.

Learning from the Past for a Brighter Future

Gaining a footing in the music industry is an uphill climb for unsigned musicians. Rather than make the same errors of the artists that have gone before you, learn from them. You can avoid their biggest mistakes and become much better off for it.