A Nice Walk
This project is an original composition inspired by the soundscapes of classic video games, written with the goal of evoking the atmosphere of a player wandering through a lively but peaceful town. I wanted the piece to feel welcoming and loopable, as though it could actually be part of a video game soundtrack.
I focused on creating memorable and melodic lines that could be easily recognized as well as inputting layered instrumentation that gave the piece warmth. To reflect the charm of a bustling town, I avoided tension and made sure the piece was always moving every second.
In terms of production, I emphasized balance and clarity so that every instrument has its own space in the mix. I also created each sound by using the Operator, Analog, and Waveform instruments present in Ableton 12. I played around with the attack, decay, and frequencies to get the sound I wanted, with the goal of immersing the listener into a pixelated video game. I practiced EQ to carve out frequency ranges, applied panning to spread textures across the stereo field, and used subtle compression to glue the layers together. The end result is a track that feels polished while still retaining the playful quality of a classic game score.
This composition taught me how much detail goes into crafting music and strengthened my appreciation for musical producers and composers. I have also gained a deeper appreciation for how music shapes a player's sense of place and story within a game.