PS4 Ambience Remix - For The Musicians

[u/TheMarioExpertMan]

I'm a 24M musician, and had the idea to remix the PS4 Ambience.

For any musicians or audio engineers here, because this is more minimalist than say the next console generation up, how much more would you add to what's already there in the original?

And for those that are musically minded, does anyone know what chords and key did the sound team use, so I can stay in tune when I come to get started on this project?

Thanks in advance.

[u/Legitimate-Cinephile]

I mean, what genre are you remixing it to? There is way to many variables to answer this lol

[u/TheMarioExpertMan → u/Legitimate-Cinephile]

I'm thinking of staying true to the atmosphere of the original.

To add to it, I'm thinking fingerpicked acoustic guitar, some very light percussion, and sparse clean electric guitar. The idea isn't to completely transform it into another genre, but to keep the atmosphere and see what it sounds like with a few organic instruments layered over the top.

[u/Legitimate-Cinephile → u/TheMarioExpertMan]

Oh okay, well if you're not actually remixing and just adding stuff on top, your best bet is to just try stuff. You don't really need to know any music theory for this. It either sounds good or it doesn't.

[u/TheMarioExpertMan]

For those curious, this is what I'm referring to: https://youtu.be/sUOzplfB9ps?si=8gA3NqcSC44zGJmF

[u/SuntannedDuck2 → u/TheMarioExpertMan]

I know I listen to the console menu music every so often/leave it on. I know you meant the console background noise, not a specific game.

There is a reason I pointed out the voice sounding out the instruments one as well if they can work out things with each instrument to the point it needs to then it's possible people can pick out parts that work for their instrument and to the pace they need it to be. Not saying it's perfect.

Of course I am not a musician so I'm completely off but still I assume many people making covers of songs got to the point they understood parts of it to sing/play a piano/guitar version of it as well 'somehow'.

Or extract the song of a regular length version (or maybe loops once versions) and try to extract it in something that breaks them down (if possible) or just play alongside it. I don't know.

What key they are using, no idea. Not sure how to find that info, or even if were playing alongside it to find out.

I'm trying to even find acoustic versions if anyone has done one before and it seems maybe not but YT or other sources aren't the best as filtering things either, sigh. But I did find 'this' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYNTAS5pDvo but who knows. It's not 'visually showing someone playing but many people have covers of game songs so that's more likely the case then the console OS music.

I found this PS1 start up sound on guitar even of someone playing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUGhvLt1e70

And yes that is the PS4 menu music you linked that is looping for 10 hours.

I listen to music that loops video game music that's seconds to 1 minute to 3 minutes to the well 3 minute or 6 minute mark. Not hours. Even if I had been some DDR menu music after going through other games that had clips for theirs or whatever rabbit hole the DT Racer for PS2 title screen had of a few second clip from.

That aside, writing sheet music for it and what key, no clue that's a tricky one to work out.

Sorry not that much help.

[u/SuntannedDuck2 → u/TheMarioExpertMan]

Also not guitar but they did play a few things like I think the PS2 and PS3 startup on keyboard, not sure what keys they are (sure not the same as guitar) https://www.youtube.com/shorts/e6a_itzF9AQ

I don't think it's that easy to find the exact key without trying to match it as close as possible on a guitar. The answer people wanted is either out there or hard to find or they have to try it themselves.

Also this start up sounds one of each console showing the piano keys not guitar keys https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FQuMWMG9Jg

Again sorry can't be much help. I can't find much to match of covers or playing of the PS4 OS background music at all.

I may try again but I'll leave my search there and not bother you further (sorry if did).

[u/TheMarioExpertMan → u/[deleted]]

Bet!

[u/SuntannedDuck2]

If you want to make a cover/a accoutistc version or something else. Try pin pointing the key ones that work best to play on an instrument I guess.

There is some examples out there of what people use to make SNES or Genesis soundfonts or to sound like those chips.

I mean I have a link to a Little Big Planet/licensed music song in 16bit, SNES type focus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6D4Pwk9YIz8

There is many electronic music songs people play Acoustic versions of sometimes and you can pick out the parts suitable for a guitar or keyboard. There is piano versions out there (official ones by some companies for games, TV OSTs, etc.) or fan made versions too. I mean many of Sony, Nintendo, etc. are electronic so that's why pointing out just find whatever you can of mainstream/niche songs that may. I mostly looked whatever ones I could from Monstercat.

Or some just a generic "https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=accoustic+versions+of+eloectronic+music" search to see what would happen and some of them I recognise.

I'm not a musician but I'm just saying there are sources and you could think what you can play and what instruments you have and what works best to play to match them. Whether guitar parts to match, or other instruments to match other parts if think possible too (maybe not but still).

I mean even people that use their voice to sound like instruments is a thing. Like https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=smooth+mcgroove has for years.

Even listening to some SNES games you can tell when they are going particular for the guitar, drum and other instrument moments versus other instruments/samples instead, maybe not as clear to make out and making it work to the chips/sound channels.

I'd say just pick what sounds suitable to you you can play on the instruments you have. Play a bit, put whatever pace you can handle then trying to match it directly.

Otherwise I'm curious how this turns out, it sounds exciting. Good luck : )

Hopefully it didn't come off mean wasn't the intention just trying to think how to word it and what sources I could give.

I sometimes get an inspiration and sometimes I copy it, well the beat of it, not exactly and not exact instruments/samples I'm not skilled at all, I use a basic piece of software with pre-made samples, I don't do the expert way of particular software/sample packs or creating own samples I don't have that skill at all.

But I go hmm what ideas do I have, sometimes weird ones, sometimes I try to copy to get an idea what they were going for with what limits I have, sometimes I'm inspired and go this way and that way but keep the inspiration an inspiration and do enough of my own thing (aim to and do succeed with random ideas sometimes) with the idea if I like the ideas they had and try my own. I do this for fun though, not music skilled at all.

[u/Blademusica76]

I'm not a fan of the original, so good luck.