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Miasma Demon Hunt's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Listenability | #9 | 3.632 | 3.632 |
| Composing Quality | #9 | 3.632 | 3.632 |
| Correlation to Theme | #11 | 3.737 | 3.737 |
| Sense of Atmosphere | #11 | 3.842 | 3.842 |
| Overall | #11 | 3.632 | 3.632 |
| Overall Uniqueness/Creativity | #13 | 3.474 | 3.474 |
| Execution | #15 | 3.474 | 3.474 |
Ranked from 19 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Link to Streaming Service (YouTube Recommended)
https://soundcloud.com/grunt7517/miasma-demon-hunt
Description
The story for this track takes place from the perspective of an arctic expedition tasked with solving the case of a research vessel destroyed for unknown reasons. While there is little that can be heard other than the wind, the team hears the strange howl of an unidentifiable being in the distance. Only after investigating the wreckage does the team begin to understand the kind of creature that terrorizes this environment. It can still be heard on occasion, as if taunting the expedition.
In the latter section, the team begins their hunt for the beast. Now that they know a little more about what they're facing, the team feels that they can take the creature down. But no matter how close they think they are, it is still far from them. The creature alludes them, for it knows a hunt when it sees one.
Description of Setup (Optional but recommended)
For this jam, I attempted to accomplish a few different goals:
1) Have drones and synthesizers be the primary focus for a full track. More specifically, be able to utilize both of these in a way that feels interesting. I've been experimenting with these for a little bit, but I wanted to actually put this practice to use in a track. Stepping away from the guitar (or at least having it in primarily a texture-based function more-so than one that's melodic or harmonic) has actually been the toughest part of this process for me.
2) Incorporate weirder, more dissonant harmony that I wouldn't normally use. Much of my work up to this point primarily uses harmony that isn't too edgy or uncomfortable, but this jam's theme made me want to embrace this idea a little tighter. Plus, having the drone playing a consistent note helped me focus on finding different harmonies that better fit my idea for the submission.
Lessons Learned
While I'm pretty happy with the end result, I actually didn't enjoy mainly writing keyboard/synth parts 🙁
I'm glad that I tried this because I think the tone of the instruments fit with what I tried to do here, and it was definitely a way I could challenge myself to do something different, but I think I'll go back to guitar-part writing for a while.
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Comments
Really loved the ambient layer ! That piano felt a bit off though, composition wise. Outside of that I love the tense ambience and texture.
Nice journey through harsh freezing winds type beat, is a solid take for sure, however idk if is just me but some parts do feel stale'ish idk, maybe a bit more of occasional fx here and there idk. Verygj gj anyways
Nice work!
I liked the atmosphere. I think some of the synths got a little harsh, and maybe it could be a bit wetter, but this is good work. :)
Really cool track! I love the atmosphere and tension it makes one feel.
I just have some mixed feelings on the percussion, I like it on the beginning of the track when it first comes in, but by the end it felt a bit out of place.
Great submission! Take care :3
Very cool. Love the vibe and how you got it all put together! Really good work here. Also really enjoy the synths, but know that they really can be a pain or writing keyboard music.
While the story from your description is cool. Your music totally created a different picture for me.
The more vintage inspired sounds somehow managed to remind me a bit of Metroid Prime. Samus walking thru a destroyed shipwreck frozen over by time and creating a desolate vista. The atmosphere you build had both tension and a cool relieve while always holding that adventurous feeling that wants you to move on and explore.
Really cool entry.
Loved the spooky vibes and the build-up of tension throughout the track!
I think you nailed your synth-work, it's not loud or quiet, just right on the ears! I think the piano could use a bit more reverb, but you really did a good job of using synths to create a nice ambient track. Great job!
Very cool sound design attemp, I know its not your strong suit to try synths/piano stuff but still did a nice job regardeless, I like the story telling. The sound design at the beginning is super neat I like it alot, I wanted this to be part of the whole track building up around those. Again I will repeat this forever you - need - to - put - some - BASSSSSSSSSSS, you know how a long ambient build up would feel amazing when the low end finally hits the mark. Anyway good job :)
Was this not enough???
There was not only a low drone going on, but also the low end of the piano AND a bass guitar. I genuinely thought that was gonna be an overkill I don't know what else I can do 😭😭😭
I still appreciate you taking the time to listen :)
Oh no its there, just low in the mix, you need to crank that EQ and volume up, let the bass pass and cut other instruments that might enter in conflict with it.
Send me your stems, I'll try something XD
Love the ambience on this one. Great song!
This isn't really a bad track at all. I like the use of more analog-esq synths. I feel like they're quite thin though on top of not really creating ambience but more serving as a device to deliver melodies, nice ones for what it's worth.
I feel like spacing out the synth melody would have helped a lot, same goes for the piano in the beginning. Everything that makes this track stand out in a jam like this is hidden behind the piano and synth lead.
Otherwise though, not a bad piece of composed work at all. I think if you're going to use the full six minutes on 1 track it's better to have something that takes advantage of all of that time instead of uses it to create what feels a bit like two tracks just padded into one.
I really like everything in this track, but personally the piano feels a little too dry and up front, and took me out of the otherwise awesome atmosphere you built. If the piano had more reverb and were quieter I think it would sound more pushed back into the distance, and would blend into the whole scene better.
Other than that though I think it’s a very cool track and fits well with the story. I really like the end with the lead synth!