Making Indoor Recordings

Making indoor recordings does not have to be a complicated process if you want to produce a quality recording. Neither is this something that requires a massive invesment in music equipment. There are few ways how to go about making the indoor recording that you need for your video channel. I will share couple of methods and some tipis that will deliver the best results for your money.

Field Recording

First off, you don’t need to invest in expensive recording gear. That also implies you don’t have to buy the most expensive microphone. Unless you are recording sound for a feature presentation that will appear on television, then you can get great results on a near-shoestring budget. Start with the question “what is the lowest level of tolerance to the quality of your recording?” Your audience probably wants to get the point – of you talking or presenting, in the middle of the natural environment where the recording occurs. The speech needs to be understandable but you also don’t want to cancel out the ambient noise.

A way to achieve this is by purchasing a field recorder. There are a few out there that work on two AA batteries and are under $300. Quite frankly, most of these (save for the cheapest one) will deliver great results when you record using their built-in mic. However, if you want to record yourself speaking, then bring the recorder closer to your chin in order to catch the surrounding environment as well. The key here is to play with the settings. When talking directly into the mic, bring down the gain to the lower levels – say 30% of 100%. Play around, see how much sound it picks up. If the line goes all the way in the red levels, then turn the gain down.

Setting the Frequencies

Some field recorders have an option to pick up or cut low frequency sounds. You will probably want to have this option turned off, as the recorder will focus on a broader spectrum of sounds. Furthermore, you can use a sponge or a “muffler”. You can buy one that wraps around the recorder’s microphones or you can improvise it. You can build one yourself from cotton or cotton gauze. Use rubber bands to hold it into place. This way, the cotton will keep out high frequency sounds that tend to deafen the ear because they occur suddenly and you can’t control against them.

Cell Phone Recording

The second way to go on recording yourself in a closed environment is by simply using your cell phone. Make sure to install an app that lets you play with the settings. You want to have the app record at 44 KhZ in a Wave format to ensure you get the highest quality. Here you can also improve the recording by purchasing a lapel microphone for $20 or under. Peg this onto your shirt and record away. The downside to cell phone audio recording is that it is hard to control what frequencies are filtered in or out. You can also attach some cotton on the lapel microphone to keep the high sounds out.

Indoors Casino Recording

Finally, any of these methods should be used by people who record in casinos and post videos on Youtube. Most times the videos have very poor sound, so these tips are of high order for the slots reviewers out there. For those who enjoy online slots all is needed is a field recorder and finding the right setting for your room for checking out online slots at www.slotswise.com

Importance of Sound and Video Effects in Modern Online Slots

Additional gaming equipment, such as speakers, headphones and microphones has been very important for gamers, especially in the last few years. Some of us remember the days when game music was limited to simple techy tunes, and earlier we did an article on the most renowned Japanese composers who composed video game music and we reminded you of some of their best and most iconic tunes.

Technological Advances

And while 90s game music was certainly good and recognisable in its own unique way, gaming back then was a lot less about music and sounds. Nowadays, if you don’t have a good set of speakers or headphones, you will be missing out on a lot and you will not have the same experience as the players who do own a good headset or a pair of speakers. In addition, nowadays microphones are also used, especially if you play in multiplier mode.

The evolution of video games in terms of how important sound and visual effects became has to be seen in perspective, as computers and game consoles these days have a lot better graphic and sound capabilities, so it is possible for game developers to create games that are both visually and audio-wise advanced and now players require the upcoming games to be even more advanced and of higher quality compared to earlier releases.

Improved Sound and Graphic Features

If we have a look at slot games the situation is even more dramatic. Online slots, even older ones, released ten or more years ago are superior, both in terms of sound effects, as well as visuals, compared to older retro land-based slots. In fact, even the nature of the gameplay changed drastically.

Older slot games featured basic and simple symbols, there were usually just three reels, and there were no bonus features. Modern games feature larger grids, include bonus features, players get to make choices, and in some cases their choices can even alter their chances of winning. When a player has a chance to make an informed decision and thus alter their chances of winning, that makes the whole gameplay experience a lot more dynamic.

VR Online Slots

Perhaps the biggest innovation is the introduction of the concept of virtual reality in the online gaming world. First, the live casino games that are streamed in real time brought the land-based casino to your computer and even your smartphone or tablet, but it seems that the VR slots will be the ultimate step into the future of online casino slot gaming.

The first VR slots have already been introduced and players seem to be very receptive and generally respond well to this new genre. However, VR slots are still not the norm, and most players still prefer conventional online casino slots. At www.slotswise.com you will find plenty of reliable and trustworthy online casinos where you can play a plethora of great online slots. The site also provides a wide range of online slot reviews which will help you get familiarised with the games before playing.  

 

Choosing The Right Gaming Headset

In the gaming world, a nice pair of headphones is a really important for your gaming time. Whether it’s hardcore gaming, playing casually or just competitive among your friends, a fancy new pair of wireless headset can change the way you look at the game. They will enhance your gameplay, give you a better understanding of it and most definitely give you an advantage over your friends. We have a list to look upon which will help you choose the best and most suitable headphones for you.

  • Budget – Just like every high-end gear, the best headphones are really expensive. You might want to take a look at your budget before jumping in the big pool of headphones on the market. There are some budget-friendly headphones that offer very similar performance as the high-end ones, and those are the ones you should be looking for.

 

  • What are you gaming on – The device that you game on plays a major part in the decision of the headphones. Whether you are a PC player, Mac one, or you prefer consoles like PS4 or Xbox, you should choose it depending on your playstyle. Most of the headphones are compatible with all the devices but there are some that suit more for one of the other console for example. Always keep in mind this before you buy them.

 

  • Extra features desired – There are many extra features that the headsets are offering, and as an example we can take longer battery life, adjustable microphone, indicator life, extra buttons on the ear pad and many other options which might be very useful for one player, but be annoying for other ones, which would be just a waste of budget. Carefully see whether you would need more battery life not to stop you in the middle of gaming or walking around the house, or the light that will help you in the dark. Maybe you want to play in complete light, therefore this would only drain the battery from the headsets and they are automatically useless. Check the features before choosing the right one for you.

 

  • Comfort – If you have played a game or listened to music for more than 2 hours using headsets, you surely know what we are talking about. The material and design of the ear pad is really important for the ear, and if you are a player that sits and plays for more hours, this should be among your top priorities.

 

  • Open or Closed – Many of the gamers and musicians are not familiar with the open or closed option for gaming headset. There are two types of headset – the ones that are open provide a quality sound as well as open space in the ear pad to be able to hear the surrounding where you are at as well as cooling off the ears, while the closed ones cut off the sound from the surrounding and provide gaming time and perfect sound without interruption from the noises around you. Choose wisely!
Greatest Japanese Video Game Music Composers

Our list of Greatest Japanese Video Game Music Composer will give you the names and work of the people who have made video games more enjoyable. While you may be familiar with the music, you may not know the composers who have created that music. Although many people do not consider video game music as art, there are many compositions that are definitely a work of art. Without further ado, here’s our list of the Greatest Japanese Video Game Music Composers responsible for some of the most famous gaming soundtracks ever composed:

Koji Kondo

Key Titles: The Legend of Zelda series, Star Fox, Super Mario series

One of the most famous video game music composer of all times is Koji Kondo. Although he had no intention of becoming a video game music composer, he got a job as a sound designer at Nintendo in the early 1980s. The rest is history since his work includes some of the most recognisable video game music. It is simply impossible to consider yourself a gamer without knowing the music from The Legend of Zelda.

Yuzo Koshiro

Key Titles: The Revenge of Shinobi, Actraiser, Streets of Rage

Yuzio Koshiro became known as ‘The Genius of FM Synth’ because he revolutionised video game music on many levels. He was a genius programmer who managed to get the imitate the sounds of drums and guitars with sounds from rudimentary technology. Moreover, he blended different types of his favourite music genres to create such video game soundtracks that no one has heard at the time. His talent is boundless, and his influence can be found even in today’s gaming music.

Takashi Tateishi

Key Titles: Mega Man 2, Side Arms, U.N. Squadron,

This composer was once considered the lost prodigy of the video game music. Takashi Tateishi was hugely influential yet almost anonymous due to the Japanese culture which put the team effort before the individual. On the excellent Mega Man 2 soundtrack he is even credited as Ogeretsu Kun. His present role is working as a sound designer and composer at Konami. The theme for the final gauntlet of Mega Man 2 still gets your blood pumping.

Yoko Shimomura

Key Titles: Street Fighter II, Kingdom Hearts, Legend of Mana

The only woman on our list is Yoko Shimomura who is considered one of the grand matriarchs of Japanese game music. Her work dominated arcades all over the world in the early 1990s. In her later career, she created soundtracks for some of the most beloved J-RPGs, including Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy XV. However, she is most renowned for creating almost the entire music for Street Fighter II: The World Warrior. This game is considered an industry changer, with a soundtrack which is deeply in the hearts and minds of gamers around the world.

Besides arcade games, more recent video slots also offer excellent gaming soundtracks for a complete enjoyment. You can find excellent examples of such online slots at www.slotswise.com.

Best Video Game Songs From The 80s and 90s

Our list of Best video game songs from the 80s and 90s will give you information on the best songs that were used in games from the 80s and 90s, as well as their composers. Video game music composers are a bit stigmatised due to the idea that video games are childish and thus the music composed for games cannot be a work of art. However, video games sometimes could be a source of really great music.

When the video gaming systems first came to be, composers were very limited in options which is the reason why video game music from the late 1980s and early 1990s sounds much different than music featured in modern video games. Games for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System featured mainly MIDI keyboards, while modern-day games, with their massive budgets, can afford to use full orchestra recordings.

Besides video games, great music pieces can also be found in various online games like slots, video poker, blackjack, etc. Slots software providers like NetEnt, Yggdrasil, and Playtech, to name a few, recognised that music can make a big difference in the gameplay and decided to always use excellent soundtracks.  You can find numerous examples of such online games at www.slotswise.com.

The list contains songs both from the 80s and 90s, and each song could be considered a small piece of art! For some of you, these songs might even bring back some wonderful memories!

 

  •        Super Mario Bros., composed by Koji Kondo (NES, 1985)
  •        Out Run, composed by Hiroshi Kawaguchi (Arcade, 1986)
  •        Metroid, composed by Hirokazu Tanaka (NES, 1986)
  •        Bubble Bobble, composed by Tadashi Kimijima (Arcade, 1986)
  •        Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards, composed by Al Lowe (PC, 1987)
  •        Megaman 2, composed by Takashi Tateishi (NES, 1988)
  •        Altered Beast, composed by Tohru Nakabayashi (Arcade, 1988)
  •        Duck Tales, Hiroshige Tonomura (NES, 1989)
  •        Shadow of the Beast, composed by David Whittaker (Amiga, 1989)
  •        Tetris, composed by Hirokazu Tanaka (Game Boy, 1989)
  •        Revenge of Shinobi, composed by Yuzo Koshiro (Genesis, 1989)
  •        Golden Axe, composed by Tohru Nakabayashi and You Takada (Arcade, 1989)
  •        It Came From the Desert, composed by Ken Melville (Amiga, 1989)
  •        The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, composed by Koji Kondo (SNES, 1991)
  •        Kirby’s Dream Land, composed by Jun Ishikawa (Game Boy, 1992)
  •        Doom, composed by Robert Prince (PC, 1993)
  •        Super Metroid composed by Kenji Yamamoto and Minako Hamano (SNES, 1994)
  •        Alien Soldier, composed by Norio Hanzawa (Genesis, 1995)
  •        Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy’s Kong Quest, composed by David Wise (SNES, 1995)
  •        Chrono Trigger, Yasunori Mitsuda, Nobuo Uematsu, Noriko Matsueda (SNES, 1995)
  •        Quake, composed by Trent Reznor (PC, 1996)
  •        Super Mario RPG, composed by Yoko Shimomura (SNES, 1996)
  •        Parappa the Rapper, composed by Masaya Matsuura and Yoshihisa Suzuki (PSX, 1996)
  •        Ridge Racer Type 4, composed by Kohta Takahashi, Hiroshi Okubo, Asuka Sakai, Tetsukazu Nakanishi, Koji Nakagawa (PSX, 1998)
  •        Parasite Eve, composed by Yoko Shimomura (PSX, 1998)
  •        The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, composed by Koji Kondo (N64, 1998)
  •        Silent Hill composed by Akira Yamaoka (PSX, 1999)
Music in Video Games

The use of music in video games can make the difference between an uninteresting scene at the end of a level or an emotional ending that makes you want to play more. The use of music in video games is similar to how music is used in the movies. The importance of game soundtracks and the gift that goes into making them work within the game is not left without recognition.

But what are the beginnings of music in video games? What are some of the landmark moments and games in gaming history that helped develop this element? To find the answers to all these questions, read the following brief history of music in video games.

Video Game Music in the 70s and 80s

The first appearance of video games as we know was in the late 1970s with arcade games and their console versions, becoming a real hit. Music in these games was created using simple synthetic chips and therefore this style of music became known as ‘chiptune’. This was a big step from the silence or basic sounds of early games. A good example of a basic sounds game is Atari’s famous Pong. Alongside with the development of the technology in the 1980s came the development of music in video games. The dynamic soundtracks started to become the norm, using music to convey certain information to the user. R.B.I. Baseball from 1987 was an early example of how music was used to reflect the actions of the player.

Video Game Music in the 90s

With the use of more advanced sound chips in computers like the Commodore Amiga and consoles like the Sony Mega Drive, video game music composers could get more ambitious. One of those composers was Yuzo Koshiro who used the Mega Drive hardware to create techno-styled catchy soundtracks for The Revenge of Shinobi and Streets of Rage. These soundtracks introduced electro basslines and trancey electronic sounds that gained their popularity popular in 1990s STG sub-genre. Because of the lack of memory in the consoles, the repeated use of certain phrases was more than needed, and this led to the creation of numerous addictive classics as the Super Mario Bros soundtrack.

Video Game Music in the 2000s and Beyond

With the beginning of the 2000s came the introduction of the Dolby Digital software. This transformed both the complexity and depth of game soundtracks, with musicians like Trent Reznor composing video game music. Games such as Halo, have been praised for their soundtracks, bringing an emotional edge to gaming and increasing the game’s overall quality. With the next generation gaming consoles being designed as complete entertainment systems, game soundtracks can now be treated on the same level with film soundtracks when their quality is in question.

As you can see from our brief history of video game music, the art of composing video game music has developed into an industry of its own. There are specialist composers who are experimenting and utilising new methods of making music for a completely new interactive experience.

Music Labels to Watch in 2019

Since the beginning of time, music has been one of the critical things in the lives of many people. Currently, there are a lot of music labels that work around the clock to create the best music. Here is a list of the music labels to watch in 2019?

Frozen Reeds

This music label has been established in Helsinki. One of the most important pieces that they released is a live recording from 1974, Joy Boy from the musical mastermind Julius Eastman. However, what stands out, even more, is that they released a vast 16-CD box set from Roland Kayn. The name of this boxset is A Little Electronic Milky Way of Sound. This collection lasts around 14 hours, so you should prepare yourself before you listen to it.

Peach Discs

Shanti Celeste has brought many undiscovered artists to this world, and she continues her quest for new talent under the Peach Discs music label. Some of the most influential artists that came out of this label are Bristol Duo Fred, Toronto’s Ciel and Chekov. Their music is placed in the emotive house and wonky techno music. We are looking forward to seeing what Celeste has to offer in the following years.

Fractal Fantasy

Fractal Fantasy was established from two talented musical geniuses, Sinjin Hawke and Zora Jones. Since their launching in 2015, they have made music collaborations with some of the most popular names in the music industry. Those include Murlo, L-Vis 1990, Rashad & Spinn, v1984 and DJ Sliink. Over the years Fractal Fantasy proved the importance of quality over quantity in the music world.

Important Records

Since its establishment, Important Records proved to be exactly that – a very important Music label. Some of the artists that perform under this label are Eleh, Caterina Barbieri, Merzbow, Alessandro Cortini, Nine Inch Nails, Growing and others.

Hemlock

Hemlock is the next on our Music Labels to Watch in 2019 list. This music brand was established in the later years of the 00’s and the focus is mostly on UK dance music. Some of the artists that perform under this label are Pangea, James Blake, Blawan, Pariah and others. However, over the years, some of the upcoming artists have been the most influential. Those are the Timedance and the Livity Sound.

Objects Limited

This music label was established just recently in 2017. Objects Limited also have contributed a lot to many organizations, including Albert Kennedy Trust and Black Lives Matter. Slowly but steadily, Objects Limited have proven to have what it takes to stay relevant in the music industry.

 

Best Music in Video Games

There is something powerful in the music of the Beatles, Aerosmith and many other bands, and they’ve gotten far to the level of having their own video game! Whether it’s the popularity of the bands or the gameplay of the games, either way, they managed to find their way into the hands of the players and entertain them. Nowadays, more and more games are produced, and music bands are often a theme of them, therefore we have made a list of the top games that we think you should try, depending on the music that you listen to and the style of gaming that suits you the best. Check them out.
• Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child – Since the early 70’s Kiss have been known for their awesome music and lifestyle, and many people still follow and preach that trend even these days. It was just at the right time of mass game production that they received a reward in the gaming world for their work. Released in 2000 by Dreamcast, the Kiss: Psycho Circus: The Nightmare Child is available for Microsoft PC.

• Revolution X – A Game dedicated to Aerosmith, with a strange storyline that received a lot of interest in the years after its release in 1994. This arcade shooter game was nothing special, but due to the popularity of Aerosmith and the releasing of “Get a Grip” album just a year before the game, it made a huge boom and boosted the game.

• The Beatles: Rock Band – According to many people they are the greatest band that played in modern popular music history, and in 2009 they received a game dedicated to them. It is available on PS4 and Xbox consoles where you need to tap the right button and play along with the music legends, just like the Guitar Hero game.

• Britney’s Dance Beat – A dancing game dedicated to Britney Spears which was released in 2002 and was available on Game Boy Advance, PC and Play Station 2 which were revolutionary at that time. Dance along with Britney Spears and her crew while she was in her best years.

• Brutal Legend – A Play Station 3 game where Jack Black is the main hero, and through the sound of metal he advances through the levels and destroys everything in his path. There are brutal car races, vengeful axe battles, bear ridings and boss fighting all in the name of Metal. Jack’s companion, his guitar, has an electrical power whereby playing the right notes it sends a bolt of lightning towards the demons. If you are a Metal fan, this game is for you!

• Moonwalker – A game dedicated to Michael Jackson and his legendary move Moonwalk was a hit in 1990. It as playable on Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Astari ST and other similar platforms at that time. This might be one of the most popular game on the list side to side with Beatles: Rock Band which proves that the ones that were the most followed by their music are the ones which games were most played

While these are our personal picks, there are more incredible video game soundtracks around. Sometimes video games aren’t just about the gameplay itself, but the likes of music as well.

Don’t just take our word for it though, try out some of the games mentioned above. We’re sure you’ll love them and your ears will too!

Top 3 Gaming Speakers

Let’s make a comparison – Have you ever played a video game without a sound? Something happened to the speakers or you couldn’t turn the volume up because your sibling was sleeping? It used to happen a lot to me when I was a child. I would accidentally rip the cable of the headset or the speaker would fall off the table and break, so I was left without the sound for a while. It was one of my worst gaming experiences, which I definitely wanted to change at that time.

Now, let’s look at the complete opposite way. New speakers are coming out more frequently than before, and they offer a new experience to the game overall. As one of the two senses that are activated while playing a video game, it plays a major role and it brings the game that you play, and gaming overall to a new level, to a new light. The feeling that you get inside when you hear a fantastic and realistic sound of a creature behind your chair will definitely make your skin crawl and give you nightmares for the following week. When I first acquired professional and top gaming speakers, there were some 1st person horror games that I couldn’t play with the sound on. Making a giant leap from almost no sound (and sometimes no sound at all) to professional speaker, my gaming experience changed by a lot. Therefore, I dedicate this article to some of the best speakers available on the market that are specifically recommended for gamers.

 

Cyber Acoustics Subwoofer Satellite System 

This will definitely hit the number one button for two simple things – Outstanding performance and cheapest price. For less than $50 you can find these speakers together with 3,000 5-star reviews. Solid speakers and subwoofer are what these speakers can offer, but keep in mind that they lack the surround option in them.

This is one of the best speakers for a gamer on a budget, and for the ones out of it as no one would resist such an easy price for a product that could be expected from Speakers worth more than a hundred bucks.

Cyber Acoustic CA-5648 Aluminium Series High-Performance Speaker System

The name sounds astronomical, but that’s how the speakers really are. The Cyber Acoustics CA-5648 offers a very similar sound to the previously mentioned Cyber speakers, plus you have a surround included in here. With four 2.1 speakers, one Subwoofer and one small monitor you will pay around $100, which is definitely my recommendation as the surround plays a major part while playing a video game.

Logitech X-540 5.1 Surround Sound Speaker System with Subwoofer

If money is not your problem and PC gaming is your passion, the Logitech x-540 speakers are for you. With 5.1 speakers and one giant subwoofer, they will make your ear smile and your body shake from the real sound. The top speaker for its budget of $170 is definitely my top choice and I would recommend it to every gamer.

Best Music Games of All Time

As a great industry on its own, music found its way everywhere and it plays a big part in the life of each individual around the world. Music feeds one of the five senses that we have, and it may decide the overall look and way of life, dressing and attitude of a person.

Music found its way to the homes around the world in many different ways. Through music players evolving from a record to the CD and USB, available online and playable on our mobile telephones, there is one interesting way that music also managed to get in – video game consoles. Starting from the very beginning with the rhythm games moving forwards with music making up to some of the best music games that are available and on the top of the music games now, we present you a list of the best music video games of all time.

Simon – The oldest game that we put on the list is 1978 used four buttons, (Red Green Blue and Yellow) in combination with three simple variations of its gameplay. It was simple lights and tone game that you needed to hit with a simple poke. The main inspiration was the child’s game “Simon Says” and it was created by Ralph Baer – the same guy that created the 1st commercial home console, the Magnavox Odyssey in 1972.

 

PaRappa the Rapper – a revolutionary game in the music gender, delivered by Masaya Matsuura in 1997. As a person with previous experience in bands and real-life experiences, it implemented the music knowledge and a number of hit records in its game development studios and especially in the game. It brought the music video games as a gender to the American continent from Asia, which showed a great potential and interest in the gender, eventually creating many rivals like Unison and similar brands.

 

Dance Dance Revolution – just before the hit of the new millennium, in 1999, Dance Dance Revolution made a boom on the music gender as well as on the gaming industry overall. This arcade game uses its own controller placed on the ground that you need to step, jump and twist to it while the commands are appearing on the screen. After more than a decade, you can still find it all over the world.

 

Guitar Hero ­– Definitely a game that can be put at the top of the list of music video games. It has sold over 250 million units worldwide and made a huge $2 billion dollars. Dedicating its sound to a harder music like Metallica and Aerosmith, it left the mark of a game that is here to stay. It has many interesting options that made players want to play it – Band Hero allows you to share the screen with your friends and together with them reach the top of the world while playing on customized controllers such as the guitar controller or the plug—in drums.

 

It is sad to say that the music gender industry lacks new innovative games as Guitar Hero is still their top sold game, and if an industry that is moving forwards with the speed of light it is surprising how a game made in 2005 still holds the No.1 position.