Top Videogame Soundtracks

Posted: Thursday, August 8, 2013 by Dylan Benson in Labels: , , ,


Just about everyone enjoys playing some type of video game, and just about everyone enjoys some type of music.  When you put the two together, some great things emerge.  We have come a long way from the 8 bit sounds of the classic games, to full on orchestral arrangements.

Throughout my videogame experience, I have learned that I may not have played all the classics.  I primarily have enjoyed action games, but from what I have played, I think these are the videogames with the best soundtracks.  The following are in no particular order.

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Movie Audio: Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Posted: Tuesday, August 6, 2013 by Dylan Benson in Labels: , , , , ,


There are tons of war movies out there that are done very well.  However, one of the best would have to be Saving Private Ryan.  I’m sure everyone who has seen it has said the same thing, but how many have focused on the audio of it?  Being a sound guy, that’s obviously one of the first things that I do.  So let’s dive into the audio of the classic war film’s audio shall we?

If anyone has seen this movie, that opening scene that takes place on the shores of Normandy, France during D-Day will be something you will always remember.  While it was shot incredibly well, Gary Rydstrom did an amazing job as the sound designer for Steven Spielberg’s hit film. 

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Signed Streetlight Manifesto CD

Posted: Tuesday, July 30, 2013 by Dylan Benson in Labels: ,

For anyone who is into the ska band Streetlight Manifesto, you know it is pretty rare to too see something autographed/signed by them.  This was just what I was thinking when I ran into someone who claimed to have a signed copy of Streetlight Manifesto’s 2007 album “Somewhere in the Between”.

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Soundtrack that Boosts Productivity

Posted: Sunday, July 21, 2013 by Dylan Benson in Labels: , , , ,

If you’re like me, you find yourself doing many tedious tasks that often take a bit of time.  This could be creating some document on a computer, or soldering some cables together.  Either way, there comes a time where you find yourself looking at the clock and wondering why time has slowed down.  You’re losing interesting, and productivity has slowed down.

For me personally, I have found listening to specific music doesn’t exactly help me focused, but it helps the time pass faster, and I whine less about the work I have to do.  However, not just any music did it (nothing new to anyone, but just hear me out).  If there were lyrics, I would get distracted and sing.  So I found movie or videogame soundtracks worked the best.  Then I started playing a group of soundtracks, and my productivity increased, and my mental fatigue decreased.  I present to you, my soundtracks of choice: Back to the Future, Part I, II, and III.


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Badpiper – The Fire Shooting Bagpiper

Posted: Sunday, June 30, 2013 by Dylan Benson in Labels:

If you have listened to my tracks “Not Your Grandmother’s Ireland” and “Not Your Grandfather’s Ireland”, then you should know that there is a spot in my musical heart for the sound of bagpipes and other Celtic sounds.  Now while I normally don’t talk about music on this blog, I recently came across a performer that is unique enough to be mentioned, and that is The Badpiper – “the world’s only flame-throwing, punk rock bagpiper.”

The Badpiper Playing ACDC’s Thunderstruck

I personally am not the biggest fan of punk rock.  However, as mentioned in my article How to make your Music Sound Different, I’m not opposed to listening to something new.  ACDC songs are an undeniable classic, so when I heard some guy with bagpipes would be performing “Thunderstruck”, it was worth giving it a listen, and I’m glad I did.

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The Last of Us Audio Review

Posted: Tuesday, June 25, 2013 by Dylan Benson in Labels: , , , , ,

It seems that anyone you ask gives a similar answer when you ask, “how is The Last of Us?”  Just about everyone says something along the lines of, “this is the best game I ever played.”  I love Uncharted, so when I heard about this game, I had it pre-ordered as soon as it became available.  The game was very good, but let’s talk about the audio shall we?  I mean after all, this is an audio blog, right?

Courtesy of Christian Gaming 

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How to make your Music Sound Different

Posted: Thursday, June 20, 2013 by Dylan Benson in Labels: , , ,

Have you ever had that moment where you become frustrated with yourself when you try to compose some music because you realize it always sounds the same?  There is a difference when “that’s so-and-so’s signature sound” becomes, “haven’t I heard that before?”  I have recently been running into that problem.  I’m going to share some of my tips that helped me get out of it.  These “tips” may be common sense to some, or not helpful to others.  However, I hope these may help someone!

Don’t turn into this; unless it makes you tons of money of course!

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