The Ur-Quan Masters Discussion Forum

I come to you today to offer up a remaster of a remaster and to update the links for the other remasters that I have done

I have been spending some time working on the UQM-Mods website, The BonePit, and listening back to what I created
five years ago I have found that a couple of my supposed faithful updates sound butt-ugly.
Specifically the Yehat, Kzer-Za, and Arilou. I have decided to toss all of these in the ongoing process to reupdate what I have done.

But enough of the why, how about some links!

Here is the new destination for the Comm ReMasters: https://sourceforge.net/projects/uqm-mods/files/Comm%20ReMasters/

The new Yehat remaster (http://sourceforge.net/projects/uqm-mods/files/Comm%20ReMasters/yehat.ogg/download) is already
up and running both on the site and in the downloads area.
The old one is also available in the same folder for comparison.

Upcoming projects include the Syreen and the Thraddash.
To get a preview of the Thraddash just go to the Contact (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/?page=Contact_Me) page on the
UQM-Mods site, a basic midi to mp3 sits where the Kzer-Za theme used to be.

Enjoy!

UPDATE:

The latest and greatest Thraddash remaster is now up and also in OGG form. Head over to http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Thraddash to have a listen.

A little while back someone requested I do a faithful Quasispace remaster and here it is!

You can go to the Quasispace (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Quasispace) page at the BonePit to give it a listen.
I tried to go for a lonely yet grand type sound.

And as an extra little bonus I created a Remaster of the Kohr-Ah victory ditty. Simple, four notes and brassy.
It is integrated as part of the BonePit's 404 page (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Cleanse) and I have
included it on the project's download page as well.

As an aside, if anybody has a decent animated gif of quasispace I would be extremely grateful. As of right now I just
used a screenshot for the background but it looks mickey mouse as heck.

UPDATE:

The Syreen is finished! Again you can go on ahead to the Syreen (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Syreen) page on the BonePit to have a listen or head over to the downloads section to grab the .ogg.

Sometime down the line I will pass these through a VSTi when I get a powerful enough machine. Running any of my VSTi
on this old machine I have gives it the fits.

Do you, say, have these in not-ogg? I'd like to iTunes them, and for some stupid reason, Apple rearranged its internals in such a fashion that the old ogg codec doesn't work.

Yes I do!

But I did not think that far ahead as to make them easily available so I will just link them here for you.

Kohr-Ah (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Music/Kohr-Ah.mp3)
Arilou (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Music/Arilou.mp3)
Ilwrath (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Music/Dill-Rats.mp3)
Yehat (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Music/Yehat.mp3)
Thraddash (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Music/Thraddash.mp3)
Quasispace (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Music/Quasispace.mp3)
Syreen (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Music/Syreen.mp3)
Vux (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Music/Vux.mp3)

Both the MP3 and the OGG are 44100 @ 192kbps. So, not horrible quality but also not too grand either.

EDIT:

Also only the newest of the remasters are properly tagged. If I recall...

Just downloaded the mp3s made by yuubuu..
I must thank yuubuu. One name made all the difference between just d/l and a big smile and a minor worship!
Dwe will now go and warship the fine music made by yuubuu.

(but shouldn't it be dill-rats (http://www.sa-matra.net/quotes/ilwrath/)  (with double "L")?)

Ah, yes... it does say Dill-Rats, with the double "L". I have no idea what you are talking about.


UPDATE:

Anyways...

*COUGH*

Druuge MP3 (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Music/Druuge.mp3)
Druuge Page (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Druuge)

I am not completely satisfied, but I will be when I can record my own guitars. Whenever the heck that might be.

Me neither.
I Must Show My Shame With The Removal Of One Of My Limbs!
AIEE

;)

PS: my colleagues are wondering what weird songs I'm listening to. Thank you.

By the way, I am willing to take appropriate requests. I am no audio engineer so some of the more... eccentric themes might not be able to be accomplished with a standard set of instruments(I.E. Slylandro Probe).
But I can do my best to get them at least sonically sound... heh.

EDIT:

As of this moment I am reinstalling all of my VSTi. Maybe I can get it to work if I do one instrument at a time, all I know is it will take a long time just to do one track.

UPDATE:

The Supox is on its way!

UPDATE TWO:

The Supox is here! Get the OGG from the Download (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Downloads) page, listen to it on the Supox (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Supox) page, and/or get the MP3 (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Music/Supox.mp3) straight from the site itself.

UPDATE THREE!:

A new rendition of the Arilou (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Arilou) theme is up and running, the links are exactly the same as before.

Still not completely happy. That snare really bothers me, but not as much as the old one.

Did you put your name in as an author anywhere? I don't see it in the tags that come up in iTunes. Either you didn't put it in or they don't support that tag.

I think putting yourself in as a second artist would be appropriate.

I thought about it but honestly all I am doing, putting it simply, is re-rendering the music with higher quality/updated samples.

The process is more in-depth than that but that is pretty much what I am doing. Sure I add a bit of flair to a few of the pieces, but I am not rewriting or remixing.

I try to be as faithful to the original as possible. And eventually I will release what could be considered the "source" of all the remasters I have done.
Which are a multitude of MIDI files and Guitar Pro tablature. Those have my name attached because it is definitely an arduous process to hand
convert a MOD to any other format besides tracker module.
Especially since a good handful of the samples do not match the tuning of the notes on the tracks. ಠ_ಠ

EDIT:

Want to know what is really screwed up?

I just ran the Quasispace theme through my VSTi and it actually sounds worse than the free soundfont I used to render the MIDI. Now how about that.

Actually, I may be speaking too soon...

EDIT2:

Did not speak too soon, I might re-install all my VSTi to change all the audio quality settings.

That seemed a bit more in-depth than just re-mastering. OK.

It is not difficult, just time consuming.

But I look at it more as a hobby.

It seems that I forgot to mention it, but I really like your version of QuasiSpace: Mystic Shadows. Do you have any plans to do a version of HyperSpace too?

I had no plans per se but I have been toying with the idea.

The problem is that I am biased towards the 3DO remix. It is what I grew up with so I am torn with either leaving it as is or doing a faithful rendering of the PC version.
Of course I also thought of the idea of doing a faithful rendering of the PC and 3DO version mixed together somehow.

Then I would really have to put my name on it.

But, now that you have asked, I will put more thought into it and do a dry run. See how big of an undertaking it will actually be.

Anyways...

I have thrown up a new remaster, for the Shofixti (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Shofixti)!

Downloads are in the usual place and I have also added a download icon at the bottom right of the site so that you can download the corresponding MP3 for whatever page you are on.

Also... There is a hidden remaster. It may not be as obscure as you think, but it is related to Star Control albeit some of you wish it weren't.

EDIT:

Freakin' Riku Nuottajärvi!

Every single sample is out of tune with what the note is supposed to be. So when the MOD says it is playing a C note, it is actually playing an A.

I believe I can successfully re-create the Hyperspace theme. It is just going to take awhile. Probably a lot longer than it took me to do the Yehat.

I like both versions, so a remix of either (or a combined version) would be completely fine with me. I actually like the version included with the Precursors remix (Riku's remix) less than either the original or the 3DO version (though I do like Jouni Airaksinen's remix which I think is also available at the Precursors site). The 3DO version quite clearly preserves the theme of the original, whereas Riku's remix for the Precursors quickly abandons the original theme and heads into something new.

I might be one of the few outliers, but I really do not like any of the Precursor's remixes.

By themselves maybe, but in-game none of it fits.

My version is starting to sound like an homage to the Back to the Future theme. That intro, using wind instruments, gives off the same vibe.

The Thraddash song sounds like a level music from Doom.

That is probably because I leaned into my heavy metal repertoire for that one.

I have and always will be a heavy metal composer that dabbles in just about everything else.

Maybe one of these days I will do actual heavy metal remixes for all the races in the style of Metallica... or Mercyful Fate.
Fate have always been a favorite writing style for me. Metallica are sometimes humdrum even though they are my top favorite.

Anyways, Good news everyone!

The Hyperspace theme is tracked and is rendering as I type.
It will be just a few audio edits and some mp3/ogg tagging then it will be uploaded.

I will edit this post when it is available.

UPDATE:

Hyperspace (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Hyperspace) now available!

Download at the usual sources.

I have also, under deep consideration about Death 999's suggestion, retagged all the oggs and mp3s to include my "stage name" as the artist.

I would love the orbit music. All five tracks (4? Two of them are very similar)

Also, I agree about the Precursors Remixes not fitting in-game very well. Some are just fine - Starbase, Outfitting, Shipyard, Quasispace, Ur-Quan, Thraddash... maybe some others. But others are only foreground music, not background or foreground/background music, like Hyperspace, or Chmmr, or Supox, or Shofixti. Many take way too long to develop for use in-game.

There is only one from the PC version and five from the 3DO remixes.

I could take a whack at it, but the 3DO version is pretty damn faithful to the original.

UPDATE:

I have for you, a faithful rendition of the Orbit (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Orbit) theme.

Usual download sources apply.

I do not know if I could tackle the other ones for the 3DO remixes, they seem to be sfx-centric and I am not good when it comes to doing sfx.

Good you added that button... The Daktaklakpak never played on site for me, and now I could d/l it and run it... I like it, and although i found the story of SC3 funny, and some of the ideas hilarious and well-fitting in the style established by SC2, the gameplay itself was not my style. Really annoying to always having to wait for resources, or something to happen... And that annoying hint-system which always jumped in to remind you to do something...

brbrbrbr.... ICOM ONLINE!

EDIT:

Forgot to do my actual reply, freakin' reddit habit.

The Dak theme is one of the larger ones since it loops twice and it was already pretty long to begin with,
I should have the themes preload metadata so that it will start quicker.

...Try it now. Seems to load faster for me.

Ah, now it takes 30 seconds to load.
Previously it didn't even load after quite a while (I loaded the page, and went to read s.th else in a different tab).

And yes, ICOM was the name. *shudder*
And I loved that the Spathi in SC3 didn't actually start a colony, because of bunnies!

The game was not bad, it just was not too good either.

I am in the middle of doing some hex work to see if I can make an editor for it. A lot of it is simple since the save files are not compressed like UQM, it is just the sheer amount of information in the saves.

Holy resurrection!

Anyways, I have created a few more remasters in the time between my last post, which the red text above my subject line editor says "at least 120 days".

First up is Commander Hayes! (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Commander)

MP3 link (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Music/Commander.mp3)

I have not uploaded an OGG yet as I have only enough time to make this post before I am off to a birthday get-together.

But stay tuned for the Starbase and Shipyard themes.

UPDATE:

OGG link up at Sourceforge and my download page and right here for the lazy (http://sourceforge.net/projects/uqm-mods/files/Comm%20ReMasters/commander.ogg/download).

I... I have the sudden urge to get my starship refitted...

Then you are in luck, because the next release is the Shipyard theme. (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Shipyard)

Sourceforge link will be up soon as well for those that want the OGG.

The Commander Hayes one is solid, and... so is Shipyard! Both in tone and quality!

Gentle reminder that the Bone Pit site still doesn't appear to let you navigate to these.

Going back to the orbit one, that also seemed solid in tone, when it struck me more as aiming for mysterious and eerie.

Whatever do you mean?

Like part of the navigation to go to each page without having to type it in manually?  :P

I thought about it, and I will go ahead and add it to the navbar since it was a gentle reminder.

Interesting thing though is some of these pages have multiple names.

UPDATE:

Added a "Music Gallery" dropdown in the navbar for easy navigation.

UPDATE II:

Re-rendered the Commander theme, never knew until I just listened to it but one of the instruments was wonky. The old version is still up in ogg form on the Sourceforge download page.

Nice!

The Starbase theme is now up! (http://uqm-mods.sf.net/Starbase)

Check out the new audio controls at the bottom right of the page, unless you are on mobile then they are at the bottom left (still trying to figure that one out).

I made this one a bit more like the 3DO version using the PC version as a base.

Also, if anyone could help me get ahold of the starbase background as either an animated gif or without the menu options that would be most excellent.

The way it is now I had to crop the menu options out from the png and it is blurry as heck.

EDIT:

Toying around with the Mycon theme next. The intro has a Book of Eli feel to it but a bit grungier.

UPDATE:

Mycon theme is now released! (http://uqm-mods.sf.net/Mycon)

...And a new more subdued Ilwrath theme. (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Dill-Rats) The old in-your-face version is still available on the project page (https://sourceforge.net/projects/uqm-mods/files/Comm%20ReMasters/)

New Utwig remaster now up! (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/Utwig)

Once again, lovely!
Thank you.

Man, I really need to remember to take my USB-stick to take the tracks down into my car.
let's test the base speakers of my car... ;)

Thanks!

I also solved my own problem for the Starbase background.

Here is the Starbase without the menu. (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/img/landmarks/backgrounds/Starbase.png)

And here it is in animated gif form. (http://uqm-mods.sourceforge.net/img/landmarks/backgrounds/Starbase.gif)

I made a nice rinky-dink facsimile of the Melnorme comm music for y'all.

http://uqm-mods.sf.net/Melnorme

Since I am not good with sfx I couldn't recreate it exactly so this is more of a remix.

I have the sudden urge to buy something which is beyond my Credit possibility....

So frustrating!

And why did the bridge turn purple?

I'm going to try to squeeze out a Chmmr render before the end of the week.

Measures 5 and 6 are the only tricky bits where it drops into its industrial sound. Thankfully it never repeats.

UPDATE:

Chmmr is up, it was not as complicated as I thought it would be.

http://uqm-mods.sf.net/Chmmr

I also implemented different planets to show up randomly on the Orbit page. Seven planets of interest when I get done "giffing" them.

UPDATE II:

I'm pulling down the current Chmmr render, it was pitiful to my standards. I think I rushed it for some reason or other but I am going to put a beefier render up in the next hour & a half.

UPDATE III:

WAY better Chmmr render now up. Much more satisfyingly punchy and electronic.

Saw the original one online, but didn't have the time last week....
But I do like the new one.
But the Chmmr one was always difficult to work with.

Compared to many others, it is.... bland.
Take the Ilwrath in comparison. Now that's a sinister tone you can work with.
But the Chmmr.... ? Nothing to work with, IMO.

Won't be among my favs, but still... good to have. (I also never liked the Avatar, but then the Chmmr were obviously introduced to be a game-breaker so that everyone could win against the Sa-Matra)

Excellent work with these! I especially dig the Syreen remaster. That bass is super catchy. Are you going to remaster the Outfit Starship theme? I'd love to hear that one.

I've been thinking about that but the 3DO remix captures the original and more.

Maybe just out of completionist sake I will eventually but I am working on Pkunk and a good majority of the victory songs at the moment.

Exciting news!

I'm releasing the Guitar Pro and MIDI files I've made for the current set of remasters.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/uqm-mods/files/Misc/Music%20Remaster%20Source.zip/download

For those of you who don't know what Guitar Pro is, it's a MIDI sequencing program that displays in Tablature and/or Notation.

https://www.guitar-pro.com/en/index.php

For 90% of these MIDI I used the Timbres of Heaven soundfont (http://midkar.com/soundfonts/) along with Coolsoft Virtual MIDI Synth (http://coolsoft.altervista.org/en/virtualmidisynth), and to translate from .MOD to Guitar Pro I used OpenMPT (https://openmpt.org/).
I rendered most of the MIDI using Spider Player (http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/spider_player_pro.html) but now I am experimenting with Coolsoft's built in renderer in their release candidate builds.
The Kohr-Ah theme and victory ditty were rendered using EastWest Symphonic Orchestra and Adobe Audition 3.0.1, the Daktaklakpak theme was rendered completely in Guitar Pro 6, and the guitars in the Druuge theme were rendered in Guitar Pro 6 as well.