Retro Game Audio

Episode 30: Castlevania Bloodlines

04.02.2019 - By Retro Game AudioPlay

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Patrick and Steve are joined once again by Kevin Burke to discuss the Castlevania Bloodlines soundtrack. Sampled from a modded Sega Genesis to achieve a crisp, bright sound, we do a complete listen-through as we also explore some of the technical aspects of its creation.

Show notes

1:35 - Kevin's vgm audio sources on original hardware project

6:22 - Bloodlines' history and context

9:10 - Konami's history with hardware and sound design, leading to the Genesis

15:53 - Contra Hard Corps discussion

18:27 - Bloodlines listen-through and discussion

28:10 - Why the sound mod makes the soundtrack sound better

39:41 - Demonstration of algorithm 4, polyphony in a single "monophonic" patch

45:03 - All FM instruments demonstration

51:35 - The "x" shaped envelopes used to create a gnarly instrument

54:06 - Michiru Yamane overview

1:01:57 - More game discussion and Portrait of Ruin tangent

1:06:28 - Demonstration of noise/hiss from the sound mod

1:22:20 - Bloodlines' music in later CV titles

1:25:48 - What Else Is Going On?

1:36:20 - Name that Game

1:37:16 - Song of the Week

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