Composer Rod Abernethy talks video game scoring, virtual instruments and samples of yesteryear | The Time+Space Blog. Rod Abernethy is an award-winning composer and musician who creates memorable music scores for video games, advertising and television. His musical repertoire encompasses traditional acoustic and ethnic scores, unique hybrid soundtracks fusing electronic and organic elements, as well as dramatic music written for orchestra and choir. Rod’s dynamic music productions enhance numerous high profile video games such as Dead Space, Alpha Protocol and The Hobbit and is currently working on the soundtrack for the forthcoming RAGE.
We heard that Rod uses several virtual instruments in his work including many from some of Time+Space’s brands so we got in touch with him to find out how he works… Hi Rod, so how did you get into producing music? I’ve been composing since I was a teen. I started out in various bands and was signed to major labels, played a lot on the road and then I decided to stay in one place and compose for video games, film and TV. Definitely! It’s been a crazy year so far. The Hobbit: Bard's Black Arrow - Rod Abernethy composer | Video Youtube - NMETV Latest Music Videos and Clips | Interview with RAGE composer Rod Abernethy. También disponible en español. This week we don’t remember old chiptune soundtrack, memorable songs from the nineties or games that came out a couple of years. No. Today have to talk about the music of a current game, one that is still warm, fresh from the oven.
It’s RAGE, the latest work from id Sofware and the legendary John Carmack. His original soundtrack is composed by Rod Abernethy, who has put his talents to games like The Hobbit, Alpha Protocol, Dead Space, Dead Head Fred and know also in RAGE. Hi Rod, Can you tell us something about your musical background, What are your main influences? I started composing in my teens, then went to school and got a degree in music. My influences come from a wide range of styles. With RAGE, the gamer goes to a post-apocalyptic world. I must give some credit the id Software Audio Lead Christian Antkow for helping me with guidance for the music direction of RAGE. What is your usual songwriting process for a videogame? First, coffee. Composer Rod Abernethy talks video game scoring, virtual instruments and samples of yesteryear | The Time+Space Blog. Top Score: Composer Rod Abernethy – On the Road to “Rage” : The Comet.
In his latest installment of The Comet blog Top Score, EpicBattleAxe founder Daniel Kayser interviews composer Rod Abernethy about the music for Software id’s first-person shooter video game RAGE. When i d Software’s RAGE hit store shelves back in early October, the expectation levels were through the roof. After all, this is the latest title coming from the studio that brought us groundbreaking, industry-shaking games such as Wolfenstien, DOOM, and QUAKE - titles that not only helped define a company, but the entire genre of first-person-shooters.
Of course, the folks at id Software didn’t plan on just releasing a standard FPS experience, but instead hoped to turn pre-conceived notions of what a generic sounding “post-apocalyptic FPS” can be. Like previous titles from id , the overall atmosphere was key to RAGE’s success, which was accomplished in no small part by the audio design and immersive soundtrack that blended post-apocalyptic and Western themes. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Interview with Rod Abernethy (October 2011) Rod Abernethy has pioneered high quality production values on a range of game scores. Among his career highlights include the orchestral recordings of Dead Space and TERA, adaptations of the films Transformers and Star Trek, and his hybridised score for id Software's newly released RAGE. In this interview, Abernethy reflects on his career highlights and gives an insight into his most recent scores.
He emphasises that, while the scores for the post-apocalyptic shooter RAGE and the fantasy MMORPG TERA are different in essentially all respects, they both complement their games and were extremely enjoyable to score. Interview Credits Interview Subject: Rod AbernethyInterviewer: Chris GreeningEditor: Chris GreeningCoordination: Greg O'Connor-Read Interview Content Chris: Rod Abernethy, many thanks for talking to us today about your scores for RAGE and other projects. Rod Abernethy: I've been writing music since I was a teen. Chris: You describe RAGE as a 'dream gig'. Interview with 'RAGE' Composer Rod Abernethy. RAGE is the latest FPS game by id Software, the guys who brought us Doom and Quake. It was recently released and to celebrate, here’s NerdReactor.com‘s interview with Rod Abernethy, composer for Rage. He has worked on projects like Dead Space, Runescape, and TERA (an upcoming Action MMO game).
Check out the video below to listen to his score for RAGE. NerdReactor.com: How did you get into composing music? Rod Abernethy: I started writing music in high school, then really got into composing during college. Out of school I joined rock bands, wrote and performed, and was signed to major labels such as Warner Bros., Elektra, Atlantic, and MCA Records. I worked with some top record producers such as Paul Rothchild (The Doors), John Anthony (Queen) and David Lord (Tori Amos) and recorded at various prestigious recording studios in Europe as well as here in the States.
It seems like a lot of video game composers have backgrounds in film and television. It’s both. Fantastic! Absolutely!