Music In Video Games
Throughout the history of the video game industry, there has been many
changes concerning music in video games. Music in video games progressed
greatly within the life of the industry from 1972 to the present. These
progressions can be seen as improvements in quality which includes an increase
in the number of output channels, an increase in song length, a great
improvement in the quality of timbres, and also a general shift from non-
programmatic music to programmatic music which fits a game. If one takes a
close look, one can see that all of these improvements are either directly or
indirectly resulting from improvements in the technology which is used to
produce video game music. These improvements in technology include the increase
of the number of bits of a Sound Central Processing, the increase of Audio
Random-Access-Memory, the switch from the use of frequency modulation to digital
sampling, and the use of compact discs for playing music during a game. By
closely examining the contribution of the preceding technological advancements,
one can see that technology has indeed caused great improvements for music in
the video game industry.
The first technological enhancement which greatly enhanced the quality of
music in video games is the number of bits which a sound Central Processing Unit
(CPU) has. The sound CPU is a component in a video game system which controls
every single sound which a system produces. This, then, obviously includes
music. Specifically, the CPU controls what sounds are to be played at what time,
their volume and dynamics, and each sound's length and rhythm. In a sense, the
sound CPU acts as a conductor who has absolute control over every single
instrument in his orchestra. The increase of the number of bits serves to
improve music quality by increasing the number of channels of sound which can be
played at the same time. This will just be like increasing the number of
instruments in an orchestra.... [continues]
Throughout the history of the video game industry, there has been many
changes concerning music in video games. Music in video games progressed
greatly within the life of the industry from 1972 to the present. These
progressions can be seen as improvements in quality which includes an increase
in the number of output channels, an increase in song length, a great
improvement in the quality of timbres, and also a general shift from non-
programmatic music to programmatic music which fits a game. If one takes a
close look, one can see that all of these improvements are either directly or
indirectly resulting from improvements in the technology which is used to
produce video game music. These improvements in technology include the increase
of the number of bits of a Sound Central Processing, the increase of Audio
Random-Access-Memory, the switch from the use of frequency modulation to digital
sampling, and the use of compact discs for playing music during a game. By
closely examining the contribution of the preceding technological advancements,
one can see that technology has indeed caused great improvements for music in
the video game industry.
The first technological enhancement which greatly enhanced the quality of
music in video games is the number of bits which a sound Central Processing Unit
(CPU) has. The sound CPU is a component in a video game system which controls
every single sound which a system produces. This, then, obviously includes
music. Specifically, the CPU controls what sounds are to be played at what time,
their volume and dynamics, and each sound's length and rhythm. In a sense, the
sound CPU acts as a conductor who has absolute control over every single
instrument in his orchestra. The increase of the number of bits serves to
improve music quality by increasing the number of channels of sound which can be
played at the same time. This will just be like increasing the number of
instruments in an orchestra.... [continues]
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(1999, 10). Music in Video Games. StudyMode.com. Retrieved 10, 1999, from http://www.studymode.com/essays/Music-Video-Games-2785.html
- MLA
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"Music in Video Games" StudyMode.com. 10 1999. 10 1999 <http://www.studymode.com/essays/Music-Video-Games-2785.html>.
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"Music in Video Games." StudyMode.com. 10, 1999. Accessed 10, 1999. http://www.studymode.com/essays/Music-Video-Games-2785.html.
