Unreal music

This article describes the music and the technology behind it in the different Unreal games.

Games

Unreal

Unreal features music in the UMX file format, which is a variant of the MOD/S3M/IT file formats.[1]

Most music was composed by Alexander Brandon (aka Siren), and Michiel van den Bos (aka M.C.A.). A few tracks were composed by Dan Gardopée (aka Dan Grandpre and Basehead), and Andrew Sega (aka Necros).

Unreal 2

Unreal 2 features music in the Ogg Vorbis format, as well as in Microsoft's DirectMusic format. The latter allows music to dynamically change depending on what is happening in the game. XMP uses only Vorbis music. The music is mostly electronic.

Unreal 2's music was composed by Jeremy Soule, Jack Wall, Clint Bajakian, Crispin Hands, (and Chance Thomas???).

Unreal Tournament

Like Unreal, Unreal Tournament features music in the UMX file format. The music is mostly techno, although there are clear influences from the style seen in Unreal.

UT's music was primarily composed by the composers who worked on Unreal (Alexander Brandon and Michiel van den Bos).

Unreal Tournament 2003

UT2003 features music in the Ogg Vorbis format. The music is more orchestral in nature than that of UT, but also features some hard rock and electronic songs.

UT2003's music was composed by Kevin Riepl and Starsky Partridge.

Unreal Tournament 2004

Like UT2003, UT2004 features music in the Ogg Vorbis format. UT2004 uses music from UT2003, as well as new tracks.

Some of the new music was composed by Will Nevins.

Unreal Tournament 3

UT3 features both music in the Ogg Vorbis format as well as dynamic music of an unknown format. According to UT3's Audio Director Mike Larson, after the more orchestral music of UT2003 and UT2004 it became clear that "an overwhelming majority of users" preferred the original UT music. This, and the wish to make a clear distinction between the UT series and Gears of War lead to the decision to return to electronica. Some of the tracks are remixes of original UT tracks, or feature small samples from UT tracks. [2]

UT3's music was composed by Rom Di Prisco (electronic and remix tracks), Jesper Kyd (darker, more organic tracks used in Necris and Izanagi maps), and Kevin Riepl (mostly cut scene music).

Unreal Championship

For info on UC's music, see the UT2003 section, as it uses the same tracks and technology.

Unreal Championship 2

UC2 features music in the Ogg Vorbis format. Due to the game's Nakhti setting, the tracks are influenced by "ancient Egyptian"-sounding music.

UC2's music was composed by Keven Riepl.

Soundtracks

There have been two Unreal soundtracks.

The Unreal Anthology features an Unreal series soundtrack called "A History of Unreal music". It is one Red Book audio CD containing approximately 73 minutes of music spread over 23 tracks.[3]

Unreal
1. Flightcastle (0:51)
2. Shared Dig (2:34)
3. Dusk Horizon (2:31)
4. Bluff Eversmoking (3:57)
5. Isotoxin (4:09)
6. Unreal Temple (Crypt) (4:12)

Unreal: Return to Na Pali
7. Black Wind (3:10)

Unreal Tournament
8. Unreal Tournament Menu (2:00)
9. Foregone Destruction (4:11)
10. Go Down (3:00)
11. Botpack Nine (4:49)
12. Mechanism Eight (6:12)
13. Skyward Fire (4:56)
14. Razorback (4:49)
15. The Course (4:28)

UT 2004
16. UTMenu Redux (4:14)
17. Ghost of Anubis (2:01)
18. Infernal Realm (1:59)
19. Assault (1:59)
20. Arena (0:53)
21. From Below (1:59)
22. Sniper Time (2:00)
23. Onslaught One (3:48)

An UT3 soundtrack called "Unreal Tournament III: The Soundtrack" was released by Sumthing Else Music Works.[4] It is a set of two Red Book audio CDs containing approximately 150 minutes of music spread over 33 tracks.[5]

Links

Composers

• Alexander Brandon (Unreal, UT)
• Kevin Riepl Music (UT2003, UT2004, UC2)
• Jeremy Soule (U2)
• Jack Wall (U2)
• Jesper Kyd Online (UT3)
• The official website of Composer / Producer Rom Di Prisco (UT3)

Other

• UnrealWiki: Music
• Interview with Unreal Tournament 3 Audio Director Mike Larson and UT3 Music Composers Rom Di Prisco, Jesper Kyd, Kevin Riepl
• Unreal 2 soundtrack download