Unreal music

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

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

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. 

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.

A History of Unreal music
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.

See also the "Music" sections in the games' articles: Unreal, Return to Na Pali, UT, UT2004.

Unreal Flightcastle (0:51) Shared Dig (2:34) Dusk Horizon (2:31) Bluff Eversmoking (3:57) Isotoxin (4:09) Unreal Temple (Crypt) (4:12)  Unreal: Return to Na Pali Black Wind (3:10) </ol> Unreal Tournament Unreal Tournament Menu (2:00)</li> Foregone Destruction (4:11)</li> Go Down (3:00)</li> Botpack Nine (4:49)</li> Mechanism Eight (6:12)</li> Skyward Fire (4:56)</li> Razorback (4:49)</li> The Course (4:28)</li> </ol> UT 2004 UTMenu Redux (4:14)</li> Ghost of Anubis (2:01)</li> Infernal Realm (1:59)</li> Assault (1:59)</li> Arena (0:53)</li> From Below (1:59)</li> Sniper Time (2:00)</li> Onslaught One (3:48)</li> </ol>

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

See also the UT3 article music section.

<ol>Disc 1 <li>Unreal Tournament Theme (UT3 Remix) - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>Unreal Tournament Title (UT3 Remix) - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>Tactical Agenda - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>ONS01 (UT3 Remix) - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>Mekalopolis - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>Skyward Fire (UT3 Remix) - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>Afterburn - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>Go Down (UT3 Remix) - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>Quantum Velocity - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>Foregone Destruction (UT3 Remix) - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>Suborbital Graviton - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>Skylab 9000 - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>Deploy And Assault - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>Defector - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>Firestorm - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>Mechanism Eight (UT3 Remix) - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>Plasma Oscillator - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>Frozen Babylon - Rom Di Prisco</li> </ol>

Disc 2 <li>Unreal Tournament Title (UT3 Reconstruction) - Jesper Kyd</li> <li>LockDown - Jesper Kyd</li> <li>To The Death - Jesper Kyd</li> <li>Robo Mall - Jesper Kyd</li> <li>Necris Attacks - Jesper Kyd</li> <li>Outpost - Jesper Kyd</li> <li>Tactical Agenda (Nanoblack Remix) - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>Necrimanci - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>Sanktuary - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>Necris Attacks (Extended Version) - Jesper Kyd</li> <li>Outpost (Extended Version) - Jesper Kyd</li> <li>Tactical Agenda (Jade Dragon Remix) - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>Bushido - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>Temple Of Shambhala - Rom Di Prisco</li> <li>World Of Liandri - Jesper Kyd</li> </ol>

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)

Formats

 * Wikipedia - MOD, similar to UMX
 * Wikipedia - S3M, similar to UMX
 * Wikipedia - IT, similar to UMX
 * Wikipedia - Ogg Vorbis
 * Wikipedia - DirectMusic
 * UnrealWiki: Music, discusses multiple formats
 * Gamasutra - DirectMusic For The Masses, DirectMusic overview, 1998-11-06

Other

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