NEWS
Reviewing and commenting on almost every track on the soundtrack!
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This blog was made to spread the sound of THE LAST REMNANT to the world. Our English is rough, but we hope you enjoy the articles.
Some parts may be harder to understand, so we ask for your pardon.
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Hi there!
I am composer of “THE LAST REMNANT” SEKITO, here.
The date for today is on Nov 20th.
The long awaiting “THE LAST REMNANT” has been released at last!
Looking back, there are so many things has happened until today...
(imagine with a look of my face in retrospect...) e.g. The memory of the day of the studio recording when I had a soy sauce stuck in my eye by accident...LOL
All those things have now become one big memory to me,
congratulations for the release of “THE LAST REMNANT”.
As I mentioned earlier,
Today is a memorable day of the release of “THE LAST REMNANT”.
With an emotional dilemma of other members of stuff, we thought that,
“How could we express all these passions and experiences through developing the game and music towards audiences???
I know! Why don't we review and comment on almost every track of the soundtrack!?!?
Here we have this stunning blog with the course of such an event.
I will be trying to accomplish the mission of reviewing and commenting from now on.
I would love all of you to enjoy for those time that we have here on this blog.
Before I start,
I would like to introduce you one of a lead planner of “THE LAST REMNANT” Mr. Yagi(Twang!),
who has an enormous knowledge about storyline of this game,
all the game system terms and the specification in very small details,
and I would also like to join a synthesizer operator of “THE LAST REMNANT” Mr. Yamanaka (Pop!), who has composed, sound-mixed, and even produced mastering engineering for the soundtrack.
To accomplish this whole interview, I will be a little seriously and fearlessly involving all the other sound crew of “THE LAST REMNANT” for introducing you with commentary of the soundtrack of “THE LAST REMNANT”.
I really would love to enjoy this blog for all of you to, hopefully, appreciate a little more about the soundtrack and also the game itself.
Here it starts…
＜Mr. Yagi comments＞
How is everyone? I am a lead event planner of “THE LAST REMNANT” Yagi.
For the event scene of the game, I was picturing the image of the music that it would underscore the storyline of scenes to emphasize the emotional moment in oppose to the role of the music becoming just a part of a game as a signature.
I would imagine that Mr. Sekito would have had a hard time trying to achieve all of my requirements for the compositions during we had held our meetings in such a vast period of time. But I feel that all this time and effort that we spent together really paid off and the finished productions really reflect our goals. I really hope all of you to appreciate such a valuable achievement like this production and I would like to recommend all of you to enjoy as much as you can from it.
＜Mr. Yamanaka comments＞
Hello, guys. I am a synthesizer operator of “THE LAST REMNANT” Yamanaka.
I have composed a dungeon part of the music and I engineered sound mixing of the music. As much as I would love to comment on every part of the interview, I would like to appear for a small part of interviews, such as a commentary part for the music in dungeon etc. I would like to pass baton to Mr. Yagi who is kindly enough to help out the commenting and my big brothers of Mr. Sekito and Mr. Yagi would be happy to comment and answer the questions on every event scene instead of me.
＜Mr. Sekito comments＞
Now, I will be commenting on the soundtrack from Today.
As we speak, I am writing very hard on this actual blog!
Please hold on tight for the 1st commentary!
NEWS
Comments from the promotional staff;
Hello,
I am Marushi, a Soundtrack promotion staff.
How is everyone enjoying the blog “Return of Sekito Clinic” which has just started today?
I will be updating commentary for everyday basis! Well almost every day basis to be exact!
Please do visit this blog frequently!
There is news from me, a promotion staff.
Due to its specification, the automatic play button on this blog plays several tracks simultaneously when you press the button on different tracks at the same time.
If you ever feel like that “I cannot listen to the track properly!“
Please, please be patient. If you want to listen to several tracks, please press STOP button before start listening to your desirable track.
Thank you for your patience, and please enjoy the “Return of the Sekito Clinic”
A promotion staff, Marushi Akio
NEWS
Questions & comments wanted!
Good evening, Marushi Akio, a promotion staff.
During 3 day national holidays, I just bought Xbox 360 the premium pack for “THE LAST REMNANT” on the web, just to be exact, my right hand made me buying the premium pack by clicking my mice while I was deciding whether or not buying,,,
Anyway, I have got news for you guys today.
At the moment, on the website of the Square-Enix Members, we have “THE LAST REMNANT” page”. We would love all of you for the entry of comments and questions on our “THE LAST REMNANT” page. You can send your comments and questions by clicking the banner of “THE LAST REMNANT” page.
(Please register as a member of “Square Enix MEMBERS” before sending your messages)
Mr.Sekito, Mr, Yamanaka and Mr Yagi will be answering almost every question, of course.
We are very excited to have all of your questions and messages.
There will be Today`s commentary after my news. Please enjoy Today`s commentary.
Thank you.
Marushi Akio, a promotion staff
END
Translation: Atsushi Suganuma
NEWS
Thank you so much for all the messages!!!
Good evening, Marushi Akio is here.
Yesterday, the commentary for Disc1 finally finished with 34tracks worth of interviews.
Did you guys enjoy the commentary, everyone?
I really hope to have a great moment with the commentary for Disc 2 which also is starting soon next week.
As we are waiting messages from everyone through this blog, we have already had many messages received from you, thank you very much!
On behalf of a member of the staff for this blog, I thank everyone for their contributions.
We will be answering received messages with the comments from Mr. Sekito among the other members. We have already had great answers for messages from different prospective!
【Message】
I have been listening the soundtrack even before the release. I was so impressed with the soundtrack!
I love the tracks from battle that have heavy rock influence, especially.
I also love the idea of the music change in a relation to the condition of the player during battle, too.
For me, the soundtrack of “THE LAST REMNANT” is the best music of all time above all the other game music.
I am looking forward to listen to the music later on of the game as I am still at earlier stage in the game.
I wish Mr. Sekito will be writing more great music for the next future game in the future.
【Mr. Sekito comments:】
Sekito is here. Thank you very much for your encouraging message!!
The idea for the music change in a relation to the moral-gauge of the player came from the director of Mr. Takai. I think that the idea came true in better way.
When the player finds the music change in the battle while they are playing, I would imagine that the player would feel the stimulation in their body for sure.
I hope to experience this music change for you, too.
I will surely be producing music for you in the future, Thank you for your support.
【Message:】
I would prefer to have uplifting heavy music for the track during a normal battle mode.
【Mr. Sekito comments:】
Thank you very much for your message!!
This message might be similar to the previous message in its context.
I agree with your opinion on the track for normal battle mode, being a little less uplifting.
But it is a true fact that I have put all my effort for writing that particular track also.
If you ever feel like to listen to my music, I would highly recommend you to listen to the soundtrack of “THE LAST REMNANT” which comes out on December the 10th.
【Message: 】
I really like the graphics. I am excited every time when I play the game!
【Mr. Sekito comments:】
Thank you for your message.
I will pass on your encouraging message to our development team for you.
【Mr. Marushi Akio comments:】
We may have to do emission some of messages, very sorry.
That is it for today although we have much more messages to show you.
We will try to answer all the messages as much as we can.
Please do send us more messages to us!!!
For questions and messages, please go to the website of “THE LAST REMNANT ”, a part of “Square Enix MEMBERS” website.
We will be answering all the received messages tomorrow as well.
Of course it will include comments from Mr. Sekito and Mr. Yamanaka, too.
Thank you
A promotion staff: Marushi Akio
NEWS
Thank you for the messages! No.2
Hello! Marushi Akio, a promotion staff is here.
Mr. Sekito and Mr. Yamanaka will be answering for your received messages today.
【Message: 】
The music is greater than I expected!
I spend more on listening the music rather than playing the game.
By the way, does another version of “The Known World” really exist??
I would love to listen to the track if it is. Is it possible??
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
Sekito is here. Thank you for your message.
Mr. Yamanaka will be answering the question for “The Known World” instead of me.
【Mr. Yamanaka comments;】
Yamanaka is here. Thank you for the message.
Basically the other version of “The Known World” is indeed, the outtake track.
Please think that track have gone to the outer space.
The first impression of the track for me, which has gone to the outer space, was that it sounded very heavenly.
【Message:】
When composing the music for “THE LAST REMNANT”, did you consider to compose “Saga” series of the game music consciously?
【Mr. Sekito comments】
Sekito is here. Thank you for the message.
The project “THE LAST REMNANT” is considered to be a brand-new RPG series.
I have been trying to work as a brand-new series as oppose to existing ongoing series of the game titles.
【Mr. Yamanaka comments;】
Yamanaka is here. Thank you for your message.
The development team of “THE LAST REMNANT” has a awareness for developing brand-new series of RPG. I have been also working to create a complete new style for the music.
【Message: 】
Hello,
I have been a huge fan of the music of Mr. Sekito since the “Brave Fencer Musashiden”.
I like the track “Reversal” and “Press to Victory” the most, out of the tracks from the soundtrack of “THE LAST REMNANT”.
I have a question for Mr. Sekito.
I would like to know which track is Mr. Sekito`s favourite track from the soundtrack.
And, I would also like to know how long has Mr. Sekito spent for all the composition work of “THE LAST REMNANT”.
I am very interested in knowing how long it has been spent for the work after seeing such a huge amount of the tracks for the soundtrack.
If possible, I would like to know about the use of equipment as well.
I am very looking forward to hear new music from Mr. Sekito, if he composes the music
for the future title of the game from Square Enix.
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
Sekito is here, Thank you very much for your message!!
>I have been a huge fan of the music of Mr. Sekito since the “Brave Fencer Musashiden”.
Good old “Musashiden”!!! It has been 10 years ago since the release of the game, I am very flattered by you remembering all these years!
>Mr. Sekito`s favourite track
Well, my favourite track from the soundtrack has to be the music for the ending of the game! I would love for you to complete the game to listen to the music.
>And, I would also like to know how long has Mr. Sekito spent for all the composition work of “THE LAST REMNANT”.
For my everyday`s task for composition work involves with me holding a post for other projects alongside of the “THE LAST REMNANT”. I feel that it is hard to say the specific period of time that I spent for the production. I am very sorry about that.
Simply put, when I compose music usually, I spend approx. a couple of days for finishing music. That is when the music meets with the demand for my first attempt!
For the use of equipment, I will pass on this question to Mr. Yamanaka.
【Mr. Yamanaka comments;】
Yamanaka is here. Thank you for the message.
>If possible, I would like to know about the use of equipment as well.
I will answer this question on behalf of Mr. Sekito, then.
Usual procedure for the production of music in battle, for example, Mr. Sekito composes a demo version of the music by using the software called “Logic”.
He was recording his electric guitar part at this point of the process.
We bring the music to the director of the project, we goes into the process of arrangement of the music, if the director gives OK for the music.
After that, Mr. Sekito gives me a data to me, and then I move to the process of sound mixing and refining of the music. This is an example of the procedure for the production, not including all the details. The most of the time though, we spend a lot more time for the production.
【Marushi Akio comments;】
How was the interview everyone??
Personally, I did not know about the equipment at all...
Thank you, everybody, for very useful questions!
If you have not yet sent your personal messages to us, please do send us!
Our staff will kindly be answering all your questions and messages.
For questions and messages, please go to the website of “THE LAST REMNANT”, a part of “Square Enix MEMBERS”.
The commentary for Disc2 starts tomorrow!
Our staff will be commenting with enthusiastically, please hold on tight for tomorrow!
See you everyone!
A promotion staff: Marushi Akio
NEWS
Thank you so much for all the messages!!!3
Hello.
Marushi Akio, a promotion staff is here.
Thank you so much for your messages!
We will also be continuing to answer all the received messages, today.
Some of you might be able to find the answer for your own massage, today!?
【Message;】
I am stunned with graphics, the game systems, and BGM for “THE LAST REMNANT”.
I am totally hooked!
I am very looking forward for the release of the soundtrack.
I will absolutely be going to the store to buy the soundtrack even if it is raining or typhoon.
And take care for your cold.
【Mr. Sekito comments; 】
Hello, Sekito is here.
Thank you for your message.
The soundtrack has a variety of style of music including the composition from Mr. Yamanaka.
The track order follows the same path with the actual game itself.
You might find satisfying if you change the order of the tracks for your own purposes.
I will try all my best to work for the future game development, I will also try not to catch a cold!
I will pass on your great message to our development team, too!
【Message; 】
I really like the track “Out of Control” the most even though there are many favourite tracks for the soundtrack.
When I first listened the track, I was amazed with great harmony on the intro.
I fell in love with the track!
I just felt great by listening to the track during my battle.
The track really is my favourite.
【Mr. Sekito comments; 】
Hi there, Sekito is here. Thanks for your message.
I fact, we have not gone far enough for the commentary of the track “Out of Control”.
Did you listen the track through the limited edition of the soundtrack that only available with Xbox 360 “THE LAST REMNANT” Premium Pack???
Incredible!
The track “Out of Control” is also my favourite track from the soundtrack.
The track has a great vibrato on the melody during the intro, hasn’t it??
The first half of the track is quite simple, but the balance between the first half and second half of the track with odd time signature is creating a great vibe in the track, I think.
【Message; 】
The question for Mr. Sekito and Mr. Yamanaka:
Do you guys have your own admirable composers, possibly who works in the game industry?
【Mr. Sekito comments; 】
Hello, Sekito is here.
Thank you for your message.
I have a huge respect on Mr. Barry Gray and Mr. Scott Bradley. To me, these composers are my God!
≪Barry Gray:≫
the music for Thunderbird, Captain Scarlet, etc. Thunderbird had its own game series, too.
≪Scott Bradley:≫
The theme for TV cartoons “Tom&Jerry” etc I m not too sure but Tom&Jerry might have a game series, too.
Unfortunately, those composers have already passed away. They used to be my admiration in my childhood.
In Recent years, I really love Mr. Danny Elfman.
≪Danny Elfman:≫
The music for the film “Spiderman”, Fable, Fable2 on Xbox360 etc
【Mr. Yamanaka comments; 】
Hi, Yamanaka is here.
Thank you for the question.
I love Brian Eno for my admiration.
He is a pioneer of Ambient music, I am sure everyone would recognize the sound of Starting Sound jingle for Windows 95.
Brian Eno is also famous for creating Generative Music theory, which means that music generated by a system component. He composes music through his theory.
He has recently composed music by using his own theory for some game project.
【Message;】
All the track really rocks! It sounds very cool!
But I have noticed the sound of “Line6 ” and “dfh” on the guitar and drums.
How do you approach your composition? Do you start from each part?
【Mr. Sekito comments; 】
Hello, Sekito is here.
Thank you very much for your message and question!
For the question about the guitar part, we used several amp simulators both Analog and Digital. We did not actually use Line6 for the guitar part for the production.
We usually use the actual recording of the guitar that is recorded on microphones.
Then we produce the guitar part with both individual recording and post mixed recording.
Mr. Yamanaka will be answering the question for the production of the rhythm track instead of me.
First of all, before composing music, I check the game system for a starter.
Having had a few ideas for the music, I start with fixing the tempo of the music.
And then, after fixing the tempo I move on to the process of chord sequencing and melody simultaneously. After that, I tend to add the instrument parts following the order of the instruments that have the lowest frequency range to the higher frequency range.
【Mr. Yamanaka comments; 】
Hi there, Yamanaka is here.
For the question about the production of rhythm part, we produce with the mixture of the rhythmic sound samples and recordings, not including the use of “dfh” for the rhythm.
【Marushi Akio comments; 】
The previous message contained quite a few special term for the music production,
I will add a few explanations here…
According to my data…
Line6 is a manufacturer that manufactures a product of the digital modeling amp simulator called “Pod”. Line6 is famous for the product of “Pod” from both pro and amateur musicians.
dfh is a sound files for rhythm track making. It is produced by Toontrack e.g. dfh superior.
I did not know that, I should be making memos for myself then.
I feel very happy to have such a many encouraging messages from everyone.
On the website of “Square-Enix MEMBERS” –“THE LAST REMNANT” page, we are waiting your messages continuously!
Some of the answers for received messages might just well be yours?!
NEWS
The soundtrack “THE LAST REMNANT” has been released
December 10th
At last! The soundtrack “THE LAST REMNANT” has been released!!!!
Including Mr. Sekito, Mr. Yamanaka and Mr. Yagi, we are incredibly happy for the release for the soundtrack!
This is the CD image for the soundtrack below…
I and happy to announce that everyone, who has just bought the CD, and who is going to buy the CD, Also who is yet deciding whether or not buying the CD will be enjoy and will be satisfied with an amazing production of the soundtrack.
If some of you have not yet bought the CD, please check out at SQUARE ENIX ONLINE STORE!
Thank you and hope to enjoy our next interview.
NEWS
It's already 2012! SEKITO Clinic comes back when you really least expect it.
An update after a year and four months!! Hi everyone, it's Yamanaka.
As for an update after a year and four months, as the title “SEKITO Clinic Returns” implies, I can't help but think this blog is also ripening along.
Well, today, as a late commemoration for the distribution of Imaginary Range episode 2, I'd like to share a music demo from Imaginary Range, as well as an illustration from Toshiyuki Itahana, the designer in charge of the comic portion.
And we shouldn't forget this blog's owner, Mr. Sekito (aged 49).
Well, let's hear him go on about today's music demo “Chocobo Chaser”!
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Hi everyone, how have you been? A year and four months?! A new-born baby turns a year and four months old, a 47-years-and-6-months-old guy turns 49! Feeling awkward like after opening a time capsule buried in elementary school, Sekito here. (Haha)
Now, I would like to talk about when I was working on music production for Imaginary Range episode 2, a free app for smartphones. The sound director of the previous and this episode, as I'm sure everyone knows, is Yasuhiro Yamanaka. I composed two tracks, but he is the one who created their Imaginary Range-ness. The kind of atmosphere of a melody with electronic instruments at its core following the fantastic world is just wonderful.
In this Chocobo Chaser BGM, the A melody by the nostalgic PSG sound source (short wave?) in very tight rhythm is quite striking, and the last half just comes alive.
The game itself is also worth playing and quite fun. If anyone hasn't played the game yet, please try it!
Moreover, I've heard there is a newly drawn illustration from Mr. Itahana celebrating this blog's update! Thanks a lot!! I guess I'd better update again soon, wahaha!!
Well, until next time, I look forward to seeing you here again!
Tsuyoshi Sekito
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We've also got a comment from Mr. Sakamoto, project manager of Imaginary Range.
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Thanks to everyone, we now have over five hundred thousand downloads between the iOS and Android versions of episode 1. Thank you!
Episode 2 is now released, too, so please try it out!
Oh, by the way, it seems that there is a hint for episode 3 in the gallery mode of episode 2… Please take a look at Mr. Itahana’s comments in the game.
I'll be counting on you.
The latest Imaginary Range news can be found here!
Imaginary Range NEWS
Koichiro Sakamoto, Project Manager of Imaginary Range
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…Ok then, everyone, here is the illustration from Mr. Itahana!
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓
He's jumping the gun on the season, but it's downright cute!
And here is the beautiful music demo from composer Tsuyoshi Sekito!
“Chocobo Chaser” from Imaginary Range Episode 2
Plus a bonus demo from Mr. Yamanaka!
“Title 1” from “Imaginary Range Episode 1”
“Imaginary Range”, sounds very interesting.
“…But this app is expensive, right?”
No, this app, with its various contents, is totally free (FREE!)!
Interested? Not interested? Let's download it anyway!
Please take a look at the SQUARE ENIX sound staff blog, too!
SQUARE ENIX MUSIC BLOG
