Interview: David Javelosa - Sega-16 Forums

**Melf** · 07-02-2008, 11:48 AM

During first half of the '90s, Sega was a growing company that poured lots of cash into research and development. At the forefront of this investment was its initiative to create one of the most modern audio studios in the industry, and to do so it assembled one of the best teams in the business. Alongside Brian Coburn and Spencer Nilsen, Sega also brought aboard David Javelosa as sound director. An experienced composer and musician, Javelosa quickly went to work, and the Sega Multimedia Studio crafted the audio for such CD hits as Jurassic Park. Sega-16 had a chance to chat with Mr. Javelosa about his time at Sega, and our Q&A session is something you won't want to miss! Read the full interview and fire up that Sega CD!

Warman · 07-02-2008, 12:03 PM

wow very interesting reading, never thought reading about music and composing on a console would be so interesting

Zebbe · 07-02-2008, 01:32 PM

Yeah, this was a great read. Praise to this man for explaining everything so detailed and also sharing that nice trivia about the Sega CD startup jingle.

TmEE · 07-02-2008, 03:03 PM

This was a very exciting read, since it had a lot ro do with sound/music, and I myself mess with that area on MD.
MD has a OPN2 in it, not a OPL2.

probablee · 07-02-2008, 03:43 PM

The industry needs more creative folk, not another experienced texture artist position!

Sorry, just venting now, what with my heart broken over my childhood dream not yet realised.

Your interviews are always enlightening, Melf! Hooray! *hug*

Aarzak · 07-03-2008, 12:50 AM

Great read!!!

A question Melf, in what manner do you often conduct these interviews, and how do you put them together for the site? I'm too much of a meticulous, slow writer to ever get down someone's words exactly.

Hmm, I had always wondered why both U.S Sega CD boot-up songs used both the Sega CD and Genesis sound hardwares, while the sole Japanese/European boot-up song exclusively used the Sega's CD sound hardware.

The only other instance of such mixed sound use that I recall on the Sega CD, is "Silpheed", which oddly had a full-on RedBook soundtrack on the CD and the official OST.

**Joe Redifer** · 07-03-2008, 02:23 AM

Popful Mail also uses "mixed" sound.

Dirt Ball Gamer · 07-03-2008, 02:56 AM

Great interview

Christuserloeser · 07-03-2008, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Javelosa

The Genesis had a great sound chip, the Yamaha OPL2. It could do real-time FM synthesis and play samples out of one channel. You also had the Master System's PSG chip on board for a couple more sounds. Yuzo Koshiro and his team that did Streets of Rage, really put a lot of craft into their work. It was a production team of the composer, music implementers, patch editors, and programmers working with their custom tool set. They really did things with chip that no one else did. That's why it sounded so perfect!

Well, that and because they did not use GEMS.

Quote:

Originally Posted by David Javelosa

The buzz about "procedural music" in EA's Spore is an example. Using software to generate unique musical experiences is something I have pursued for a long time. Also creating "interactive" music and sound engines that change with the game play is something that has yet to be fully explored.

I agree.

**Melf** · 07-03-2008, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aarzak

A question Melf, in what manner do you often conduct these interviews, and how do you put them together for the site? I'm too much of a meticulous, slow writer to ever get down someone's words exactly.

I digitally record the interview, then transcribe it. It takes a while (this one took me about three hours), but it's really worth it, since phone interviews let the person go into much more detail. I then send them the link before it goes live, so they can make sure everything is correct.

Most interviews are done by email, but sometimes I'm lucky enough to get them by phone. This one was both. Javelosa answered my questions via email, and then told me to call him so he could elaborate more on them. He was extremely cool about it all and even gave me names of more people to contact for interviews.

Benjamin · 07-03-2008, 11:00 AM

Are there any games other than NiGHTS into dreams which has the soundtrack alter depending upon some in-game variable(s)? I don't mean anything as simplistic as the "danger" music in a game like Columns or the victory music switch in Skies of Arcadia.

**Joe Redifer** · 07-03-2008, 05:53 PM

Yes. It's called REZ.

Benjamin · 07-03-2008, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Redifer

Yes. It's called REZ.

Rez hardly significantly changes depending on what you do. It's the same streaming song regardless of the action, with only player controlled shots' sound effects going over the streamed music... like any other game, really.

**Joe Redifer** · 07-04-2008, 05:03 AM

Nope. It changes when you change layers. Instruments are added.

ary incorparated · 07-04-2008, 02:20 PM

the genesis is some strange but awesome system,the genesis could rule the world if it would bloom

. i think the soundchip in the genesis is rocking to the max,i think it shurly can do better music then TF4 there was a game on genesis once that used real fluid guitar samples for real only i cant remember that game.

07-02-2008, 11:48 AM	#1
Melf Blast processor Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cabo Rojo, PR Posts: 6,124 Rep Power: 34	Interview: David Javelosa During first half of the '90s, Sega was a growing company that poured lots of cash into research and development. At the forefront of this investment was its initiative to create one of the most modern audio studios in the industry, and to do so it assembled one of the best teams in the business. Alongside Brian Coburn and Spencer Nilsen, Sega also brought aboard David Javelosa as sound director. An experienced composer and musician, Javelosa quickly went to work, and the Sega Multimedia Studio crafted the audio for such CD hits as Jurassic Park. Sega-16 had a chance to chat with Mr. Javelosa about his time at Sega, and our Q&A session is something you won't want to miss! Read the full interview and fire up that Sega CD! __________________ Buy my stuff! \| Games I Need \| My Blog

07-02-2008, 01:32 PM	#3
Zebbe Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Täby, Sweden Age: 25 Posts: 5,791 Rep Power: 33	Yeah, this was a great read. Praise to this man for explaining everything so detailed and also sharing that nice trivia about the Sega CD startup jingle. __________________ It's very close now...

07-02-2008, 03:03 PM	#4
TmEE Soldering NINJA !!!!! Snow Brother Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Estonia, Mahtra village Age: 20 Posts: 6,687 Rep Power: 35	This was a very exciting read, since it had a lot ro do with sound/music, and I myself mess with that area on MD. MD has a OPN2 in it, not a OPL2. __________________ Raul is gone Death To MP3, :3 Mida sa loed ? Nagunii aru ei saa

07-02-2008, 03:43 PM	#5
probablee An Cailín Deas. :) WCPO Agent Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: The Royal County Posts: 263 Rep Power: 5	The industry needs more creative folk, not another experienced texture artist position! Sorry, just venting now, what with my heart broken over my childhood dream not yet realised. Your interviews are always enlightening, Melf! Hooray! hug __________________ Art Thread! ---> http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5072

07-02-2008, 12:03 PM	#2
Warman Death Adder's minion Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 18 Rep Power: 0	wow very interesting reading, never thought reading about music and composing on a console would be so interesting

07-03-2008, 12:50 AM	#6
Aarzak Hunter Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NYC Age: 23 Posts: 1,897 Rep Power: 13	Great read!!! A question Melf, in what manner do you often conduct these interviews, and how do you put them together for the site? I'm too much of a meticulous, slow writer to ever get down someone's words exactly. Hmm, I had always wondered why both U.S Sega CD boot-up songs used both the Sega CD and Genesis sound hardwares, while the sole Japanese/European boot-up song exclusively used the Sega's CD sound hardware. The only other instance of such mixed sound use that I recall on the Sega CD, is "Silpheed", which oddly had a full-on RedBook soundtrack on the CD and the official OST.

07-03-2008, 02:23 AM	#7
Joe Redifer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Denver, CO - USA Posts: 9,881 Rep Power: 51	Popful Mail also uses "mixed" sound.

07-03-2008, 02:56 AM	#8
Dirt Ball Gamer Hunter Join Date: Nov 2007 Age: 26 Posts: 1,844 Rep Power: 11	Great interview

07-03-2008, 11:00 AM	#11
Benjamin Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New Orleans Age: 33 Posts: 756 Rep Power: 8	Are there any games other than NiGHTS into dreams which has the soundtrack alter depending upon some in-game variable(s)? I don't mean anything as simplistic as the "danger" music in a game like Columns or the victory music switch in Skies of Arcadia.

07-03-2008, 05:53 PM	#12
Joe Redifer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Denver, CO - USA Posts: 9,881 Rep Power: 51	Yes. It's called REZ.

07-04-2008, 05:03 AM	#14
Joe Redifer Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Denver, CO - USA Posts: 9,881 Rep Power: 51	Nope. It changes when you change layers. Instruments are added.

07-04-2008, 02:20 PM	#15
ary incorparated Hunter Join Date: Dec 2005 Age: 24 Posts: 1,939 Rep Power: 12	the genesis is some strange but awesome system,the genesis could rule the world if it would bloom . i think the soundchip in the genesis is rocking to the max,i think it shurly can do better music then TF4 there was a game on genesis once that used real fluid guitar samples for real only i cant remember that game.

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