Public Domain Music Project (for custom Background Music)

[DJ Bonebraker]

So, since my primary civving machine is out of commission, I've been thinking about creating a library of custom background music for the game, using either Public Domain (i.e. copyright has expired) music or music that is otherwise available free and legally (i.e. creative commons, freeware, etc)...

So far on my list of stuff that I've compiled/converted to work with Civ III Conquests and the Music.txt file (there's more on that in the tutorials and information subforum):

All the Age of Imperialism songs:

Blue Danube Waltz (Johann Strauss)
Rule Britannia
Flight of the Valkyrie (Richard Wagner)
El Capitan (John Phillip Susa)
La Mer (DeBussy)
Prelude in C Sharp Major (Rachmaninoff)
Symphony # 2 (Gustav Mahler)
The Maple Leaf Rag (Scott Joplin)

Thus Far I've added the following, courtesey of Wikipedia/Wikimedia:

EDIT: Get the Wikipedia/Wikimedia songs I've compiled/converted thus far HERE.

Songs in collection #1 are:
The Entertainer (Scott Joplin)
The Radetzky March (Johann Strauss)
The Marine Corps Hymn
The Army Goes Rolling Along (a.k.a. The Caisson Song)
Anchors Aweigh

The Second Public Domain Music Collection is available HERE.

The second collection contains the following songs compiled/formatted by El Justo (from the Age of Imperialism scenario):
Dummy.mp3 (blank MP3 to keep the first song on the list from endlessly looping)
Maple Leaf Rag - Scott Joplin
Rule Britannia

It also has the following Wikipedia/Wikimedia songs converted/compiled by me:
College Hornpipe (a.k.a. The Sailor's Hornpipe)
The Major General's Song - Gilbert & Sullivan, from "The Pirates of Penzance"
Hail to the Chief - James Sanderson


EDIT: Here is Vernian Process' "Behold the Machine" Album, which he has graciously allowed us to use.

In addition to which, I'll also be converting/cleaning up FIFTEEN original techno/electronic songs by myself that I'll be making available under the Creative Commons license (i.e. just credit me with my work somewhere).

I also have an additonal techno song called "Wing Attack" that was originally an Amiga MOD file that comes with the "Barneystein 3D" mod for the original Wolfenstein 3D, and is thus, freeware. I've already converted and tested it in-game.

So, in conclusion, if anyone is interested, perhaps we could compile a list of links to public domain/free music that someone (probably me, when/if I can get my sound editor re-installed or find a suitable open-source replacement), and possibly upload/organize it by general theme/era (i.e. all the songs listed in the first part would be good for Middle Ages/Industrial era and the ones I made would be good for Industrial/modern/future)....

 

[Blue Monkey]

Remember to add links to the Vernian Process stuff we were given permission to use.

 

[DJ Bonebraker]

Um, I don't happen to know exactly what those are, so if you could perhaps post the link, and I'll add it to the first post.

I'm also taking off work Thursday since its my birthday, so I'll see about compiling my 15 songs into one easy-to-download file (or maybe a series of three sets of 5 songs, depending on size)... I need to see about scaring up the original WAV files I compiled for some of them, while others are currently ready to go... Just need to sift through what I have.

 

[Blue Monkey]

I'm not surprised you don't remember a post from over a year ago so close to your wedding day. The only thing you need to remember is to smile while you say "Thank you for coming" for the 200th time.

Hi, welcome to the forums, VP! Glad to see someone else from the Brass Goggles SP forum around here...

BTW, I didn't mention this earlier, but I'm working on adapting your Tribute to Final Fantasy songs for the Final Fantasy mod....

Look forward to seeing more of you around here...

Again my apologies for not fully reading over the thread

We do actually have the entirety of Behold the Machine free to download in instrumental form here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?7znyrngs6qrjq5a

I'm at work at the moment, so i don't have time to elaborate further, but again please feel free to use any of those instrumental tracks you like!

Cheers,
Josh

 

[T-mun]

BM, do you keep all these info in your memory (do you have a giant brain?) or do you have tons of sticky notes on your desktop ?

 

[Blue Monkey]

BM, do you keep all these info in your memory (do you have a giant brain?) or do you have tons of sticky notes on your desktop ?

I could act like a gruff billy goat but I'll take it as humorous. My brothers tease me by calling me "Sheldon" while rapping the table. There was a swot who called me "Brittanicus - first initial E" - but my barracksmates were only hep enough to come up with "Webster".


You can thank my attempts to emulate a boyhood hero, vast and unbridled consumption of quesadillas with chili verde, and an ongoing correspondence with a friend of Dr. John.

Spoiler :

We return to the prograsm already in progres ...

(__{BM}___[[≈≈

 

[T-mun]

This is much clearer now, thanks BM
I hope I can come up with some free music too, if I ever get once again the inspiration I had for the asian-themed music I uploaded a few weeks ago.

 

[Blue Monkey]

This is much clearer now, thanks BM

It was as clear as mud, but it covered the ground, and the explanation was nowhere to be found ..." Harry Belafonte

I hope I can come up with some free music too, if I ever get once again the inspiration I had for the asian-themed music I uploaded a few weeks ago.

The thread I quoted from had links to some sources for old recordings that are now in the public domain, iirc. Worth a scroll and repost here.

 

[Quinzy]

I fully support this project. I'll see how I can help...

 

[DJ Bonebraker]

Thanks for the link.... I've also found some Public domain recordings of "Anchors Aweigh", the "Marines' Hymn" and "The Army Goes Rolling Along", but they are all only about 1 minute long, which, IMO is not particularly good for Civ III game music, especially if you get one of the situations that causes the track to go into a continuous loop.....

 

[Blue Monkey]

Post them anyway. In one of the tutorial threads having a shorter song in the first slot is recommended as it plays through twice.

 

[Jorsalfare]

For marching band music, I have found many good recordings at the USAF Heritage of America Band's homepage. Clicking "Recordings" and "Archived" or "Available recordings" gives a list of albums, and in many of the underlaying tracklists, there are full length 128kbs mp3 files (check for example "Sousa"). The recordings should be public domain, since the band is US federal (material produced by personell in federal service are considered PD).

 

[Blue Monkey]

This post has several links to royalty free recordings. Links here and here as well - don't know if there are any copy issues with those, however. Sir Sam Vimes was working on some original music - might be worth a PM to find out if he's carried on.

 

[DJ Bonebraker]

Well guys, I have good news and bad news.

The good news is that, as part of a surprise birthday gift FROM me, I spent several hours today converting all my original songs into proper Civ III format, and compressing them into a "drop-in" archive (i.e. you just unzip it into your mod's folder and the music is all set to go).

The bad news is that MP3 files don't compress well, and all my songs are at least 5 minutes long (some approaching 7), which results in a 75MB file, which is too big to upload here.

Anyone know a good site for uploading something like this that isn't likely to randomly get shut down by the government like Megauploads was?

 

[Quintillus]

I know the usual recommendation is Atomic Gamer. I haven't used them myself, but they generally get positive recommendations. The only downside is there's usually a 3-5 minute wait to download files.

The only sites that I can think of that are likely to host it, not get shut down by any governments, and not have a delay are StormOverCiv and maybe WePlayCiv. The former is probably the preferable option since it's mostly Civ3. But I think they require membership to download, so Atomic Gamer is probably the better choice.

 

[El Justo]

i like these ideas. always wanted to explore this but never had the time.

i can find you a server to upload. send a note to Marine Corps at Storm Over Civ. this is where i store my stuff. i'm sure he'd get you access to the server. you would need an ftp though. are you familiar with them?

addit: i don't think you need to register to DL or even upload. i may be wrong though.

 

[ShiroKobbure]

I used to have a list of a few websites, I lost them, but I will try to look for them.

Here is one I just found, its historical American music, WW1, US Civil War etc.
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu/music/type_noncopyright.cfm

 

[DJ Bonebraker]

i like these ideas. always wanted to explore this but never had the time.

i can find you a server to upload. send a note to Marine Corps at Storm Over Civ. this is where i store my stuff. i'm sure he'd get you access to the server. you would need an ftp though. are you familiar with them?

addit: i don't think you need to register to DL or even upload. i may be wrong though.

I'm already registered... I'll see about sending him a PM, but I don't expect to get anything uploaded until Sunday, since I'm going to be leaving for my fiance's house tonight and won't be getting back until Saturday night.

I've used FTPs before, but it's been a while. BTW, I'm fairly certain I could upload the Radetzky March and The Entertainer here for you, since they should be under the 10MB file size limit....

If you want them, that is.

EDIT: Added them as well as the major service branch songs (except the Air Force one)...

 

[KingArthur]

Post them anyway. In one of the tutorial threads having a shorter song in the first slot is recommended as it plays through twice.

I have used a blank song in the first slot to avoid the repetition - not my idea I just borrowed it from another scenario - can't remember which one but I can upload the blank if you think it's required.

 

[Jerry'sGoldfish]

do you people know the song the miracle of pushkar ??? very good game music - especially for civilisation.....