Mono/Stereo

[gmeader]

As far as I know, the loops used in the resorts, restaurants, shops, and for special events, etc., are produced by Walt Disney Entertainment's Music Department.

Does this include restaurants and shops inside the parks, or does WDI have the responsibility for all of the music in the parks (sans parades/firework shows that are produced by Entertainment)?

Not to air a bunch of dirty laundry but generally speaking WDI is supposed to have creative control over everthing that's used inside the theme parks (with the exception of parades and live shows) however the Entertainment division has a ton of clout within the company and is able to create things on its own without WDI approval. This was (and probably still is) a sore point between WDI and the Parks. The restaurants and retail shops were always a gray area when it came to who had creative control as they were neither live shows nor themed attractions.

 

[Magic Music]

Some current AKL ugliness, displaying uncontrolled levels and various amounts of silence between tracks:

(Click on image to enlarge)​

 

[gmeader]

Some current AKL ugliness, displaying uncontrolled levels and various amounts of silence between tracks:

View attachment 388
(Click on image to enlarge)​

I've got to be honest about this but this looks like an amateur job done by someone who either doesn't know how to do BGM or doesn't care. Either way that's just wrong. I do understand your point though. The guys I worked with (including myself) would have never let this out the door so to speak.

 

[SeaCastle]

I've got to be honest about this but this looks like an amateur job done by someone who either doesn't know how to do BGM or doesn't care. Either way that's just wrong. I do understand your point though. The guys I worked with (including myself) would have never let this out the door so to speak.

This isn't hard to believe, since I believe the person who compiled the BGM made the tracks play alphabetically. :wacko:

 

[Magic Music]

This isn't hard to believe, since I believe the person who compiled the BGM made the tracks play alphabetically. :wacko:

Yes, indeed, there are alphabetical Area/BGM loops showing up all over property. "DJ LMNOP," as I like to affectionately refer to the person(s) who are responsible.

I have a theory, though, that this may not be intentional...

If the person(s) thought the tracks were going to be played in "shuffle" mode, they wouldn't think it mattered as to what order they were burned onto CD.

However, as the various locations are actually playing the CDs from start to finish, we end up with goofy A-Z programming.

As someone who went to school for Computer Science, and who worked a lot of tech support in my early days, I can tell you that you had better try to account for every possible thing that can go wrong with your software... because it can and most definitely will go wrong. Murphy's Law. And Murphy was an optimist.

So, even if I thought that a CD I was putting together was going to be played in shuffle mode, I would make darn sure to put the tracks into some sort of logical order, so that if it ends up getting played in standard linear mode, I don't come off looking like an idiot.

Personally, though, if CD is going to be the delivery method, I would not have a BGM that consists of separate tracks. I would take all 15, 29, etc. tracks, put them into a pleasing order, set controlled segue/crossfade points, run everything through an AGC/Compressor/Limiter, and output it as one long-playing track. Reduced to mono, of course.

 

[gmeader]

Hey Jay,

Here are some original source audio files from a couple of my BGM tracks from many years ago. This is what they should look like. These are both currently still playing at the studio park in Florida.

​

 

[Magic Music]

Here are some original source audio files from a couple of my BGM tracks from many years ago. This is what they should look like.

Hey, that is some hot looking BGM, SoundmanG! B)

We're gonna have to move this stuff over to the [topic=4249]Theme Park Audio Pr0n[/topic] topic!

Here is a not-so-hot looking sample of The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh area music currently playing inside the Magic Kingdom:

(Click on image to enlarge)​

 

[freedomnoise13]

Here are some original source audio files from a couple of my BGM tracks from many years ago. This is what they should look like. These are both currently still playing at the studio park in Florida.

Soundman, what loops have you worked on in the past? Would you be able to provide a tracklist for any made up of commercial material? I know a lot of people on here would appreciate it, especially Horizons with all the time and effort he puts into his lists!

 

[gmeader]

Here are some original source audio files from a couple of my BGM tracks from many years ago. This is what they should look like. These are both currently still playing at the studio park in Florida.

Soundman, what loops have you worked on in the past? Would you be able to provide a tracklist for any made up of commercial material? I know a lot of people on here would appreciate it, especially Horizons with all the time and effort he puts into his lists!

I spent most of my time working on attractions so I didn't really do a huge amount of BGM loops however I did personally edit/create the following loops:

HISTK Movie Set Adventure
Splash Mountain (WDW/TDL)
Star Tours/EWOK Village
Wonders of Life Pavillion
Innoventions (1st edition 94)/Future World

We had a music supervisor as well as a full time BGM guy back in the early 90's which meant most of the music loops came from them. Of the loops I worked on I wish I could tell you what the tracklistings were but I just don't have that information. Generally I was given a handwritten list and a stack of CD's. After I was done the list went to the music supervisor and that's the last I saw of it. I wish I could be of more help but I unfortunately I can't.

It frustrates me that you guys have to go though such a hassle just to get this information because 90% of it's readily available just sitting in a file cabinet at WDI.

 

[freedomnoise13]

that's still really cool though!

90% of it's readily available just sitting in a file cabinet at WDI.

can we ninja our way in and find said filing cabinet?

 

[Horizons]

I spent most of my time working on attractions so I didn't really do a huge amount of BGM loops however I did personally edit/create the following loops:

HISTK Movie Set Adventure
Splash Mountain (WDW/TDL)
Star Tours/EWOK Village
Wonders of Life Pavillion
Innoventions (1st edition 94)/Future World

I (and others) have covered most of the information for these loops, except for Star Tours/EWOK Village. Too bad you didn't keep your notes for this one.

Can I ask what the "1st Edition" of the Innoventions/Future World loop is? Is this a reference to the current loop, the loop that was supposed to play in this area but rejected and only used in the Bubble Room in the Mouse Gear gift shop, the transition loop that was relatively short and only used for a brief period, or something completely different? I ask because another member here sent me a live recording (thanks blm07) of the Innoventions loop, undated, and some of the music was different.

It frustrates me that you guys have to go though such a hassle just to get this information because 90% of it's readily available just sitting in a file cabinet at WDI.

Yes, it is very frustrating. I've contacted numerous people and, in fact, I'm convinced I contacted one person who should have the information. However, he never responded to the two emails I sent.

I don't know what I dislike more; compiling playlists or mixing my recordings so they sound better. Maybe I should hire you to do the mixing.

 

[SeaCastle]

I spent most of my time working on attractions so I didn't really do a huge amount of BGM loops however I did personally edit/create the following loops:

Splash Mountain (WDW/TDL)

I tip my hat to you, sir. Do you know how many tracks were scored at these sessions?

When you pick the tracks (and their order) do you pick/order them based on how they sound (subjectively) or is there a rationale?

 

[gmeader]

can we ninja our way in and find said filing cabinet?

Sure, I’ll forward you the blueprints to the 1401 building right away. And if anyone asks I'll deny ever knowing you.

 

[gmeader]

I (and others) have covered most of the information for these loops, except for Star Tours/EWOK Village. Too bad you didn't keep your notes for this one.

If I knew that anybody would be asking about these tracks 19 years later I would have kept my notes but who knew. The Star Tours loop is all commercially available from CD. It was mostly from the Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops type CD’s from the early 90’s. The EWOK village track is 100% original material consisting of sound FX and “Tribal Drums” and can’t be found anywhere except on the BGM loop.

Can I ask what the "1st Edition" of the Innoventions/Future World loop is? Is this a reference to the current loop, the loop that was supposed to play in this area but rejected and only used in the Bubble Room in the Mouse Gear gift shop, the transition loop that was relatively short and only used for a brief period, or something completely different? I ask because another member here sent me a live recording (thanks blm07) of the Innoventions loop, undated, and some of the music was different.

I say 1[sup]st[/sup] edition because the loop I did was played in the space between the East/West Communicore’s (where the fountain is) when Innoventions first opened in 1994. I’m assuming that it’s been changed out since then however I could be wrong about that. Maybe the original loop is still playing but I have my doubts.

Yes, it is very frustrating. I've contacted numerous people and, in fact, I'm convinced I contacted one person who should have the information. However, he never responded to the two emails I sent.

I know exactly who to contact but unfortunately if I ask too many questions they tend to clam up. I’m discreetly trying to get some of these lists but it’s slow going.

I don't know what I dislike more; compiling playlists or mixing my recordings so they sound better. Maybe I should hire you to do the mixing.

I'm not quite dead yet.....and am still available for hire

 

[gmeader]

I tip my hat to you, sir. Do you know how many tracks were scored at these sessions?

Off the top of my head I think somewhere between 30-60 songs were recorded (how’s that for narrowing it down). I do have the exact number but I need to dig a little deeper into my audio treasure chest in order to find it.

When you pick the tracks (and their order) do you pick/order them based on how they sound (subjectively) or is there a rationale?

As the editor I never picked the source tracks. That always came from the Show Producer or Music Director. They would generally send me a list, a stack of CD’s and a suggested order. I would cut it together based on their suggestions. However occasionally I would re-arrange the order based on how the musical transitions sounded, and yes those decisions were all subjective or “creative” as we liked to call it. Once approved I would make the loop technically correct with regards to level and dynamic range and off it would go to the park.

 

[Horizons]

I say 1[sup]st[/sup] edition because the loop I did was played in the space between the East/West Communicore’s (where the fountain is) when Innoventions first opened in 1994. I’m assuming that it’s been changed out since then however I could be wrong about that. Maybe the original loop is still playing but I have my doubts.

Can you can dig into your treasure chest and find out the run time?

 

[gmeader]

I say 1[sup]st[/sup] edition because the loop I did was played in the space between the East/West Communicore’s (where the fountain is) when Innoventions first opened in 1994. I’m assuming that it’s been changed out since then however I could be wrong about that. Maybe the original loop is still playing but I have my doubts.

Can you can dig into your treasure chest and find out the run time?

Unfortunately my treasure chest doesn't contain this particular treasure. However it does contain some other run times. I know this may be old information at this point as these loops have been around for awhile but in case anybody's interested the loop length for the Star Wars/EWOK Village track is 1:00:00:14 (hrs:mins:secs:frames@30fps) and Tower of Terror runs for 01:00:41:09.

 

[gmeader]

I tip my hat to you, sir. Do you know how many tracks were scored at these sessions?

After some digging I don't have the number of tracks yet but I can tell you that there was at least 5hrs 36 mins of material recorded for the Splash BGM tracks including outakes and rehearsals. There may be more but I need to keep digging.

 

[Horizons]

I know this may be old information at this point as these loops have been around for awhile but in case anybody's interested the loop length for the Star Wars/EWOK Village track is 1:00:00:14 (hrs:mins:secs:frames@30fps) and Tower of Terror runs for 01:00:41:09.

I wouldn't have guessed the EWOK Village loop ran an hour. This could make recording it somewhat difficult, but the information is extremely helpful. Thanks!

My Tower of Terror recording(s) run 1:00:44, but what's a few seconds between friends.

 

[gmeader]

I know this may be old information at this point as these loops have been around for awhile but in case anybody's interested the loop length for the Star Wars/EWOK Village track is 1:00:00:14 (hrs:mins:secs:frames@30fps) and Tower of Terror runs for 01:00:41:09.

I wouldn't have guessed the EWOK Village loop ran an hour. This could make recording it somewhat difficult, but the information is extremely helpful. Thanks!

My Tower of Terror recording(s) run 1:00:44, but what's a few seconds between friends.

The EWOK track had to be very close to the same length as the Star Tours track as they both play off the same CD. Star Tours on the left and EWOK on the right. If the EWOK track was considerably shorter then there would be silence as the Star Tours track finished out its loop. Tracks that are paired together on the same disc are edited to end at approximately the same time (give or take a couple of seconds). As for Tower it sounds like you have the entire loop. My timing will vary slightly from yours due to the fact that the CD player in the EER is running at its own speed and your recording device is also running at its own speed. The fact that we are only 3 seconds apart over an hour is pretty amazing.