The Process
Song authoring for Rock Band is a specialized multi-stage process demanding not only music programming and pro audio expertise but also real musicianship and video editing skills.
The Sound:
The Rock Band format has specific audio needs. Using a multiplexed, multitrack audio format the game mutes specific audio streams when a player misses notes. Therefore your song must be separated into separate digital Stems in which instruments are isolated. These stems must be provided to The Authority before any song authoring begin.** For more info see Stems Preparation PDF
The Game Play:
After we receive the digital stems for your song we start to program the game play for all the musical components of Rock Band; guitar, bass, drums and vocals. We do this for all difficulties of the game, easy through expert.
The Visuals:
In addition to what the gamers hear and play we also take great care in presenting everything they will see. Our authors create exciting and appropriate customized lighting and camera work for every individual song. While we do not create custom animated characters or instruments, we ensure that the characters will have an extremely accurate portrayal of your song down to every last cymbal hit and hammer-on.
Testing:
Internally we play test extensively to make sure the song conforms to our own and Harmonix rigorous standards. Then it is submitted to the Rock Band Creators Club. Here the song is play tested and peer reviewed by the Creator’s Community. Testers and peers give feedback on game play. Once a track receives the required amount of positive peer reviews, it will advance to the RBN store, and available for download worldwide.
**Depending on how your song session is currently archived you may need to have stems prepared. Stems are individual instrument tracks that are used to map the song’s game play. This is something that you can prepare yourself or at a studio. Should you require assistance we provide a stem preparation service in house. Our audio team has many years of experience mixing and producing albums in both analog and digital domain formats. Like mastering an album we take care to make sure the song sounds great on all levels of play back systems.
The authoring of Rock Band 3’s new features, Keyboards and Vocal Harmonies will be available in early 2011.
