Overtone Warpzone

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This podcast is for people who enjoy games, love music, and want to know more about how their favourite songs work. Each episode, we’ll focus on one piece of music from the video game corpus, and talk about one musical concept found in that piece. Our first series takes a deep dive into the music of…

Overtone Warpzone


    • Aug 24, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 19m AVG DURATION
    • 45 EPISODES


    Search for episodes from Overtone Warpzone with a specific topic:

    Latest episodes from Overtone Warpzone

    45 - Sequence in Xenoblade Chronicles' Argentum

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2021 18:02


    Join Dan as he learns about the compositional technique of shifting the pitch of a motif! Join Dan as he learns about the compositional technique of shifting the pitch of a motif! Join Dan as he learns about the compositional technique of shifting the pitch of a motif! ---------- David Bennett's YouTube video “Sequence: Turning a motif into a melody”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS0SICygRWQ ---------- Follow me on social media EVERYWHERE @OvertoneWarpzone! Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Find me at overtonewarpzone.com! Want to support the show? Visit https://www.patreon.com/OvertoneWarpzone!

    sequence xenoblade chronicles david bennett argentum
    44 - Ecclesiastical Latin in Final Fantasy's One-Winged Angel

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2021 26:03


    Dan et discit quomodo ut iungere linguae hujus ecclesiae adhibetur in Final Fantasy! ---------- Follow me on social media EVERYWHERE @OvertoneWarpzone! Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Find me at overtonewarpzone.com! Want to support the show? Visit www.patreon.com/OvertoneWarpzone!

    final fantasy one winged angel ecclesiastical latin
    43 - Chromaticism in Minecraft's Clockwork Crafter

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2021 21:37


    Join Dan as he uses ALL 12 notes in the equal-tempered chromatic scale! ---------- Follow me on social media EVERYWHERE @OvertoneWarpzone! Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Find me at overtonewarpzone.com!

    clockwork crafters chromaticism
    42 - Bit Crusher in Tekken's Bit Crusher

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2021 20:02


    Join Dan as he explores this special type of distortion! ---------- Follow me on social media EVERYWHERE @OvertoneWarpzone! Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Find me at overtonewarpzone.com!

    crusher
    41 - Blues Scale in Undertale's MEGALOVANIA

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2020 19:04


    Join Dan as he explores another scale! ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Find me at overtonewarpzone.com!

    blues scale megalovania
    40 - Pentatonic Scale in ARMS' Ramen Bowl

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2020 28:22


    Join Dan make the most of just 5 notes! ---------- Bobby McFerrin at the World Science Festival: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0kCUss0g9Q Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ne6tB2KiZuk NPR on the Oriental Riff: https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2014/08/28/338622840/how-the-kung-fu-fighting-melody-came-to-represent-asia Database of uses of the Oriental Riff: http://chinoiserie.atspace.com/ Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Find me at overtonewarpzone.com!

    bowl arms ramen bobby mcferrin world science festival pentatonic scale
    39 - Clave in Yoshi's Obstacle Course (Spring/Summer)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2020 20:17


    Join Dan as he gets down to these tropical tunes! ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Find me at overtonewarpzone.com!

    clave spring summer obstacle course
    38 - Form in Yoshi's Woolly World: Main Theme (Yarn Yoshi Takes Shape!)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2020 25:24


    Join Dan as he explores this rondo classic! ---------- Yoshi's Woolly World: Title Theme Cover by OTWZ!! https://youtu.be/t-vTbaW7oA4 Yarn Yoshi Takes Shape! Cover by OTWZ!! https://youtu.be/GLw5Nqh5DNk Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Find me at overtonewarpzone.com!

    shape yarn main theme yoshi's woolly world
    37 - Counterpoint in Mega Man's Metal Man Stage

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2020 17:31


    Join Dan discover how two independent voices can weave together in distinct counter melody! ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Find me at overtonewarpzone.com!

    stage mega counterpoint metal man
    36 - Theme and Variation in Underwater Theme - Super Mario Bros.

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2020 15:00


    Join Dan as he tries to clickbait you - variation 2 will make you lose your mind!! ---------- Background music used: Franz Schubert, Die Forelle Quintet Christian Zacharias, piano; Leipzig String Quartet (on modern instruments) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KC8xFKJFLic ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Find me at overtonewarpzone.com!

    background super mario bros variation franz schubert underwater theme
    35 - What is Music? in Wario's Gamer

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2020 18:28


    Join Dan as we become philosophical about this together! ---------- Here's a link to Music Matters by David Elliott and Marissa Silverman, a book from which I drew much of this episode's content - CHECK IT OUT! https://www.amazon.ca/Music-Matters-New-Philosophy-Education/dp/019509171X ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Find me at overtonewarpzone.com!

    music gamer check it out david elliott music matters
    34 - Waltz in Rosalina in the Observatory / Luma's Theme

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2020 19:23


    Join Dan as he figures out the origins of this song and dance!

    waltz observatory rosalina
    33 - Modulation in Fire Emblem's Blue Skies and a Battle

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2020 32:49


    Join Dan for the longest episode of the podcast yet on the wonderful world of key changes!! ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Find me at overtonewarpzone.com!

    battle blue skies modulation
    32 - Sampling in Splatoon's Bomb Rush Blush

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2020 18:10


    Join Dan in discovering the most used sample in all of sampling history, right here in Splatoon's soundtrack! ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Find me at overtonewarpzone.com!

    rush bomb splatoon sampling blush
    31 - Christmas Music in Banjo-Kazooie's Freezeezy Peak

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2019 17:14


    Join Dan by the fire with a glass of eggnog! ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Find me at overtonewarpzone.com!

    peak banjo christmas music
    30 - OTWZ ANNIVERSARY! Translating Japanese Lyrics in Smash Bros.' Lifelight

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2019 23:53


    Join Dan as we celebrate one year of Overtone Warpzone - and one year of Smash Bros. Ultimate - together!! Famitsu interview with Hideki Sakamoto and Erina Koga: https://nintendoeverything.com/smash-bros-ultimate-main-theme-composer-and-singer-on-creating-the-music-recording-session-much-more/ ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Find me at overtonewarpzone.com!

    japanese lyrics smash bros translating famitsu lifelight
    29 - Articulation in Dr. Mario's Fever

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2019 14:23


    Join Dan as he makes up a story using the most generic building blocks of music!

    fever articulation
    28 - Walking Bass in Fatal Fury's Kurikinton

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2019 20:58


    Join Dan discover what it means to be an American as he learns from a Japanese video game as a Canadian citizen!

    american canadian walking japanese bass fatal
    27 - Spooky Music in Luigi's Mansion Theme

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2019 22:03


    Join Dan as he gets terrified of lightning! ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Find me at overtonewarpzone.com!

    luigi's mansion spooky music
    26 - Tritone Substitution in Super Mario's Delfino Plaza

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2019 19:30


    Join Dan discover a cornerstone of jazz harmony, and listen to him say a bunch of note names in a row! ------- Guillaume Laroche's thesis: http://digitool.library.mcgill.ca/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=107638&local_base=GEN01-MCG02 Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Find me at overtonewarpzone.com!

    substitution tritone delfino plaza
    25 - Instrument Personification in Yoshi's Athletic Theme (...but mostly The Legend of Zelda's Tarrey Town Theme)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2019 27:41


    Join Dan give personality to his favourite musical instruments! Wassup, you sassy trombone! ------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Find me at overtonewarpzone.com!

    athletic instrument wassup personification
    24 - Tritone in Banjo-Kazooie's Mumbo's Mountain

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2019 26:04


    Join Dan as he avoids devil's interval memes as much as possible and FREAKS OUT OVER BANJO-KAZOOIE!! ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Find me at overtonewarpzone.com!

    mountain banjo tritone
    23 - Symphony Orchestra in Dragon Quest's Unflinchable Courage

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2019 22:28


    Join Dan learn the difference between Philharmonic and Symphony Orchestras (finally)!

    courage dragon orchestras philharmonic symphony orchestra symphony orchestras
    22 - Motif in Smash Bros. Ultimate's Master Hand / Crazy Hand

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2019 24:10


    Join Dan as he makes a simple music topic sound complicated! ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Find me at overtonewarpzone.com!

    smash bros motif master hand
    21 - Public Domain in Tetris: Type A

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2019 20:15


    Join Dan justify his constant use of copyrighted material, and explore the kinds of materials you DON'T have to worry about copyright for! ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Find me at overtonewarpzone.com!

    tetris public domain
    20 - "Spy Music" in Metal Gear's Snake Eater

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2019 23:05


    Join Dan as he explores the near plagiarism of the Metal Gear Solid 3 soundtrack! A list of media that influenced Metal Gear: https://metalgear.fandom.com/wiki/Media_influences_on_the_Metal_Gear_series ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Email me at overtonewarpzone@gmail.com, and follow me on social media everywhere @OTWZpodcast! Find me on Patreon at patreon.com/OvertoneWarpzone!

    music media metal metal gear solid metal gear snake eater
    19 - Diegetic Music in Animal Crossing's KK Slider Tunes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2019 22:14


    Join Dan as he figures out the difference between music heard BY the characters in the fiction they exist in, and the music played to REPRESENT the scene around them! ---------- Overspace's KK Slider Cover of Old Town Road: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub2hm4FQWPM ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Email me at overtonewarpzone@gmail.com, and follow me on social media everywhere @OTWZpodcast! If you found some usefulness or enjoyment from this podcast, consider supporting us on PATREON! www.patreon.com/OvertoneWarpzone

    music animal tunes represent old town road slider diegetic
    18 - Retrograde in The Legend of Zelda's Ballad of the Goddess

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2019 22:32


    Join Dan play songs backward without the intention of finding hidden demonic messages! ---------- The Zelda timeline: https://zelda.gamepedia.com/Zelda_Timeline My guest episode on The Wayfarer's Guide to Worldbuilding: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-wayfarers-guide-to-worldbuilding/id1465978968 "The Song" we created on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/bergaliciousdef/the-song-wayfarers-guide-to-worldbuilding Overtone Warpzone on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/overtonewarpzone/ Overtone Warpzone on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OvertoneWarpzone/ ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Email me at overtonewarpzone@gmail.com, and follow me on social media everywhere @OTWZpodcast! 

    song twitch soundcloud goddess ballad retrograde worldbuilding
    17 - Sega Genesis Sound Hardware in Sonic's Emerald Hill Zone

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2019 22:51


    Join Dan reflect on the failings of the Sega company, and how the Genesis differs from the Super Nintendo! ---------- GENNY VST (YM2612 emulator): http://gendev.spritesmind.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1062 Retro Game Audio Podcast - Sega Genesis: https://soundcloud.com/retrogameaudio/the-sega-genesis Andrew Huang on FM Synthesis: www.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DvvBl3YUBUyY&usg=AOvVaw10fy1_3VDZdIbmMqtzIDhn ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Email me at overtonewarpzone@gmail.com, and follow me on social media everywhere @OTWZpodcast!

    sound hardware sega super nintendo sega genesis emerald hill zone fm synthesis
    16 - Traditional Japanese Music in King Dedede's Theme (Smash for Wii U)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 10, 2019 21:31


    Join Dan discover the wonders of the Japanese instruments, the Shakuhachi and the Shamisen, and the work of Japanese music duo HIDExHIDE! ---------- Resources for the episode: Info on the Shakuhachi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpJPnCaIy80, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOqaK7Ci2Us Shakuhachi music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsihxORASks, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmRPECd9Yig Shamisen music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJouzJgQHtg, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7VD9spSwQ0, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDUyP9IhRLA Taiko drumming: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZagsLrNzg3I HIDExHIDE performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=heR2m0GpphI ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Email me at overtonewarpzone@gmail.com, and follow me on social media everywhere @OTWZpodcast!

    japanese traditional smash wii u shakuhachi shamisen japanese music
    15 - Quotation in Super Mario's Jump Up, Super Star!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 3, 2019 22:47


    "Join Dan as he discusses how quotation is used by all kinds of artists, including Tchaikovsky, Sonny Rollins, Yoko Shimomura, and Naoto Kubo!" - Dan I was certainly inspired this episode by Kenley Kristofferson's podcast Into the Score, from his episode where he discusses the Super Mario RPG soundtrack and Yoko Shimomura's use of quotation. Check him out! https://kenleykristofferson.com/ ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Email me at overtonewarpzone@gmail.com, and follow me on social media everywhere @OTWZpodcast!

    score superstar tchaikovsky sonny rollins super mario rpg quotation yoko shimomura jump up super star
    14 - Disco in Persona 5's Beneath the Mask

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2019 21:25


    Join Dan get groovy with the addition of Joker to Smash! JOIN THE CRITICAL CAUSE CHARITY STREAM! Starts June 15th at noon, I will be joining at 9pm CDT! All information here: https://criticalcause.org/ Bass Cover of Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0jsBAaeEVw Rhodes Music used in the episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3Zom0wPRg0 ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Email me at overtonewarpzone@gmail.com, and follow me on social media everywhere @OTWZpodcast!

    joker mask disco smash persona beneath bee gees cdt stayin' alive
    13 - Extended Guitar Techniques in F-Zero's Mute City (Brawl)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2019 18:45


    Join Dan as he does his darndest to shred some guit-box for y'all! Relax Alax on C. Falcon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ6Ke-HJ2cs ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Email me at overtonewarpzone@gmail.com, and follow me on social media everywhere @OTWZpodcast!

    falcon brawl mute city guitar techniques
    12 - Flamenco in The Legend of Zelda's Gerudo Valley

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2019 15:33


    Join Dan on his journeys through southern Spain and the Gerudo desert! ---------- Rasgueado examples: Sledge Azem https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcXtI7nG9yI Buleria: Justo Fernández "El Tuto" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V86zYV3QXnk ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Email me at overtonewarpzone@gmail.com, and follow me on social media everywhere @OTWZpodcast!

    spain flamenco gerudo gerudo valley
    11 - Death Growl in F-Zero's Car Select

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2019 12:14


    Join Dan in his regrets for picking this as a podcast topic! Research: Polyphonic - The Surprising Origins of the Death Growl https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnQamJtPNOQ Andrew Hatch - Harsh Vocals: A History http://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2017/01/19/harsh-vocals-a-history/ ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Email me at overtonewarpzone@gmail.com, and follow me on social media everywhere @OTWZpodcast!

    death select growl
    10 - Lydian Mode in the Super Mario Galaxy Theme

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2019 16:45


    Join Dan travel to a galaxy far, far away, and discover the mystery of the #4 from the Lydian mode! ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Email me at overtonewarpzone@gmail.com, and follow me on social media everywhere @OTWZpodcast!

    super mario galaxy lydian
    9 - Cuica in Donkey Kong's Map Page / Bonus Level

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2019 15:31


    Join Dan learn that this particular video game sound is not just a person furiously moving a McDonald's straw up and down inside their cup! Behind the scenes of Cuphead’s recording: https://youtu.be/v6h1vM9W2NM Cuica sounds: Fabiano Salek https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmlK94QvwiA ---------- Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Email me at overtonewarpzone@gmail.com, and follow me on social media everywhere @OTWZpodcast! 

    mcdonald donkey cuphead
    8 - Overcoming SNES Limitations in Donkey Kong's Stickerbrush Symphony

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2019 13:49


    Join Dan as he fanboys over David Wise! (Thanks to Jesse B on Facebook for the episode suggestion!) Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Email me at overtonewarpzone@gmail.com, and follow me on social media everywhere @OTWZpodcast! ---------- Nerdwriter1 video on How Music Was Made On Super Nintendo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvIzIAgRWV0

    overcoming donkey limitations symphony snes david wise jesse b nerdwriter1
    7 - SNES Sound Hardware in F-Zero's Mute City (and more)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2019 18:08


    Join Dan relive his youth through this classic system and see how it worked! Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Email me at overtonewarpzone@gmail.com, and follow me on social media everywhere @OTWZpodcast! ---------- Adolfo Baez Mario Paint Composer cover of the Smash Ultimate Theme: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlbr_orPki8 Mario Paint Composer: http://www.mariomayhem.com/downloads/mario_paint_composer_download/ Retro Game Audio Podcast: https://soundcloud.com/retrogameaudio

    sound hardware snes mute city
    6 - Dynamic Music in Street Fighter II's Ryu's Theme

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2019 18:24


    Join Dan and explore the unique-to-gaming music category of dynamic music - the songs that evolve as you interact with the game! Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Email me at overtonewarpzone@gmail.com, and follow me on social media everywhere @OTWZpodcast! May 25 2019 EDIT - I erroneously said in the first publication of this episode that all Type A songs were the arcade version of the game, and Type B songs were the SNES version. In truth, Type A is the original Street Fighter II: World Warrior music, and Type B is Hyper Street Fighter II music. Oopsy Doopsy! Episode is changed to reflect the TRUTH.

    music truth dynamic street fighter snes type b
    5 - Aleatoric Music in Electroplankton

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2019 13:37


    to random music! would Dan figure he as Join why compose someone out tries The Mozart dice game: http://www.amaranthpublishing.com/MozartDiceGame.htm Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Email me at overtonewarpzone@gmail.com, and follow me on social media everywhere @OTWZpodcast!

    music electroplankton aleatoric
    4 - NES Sound Hardware in the Famicom Medley (Smash for Wii U)

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2019 13:56


    Join Dan as he learns about how limitations breed creativity in Nintendo's classic home console! Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Email me at overtonewarpzone@gmail.com, and follow me on social media everywhere @OTWZpodcast!

    sound nintendo smash hardware wii u medley famicom
    3 - Operatic Vocal Technique in the Fire Emblem Theme

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2018 18:12


    Join Dan discover why opera singers sound so funny and as he uses the word "overtone" legitimately for the first time in the podcast! Much of the research for this episode came from the following website: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/expert-opera-singer/ Email: overtonewarpzone@gmail.com Social Media: @OTWZpodcast

    technique vocal fire emblem operatic
    2 - Polyrhythm in Metroid's Brinstar Depths

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2018 13:15


    Join Dan as he enjoys ride cymbals and math! Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Email me at overtonewarpzone@gmail.com, and follow me on social media everywhere @OTWZpodcast!

    depths polyrhythm brinstar
    1 - Borrowed Chords in Castlevania's Vampire Killer

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2018 12:16


    Join Dan as he discover's why the song Vampire Killer is so... killer. There's something special about the third note of that melody - have a listen to find out! Have comments/suggestions/ideas for a song or musical concept? Email me at overtonewarpzone@gmail.com! I said in the show I would get the arranger for the Smash Ultimate version when the game came out - here it is! Vampire Killer - Smash Remix Copyright info: Arrangement Supervisor: Shinji Ushiroda Composition: Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. Arrangement: Nintendo Composition Copyright Konami Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. Arrangement Copyright Nintendo

    vampires borrowed chords smash ultimate vampire killer

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