I have tried to convince mark to produce a video discussing the Knightmare theme, but we'll see. I'm sure it will depend on how eager everyone is!

[Missing phpBB attachment: knightmare theme.jpg]

Did anyone ever figure it out? Presumably someone must have with the MIDI file being out there.

I prefer playing it on my synthesizers with a tacky slow-rock rhythm speeded up a bit!

---------------7---4-----------5-------------------------------------------------------------------

-------5---7-----------5---2-------5--5/4/5---4/5---5/6---6/7---7/8---8/9---9/10---10/11---11/12---

---5-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Copy-paste that into Notepad.

I think this is good for the first part of the tune. I'm still trying to get where it transposes. I'll post that when I can.

nah- I'm gonna give up on this debate!

I've figured that it could be 6/8 if you listen by the swing but 4/4 if you're beat-based.

I've just created a Knightmare Dance Remix and it's fcucking great!!!!!

I'll upload it soon- I gotta get this game thingy out the way first!

6/8 and 4/4 can be similar and now I've thought about it- we could both be right in a way.

One way to find out is to ask Ed Welch!!!!

The dance remix I've made is in 4/4 and has more of a S6-8 feel but it's well clever, features treguard and pooka samples- I'll upload it onto a site or email it soon!

Oh I trust ye, friend. I just don't agree with ye...

Rather than going around in circles and entrenching ourselves let's have a look at what's been laid down and go from there:-

I'll agree (having had a listen to it again) that the S678 theme IS INDEED in 4/4. It's sounds hellish for it as well, too drawn out and to my ears the rythmn is all wrong. For the sake of this, that's going to be my final word on the S678 themes and no correspondance/flamage will be entered into.

Now for the fun stuff... The 2 pieces that cover S123 and S45.

Oska, you tell me that the beat isn't 6/8 but in a so-called "4/4 triplet time". Yes? Right then let's lay that out on the floor here......

Scraping of furniture on expensive wooden floor

The way I was taught, 4/4 " four to the floor" means 4 beats to the bar and 4 bars to the line. It's sometimes refered to in Pipeband circles as 'Common time'.

The loop goes thus:-

[ONE TWO THREE FOUR ][ONE TWO THREE FOUR ]

That's 2 bars worth. Exactly half a line to my count. Now let's add the triplets:-

[ONE and a TWO and a THREE and a FOUR and a ][ONE and a TWO and a THREE and a FOUR and a ]

That make sense? (I hope so! it's a booger to type!)

What I've tried to show (half of in this case) is 4 beats to the bar, 4 bars to the line plus the added 'Triplets' between each main beat.

But here's the thing.... What happens if I move the bar lines to where, IMHO, they SHOULD go? This is THE EXACT SAME BEAT, EXACT SAME COUNT:-

[ONE and a TWO and a ][THREE and a FOUR and a ][ONE and a TWO and a ][THREE and a FOUR and a ]

As before, for those who don't know what the hell i'm on about, play the MP3's of the early theme music and actually count out what you see above as the piece plays out. Notice how we suddenly end up with 6 beats to the bar and 8 bars to the line? That sound familiar from somewhere else?

To sum it up, as far as I'm concerned, the music is 6/8. It always has been always will be. Admittedly, me and DJoska are probably saying the exact same thing just using different ways to describe it.

My Point is:- Debz (and anyone else intending to remix or play the early KM theme), IF your using a metronome or clicktrack, set it it to 6/8 timing NOT the default 4/4. The perfectly regular intervals of a 4/4 click will throw you to the winds and be a sod to keep in time with.

It's the reason why so many of the theme remixes that have been done over the years have gone for this weird 'speed demon' over syncopated rythmn. IMO It simply.... doesn't.... work....

Who'd have thunk it? A PIPER and a DJ giving each other music lessons... Talk about a bitter sweet irony! lol

series 1-5 IS in 4/4 because there is a strong accent on each beat and in between is what's known as triplets which basically make it sound 6/8!!

It's 150-160 bpm in that time and would do well as a dance remix...

or not.

Series 6-8 is in 4/4 and a bit slower with a more 4/4 feel to it.

Trust me!

http://www.knightmare.com/fanstuff/guitar.htm

Unless that is the one your trying already! Googleing 'Knightmare Guitar Tab' will give you a whole heap of interpretations to work from as well.

I'm a piper by trade when it comes to music so 'perfect pitch' is probably something I'll never obtain. HOWEVER, I know my beats and there is no way that the KM theme is a 4/4 '4 to the floor' beat. particularly in it's early incarnations. You try playing that string backing in 4/4 and tell me how ye get on.

It's also the reason why the drums in the later series version of the Theme tune is so awkward and 'jumpy'. It simply doesn't quite fit and get's compressed in strange ways to make it work.

For those who aren't musically inclined, play the theme tune (downloadable from Knightmare.com) and count out '1-2-3-4' in time to it. You'll find that it'll fit but the beat feels drawn out and rather flat.

NEXT, use the same piece and count out a 2x speed Waltz time '123-123-123-123'. Suddenly the whole thing takes on a kinda galloping stance, very similar to the hoofbeats in the early animation!

This making much sense?

Are in G major 4/4 triplet time (sounds like very fast 3/4 time) at 150-160 bpm. This pitches up to A major in 2nd half

series 6-8 in C major and 4/4 time 110-120 bpm and transposes to Eb Major in the middle.

This is accurate information.

I am a musician with 'perfect pitch', which is a talented inherited gift that enables me to recognise pitches to the nearest semitone.

If you want notation/tab- download the MIDI file and there's some programs that can display MIDI in notation and TAB format!!!

there you go mate!

The tune has a certain off-beat swagger to it.

If it's the latter dya want me to have a go? I'm pretty good at picking things up like that.

It starts off with the intro, as you might expect, then adds the main theme for one pattern. After that I've added a second part to it, which isn't actually in the theme but I was interested to see how it sounded.

Should I continue, or just give up now and quit while I'm ahead? The next bit's going to be difficult to do in MIDI, so bear that in mind <¦-)

You'll probably have to copy and paste the link into the address bar, thanks to good old Angelfire.

http://www.angelfire.com/retro/aurorasoft/WCBpersonal/_Mid_Knight.mid

I came up with an original theme for Treg's RPG (rejected!) I wanted to have lead break in it but didn't have the facilities at the time. I've now got a digital 4-track so I can. That'd improve it massively. If you're reading this, Treg, and are interested please contact me.

No wait, that's a bit much.

I worked out that Tab from a video of KM series 1.

That's the only version of the tune I've got.

Looking at the KM clips page I'd guess each series'

intro music is slightly different - but I can't check them

out because I'm using a Library comp...

So, if the Tab does make it onto the site, it might

be worth noting that it's the 'series 1 theme'.

I managed the S4-5 theme OK, but never got any further.