The final interview left in my queue.
This issue of Gekkayo features an interview with BUTAOTOME and the vocaloid producer Hachioji-P (8#Prince) where they mainly talk about SOUND VOLTEX, and music sheets for the songs dilemma and Kyouen!
Very special thanks to Merami fan for sending me the scans!
Next, we bring you a cross-genre interview with Touhou arrangement circle BUTAOTOME (Ranko, Comp, and Ranko no Ane) and Vocaloid producer Hachioji-P, who have participated in SOUND VOLTEX! We delved into their thoughts on rhythm games and music production, even though they usually work in different fields.
Do you all originally like rhythm games?
Ranko: Yes! My sister and I are big fans of Pop’n Music!
Hachioji-P: I’m a rhythm gamer too. I’ve played beatmania IIDX quite a lot.
Ranko: In IIDX, you turn the turntable, right? That’s tough…
Ranko no Ane: The buttons are small too, and the IIDX cabinets are so stylish that it’s intimidating (laughs).
Comp: I’ve played rhythm games too, but I’m not very good at them… However, I’ve been playing KONAMI’s games since long ago, so I was thrilled to be part of this project.
Ranko: I had to look at the email from KONAMI two or three times! I thought it was a prank (laughs).
Hachioji-P: I’ve been playing rhythm games since before I started making music, and some of the genres I got into were because of these games. I’m really happy to participate in SOUND VOLTEX. For many people in electronic music, rhythm games are often the gateway into music.
How did you approach the production of your tracks for “SOUND VOLTEX”?
Hachioji-P: Actually, I made the song without knowing about the knobs (laughs).
Comp: Same here. I understood the basics of rhythm games where you hit to the beat, but the knobs were completely unexpected…
Hachioji-P: Honestly, if I had known, I could have approached it differently (laughs).
Comp: Definitely (laughs). I did make sure the track would work no matter what kind of game it was… but those knobs!!
Hachioji-P: The actual song creation was straightforward because there was a certain order. But since rhythm game tracks are about the two minutes of gameplay, I focused on cramming as much sound as possible to keep it from getting too monotonous.
Comp: I thought there would be a lot of high-energy tracks from creators who are used to rhythm games, so I aimed for a more mid-tempo song. I also made the tempo slower, considering that it would be tough without beginner-friendly charts.
What were your thoughts after actually playing the game?
Ranko: The knobs were… really hard (laughs).
Ranko no Ane: When I’m playing, there’s no time to actually listen to the music.
Comp: I’m not great at Pop’n or other rhythm games, and I hate getting laughed at for how bad I am… but “SOUND VOLTEX” was the one I could play the best. I don’t know why, but it seems like I’m a good match for it (laughs).
Ranko no Ane: Maybe you’re just good with knobs?
Comp: Nah, I don’t mess with knobs that much (laughs). But, I do most of my production with hardware, so I do love knobs. With outboard gear and music equipment, it’s not just about the sound quality but also how the knobs feel when you turn them.
Hachioji-P: Absolutely! I often use knobs with my DJ mixer too. The texture is totally different depending on the manufacturer. If it’s too smooth, there’s no resistance and it’s boring; if there’s too much resistance, it’s hard to control. “SOUND VOLTEX” has a really good feel, doesn’t it?
Comp: Yeah, the balance between the knob movement is just right! It doesn’t go too far or stop too short, and the texture feels like it’s been precisely crafted. The size is perfect too.
Ranko & Ranko no Ane: That’s pretty niche… (laughs).
Interestingly, “SOUND VOLTEX” features both Vocaloid producers and Touhou arrangement circles, creators from different genres.
Ranko no Ane: We don’t usually interact much, do we?
Hachioji-P: Vocaloid has a slightly different atmosphere from the usual doujin culture, maybe because it didn’t start as a derivative work? I think Touhou arrangements carry on a lot of the traditional doujin culture.
Comp: We feel the same way. We mainly do arrangements, while Vocaloid producers make completely original creations that share Vocaloid as a common element. But whether it’s Touhou or Vocaloid, if something is cool, it’s really cool, so I hope people can enjoy both, like they do with Western and Japanese music.
Ranko: I listen to Vocaloid normally, so there are lots of songs I like!
Hachioji-P: You might hear them on Nico Nico Douga, but there aren’t many opportunities for creators to actually interact.
Comp: Most of us aren’t the type to go out and make a bunch of friends, so even if there’s someone we’re interested in, it’s hard to approach them (laughs). So, I think this was a great opportunity for us.
Which tracks in “SOUND VOLTEX” did you like?
Comp: I had previously interacted with Meramipop, who provided vocals for Yuyoyuppe’s track, so when I heard it in the game, I immediately thought, ‘Yep, that’s definitely Merami~’ (laughs). Also, ARM (IOSYS) really brought out his signature style.
Hachioji-P: He did a great job incorporating dubstep elements while keeping it a denpa song. I also liked SOUND HOLIC’s “Ha・lle・lu・jah.” The song itself is great, but the vocals being in eighth-note rhythm made it fantastic. Rhythm games work well with eighth-note charts because they’re easy to follow and hit.
Ranko: Your song “Love♥sicK” had really difficult knob sections!
Hachioji-P: I can only clear up to around level 5 or 6 myself (laughs).
Comp: Our song “dilemma” is mid-tempo, and it’s easy to enjoy at the simplest level because the knobs and buttons are easier to operate.
Ranko: However, since the vocals come in on the offbeat, if you follow the song, your rhythm might get a bit off. So, just don’t listen to the singing! (laughs)
Ranko no Ane: I also drew the illustration, and I thought it would be small, but it appeared really big… I can’t bear to look at it (laughs).
Hachioji-P: I’d love for people to turn those knobs like they’re really performing! If I ever see someone I don’t know playing my song at the arcade, that would make me so happy.
Ranko, Ranko no Ane, & Comp: We’d love to see that!!
And here are the dilemma and Kyouen music sheets!
