discussion Music in AVNs

[punkpoopie]

Oh yeah, there was some renpy games that definitely didn't even bother mixing the sounds and proceeds to jumpscare you at a sex scene

 

[darknesu]

Used to be that guy who instantly turns the music off the second I start an AVN. Thogh after playing more stuff realized AVNs with actually good music are just straight up better experience

Like we all know most of AVN is just reading. Long walls of dialogue and nothing really happening on screen except text and the occasional CG which happens once a league match. Without music it feels like you’re grinding through it in dead silence and it drags SO much. Throw on a nice ambient track that fits the mood and suddenly it just hits ddifferent. Like working while listening a chill playlist instead of total quiet.

Vocals is hard pass unless it’s done perfectly. I usually play while wearing headphones dropping the music volume to like 30-40 right away so it sits in the back and doesn’t fight the text. Helps a ton with those random door slam stock rush SFX jumpscares too

 

[Matm95]

I used to absolutely despise music (and sounds) years ago (like idk 2018? probably before that) since it was always super cheesy and it distracted me. Nowadays I actually prefer if there is music. I'm not expecting some new stuff that I want to buy online and play in the car (especially not with my preference towards what music I enjoy) and I sometimes feel games with tons of effort (sometimes even SFXs added in early patches) that have no music to be kinda dull. Especially if it's with quite a bit of dialogue.

My true gripe with music however is when they pick songs with lyrics. I don't remember on the top of my head which AVN I was playing that had one track with male and female vocals (pretty bad ones I might add) and I've never been so quickly turned off, especially when some games don't bother with audio levels so you get a nice little earrape...

What do you guys think? I think the standard of AVN's has gone up quite significantly in the last few years and I kind of expect there to be music (sometimes even SFX to a degree). SFXs used to be really poor a few years ago (atleast from the stuff I played) but nowadays some games do it really well (top of my head Eternum for example). But I feel with music it's a lot less effort for the game creator(s).

I guess you're mostly talking western AVNs, because the sound and music quality of JP VNs have been high for a long time. Two really good soundtracks are found in Dies Irae, and Grisaia no Kajitsu.