VGM: How Many Loops?

When listening to VGM, how many times do you prefer a particular track to loop?
(For sake of clarity, lets say a loop is a "play through", so it’s impossible for a track to have less than one loop.)

I’m curious because I’m putting together an album release for a game soundtrack I composed and I’m wondering how many times the tracks should loop on the album. I know the standard is two loops with a fade out at the beginning of the third loop, but I’m not sure if I have a special case.

For my OST, there are 10 tracks and they’re mostly around 2 minutes each (per loop). There is some repetitiveness (more or less depending on the track) but I don’t know if that is enough to warrant cutting things down to a single loop plus a fade out upon loop two.

What are your thoughts about this? Also, if you had a choice of one too many loops or one too few loops, what would you pick?

First off, good work with the VGMusic of the Day series. 😀

I think the only honest answer to your question is that it depends on the song. Most users would probably prefer the second loop on most songs, but most vgm songs contain a prominent melody and rock-based verse/chorus structure. If you had a track that was more about texture or atmosphere than melody or a track that wasn’t in a verse/chorus structure, and it ran two-plus minutes, I’m not sure I’d apply a blanket rule about looping everything twice. For example, I’ve never listened to Suikoden V’s "Sealed Room" or Lost Odyssey’s "Battlefield" and thought about how many times they looped. But they’re examples of what I’m talking about and after just checking, they don’t loop more than once. So probably the first question is what is appropriate for each song individually. Then listen to the album as a whole and see if there are any issues with how the songs work together cumulatively. At that point, you might make some changes in track order or track length, but that gives your ears and instincts a chance to make edits in an informed way, instead of trying to create a rule intellectually for how all of the songs should be constructed and applying that from the get-go.

Another thing to keep in mind: with digital media, it’s easy enough to offer options. If fans fall in love with one of your tracks, they’ll let you know if they want it looped. And your willingness to accommodate them could be a first step in establishing a relationship with them.

First off, good work with the VGMusic of the Day series. 😀

I think the only honest answer to your question is that it depends on the song. Most users would probably prefer the second loop on most songs, but most vgm songs contain a prominent melody and rock-based verse/chorus structure. If you had a track that was more about texture or atmosphere than melody or a track that wasn’t in a verse/chorus structure, and it ran two-plus minutes, I’m not sure I’d apply a blanket rule about looping everything twice. For example, I’ve never listened to Suikoden V’s "Sealed Room" or Lost Odyssey’s "Battlefield" and thought about how many times they looped. But they’re examples of what I’m talking about and after just checking, they don’t loop more than once. So probably the first question is what is appropriate for each song individually. Then listen to the album as a whole and see if there are any issues with how the songs work together cumulatively. At that point, you might make some changes in track order or track length, but that gives your ears and instincts a chance to make edits in an informed way, instead of trying to create a rule intellectually for how all of the songs should be constructed and applying that from the get-go.

Another thing to keep in mind: with digital media, it’s easy enough to offer options. If fans fall in love with one of your tracks, they’ll let you know if they want it looped. And your willingness to accommodate them could be a first step in establishing a relationship with them.

I pretty much agree with everything here. I usually prefer 3 loops*, unless the song is either an ungodly length already, or it’s some kind of fanfare.

*The "three loops" rule, as I call it, pretty much revolves around your average song having 3 verses, and, if the "wild hair" strikes and I want to make it longer, I don’t have to fight with fade points to do so… and anything after 3 tends to grate my nerves, usually.

I always keep my loops to two regardless of how long a loop is. I make special exceptions for certain ones, though and even made 40 of em to be over an hour long each.

Thank you all for your replies! I apologize for the late response. I enabled email notifications and subscribed to this thread with daily notifications, but I never got any emails, and thought that nobody had replied (I forgot to come check the thread). Also my account got deactivated for some reason, but I think I have that solved with a good ol’ email change.

Anyway, you guys have some good points! I’ll see about going for two loops, but if it feels too long I’ll trim it down. It’s pretty hard to judge my own work sometimes though. I’m my own worst critic, I guess.

Also, arthurgolden, I’m glad you’re enjoying VGMotD. =}

I figured I should give an epilogue to this story. For this album, I ended up going with one loop and a fade out. So the music doesn’t repeat. Maybe I simply was not confident enough in my compositions, but I felt there was already enough repetition in the music. My next soundtrack will likely have a standard two loops plus fade.

Anyway, the album ended up nice, so I’m happy. If you guys want to grab it, it’s free here:
Monocle Man Original + Arrange Soundtrack | Kaleb Grace (http://kalebgrace.bandcamp.com/album/monocle-man-original-arrange-soundtrack)

Also, for any admins, feel free to add this album to the main site if you wish! =}

Congrats to everyone involved. Sounds good!

Thank you, Arthur! =D