”CAPCOM ARCADE 2nd Stadium”: A secret talk about the arrangements and the making of the music by CAP-JAMS!

Hello! Its Tantan here again!
CAPCOM ARCADE 2nd STADIUM was released on July 22!
To celebrate its release, the CAP-JAMS members are sharing some of their secrets for the songs they arranged for the game.
日本語ページはこちら

▲Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium - Launch Trailer▲

Tantan

Let’s start by checking what Audio Director Tsujino has to say!

▲Audio Director:Tsujino▲

Tsujino

Hello again, I am the Audio Director, Tsujino. Now that we came to the 2nd Stadium there are so many titles and options to play. It makes me remember the good old days when I used to go to play with the arcade machines. If we had to pick something to show off with sound… it had to be the soundtrack!!

Tantan

Oh, you mean the songs?

Tsujino

That’s right! We have an exclusive mini album of CAPCOM ARCADE 2nd STADIUM for our Steam users! We recorded some arrangements of the original songs with the CAP-JAMS crew.

Link to the Steam Exclusive Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium mini album
https://store.steampowered.com/sub/747134/

Tantan

If we think about Tsujino-san… we must expect AC Boards, right? May we expect some of that here too?

Tsujino

You guessed it! The usual love for boards if here too! We recorded some sound from it carefully removing noises, separating the sounds and mastering them to make them usable. We made sure to adjust the length of the songs to match the original ones, but now we have some analog AC board noises in them so the audiophiles can enjoy too (smiles). I know it sounds a little nerdy but I’m proud of how we modernized those old famous songs to a 2022 style.

▲AC Boards▲

Tantan

As expected from you! I am sure the fans will be more than happy.

Tsujino

You know I am a fan of the original game too, right? (laughs) The last track is a compilation of different themes in the style of CAP-JAMS. I did participate too but this time the recording was quite difficult… Anyways, let’s give some time to the CAP-JAMS members to share their secrets too!

Interview with the CAP-JAMS members:

Tantan

I can’t wait to hear what the members have to say! I have to say I really like the arrangements this time! The intros, the buildups and the density in the arrangements are wonderful. What was the concept behind the music?

Okada

This was the first CAP-JAMS medley style song. Here you have the soundtrack behind the arrangements.

▲Medley composition▲

Okada

Let’s ask to Kitagawa-san for some more details!

Kitagawa

Hello there, I am the arranger Kitagawa. We had a rule to not change the key for the songs, and the idea was to “give it some wings”. I am told I usually “destroy” the original songs, which means I fill the arrangements with new ideas to make it different from the original songs. This time I wanted to be known as “Kitagawa the respecter” so I arranged in a way that truly respects the original material.

▲Arranger:Kitagawa▲

Tantan

Is that so? That Kitagawa turned into “Kitagawa the respecter”? I have to say I kind of want to listen to “Kitagawa the destroyer” versions. (laughs).

Fujisawa

I do also want to listen some of “The destroyer” tunes… The only problem with that is having to perform it with CAP-JAMS…(chuckles)

ALL

Hahahahah!

Tantan

Was it difficult to make a medley that respects the original songs?

Kitagawa

The key for each song is different, and there are a lot of modulations. I tried to avoid the unreasonable key changes to make them easier to perform throughout the whole song.

Fujisawa

With a medley it’s extremely difficult to connect the pieces smoothly but I think that Kitagawa-san could do it considering his experience as a composer.

Okada

Rather than connecting every part with a crossfade, the arrangement has a sense of being the same piece, from beginning to end. That requires some serious skills! I have been involved in sound and composition for many years and even I don’t have the confidence I am able to make it work. Kitagawa-san surely has something special (smiles).

Terayama

Something I like from Kitagawa-san’s arrangements is the emotional chord progressions. There is some “Kitagawa-san-ness” that I can’t imitate at all. It is an orthodox approach to the bass lines, but each part of the medley has its unique color that adds something different to the mix.

Kitagawa

Please don’t raise the bar that high… (laughs) It was a lot of fun to arrange the song while imagining how the members would perform it live on stage.

Tantan

I can’t wait to hear it live! What do you have to say about the drums Nakayama-san? It seems you used some unique drums, what instrument was that?

Nakayama

Nakayama: I used some Octabans and Gongbass drum. Also, I used a holy china cymbal with a combination of some other custom cymbals that I like.

▲Drums▲

Nakayama

It wasn’t my intention at all but when I make songs with Kitagawa-san it always ends up being something different from the demo that I receive originally (laughs). In the process you naturally start craving for some tricky textures and deformed cymbal sounds, those unique differences and unexpected changes are what makes the coolest drum tracks. That’s the real Kitagawa’s magic. (chuckles)

Tantan

Kitagawa’s magic, huh? That’s what creates those unique phrases… What do the rest of you have to add, is there something you really like about this new version?

Terayama

Personally, I like the“Son Son”part. It has a loose slap feeling that I want everyone to listen too.

Fujisawa

For me it’s the long guitar solo in “SATURDAY NIGHT SLAM MASTERS” that goes back and forth between Tsujino-san and me. The first half is Tsujino-san and the second half is my part. Also, there is really emotional piano part that Okada-san made for “ECO FIGHTERS”, I really recommend everyone to listen to it.

Okada

I do not have a favorite part, it’s all worth to listen from beginning to the end. (smiles) This time I recorded the keyboard using a “NordStage3” and a “Prophet rev2 16v”. For the synth maniacs, just listen to the sound and try to tell where I used them. Above all, all the songs came back to life thanks to Kitagawa-san arrangement. It really brings back the nostalgia from the arcade titles into the current-gen consoles. The same experiences through the filter of a new era! From beginning to end, from start to finish… please listen to it over and over again!

Nakayama

I want to challenge all the drummers all over the world with something simple. Try to tell what kind of drums and cymbals are used here! (laughs)

Yamaoka

Could you remind me why did we suddenly start a drum and synth quiz from nowhere? (laughs)

ALL

Hahahahah!

Tantan

I guess there’s no other option other than listening to it over and over again! I’ll try to catch the synth and the drum sounds for you guys… (laughs) Yamaoka-san, this time you are the manager for CAP-JAMS. How is the experience for you?

Yamaoka

This time as manager I was able to help with all the scheduling and contracts with external studios. It is not the most “creative part” of the job but it comes with cool perks like being able to listen to the wonderful early demos from Kitagawa-san and also to the great performances of the other members.

Tantan

I’m so jealous! I wish I could listen to the arrangements as they get closer to finish… I guess I should become a manager too!

Yamaoka

I’d love to see you around! Maybe you should consider applying as a production manager at Capcom. We don’t only manage CAP-JAMS. We manage the sound, video, and localization teams as well. I’m sure you would do an excellent job since you have so much experience with interviews (laughs)

Tantan

Yay! I knew that keeping with the interviews may get me somewhere!

Fujisawa

In CAP-JAMS we often collaborate with staff from outsource studios on things like instrument recordings and mastering. We couldn’t be happier to have a manager who acts as our contact with our external partners.

Kitagawa

This time, we asked Mr. Koichi Hara, a charismatic engineer that works here in Japan mixing loud rock. We are grateful to him for bringing us so many new possibilities to CAP-JAMS.

koichi hara/原浩一 web
http://koichihara-mix.com/

A message for the fans!

Tantan

Lastly, please give a message to all the fans!

Fujisawa

It is a heavy rotation of 6 songs packed in one. It has a large volume, but I am sure everyone will love it.

Yamaoka

Whether you are a CAP-JAMS fan, a Capcom’s games fan or someone who does not know much about it at all, this is a song that will surely satisfy your needs. I listen to it after every meal!

Terayama

I’ve made plenty of arrangements for CAP-JAMS now, so whenever is possible I would like to see it performed live! I hope we have such opportunity soon enough. Please continue supporting us in the future!

Nakayama

It was hard to get everything together in one song this time. Still, I think we managed the best result! Nothing can beat the Kitagawa magic!

Okada

Thank you always for your continued support! Although it was a dizzy development, I think this is a song that condenses the CAP-JAMS sound until now. We are looking forward for the new projects coming. See you in the next title!

Tsujino

Please listen to all the famous songs that have been rebirth in 2022 in this incredible medley arrange!

Kitagawa

I’m 200% sure this is a song that will be amazing to hear live. I definitely want to perform it on a big stage! See you soon!

Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium Official Site
https://www.capcom-arcade-stadium.com/2/en-asia/

Overwhelming arrangement packing the contents of 6 songs into one!
We managed to know CAP-JAMS true potential. They create a new style in the game sound industry every time! Keep an eye out for our future projects!