Wwise Slightly Random Playlist Arrangements

So you just wrote a banger of a tune for your next video game project. This piece was written in a more traditional sense that it was constructed to be listened to in sequence (such as intro, verse, chorus, verse, bridge, outro). Now how do we introduce some randomization to the arrangement without making it sound like it went through the blender?

Writing in the DAW

We want to use the power of Wwise to break this piece into reusable chunks without completely destroying the flow of the original arrangement. Each section has similarities. I will list them in order of importance

1. 1 to 2 bar pickup (either a drum fill or noise swell)
2. 1 bar end (noise splash or reverb tail)
3. Each 8 measures long (this is isn't as important to keep similar, but can help with even pacing between sections)

The original arrangement followed this pattern of A1 - B1 - A2 - C1 - C2 - Bridge1 - Bridge2. You will note the file names contain their alphanumeric identity

Here are a few of the waveforms for reference. You can see how each pickup can have quite a lot of interest (drum fills or swells) and the cue out is almost always a simple verb or cymbal tail.

Sequencing in Wwise

don't forget to set your intro and outro cues appropriately

The Playlist

Let's breakdown the playlist logic.

close up

1. Sequence Continuous: The whole piece is wrapped in a single loop set to infinite Loop Count.
   1. Random Step: The First nested Group that chooses only one of it's nested children to play
      1. Sequence Continuous
         1. A1: Intro Loop that establishes heavy rhythm
         2. B1: Strong melody motif with brass
      2. Sequence Continuous (may randomly skip rhythmic intro section to get straight to strong melody)
         1. B1
   2. Sequence Continuous
      1. A2: Counter melody that bridges melody to C section. This clip plays every time in the same place.
   3. Random Step - chooses to play only on of the following nested children.
      1. Sequence Continuous - weight = 20 to make the longer 16 bar phrase more rare.
         1. C1: Lower energy that switches lead brass for harp
         2. C2: brass solo with elongated notes
      2. Sequence Continuous - weight = 60
         1. C1
      3. Sequence Continuous - weight = 60
         1. C2
   4. Random Step
      1. Sequence Continuous - weight = 10 very rare this section plays
         1. Bridge1: the most wide sweeping descending arpeggios with dramatic drop outs in volume
         2. Bridge2: big ascending runs of arpeggios that build to a climatic transition.
      2. Sequence Continuous
         1. Bridge2

If my messy order list with inline notes doesn't explains the concepts well, here is the summary. I have split most sections into 2 parts. I believe the most interesting part is the Random Step containing all the C sections.

During a pass the listener may hear

1. both C1 and C2 as a full 16 bar phrase
2. only C1
3. or only C2

Musically, it does not sound good for C2 to be played before C1 so this setup doesn't allow that to happen. It only allows a very consciously designed set of arrangements.