Nailing the Sound of Horror: NIN + id | A Quake Documentary

The Quake soundtrack by Nine Inch Nails is an innovative collection of ambient sound design, and industrial music. From the hard hitting “Quake Theme”, with its raging guitars, powerful drums, and insidious synthesizers, to “Life,” a pounding, synthesized, resonant beats with eerie ambient drones, the entire soundtrack captures the essence of id Software’s technical FPS masterpiece: Quake. The care and attention to detail is evident in the soundtrack’s 10 track commercial release. Prior to 2020, the Quake Soundtrack was only available if you had the disc spinning in your cd rom drive, a detail that frustrated the id Software developers. With Nightdive’s 2021 remaster, and Trent Reznor’s reclaiming of the rights of the soundtrack, modern day Quake players can finally enjoy the game and the music without mods, or cumbersome discs. What drew me into Quake’s soundtrack development is the fact that I knew nothing about how this distinctive, masterfully crafted recording was created. Doom (2016) introduced me to the idea of expertly crafted industrial metal in the form of a video game soundtrack, and discovering Quake led me into an even deeper pool of inspiration. I was eager to research and dive into the internet’s many resources to find the answers to my many questions - and when the internet left holes in the story, I even dug up a few books at my local Los Angeles county library. I’m glad I made this video - I had a blast researching, reading, bookmarking old forum discussions, even messaging a well known composer to better understand the business of soundtracks and the creative side of sound design - but will save that convo for a separate video. If you’re at all interested in how this soundtrack was made, and how the team at id Software gelled with the team at Nine Inch Nails, then I think you might enjoy this documentary. As always, if you like the content, please consider subscribing, leaving a comment, or liking the video! You can find The Yetti Den at the links below The Yetti Den: Follow The Yetti Den: Twitter: Twitter: theyettiden Instagram: Instagram: theyettiden Twitch: Twitch: theyettiden Patreon: Patreon: theyettiden Chapters: 00:00 For Friendship 00:42 id Software & Nine Inch Nails 01:45 We Especially Like Space Invaders 02:30 Le Pig: Wolfenstein 3D 04:00 The Masters of Doom: John Romero and John Carmack 05:00 The Lovecraftian Antagonist Called Quake 06:55 A Courtship of Freaks and Geeks 08:25 Downward Spirals: The War Room 10:00 Trent "The Ranger" Reznor 11:10 140 MPH, I Have Some Cars 12:00 The Old Funeral Home: Nothing Studios 13:00 McGee and the Nails 13:40 "Ugh, Ugh" - 1,000 Sounds 17:18 1995-1996: Hexen, Ultimate Doom and David Bowie 18:48 The Egos at id 19:40 No MIDI, No Chip Tunes 20:55 Spinning Discs: Nothing's Label Woes 21:27 New Forms of Writing 23:28 The Recording Studio Layout 24:00 Digital Distortion 26:15 I Can Stop At Anytime Video Sources: 120 Minutes: 1996 Night of Nothing Showcase A Look at Nothing Studios Closer - Nine Inch Nails - Director’s Cut Doom Soundtrack Live at the Game Awards 2016 Eraser - Nine Inch Nails - Sef Destruct 1994 Live Id Software Documentary - 1993 - Tommy Vercetti Id Software Interview Quake 1996 John Carmack at QuakeWorld 1996 March of the Pigs (Music Video) Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole Nine Inch Nails - Hurt Nine Inch Nails - New York 1996 Nine Inch Nails and David Bowie Nine Inch Nails Woodstock ‘94 Quake Change video games forever John Carmack Tech Train - John Romero Quake Postmotem The Hand That Feeds - Nine Inch Nails Trent Reznor and NIN Alt Nation Trent Reznor Interview 1995 Wolfenstein 3D - id Software and Apogee Interview in 1992 - Neo Gamer Articles and Interview Sources: “I dare say it will hurt a little” - Big Man With a BGF Quantifying Quake: Quantifying Quake: How the dark fantasy FPS changed games forever Nine Inch Nails Store Vintage Interview: nine inch nails’ Trent Reznor Nine Inch Nails founding member, Chris Vrenna, on the making of Quake, 25+ years later From Keen to Doom: id Software's Founders Talk 30 Years of Gaming History Tech Train: John Romero Quake Postmortem Lex Friedman: John Carmack Quake Expo: John Romero Interview Part 1 YRB Magazine: John Carmack and American Mcgee reflect on the making of Quake and how NIN helped define the modern video game soundtrack American McGee talks about Quake,Trent Reznor Far Out Magazine: The Nine Inch Nails connection to the Sharon Tate Murders Sega Saturn Magazine: The Nine Inch Nails Connection, No. 14, P.7 REAL HORRORSHOW:The Downward Spiral and Trent Reznor’s House of Horrors WIRED: The Egos at Id Big Man With a BFG: “I dare say it will hurt a little Nine Inch Nails Store From Keen to Doom: Id Software’s Founders Talk 30 years of Gaming History