A few weeks ago the soundtrack of DOOM Eternal, but the fans noticed that there was something strange about her. Most tracks had a much less defined mix than in delivery 2016Which was strange since the music for both games is composed by Mick Gordon.
Gordon himself responded to the controversy claiming that it had been id Software who made the final mix on those songs, and not him. He also added that he would surely not work with them again. Now, the study has clarified the situation.
Marty Stratton, executive producer of DOOM Eternal, has published an extensive letter on Reddit where he explains his version of the facts and the details of the situation. The letter ends with Stratton confirming Gordon's words: Due to differences with the artist, this will not participate in the soundtrack of the future DOOM Eternal DLC
A mess of dates and logistics
The truth is that things are much more complicated than we originally thought. It all started when id Software agreed with Gordon that he would have the soundtrack music ready (which doesn't sound exactly the same as what is heard in the game; it needs to be more polished) by March, since this was to be included in the Collector's Edition of the game. The composer was unable to finish the mixes on time and requested an extension of several weeks.
Id Software granted it. Because of that, the soundtrack had to be delayed until mid-April. Meanwhile, Gordon's contract and conditions remained. Earlier last month, with the game already in stores, id Software told its internal audio technician, Chad Mossholder, to mix up the songs for the soundtrack release in case Gordon couldn't make it in time.
The difference is not so much in the skill of the technicians, something that many have used to attack Mossholder, but in the original material available to each one. Gordon made the mixes from his own files that id Software doesn't have access to, while Mossholder had to deal with the songs already compressed that were in the game itself. Hence the drop in quality.
Stratton contacted the composer to let him know that the id Software sound technician was making his own mixes so that he could get to the new date on time, but that they gave preference to Gordon's work if he preferred it. The latter agreed that the final soundtrack had the mixes of both
Finally, the soundtrack was released to the market on April 19 and controversy ensued. Stratton and Gordon had a talk following this in which the composer claimed not having been artistically happy with the result. On top of that, he was annoyed that Mossholder was shown as an additional songwriter, although as the executive producer explains, he actually only appears as collaborating artist.
In any case, Stratton reiterates that they never wanted to get involved in the creative process of the soundtrack, leaving Gordon completely free to do what he wanted with it. Furthermore, he insists on defending Chad Mossholder from all attacks by the community, since he only did his job.
In the end everything has been a concatenation of logistical problems that have been solved in the most unfortunate way. A pity, since the music of the new DOOM It is one of their great assets. Hopefully the new composer for the DLC is up to the task.