HOW TO TOBY FOX 101

a 60-second guide on how to make music that sounds like it was made by toby fox.
(90% of the instruments are the SGM soundfont lol)
SOUNDFONTS/VST
NES VST: www.mattmontag...
SGM: musical-artifa...
Mother 3:musical-artifa...
Megalovania:
musical-artifa...
TWITTER ➤ / @mremeraldyt
SOUNDCLOUD ➤ / mr-emerald-yt
MAIN ➤ @MrEmerald

[@MrEmerald]

Never did I expect this video to get so popular, so let me clear some things up This is less of an actual tutorial and more of a barebones approach to the style of toby fox. I probably should have noted that in the vid itself lol. Also a link to the soundfonts used will now be in the description of the video. Thank you everyone for your support and critiques on the song, I appreciate it ❤

[@pros_0143]

It still had plenty useful information, thx.

[@chrissysonicutdrloz]

Bare "bones"? *Despite your pun being unintentional, you hear a tall skeleton screaming in the distance.

[@drakewahl7609]

Now remix it about 100 times. Congratulations. You now have a game soundtrack.

[@soupisfornoobs4081]

Toby Fox Has Only Written One Song

[@AnimatingBeats]

@@soupisfornoobs4081 Trouble is trying to find which one it is.

[@davisbg9277]

​@@soupisfornoobs4081what song?

[@YoloTub3]

​@@soupisfornoobs4081 The Baby is You

[@XizyMSM]

I think it could be the start song because it would be the first created because it's the first song you hear in the game​@@AnimatingBeats

[@ericwitney5086]

the counterpoint is lacking. his melody and bass would be opposite. mostly notable in the intro how off the bass is

[@mremeraldmusic]

noted. i'll keep that in mind in the future

[@karli.channel]

101 likes

[@SantimsAnimations]

111 now ​@@karli.channel

[@pros_0143]

That'll be address on the #55 episode.

[@arn3107]

what does this mean

[@SkeleGamer9197]

You forgot the detuning, and the randomass panning on the strings and random instruments, and other weird unnecessary choices like hiding a melody in the left ear in the brass section of megalovania

[@bhuvqn]

i think that only applys for megalovania. btw long time no see

[@SkeleGamer9197]

@@bhuvqn Nope, from what I've seen so far, it also applies to Heartache, Hopes and Dreams, Field of Hopes and Dreams, and basically most Toby Fox songs I've recreated that has massive amounts chords and instruments.

[@zorby1008]

yeah, why the hell does he detune every instrument individually? seems like a ton of work to have to modulate every individual part up or down just for a slightly different sound. is that even why he does it? this man is truly an enigmatic genius

[@SkeleGamer9197]

@@zorby1008 Lmao, wait until you see all the panning and detuning in every individual notes in the Death by Glamour drum patterns. I've actually been trying to incorporate his style into my music, and from what I can tell, he's probably looking for a very specific sound that just otherwise wouldn't match what he had in his mind, even just tiny details and artifacts.

[@SkeleGamer9197]

Example, the SGM Violin on Field of Hopes and Dreams in the sax solo part wouldn't have the "flute" effect if it wasn't detuned at all. (Yeah that was actually just the violin, saw it in an flp), and the rest of the instruments were also detuned probably just to bring balance.

[@endieend129]

I mean this is kind of like Toby Fox in the sense that it's using a soundfont that he often uses. The bassline and overall texture sound nothing like something Toby Fox would do. For example, why would he sustain the (8-bit) bassline in this context? It takes away from the intensity. Your piece also doesn't have very clear harmony. The bass is hard to hear and it awkwardly meanders in a chord progression that sounds a lot like tonic prolongation. Like to me your theme sounds kind of quirky like Napstablook's theme. It doesn't hold the same intensity that Megalovania does. If you're going for Megalovania, don't cadence at the end of the theme and change harmonies very often.

[@endieend129]

Also hold on I didn't hear it until I raised the volume a bit but holy crap your strings are uncharacteristically dissonant for Toby Fox

[@EdwardBraunsIII]

Thank you! Finally someone speaking my mind

[@arn3107]

dude not every song needs to be like megalovania Toby has made hundreds of songs, megalovania is simply one of them

[@EdwardBraunsIII]

@@arn3107 well maybe not Hundreds... the known songs he has made is only like, 150-250. so saying hundreds could possibly be true, but not entirely.

[@sleepyay.]

well arent you a bundle of joy

[@nas1373]

Undertale yellow ahh soundtrack (sounds like Dalv got Asgore’s trident)

[@pixelmate4926]

I'm gonna Tobyfy everything now, thanks

[@tophatgeo]

thank you very much, i shall now transform myself into toby fox

[@bwjohnoog1010]

This is shockingly accurate nice job

[@androognoix1685]

Double octave melodies should only play when you played the melody normally first

[@smoothedwalk4063]

the main focus in toby's music is always the melody so make sure your melody sounds really good or the whole thing will fall apart

[@christofu148]

This pretty much perfectly sums it up

[@Onjerlay]

This sounds like Toby. Believe me, I listened to ALL of his music (not just undertale and deltarune) like 7 times

[@nas1373]

Na this sounds like Undertale yellow and believe me I was an Undertale/Deltarune goober as much as you

[@Onjerlay]

@@nas1373 oh, so you like Toby Fox? Name every song

[@nas1373]

@@Onjerlay bro I could but I’m too damn lazy lmfao

[@gjk-arts5855]

@@Onjerlayinsert every homestuck one (i wasnt a homestuck fan sadly) and miscellaneous ones he did for other people (ex: nightmare knight) and also pokemon's and 74 itoki hana and etc and more collabs (theres the un owen was hero?) and also ones he did for halloween hacks (ex: i miss you) . dogbonk. and now that's aside (this wont be correctly in order its from memory) Once upon a time, start menu, your best friend, fallen down, anticipation, unnecessary tension, enemy approaching, ruins, ghost fight, home, home (music box), determination, uwa so temperate, heartache, snowy, sans., nyeh heh heh!, mysterious place, uwa so holiday, dogbass, dogsong, snowdin town, shop, bonetrousle, dating start, dating tense, dating fight, premonition, undyne, waterfall, temmie village, tem shop, run!, memory, NGAAHHH, dummy!, spear of justice, ANOTHER HIM, the beginning, school, susie, the door, cliffs, weird birds, field of hopes and dreams, checker dance, remind me to finish that later

[@Onjerlay]

Guys I literally started listening to the entire Homestuck OST just because I liked what Toby Fox did there. I'm on vol. 6 and I'm not planning on stopping anytime soon

[@Springy05]

You forgot the random assortment of obscure effects and EQ, plus some barely audible instrument that no one notices until they try to recreate the song and it sounds bad without it

[@greenberrygk]

step 1 is the part i need a guide for making it sound like undertale none of my melodies sound like toby fox

[@antoniofederighi-jy1qd]

How to Toby Fox: Step 1: Create a basic 8-bit melody. Step 2: POP THE F*CK OFF!!

[@KAORANGE]

This inspires me, maybe i should start learning

[@porterdalton5621]

How does this not have more views?! Very well done 🎉

[@ThatBratCohen]

he doesn't use the NicePianosGuitarsBass version of sgm

[@maloney4playz]

umdertale

[@luckyguy8547]

don’t forget deltarume!

[@SamiTheAnxiousBean]

No clue how you have so little subscribers, this sounds awesome!

[@tntaro]

You actually inspired me thanks

[@apenaseu7588]

it's actually very useful to me, heheh. I really get inspired by toby on trying to compose, despite not being a composer

[@Xmanta3]

Those drums go hard asf bro

[@Chuckles224]

Holy cow, subscribed, if you make more content like this I will stay in tuned!!! 🔥🔥

[@MentalIllBoy]

Fun secret fact: Its the same of how to touhou but with different instruments

[@nyanby]

Thats so good

[@Polychi1998]

You think you can teach us how to make motifs like Toby?

[@adrielbetancourt7010]

Step 6: Repeat 100 times and now you have 101 songs Step 7: Make a Game with that soundtrack

[@evanloday]

some of these comments are pretty harsh, but i do think they mean well. yea, some of the harmony/voice leading stuff could potentially use some work, but I still enjoyed the video, and I learned what soundfonts to get. I'm a beginner with DAWs and the whole tech side of music. Thanks! I have some comments: i actually liked the melody. Your chords changes are interacting with your melody in...interesting ways (this is the part I don't enjoy). I would even say the chords by themselves wouldn't be that bad. It's just that, all together, the harmonies aren't meshing like they could. Try keeping track of which chord is happening at which point in time, for the whole song, on every track. It sounded like, in addition to the harmony/melody not matching, there were actually multiple different chords in the harmony tracks, at the same time. This is where it gets messy. Try starting with diatonic notes, both in your melody and your chords. Then, branch out to borrowed chords and modal mixture if you're feeling ready. It sounded like the scale you were using the most in your melody was A harmonic minor. Try googling the chords in A harmonic minor and staying within those boundaries until you feel comfortable pushing past them. Infinite choices isn't freedom. It's paralysis. Self-imposed limitation is true freedom. Also, less is more! Feel free to thin up some of the harmony. You don't need lots of notes for it to sound good. Just choose them each with intention. Try googling chord progression charts for A Harmonic minor. Watch 8-bit music theory's video on the 3 types of chord movements (2nds, 3rds, and 4ths). And most importantly, keep it up!

[@Anarqism]

tbh this doesn't sound that right, it sounds more like an undertale au fangame than an actual toby fox song. the drums are bad and don't hit hard which ruins the song for me. also in general the mixing is very lacking especially when considering this is supposed to be a toby fox song. the strings and most of the background instruments sound offtuned. you also should remember to not listen to each pattern inividually, but do everything by listening to the whole song. edit; ur editing is awesome tho

[@true_fate2]

Friend inside me

[@arn3107]

this does give Toby Fox vibes, or at least his fambasr vibes

[@brendandonegan6788]

So true I love it 😂

[@DrunknPirate]

how to by fox 101

[@blanebeats8647]

TOBY SAUCE 😤🙏🔥

[@TheEpicKeith101]

thank you for this tutorial. i have now became Toby Fox and will be releasing chapters 3, and 4 of DELTARUNE within the next 2 centuries.

[@octosation]

This actually sounds like Video game ost 👍

[@mremeraldmusic]

The FULL song has been released! you can listen to it here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fpDSnYChYtSMgck

[@beakthebirdbot3858]

amazing :3

[@Supersonic6427]

Did you just make a Game Theory type intro song?

[@Italianplum2]

0:46 why does this sound like a Rouxls Kaard theme?

[@preparefortrouble478]

my jaw DROPPED

[@Coffeh_chocolate]

And for the breaker test... let's see if this song is still good with the Melody reversed!

[@wenbinx]

Bro is him

[@preludethealbum]

Very cool :)

[@LauraLowe]

POV: you're listening to the undertale soundtrack on shuffle and you don't know any of the leitmotifs

[@Luminator]

Can you try doing how to Tee Lopes 101?

[@els2873]

God i'm hell scared HOW TF I'M GOING TO LEARN TO DO THIS!?

[@rydotion]

THAT SOUNDS SO FORE???

[@rydotion]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@leominecraft5031]

If you told me this came from Deltarune, I would believe you

[@safefailguy]

how do you do the YOW thing here 0:45

[@mremeraldmusic]

automated volume up + automated rapid pitch down = yow

[@safefailguy]

@@mremeraldmusic and what instrument do you use for this, im using the NEW version of mother 3 sf2

[@alexsheppard237]

this is close but its missing something major. too bad I dont know enough about music to say anything further lol

[@Matrixorial]

how to make toby song: use the earthbound soundfont and the sgm soundfont gg! you tobied

[@reinbew794]

The guitar riff at the beatdrop could be removed in my opinion. The track doesn't feel EPIC enough for it.

[@SoftTehCustomer]

It's sounds "Toby Fox inspired" than "Toby Fox."

[@dartagnanlopez1179]

If you don't mind me asking, what are you using to make the music? I want to try

[@mremeraldmusic]

The software is called Fl Studio

[@morningbell3690]

im sorry but what the hell is this harmony

[@valoregal]

you forgot to put soundgoodizer on the master

[@annahagele7577]

Nice song, but I'm sorry, there's no way to just "Toby Fox" something. Especially recreating something like the Undertale OST. This sounds a lot like Deltarune but the sounds and melodies and harmonies of Undertale take a lot of creative thinking and general geniuseness. Still tho, nice song.

[@bruh-it1or]

yeah, this video was supposed to be a joke

[@maloney4playz]

you know who else takes a lot of creative thinking

[@ellerysmusic]

POST TONAL TOBY FOX

[@brodark3336]

what app do you use?? So talented btw

[@mremeraldmusic]

FL Studio

[@ChunkMonkVR16]

I mean, it seams fairly accurate. however, it is very different from toby foxes style. I mean it uses the same soundfont 🤷‍♂. all in all its pretty good, i dont think i could make anything this good.

[@Mochara2004]

How do you do that guitar effect at the begin whats its called because ive been wanting to do something like that for so longgg

[@mremeraldmusic]

It's a sound effect from the Mother 3 drumkit.

[@Mochara2004]

@@mremeraldmusic oh OK thank you

[@AbsentPFP]

So just use sgm everytime

[@JuhoSprite]

not bad

[@nevergonnagiveyouupnevergo3263]

Its not undertale toby fox its more like deltarune toby fox

[@themilkstar]

could you give the flp so I could study this better?

[@sakusei.2]

im sorry, im new to making music and do you know what software you used?

[@l.c.habibi2339]

I believe he used FLStudio, which for me is not accessible with screen reading software.

[@mremeraldmusic]

FL Studio

[@SparkNitr0]

More like Toby Wolf

[@Thatguy-tm8xh]

sorry but what in the world are those chords it sounds like you just picked random notes on all the backing instruments

[@Bluestfire]

Are we allowed to use it? 🤔

[@mremeraldmusic]

It's free to use, just give some kind of credit for it 😁

[@BBMTSSVR]

What site

[@DanFourts]

🥹

[@CastIronNutsack]

thanks brodie

[@ColdChocco]

undertale 2

[@EdwardBraunsIII]

It’s funny how this isn’t doing what it said in the clickbait thumbnail. This isn’t even Toby Fox’s style remotely. You just made a song

[@mogusisfunny]

Which software do you use?

[@mremeraldmusic]

FL Studio

[@The_coolest_dude101]

how the hell do i open it? im trying to use it for my game but it wont open any help?

[@stoplookingatthisyougleepy]

you need fl studio

[@The_coolest_dude101]

@@stoplookingatthisyougleepy i know but how do i apply the addon

[@crarell]

​@@The_coolest_dude101what addon?

[@The_coolest_dude101]

@@crarell the addon used in the video

[@crarell]

@@The_coolest_dude101 which one?

[@vicbird68]

Link to the soundfonts?

[@snesmocha]

Why is it so off key 💀

[@krealyesitisbeta5642]

Eh, not feeling his vibe here. It’s needs some parts switched.

[@heinrichagrippa5681]

This would have been a lot more compelling if whatever the hell jumble of crap you produced was anywhere near as catchy and delightful as any of the music from the game.

[@kkodeko]

wth

[@stoplookingatthisyougleepy]

noooo nicepianosguitarsbass is ass dont use it nooo hes too far gone

[@setismada]

it sounds bad 💀

[@ThatBeaverDev]

C418?