Firstly, I'm going to say BDO has one of the BEST soundtracks, the music until now has always suited the area where it was being played, and the loops were generally long enough they didn't get too repetative, with the exception of a few music tracks (Balenos Island theme is by far the most annoying). I haven't had the time yet to listen to how the new music system is working in other area's yet, however, as I was sailing my ship back to Port Epheria from Arehaza (Yes, I had a reason to make this voyage) I unfortunatly found the new music system has deffinitly impacted my immersion while playing the game, and sadly, not in a good way. 

Firstly, Logging into Arehaza... I read the patch notes, so I was prepared ahead not to hear the usually more upbeat theme that would play here, and wasn't surprised to hear the Theme for SandGrain Bazzar playing. It's a relativly minor town in BDO, so I didn't think much of it, however the slower theme deffinitly didn't feel right for the overall theme of the town, and it makes me wonder if I'll end up hearing the Olvia town theme in Glish or Keplan, Keplan in particular is one with a very specific theme that I don't feel would fit anywhere else in the game world, considering what's actually happening there. I would encourage the Developers to take a closer look at this if these themes are actually being swapped arround, and maybe sit and listen to the themes in certain area's to see if the sequence of music is actually right for the area. 

Anyway, lets move on to the actual trip, Sailing from Arehaza through Valencia Sea and Al Halam Sea... I was pleasantly surprised to hear the "Valencia Islands Theme" that I used to stop on Hakoven Island to listen to from time to time playing instead of the normal sailing theme... also one of my favorites from the sound track. It fit, and was appreciated, and transitioned well into that same theme... however, as I passed Halmad Island it transitioned into the much more grand "Margoria" sailing theme. While this is my personal favorite theme music from BDO, it didn't fit the calm waters I was sailing on... but it's there anyway. At this point, I started getting the feeling that this new music system might be incomplete, it deffinitly feels like it needs work, at least for the ocean content.

Continuing on, I'm comming up to the Sea of Silence, an area with Cox Ghost ships tied to the games "Boss Event" music... Given what I had already experienced so far, I had a feeling I knew what I was in for, music wise. The music here was the "Mediah Island Theme" that you also hear in Margoria before your ship is sunk by an invisible wall... Fitting, however for vetran sailors like myself, it's one that doesn't fill us with confidence. Sailing close to an Island, I also unfortunatly heard the Oquilias Eye theme, which was also a dissapointment (See above for my concerns on Keplan's theme, it applies to other area's that have unique music themes that should stay unique). This theme changed to the normal sailing theme until I encountered my first Cox ship in the Sea of Silence... "Karanda's Boss Theme" is now playing, for a Cox Ghost ship... unsuitable enough for this area, and a fairly common and simple enemy I actually did close out my game to start writing this. I never did like that boss themes were always being attatched to ghost ships, or Goldmont battleships when they're such common enemies, however this was probably the worst battle theme for these particular enemies. I litterally said to myself "Come on PA, you're better than this" when I heard it. 

Logging back in, I'm greeted by the Valencia Island theme again, even as I'm entering the Arsha Sea and passing Ilya Isalnd. I decide to turn into Ilya Isalnd, and am once again greeted by the Oquilias Eye theme... once again, a theme that doesn't suit the island (But better than the "Balenos Island Theme") and wonder why they didn't just use Olvia's theme here as an alternate, it would suit the town and the island a lot better.

Sailing into the Cron Isalnds, I've suddenly made up my mind about this whole music update... I hate it. "Crows Nest" is now the theme I'm listening to, and as much as I like the theme, it once again doesn't work for where I am, or with what I'm doing. It's obvious to me the Developers and game designers didn't spend enough time considering how this would impact the games storytelling, which is what you're supposedly trying to improve on with the winter update. Black Desert's music before this update told a story, and helped tell the story of the area's it was being used in. Now it's being used as generic background music, and for someone who's already got these themes associated with different area's in their head, it can at times ruin the experience. If there is to be further expansions on the games soundtrack (It deserves it, and I think everyone is looking forward to it) I'd like to offer my key points
1. Towns, Cities, Dungeons, Important Landmarks and Bosses should have unique themes as they have in the past... it really helps with the games overall storytelling to have that
2. More thought needs to be given into the music themse used in Ocean Content overall, and Island themes should be regional so you actually feel like you're sailing into a different environment. I doubt anyone would mind if the sailing music was also regional like the Horse Riding themes are. 
3. Ilya Island, and Lema Island should have or use a dedicated town theme, not the generic Island music. 
4. Crows Nest and Oquilias Eye should retain their individual themes as unique towns or landmarks
5. Margoria Phantom Ships, Cox Phantom ships / Cox Ghost ships etc. should share a similar boss theme, if they have any at all. 
6. Vell and Khan should have unique boss themes
7. Lekrashan and Goldmont Main Fleet (Flagship?) should also have unique themes
8. Goldmont Battleships should have a unique battle theme (Like the old Pirate combat theme perhaps?)
9. Most important: Ross Sea and Margoria should always use the "Margoria" Theme, and possible adaptations of this particular theme... it's the song that conveys the strongest sense of adventure in the entire game and thus far has not had a suitable substitute added. I challenge your composers to come up with a rival to this extraordinary piece as part of the next Ocean Music expansion. 

Finally, my arrival into port Epheria... Thankfully I'm greeted with the familiar song of Home for me... and not Keplan's piano like I was worried about. I haven't experienced the music used in other parts of the game yet, I hope, I very much hope, that more effort went into making sure the music throughout the continental regions was better thought out and implemented, but as someone who's first impression came from sailing accross the map, I'm concerned. If these issues are just isolated to the islands and ocean region, then I hope my above feedback is used to improve on that. 

How about anyone else? any thoughts on the new music system? Any Sailors who agree or dissagree?

Thanks for that write up, I haven't been out to sea in a while. I suspect that the Port Epheria track you heard was just fortunate timing.  Hang around enough and I bet it gets to the other tracks that don't fit.

I will do my daily Velia beach to Valencia City ride soon, across the desert.  But i've already heard enough: please roll back these changes and do some more work before re-release.  I think there's some potential, but this was a clear misfire, good intentions aside.

I'm curious what the Star's End to Mountain of Eternal Winter ride will reveal. Detouring through O'Dyllita, of course.

Apparently, this whole thing is all over the place not just in the ocean locales. Hopefully, a solution is found or as much it pains me to say this, I'll just turn off the music for good :(

This is a late post to this old thread but the topic is NOT old. It is very much alive in this thread: https://www.naeu.playblackdesert.com/en-US/Forum/ForumTopic/Detail?_topicNo=21432&_page=1

Well written DutchLestral! This 'Rework' was simply cutting up the music into playing cards then shuffling those cards at random across the BDO map, stiching them together with tape, I.E. any identity any locale had was removed. You point out Sand Grain Bazzar which is now in every town/shrine/city of Valencia so you could never tell them apart by the music alone. 

I hope the developers roll this rework back.

I need say no more!