Chrono Trigger 'Secret of the Forest'

[Tuned Logic]

Feedback appreciated!

Old Version:
http://www.tindeck.com/audio/my/ldyc/Tree-Hopper

UPDATE 10/4/2008
http://www.tindeck.com/audio/my/tpui/Tree-Hopper-2-3

UPDATE 10/10/2008
http://www.tindeck.com/audio/my/ffxy/Tree-Hopper-3-1

UPDATE 11/25/2008
http://www.tindeck.com/audio/my/fovj/Tree-Hopper-6

UPDATE 12/9/2008
http://www.tindeck.com/audio/my/nojh/Tree-Hopper-10"

UPDATE 1/24/2009
http://www.mediafire.com/?rdjidud1euh

Probably FINAL Update 2/10/2009
Click here to download Tree Hopper 12 C.mp3 (http://tindeck.com/listen/qdmo)

[Spakku]

Your intro-melody transition was really sudden. Startled the crap out of me.
As a whole, your arrangement of simultaneous relaxing and edgy sounds at any given point toys with my emotions.
These are good things; despite the contrast these elements work and flow together very well.

I love every second of this. Except for the last ten which were completely silent, you should probably trim those off.

[Tuned Logic]

Thanks for the compliments! The end isn't done yet, so I'll get on that. I'm glad you like it!

[Rozovian]

No source link, let's see how good my source memory is.

Effect panning in the intro feels a bit unbalanced. The left-channel glitch noises could be spread all over the stereo soundscape.

Okay, there's the source. Buried in drums, and whistling my ears aching. You might want to bring it out more, open the filter a little more, and/or drop the resonance - it'll make it less painful.

Drums are too loud by comparison, but the overall volume level is perfect.

The track, overall, is enjoyable, but you should work on the sound balance more.

This is pretty promising, buddy. Good luck with it.

[Spakku]

For the first 40 seconds I keep expecting it branch off into the DKC water melody.

[rhythmicon]

yes!.

yes yes yes yes yes!

loving this one. what kind of music do you usu listen to. this sounds very dub-steppish (imo) and I just can't get enough of it. would *love* a 320 when you're done.

respect and keep up the good work.

[krake021]

bass is a little much, drums are pretty good tho. I agree with the guy who said it kinda twists around what you should be feeling. Ambient and upbeat at the same time. I like this tune in the game and you did a good job with it overall, lots of work I see. Post some more man!

[Tuned Logic]

yes!.

yes yes yes yes yes!

loving this one. what kind of music do you usu listen to. this sounds very dub-steppish (imo) and I just can't get enough of it. would *love* a 320 when you're done.

respect and keep up the good work.

Heh, thanks. I'll put up a 320kbps transfer in this thread when I'm done. As for music, I listen to game music :razz:, but other stuff too. I really like Late Night Alumni, DJ Tiesto, and more trancy, dancy stuff. This is probably my tenth time arranging this piece; I do it according to how I think it would sound neat with certain instruments.

Here is a fairly large update:
http://www.tindeck.com/audio/my/tpui/Tree-Hopper-2-3

I took out the static at the beginning because it was not staying on beat and was quite annoying, and I added more sound effects and a new ending.

[Spakku]

I can't put my finger on it but something you did unbalanced the mood polarity, it seems more optimistic now. It's still an equally impressive effect, since now you've got the tense sounds working to relax. I'm just curious which one was your intent, now.


EDIT: Scratch that, my headphones just weren't plugged in all the way. I was missing out on some of the sounds and I lost intensity on the ones I could still hear.

[Rozovian]

Pad at :12 is a bit too strong, imo, at least for its first few appearances. Might be that it's jsut got too fat mids and lows.

Weird pan thing at 1:19. I think it's the pad screwing with the stereo soundscape, but can't say for sure.

It does sound like an improvement, but I don't remember it being this... weirdly panned. Lots of pan effects that are mostly just anoying. See if you can cut back on those a bit.

Also, it has a very tiring sound. I think it's due to the tracks not being separated well enough. Use EQ to carve holes for leads and other key instruments in the fatter/backing tracks.

There's an effect towards the end that I really thought was great, 3:43 or so.My favorite part of the remix. :P Makes me wonder why the track isn't more like that.

Good stuff. Keep working on it, it's getting better.

Remixer, listeners, please take the time to answer the questions in this post (http://www.ocremix.org/forums/showthread.php?t=17963#post442736).

[Tuned Logic]

Tried to make it sound less tiring and I EQ'ed it a bit.
http://www.tindeck.com/audio/my/ffxy/Tree-Hopper-3-1

[Rozovian]

The irregular hihat rhythm is a little annoying, but I suppose that's more a matter of style. Those pan-modulated crashes and hats are quite annoying too, but as with the irregular hat rhythm, it's style. I'm willing to overlook that, but I'm not sure everyone would.

Some of your short swishy drop-like synth sounds are a little annoying, you could drop their volume a bit. Other than that, the intro is pretty cool.

The lead, when the track gets started, could use some cutoff modulation or something to make it a little more interesting during those long sustained notes.

Drums are louder than your lead. I think they could afford to be dropped a dB or two. That would also bring out the delayed keyboards more.

You've succeeded, imo, in separating the tracks. It's far more enjoyable like this.

You know, unless there's just too much source verbatim, I think this has a chance to get on ocr. You should probably check with a Judge over irc before actually submitting, but it sounds promising. God work, but it's not over quite yet.

[Tuned Logic]

The irregular hihat rhythm is a little annoying, but I suppose that's more a matter of style. Those pan-modulated crashes and hats are quite annoying too, but as with the irregular hat rhythm, it's style. I'm willing to overlook that, but I'm not sure everyone would.

Some of your short swishy drop-like synth sounds are a little annoying, you could drop their volume a bit. Other than that, the intro is pretty cool.

The lead, when the track gets started, could use some cutoff modulation or something to make it a little more interesting during those long sustained notes.

Drums are louder than your lead. I think they could afford to be dropped a dB or two. That would also bring out the delayed keyboards more.

You've succeeded, imo, in separating the tracks. It's far more enjoyable like this.

You know, unless there's just too much source verbatim, I think this has a chance to get on ocr. You should probably check with a Judge over irc before actually submitting, but it sounds promising. God work, but it's not over quite yet.

Thanks; I was thinking about extending the track and adding a little more originality, but I didn't want to beat a dead horse. I think it's okay now in terms of length. I have to figure out how to modulate the lead; I've only had logic for a couple of months, but I'll figure it out :-o

[Spakku]

Do you remember the futuristic area of Chrono Cross that was frozen in time? I can't remember the music at all, but this definitely gives me a vision of it.

[Rozovian]

Logic? It's Logic? Great!

If you're using the ES2 or the EXS24, you can do that easily, using the routing matrix. You know, he thing in the middle with all the numbers and sliders and names and stuff.

Make one with these, in this order:

Pitch
Envelope (or mod wheel aka ctrl #1 in the exs24)
An LFO set to about 7 Hz

Move the upper slider thing to about 50 cent. Then have a look at the envelope you used. This part always confuses me, but it seems to work with the invert button on and short attack, long decay, no sustain, no release.

You can also make one with cutoff, envelope/modwheel, and lfo, tho you'll want to have a slower lfo (around 3 Hz) and only 10% or so set on the slider.

Instead of fiddling with the envelope, you can use it with the modulation automation (in the piano roll, not the Arrange window track automation). This is what I usually do. In that case, set the modwheel/ctrl1 in the middle field, go to a midi region of the lead, click ont he little button in the lower left dorner on the region view, and then select modulation from the pop-up menu on the left side of the region view. Then just draw curves rising from 0 where you want it to start modulating.

--

I hope that makes sense to you. I hope I got it right. I don't think it's the first time I've explained this to someone, but it's not the easiest thing to explain. I should just take screenshots... but I'm lazy.

[Dramon]

Wow, this is so much better than your previous version pre-HD failure....

Great track. I had a lot to say about the other one as far as things being forced but this fits in a lot better.

Great job man. Good luck.

[Tuned Logic]

Wow, this is so much better than your previous version pre-HD failure....

Great track. I had a lot to say about the other one as far as things being forced but this fits in a lot better.

Great job man. Good luck.

I'm glad to hear somebody say that; I was still thinking about that last one I did. And thanks for the tips Rozo; I'll give it a shot.

[Mustin]

Ah...

Hearing more and more arrangements of my favourite piece of game music ever.

I dig it! I like the twist on the D section (3:00).

You didn't jack with the chords much (very important on this piece, to me), and you put your own unique spin on it.

I like it! Let me know when it's done!

-m

[uranai]

I really liked your track. It sounds great.

I think that the lead is too low, maybe a different synth/sound would help it stand out more.

I don't like the HH, it sounds too cheap compared to the other sounds.

Some of the hard panned effects are a bit distracting (though this is a very subjective matter).

Keep on the good work.

[ZealPath]

I was half expecting this to be a continuation of "Undiscovered" when I first saw this thread. Glad to see you're back at it, this new mix is even better imo. The whole thing has a real "low key chillout" feel to it, I really liked the way you ended it with the piano trailing off, this mix is right up my alley.

Nice work, I hope we'll see this on the front page soon as it really sounds like it's close at this point.

[ZealPath]

Well I really can't help myself with this one, it's too good to be forgotten. Anything still going on with this mix?

[Tuned Logic]

Of course :)

I'm in the process of applying to colleges so I haven't had much time to work on this. Don't worry, though, I'll finish it.

[Robotaki]

Of course :)

I'm in the process of applying to colleges so I haven't had much time to work on this. Don't worry, though, I'll finish it.

haha crap man ditto. such a pain in the ass -_-"

[Tuned Logic]

Finally had time to work on this a little.

Enjoy!
http://www.tindeck.com/audio/my/fovj/Tree-Hopper-6

[SubNormal J3]

Wow. this is some pretty cool stuff.
Nice Intro. I love that 7th chord pad. 0:19 is awesome. same with 0:30
1:00 is pretty cool followed by that nice effect at 1:15.
By 1:25, though, the drums need to vary much more. It is getting boring.
2:00 is an awesome change. Do this a lot sooner.
Cut out some stuff between here and 1:15. Vary the drums here as well.
The change at 2:29 is great. Do it sooner, though.
2:53 is awesome, but maybe add some more bass.
3:30 has some nice piano work. I like those effects.
3:45. Don't end here. there is so much that has been built up before that you need a sweet finale to finish it off. You owe it to the rest of the song.

There's a ton of good stuff here. Just don't be afraid to cut out some measures that are just filling time, and don't be afraid to do some crazy variations with the drums. Right now they are too predictable and too simple.

Awesome work! I can't wait to hear it finished.
-J3

[Rozovian]

0:32 weird key on the backing stuff. It's as if you've got more than one key going on.

Dunno how much of what I'd say is genre conventions and how much is just weird. The percussion panning is weird to me, you've sometimes got a shaker dead center, sometimes everything's bouncing between my ears. A little more consistant stuff would probably be good.

I agree with J3 on the repetitive nature of the drums... do more stuff with them. There's also not much in terms of a clear rhythm. I like what you did with them just before 1:00, but then they became a little too messy and arbitrarily processed. You might also benefit from bringing out the background tracks more. Right now the drums are the more clear stuff, lead second. There are melodies in the bg of this, I can hear it, but they're way back. Cleaning up the track soundscape would probably benefit the track.

Can't remember previous versions, but you're doing fine. keep working on it.

[Tuned Logic]

The reason why I alternate the drums is because the same positioning feels stale to me. When it varies, the ears stay stimulated IMO. I added more parts and I'll post an update sometime this weekend. Thanks for the comments.

[Tuned Logic]

Big update here: http://www.tindeck.com/audio/my/nojh/Tree-Hopper-10

[ZealPath]

Some interesting additions here. The drums throughout the piece have really been strengthened, or added newly in some areas, I think it works pretty well. I really liked the old outro as well, now that you've changed it to make it sort of lead into a new part I think the new synth "above" the piano sounds good as well.

After that new, fairly upbeat part, we get into a new outro which I think sounds pretty consistent with the earlier part of the track, this whole thing really just continues to have a great chillout feel to it.

Personally I've always thought you had something great here, but really, by now I think you're probably at least to the point where you can run it by a judge and see what they think, getting pretty close here I think.

[Rozovian]

The pan modulation on some of the high range percussion is a little painful, actually. Painful might not be the best word, but it's a little too weird to work, imo, breaks the chill feel this track otherwise would have. The rest of the percussion is pretty much ok, tho I'd like to hear the shaker panned more. half way through, the track seems to lose something from its left channel, it loses clarity. you've got a fine sound center and right, but left feels like you forgot about it. :P

The non-percussion instrumentation and writing is pretty, maybe I should collab with you some time. :D Great work, but still not quite there, imo.

[CATC1H22]

would anyone like to repost or PM this WIP to me?
I LOVE the source and anyone who 'mixes it

[ZealPath]

I have the last... 5 or so WIPs or something, was always hoping to see this one finished but it's been quite a while since any updates. I'll see if I can get the latest one up for you if the old links aren't working.

[Tuned Logic]

Sorry for the delays. I WILL finish this. I promise. I have midterms this week, and I'm a senior, so basically I'll have my life back next week. Hang tight.

EDIT: Oooh, Tindeck is down. That's a shame. I'll upload somewhere else for my next update. Sorry about that.

[Tuned Logic]

Update! Sorry to keep you waiting...

http://www.mediafire.com/?rdjidud1euh

[ZealPath]

Woo more Tree Hopping! This is officially the WIP I have followed for the longest time now so I'm glad to see it's still alive.

It's still basically the same song, it just sounds even "deeper" now, if that makes any sense. When the percussion comes in this time, it sounds more natural, as well as throughout the song, it really blends together nicely and doesn't distract as much as it did in the previous versions.

I think that was one of the main concerns of some others, not really positive but I'll keep cheering for this one, you have to be close now!

[burnham909]

I remember the first WIP of this too, and now this, this is friggin amazing.
I want to make an awesome movie trailer with this as the score or something.
I makes my brain think of awesome things. :sleepdepriv:

[CATC1H22]

WoW dude....
this was simply amazing!
After allowing it to merinade on the PC for a few days before listening to it, I finally blared it through the 'phones and I was blown away....
Actually had the vigor to comment on how amazing this presentation was.... I DO expect to hear more from you
best regards~~~~

[PROTO·DOME]

I'm not actually a fan of the source so didn't really bother with the thread, however...
It's freakin' awesome. Love the pads, love the percussion.
It's really well done actually, five minutes and it's not boring. Impressive!

[Tuned Logic]

Thanks for all of the compliments. I don't think there's much more I can do with this track, so maybe I'll submit it soon.

[The Vagrance]

I heard an earlier version of this but I don't think I commented. Anywho...

0:00-1:00
I love the atmosphere, the drums get a wee bit tiresome by the time the section ends though so you may try adding in little changes or something to switch up (maybe some of the samples from the 1:30 section or something)

1:00-1:59
I like this quite a bit, good job

1:59-2:28
This section is a bit annoying because its very very similar to the last section without much added to it. Maybe try adding in some other element but its a bit redundant as it.

2:28-3:20
Very nice, good work here. I especially like the electric piano

3:20-End
I love the piano in this section, along with the drumwork. Really not much I'd change

Overall I'm very impressed and I'd be way more than shocked if this didn't pass.

[Pander]

Intro is slow, neat vibrating synths. Very Jouni Airaksinen sound here.
Melody intro is sudden in a good way, breaks up the slow pace with good reverb background effects. Tons of layers of sounds but still pretty focused.
Like Vagrance says, 1:59-2:28 is kinda frustrating. I'd kill for that bass to come in a bit stronger here, maybe play off the lead synth more than hang back.
About 3:30 starts a slowdown, bringing back the sound from early in the mix, great job of bringing the beat back around 3:55.

So many odd SFX contributing to the ambiance here. Tres chaud.

[Tuned Logic]

Ok, this is it. Changed a bunch of stuff I wasn't happy with, and I'm satisfied with the way it turned out. I hope you all agree. I will probably submit soon.

Click here to download Tree Hopper 12 C.mp3 (http://tindeck.com/listen/qdmo)

[ZealPath]

Good luck, boy would it be nice to see this on the front page!

This latest version has changed things a fair amount as well, some new work with the drums at the start, the tones are a little different throughout the piece as well, but like all previous versions, I think you've only continued to move it into a deeper, secluded atmosphere.

[Tuned Logic]

Thanks. Yeah, I thought the beginning could use a little more action, and I just wasn't feeling the lead. I just got Omnisphere, so I had to use something from that. :razz:

[Tuned Logic]

I'm seriously on the brink of submission here, but can somebody please tell me if this is adequately mastered? I just plain stink at mastering, and I don't know if this is too tiring, too sharp, not bassy enough... I've listened to it so much that I no longer know what to think about it. I doubt I'll be going back to it again, so as long as it's adequately listenable, I'll sub it. Yes, I know it's too big; I'll trim down the bit rate. Thanks in advance.

EDIT: Linkage: http://tindeck.com/listen/brhr

By the way, if you think the previous version sounded better production-wise, let me know. Thanks!

[Keerarae]

I dunno what to call it but whatever the constant low bass is in the background just doesn't sound right. It's almost painful to my ears. Your versions 11 1 and 12 C sounded the best to me. Personally I like 11 1 better but I have both versions saved so I can listen to both ^_^

I do feel that the bass in the background takes away from the rest of the song. It doesn't feel like it should be there.

Hope that helps.

[Tuned Logic]

I dunno what to call it but whatever the constant low bass is in the background just doesn't sound right. It's almost painful to my ears. Your versions 11 1 and 12 C sounded the best to me. Personally I like 11 1 better but I have both versions saved so I can listen to both ^_^

I do feel that the bass in the background takes away from the rest of the song. It doesn't feel like it should be there.

Hope that helps.

Hmm I see. I didn't think there should be much bass in this either. I see it more as a world percussion type of song, and I didn't want to pronounce the bass, but then a couple of people on the WIP IRC said the drums weren't "there" enough. Any other opinions?