[evktalo]

Source

Part of the PCReMix initiative.

So I finished minimizing the hum, and adding some slight pan/width stuff to the end part. Then when I listened to the mixdown, I realized that the intro sounded louder than the beginning of the middle part. I turned the leads down especially. Then that made me realize some of the leads were really loud in the middle part. Tuned those down. Then the hihat and snare started sounding like they were too loud..

Fixed that (and turned down the ride down a little too) and I'm done now. Let's see if I manage to write the submission e-mail before falling asleep.

Final version

Renoise project file if there's anyone with Renoise & interest.

Thanks for all the great feedback!

--older:

Well, I did a quick fix that I'll review later. There's a slight bass freq boost to bassdrum, lofi timpani and bass. For the overcrowded part, the following kept the lead sound ok: I panned the leads a bit more & differently, and layered one of the leads with the same notes, octave down (and tweaked levels). I think that's a quick fix that helps.

Final candidate 3: https://www.dropbox.com/s/b7iim851vf...3-20121003.mp3

--- olldd:

Final candidate 2: here

Applied a little reverb and eq changes and tweaked levels according to mod feedback <3; some other slight tweaks, such as additional panning of instruments, which should help to separate them a little better. The levels changes seemed to make the track sound better.. since I also got a little more headroom (I think) I pushed the limiter on the master channel for a little more loudness. Sounds ok to me - when I try to side-by-side compare them, it makes it sound like the channels that were toned down are as loud as before, and the rest of the thing came up a bit. The sense of space is actually much nicer as a result.

--- olderrr:

Final candidate 1: https://www.dropbox.com/s/g0yy0qbaa6...1-20120927.mp3

Several small adjustments. Tweaked bass mixing especially; tried to punch a hole into the lofi-timpani for the bass drum, also tweaked bass EQ to make room for bass drum, also tweaked the high EQ of the bass drum, and levels. Boosted the overall mix about 1db. Adjusted some background pads and stuff. Changed the drums in the "loud snare" section a little (snare/tom interplay).

I'm hopefully done, but am concerned:

• mixing overall
• overall eq
• are the leads solid enough

--- old:

Latest version: https://www.dropbox.com/s/f0ojndwqqi...o-20120917.mp3

Just some mixing tweaks. The bass levels, especially the massive lofi kettle drum probably need some attention. My todo/feedback wanted below still applies. Not sure if I should try to make the mix louder or if this suffices. I'm also less sure if the sounds are good enough (I seek to pass the panel with this).

I also came up with a title: "Sadevakio" is Finnish for something like "The Rain Constant", trying to make some sort of a wordplay how it's always raining in cyberpunk settings.

--- old:

WIP

Source

Part of the PCReMix initiative.

I started this one way back in PRC199, a very popular round. I've since extended the structure and spent hours and hours tuning the arrangement, mixing and effect automation in Renoise. For sounds, I grabbed Mazedude's Zombie's Ate My Tracker, he has the .IT file available on the American Album site. Thanks for that! Many of the samples are actually 8-bit samples from various old school modules, which I took as a challenge to make them sound good. Not sure if I'll do such a challenge again. ;) I hope I managed. I like the resulting tracker aesthetic, hope it works to other ears as well.

Source usage:

The main riff from the source is used practically throughout, altered to 3/4 in the intro and outro, and transposed lower in the middle 4/4 part. The melody at 0:23 in the source is used from 1:40 onwards pretty much to the end. Also the figure at 0:31 in the source is used here and there, usually at an end of a part or some other transition/breakpoint (for example at 00:35, 01:58 and 02:18.. that might be all the cases actually).

I couldn't hear the main riff in the source, so I used the MIDI provided for the compo. It actually has the riff a fifth lower than it should be. Big thanks to Gario for pointing this out during the competition. I was slow to react to the intel though, and had already extended the melody and written countermelodies.. and correcting the riff messed them up. So, I decided to add a part (the intro) with correct pitch and consider the "wrong" pitch a personalisation of the source, if an unintended one. And now that I listen to the source, I probably heard the 0:31 bit wrong too. Oh well.

Feedback wanted:

I have a few tweaks in mind, but this is pretty close to a final mix. I haven't mastered this thing yet (just a bit of hard limiting to make it a little louder). I'd mostly like comments for mixing (headphones, so the bass is probably too loud), and if you hear anything funny or awkward going on in the writing, or if the sounds sound plain/boring at any point despite trying to process the hell out of them. ;) Or anything else you might want to point out.

A shout-out to DjMokram for having already provided supportive feedback. <3 Also thanks to all the commenters from PRC199!

--Eino

[Brinstar]

My my, I do fancy this.

[evktalo]

Thanks! I'm glad to hear this. Do check out my other wips too, the links are in my signature, if you feel so inclined.

--Eino

[evktalo]

Latest version: wippity wip

Just some mixing tweaks. The bass levels, especially the massive lofi kettle drum probably need some attention. My todo/feedback wanted in the first post still applies. Not sure if I should try to make the mix louder or if this suffices. I'm also less sure if the sounds are good enough (I seek to pass the panel with this).

I also came up with a title: "Sadevakio" is Finnish for something like "The Rain Constant", trying to make some sort of a wordplay how it's always raining in cyberpunk settings.

--Eino

[Mykah]

Really like this remix (loved the original tune too of course), my suggestion is it could all be a bit louder - but I'm sure that's just because it's not been mastered yet.

I will be looking forward to hearing the mastered version, very much indeed!

[evktalo]

Thanks for the comment! It's nice to hear the mix is appreciated and get suggestions.

I have a severe lack of mastering chops, so the thing I'd do would be to push the limiter harder. Or try to even the levels between tracks during the mixing stage. Lots to learn anyway!

This was now about as loud as my previous mix (Clockwork Groove) that I submitted, which I compared to some released ReMixes (Mazedude and TheGuitahHero iirc) and it was ok in comparison I thought, maybe a little quieter. Any tips what tracks I should compare it to?

--Eino

[evktalo]

Final candidate 1: https://www.dropbox.com/s/g0yy0qbaa6...1-20120927.mp3

Several small adjustments. Tweaked bass mixing especially; tried to punch a hole into the lofi-timpani for the bass drum, also tweaked bass EQ to make room for bass drum, also tweaked the high EQ of the bass drum, and levels. Boosted the overall mix about 1db. Adjusted some background pads and stuff. Changed the drums in the "loud snare" section a little (snare/tom interplay).

I'm hopefully done, but am concerned: mixing, overall; are the leads solid enough.

--Eino

[evktalo]

Switched to mod review.

Concerns:

• mixing, overall
• overall eq
• are the leads solid enough

--Eino

[Rozovian]

Seems like the challenge paid off, this is a pretty cool sounding mix.

Biggest problem I hear in the mix is that the re's too great a difference between loud and soft instruments. Needs more levels mixing. Sound design is fine. Bass and snare are pretty loud, as are some of the lead plucks and things, while crashes and some backing things are too soft by comparison. There might be a need to do some eq work to soften or separate some instruments, I'm not sure it's actually necessary (tho it might help). Best to do the levels first and then see if you need to separate or muffle anything.

I think I hear source stuff throughout, tho it's heavily modified at times. I like it. Flows ok, nice adaptation, good stuff.

So yeah, levels mixing is the main concern I have for this, still needs some work on that. I would expect to see this thing posted tho, once fixed up. Nice work, dude.

[evktalo]

Many thanks for the speedy review! The snare seems to definitely jump out, and when I listened to the track on (bad) speakers, the bass seemed to do so too. The snare(s) are pretty bright which might be something to adjust.

I think the difference between foreground and background instruments creates a certain sense of space, but maybe that doesn't really work, or the difference is too steep. I'll start with tweaking the snare and bass and work from there, rest of the percussion and leads will probably be toned down a bit. Hopefully later today!

--Eino