Yoshi T&G, Kirby's Dreamland 3 - 'Kirbland' [Grass Land 2, Ripple Field 3, Sand Canyon 3, FG (YT&G)]

HOLA!

I took a request from a guy on twitter (DeucesWildMedia) to remix Kirby's Dreamland 3. This is what I came up with so far in a Jazz Fusion style, with some hefty influence from

(with supah bass playa Jaco Pastorius) while combining the style I used in a previously posted OC ReMix belonging to Chimpazilla and I. Apparently "Flower Garden" from Yoshi Touch & Go fit rather well so I put it in too. Thought I'd let you guys take a look rather than work on it in private =P Feel free to chime in with any suggestions. I'm thinking of incorporating a drum solo after this, then maybe I'll taper off the dynamics and slowly build it back up, using some notes and ideas from the first breakdown section.

Grass Land 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLnqF9KKvTA (main)
Sand Canyon 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt5arkk5lVo (cameo)
Ripple Field 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub0iWyJYLko (main-ish)
Flower Garden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=refalB4VM6o (cameo)

V1: https://app.box.com/s/jxs7p28ff4cimzvc58fdwf442ctomk9g
Final Version: https://app.box.com/s/50yyxi6hzdwsjqzg9d44bfudh424ebd5



Source Breakdown:
0:03.28 - 0:08.95, 0:09.77 - 0:13.84, 0:16.26 - 0:21.83 = Grass Land 2 (0:00.00 - 0:06.47) [bass and piano]
0:22.75 - 0:27.61 = Grass Land 2 (0:06.47 - 0:12.88)
0:29.24 - 0:38.96, 0:42.21 - 0:53.76 = Ripple Field 3 (0:00.00 - 0:25.36)
0:42.21 - 0:48.69 = Flower Garden (Yoshi) (0:00.00 - 0:26.70) [background sine wave]
1:04.90 - 1:06.91 = Sand Canyon 3 (0:00.00 - 0:02.45) [Different "mood"]
1:08.15 - 1:15.58 = Grass Land 2 (0:00.00 - 0:06.47)
1:17.88 - 1:19.91 = Sand Canyon 3 (0:00.00 - 0:02.45) [Different "mood"; bass]
1:21.13 - 1:32.68, 1:34.10 - 1:45.04 = Ripple Field 3 (0:00.00 - 0:25.36) [Mostly retained bass, with solos + interpretation]
1:47.07 - 2:13.01 = Wild solos!
2:00.05 - 2:01.66, 2:06.52 - 2:13.01 = Grass Land 2 (0:00.00 - 0:06.47)
2:13.01 - 2:22.34 = Grass Land 2 (0:12.88 - 0:24.09) [bass solo]
2:25.99 - 2:31.87 = Grass Land 2 (0:12.88 - 0:24.09)
2:35.71 - 2:37.75 = Sand Canyon 3 (0:00.00 - 0:02.45) [Different "mood"]
2:42.21 - 2:47.07, 2:48.70 - 2:52.75, 2:55.17 - 3:00.74 = Grass Land 2 (0:00.00 - 0:06.47) [bass and piano]
3:01.66 - 3:06.50 = Grass Land 2 (0:00.00 - 0:06.47)
3:06.50 - 3:32.09 = Havona-style ending

Grass Land 2: 5.67 + 4.07 + 5.57 + 4.86 + 7.43 + 1.61 + 6.49 + 9.33 + 5.88 + 4.86 + 4.05 + 5.57 + 4.84
= 70.23
70.23/212.09 = 33.11%

Ripple Field 3: 9.72 + 11.55 + 11.55 + 10.94
= 43.76
43.76/212.09 = 20.63%

Sand Canyon 3: 2.01 + 2.03 + 2.04
= 6.08
6.08/212.09 = 2.87%

Flower Garden:
= 6.48
6.48/212.09 = 3.06%

Total (note the Flower Garden overlap):
120.07/212.09 = 56.61%

Never played Yoshi Touch & Go, but I have played Kirby's Dream Land 3. That is one of the best Kirby games with one of the best soundtracks ever made. So you're going to put Sand Canyon in this as well? I'm looking forward to hearing that. This sounds really good so far. And I'm digging that bass.

Thanks! =)

Sand Canyon is more of a small cameo; it's in the breakdown section, though a bit liberal. It shows up in the piano melody before the explicit Grass Land 2 melody in the breakdown section, and in the bass right before the breakdown section ends. Sounds like I could tweak it a bit to match the original notes some more. I wanted to adapt it to the new harmonies.

Yeah, the bass is my favorite instrument here. Weather Report really made a fantastic decision when they asked Pastorius to join, so I'm using a Jaco bass to emulate him.

Edited January 26, 2015 by timaeus222

Really nice so far! Great lead sounds, great bass and piano too! Looking forward to the final version.

I'm hoping to see this finished, I really like the style and the bass line too, it takes a lot of presence in the mix. I think the drum solo could be a good idea because at the moment i'ts maybe a little bit short but, let's see how you do it. So far very good

Nice light feel touch to most things. I feel that the background resonant arp in the back during the break is a bit generic sounding especially when you consider that at the beginning of the breakdown there is this wonderful crystalline sound at first. Though that bass does deserve some special mention as it sounds wonderful. You're giving it a lot space too. You could go for a drum solo after if you wanted, but I think it is going to require a soft touch as too much energy and the track might feel like it is bouncing energy around too much. Too little initially might cause a loss of too much momentum. Perhaps a drum solo to take the track down? I dunno. But what I'm hearing I'm liking so far.

Hey T, I'm really liking they synth leads you're using here, do you mind telling me what they are (if they are presets), or sharing the presets with me? I really like the lead that starts at 0:28.

Hey T, I'm really liking they synth leads you're using here, do you mind telling me what they are (if they are presets), or sharing the presets with me? I really like the lead that starts at 0:28.

One of them is the "Breakdown Lead" from zircon's soundset "Zebra Tetralogy", and the other, I think, was Space Runner or something from Zebranautic Revolution (Vol. 1 of 2!). They're slightly modified though, where the former layer now has vibrato, and the latter layer has vibrato adjusted to the same LFO rate (1/4 sync, Rate knob = 134) and a bit of an upper treble high shelf lowering.

And thanks, APZX. I'll consider spicing up the 3o3 a little, though I might actually just replace the wind SFX, and possibly the 3o3, with a big-ish pad.

Edited January 27, 2015 by timaeus222

One of them is the "Breakdown Lead" from zircon's soundset "Zebra Tetralogy", and the other, I think, was Space Runner or something from Zebranautic Revolution (Vol. 1 of 2!). They're slightly modified though, where the former layer now has vibrato, and the latter layer has vibrato adjusted to the same LFO rate (1/4 sync, Rate knob = 134) and a bit of an upper treble high shelf lowering.

Awesome, thanks! I thought I heard a brief bit of Avien in there too (one of my favorites from the zircon presets). Oh and I love breakdown, another favorite!

Awesome, thanks! I thought I heard a brief bit of Avien in there too (one of my favorites from the zircon presets). Oh and I love breakdown, another favorite!

Yeah, the Avien lead was an accompaniment/countermelody.

EDIT: Oh yeah, I used something from Xenos Soundworks's "Forever 80's" Zebra library (just $6!) called "LD Sunglasses" (the panning breakdown section lead).

Edited January 27, 2015 by timaeus222

I'll get back to this soon; this crazy week is over.

= moar time

Had a good inspiring night last night. Got through the drum solo and a middle low-ish energy section. The 3o3 arp is a little different, and a pad was added to 0:55 - 1:20. Tempo's now 148 instead of 152. I'm thinking of refining the drums some more later to match the energy of the sections. I'm probably going to also double the length of 2:12 - 2:26 and put 2:19 - 2:26 at the last fourth of that.

https://app.box.com/s/qhf80ytlegmdnafhp2zzet8283o660vw - V2

Edited February 15, 2015 by timaeus222

Challenge complete! :U

I did a wind-down ending, reworked some part writing in the middle, and refined the kick and snare mixing. Total worktime: about 35 hours. Not too shabby! I may go back and adjust some of the bass playing, but otherwise it's about done!

https://app.box.com/s/e2z9qst2rw7iozz85zcbqzstkr48g4tr ~ V2-3

Gonna be thinking of a name soon.

EDIT: "Kirbland"!

Yep, it's done!

Final version (after slightly revised bass humanization): https://app.box.com/s/50yyxi6hzdwsjqzg9d44bfudh424ebd5

Grass Land 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLnqF9KKvTA (main)
Sand Canyon 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt5arkk5lVo (cameo)
Ripple Field 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub0iWyJYLko (main-ish)
Flower Garden: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=refalB4VM6o (cameo)

---

Here's the source breakdown, and it's a doozy!

Source Breakdown:
0:03.28 - 0:08.95, 0:09.77 - 0:13.84, 0:16.26 - 0:21.83 = Grass Land 2 (0:00.00 - 0:06.47) [bass and piano]
0:22.75 - 0:27.61 = Grass Land 2 (0:06.47 - 0:12.88)
0:29.24 - 0:38.96, 0:42.21 - 0:53.76 = Ripple Field 3 (0:00.00 - 0:25.36)
0:42.21 - 0:48.69 = Flower Garden (Yoshi) (0:00.00 - 0:26.70) [background sine wave]
1:04.90 - 1:06.91 = Sand Canyon 3 (0:00.00 - 0:02.45) [Different "mood"]
1:08.15 - 1:15.58 = Grass Land 2 (0:00.00 - 0:06.47)
1:17.88 - 1:19.91 = Sand Canyon 3 (0:00.00 - 0:02.45) [Different "mood"; bass]
1:21.13 - 1:32.68, 1:34.10 - 1:45.04 = Ripple Field 3 (0:00.00 - 0:25.36) [Mostly retained bass, with solos + interpretation]
1:47.07 - 2:13.01 = Wild solos!
2:00.05 - 2:01.66, 2:06.52 - 2:13.01 = Grass Land 2 (0:00.00 - 0:06.47)
2:13.01 - 2:22.34 = Grass Land 2 (0:12.88 - 0:24.09) [bass solo]
2:25.99 - 2:31.87 = Grass Land 2 (0:12.88 - 0:24.09)
2:35.71 - 2:37.75 = Sand Canyon 3 (0:00.00 - 0:02.45) [Different "mood"]
2:42.21 - 2:47.07, 2:48.70 - 2:52.75, 2:55.17 - 3:00.74 = Grass Land 2 (0:00.00 - 0:06.47) [bass and piano]
3:01.66 - 3:06.50 = Grass Land 2 (0:00.00 - 0:06.47)
3:06.50 - 3:32.09 = Havona-style ending

Grass Land 2: 5.67 + 4.07 + 5.57 + 4.86 + 7.43 + 1.61 + 6.49 + 9.33 + 5.88 + 4.86 + 4.05 + 5.57 + 4.84
= 70.23
70.23/212.09 = 33.11%

Ripple Field 3: 9.72 + 11.55 + 11.55 + 10.94
= 43.76
43.76/212.09 = 20.63%

Sand Canyon 3: 2.01 + 2.03 + 2.04
= 6.08
6.08/212.09 = 2.87%

Flower Garden:
= 6.48
6.48/212.09 = 3.06%

Total (note the Flower Garden overlap):
120.07/212.09 = 56.61%

MOD REVIEW

Ha, givin' yourself a challenge with a bunch of different sources, eh? Well I'm going to rely on the breakdown you've got and say there's enough source, and it sounds like the sources are meshed together well enough (that is, I don't hear any problematic cases of the dreaded medley-itis).

The production is pretty decent, but I have to question your overall choice of instruments and their respective use of range, here. While on their own each instrument is a good choice, when put together the song as a whole becomes very high frequency-heavy, which makes the song sound like there's a constant "hiss" going on. The synths nearly all cover a high range, and the piano accompaniment often uses the high range, as well. The hi hats are also using up the same frequency space, so it sounds too busy in that frequency.

On a related note, there seems to be a lack of mid-range in this track, as well. The bass could use a little more support too, but it's not too bad. Mid-range needs some love, though, so perhaps bring down some synths (like your pads) so the middle gets covered better (that would help your high overload, as well). Otherwise the track sounds empty, even though there's a lot going on in there.

Otherwise the track is alright. That high frequency overload and midrange emptiness would get this track a 'NO - Resub' on the panel as it is, though. Fix er' up and I think it would be alright.

The production is pretty decent, but I have to question your overall choice of instruments and their respective use of range, here. While on their own each instrument is a good choice, when put together the song as a whole becomes very high frequency-heavy, which makes the song sound like there's a constant "hiss" going on. The synths nearly all cover a high range, and the piano accompaniment often uses the high range, as well. The hi hats are also using up the same frequency space, so it sounds too busy in that frequency.

Could be my multi-band compression doing that, but I could also check the treble more closely and do some notch EQs. I didn't think the multi-band compression was that intense, but I'll try a 50% mix instead. Or maybe it was the sweeping pad that got hissier.

On a related note, there seems to be a lack of mid-range in this track, as well. The bass could use a little more support too, but it's not too bad. Mid-range needs some love, though, so perhaps bring down some synths (like your pads) so the middle gets covered better (that would help your high overload, as well). Otherwise the track sounds empty, even though there's a lot going on in there.

I'll check, but I don't understand. It almost sounds like you want me to make the midrange even hollower, which would be weird. Do you mean lower the volume of the pad a little, raise its midrange a little, and lower its treble a little? About how hollow IS the midrange for you? And are there specific time stamps where you think I should focus on?

I'm actually not hearing a midrange or treble issue in the sense that I don't hear a scooped feel to what's here now (so I think it's more the partwriting than the mixing), and I'm not cringing from the treble, so I'll have to ask someone else to check that too.

Edited March 19, 2015 by timaeus222

Sorry I wasn't clear - by bringing something down I mean possibly transpose an instrument or two down an octave, so as to have it out of the high range and cover your mid-range better. Your mixing and volumes are fine. The 'hissing' is nothing more than overcrowding in the highs. That's just how I hear lots of activity in the 1k+ range.

Oh, okay, so the mixing feels fine, but the partwriting makes things feel imbalanced in the midrange vs. treble. I'll try out new octaves; I actually like the airiness of the high pad though, so if that airiness doesn't stay up there on a lower octave, I might instead raise the midrange up a little bit on the "pad" (the midrange portion is a distant bell synth) and synth leads first (the leads probably could use a little more 1000 Hz or so, and with the parallel compression it should be noticeable even on smaller edits). I've had plenty more happening in the treble before in past mixes, so I'm not concerned about clutter there in the mixing, but I might also try lowering the first synth leads down an octave (besides the sine wave).

Edited March 19, 2015 by timaeus222

There we go! Final revised version:

https://app.box.com/s/50yyxi6hzdwsjqzg9d44bfudh424ebd5

I did a few midrange EQ fixes and made some partwriting in the midrange louder or more busy.

Submitted!