[djpretzel]

What did you think? Post your opinion of this ReMix.

[sgx]

It's really hard to review music sometimes when DJP describes it so well already. This is a great song. Nice guitar work along with really nice supporting instruments. This mix does what it sets out to do very well. Beautiful. Kinda didn't like the somewhat sudden ending fade out. A real ending would be nice. Other than that, this mix is stellar.

[Israfel]

The best part about this is probably the fantastic and very professional mixing on the guitar. The arrangement is nice too, although it's a bit repetitive.

I got my hopes up when djp mentioned that you played recorder in this mix, but it plays a rather small role. I only sort of think I even heard it at all. Oh well...

But anyway, very nice mix here.

[Abadoss]

A very enjoyable mix. My borther is a professional guitarist and I've had the chance to be able to learn how to properly pick apart guitar playing. The acoustic guitar was a nice choice, but I would have liked to experiment with what it would sound like on a classical. Mind you, the acoustic gives it a very distinctive feel that fits very nicely into this piece, but it would be fun to try it out.

As it was before mentioned, the recorder was a little hard to notice. It's not a major detriment to the song, but it the first couple times through, I was sitting waiting for it to come in.

I liked the mix on the guitar, it is very professional and quality, though I personally would have bumped it up just a hair more in the mix. It tends to be on the verge of being drowned out. Once again, the record would be nice to identify with a little more ease.

I enjoyed this piece and I hope that you make more. I like your sound and style a lot. I look forward to future pieces.

[danny B]

At first I thought this sounded really nice with the well-played acoustic part and the simple backing, but quickly lost interest. This seems to me like one of those songs that got posted simply because it sounded live/professional, whatever. Some notes seem to be out of tune, just enough to torture my ear for a split second, enough to sound like the player made a mistake. Maybe that was an artistic decision to bend the note, maybe it truly was a mistake. It just seems like some (not many) notes are out of tune, too many for a recorded performance.

That, and there really is no melodic or harmonic interpretation of the original ideas at hand. A few drum fills SOMEWHAT break the monotony, but it isn't enough to to break the vibe of a simple guitar melody reverbed to hell and placed over a cookie cutter band backing.

It's a pleasant song to listen to, just nothing special or interesting to really set it apart from the original in any way but sound quality.

[Metasquares]

The guitar sounds very professional. However, the mix seems... hollow in some way. It's more or less a guitar solo... Maybe it's just not my style, but I found it kind of bland.

[kaijin]

It's always good to see a friend's work posted. That being said, I'll be reviewing this from the standpoint of a musician rather than a friend, even though I will be defending the song in this post.

Eric hasn't been known to write the most amazing arrangements ever (though I will credit his help with my Radical Dreamers arrangement from chrono cross), but he's a very skilled player and composes some very beautiful works.

A lot of you haven't had a chance to know him and his playing, but I can vouch that his guitar playing is extremely clean and precise unless he decides to make a mistake. He's a perfectionist and I hate that about him.

Now to pick apart the piece. Eric's guitar playing is amazing and will probably continue to be for a very long time. However, the reverb isn't. He filled the holes with reverb and it just got to be too much. The song was repetitive, but then again, the original was like.. 45 seconds long. Go figure. It also bothered me that there was apparent copying and pasting for some parts. As for the guitar misnotes (I didn't hear any) and pitch bends, I probably wouldn't have done it any other way. If you were to question melodic interpretation, that's it right there. The harmonics aren't that impressive, but then again, they're not suppose to be. He wasn't trying to make the song into an epic piece, or try to bring out any feeling that wasn't originally intended. Instead, he was trying to shape the song using acoustic instrumentation and has succeded at that. The drums were bland and tended to drag on, but the fills were nicely thought out and cleverly placed. The string work was beautiful and held true to the original intent, though it wouldn't hurt to see it changed up.

Originally Posted by ManiacalSystem

This seems to me like one of those songs that got posted simply because it sounded live/professional, whatever. Some notes seem to be out of tune, just enough to torture my ear for a split second, enough to sound like the player made a mistake.

Knowing Eric, having worked with him before, he probably detuned the guitar slightly to give a live feel to this song. That would also explain the wet sound and the drowned reverb (along side the fact that he doesn't have a studio quality mic to record with, which makes things difficult). I know the fret/pick noises were most definitely left in for the same reasons. If you honestly don't like the sound though, oh well. I enjoyed it and welcomed every bit of it.

Although I recommeded the song be posted, it wasn't posted because of the fact that it sounded live/professional, but rather, based on the fact that it was well done. Whenever anyone performs live, and does a good job, it's definitely worth applauding. However, I wouldn't hold it against them. Especially when others who spent 3 hours of their precious lives following their noses to download fruity loops, and mario paint get their submissions posted only because our good friend Protricity heard them and thought they were the greatest works ever.

much love,
Kai.

[DaleNorth]

I agree with Kaijin. Desipte what you'd call nitpicks, its a solid (and very pretty piece). I like that the drums were kept simple, perfect for the arrangement. This is one of the best arrangements I've heard on OC in awhile- Eric set his mind to a goal and achieved it very nicely.

My only issues were with:
Very grainy software sounding reverb. Very rough and somewhat distracting. Its okay to be 'reverb heavy' if you're using quality processing, but it kinda hurts a piece if you're not.

Excess high frequency information. Probably a creative choice in EQing the guitar, so its understandable- but the mp3 encoder apparently had a difficult time with that one- crunchy artifacts everywhere.

Fade out :(

The first two have nothing to do with arranging, but are more technical 'nitpicks'. I say bravo, and I hope to hear more guitar from Eric.


Dale North
dale@oneupstudios.com

[kdashz]

This is definitely something every guitarist can appreciate... However, as mentioned, there were some "bends" that made the notes sound out of tune. Especially at the "high notes", you can tell distinctively that it's not right. And it sort of gets old a little fast... Either that or that's just because the original mix was alot more tranquil.

But then, great work overall, especially for the guitarist. Does sound a hell lot like a live performance guitar, but would probably be suited more for some pub/lounge band.

3/5 :)

[kLuTz]

Sounds like a real guitar because it is!!

Also, when you mentioned the icky high notes, sometimes, when you play live, and you're on a roll, you tend to leave the recording as it is. I'm not saying he did that here, just saying that sometimes, when you play live, and you're on a roll, you tend to leave the recording as it is, because it's a pain to record over, especially if the solo you recorded was long. Anyone who's recorded a long solo live knows what I'm talking about; unless you're a virtuouso unlike me.

Yu- "Eric," I mean, (whew, sounds a little weird), may not submit a lot of mixes, which is why you have to go his site and get em! Especially check out his originals. http://www.gamemusic.ca

As for the arrangement? It's awesome, the mixing is great; the sound quality perfect, the atmosphere gives a much appreciated nostalgic feeling if you've played the game, or even if you haven't, heh. In the time it took you to read this post you could've downloaded this, so don't waste your time!!

-kLuTz