[djpretzel]

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

[artemisjaeger]

The whole of the mix is fairly muddy. It's difficult to hear individual instruments because they're either drowning in reverb or are at the entirely wrong dynamics. In fact, the entire intro jumps from one dynamic to another much too often. The choir samples are grating to say the least. The prelude on Kefka's theme with the organ is the best part by far, including where the choir comes in (up until it becomes just the choir). The very end is also rather well done. The rest, though, just sounds very messy.

[Radiowar]

WOW, the writing here is incredible. Good job, both of you.

[derako]

Originally Posted by artemisjaeger

The whole of the mix is fairly muddy. It's difficult to hear individual instruments because they're either drowning in reverb or are at the entirely wrong dynamics.

Well I understand what you are saying but you have to understand that if you were to go hear something like this in an orchestral hall it would sound the same. I don't know what you mean about wrong dynamics and reverb. I hardly used any reverb on this piece.

In fact, the entire intro jumps from one dynamic to another much too often. The choir samples are grating to say the least.

The dynamic switch is part of the piece. This isn't supposed to be all beautiful and roses you know. Let's not forget who this Cantata is about. Kefka is an unpredictable madman basically. He's anything but stable and the music is trying to reflect that. I really don't understand what you are talking about when you say that mix is muddy and messy. There are a lot of notes in this piece and while the choir doesn't sound realistic to the T, I think it's pretty close. The instruments are supposed to be drowned out. The whole concept of the piece is a choir backed by orchestra. When you sing a solo with orchestra or piano would you want the instruments to drown the soloist out? So to close I understand and respect your opinion but don't forget also that all of this is an illusion and this isn't a real orchestra.

-Derek-

[cobaltstarfire]

I found this to be enjoyable, maybe a tad bit thicker than I prefer but that's just a personal preference. I think I like the middle bit the most, just because of the way the song is changed from the middle and has some nifty accidentals thrown in.

Originally Posted by artemisjaeger

The whole of the mix is fairly muddy.

I'm not sure you understand what "muddy" means.

[MaxFrost]

just gave it a listen, looking foward to a higher quality bitrate mp3 so I can get some of the grainyness out of the audio.

Wow. just...wow.

I'm speechless.

Excellent job, looking foward to the next movement.

also, the bass drum at the end...although a single instrument at the very end of the piece, is a very awesome endcap. I <3 big low end

[derako]

Originally Posted by MaxFrost

just gave it a listen, looking foward to a higher quality bitrate mp3 so I can get some of the grainyness out of the audio.

Wow. just...wow.

I'm speechless.

Excellent job, looking foward to the next movement.

also, the bass drum at the end...although a single instrument at the very end of the piece, is a very awesome endcap. I <3 big low end

First of all thank you for your comments. I would have already posted a HQ link for the audio but for some weird reason with my encoder there is an audio glitch at the end every time I encode over 128kbs. So I'm going to re-record everything and put together a HQ version for everyone. It'll sound exactly the same but it's going to take a little time. Again thank you for your support.

-Derek-

[artemisjaeger]

Originally Posted by derako

Well I understand what you are saying but you have to understand that if you were to go hear something like this in an orchestral hall it would sound the same.

Not at all. Listen to recordings of songs performed in orchestral halls.

The dynamic switch is part of the piece. This isn't supposed to be all beautiful and roses you know. Let's not forget who this Cantata is about. Kefka is an unpredictable madman basically. He's anything but stable and the music is trying to reflect that. I really don't understand what you are talking about when you say that mix is muddy and messy. There are a lot of notes in this piece and while the choir doesn't sound realistic to the T, I think it's pretty close. The instruments are supposed to be drowned out. The whole concept of the piece is a choir backed by orchestra. When you sing a solo with orchestra or piano would you want the instruments to drown the soloist out? So to close I understand and respect your opinion but don't forget also that all of this is an illusion and this isn't a real orchestra.

Alright, that's all well and fine, but it doesn't sound good the way you did it. I'm not saying that you didn't make choices in the piece - and if one of them was to have chaotic dynamic switches to represent an unpredictable madman, so be it, but it still doesn't sound good. Numerous pieces have choirs backed by orchestra (listen to some of Vaughan Williams' symphonies) and you will find that they do not drown out the orchestra so much as work with it. That is actually why enjoyed the ending and the part where the choir and orchestra comes back in after the organ solo - because they work well together dynamically and the articulation is still clear. And when your choir samples sound mechanical, you should expect some comments. They may be better than average, but they're by no means perfect.

[Dhsu]

Not so much a fan of unintelligible choir samples (perhaps the piece would have been better served by as an instrumental?), but I can definitely appreciate the complexity of the partwriting (gotta love that buzzword). After 4:36 = wow. Didn't really get the random key change at the end though.

[Sil]

Originally Posted by artemisjaeger

Numerous pieces have choirs backed by orchestra (listen to some of Vaughan Williams' symphonies) and you will find that they do not drown out the orchestra so much as work with it.

I know exactly what you mean, but what Vaughan Williams does in the Sea Symphony is not really yet possible with samples because he wrote it to have intelligible English that can actually be heard and understood. What we were going for here was more the unintelligible fugal style that just creates a wall of sound, which you really don't need to understand because the lyrics are just "Kyrie Eleison", but you make a good point about how when they come together everything is more coherent. Four separate parts at double forte is going to sound muddy no matter how you present it.