[Red Shadow]

sometimes it takes listening for sounds instead of listening for instruments

[Emunator]

@Red Shadow: I think the unrealistic sequencing was what put me off more than the unrealistic samples. The sounds used were, I suppose, appropriate enough but the way certain notes are played on the piano, there's no swing/sustain/believable transition... whatever you want to call it, between the short notes, especially with the piano. The low-quality samples and robotic sequencing accentuate each others' weakness and make them more blatant.

I could forgive the samples if the everything wasn't quantized so rigidly, but when those two issues culminate into one song, it's an issue that affects the listenability for me, and I've never had that problem with Ziwtra's mixes in the past, despite the fact that he's using the same samples as always. He's my most listened to OCR artist on last.fm currently so I've obviously got nothing against the kind of music he usually makes. I'm not sure what happened here :\

[Sammy D]

Zwitra's Rain in Chicago is one of my favorites on this site, but I don't think I will download this.

[Brandon Strader]

Originally Posted by Sammy D

Zwitra's Rain in Chicago is one of my favorites on this site, but I don't think I will download this.

He put hard work into it and released it to you for free. There's no reason you shouldn't download it. Sure, it has its flaws, but it's a good song.

[ziwtra]

I'm always somewhat amused by the amount people have to say about sample quality... is the reason we listen to music really the production values? : )

Thank you for thinking and listening.

[Patrick Burns]

This, along with the drizzly landscape outside my window, helped along a wonderfully tranquil mid-afternoon nap after my classes today. Thanks ziwtra.

[OA]

great arrangement, really nice, relaxing, and peaceful. I do think sound and sample quality plays a part of music, otherwise why bother with different instruments? Low fidelity is great and definitely has a place, but with music being a form of expression, having a wider tonal palate is just like a larger vocabulary.

Regardless, excellent work.

[WillRock]

I'm of two minds about this one.

I like the arrangement for sure, but the production and soundscape just isn't meshing with me. Distortion going on in the drums, altho I know its a style preference... I don't think the guitar or the piano are amazing in terms of sample quality, but I don't think they bring down the mix as much as people are saying... I wasn't sure the piano sounded quite right to me tho, a little bit too upfront for my liking.

Not sure i'm a fan of the mix myself, but for sure its a solid effort that others will like, and I have plenty of Ziwtra in my itunes to keep me happy for now :D

[[Lyrics] Serotriptomine]

I do very much so love Final Fantasy VIII music. And this does do it's source justice when it comes to actually enjoying the song and not particularly judging it by quality or what have you.

I for one am one happy listener to have had the pleasure of experiencing this piece of work.

[Tasogare]

Oooh, I like this a lot! I will agree with others that aren't fans of the low-fi production, but the melody and overall feel of the song is just great. Really mellow, relaxing, kind of ethereal...Great stuff, just wish it were a little cleaner and it'd be perfect.