[evktalo]

Final version

I did the level tweaks Rozovian (edit: and -Dan) suggested and eased up on the limiter a bit. The changes sounded good to me.

If you're interested in the Renoise project file, grab it here.

old ------------------------------

Final candidate 2: here

• adjusted EQ to be less overly bright
• mix the pipe/organ/thing a little lower in places to reduce monotony
• one additional drum fill

Workshop mod review time yo.

Source

Source breakdown:

The vocal melody, used without the drone note and canon/delay: used mainly with the "organ stab note" instrument. Introduced in full 00:07-00:19. Used almost throughout: 00:21-00:47, 01:06-01:08, 01:14-02:08. More sparsely during the last minute: 02:11-02:13, 02:17-02:27, 02:30-02:31, 02:35-02:36, 02:40-02:47, 02:52-02:56. Starts to vary the original melody by following the chord changes from the bass line around 01:57.

The lead is also based on the vocal melody line, most clearly 01:02-01:25-ish. Rest of the lead writing is "inspired by" rather than clearly referencing the original.

Panned bell from the source used as a panned atmospheric noise, introduced at 00:04, used 00:04-00:48, 01:30-01:44, with about half-speed rhythm during 01:45-02:05, and towards the outro again fading in from 02:48-3:00.

---- oldishish:

Final candidate 1: https://www.dropbox.com/s/rrh4kknr8i...e-20120820.mp3

Finished! Well, final candidate 1 mixdown. Not quite sure about the overall EQ, seemed quite bright compared to some reference ReMixes, and I tried to tone it down, but these other headphones are quite shitty, either I succeeded or I can't tell the difference. For finalizing the mix, apart from a bit of master EQ to done the bass down just a little bit, I just used Renoise's stock Maximizer that I suppose must act as a limitter as well, got a good boost and can't hear any clipping (myself).

(Other changes since the last version: shortened the intro a bit, tweaked levels/eqs of particular sounds, that's it.)

Source

Source breakdown:

The vocal melody, used without the drone note and canon/delay: used mainly with the "organ stab note" instrument. Introduced in full 00:07-00:19. Used almost throughout: 00:21-00:47, 01:06-01:08, 01:14-02:08. More sparsely during the last minute: 02:11-02:13, 02:17-02:27, 02:30-02:31, 02:35-02:36, 02:40-02:47, 02:52-02:56. Starts to vary the original melody by following the chord changes from the bass line around 01:57.

The lead is also based on the vocal melody line, most clearly 01:02-01:25-ish. Rest of the lead writing is "inspired by" rather than clearly referencing the original.

Panned bell from the source used as a panned atmospheric noise, introduced at 00:04, used 00:04-00:48, 01:30-01:44, with about half-speed rhythm during 01:45-02:05, and towards the outro again fading in from 02:48-3:00.

---- oldish:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wkc8uppxe9...e-20120725.mp3

Textures added. Just started trying out stuff with the idea of adding little synth loop sort of thing to the background (kind of drawing inspiration from Brian Eno on David Bowie's "Heroes") and it turned out to be lots of fun. To me it seems it changed the piece quite a bit, but it was good to take that leap.

The intro, while better, probably needs something to be done with the volume levels/fadeins, maybe. Also the main lead probably needs mixing tweaks, it's kind of overpowering/uneven. Turned down the bass a bit and I think that was good.

Comments reaaaally appreciated on:
* Production
* Sounds/soundfield (too basic sounds? too skeletal/empty?)
* Source usage (in the second half)

The goal is to get this posted.

--Eino

---- old:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/15lm1nfpuv...e-20120724.mp3

More tweaks to the sound & mixing. I really should do that texture-adding that has been suggested so many times.

---- older:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/b2o1p8cqux...2020120707.mp3

Comments from last time pretty good, and I actually can and should still apply them. I've tweaked the sound since last time and felt like I'd post this for some more comments. I do have things in mind to work on this, but not sure when I will, so I'll put this here for the time being. I'm happy with the structure - tried to extend it, but it felt forced.

---- oldest:

This was a PRC compo piece (#174), which I've since extended. This was a pretty fun source in the competition, since it is so minimal. There's just one melody and the bell. I tried to incorporate the bell by playing this "atmospheric noise" sample in a similar manner the bell is used in the source. Other than that, I have the "stabby" organ in the right playing (a variation of) the melody most of the time. The proper lead also plays and varies it during the first half. There's less source in the second half, although it too is based on a variation of the melody on the organ.

This is done with the Renoise tracker, and actually mostly with the demo samples. Hopefully that's not a concern.

Sooo onto my concerns:

* Production (I don't know what I'm doing or what I should be doing, so any comments and pointers are welcome)
* Structure (is the ending ok?)
* Sounds/soundfield (too basic sounds? too skeletal/empty?)
* Source usage (in the second half)

I'm personally happy with the tracker sound, especially the lead, but please tell how that sounds to you.

Thanks!

edit: I should also state my goal like Altermentality did in their Earthworm Jim mix post; I definitely want to submit this to the panel, eventually, so I need some ears!

--Eino

[SonicThHedgog]

Submit this it sounds good to me, i wonder why people ignored this post........

[mak]

Well man it's good but short. And I cant say anything about quality listening youtube. I'll be honest, I don't understand point of full midi mixes, but this one pretty good. Make it longer in time and create some new melody with new instrument, maybe. Can say more if I hear mp3. Good for the start.

[evktalo]

Hey cool, some replies! Thanks, SonicThHedgog (took a while to type that right), I don't think it's quite up to the par to the posted ReMixes yet. But glad you enjoyed it!

mak, you probably listened to the source. Click the box above the "source" link, the one which says "click to listen".

--Eino

[mak]

Originally Posted by evktalo

mak, you probably listened to the source. Click the box above the "source" link, the one which says "click to listen".

Yeah! It wasn't appears on my screen for some reason.
Well.. I was right) I like bass line, I like mix idea. I don't like sound. To midi. You may change those instruments on something more real. But! You may change nothing!! More High in EQ, something "FM-7 soundlike" in solo(left), something like marimba(maybe) in right, more realistic snare. And submit!! And how about more cymbals? I think those will give some individuality charm to your mix, cause I herd pretty much "soundlike" mixes.. Anyway.. I like your vision! Good work!
P.S. What a creep I am!!

[SonicThHedgog]

yes more realistic instruments, if you like you can shoot over some midi and i can add some intruments form the eastweast library.

[evktalo]

Thanks for the replies again! So far everyone has mentioned the plain/basic/cheap sounds (here and elsewhere), so they do need to be beefed up. I don't want to have a realistic sound, I want to keep the tracker feel, but at the same time it shouldn't sound plain. Mak, those were some inspiring ideas, marimba could well work! =) SonicThHedgog, I don't have any midi.. it's made with Renoise tracker. Thanks for the offer anyhow!

--Eino

[KoeN]

Originally Posted by evktalo

Thanks for the replies again! So far everyone has mentioned the plain/basic/cheap sounds (here and elsewhere), so they do need to be beefed up. I don't want to have a realistic sound, I want to keep the tracker feel, but at the same time it shouldn't sound plain. Mak, those were some inspiring ideas, marimba could well work! =) SonicThHedgog, I don't have any midi.. it's made with Renoise tracker. Thanks for the offer anyhow!

--Eino

Dude, I think tracker really suits this arrangement, and for what it's worth, I don't feel that it's too short! It's sounding great through my cheapo Logitech 2.1 system. The rhythms are what I enjoy most about it; I'm jamming along with it right now

[evktalo]

Thanks! I'll probably try extending it, but not just for length's sake. If it won't work, then that's the structure.

--Eino

[E-Bison]

Wow! Interesting. I love the gaps in the rhythmic patterns. I am really excited to see where this one goes.

I realize your style is very synthetic, and that's what makes it strong. A few textural punches and builds could expand your stereo image and add. You are already doing this with the filtered noise sound, but more variety could be cool.