OverClocked ReMix...

PixelPanic · #1 05-05-2012, 12:03 AM

PixelPanic · #2 05-06-2012, 11:35 PM

Here's a finished version

An easy-listening chippy (easy-chip?) remix of my favorite Pokemon song, Goldenrod City

Still accepting criticism! In about a week I'm going to do mod review, but I definitely need criticisms to get me ready! Come on guys!

Chimpazilla · #3 05-07-2012, 12:26 AM

Hey PP! It's very cute... I don't know the source... but it sounds really really sparse and repetitive, and the plain synths I predict will be a problem (I usually have this problem myself, working on that). There are some chords that are, well, discordant. And the drums are very simple, judges hate that. It seems you've got a good start... but it will need more work for sure. I like the arp that starts at 1:48, some more interesting stuff like that wouldn't hurt!

Good luck and keep at it.

PixelPanic · #4 05-07-2012, 12:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chimpazilla

Hey PP! It's very cute... I don't know the source... but it sounds really really sparse and repetitive, and the plain synths I predict will be a problem (I usually have this problem myself, working on that). There are some chords that are, well, discordant. And the drums are very simple, judges hate that. It seems you've got a good start... but it will need more work for sure. I like the arp that starts at 1:48, some more interesting stuff like that wouldn't hurt!

Good luck and keep at it.

I'm feelin the same thing on the synths, I want to keep it chippy and I'm working on a way to incorporate more layers.

The discordant chords I feel give the song a thin layer of jazz to it, which is kinda what I'm tryin to do with the easy-listening part. Not too structurally limited, but still nice sounding. (Also I love having seconds in chords)

And yes, I believe I have 2 drum patterns in there, haha

timaeus222 · #5 05-07-2012, 02:53 AM

I agree with chimpazilla. Try having some more high quality synths in there. If you want the 8-bit sound, be creative with glitchy effects or something. The drums, however, don't have to be 8-bit drums. Neither do the synths. You can still have expressive synths for 8-bit songs. Just add vibrato and maybe some pulse width modulation.

imazi643 · #6 05-09-2012, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timaeus222

Try having some more high quality synths in there. If you want the 8-bit sound, be creative with glitchy effects or something. The drums, however, don't have to be 8-bit drums. Neither do the synths. You can still have expressive synths for 8-bit songs. Just add vibrato and maybe some pulse width modulation.

Agreed. Great example here, one of my favorite ReMixes of all time

: http://ocremix.org/remix/OCR02321/

Actually, I think it's of the same song you're doing.

PixelPanic · #7 05-10-2012, 12:35 AM

Try THIS on for size!

I do admit the synths are still a little generic, but I think I generally improved the mixing and arrangement, as well as doing some fun stuff along the way.

imazi643 · #8 05-10-2012, 12:38 AM

I think the melody needs to have a bit more prominence volume-wise. Otherwise, pretty good track!

EnemyOnion · #9 05-10-2012, 05:07 AM

I'll pop in here, I suppose. I'm not going to open up and compare your music to something else...THAT is wrong [to everyone reading this].

I highly appreciate people who have a passion for this kind of stuff...Pokemon music is great. I actually really like the simplicity of the voices you originally chose...Sure it could use some more architecture but that is not what is important at the moment. I hear a lot of remixes people post up here and it seems everyone is missing the point...The critics are missing the point...

Yeah, you can say, "this has a great beat!" Probably 80% (at the lowest) of people in the world have some sense of rhythm. We also have ears for what "sounds" are pleasing. So, I hear people say "Oh, that synth you used...Nah...The cow bell...More cow bell...And that snare...It just doesn't FEEL right..." Does this sound familiar? This is all based on preference. Gratned, there are people who do have an ear for production and that is awesome. Mixing-wise, all I want to ask you to do for now is to balance out the levels because you have digital distortion in the section after 1:33. You can either turn the two lead unison voices down or normalize everything manually as a whole. Production is important...But that's after you've expressed your idea...A-L-W-A-Y-S...After

So...Forget about production. Work with MIDI if you want! I'm going to tell you that you actually have a good idea here...The direction of the song is clean and it sounds like you had a goal. The bass notes and the melody actually complement each other very nicely in rhythm. I actually very much enjoy what is happening in a way...

Chords. Notes. Melodies. Harmonies. Etc. These are the things that make a song...Take them away and you have a background drum track, ambience, sound effects, or people talking. What is wrong here is the chord structure. The arpeggios do not compliment the intended chord structure...And the chords don't support the melody in theory. Theory, as in music theory. Music theory, as in what does not offend the ears. It sounds like you have counterpoint happening here which is clever! But the intended harmonies don't work...They offend the chord structure and they distract the distinction of the melody.

I am not trying to sound cool or come across as some reputable musician to you...To anyone. I could not care any less about my reputation in places like these. I am making my own way as a musician and I know that I will succeed because I already am. So, for what it's worth, I want you to trust that I am not biased, jealous, prejudice, opinionated, mean, kind, or even passionate. I am just someone who knows what he's talking about.

This is a discussion that goes far beyond the forums and it would most likely not be worth my time to explain in detail. If you're all about ACTION over TALK...Then I'd be happy to take a MIDI of your tune (without any percussion) and give it back to you with an acceptable melodic structure. I'd like to see if you could hear the difference. I just want to help, that's all.

PixelPanic · #10 05-10-2012, 10:18 AM

I'm feelin what you're saying man, and yeah I have since changed that one weirdo chord (it was starting to bother ME, the one defending it) and thanks bunches for pointing out that distortion! I believe I have fixed it, but I'm glad someone pointed it out

And while this may be a somewhat awkward place to begin waxing theory, the weirdo chord was definitely wrong when I started thinking about it. At first, the chord is represented as a Third apart, but then that Third is doubled, making it a sixth apart! Like, WTF was I thinkin??? That makes the chord way different! I mean, it's possible, but it's awkward changing the properties of a chord mid-chord :P