ReMix:Mega Man X3 "Revolutions" 4:16

By Beatdrop

Arranging the music of one song...

"Opening Stage"

Primary Game: Mega Man X3 (Capcom , 1995, SNES), music by Kinuyo Yamashita

Posted 2008-06-21, evaluated by djpretzel


I've been having a blast posting submissions lately as it seems we've had a string of epic masterpieces and collaborations, with some unusual but also creative deviations thrown in for good measure. Hopefully you've read and & enjoyed our previous interviews with Piano Squall, McVaffe, and Tim Wright. Well, we've got another one for you, as Beatdrop makes a fantastic return with a very special ReMix.

Way back in July of 2001, a then-15 Dain Olsen sent in a mix of the 'Opening Stage' theme from Mega Man X3, and it was posted, thus beginning a seven-year journey of numerous Beatdroppings that each upped the ante - as well as the decibel level - culminating in this latest mix, which revisits the exact same source material Dain started out with way back when. Hence 'Revolutions', also the title of his upcoming album. During those seven years, Dain's not only gotten better, but his hard work's paid off, as he got the opportunity to have his track featured on one of Konami's DDR games. You can read all about it in the full interview, where Dain shares an early gaming memory:

"My most concrete memory has to be Super Mario Bros. on NES, though. I remember the first time I played it quite vividly. My brother and I were upstairs trying to fall asleep because it was past our bedtime, and we heard something... different coming from downstairs. Went down to check it out, and my parents were trying their hands at SMB on an NES they'd just inherited from my uncle, if I remember correctly. We freaked the hell out, of course, and they let us stay up later to play it."

I remember the first time I saw SMB at my uncle's house, and it was also a bit of a revelation at the time, too. Good times; Larry's hooked the interview up with some Youtube vids of Dain's DDR work, a brief interview w/ Dain at Kawaiicon, and more, so check it out.

Now, onto the mix. What can I say? Listening to Dain's original mix from 2001, this isn't just an upgrade but a full overhaul, and it's plain to see how much he's developed as an artist. His initial mix did illustrate a firm grasp on the basics, and still shows that even at fifteen he had an ear for arranging, but both his arrangement and production skills have exponentially improved since, and this update represents both evolution AND revolution. It's easy to see why Konami dug his original work, as the direction he's gone in is definitely danceable & accessible, but also features surprising depth and, increasingly, more twists, turns & transitions. This mix intros with a deep hum, follow by strummed bell arpeggios and delicate, delayed piano before a huge sub drop hit at 0'36" (note the piano warble immediately afterwards, as if the piano was melting from the hit) segueing into a build and - you guessed it - beat drop @ 0'58". Dain's beats have gotten more syncopated and ornate over time, and the machine groove here is fantastic. The rapid, strummed/flammed synth fx that come in add even more rhythmic variety, and 1'55" is a juggernaut of a transition.

That's the first two minutes for you, and that alone should be enough. Suffice to say, Dain's revolution is one you don't wanna miss; he's been dropping OC ReMix beats for almost seven years now - a true veteran - and he just keeps getting better. Grab the mix then read the interview - or vice versa - but don't miss out, either way. Awesome.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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phantasia
on 2011-03-28 19:43:10

This is one of my favorite songs on ocremix. It's simply kick-ass. You did a great job with it. Love the loud squirmy synth in the last crescendo, it really kicks the song up a few crazy steps. Keep it up man, I love your work.

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Crulex
on 2010-12-17 11:24:29

Interesting piece, starts off slow and calmish, then hits a good beat around 1:00. Gets really crazy around 2:00 and yet mostly it seems spread out enough to overwhelm and congest everything. The pacing is great and those winding electronics booms in right after 3:00 and good lead up to a finish around the 4;00's. This ReMix is great and brings in great stuff around every minute so that it doesn't become the stale type of electronic. Awesome.

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42
on 2009-12-30 20:56:32
Yow, this is hot! It's a well-oiled machine, and that oil is aflame and burning with a heat that could melt diamond.

:3 LoL. I agree that this is some real smoothly oiled electronica and it's really cool.

The intro is also awesome. It starts off hollow and fills itself in like a time lapse photography of a painter starting with a blank canvass.

Texturally, this is very interesting; it just feels so continuous and solidified. Even while listening to a transition between sections, they don't seem like transitions, which is weird. As far as soundscapes, this does an whole lot while within extreme limits and that's pretty impressive.

All in all, this is a really incredible mix that shouldn't be mixed.

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Marmiduke
on 2009-06-09 10:46:44

Yow, this is hot! It's a well-oiled machine, and that oil is aflame and burning with a heat that could melt diamond.

It's intense and perfectly executed. Even though the melody didn't shine as brightly as I usually prefer, a few seconds of listening and I completely forget. Dripping from every pore with professionalism and downright asskickery. This is one you can just sit back and experience; there's no point thinking about it. Over-analysing something this good would be an impractical, non-productive waste of everyone's time. Beatdrop just keeps getting better.

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OA
on 2009-05-04 12:33:59

Excellent mix. From the detuned piano intro to the perfect synthwork, this is complete quality. I love the descending synth line that get doubled a little bit as it progresses especially, and all the filters going crazy here.

Super pro.

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Flare4War
on 2009-01-26 18:27:06
fantastic beatdrop. How did you do the audio editing on the piano part in the beginning-between the chopping and the pitch raising? I really really liked that part specifically.

I've been listening to this a lot lately. Fantastic!

I'm in agreement here. I was blown away by the intro, and the level of fidelity these mixers are attaining to is get to by really incredible.

Still listen to this one all the time.

Outstanding arrangement.

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Malaki-LEGEND.sys
on 2009-01-26 15:39:37

There's a reason why Beatdrop gets his work in DDR. It's creative, and it has staying power. I think I turn this track on at least once when ever I sift through my OC Remix folder. Every section has a pretty awesome sound and I especially love the part when the intro lands into the first section at 0:43 and has that "reactor build up" feel to it.

This track doesn't disappoint. Nice job.

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metaphist
on 2008-09-04 16:28:39

By far my favorite Beatdrop track...I can't keep it off repeat ;)

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Delfin
on 2008-08-28 19:55:27

I've been a long-time semi-frequent visitor to OCRemix but never took the time to register, but figured it's about time I do so, and to take advantage of being registered, I thought I should make a small comment here about this little track from Beatdrop;

I'm amazed, really.

I've downloaded the years old releases for MMX3 by beatdrop before and always thought they have a bit of bad sounds, making them sound a bit amateurish, but this track? No way.

I'm impressed that from 7years ago to today, there is a huge difference in Beatdrops sound, and it's for the better in my opinion.

This is easily one of my favorite OCR tracks I've downloaded and I'm glad to hear someone who's been around for so long, to improve so much.

Great work, Beatdrop.

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DragonAvenger
on 2008-08-13 13:59:20

MMX3 has awesome music. This is a fantastic mix, and a great return for Beatdrop. Great adaption of the source, really driving. Great job.

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Beatdrop
on 2008-07-07 07:47:19

Remind me to send you the FLP file for the intro of the song sometime. But to put it in writing, the intro was rendered as a wave file to be loaded into the main project, but itself consists of a sampler loaded with a grand piano, one loaded with an e-piano, and an organ. I rendered the section containing the piano notes I wanted to work with, and rendered it to an audio file. This audio file was then loaded into two instances of FL Slicer and two instances of FL Granulizer. The two seperate instances of each was to give myself two variants of time stretching to work with. I added in the slicing, and then dropped a long looped note on the Granulizer at C5 (base pitch). Since it's an FL native plugin, you can put note slides on it using the Piano Roll. So I added in a note slide which slowly causes the granular stretch to slide up to C6. Every other aspect of the stretched sound comes from the way I programmed the Granulizer's settings.

Like I said, I'll send you the FLP for it sometime so you can take a peek. Just hit me up in IRC or on AIM :)

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DrumUltimA
on 2008-07-06 15:23:49

fantastic beatdrop. How did you do the audio editing on the piano part in the beginning-between the chopping and the pitch raising? I really really liked that part specifically.

I've been listening to this a lot lately. Fantastic!

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CobaltDelta
on 2008-07-06 14:19:29

Hot DIGGITY DAMN, Beatdrop. This is by far your best work yet. So I heard you're also releasing albums with your original work on them? I'll be sure to check those out.

Now, one thing kinda bothers me... The ending of the song just kind of shows up suddenly, and the song stops. One minute, I'm enjoying the awesome beats, and the next, it's gone... A moot point, really, and honestly, I can't think of another way to end the song that would match up with the same levels of win contained in the main section.

But to end my review on a positive note, I've got to say: It's absolutely impressive to see how your skills have evolved so much. X-Buster MK17 was excellent, but it lacked the level of complex, ornate syncopation that this mix possesses. A truly enjoyable remix, and an instant favorite. Now to throw this on my MP3 player, hook it up to my car, and go blasting it down the highway... Kekeke.

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Thrull
on 2008-06-28 14:38:49

The more I listen to this, the more I like it. I've listened to a lot of his remixes, and although this one doesn't have the same instant gratification as some of his past mixes, it feels much deeper than anything of his I've heard before.

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adam2
on 2008-06-28 00:12:56

I have listened to this mix a good number of times now and it keeps getting better so I thought I would come here and say great work and respect. Really original stuff.

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Mega Man X3 (Capcom , 1995, SNES)
Music by Kinuyo Yamashita
Songs:
"Opening Stage"

Tags (3)


Genre:
Mood:
Instrumentation:
Electronic,Piano,Synth
Additional:

File Information


Name:
Mega_Man_X3_Revolutions_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
6,242,825 bytes
MD5:
1fcea982bbfa0f41ac818ff33175130e
Bitrate:
192Kbps
Duration:
4:16

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