Liontamer
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Posts posted by Liontamer
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No plans to have djp on the air. Yet, anyway. Not to goad him into calling in, but I'm sure he might drop by at some point in the future, Silent.
Aight folks, should be a good show tonight. Be there for material from Beatdrop, tefnek, zykO, Christian Pacaud, Joecam, binster, Joshua Morse, Jaxx, Quinn Fox, Reuben Kee, SuperGreenX, DCT & more!
Be there, foos! Happy birthday, DCT!
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I consider the underlying trance structure to not have enough relevance to the verbatim source material; in other words, the trance is too original and the melody instrumentation IS the original.
I don't mind the use of the source tune verbatim, since Rapture actually used the same soundbank as the Rare team; that's actually pretty cool. My main problem is the fact that the I agree that the trance structure isn't tied into "Life in the Mines" nearly enough to consider the track a rearrangement rather than original trance material with the source tune referenced on top of it.
IMO, the source material is not integrated with the original material, it's just over the top of it. I didn't hear any chords from the original used in the trance work to piece it together with the source. To me, it's just a more sophisticated example of using, say, the Mario theme and then putting a good beat underneath it that sounds good but has nothing thematically to do with the Mario theme. At some point I feel the two aspects should piece together through rearrangement.
I've got zero problem with Rapture using the same soundbank the Rare team used. Just the fact that it's source tune placed on top of an original; if you removed the source tune use from the track, you wouldn't hear a single thing that's from "Life in the Mines", so I'm not feeling it as a rearrangement.
My votes are coming sometime either shortly after VG Frequency or later tomorrow, no later than that.
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Ha! That's true, bro, although I preferred the glib NOs myself.
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What happened to the melody from the last time??? That was the best part but it got gutted compared to the first version. The thin strings didn't seem to really work with the thick percussion & pulsating electro beats I heard in the first 50 seconds. Just thicken the sound on those guitar/wuteva strings a bit. Also some bad note progression I felt I heard from 1:38-1:45 with the string accompaniment.
Ah man, at 1:09, I was just floored by about half of the notes of the melody being taken out.
Bring 'em back, baby! I was thinking that you would bring the melody back to full power (like in the first version) later on in the song, but it never arrived. I think this would come off a lot stronger by not letting the melody be so sparse, at least for most of the time.Overall though, things were sounding decent at least, and I wasn't really having too many problems until the awkward transition at 2:28. Those are hit or miss, and I felt it didn't work effectively, so ease into that change of pace there.
I didn't really see where Prot was coming from when he said things were messy until we hit the drumwork at 2:40 during more of a freestyle section. The notes get iffy/random-sounding at points and the percussion sounds very loose from both 2:40-2:50, 2:59-3:05 & 3:18-3:28. Good energy, but still a bit over the top. Tone it down a little bit. The ending there at 4:07 dropped off a little suddenly; might wanna just reverb the end for a slightly slower fadeout.
Those were all the little problems I had. Unfortunately, the main point here is that there isn't much development going on with this theme. The second half pretty much felt like the first save for the break section from 2:28-3:09. Then you just rehashed what you had done before. That wouldn't have been a problem if the melody was more exciting to begin with.
The production is awesome now, but looking back over what Prot said, the issues of some ugly notes, haphazard sounding percussion and repetition are all still existent, only a bit less prominent than before. Hate to say this, but keep working on it, bro.
NO (resubmit)
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http://www.alpha-ii.com/snesmusic/spcsets/dkq.rsn - "Kannon's Klaim" (dkq-s-01.spc)
I haven't listened to the source tune in a little while, but it really kicks ass. I also pimped this one back in early August for VG Frequency:
Liontamer[/url'>]Darangen - Donkey Kong Country 2 "From Within" [VGMix2 #1988]Here's a pretty solid rock mix of Dave Wise's mines theme for DKC2 by a name I've seen around VGMix but haven't had the opportunity to review much, Michael Boyd. As with many rock mixes, the percussion can be pretty straightforward and thus uninteresting, and I believe that's the case, but Darangen's electric guitar work here is alright, and the music here sets a somewhat despondent tone, which you'll understand more once you read the details Mike gave in his mix description. This one's faring very, very well over at VGMix, currently standing in Tier 1. A little inflated of a ranking? Frankly, yes. But this one has interesting ideas and makes a whole new piece out of the original, so it's a good first look at Darangen if you're unfamiliar with his stuff.
With that said, yeah, the percussion wasn't particularly engaging, but like Ari said, the arrangement here was pretty good and really gave the original a new dimension, especially considering that Mike remixed a section of the original (:35-:55 / 1:24-1:45) more promimently, while subtlely altering/referencing others (the countermelodic synth support from :15-:25). Not my cup of tea, personally, but very solid work regardless.
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http://www.alpha-ii.com/snesmusic/spcsets/mo2.rsn - "The Tendas' Cave" (mo2-106.spc)
Sorry, LAOS. The sounds aren't bad, and I enjoyed a lot of the choices that thickened things up compared to the original, but rips haven't faired awfully well in the People's Remix Competition, and they're obviously not gonna make it here. No offense, bro, but you've gotta get way more creative. A couple of different percussion patterns and some other stuff on top isn't enough. Really explore what can be done with this one. It's definitely a cool source tune selection.
NO OVERRIDE
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Hahaha. We definitely don't accept 256kbps files here at all. Nothin' particularly jazzy here at all, although I suppose maybe I have a narrow-minded view of jazz. Like Prot said, very repetitive, and it does nothing dynamic with the source material whatsoever. This is some really flat arrangement work here as well, so work or bringing some life to these sounds. Good luck on any future mixes though, and hit the ReMixing forum here for more advice on how to improve your stuff. Chock this one up as an exercise in some of the basics.
NO
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http://www.zophar.net/gbs/garquest.zip - GBS Track 14
I pimped this one back in early August for VG Frequency:
Liontamer]Nixdorux (Nicolas Ferranti) - Gargoyle's Quest "Gargoyle in Broadway" [VGMix2 #2026]It's Nicolas, and he's NOT doing Zelda. Well, damn, you know I had to check it out just to see how his skills would translate to another game's work. Here's some very beautiful and upbeat orchestral work that features a lot of movement and development, even sounding at some of the more low-key sections like something that could belong in a movie featuring simpler city life in 1920/30s America. Bah, who knows where I get my mental imagery sometimes. Things even seemed like they would go towards a more militaristic slant by the 2:40 mark, and I said "Here comes the usual", yet Nix actually used that buildup very briefly to segue into his conclusion. A very cool piece from a game I'm not familiar with myself, but you orchestral fans owe it to yourself to sample this one.
Now that I've heard the source material, I appreciate the conversion done here even more. Very good stuff, worthwhile imagery, a good change of pace from how Nicolas has usually structured his material, and an easy YES.
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http://www.tzone.org/~llin/psf/packs2/FFX_psf2.rar - 119 "The Sight of Spira"
Yeah, I'm no sample whore, but you've gotta hook it up with a reasonably better sounding piano sample at some point, Red. Though it's too short/underdeveloped so far, I'm absolutely feeling the arrangement as I'm a big fan of the source tune, but the execution is definitely too sloppy here, no matter what method you went about using. The ReMixing & WIP forums are the place to see what else you can do for yourself on this one. Beyond tightening up some of the timing and looking into different piano patches, I'd really love to hear where else you could take this arrangement-wise. Objectively speaking, the energy wasn't bad.
NO
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I'm sure some OMGKRonofanficzPEndium fansites would enjoy it. Anyway...
NO
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Little areas where you changed the notes like at 1:18 & 1:26 didn't really work, and almost seem to pay lip service to the concept of rearrangment.
The sounds were pretty basic, but I really enjoyed the overall groove of this. If you're gonna go more of the cover route, you'd really gotta refine your stuff more and give things some power along with more unique textures/sounds. Otherwise (though you had some good layering of the melodies from 3:30 toward the end), you need to dramatically rearrange things more to make up for lacking sounds. Hit up the ReMixing 101 forum for advice on how to strengthen your percussion work in particular. Too bad you never submitted this 2 or 3 years ago instead, bro.NO
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The lead really doesn't mesh well with slowly-modulating dealie going on in the background. Pretty generic sounds, and by 3:18 things were just way too repetitive I'm afraid. I heard more elements enter in, like at 3:39, but this was treading water from the start. No real development here at all until 4:32. Obviously not enough to really work with though. Not a bad idea for the piano to be involved near the very end, even though it didn't sound that good. Ah well, you live and learn. Spend a lot more time in the WIP forums and ReMixing 101. Good luck on future projects.
NO
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http://www.zophar.net/usf/sm64usf.zip - "Dire, Dire Docks"
1:30 in, and nothing but a MIDI-grade cover. Not bad, since I love the theme, it's hard for me to just hate this track, but this might as well be at VGMusic.com instead of being submitted here. 3:00 in, and still nothing beyond the original looped and with thin sounds. Pair of string instruments at 3:23. Meh. I'm glad you used those six weeks to learn things, but, sorry, it looks like you never read the guidelines here:
Submission Instructions & Standards]Make sure your ReMix is original and your own, does not borrow too heavily from outside sources, and is not simply a MIDI file with instrument changes.NO OVERRIDE
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Very nice attempt at something different. Like Vig said, try and make things a little more cohesive, go for a bit more on the rearrangement side (since I heard some promising things from :47-:59 & 2:41-2:52 with the guitar sounds), and rename the mix to something entirely different. The unorthodox style isn't a negative to me, but I need more done with the source material's rearrangment.
NO (hope to see a resubmission)
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Cute how NONE of the names of this track match up at all; Place of Return, The Place I'll Return, and The Day I Return. Pick something.
Anyway, I see this is from Gman250. Is that the guy who made Zelda 'Epona'? Thanks for making me ROFL if it is.
Really dry trance, plodding percussion, below average string usage, and the melody's pretty poorly positioned relative to the other sounds, especially when you hear the source directly at 2:03. Some stuff needs to be quantized too. I don't think that drumbeat changed even once.
NO
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Yeah, there really isn't too much going on arrangement-wise. Some pretty cool ideas just for some FL demo work, but you're gonna need to do more than slow the original down and reinstrumentate it. The change in the strings at 4:16 didn't work at all, BTW. Think of what else can be done with this style and create some unique ideas.
NO
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Never took the time to comment on how sweet this mix was. This was very chill and I always enjoy listening to it. Great work per the usual, Jouni. Looking forward to more!
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that sure is...off tha hook...?
gimmicky, fun, but no substance.
Too bad, too. Pretty ROFLs and whatnot. Post this to VGMix though. Short and sweet, but like Vig said...
NO
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Was just checking this out again; played this on my show way, way back. Very phat stuff, and I love that funked-out lead during the first section. Nice work, changing up the flow throughout the track, Dan. Everything here was pretty solid, and I'm glad I heard this one again. Definitely deserves much more attention then it's getting, but I hope it's gotten a hot response from the European side, since they appreciate these mixes more.
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We only have a few candidates for removal. Having gone through everything, here are our potential removals:
Violations:
1. Die Hard Trilogy 'I Love The Airport'
http://www.ocremix.org/detailmix.php?mixid=OCR01046
mv shitted on this one for essentially being a bad version of the source material;
2. Ys 'Beat of Terror'
http://www.ocremix.org/detailmix.php?mixid=OCR01051
http://www.zophar.net/nsf/ys.zip - NSF Track 5; cover
3. Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun 'PharoTeknical'
http://www.ocremix.org/detailmix.php?mixid=OCR01070
Gecko Yamori and plenty of others have crapped on this for not being different enough from the source, both structurally and instrumentally.
4. Streets of Rage 2 'Funkdreamer'
http://www.ocremix.org/detailmix.php?mixid=OCR01090
Rip/cover; original section from 1:50-2:21, i.e. not much;
5. Donkey Kong Country 'Strolling The Mines'
http://www.ocremix.org/detailmix.php?mixid=OCR01101
Samples original instruments with their notes verbatim from Life in the Mines (dkc-12.spc). A good trance song built AROUND the source material.
6. Usagi Yojimbo 'Homage to Amida Buddha'
http://www.ocremix.org/detailmix.php?mixid=OCR01111
As much as I enjoyed this one, Subtune 1 :'-( ; original guitar work from 1:43-2:15 & over the top of the source tune from 3:21-end/4:22, so I'd love to say this is a good cover with VERY basic additions, especially since the SID sounds flimsy as hell; I'm in the minority though
7. F-Zero GX 'Dr. Stuard (Jeff & Toad Air Team Challengers)'
http://www.ocremix.org/detailmix.php?mixid=OCR01193
Violation of current submissions standards; Relies on direct usage of the original;
8. Earthbound 'Dreaming on Distant Shores'
http://www.ocremix.org/detailmix.php?mixid=OCR01234
Remixes essentially a 5-second source tune ("A Flash of Memory" - mo2-045.spc), but changes it around so much that this is more inspired by EB than a remix of it; most reviewers can only place vauge similarites with several others tunes, which I see as well; love the track but it might have to go; NEED ANY OTHER POSSIBLE SOURCE USE CONFIRMATION
May be violations:
9. Final Fantasy 10 'The Final Summoning'
http://www.ocremix.org/detailmix.php?mixid=OCR01017
Mostly-original composition + PS2 in-game vox; zykO basically admits as much in his review, as he was the original collab partner for the mix project; some support chords resemble the note progression of the source tune; one or more of us will receive death threats for this one getting cut;
Notes
King of Fighters 2000 'ReBirth'
http://www.ocremix.org/detailmix.php?mixid=OCR01037
Gecko often goes for a cover style that we've approved in the past; may not even remotely be a violation, but I'd like to know what was done with this;
NOT BEING CONSIDERED: Ari & Larry have now listened to the original and agreed that it's not a violation of any type; this was just an issue of needing the source tune to verify the mixing of a more recent game, and not necessarily an accusation of being a violation
Xenogears 'Child of the Stars'
http://www.ocremix.org/detailmix.php?mixid=OCR01213
This recent mix does not meet judging standards as already explained
NOT BEING CONSIDERED: This is not a case of simply being a rip/violation, but of being too straightforward/unoriginal of an genuine arrangement attempt to pass the judges' panel. This is being reconsidered as a judging issue and not as a lockdown/violation issue
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Nah, these transitions are awesome; there aren't even that many abrupt points that I heard; maybe 2. Haven't heard this mix in a while, but it definitely kicks ass. Great job by the Marsland Bros. with this guitar work!
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There's a bit too much overcompression here, but the industrial stuff was actually pretty interesting. The title's a little too abstract/artsy-fartsy for my taste ("Romantic Death's Auditory Hallucination") but whatever. Not totally my cup of tea, but I can see why people could like this mix. Certainly some cool ideas here with this thick drumwork, and the execution isn't bad relative to when it came out. Sure, give it a look; it's definitely a different take on the source material that you'd expect, and is a nice contrast to Star Salzman's "Pillar of Salt", covering the same source material.
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From: Dwise To: JTNights@attbi.com
Subject: Beneath the Surface
Hi
Just to say Hi & I enjoyed listening to your remix.
Cerainly captures some of the feel of the original.
King Regards,
David Wise.
Composer DKC, DKR, SFA.
Holy shit. Wait, what???
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Checking this one one randomly; the groove here was pretty good; pretty cool stuff, Matt! Tales of Phantasia definitely had some good cuts on it, and Journey to Thor definitely works well with the source material. I'm sure this one's fairly unknown to most people, so don't pass it up. It's not "great" per se, but things certainly got more solid as they went along and I liked the end result.
VG Frequency: U Love VGM
in Projects
Posted
You got that right, bro. The WMRE webstream is current fucked and I can't reset it right now, so VGF33 is postponed for a couple of days. I'd go through with today's show, but people prefer it to be live, so we'll be going with that. It'll also be more of a 3 hour show rather than a longer episode. Please keep an eye out for when it's rescheduled, and sorry for the incovenience. If you miss it, the MP3'll be out later in the week.