DragonAvenger

Really cool adaption here, I think the sound choices are really solid and the energy is pretty good. I'm going to agree that while the violin is legible, it feels like the rest of the mix is trying to muffle it, which sounds odd. I'd love to get the balance adjusted so it can come out stronger. I know it's pretty hard to balance violin into a rockband, OCU had to deal with that, and it is not easy. That's the biggest issue I'm hearing, though I will nitpick that the 2:30-pretty much the end sounds pretty similar to what was played before, and some more variation there wouldn't hurt. I would be fine if the arrangement stayed as-is, though. Hope to hear this again! NO (resubmit) EDIT: Relistened to this, and while I think the violin is still an issue, I can agree it isn't a dealbreaker, but it's still close to me. There's a loss of energy because I have to focus hear a part which should be loud and clear, and I think it detracts. I still think the arrangement is pretty nice, too. YES (borderline)

I'm with Gario here. I can hear the ducking, and while I wouldn't mind it being adjusted, I don't think it's a dealbreaker in the long run. The crowding at 1:04 is a similar scenario, and even with the two issues put together I'm still fine giving this a pass. Really nice guitar work here, and the energy is on point. Nice work, and good luck with the rest of the vote. YES

Aww yeah this is sweet. Really creative interpretation here, and I wouldn't have expected this sort of style change, but it works great. I do agree that there are some areas that feel a little source-light, but there's still plenty in there overall. Lovely! YES

I'm just on the other side of the fence as Gario here, for pretty much everything he mentioned. I think this is super close, but it needs one more pass to add just a touch more realism and more variety in the drums. One more time, it's super close! NO (resubmit)

What a lovely arrangement! I really enjoyed the counterpoint and the overall soundscape fits really well for what you are going for here. Definitely going to agree that the strings sound a bit mechanical in the overall. That was my biggest complaint, but I think it only brings my vote to borderline here. Nice work! YES (borderline)

I can hear what Larry's saying, but I don't think it's a dealbreaker here. It's close, though. Something to consider for next time. Solid arrangement here, nice work on that! YES (borderline)

Really nice interpretation of a source that probably wouldn't get much love otherwise. Definitely achieved the harder bite you were looking for! My tiny tiny nitpick is that some of the earlier section feels like the guitar player isn't sure what note to play, which I think just stems from translating the source to the guitar. I'd say that's more of a personal preference, and it wasn't a big deal by any means. Great work overall! YES

Pretty fun concept here, but there's some work yet to be done for this to get there. I don't have a ton to add that the gents above haven't already mentioned, but I will point out that there are a few sections in the mix that sound pretty empty in the soundscape. It would be great if there was just a little more going on in those sections to fill things out a bit more. I'd say it wouldn't be a dealbreaker on it's own, and shouldn't be the main focus of what to fix up, just an extra note if you've got time/energy to go for it. Keep working on this one, it's got promise! NO (resubmit)

Yeah, this one is pretty close overall. Really nice adaption here, and I think the performance adds a lot of charm to the piece. The backing definitely gets repetitive, though, and could use to be more varied overall. Along with that, the track is quiet, even with the understanding of this being a lullaby. I think in the end this is just under the bar for those reasons, and I think some quick fixes can get this one on track for the front page! NO (resubmit)

This is a pretty nice orchestral mix that combines the two themes pretty well. The 5/4 was a nice touch, and I think the adaption worked pretty well here. My nitpick overall is that the track at times feels like it goes on a bit too long in certain sections. I don't think it's really a repetition issue, and it could be personal taste there, so take that with a grain of salt. Humanization of the parts is pretty solid, nice work there! Nice work! YES

My brother played this game, so this is a tiny blast from the past. Obviously this was the coolest game because it was in 2097 (the future!) and featured robots battling to the death! I think you're on the right track here. I think there's a good deal of interpretation to the original source without being too close, and the instrumentation works pretty well together. I'm going to agree with MW that there are some issues here, the biggest being the second half of the mix. It definitely feels very close to what you had already presented earlier, and I think it could stand to be varied up a little more. The ending is also abrupt, and while it isn't the worst way to end the track, I think you could come up with a far stronger ending. MW also brings up that the synth and guitar are fighting for space, and I am definitely hearing that towards the end of the track especially. You might be able to use some subtle panning to help that issue out. This is on the right track, but needs a bit more to get it where it needs to be. Hope to hear this again after some revisions! NO (resubmit)

I can hear some of the issues the guys are mentioning, but I don't think they are working out to be a dealbreaker here. The arrangement is awesome, the performances are pretty solid. I'd say take these critiques into consideration for the next one, and get this one posted YES

This is definitely a tough decision. Love the 80's vibe here for sure, though, and I think the track really captures the feel of the original while expanding on it. That being said, I do think that there is a lot of liberal sections or unrelated sections that I'm not sure make this recognizable enough to the source. To me, looking at the broad view of the track, I think the track gets by in the usage of the melody strongly so that the original/liberal sections can be forgiven in this instance. It's close though. I can see this going either way, and I'm curious what the other's think here. YES (borderline)

Man, I'm really trying to hear the tavern theme in this, but I'm not really having any success. My guess is that the backing chords are a little inspired by it? If that's the case, the connection isn't really apparent. The treatment of Ramza's theme is pretty fun, though there's a good portion of the mix that feels like it's lacking in source when it's not playing (I assume there's some Tavern I'm not picking up on). The other arrangement/stylistic issue I had was with the vocals that come in later in the track. They feel a bit out of left field, and aren't really in tune. Might be an artistic choice, but I found them to be unneeded and didn't help the track. I didn't have as many mix issues as MW but I can see the issue of the rhythm guitars being a bit too strong overall. I though the leads were pretty clear, especially the recorder that came through just fine. Some minor adjustments there overall, but to me nothing was a huge deal. Foremost to me is that the Tavern source needs to be revamped so it is more apparent, or there needs to be a bit more source used in the sections that the Ramza theme isn't playing. The gaps are a bit too long overall. Fun upbeat take on a pretty sombor game though, hope to hear this again! NO (resubmit)

Pretty great inspiration here, and the execution follows quite nicely. Really nothing to add that the gentlemen haven't already mentioned. The low end is a bit pervasive, but overall I didn't find it to be a dealbreaker, though I also wouldn't have mind it being toned down a tiny bit. Relaxing and fun! YES

I see a lot of Larry's points here, and while I don't think it's as rough as he's making it sound, I do think they need to be addressed in regards to which parts are up front and which should be more supporting. There's definitely a weird priority here and it's throwing me off as a listener. Aside from that, I enjoyed the energy of the mix, and while I couldn't understand the vocode it was a fun addition and works well with the arrangement. Hope you clean this up a bit and get it back to us! NO (resubmit)

Oh nice, good to see stuff still coming out from the Pokémon album! Really great playing, and the arrangement is on point. Aside from the nitpick, I'm really enjoying this relaxed track. Great work to the both of you, and glad you pulled this one out of the storage bin! YES

Not much to add here. Possibly personal preference, but I wasn't feeling the hi hat sound overall. Other than that, this is a nice chill mix that really works with the source. Love the dreamy feel, and your inspiration is hitting home with me (after recently breaking my ankle and also having to take muscle relaxers and pain meds). Nice work! YES

Man, this is a fun listen. The arrangement is great, and the organ usage definitely gives off vibes of the Black Mages, which is neat. Greg brings up some concerns about the balance overall, and that is what is bugging me most about the piece, along with a bit of a feel like things could just come through a little stronger overall. That being said, I think the issues still aren't enough to bring this below the bar, but I do think it's close. YES (Borderline)

Not much to add here; performance is fun, and while there are some errors, they are minor in the long run. Agreed that the 2:09 pause is a bit too much, but aside from that I'd say this is a nice interpretation of a pretty short piece and a good way to flesh it out. Nice work! YES

I'm right about where Gario is here. I agree that the lyrics are tight and overall amusing. Not my thing, but performance is good and the mixing is crisp. The synth overall is a bit too wet for my tastes here, but I don't think it ends up being a dealbreaker in the end. I can see Larry's point about some of the quieter uses of the source, but I also felt that it was clear enough in the end. I can see this going either way, good luck on the rest of the vote! YES

Very nice arrangement here, and the narration makes for a fun read of the 'scene'. The structure is definitely close to the original, but there's been a ton changed in terms of instrumentation and the additions to the arrangement are very nice. Really enjoyed the orchestration, which is on par for Jaka's style. I will agree about the mid range issues, but I didn't really see it as a huge deal in the long run; the part is still discernable and wasn't so mixed up that you really had to fight to hear it. Something to consider for the future! Nice work to both of you! YES

Agreeing a lot with MW here. The track overall feels pretty wet, and when there is more going on it starts to sound like a lot of mud overall. Also agreed that the lead at 1:04 (and the horn lead later) is really basic and bland sounding compared to the rest of what's going on. It's playing the note really straight, and even something like some vibrato would make a difference there, but I think a different synth might overall fit better regardless. The energy of the track is pretty good overall, and the structure makes sense. The quieter section in the middle is a nice contrast, and I think you can bring it down more to crescendo back into the theme for a more dramatic effect. I also think the track might go on a bit long for the sections you have, and maybe something like a countermelody, or shortening some of the sections will help the track transition and keep interest better. That may be personal taste, so take that with a grain of salt. I think it's on the right track here, but needs work yet. Good luck! NO (resubmit)

This was not what I was expecting at all, and I am pleasantly surprised by it! I'm also find it awesome that one OCR artist is inspiring another. Warms the cockles of my heart and all that Squeaks didn't bother me that much, but I could see it being more of an issue with headphones. Arrangement is energetic and fun, and the soundscape is unexpected but works nicely together. Adding in the other sources defintiley was the right call here, as the arrangement is expansive and doesn't overstay it's welcome. Nice work overall! YES

I think this is really close. The arrangement is really great, great adaption to the source, and the playing is very good. In the end I think I'm in agreement with MW here that the wetness of the background (which only needs to be toned down a little), the overcompression in the middle, and the one passage that has the flub is just pulling this below the bar. I really hope that this gets sent back though, great source and the mix sounds good, just needs a little spit polish! NO (resubmit)