DragonAvenger

Larry, why aren't you counting the rests as part of the musical phrase? All he did was shorten the source note, but the rhythm is remaining pretty much the same. I'm going to have to agree with Larry that the source usage was a low, but adding those seconds he removed for rests bring the usage up to ~44%. I am fine with that usage because of how it is approached, and how Ilari keeps returning to the source without too long of a break in between. Loved listening to this one. YES

The only solid connection that I'm hearing to the game is 1:24-1:32 of the second video you linked. Seems to be the 'stage clear' theme. --- All I'm hearing out of this is the 8 second victory theme extended and played multiple times with a very similar drumbeat to the original. The phrase is played straight a bunch of times, but there are also quotes here and there throughout the mix. Aside from the quoting there isn't any interpretation on the source melody itself. This almost feels like something you could rap over, and overall feels empty and lacking interpretation. There isn't much to work with as it is, which isn't helping the situation, but I think there is more that could be done. NO (resubmit?)

I'm groovin'. I'm moovin'. Seems a little on the simple side, but it's a different mood than the normal AnoSou fair, so it's good to see you branching out a bit. YES

I agree with Larry here, that there are very few points that I could discern the melody in this. I will have to say, though, that I really enjoyed listening to this track, and it had a sort of hypnotic effect on me at times. Pretty cool listen, but not connected enough to Vigil for me. NO

That's as far as that version will ever get. I haven't given up on the lyrics, but that style just wasn't working for me.

Right now the track feels like it's going full-kilt the entire song. It seems almost like every single instrument is fighting to be heard over everything else. The levels overall are just way too high. Bring everything down to start, and then start messing around with your levels to get this balanced better. Larry is also right that you could do some work with the instruments to add some humanization to add more emotion and feeling to this. Production is definitely the main issue of this track. I will say that there are some good ideas here, but the track also gets pretty repetitive after a while. You are going through the source melody (which does repeat a lot itself) enough times that I would suggest doing some experimentation with the melody to add some variety in there. The changes of instruments are nice, but I think you could do more than just that. Production is the big step, at least get that looked at first before resubmitting, and I would like to see a little more arrangement as well. You've got a good start, keep working on this. NO (resubmit)

Larry's always right: what you have here is a nice sound upgrade from the original, but there is little in the way of interpretation of the source, which is one of our main criteria for the site. I do like your approach at 3:23, but I will agree the sounds are a little shrill, and the playing sounds very mechanical. I would suggest hitting up the WIP forums on the message board after you've worked on some more arrangement aspects to get some feedback there. NO

I like the idea you have for this song, but I think right now it's not being executed as well as it could be. I feel like the overall mix doesn't really have a flow or a real direction that it wants to go in. The different sections you have, like the chilled out part or the mouth effects part, are almost separate from one another and tacked together. I think improving the transitions between sections will help, but also take a look at the song and how you want it to evolve. The beginning, as well as some parts in the middle definitely sound pretty lo-fi and pretty distant sounding. Overall the soundscape feels pretty empty whenever the bass isn't playing. I think at times that can work well, but it's a little too often for my tastes. I'm going to have to give this one a NO, but I'd like to see you keep working on it. NO (resubmit)

Absolutely agree with Larry. This is some awesome stuff, but the (near) repeat of the theme the second time just isn't going to cut it. Please develop the second half and resubmit! NO (resubmit, please!)

The Larry dude has it here. The exended intro and outtro, while typical of the genre, really don't have any source, which is making what source there is feel almost like a cameo. I'd say either nix them or find a way to have the source in there. When the source does come in, it's got little interpretation to it, aside from the style genre. I'd like to hear you add some cool rhythms or effects to the source to give it an edge and add some new life to it. I'd like to see you address these points and send it back to us. I like the source, and the idea you're going for, but right now it's too cookie-cutter. NO (resubmit)

The production throughout this is pretty good, and I do like the drumwork you've done with this. I have to agree with everything Larry said. There isn't really much interpretation to the actual source, aside from switching genres. The dungeon theme starts to get a little repetitious after a while, especially after it comes back in. More interpretation is going to help here, but shortening the track might also keep the flow moving a little better. I'm going to also agree that the transitions and ending definitely need some work. The one at 2:51 was your best transition, but even that has some weakness to it. I would say that you have a good start here, but the different issues need to be worked on. Keep working on it. NO (resubmit)

halc (13226) Drew Wheeler 'The Forest That Never Sleeps' Donkey Kong Counrty 2 Source: Forest Interlude halc's comments: I've always loved this theme, and it was fun playing with some new sounds this time around. I hope you all like it! ----------------------------------- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAFJoATw3Kw I love how Halc can fill out the soundscape so well, still keep the source easily recognizable, and still expand on the original melodies and harmonies. Good choice of sounds, and the beat really compliments the mix. Not really much else I can say here, I'm diggin' this. YES

Hi there Brandon Strader here again. Here is my submission for Liontamer's FFX Hurry Challenge, wherein he stated that a panel passable FFX Hurry remix would be fast-forwarded to the panel. Contact Information Your ReMixer name: Brandon Strader Your real name: Brandon E. Strader Your website: http://brandon.rainwound.com/ Your userid: 3123 Submission Information Name of game(s) arranged: Final Fantasy X Name of individual song(s) arranged: Hurry! Your own comments about the mix, for example the inspiration behind it, how it was made, etc. When I listened to Hurry!, I heard a lot of potential as an ethnic percussion performance. There's not a lot to work with in the source, as it has a singular repeating melody throughout the song. Most of the remaining distinguishable elements of the song were rhythm-based as far as my mutt-like musical awareness was concerned. At any rate, I had a lot of fun doing this "live" version of the song and I've grown an increased appreciation for the source after having worked on this. Shout out for the FFX Hurry remix album! ----------------- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KrLQKMMESE What I like about this track is that you took the original, kept a bit of the tension in it, and then took off on your own thing. I think you did a good job of keeping those two elements in check, and I suspect you had a lot of fun doing it as well, which is showing. By nature of the original this track is a bit repetitive, but you do a few things to add some new territory. I might have liked some more variation in the guitar/flute source riff in a few spots to give my ears a bit of a rest, but that might also come from listening to this multiple times. I definitely like the overall percussion you added to this. Very ethnic, pretty good sounds, and fun rhythms. I felt like the flute overall was mechanical, and part of me thinks it was intentional, but I would have liked a little bit of humanization on it. Some parts feel a little loose, but not so badly that it's a major detraction. YES

Not too much to add to what Larry said here. There is a definite upgrade to sounds, although it still is a bit dated sounding. Once things really kick in it's a fun listen with a nicely filled out soundscape, though, so I can't fault that. I personally don't have a problem with the sounds, although they are a bit generic. There are times when it feels like the background stuff is a bit overpowering to the lead synths. It's nothing too major, but it is noticeable. Overall I feel like this has enough qualities to make it onto the site. As Larry said, it's the sum of the whole that works out, although it has it's small flaws. YES (borderline)

The speeding up of the source and the stuttering worked surprisingly with this theme. Right now the song feels a little too coverish due to the fact that it's following the vocal melody almost verbatim, and a lot of the piano elements remain the same. I'd love to hear you expand out on the source, maybe write an alternate second verse, or change the melody around a bit. Vocal arrangements can be finicky in that they either sound too much like a cover, or too far from the original, so it's a fine balance to keep certain elements the same and change other things. Don't be afraid to experiment. I'm a little put off by the use of the autotune. For the most part I like it as a stylistic choice, but the high notes are what I'm not really feeling. From what I can hear of the vocal performance itself, I would suggest working on supporting your sound a little more, which will help the projection a bit, and give you a fuller, cleaner sound. It also might help to use multiple recordings panned in the background to make the sound fuller. Larry is pretty much on with the mixing issues. It's a little under-balanced overall, making it hard to make out the words at times of the vocals. The bass drum feels like it's a little overpowering in a lot of sections (especially when the vocals first come in). Take a little bit of time to check that out and clean things up. I'd also like you to do a little humanization on the piano part to give it some life. I think you've got a good start here, and I'd encourage to re-take a look at this and fix it up! NO (resubmit)

Larry's got this on the head. There are some interesting ideas, and while I'm not opposed to a section of off-key creepy music, having almost an entire song of it isn't really working for me. I could see that working as an intro into another section, so i wouldn't get rid of it completely, and maybe find a way to work it into something else. The balance is a little off at times, leaning towards the drums, and sometimes towards the high end. A little balancing will help things out, and it maybe some panning could be used to add some effect and space to the overall soundscape. NO

If I were able to vote on this, it would be: "OH GOD YESSSSSS" But alas 'tis not to be.

I both like and dislike how this almost purposely avoids the source melody for most of the mix. It was like, "When's it going to drop?" and then finally, bam! The build-up is good, and I like how the track treated the various parts of the source. It's not my favorite Schala mix, but it's a fun listen. Nice work.

Breakdown: 0:00-0:14 - Intro source 0:15-0:35 - Main riff from source (altered) 0:35-0:56 - Chords from source (Verse 1) 0:57-1:10 - Original (chorus) 1:11-1:32 - Chords from source (Verse 2) 1:33-1:54 - Main riff (see :15) 1:55-2:20 - Original (chorus) 2:21-2:42 - Original playing on chords (guitars) 2:43-3:25 - Source melody over original playing from above 3:26-3:59 - Source on guitar (with some original playing) Not counting the areas where it's just the chords being referenced from the source you've got roughly 2:10 of source in there, which is just over the 50% mark. I was worried that there wasn't enough there, but you're good on that IMO. Despite that, I am a little disappointed that the source melody couldn't have been a little more present during the verses and chorus. The end section worked pretty well with the original and source playing, and it would have been cool to have that incorporated in the rest of the song. I feel like for a metal song this is lacking a lot of power. I think it's mostly in the drums and the way they are mixed. Without them really having presence the rest of the track feels like it's floating a bit, and really needs to be more firmly planted. I'd take a look to see if you can really bring out some more of the drums without overpowering things. I know that you wanted the thin guitars and bass, so I can't fault you for it, but that seems like another contributor for the lack of power to really support the vocals. I think with some fixes in terms of balance and presence that this one can sound a lot more powerful. As you said, this is one of those tracks that not everyone's going to dig, but those that do will really enjoy it. NO (resubmit)

Super catchy, super fun, creepy lyrics. This is a lot of fun to listen to, that's for sure. Problem is, it's so close to the source, and the singing has so little variation. Honestly, it's a pretty tough call here. I think that the production being super clean, and the vocals being good are a plus, but the straight cover-ness of it just isn't letting this shine like it could. I'd say adding some vocal harmonies would be a huge step up for starters, and certainly some background adjustments as well. NO (resubmit)

Slightly off topic, but anyone going to see the live action Pokemon movie* when it comes out? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFUD7thPctQ *I bet it's fake.

I love how this was arranged, it sounds like it could easily fit into a move. The mood is just right, and the percussion adds a lot of intensity. Great use of dissonance, as well. Loved this on the project, love it now.

Nothing really has me jumping out of my shoes in awe, but there are a few nice ones. Definitely some strange ones, though. Kinda curious why there are three legendaries (I'm assuming) that are split up number-wise around the two cover dragons, though.

Dave said it right that Lufia music works really well in this sort of genre. I love the gritty feeling of it, and combining it with the story of the game really adds a lot of emotion. There are a few points where I would have liked the drums to do some other rhythms that would have supported the melody better, but I think they do get the job done as is. Good listen!

The arrangement of this is fantastic. I am digging the entire thing. It is really really cool. That being said...I am so sad that the track isn't realizing it's potential soundwise. I will give you kudos that for being done in finale, there was a heck of a lot of detail added to humanize the playing, but the piano sound really isn't holding it's ground for such a good arrangement. Also, the entire track is quiet and could use a boost. I really want to see you collaborate with someone to get this sounding as good as the arrangement is. It is a heck of a lot of fun to listen to, but there is so much lost potential. Also, thank you for the breakdown, it always helps us not have to search for source usage! NO (please resubmit!)