The Vagrance

Well there's multiple things to consider then. Like for one, do you really need an audio interface? If all you need is just some preamps and inputs, then try looking at some small, portable mixers. Hell, I'd sell you the one I have on-the-cheap if it wasn't broken (though my dad and I are probably going to crack it open this weekend and try to fix it). If you can go that route, you'll usually get more bang for your buck. If you need an interface, then there's a variety to look at. I've heard good things about the Tascams, a solid buy all-around. I personally own a Mackie Onyx Satellite and have had very few problems with it, but the lack of Vista support is very bad and mine runs incredibly hot for some reason (although that seems to be the exception). You get a lot of bang for your buck if you go with the Satellite. PreSonus also makes nice interfaces, and I'd definitely put them in the upper-tier. Well built all-around and the sound is solid as well. M-Audio's interfaces are cheap and of above-average quality, but still not completely outstanding. Good if you're on a tight budget but unless you need to use Pro Tools I would get a different interface. Then there's the Alesis interfaces. I've heard their Multimix preamps are kinda crappy, and I believe it, but I also have an IO|26 interface and its one of my favorite buys. Not the most stable drivers but with 8 preamps it can handle most everything I throw at it. Last, I must mention the MOTU interfaces. The most expensive but also the most luxurious. I've heard nothing but praises for these interfaces but the main problem is that they're bloody expensive. That said, with the interfaces you're also getting a bunch of high-quality onboard effects so if you're in need of those, MOTU may be your answer.

Just out of curiousity, how many mics do you think you'll need?

Thanks. The little "shakers" you're referring to is probably just the "Hot Pants" drum loop (its from the James Brown song, but then pushed up 7 semitones IIRC). ...damn. Nicely handled. Sweet, thanks. This is probably the last CT remix I'll ever do, I just had to do this one. Also, the vocal snippet is referring to lost civilizations, and Zeal turned out to be a lost civilization. Not completely relevant but I personally like it. Thanks. So the main reason I'm making this post is to say that I just sent it in for judging by the judges panel. Wish me luck as I now have 2 remixes in the queue

Just now reading this thread and loving how pitch-perfect this describes m as well.

Kinda mastered everything, looking for final comments.

I figure since zircon said we can get one GenDisc thread a month (or something) I might as well use mine on this. Link: http://www.beatportal.com/remix/detail/music-is-the-answer-fli-remix/ I am requesting OCR's support in voting for me in Beatport's Remix Contest of "Music is the Answer" by Danny Tenaglia and Celeda. The prize for winning is a $1300 mixer which I will admittedly sell as soon as I get it so I can buy a different piece of musical gear. Anyway, I worked really hard on my remix and I feel it is one of the stronger ones in the contest and I'd really appreciate your support. In order to vote you have to sign up to Beatport, which I recommend doing anyway because its a quality electronic music site (a bit expensive but often worth it). Once you do that, just give my track a "spin". Once again, the link: http://www.beatportal.com/remix/detail/music-is-the-answer-fli-remix/ Thanks for your support

I've never played Xenogears and I'm working on a mix for that.

...should I be offended or flattered by this statement?

Ah well, this is my current version.

Am I alone in saying that I really don't see music as anything? mean, best thing I'll see is frequencies stacked from lo to high (like, a bass and a kick on the bottom while everything else is built on top).

Should we be posting our WIPs or something?

I was thinking the exact same thing. I was wondering why everyone was so hyped up about Lips and I was wondering how MS was going to counter some of the strong PS3 exclusives and I got my answer: by making them a wee bit less exclusive.

I'm not so much happy about the fact that I can play it. I'm more happy about the reaction it is going to cause in the PS3 community.

1. Lips was announced 2. MS has avatars, no real surprises there. 3. Portal sequel coming to XBLA 4. New GUI 5. Gears of War II looks tight 6. Fallout 3 looks tight 7. Resident Evil 5 looks tight 8. Rock band II confirmed tracklist 9. FFXIII is coming to Xbox 360, drops same day as PS3 version

Oh thank your God. Anyway, my remix is a very loose, atmospheric interpretation of Brinstar 1. Its kinda similar to my Zeal remix I'm working on, but more Klute-ey.

I'm a shit trance-making man but given his recent Drum and Bass work I'm hoping he'll like the Neuro remix I'm working on right now.

eh, I'd do it.

I'll contribute something more than likely. No guarantees on it being long but I could easily whip something quality together.

Not completely sure what you're talking about with the "second half" but if you mean once the little electro-ish bassline comes in, that's the whole point. The first 2 minutes are actually just there as placeholders and not meant to be nearly as amazing as the rest of the song, same goes for the last minute or so. The point is that the first 2 minutes are like that so a DJ can mix into it, that's why all of the cooler tricks occur after the first 2 minutes.

My thoughts are with him

ABLETON!!!! Seriously, if you want to start making music fairly professionally and cheap, get something like http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/KeyStudio49i-main.html. It comes with a slightly stripped down version of Ableton Live (but at this stage, thats ok), plus it acts as both a sound card and a keyboard controller (it even includes a Mic in!). This, plus a mic can get you started just fine. This site has a borderline FL fetish which is understandable because most people here learned how to sequence on FL, but you'd be doing a lot of harm if you didn't check out Ableton Live. Honestly, I've never been so enthusiastic about a sequencer in my life, and a lot of big-name producers are switching over (Sasha, Armin van Buuren, Evil Nine, Del tha Funkee Homosapien).

I feel that it takes an immense appreciation for the original to appreciate it, kind of like being in on an inside joke where no one else gets it but you find it hilarious.

I'll start out by saying that I had my doubts about this remix from the get-go simply because if I'm told "works best if you listen to it under this condition" then often that's to cover up inadequacies. At the very least I suggest a slightly different approach. The drums seem way too tiny in this, especially the snare. They get lost in the mix very easily when the slightest hint of harmonizing happens. Try bolstering them with single hits. I really like the arrangement, but for the most part this mix seems way too simplistic, especially in the synth-programming department. I can understand wanting to keep synth sounds fairly 16-bit sounding but at the very least have a line or two with some monster you've created to show that you can indeed create a monster. Stylistic remixes are cool and all but on OCR, you have to flex your shit. Arrangement-wise, I feel like you've done it for the most part and I like a lot of the improvisations you've done, but they don't really have the impact that they should because there's no sense of tension and release to your song. The reason for this is that all of your synths sound fairly cheap and 16-bit. One thing you could do is replace the bass with a growling reese-ish deal, having the filter flare up whenever a hole provided itself. You could also bolster up one of you lead synths with another saw wave or something and try gating a bit for the melody, kind of like Adam Freeland's tune Glowsticks (you tube.com/watch?v=NEtrHjKGn3g). Point is, don't be afraid to show of your monster synth lines, the production on everything else is nice enough but I wanna hear some oomph!

This is a remix I'm doing for the contest over on Beatport and I was looking for last-minute opinions on this. I was basically aiming for somewhere between something for the dancefloor and something for the stereo and I think I may have hit my target. Anyway, any opinions would be nice as the remixes must be submitted by Saturday. Link:

Ableton Live is.