Tensei

We'll discuss everything about samples and stuff after everything is recorded and the mix is finished (which it isn't yet, mind you, it's not the real ending =P), so hold your horses for the moment.

Well the stuff about the bass being too low and everything, that's really something that has to be done in the mastering session, I think I'm gonna let Avaris master the final version ( if he still wants), he seems to know his way around mastering tools a lot better than me =P

Okay, I've added a decent portion. I apologize for my sloppy recording of both the new lead and rhythm guitars, but at the moment (It's just past midnight here), I'm really just too lazy to care. I'll re-record them for the next update. Other than the new sections, I've done some other stuff: - Added more layers to both the kick and the snare, they should have more of an impact now. - Toned down the reverb and the delay on the synth, so it doesn't suck up as much sonic space as it did before. I haven't really looked into the timing issues you guys seemed to hear, but it might have something to do with the humanization of the drums and piano. (I've dragged some of the notes a few milliseconds forward or back to avoid having a rigid timing) Oh by the way, while this might sound like the ending, it really isn't! I haven't even put in my three-way Harpsichord-Organ-Guitar battle yet, so there's no way I'd end it now. =P

If you want I can record the live guitar for you, this mix has some potential, and you're not going to spoil it with crappy synth guitar right? It doesn't sound extremely challenging so I could have everything recorded by tomorrow. I'm actually jamming along to it right now

It sounds a lot better, but IMO it still needs more "oomph". I'm not trying to take over your mix or anything, but consider this as a suggestion to how I think it would sound cool. Really, the idea popped in my head and I just had to make it =P feel free to ignore it altogether though, it's your mix after all. http://www.bestsharing.com/files/wu0zSI308974/Tetris%20Attack.mid.html

I agree with the previous criticism, while the build-up with the drums getting meatier etc. sounds pretty cool (though the drums are panned weirdly), it's really unexpected and anticlimactic when the ethnic percussion and the flute suddenly come in. It would sound absolutely awesome if you opted for a louder approach with overdriven guitars doing power-chords and stuff after that build-up. The intro reminded me a bit of U2-ish pop rock bands actually, so maybe that's where the idea comes from. The mix really needs a sense of direction.

There's loads of ways to get decent sounding results for free, there's some nice free soundfonts out there, and with enough tweakage you can make them convincing enough. Really, you can have DFH quality samples, but they will still sound like shit if you can't process them properly.

I really haven't noticed any rhythmic anomalies, but I did have a minor issue with quantization somewhere during the production process, so it could be a remainder of that that I hadn't noticed. Maybe the guitars aren't perfectly in sync? I'll fix the synth, but do you have any suggestions as to how I should make the snare and kick sound more powerful? Both are already composed of two layers, so should I add more layers, or simply increase the gain on them? Or maybe some specific EQing? Anyway, thanks for the feedback, you brought up a lot of issues I hadn't noticed/ didn't pay attention to earlier. =D

Well, really all I have are free samples to work with, and this is pretty much the best I can get out of them. The wide panning criticism has been noted, I'll definitely fix it. I assume you meant mainly the Tom drums? I'd love to have a real bass there, but I actually weighed in the fact I'd not be using one during the writing of the part, so it's crazy sixteenth runs all over, and I assume next to no-one would be able to play them (Or am I grossly underestimating the bass playing capabilities of some of the members here?). The only realistic solution would be to either rewrite the whole part (which is a lot of work) to something decently playable, or have someone with decent samples sequence it for me (same with the drums). While I do take a lot of pride in having made this mix from scratch, it might be a good idea to start looking for people who have decent enough 'tools' to actually realize what I had envisioned with this mix. =P

There we go, presto drum solo! I think you're going to like this section. Anyway, enjoy. Edit: After hearing it a few more times, I think I MIGHT have overdone the harmonic excitation a bit, the cymbals are a bit too sizzly for my taste, ah well .

I'd say yes, it's not really about the chord progression, more about the pattern, but meh I guess it's hard to hear. It does sound vaguely similar though. =P

If you have no midi-keyboard, things might get a bit more complicated. You'll probably have to mess around with the automation on the pitch wheels in your sequencer or something, at least, that's what I did with the synth in my castlevania WIP

Aaaand here's my little harpsichord cadenza I've been yapping about before. This was the necessary "cool-down" section, after all the mad synth shredding stuff. Expect some mad drum solo's after this, next update should be some time tomorrow. P.s. Props if you guess the piece of classical music I've ripped off with the fast string runs in the final few seconds of this WIP (The short section with the double bass-drum) Hint:It's by Vivaldi actually

It's got an USB midi connection, so I'm pretty sure it can work as a midi controller for Reason.

Ok, apart from the obvious production issues, this kicks ass. Mad props for being able to play riffs like that. The vocals are definitely evocative, but they will need a lot of processing. (I'm thinking mainly reverb and some mad EQing)I'm really not sure about how similar grunts should be EQ'd to sound 'like the real thing', but I'm sure you can find it somewhere on the net. I think you should play around a lot more with stereo panning, layering and Reverse Delay/Reverb (The effect you can hear on dave mustaine's voice in the chorus of the Megadeth song 99 ways To Die) While I love the guitar riffage, it's really the tone that ticks me off. Especially the fast lead-licks sound like they've been played through my old practice amp. I know you're probably not using amp simulators, but rather recording your guitar through a mic, but still, there has to be SOME way to make at least the lead licks have a cool tone. (Maybe you can record your guitar clean, and then add distortion and stuff). For the rest, the arrangement kicks absolute ass, though I can't tell how much of the original tune is still present, I'm sure it will suffice for the judges. All that's left is that goddamn production! =P

I am aware of the existence of four versions (there might be more but those are generally silly dance remixes that don't add much to the original) - The original from Castlevania 2: Simon's Quest is what I'm TRYING to use as the only source, but it's really hard to keep from using riffs and chord progressions from the other versions since they're all just so awesome =D - The Dawn of Sorrow Arrangement, which is pretty much the original with the added musical capabilities of the Nintendo DS, awesome nonetheless. - The Rock Version, which I BELIEVE to be from SOTN (I've never played it more than an hour, so I haven't heard it there), I think this is the version you're most familiar with. - The Club Kukeiha Arrangement, which is in one word awesome, with all their guitar shredding and organ solo's. I'm deliberately trying to take another direction so I won't get accused of ripping them off =P

Thanks for the compliments, but about the 'heaviness' of the rhythm guitars, I'm afraid I can't do that. You'll notice that most metal songs have 2, maybe 3 guitars, a bass, drums, and that's it. That gives the rhythm guitars a shitload of empty space to be effective in, since they're pretty much the only thing in the whole mid-range frequency area, and generally even the bass is phased out in favor of the rhythm guitars, and this is what makes them sound so heavy. You'll notice that I have strings and piano and what not, and for them to be audible, as well as the bass, I have to do a lot of careful EQing and balancing the different volume levels so everything is relatively clear. The downside of this is that the tone of the guitars is affected a lot, and they lose a lot of the low-end boom because I want my bass to be heard.

Any news on the tracklist yet? I assume we're not going to be covering the whole OST, right?

Arrangementwise, I like where you're heading, while viking death metal isn't exactly up my alley, I do have a certain love for the melodic subgenre of death metal, and I can tell this is how death metal is supposed to sound (apart from the quality obviously =P). But if anything, I'd say this needs some vocals. While the drum fills and patterns sound decent, it's the sample quality and the lack of humanization that ticks me off. The double bass-runs suffer extremely from the machine-gun effect, which can be solved by some simple velocity editing. Also, while I'm generally against overcompression, Death metal is usually supposed to sound so loud that it's on the verge of clipping, so you're probably going to want to maximize the shit out of it.

Synth Solo go! The bass is now pretty decently audible IMO, and yes, I know I this mix is in fact by far not riff-centric enough to be considered true metal, but that doesn't mean I'm not planning to lay down some decent guitar shredding in the later parts Also, be gentle about the synth, this is my first attempt ever at subtractive synthesis =3

Well.. If you're alright with it, I guess I'll be using that sig. I like it, and I was still looking for one =P

I think it needs a bass.. and a funky one at that. I know you've got some low-end pads, but a true bass might actually help in creating a bit more order in the confusing rhythm. The drums are way too dry, too up-close, and are screaming for some processing and velocity-editing. Also, I know you're new at this, but some of those drums fills just sound really cheesy. By the way, are those synth pads on-beat? It doesn't sound like it to me in some sections =( In general, I think your melodical instruments are taking on a bit of a too ambient approach, the whole thing definitely needs a decently catchy lead-instrument to create some order and drive the mix on. The pads just tend to get a bit too repetitive on their own. Sorry for the numerous criticisms, but this is pretty much everything you'll need to fix before you'll be even getting close to OCR-standard

90% Reason, 10% Izotope Ozone for mastering =P anyway, I didn't really spend much time on the mastering, I just slapped on the limiter and exciter, so I could quickly have a WIP-ready version. Don't worry, I'll definitely get into the multiband compression for the final mix and make that bass nice and warm. Though I might actually take up your offer to do the mastering, I'm pretty sure you'd do a better job than me. Oh, and if you liked this 'teaser', you're gonna love what I've cooked up for the rest with all the harpsichord cadenza's, synth solo's and hammond organ blues-flirtages =P

Oh by the way, I'd like to participate in this project. I'm up for some more metal/rock guitar awesomeness. http://www.tindeck.com/audio/files/jrkw-Tensei-San%20-%20Bloody%20Mess.mp3 Here's an example of my work. Hope you like it.

Well problems should be nipped in the bud =P Besides, IMO you shouldn't post like 20 seconds of work, it's really only worth it if you already have enough work done to demonstrate the general feel and direction of your arrangement.