Sengin

Thanks for the review. I'm actually pretty happy with my pad work, though I wasn't sure it was going to turn out alright when I first started. And yeah, I'm working on the transitions (they used to be worse). I think I'm still going to keep the single-instrument transition at 2:11, because I think it's a nice break. But the others will get some work. I was thinking of bringing the bass part of the piano out very slightly and pushing the flute slightly back, but I think I'll try a different bass instrument (if I can find one). Also, the seventh you are talking about, which instrument do you mean? I should have some time to work on it today, and I've already started work on the next section. However, the transition is absolutely awful (but I just wanted to get to work on that section and worry about the transition later). It starts off with saxes, an alto and a tenor, playing a slightly altered section of Ice Cap in a different key signature (instead of C,C, bB, it's bE,bE, bD). And then one of the guys thinks it's boring, so he does something a little different. And then the other guy does the same, and then there's what's basically ice cap being "dueled" between two saxes for a short while. But, I have no volume work done, no panning, no nothing. Just some notes with an instrument (and I don't even know if the saxes sound ok). I have some exaggerated differences to remind myself of what I'd like to do (makes these notes a little louder, etc..), but nothing set in stone or even worked on. So it's like a WIP of the WIP. Anyway, I appreciate the review and thoughts on it. I should hope to have a little more done later today and post it for early thoughts on it (perhaps I need better saxes to to expand things, etc..).

Mmmm. Nice intro that builds up nice and smoothly, without it being "BAM song." Instruments appear into the mix nicely. Very interesting melody. I love this kind, it doesn't have a set ryhthm; it moves and changes. Percussion is very well done as well. I must have accidentally deleted this (I was looking for it and couldn't find it), because I know I would not have purposely deleted it.

Thanks, I'd appreciate it. It's great to have input and critique from someone other than myself

What about mixes in the WIP boards? While I understand that reviews are needed for completed and accepted mixes, I do think that WIPs by new composers need some attention as well, which in turn can create more accepted, high-quality mixes. I've just started into remixing music, and I know I could use some reviews of my WIP (Secrets Hidden in the Deep) so that eventually, maybe I can have a completed mix on here to share. I know there are other (mostly somewhat known) remixers who get a lot of attention on their WIPs, but I also know there are others who are just entering into remixing/composing music that get little to no reviews, let alone good reviews (I mean good as in explaining what works, doesn't work and how to fix it, not "Good trumpet, sucky soundscape"). It can be hard without the opinions and knowledge of others to create something good. I came here to post my first WIP and get ideas of how to make it better, and I got almost none (especially on my latest version), which I suspect is because I am not known, someone looking at the WIP boards will think "I don't know him, so I don't know if he's good, but I know who AkumajoBelmont is, I like his stuff, and he has a WIP with vocals in a thread just above this guy's, so it'll probably be good. I want to listen." I say let's review some accepted remixes (which deserve reviews becauase it's been accepted), but let's also not forget about the WIPs who will eventually become accepted remixes (hopefully, if new remixers continue to get critique).

They were under custom names. You could see how many games QWST won compared to HIJK. Or even better, the guys who think it's cool to use hiragana and katakana to replace alphabetical letters... Anyway, but yeah, in melee you could see wins, losses, blah blah blah almost everything.

Love the Chamber of Life. Best place to practice teching (and really the only fun level on super sudden death). If you can tech well and don't get gimp killed (i.e. die without having an opportunity to tech) you can last until ~500%. I'm certainly glad it's coming back.

You mean those other two. Mathos is in that pool, and unless you have crazy powershielding skill and lots of anti-falco skill, you ARE going to get lasered. A lot. He's known to be one of the best SHLers.

Exactly. But if it's the only technique you have, then you have to do it in chunks of maybe 1/4 a measure, or even less. But at things like that, it's pretty dumb, as you say. But if it's all you got.....

Hard to do, but not impossible. A person can't really tell the difference between say 124 and 124.5 bpm without a metronome or some other thing constantly reminding them of what 124 bpm is. So, depending on how much of a tempo change you want, you could have it at 124 for half a measure, and then at 124.5 at the next half, then 125 for the first half of the next measure, etc... I'm not saying use a new file for each tempo change in a gradual change, use the tempo change in the events dialog. Have a listen to the WIP and you'll see what I mean (the ending increases tempo from 100 to 128 in 8 measures, or a 3.5 bpm increase per measure, but since Reason can't do an event change of non-integers, the first measure is 103 (3 bpm increase), the second is 107 (4 bpm increase), the third is 110 (3 bpm increase), etc..) Sure, it's not 100% gradual, but it still doesn't sound "stepish." It's the best thing you can do with Reason 3 and below if you don't have a program to make it a slave. Besides, it's technically impossible for a computer to generate a seamless transition because a computer is digital, and somewhere, it's got to define how long a step is, even if it's only 1 picosecond (which it's not at this point), it's still a step and not gradual. But that's really damn technical and of course the human ear cannot tell steps in lengths of single picoseconds (or nanoseconds or milliseconds - anyone know the resolution where humans can detect something non-gradual?).

You CAN do a gradual tempo change, I use it in my current WIP (see here: http://www.ocremix.org/forums/showthread.php?t=10486 - mostly check out the speed up at the end of the WIP as the slowdown near the beginning will likely change- oh, and leave critiques please, it tends to slip under the radar), but while it is possible, it does require a bit of work; how much so depends on how "gradual" you want it to be and how less "step-like" you want it.

You could do what I'm doing with Reason 3 and have separate .rns files for each tempo changes, and then stitch them together in Audacity (free) or some other program.

http://www.box.net/shared/9ngs279ame Finally, after some time, a new WIP. A few things have changed, mainly it being more Hydrocity-centered and less Ice Cap. Which is good. I've also added some bits and changed some stuff so hopefully it's less repetitive. There's still a few things I need to change (like some sort of bass instrument in the first section), but for the most part, the bulk of the work from now on will be based on developing what I have that comes after where the song currently ends, and adding an ending. Any critique is quite welcomed.

As in, cleanly (so the background sound isn't changed)?

The reason is the way your OS handles file extensions. Before XP (I think), there could only be one . in a file name, anything after that was treated as the extension. So instead of a .wav file, it was a .4 file with the file name as "Valkyriemix 1". If you have XP or vista, this shouldn't be a problem though (but I don't know how it works on macs). You can easily rename a file by clicking it once to highlight it, then pressing F2, and changing the .4 to .wav. If you have "hide extensions for known file types" on, then you'd need to turn it off to change the extension. (in explorer or my documents, Tools | Folder Options -> View tab, it should be the last checkbox without having to scroll down).

Like the article, but if you're talking complete remix noobs, then "If you’ve ever wondered what your favorite song from a video game would sound like when played in a metal band, this is the place for you" sounds like ocremix is just a metal site, rather than incorporating a lot of different musical styles. Electronica, ambient, rock, solo piano...we have them all here. I think for clarity's sake, you said say "If you’ve ever wondered what your favorite song from a video game would sound like when played in a metal band, jazz club, or in any other style, this is the place for you." Or something like that.

I think it's pretty good, it's just missing an instrument or something. It's basically all background sounds, without something driving the piece. It doesn't have to be something loud, just something that isn't background.

Yeah, I will be. I used Finale for my arrangements, then take that into Reason. I'll let you know when I repost. I was suffering from a lack of creativity, so I decided to work on the remix part in Reason for a while until I can get some more ideas.

You can see more of the arrangement by listening to the midi I have linked in my first post (it goes further than what I've done in Reason at this point, even though it's still not complete). It's odd that you say the percussion is the same as the source for Hydrocity because I haven't taken anything from a midi or even listened to the percussion, I just found some things I liked and used it (it's not exactly done yet though, I just wanted a basic part on there so I have reference points because you can't do tempo changes in Reason yet, especially speed ups). Thanks for the reply.

I have finally had some time to work on my mix, and here's WIP2. It has a new intro and background things going on rather than just piano. I will still be adding some more background in some places, but I wanted to at least upload WIP2 beforehand. You can see WIP2 here: http://www.box.net/shared/a2760skcjt So what's good, what's bad?

Decidedly nice. I think it's a real nice laid-back track. What were the reasons none of your mixes were accepted?

Ah, thanks.

Where did you get that flute/shakuhachi? That's a nice sounding instrument.

Yeah, I know I picked a difficult song, but unfortunately I didn't really have a choice (you know the whole mind thing making you do it...). I'm hoping one thing going FOR me would be that it's not just Ice Cap, but Hydrocity also. Right now I know it's sparse, I haven't had the opportunity to add anything else, I just wanted to get the main arrangement into Reason and deal with the tempo change stuff before I went on with everything else. I mainly wanted critique on the arrangement and instrument choices right now because I haven't done anything else yet, as well as change velocities and timings (I play piano myself, and know about velocities and interpretations with that and minute timing adjustments). I personally thought the intro captured the listener into a relaxed setting, but it could just be bias because it was my idea. I do however have an idea for a different intro. And the thought the slowly gaining complexity part fit well into the relaxed theme I was going for, but I guess it could be TOO slow. Did you get a chance to listen to the other part of the arragement rather than just the .mp3? And thanks for taking the time to reply. I appreciate another view on my own piece, especially a contructive one.

Can anyone who has received the sheet music upload it to a more stable place? Or even rapidshare it again, as it seems to have gotten some more attention, it should stay alive for a little while.

So I was in the shower late one Thursday night and decided that I really wanted to make a remix of Hydrocity Zone and Ice Cap. I used Finale to come up with the basic arrangement and used Reason to actually create the remix. It really sucks 3.0 can't support tempo changes (can't wait 'till 4). Ah well, I've come up with a way around that. Anyway, I wanted to post here so that I can get comments and critiques. I have come further along with the arrangement as of now, so I have the midi posted as well (it's not finished yet though). Keep in mind that for the remix, no EQ has been applied yet (because I have 3 (right now) Reason files (one for each tempo change so far and the speed up), I can't apply the EQ until the end, after they've been pasted together in Audacity). Also, drums haven't been finished yet either, also I will be adding background things later, and my experience in Reason is still young. So I'm looking for tips and critiques galore . Don't be easy, let me know what you think. You can get both the midi (arrangement) and the mp3 (what I've done of the remix so far) here: http://public.box.net/senjin3172429 Thanks. Edit: newest version (6): http://www.box.net/shared/7p1s1cfsws