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Eino Keskitalo

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Posts posted by Eino Keskitalo

    Classic Apogee Games

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    One of my greatest regrets in life is not finding a full copy of Cosmo; sure, I could pirate it by now, but it's not the same.

    I actually went as Cosmo for halloween once, complete with suction cup hands.

    You know, you can also *buy it* from 3D Realms. The Halloween costume sounds awesome.

    The only Apogee games I played were Math Rescue and Word Rescue. Fun games, even if they were educational.

    Word Rescue! We played the hell out of it with my sister. It must have actually been somewhat useful for learning English vocabulary. Other favourite Apogee games of mine were the first three Keens, especially the sw episode, played so much of that. And Jumpan Lives! which was pulled for copyright reasons.

    edit: Oh right, Raptor: The Call of Shadows as well. Played the SW version quite a bit back in the day, and finally bought it last year from GOG.com. It feels kinda good to finally be able to buy these games, it was practically impossible to do so in my childhood/teens. :)

    --Eino

    [PCReMix] Deus Ex - UNATCO theme (Sadevakio)

    in Post Your Game ReMixes!

    Posted · Edited by evktalo
    resubbed!

    Part of the PCReMix initiative.

    Resubmitted after tiny bit of filter automation changes to one particular lead, here's the MP3 and the Renoise project file.

    ---

    Ok, just tiny tiny tweaks. A candidate for resub here. Going to send this back to panel soon, so get those final comments in! (:

    ---

    Pretty close to resubbing.

    Newest wip here

    * extended middle part

    * lotsa other small tweaks

    Concerns: how's the bass (too much bass?), how's the "mastering" (clipping/pumping/discomfort?), how does the extended middle work?

    --Eino

    --- previously:

    So they're trying to make me do a resub, they said NO, NO, NO

    Decision thread here (very supportive, that's always nice!)

    I got a good, diverse list of crits that I've mostly addressed:

    * leads/support clashing, which is hopefully addressed up to the final 3/4 part

    * layered the lone crash cymbal with more

    * eased on the reverb a bit

    * worked on the bass end of mixing (the end was super muddy)

    * simplified the overly busy drumming in the end of the middle section (though the toms are still too busy)

    I also overall finetuned the mixing, and I hope I'm not draining the life out of it.

    Liontamer also criticized the lead sounds for being simple, though Nutritious said it fits in genre context. I might spice them up a bit, but not too much. I still want to use these oldschool trackermusic samples you know. (: Vig also criticized too much screwing with the tempo, which alongside his "overbusy beat" crit is making me consider extending the middle section with a bit of four-to-the-floor beat.

    Here's a current WIP

    Soo, I'll look at the toms at the end of the middle section, then work on the mixing for the outro, and then perhaps see if I can come up with an extension to the middle part. Stay tuned!

    --- previous:

    So I finished minimizing the hum, and adding some slight pan/width stuff to the end part. Then when I listened to the mixdown, I realized that the intro sounded louder than the beginning of the middle part. I turned the leads down especially. Then that made me realize some of the leads were really loud in the middle part. Tuned those down. Then the hihat and snare started sounding like they were too loud..

    Fixed that (and turned down the ride down a little too) and I'm done now. Let's see if I manage to write the submission e-mail before falling asleep.

    Final version

    Renoise project file if there's anyone with Renoise & interest.

    Thanks for all the great feedback!

    --older:

    Well, I did a quick fix that I'll review later. There's a slight bass freq boost to bassdrum, lofi timpani and bass. For the overcrowded part, the following kept the lead sound ok: I panned the leads a bit more & differently, and layered one of the leads with the same notes, octave down (and tweaked levels). I think that's a quick fix that helps.

    Final candidate 3: https://www.dropbox.com/s/b7iim851vfrjpa5/eino_keskitalo-sadevakio-fc3-20121003.mp3

    --- olldd:

    Final candidate 2: here

    Applied a little reverb and eq changes and tweaked levels according to mod feedback <3; some other slight tweaks, such as additional panning of instruments, which should help to separate them a little better. The levels changes seemed to make the track sound better.. since I also got a little more headroom (I think) I pushed the limiter on the master channel for a little more loudness. Sounds ok to me - when I try to side-by-side compare them, it makes it sound like the channels that were toned down are as loud as before, and the rest of the thing came up a bit. The sense of space is actually much nicer as a result.

    --- olderrr:

    Final candidate 1: https://www.dropbox.com/s/g0yy0qbaa698gb9/eino_keskitalo-sadevakio-fc1-20120927.mp3

    Several small adjustments. Tweaked bass mixing especially; tried to punch a hole into the lofi-timpani for the bass drum, also tweaked bass EQ to make room for bass drum, also tweaked the high EQ of the bass drum, and levels. Boosted the overall mix about 1db. Adjusted some background pads and stuff. Changed the drums in the "loud snare" section a little (snare/tom interplay).

    I'm hopefully done, but am concerned:

    • mixing overall
    • overall eq
    • are the leads solid enough

    --- old:

    Latest version: https://www.dropbox.com/s/f0ojndwqqijxi0o/eino_keskitalo-sadevakio-20120917.mp3

    Just some mixing tweaks. The bass levels, especially the massive lofi kettle drum probably need some attention. My todo/feedback wanted below still applies. Not sure if I should try to make the mix louder or if this suffices. I'm also less sure if the sounds are good enough (I seek to pass the panel with this).

    I also came up with a title: "Sadevakio" is Finnish for something like "The Rain Constant", trying to make some sort of a wordplay how it's always raining in cyberpunk settings.

    --- old:

    WIP

    Part of the PCReMix initiative.

    I started this one way back in PRC199, a very popular round. I've since extended the structure and spent hours and hours tuning the arrangement, mixing and effect automation in Renoise. For sounds, I grabbed Mazedude's Zombie's Ate My Tracker, he has the .IT file available on the American Album site. Thanks for that! Many of the samples are actually 8-bit samples from various old school modules, which I took as a challenge to make them sound good. Not sure if I'll do such a challenge again. ;) I hope I managed. I like the resulting tracker aesthetic, hope it works to other ears as well.

    Source usage:

    The main riff from the source is used practically throughout, altered to 3/4 in the intro and outro, and transposed lower in the middle 4/4 part. The melody at

    in the source is used from 1:40 onwards pretty much to the end. Also the figure at
    in the source is used here and there, usually at an end of a part or some other transition/breakpoint (for example at 00:35, 01:58 and 02:18.. that might be all the cases actually).

    I couldn't hear the main riff in the source, so I used the MIDI provided for the compo. It actually has the riff a fifth lower than it should be. Big thanks to Gario for pointing this out during the competition. I was slow to react to the intel though, and had already extended the melody and written countermelodies.. and correcting the riff messed them up. So, I decided to add a part (the intro) with correct pitch and consider the "wrong" pitch a personalisation of the source, if an unintended one. :) And now that I listen to the source, I probably heard the 0:31 bit wrong too. Oh well.

    Feedback wanted:

    I have a few tweaks in mind, but this is pretty close to a final mix. I haven't mastered this thing yet (just a bit of hard limiting to make it a little louder). I'd mostly like comments for mixing (headphones, so the bass is probably too loud), and if you hear anything funny or awkward going on in the writing, or if the sounds sound plain/boring at any point despite trying to process the hell out of them. ;) Or anything else you might want to point out.

    A shout-out to DjMokram for having already provided supportive feedback. <3 Also thanks to all the commenters from PRC199!

    --Eino

    ZX Spectrum BATTLE COMMAND (Jon Dunn) Remix - NEW WIP PLEASE LISTEN

    in Post Your Game ReMixes!

    Posted

    ZX Spectrum, instant bonus points. :) The source is indeed pretty cool.

    The quiet bits are way too quiet compared to the parts with the beat and the electric pianos. I really like the quiet bits. The middle break (from around 1:12) is a really, really nice mellow build-up. Actually, the rest of the song develops quite well right up to the end. The end is rather sudden, if that's supposed to be the end (I'm expecting you'll at least sound a chord in the end though). It could go on from that for quite a bit too.

    I'd say the drums and the pianos are definitely way loud in the mix. The drums, especially the snare sound pretty exposed, which I think, despite creative sequencing, makes it sound kind of mechanical if that makes sense. Evening out the levels should help with that. You're also not using the piano sounds after the first "loud" section. The later loud-ish section works better than the piano part, which might be partially because of the more even mixing. The later part seems to develop much more naturally, while the piano part kind of lacks flow and is "jagged" rhythmically. Could maybe use some work on the writing to get it flow better, although I don't have any specific ideas for that right now. I do like the 80s digital e-piano sound, it's quite fun.

    The intro is a good wash of synths too. Damn nice.

    --Eino

    The PCReMix Initiative ~ Let's put the PC in OC ReMix!

    in ReMix Requests

    Posted · Edited by evktalo

    edit: I put my Deus Ex - UNATCO mix up on the WiP boards. Please take a listen! :)

    I'd like to state my intention to do a mix of "SuvwI' van bom" from Star Trek: Klingon, a Win95 game. Raucous vocal piece, so I think I could actually pull it off with my current production skillset.

    That sounds pretty awesome!

    The latest People's Remixing Competition has a source track from Jazz Jackrabbit 2.

    --Eino

    FFVI - Gogo's Theme (Rhapsody of Madness)

    in Post Your Game ReMixes!

    Posted

    Much more serious than the source, I can say! Still a lot of fun. I love how at 02:55 the next part just LANDS on top of you.

    I can't offer much in the way of productive crits other than it seems to clip a bit at places, namely around 1:20-1:25, 3:00-3:30 and in the very final crescendo. And mayyyybe I'd use a little more big/wet reverb. Especially the beginning sounds a little dry. But I have no clue about working on an orchestral mix, so take that as you will.

    --Eino

    Forest of Purple Mist - Faron Woods from Zelda: Twilight Princess - Version 8

    in Post Your Game ReMixes!

    Posted

    Overall the tune is pleasant and light. It also reminds me of some of Rexy's work, especially on the Tales project album. That's a good thing.

    The intro is really nice, but it transitions to the rest of the tune awkwardly. The intro has a really happy major feel, and the rest of the track is more mysterious. This is a fine combination, but the 00:42-00:51 bit which sounds decidedly minor sticks out, especially the oboe note around 00:42-00:43 sounds very out of line. Structurally, that part feels like its stalling the song from properly starting. You could simply cut it and get into the meat of the track sooner. I'd suggest trying to cut from 00:40 to 00:50 or so, with a little lead-in fill. The main melodic hook is great right after the intro (this is what's there right now, but it detours in to the "minor" section after).

    The writing is good in general. It's a bit unfocused. The solo piano end sounds kind of random for instance, there's lots of notes but not really a memorable hook or something like that I wish the piece left me with. I kind of feel the parts are sometimes needlessly busy elsewhere in the mix too, but it's not a huge issue all in all. The ending does irk me tough.

    The bass, in the most of the track, is pretty static and a little overpowering. The exception is the intro. You could use rests in the rest of the song too. There are neat little variations in the bassline throughout the song, no mistake about that - and it doesn't need to go all over the place. Placing a few rests in the writing and mixing it a little lower where it is its loudest would help a lot.

    The oboe could perhaps use a little bit of rests, staccato, rhythmical activity here and there. It probably helps it feel less "fake" and makes for good variation.

    I think the bass being overpowering and the awkward structure towards the beginning are the main issues. My favourite part is the middle "breather" section, the piece eases into it incredibly well. It's like it slips into it without you really noticing it at first. This adds to the mysterious quality of the track.

    --Eino

    Portal 2 - Reconstructing Science (Motion Sickness)

    in Post Your Game ReMixes!

    Posted · Edited by evktalo
    resub final candidate 1

    https://www.dropbox.com/s/4246f874kgd7pkd/eino_keskitalo-motion_sickness-20150809-resubfc2.mp3?dl=0

     

    Some improvements! Sending this off soon.

     

    ---

     

    Resub final candidate 1
     

    • cut out the weird section towards the end
    • a bit more melodic now
    • beefed up the snare sample

    ---

    Working on a resub based on the panel feedback. Done a bunch of smoothing out the mix, plus a bunch of work on the structure. Not quite sure if it's quite there yet. Some sanity checking of background elements and harmony also left.

    WIP 2015/03/23

    -----

    edit: submitted

    final candidate 6

    Tried to make the overall mix a little less noisy: turned snares, hihat & crash down just a little, EQ'd the saw lead - additionally, adjusted lead balance a little more so it's more even across the piece. Now to write the submission letter! Thanks once again to everyone for the feedback!

    Fun fact: the project file is smaller than the MP3.

    <><><><><> old: <><><><><>

    final candidate 5 - unbusied competing leads in the final few bars

    --- older: -----

    Final candidate 4 (dl) - soundcloud

    An update based on Timaeus' excellent feedback.
     

    • tweaked the levels so that the main lead would stand out each part (a little seems to go a long way)
    • tried to parallel compress the bass drum, maybe a bit more interesting now
    • some other little details
    • tried a bit of that crosspanning, but it's probably pretty inaudible
    • boosted the limiter on the master channel by 1.5db (getting bad ideas at this stage?)

    ----------- old: ------------

    Final candidate 3

    An update based on Gario's excellent feedback.
     

    • tweaked some lead & pad sounds to balance the EQ better
    • pitched a couple of the snare sounds a bit higher
    • made some leads follow the source more closely
    • added a bg melody from source
    • tweaked the bass sound for additional life/stereo/detail
    • other small tweaks

    confusing convoluted source breakdown:

    What's used from the source:

    the two slightly different note sequences:
    0:51-1:05 "half-time"
    0:00-0:07 "fast"; the variation/ending at 0:05 is only referenced once at a bg melody.

    0:29-0:36 background stuttering melody-ish support bleep

    0:22-0:29 bassy line

    Source usage in the piece:

    The bass line - the rhythm is offset to be off-beat:
    half-time: 0:24-0:53, 1:10-1:23, 1:58-2:01, 2:05-2:09
    based on half-time with chord change: 2:01-2:05, 2:09-2:12
    mix of fast/halftime: 0:53-1:08, 2:14-2:41

    Square lead:
    0:53-1:05, 2:13-2:43 half time, the steady rhythm broken up
    1:26-1:56 half time

    The filtered saw lead at 1:48-1:56 based on the bassy line at 0:22-0:29.

    Support stutter (from 0:29-0:36 in the source):

    build-up:
    0:09-0:11, 0:13-0:15, 0:17-0:18

    meat of the usage:
    0:20-0:38
    0:40-0:46, 0:48-0:53
    2:22-2:30

    sparse usage (often buried):
    1:00, 1:03-1:04
    1:34, 1:38, 1:49, 1:53
    2:06, 2:09
    2:32, 2:36, 2:40-2:43

    Other support stuff:
    * "ticking" square 1:08-1:10, 1:25-1:26, 1:41-1:58, 2:00-2:01, 2:03-2:05, 2:07-2:09, 2:11-2:12, 2:19-2:21, 2:43-2:48 (from source 0:00-?)
    * bg square lead 1:19-1:21 (fast, part at ?)
    * bg square lead 1:23-1:24 (fast, part at ))

    ---- old --------

    Final candidate 2

    * faded the beginning in better & cut the too long delay tail at the end

    edit: Some source breakdown.



    Source use starts at 0:25. The basic building block from the source is the figure that plays at
    . I've offset it a bit relative to the beat, and used it as the bassline.

    The blop-blip that starts at 00:39 and evolves to a more proper melody at 0:54 is also based on that figure. The faster figure that plays in the background at 1:26 (and elsewhere) is also based on this figure, and in spirit to the faster figure that plays at the very start of the source (but I think just the first four notes are the same). I think that's all I've used from the source, there's lots of cool material that I skipped/replaced. The bassline plays throughout and much of the melodic material is derived from the same figure. The riff that plays in the breakdown starting at 1:27 is the same thing as the bassline, only now placed on the beat, instead of offbeat like the bassline.

    Final candidate 1

    changes:

    * more attention to mixing the leads
    * added a subtle pad and fx'd percussion to fill things out

    --Eino

    -- old:

    WIP: https://www.dropbox.com/s/o534cpxz6flqry1/motion%20sickness%2020120726.mp3

    As per sggod89's suggestion, cut put a low pass on the square lead. Maybe should do the same on (most of) the saw too.. I also adjusted the background hums, and put a little reverb on the bass line. All in all pretty small tweaks in the update. I should mix/master this properly and mark it Finished. So I should start learning about proper mixing mastering. (: I do notice that the waveform gets a lot louder in the end where there's tons of leads going all over the place, so that'd probably need some special (levels, eq?) attention.

    --Eino

    -- old:

    WIP: https://www.dropbox.com/s/llhr2cxj3g67cog/motion%20sickness%2020120707.mp3



    This is a tweaked version of my PRC220 entry. (In case you have heard that version, I've tweaked the structure a little and improved mixing). Arrangement-wise I've taken the basic 8-note melody/figure and based the bassline on it (I've "shifted" it to the offbeat, rhythmically) and built from there. The title is a bitter one, I would love to play Portal 2 (co-op!!!), but I get motion sickness from the game.

    I don't have any big ideas how to develop this further, I'm thinking I'll just need to mix/master this properly. I'm aiming to get this posted on OCR. I appreciate any comments on
    • the track in general
    • the recognizability of the source
    • if the sounds sound good enough
    • if there's anything (too) strange going on with the melodies (which are a maybe little wild at times)
    • if the structure feels like a complete piece

    Thanks in advance & hope you enjoy :)

    --Eino

    Cave Story - Moonsong

    in Post Your Game ReMixes!

    Posted

    The headphones last time have to have been really shitty, because I can hear the bass just good with these shitty headphones. I can hear it's really subtle in the sense that it's just there to provide the bass end.. it works, since it leaves room for the rest of the mix. I play bass so I'm just a fan of big bass guitar.. ;) I still feel the comment I made way back, that the bass could pick up during the outro stands. And maybe during the guitar solo a bit, too.

    oh man I don't think I wanna re-record everything

    I know the feeling.. :) If you're not up for re-recording now, you can use that feedback to improve in the future. Frankly, listening to the piece now, the somewhat weak starts don't really bother me. Getting them better will improve the impression you give, it's like a small thing that's worth working on at this point, but the singing here is in a pretty good level already.

    One more thing that I thought this time around was the beginning.. it could have some sort of ambience, the whole thing starts really dry (and contributes to the "sudden" feeling I commented last time). Some sort of reverbated sound effect thing starting the whole thing with the melody/bass coming (quickly) in might help with this.

    Overall I keep enjoying this mix quite a bit!

    edit: One thing that you have in the vocals is that they do start out a little mellower and grow from there --- this is a *very* good thing and I'm certainly not criticising that! It's a thing that gives a good emotional weight and musical development to the singing and lyrics. This way outweights what technical shortcomings I can hear there. Good stuff, don't take me wrong!

    --Eino

    Jewel Master - any track

    in ReMix Requests

    Posted

    Good stuff indeed. The Jewel Master title track that DjMokram linked has a melody in the beginning that reminds me of Castlevania. Also, I'm reminded of Zeliard soundtrack..

    Shining Force 2's soundtrack is one of my favourites, and Landstalker, though I've played that way less, is great too. I appreciate you guys posting about this stuff, it's new to me.

    --Eino

    Cave Story - Moonsong

    in Post Your Game ReMixes!

    Posted

    Much improved if I recall correctly. Vocals much better.

    crits:

    Not sure if it's the headphones, but I can't seem to hear any bass (guitar) in the mix.

    Beginning, when things come in, there's lack of definition. The very start, it just seem to fade in very suddenly. I think it'd be better if it started with a bit of silence and you could hear the first note. Similarly, guitars and vocals coming in 00:16-00:17, especially the vocal entrance sounds kind of rushed. It's important to start with clarity and confidence, especially since the vocals do sound clear and confident mostly otherwise!

    The beginning of the 1:08 verse with rockier vocals is a little off-tune, and again makes for a sloppy start for an otherwise all right singing.

    The first high screamed "memories consumed" is also slightly off, though I don't actually mind that bit, for me it just adds a little of the appropriate emotion to it. :)

    I wasn't sold on a portion of the guitar solo, 02:57-03:05, it feels a little off-time, off-tune, exposed/dry. The previous bit and the end were fine. Could be played tighter, the sound could perhaps be a little beefier, or the mixing in that spot could support it a little more.

    03:22 - the vocal again has a weak start, while by the end it sounds very good with the end of the scream. NO PUSSYFOOTING!

    When I sing, I have trouble with starts of song, starts of verses etc. I try to feel like I'm already "inside" the song and already singing, even if I'm actually not. That helps for me. Not sure if that makes sense.. When recording, you can even figure out a "lead in" that you start singing before the part actually starts to get your voice ready, and then cut it off after recording. Not sure though if any real singer or producer - me being neither - would recommend such a technique! :D

    04:04 - I'd suggest putting the falsetto vocals to the background and bringing the lead guitar to the front at this point, to change things up a bit. We've already been hit with several volleys of vocals in succession. Let's hear that getaaarrrr.

    The fade-out is a bit fast or sudden.

    Big list of crits, but this is a great arrangement with really effective lyrics.. it deserves a bit of more polish on the execution side, to be awesome. The treatment of the source is both natural and unexpected!

    --Eino

    FREE: Disco/horn/synth band version - Megaman 2 - Dr. Wily's Stage 1

    in Post Your Game ReMixes!

    Posted

    Hey, this is awesome :D I don't think I've heard Poutatorvi before, but I've heard the name of the band.. so, cool that you're doing vgm arrangements, that definitely gets me interested.

    Very enjoyable, tight version. One crit: the guitar chord choice at 0:55 sounds wrong. The chord itself would fit if the melody was adapted to it, but together they clash. Later on the same part doesn't sound offensive, but the guitar seems more muted in the mix in those places.

    Although the arrangement probably too direct a cover to get posted on OCR (don't know if you had submitting in mind, or just posted it here to be enjoyed), it has nice touches, great little bits from every instrument and changes in the energy all over the place, and keeps interest all the way through. Good stuff!

    --Eino

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