Palpable

What a fun project, and for a class, no less! I've made two songs out of chopping up full albums (XTC's Skylarking and Beatles' White Album) and they were both great fun to make. Go ahead and have at my stuff too. I guess it's a given that we'll get the hear the finished result?

Yeah, it's gonna be a NO. It's very similar to the original in style and sound, and barely any interpretation in melody, harmony, counter-melody, etc. It's a really chill listen, and I might end up keeping it anyway, but it's not for OCR. Since you took the time to submit, I'll try to give you some production comments. Overall, the sound is sweet, and I think good enough to pass here. If you want to really tighten it up, the bass got a little ahead of the beat in the section starting at 0:38, especially around 1:00. The guitar that comes in at 0:45 and some of the effects afterward also conflicted with the bass a bit; maybe try to separate them better. Brass sample is a little weak like you mentioned, but I thought it worked in this context. I dunno. I could say more, but with dub, many of the standard rules about how things are supposed to sound go out the window. Hope you give us stuff more tailored for the site in the future! NO

Yeah, good concept, good combination of instruments, but it really strays too much. Aside from Larry's breakdown, I think I found the chord progression between 1:11 and 3:14, but with all the jazzy notes it's nearly impossible to make out that it's an arrangement of Maridia 2. The lack of source usage is going to make this a NO. I also thought it was a little noodly, and needed more of a steady anchor so that you knew where you were. I appreciate the rhythmic complexity of some of the playing, but especially around the two minute mark, it gets too much. I think when everything is playing a little off, it becomes overwhelming. Larry mentioned the clipping. I also thought the pad coming in at 3:14 was a little strange, almost like an afterthought to incorporate the original melody. I think it would have more impact if it were more pronounced. Production was fine enough overall. I'd love to see this one reworked into something more connected to the original melodies. I think you can strike a balance between keeping the improvisation you want while meeting OCR standards. NO (resubmit)

Haha, this song. It sounds so simple, it's only two minutes after you cut off the silence at the end, and the rhythm is definitely off in some places. Yet I can't help but like it. It's quite charming. The interpretation is pretty interesting and it certainly creates an atmosphere. The parts are more intricate than they seem, and the interplay is cool. Recording is good, and parts are distinct. Even the rhythm problems with it seem to add to the idea that it's something laidback and sleepy. I almost feel like a tighter version might work against it... I wouldn't blame anyone for going NO on this, but I feel like this song works. Good luck with the rest of the vote! YES

Another solid arrangement, Jonathan. The incorporation of the Brinstar riffs into this is excellent. It also shows how much effort you put into those drums - they barely sound sequenced and there are some very fun parts to listen to. I love the detour taken at 1:50 into that manic "Black Betty"-esque section. The only thing I'd like to add is that I wish the song was more of a departure stylistically from your other work. I'd love to see you try out some wildly different instruments and textures, cause I think you would do awesome with it. That's not a knock on this song at all; just something for you to consider. I can tell you've spent some time upping your production too. The sounds are getting a lot cleaner. Only thing I noticed was that the lead synth in the opening sections covers a lot of the same territory as the guitars, and sounds a little muddy. It works a lot better in the higher ranges, like around 2:38. Otherwise, bang up job. YES

Probably my favorite Super Bowl ever. I thought it was exciting the entire game. Low scoring, sure, but lots of good defense and close calls. I'd seriously hate to be a Pats fan right now.

Wow, great arrangement. I love the contrast between the atmospheric sections and the balls-out sections. Fun dynamics and very expressive playing. Wonderful use of effects on that echoing guitar too - it's a very strong addition to the song. The pads that the song opens on are a little weak on their own, but that's about the extent of things I found wrong with the arrangement. My big problem with the production is something zircon aludes to: it skews towards the highs, to the point of being grating. Definitely take his suggestions in the last paragraph to eliminate that clipping, and maybe put less emphasis on the high-end of your instruments. I don't think the song necessarily needs a bass, but shifting EQ around to fill out those low ranges would help. Very very close, man, just close it out. NO (resubmit)

I never beat Zelda 2.

THIS is the source tune everyone keeps talking about? Man. This thing is pretty dinky. Fortunately, this arrangement improves on it like 10000%. Good mix of instruments, good dynamics, and a hell of a lot of creative takes on the theme. I love the little cameos of the eight-note pattern. Very solid. I didn't have a problem with the guitar sequencing. It doesn't necessarily sound like it's trying to be a real guitar. Drum sequencing seemed fine enough too. I thought the tones of the instruments weren't great though, even for synth instruments, and that really added up. Many parts sounded lacking in highs, the lead and rhythm guitars especially. The bass was a little thin to carry that section at 2:09. In general, it sounded like too much EQ had been applied, cutting away stuff that would have given a more natural sound. I'm not sure if this is why Larry thought the texture sounded flimsy? Very close to a pass, but I think it needs more work on the production end to seal the deal. NO (resubmit)

Swung back and forth several times on this one... sigh. The interpretation concept was inspired, but I didn't think you went all the way with it. The melody is pretty much unchanged for the first two iterations, and the backing parts are largely serviceable, and a little repetitive. The unexpected cut back to the orchestral section was cool, but that section has a very similar sound to the original. I dunno. I think your song got a lot better in the last minute, with the soloing and more creative takes on the theme, but the first two minutes could use more of that creativity. Parts were nice and clear: good job there. However, I felt the song was lacking in energy, especially in the bass and drum parts. I think it could use more volume in the lows and highs. Just messing around with my Winamp Equalizer I was able to get a better sound, so that shouldn't be too hard a fix. (I used the Full Bass & Treble preset, if that helps.) It's a tough call. I think with a more solid arrangement, this would be a YES. But because so much of the song feels like it's just there, I'm going NO. I strongly strongly recommend you resubmit if this doesn't pass, because just a little bit more effort in the writing will probably win you my vote. NO (resubmit)

I think you came close to capturing the mood you described, but this still needs a lot of work on writing and producing. Seems like you want this to sound organic, but some of the parts (the bass guitar, the percussion, the violin) are too mechanical. Some of the other instruments sound alright, but you need that level of detail with all your parts, if you intend to leave them so exposed. The section at 1:29 is quite dissonant. I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt that this is intentional, but I'd tone that violin down there, if that was the effect you wanted. 2:08 sounds dissonant too. Sound quality of some of those samples is very low. I think with some better samples, this will improve a lot. Also, stick to a more traditional panning setup, because your song sounds very disjointed, the way things are panned hard left and right. Bass especially is good to keep center, because it's your anchor in this song. I'd actually recommend comparing your song to songs similar to the one you want to make, because your song could also use some EQ badly. A lot of the parts conflict, and comparing it against other songs will help you figure out what ranges your instruments should fill. Once you skim the unnecessary parts off, you'll get a much cleaner sound. Make use of the WIP forums and keep improving! NO

Cute arrangement. Seems like you had fun putting together the swingy groove and the soloing. The combination of sounds works, if a little cheesy. It kept a relatively steady texture level though, and I can see where Larry's samey comment comes from. More variation on a textural level would be nice (all the "verse" sections sound very similar), and even some more dynamic volume changes could really help the parts draw the listener's attention more. Related to that, I felt the song lacked energy. The lead instrument isn't that full, and your song feels lacking in mids. Bring out those mid instruments more, or consider doing some layering with the lead to fill it out. Like Larry, I could see other judges saying YES to this, because what's here is pretty good. I just think it needs a little more. NO (resubmit)

Sometimes I wish the creativity shown in your songs were more spread out, Brandon, so that we could have more mixes from you! But instead, we have to settle for a few incredible songs bursting with ideas. This one has so many memorable moments and a very loose, relaxing vibe. I love songs like this that morph through different styles so effortlessly. My only complaint is that sometimes the parts (some of the vocals near the end) are hard to hear, but it only irks because the parts are so good. This song still kicks serious ass.

Mattias, you are a legend. Never mind coming up with this in a week, but it's a really freaking catchy song. I love how you've really developed your own style, but you still use new techniques on every song. This one has a lot of great moments.

I think you had some decent ideas in arranging the original material. This is one of the last songs in Chrono Trigger I would expect to get the hard rock treatment, and you've pulled it off not half bad. There were some parts where I found it difficult to connect to the source, but enough where I could. My biggest problem on this end was that some of the writing (the guitar, the organ) was intricate and others (the percussion and bass) very simple. It felt like you focused too much on the leads without giving the support the same attention. This isn't always a problem, except that you have sections that highlight these underwritten elements. Definitely spend some more time on the WIP boards, because you have much room to grow as a producer. The entire mix is missing a lot of low end, making it sound thin. Those rhythm guitars and drums especially need some power, and in the case of the guitars, the recording might be part of the problem too. Also, make sure your parts are balanced well (compare it part by part to other songs in your genre) and use EQ if things conflict. Most importantly, just keep at it. NO

Let's get production out of the way first. Very clean recording and mixing. I love how distant it sounds until 1:39, when the fast-paced original writing pops out at you, as if you edged your chair closer to the mic. Good use of reverb to give the piece atmosphere without making it too crowded. Thought the vocals sounded a little dissonant at times (the sample may have been flat), but no biggie. The playing was amazing. I totally understand the points made about how the parts are taken directly from the original, but I thought the added flourishes gave this some real meat. Sure, you hear basically the same melody lines in the guitar, but there are a lot of slides and hammer-ons, and it gives those melodies a different feel. It definitely sounds like effort was put into thinking out how they should go. That's not to mention the original writing and new percussion. It's a little disappointing to hear the chimes carried over basically verbatim, but they aren't the focus. I think what's here has enough personalization and interpretation to pass. YES

I still play a decent amount of videogames, but very few new games. The only new games I end up playing are a) sequels to games I'm familiar with, or games that my friends have. It comes down to being able to pick up a game quickly. I often find myself with 30 min to an hour of free time at a time and RPGs and games I'm unfamiliar with end up getting the shaft. It's much easier to pick up New Super Mario Bros., a game I'll know how to control off the bat, and be able to beat a couple levels and turn it off when I need to. For the same reason, I don't end up watching a lot of movies but I do catch a fair bit of TV, because the chunks of time are more manageable. But I don't feel like games have really gotten worse. I think there's still a ton of awesome new games getting made, most of which I'll never play.

Ice Cap. Trance. Somehow I feel like this sums up a lot of OCR. Solid trance arrangement that did a bit to distinguish itself from being just another trance cover. I liked the idea for the intro (though it was too loud), and the changes in the bassline. The new writing complements the old, but I really would have liked to see a little more variety in interpreting the original parts. I thought 2:44 would have been a great part to make changes to the backing parts or go wild with an altered lead synth melody, maybe something with more harmonic variation. Instead, it's a near (exact?) repetition of an earlier section. The breakdown - another place where more could have been done. Production was quite solid. As mentioned, the intro was a little loud, but this song maintains a good flow and energy level, and the effects, snare fills, and filter sweeps give the song motion. A little more clarity between parts wouldn't hurt, but it was good enough. Ultimately, it's close, but I'm going to say no. I think with a little more creativity in the second half this will pass, so please resubmit! NO (resubmit)

This one sort of reminds me of the Star Fox - Barrel Roll vote. The connection to the original is all in a short passage, and it's never played exactly straight. Like that song, there's some parts where only the chords tie it. Your song, while good, just doesn't feel enough like it's an arrangement of the original, and that's an immediate killer for me. Also notable but not as important: I didn't think the intro connected in any respect to the rest of the song - not in instruments, mood, or key - and probably should have been omitted. The laughing at the very end was out-of-place too, and it worked better woven into the song. Production was pretty good, but had room for improvement. Sometimes the sounds fought for space, especially the rhythm guitar and bass. The toms introduced at 1:35 didn't sit well in the mix either, perhaps unsuitable for the mix or occupying too much of the same space as the other instruments. I also thought the song needed more steadiness before the climax - no element served as an anchor until 1:58 when the drums came in. I'd consider emphasizing the attack of the ride cymbals more or using more staccato hats. Just some tips to help you hone your already fine producing skills. NO

Looks like the NUTS. It seems like the levels and gameplay could be significantly different too, based on the new bosses and weapons. If only I owned something this was coming out for...

Very conservative trance arrangement. You've basically taken the original melody, filled in the gaps in it, and backed it up with a lot of parts that stick to the chords. There's very little harmonic or melodic addition or modification, or even variety between sections, and as such, plays out predictably. This definitely needs more interpretation and change-ups. I too didn't really feel like the voice clips added to the song. If anything, I'd prefer they stayed more in the background to really let your soundscape through. I thought your set of instruments was cool. Collectively, it had a lush sound, and the delays and effects gave it a nice wall-of-sound effect. The overall balancing was way off though, very focused on the highs. Larry and Jimmy both pointed out that it's missing power, and that's because the low-to-mid ranges of your song are lacking. The kick and bass need to be much higher in the mix. I'd also be careful with where those voice clips sit. When each one comes on, it takes down the volume of the rest of the track, because of the compression. Use EQ to carve a place for it. You've definitely got some skills, but this song would need a major rethinking of structure and arrangement before it would pass. Keep working at it. NO

Though I didn't hear the first version of this arrangement, Larry's reiterated quote sums a lot of it up for me. Using an e-piano/piano combination so close to the original really hurts this. On top of that, the melody and backing part follows the original closely for the first two minutes, with no drastic changes. Together, your song really doesn't have a unique voice; it sounds more like lost verses. On the positive, I did like the minor key section of the main melody, and the counter-melodies in the following parts. That's more the kind of stuff I was looking for. You have a lot of room for improvement on the production side. Piano is very rigid. Experiment with using different note lengths and volumes to get a more humanized sound. Also, every instrument introduced seems louder than the previous ones; by the time the piano comes in, the original percussion (cool sound there, btw) is barely audible. Work on getting the instrument levels more even, and definitely apply some EQ to the e-piano, piano, and strings. Each of these instruments take up a bigger portion of the soundfield than they should. What may help is actually comparing the instrument levels and sounds to the original, as a starting point. Normally I would not suggest this because it will give you a similar sound to the original, but since this one is already so similar... I'd recommend starting fresh on a new song, and using any changes you make to this just as practice. With such base similarities to the original, it would be a very tough song to pass. Hope to see you keep working at music though. NO

Definitely an improvement on the last version, though it barely resembles it. I get much more of a sense of where this track is rhythmically, and I think it's easier to place as an arrangement of the original. You've got a better grip on slotting instruments together in this version and making something cohesive out of them. Decent main groove too. Nonetheless, this has major problems. There's still no overall direction in the piece. That groove from 0:26 to 0:54 has a good texture but you hold it nearly constant. Where is it going? It's followed by a drum fill that comes out-of-nowhere, and another section that doesn't really fit with what proceeds it. You've got things like that across the board: random cymbal crashes, unmelodic piano notes, abrupt ending. Above everything else, you need to focus on song unity and being purposeful with what you do. I can't stress this enough because it applies to everything of yours I've heard. After you put anything into a song, listen to it and think about whether it really belongs there. A drum fill might sound good on its own but it doesn't go in every song. If you can clear this hurdle, Alex, I think it will be a huge step in improving your songwriting. NO

This song showcases some excellent writing. Wonderful interplay of instruments, good variety between sections, a few pleasantly unexpected moments, and lots of quotes from the original. It treads the line of being too liberal after the first 1:40, but those quotes hold that connection and I never lost the sense that this is a remix of Into the Darkness. All in all, very impressive. You did one of my favorite songs from that soundtrack justice. Production was fine. Good separation of instruments and good filling of the soundfield, though I think there are parts that could use a little more clarity to really bring out the detail of the writing. I also felt that the intro buildup could have been done a little more softly to really sell that moment at 0:43. Just things to think about next time, or in case this doesn't pass. I'm comfortable giving it a YES

Too simplistic in writing and producing. The arrangement was very similar to the original in terms of the partwriting, and mostly felt like an upgrade of synths. Textures were very thin in places, and a lot of patterns, especially the drum patterns, were basic and overused. Instruments on the whole didn't sit well together, and many could have been better chosen or better balanced. Sorry, John, but I think you have a long way to go. Make use of our remixing forums, and just keep working on music. You've got some decent support writing in this piece, if not enough of it. And I can tell you've got the capacity for producing a solid song, because for one short, sparse section, 2:25-2:39, your song sounds great. Keep at it and I think eventually you can make an entire song sound that good. NO