Midian_Galaxus

I know I'm bumping the thread, but I just found the original file Cerrax sent me when this had all started up while going through my highly cluttered hard drive. I had all but forgotten about this one and forgotten how much I loved it. Was wondering if anything is ever gonna be done with this mix, as it's still a kickass idea, and since the collab for the SotC song came out so friggen awesome in the end I'm sure this could end the same if it was picked up again.

This mix definitely has that Tool sound. More Lateralus album than anything, but that's a good thing. Overall, I like the arrangment, but if you're going for that kind of Tool sound (you used it for the name of the arrangement) you're missing that one all important aspect. The payoff. The culmination of the subtle guitars into one huge dropped-d barre chord thrashing session with heavy bass lines that have an ungodly amount of insane effects. As far as the production, I agree with the issues already raised, and from the sounds of it, I wouldn't worry about that quite yet until you've got the equipment to worry about it. Work on the arrangement, get that where it should be, then get a job and get the equipment to get yourself focused on raising the production value of this mix. If you work all this out, I expect to see it on the front page for download at some point, as it's a fairly rare sound for mixes around here, and ought to be appreciated.

Man, haven't played EJ2 in forever. I barely barely remember the source material, but, it doesn't matter. I'm digging this and it's in my OCR folder already, heh. Perfect style for when I'm spacing infront of the monitor at 4 in the morning trying to get things finished with a few beers.

I agree, I can't believe this hasn't gotten more interest. Guess everyone's busy deciding whether they love or hate the Voices of the Lifestream album. This is some of the best piano work I've heard in a long while, bar none. There are points when I almost believe it's live, though because of the speed of certain area's I have to believe it's not. Still though, I remember the source material, but vaguely, either way, this is awesome. I don't really see where I can critique it. Little more humanization, perhaps a few leveling tweeks in a few minor areas and this should be good to go. Well done thus far.

Let me break from the pack, as people get way too emotionally invested in games. I am an absolute fanatic for everything FF7 and wasted many months, maybe even years, on playing FF7, over and over again. And so far, (and yes, I've already listened to One Winged Angel), this album is everything and more that I've been hoping for for 2 long years. Damn fine job by everybody. If I could have pixietricks' babies I would. Hurrah for Voices Of The Lifestream finally being released!

Yeah, once again, I have to agree with OA's comments. It's a competent start but not nearly a finish. I hadn't realized until it was over that halfway through I was no longer listening. There is a build up but no pay off. The drums are lacking variety. The synths are nice and the overall samples are good. There is so much more that could be going on with this mix though. Especially if you expect to get it past the judge's panel.

Beautiful, that's all I have to say. The definitive version of Celes' theme in my regards. It makes me wish that the game were being remade for next-gen and that Uematsu didn't even bother arranging her theme himself. He would have to use this one.

I agree with OA on pretty much all points. Convincing orchestral arrangements are tough to pull off. And this is sooo close to being there. The instruments do sound seperately recorded, and perhaps ghost-notes and subtle complete track reverb could handle this. The bass drum and the symbol crashes are my two pickiest points though. The bass drum's big presence could almost be believable, but does need to be toned down a bit, and in any percussive orchestral instrument you hear the tone clearly. There's almost nothing indicative that the head of the drum is actually being struck. The crashes are a bit too low to be orchestral and have a quick cutoff. They often tend to spike really loud for an isntant and then start to die out it quickly in reality. However, they also reverberate for an extended length, usually close into the next crash. It has great potential to be believable and the overall arrangement is excellent.

Yeah, unfortunately I've had to pull myself out of the guitar recording. Lotta personal issues right now including finances. Had to sell off my $600 Ibanez and my pedal effects system I was planning to use to make the recordings. Which leaves me with an aging Zoom Fire 15 amp and my Fender Squire 3/4 size practice guitar. Not a good setup for this at all. Kinda sucks because I had the acoustic part down pat after messing with positions on the neck and ditching the finger picking idea as well...well, not completely, but hybrid picking for the most part. Hopefully, Cerrax gets back ontop of things and this starts to get worked out. Despite I'm finding myself unable to take part now I'd love to see this finished.

I don't know if this is worthy enough to actually make it into the halls of OCR famedom, considering I've never been able to understand the judges panel theory as to what makes it and what don't, but I feel like this should be judged and passed. Excellent work. Too bad I know nothing of Morrowind's tunes to get excited about another mix from you, heh.

Yeah, compared to the "norm" musical tastes of most people, my selection looks pretty eclectic and varied. Corporate Avengers and Angel Dust sitting next to Simon & Garfunkel and Elvis Presley. Only things I won't listen to are country and rap/r&b for the most part. Lemme know if you'd like me to try my hand at the guitars, I'm always willing to help, especially since I've never seriously sat down and tried to work something of my own out to a finish, heh. While SnappleMan's crits are truthful, well, you've already heard my take on the vocals. They just need to be fine tuned in areas where intonation goes kind of off and makes a certain emphasis where it doesn't belong, and I think the campy nature of the lyrics is just part of the quality of the mix. I have a feeling it might take a few people collaboratively to turn this mix into an enjoyable finished product but I don't doubt it's potential to so. The crowd will just be divided by tastes.

Wow, this is awesome, I'm glad I went forum hunting tonight. Love the vocals especially. It's got a very Manson vibe to it. Grated and kinda in the background. This is what I've always been looking for in a Halo mix. Some parts seem to clip a little, but then again I'm listening through my earphones, so I'd have to give it a listen in the morning when no one's sleeping. Great job all around. Love it.

You know, I rather enjoy the lyrics. Subtle changes need to be made in which words are emphasized. I don't mind the singing at all, your voice has this kind of Corporate Avengers quality to it. I wouldn't mind taking a crack at recording the guitars either, if they're not used, for nothing more than the fun of doing so. I definitely wouldn't suggest anyone else singing this as your voice is part of the quality. Hopefully once this comes closer to fruition however the overall slightly present muddy-ness of it all gets worked on. This kind of reminds me of a complete rock-remix of FF9's Battle theme I was working on and left long in the dust.