Gario

Never say 'final' - this one needs some touching up before it's a passable mix, imo. I like the arrangement and the atmosphere is great, but the production sounds stifled and hollow. It's like you cut out the upper mids, which gives it a thin sounds throughout. If you did this on purpose, I'm letting you know it's disconcerting musically. Bring up some of your upper mids on the master track again (and/or turn down the lower mids & highs) so the sound is a bit more even. The piano sounds pretty heavy in the mix. Lighten up on the bass on the sample's EQ, since it's causing clipping on the lower end (lower mids to the lows) when it comes in. The panning is relatively well done, but I'd center the synth on the left a bit (perhaps 10-16 notches), since it's distracting to the ear. I like the chiptunage, in there. Then again, I'm a chiptune sucker, so... um, yeah, always take that with a grain of salt, from me . I agree with Tarnish that the last 1/6th of the track uses a strange assortment of synths. More importantly, though, those synths don't seem to cut it in the arrangement - you could change them to whatever instrument you want and they'd still sound off. Fix the arrangement at the end, there. It seems like a lot of harsh criticism, but I see this as a potential winner, here. It's really quite close to OCR's standards, so keep at it (and don't forget about the Mod Review tab in your title ).

Hemo, Long and I are headed out there tomorrow, so we'll see you all there... most likely in the evening (6 or 7pm, would be my guess). Just an FYI.

You've been a calm, level-headed mod ever since I've been around here. For that you have my thanks and appreciation - you've filled a spot that required that natural ease you've had. I'm sure with that same evenness you'll do great in the Marines. Good luck, and don't hurt yourself out there. Too many people would be upset here if that happened.

Um... nice tune. Nice remix. Funk is the shit. I'm going to agree that the short chords in the guitar are a part of the genre, there, so lengthening the reverb and such would defeat the 'funk' sound. Just sayin', is all. More importantly, though... Why haven't you finished the Chariots of Fire remix yet?!

It would be incredible. However, I am not ready to take on a serious project like that one. Perhaps someday in a few years or so, but now right now. I was thinking something more along this line; considering we already have more tracks from Laguna than for that album I don't see why not . I think your track could use a hint of reverb on the master track... I suspect that's what it needs to really fill the space as much as possible. The synth that plays the texture throughout doesn't seem to mesh well, to me, either. Other than that, I'd say be happy with it, be glad that you've learned what you have with it and move to another mix. It's not a bad remix, by any means, but it really won't get on OCR since it's more of a soundwash than a track. Sound washes are awesome, but the powers that be would consider it repetition and lose interest too quickly. Much love to Laguna .

That sounds awesome, actually. If you offer I'll come (most likely more will agree with me and come, too)

From what I hear, Reaper is at the very least an equal to FL. Zircon gave a rave review of it, claiming that if he wasn't already entrenched in FL he would've been a Reaper user. Yeah, it's one person's opinion, but that person is Zircon so it's probably accurate. Reaper is also cheaper & legal (to a point) .

Mmm... I'm not sure if there's a place dedicated to DAW options. There probably is, but it's never been my concern. I'm sure Cubase can do whatever you need it to do, since it's pretty much top of the line stuff, from what I hear. FL can get the job done, but it certainly isn't free - only the demo is free, which is a pain since it doesn't allow you to save your projects. Reaper is probably a better choice if you're looking for a free product - it has a fully functioning demo that never expires. You need a license to publish anything on it, but it's quite functional. I'm stuck with Reason 3.0, which doesn't have nearly the functionality of these other programs. Reason is a pretty reliable sequencer as well, though... it just can't use any common soundfonts, vst/vsti plugins or the like, only Reason specific 'refills'. Alas. Um... I lost track of where we... Oh! A new version Wooooooaaaaaaah... this is WAY different from the older version, there. Well, let's see what we've got, here... That drum set is annoying. It just seems to get in the way, as it is. Personally, I would simply remove the drums entirely, since the ambient nature of the track really speaks for itself (and it would change the quality of the off-timing that's rampant throughout the track). They just... don't fit. You need something a whole lot less intrusive, if you want drums in this (shakers, light Japanese percussion, all hats, etc.. something that isn't so heavy). The synths really stick out like a sore thumb, here. They just don't mesh well with the more 'real' instruments you've got going in here. Mix them more into the background and add some reverb (not much, but some) so they blend with the other instruments better. The 'real' instruments need some humanization, here. Personally, without the drums I feel the off-kilter effect of the beat helps in this regard, but changing the dynamics to imitate a person playing the instruments would help a great deal more. Playing with the attacks and releases of the samples helps, too. I like the clarity of the instruments in this track. I don't hear clipping and the instruments are quite distinguishable, there. Nice work on that. I like the complex nature of the texture, here. Tasty texture doesn't make an OCRemix yet, though, so keep at it. As an FYI, though, the Laguna mix that I posted is actually a finished product (not a WIP, like No Escape suggested) that should get to (and hopefully through) the panel sometime next week. I submit it on March 10th, and they're on March 9th, right now, so we'll see if that's the bar we're all trying to reach .

Oh hell yeah.

DAMN... I knew it. Ah well, there's always the next compo I got to admit mine sort of WAS a jam, since I wrote it in response to the lack of participants on the last day, there. Glad you liked it, though - chippy goodness needs more representation around these parts .

I suspect he might not know that FF2=4 & FF3=6, here. 2,3 & 5 could use some love too, though . Also, don't forget Battletoads, Double Dragon, Battletoads & Double Dragon, and the sega renditions of both Castlevania and Contra - they were amazing.

I wondered what happened to this thread, actually. I know the feeling, though, of making a thread no one responds to - it's a bit depressing . Lemme try... JJT made an awesome Magnetman remix and commented on one of my own remixes ages ago. He's a cool guy who doesn't afraid of anything. ... nope, we need Tweek to comment on it - I just won't cut it. I'll follow it if it started up again .

... Are you sure 'Get Busy' wasn't written for FF6? It's just... too perfect.

I think that's about right for the lower mids (I'm not good at the precise numbers, but that sounds about right). I think the highs are upward above 12k (I mean the real highs, in this case).

Woo hoo. Glad to see you're back - and right on time, since today Super Joe is thanking the BC for his help. Oh yeah, 08.02.10...

Hmm... I think your master track EQ could use some work. The whole thing feels like it has too much weight on the lower end and too little on the higher end. That creates a very 'heavy' mud throughout. Try decreasing the lower mids and raising the highs, to give the track some shimmer. Fixing around with the EQ can give you more room to increase the master track, when limiters and compressors create more problems than they solve. Tone down the areas that are too high (like, in this case, the low end) and you'll have room to increase the primary track. When that runs out of room the limiters can give you a SMALL boost to your sound, but overdo them and you'll come across the limiting issues that make a track sound like crap. Some of the instruments seem to have too short of an attack - giving them less than 50-150ms of attack can create a 'pop' when they come in. Try to avoid that, when possible. I hope that helps you master the technique of... mastering.

I'm not gonna lie - I really like this track. It just has a unique quality about it that's quite amazing. However... It feels like this would've been a great track for pre-OCR1000, not post-OCR2000. The sounds, although greatly improved, still seem too thin for the track. You need some thicker samples to apply to this track - the sine wave + saws just aren't enough to cut it, here. As for what No Escape heard in the beginning, try matching the bass to what's going on in the primary theme. For example, look at 0:29. The bass is playing an 'A', there, when a 'D' would make for a more appropriate bassline. This problem occurs primarily in the beginning, though - for most of the track it's not a problem. Again, I really like it, but the samples you're using seem weak. I'm sorry I can't give much advice on that, but that's a weak point of mine, really. Ask around for some advice on what synth to fill out the sound better with and see what you come up with. Even putting it on Mod-Review might not be a bad idea - they may be able to help more than I can, right now.

Next time just say 'vocals', since 'acapella' means something very different. Using the musical vocabulary properly helps your image as a musician I think it could explore other areas of the song, even if it is house. You use only one part of the source for the entire track, so it's hardly expansive enough, even for that genre. Pretty much all the effects were effective, imho. I like effects . Cheese = 1:12. On Tindeck it's hard to get the time without downloading it. I think you can fix the sidechain problem by adjusting the attack of the intruding instruments by a few milliseconds during the chain. It ought to help, at any rate.

You're already pretty respected for your trance on here. That's why I can freely make fun of your older stuff - I know you can do a whole lot better, now. Like I said, it's a way to see how far you've progressed (which by the looks of it is pretty darn far, here), so believe me, my comments really don't affect the music you're making today .

Hmm... I'm suspecting both your files are too large to be accepted on OCR (8mb limit). Also, they only accept between 96 & 192kbps, which is lower than your 'submission' edit. Of course, that takes care of the filesize, too, so it works for you. What do you mean by vocal 'acapella' remix? If I'm not mistaken, an 'Acapella' track is one with vocals only, which neither the source nor the remix are. Just trying to figure that out, here. Here's some tips on the remix - the cheese sounds are terrible. Not that they're always bad, but they really don't mesh well with everything else you've got going, here. The saw texture isn't as bad, but you can do better than that. The arrangement is pretty boring. You play around with the same texture again and again. It gets pretty boring, even on the short version. You need some more meat on the arrangement to stand a chance on OCR. I really like the effects and such on this track. You played with them like a champ, and I liked it. Keep it up in your future tracks . There are some production issues in the submission edit (hard clipping, for example), and the side chaining sounds weird with the attack of the texture hitting a few milliseconds before the chaining occurs. Not too bad, but not a submission to OCR yet. Good luck with any future endeavors. You have the effects and such going for you; all you need is a great arrangement to go along with it.

I normally reprimand people for posting more than one track in a thread... but I'll make an exception. I can tell these are pretty old, dude - certainly not up to the standard you've set, there. I notice you used to like to stick to the same sample set, beats and soundscape when you made these. Also, production be damned, clipping was in vogue when you made these 'Course, it's better than all but my newest mixes by far, so I can't really say much, can I? Nice to hear how you've progressed, there. It's always fun to hear old stuff from good remixers.

... will your reign of terror never end, No Escape? I don't think he'll have a problem with the production, in the end - right now the mixing + production is terrible, but I suspect he's simply doing the arrangement and waiting for the singer before he really gives the production the overhaul it needs. I wouldn't worry about the final product, when it comes to the production value. And yes, Nekofrog's MM2 Wily track is better (only by a little bit, though).

Beginning = fixed. You make me happy, Neko . For the most part, the issues that I'm hearing are, again, mixing and mastering concerns, which I'm under the impression you're going to take care of when the arrangement aspect is finished. The only part that bugs me are the power chords at 2:47 - 3:08. This comes down to personal preference, most likely, but I feel simply using the bottom note when playing the guitar there would clean up the soundscape and make the harmonizations mesh together easier. Other than that (and the mixing/mastering) it seems pretty good to me. Keep it up (and good luck finding a singer - maybe I can ask a few people at the Las Vegas meetup, if that'd help).