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Binweasel

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Posts posted by Binweasel

    Xbox 360 Noise

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    No stickers on the disc, and it looks clean... but who knows if it's warped or something else.

    My sister was playing for an hour without it happening, then she discovered Hidden Valley and that got it going again on her game. Which stinks, because I was hoping it was just corruption/bug on my save file that was triggering something. Or maybe it's just Hidden Valley. :?

    Gonna take the disc in for replacement tomorrow and see if that clears it up.

    Edit: HURRAH. Took the game in to both stores. First store, the guy says, "Oh, that's probably normal, it's a buggy game and the Xbox can't handle its graphics." Wouldn't give us a replacement. Took it to the other one, lied about the problems we were having, got a new disc, no more weird noise. Played for hours. *jig*

    Xbox 360 Noise

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    (I hope I'm posting this in the right plaaace.)

    http://soundcloud.com/zheep/xbox-weird-purr

    A few days ago my Xbox 360 started making this noise while I played Fallout: New Vegas. It's never made the noise before. I am extremely careful with it, keep it flat, dusted off, out in the open where it can dissipate heat; I've even got a little fan blowing on the case to help with that. It's only about 5-6 months old. The worst thing that's happened to it was going through the mail from Maryland to Guam, but it was packed really well and has been working perfectly before and after. I did once accidentally move it while it was on and I was playing BlazBlue... just like two feet from one part of the table to the other, and nothing seemed to explode or start messing up. Until last week, I've barely been using it for the last month. Now me and my sister have been giving it maybe 4 hour sessions a day. So far, the noise has only happened to me, when I play on the non-Xbox-live account. And I think that's everything!

    My sister's friend says there's something wrong with the disc-reading thingummy and we ought to "bring it in" to get it looked at, before it putters out completely and/or breaks the game disc. If it turns out we do need to do this, what does "bring it in" mean? Ship it to Microsoft? Take it to a local GameStop and see if they do repairs?

    This is the first time I've ever had a problem with a console, so... I'm stumped.

    I'm going to test out another game on it and find out if it's just the New Vegas disc, meanwhile...

    Edit: So far nothing weird with Red Dead Redemption.

    Preferred MP3 Player?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    I'm interested to know that, too. My first ever mp3 player was a Creative MuVo, and I've loved them ever since. They're out of production now, so whenever I lose/break* it, the only place I can get a new one is Ebay...

    I've been sorting my mp3s out with just Windows Explorer for so many years, it took me weeks just to figure out how to organize things in iTunes. And still the best way to do that was to download Mp3Tag and manually sort out all the internal data... You never had to deal with that on a MuVo. I don't know what other way it could organize files, but the default way was alphabetical filename. Some people would be annoyed about re-naming files to make playlists, but I'm weird; I found it relaxing in a zen kind of way. I had total control of album/playlist folders, plus the ability to tweak it on any computer. I switched mp3 players once and had to listen to an audio book in complete random order even without shuffle. Which is a very bad thing to have to fix while driving in the dark with a little circle-pad controller. The MuVo just had a little scroll wheel in the side... you didn't have to look at all to see what you were doing.

    I guess I'm used to the iPod now, but I'd like to be able to listen to songs of my own while playing games on the other.

    (* Mostly lose. My first one is still around, just passed on to my sister. It's mostly duct-tape now, but it still works. It only holds 250 megabytes though.)

    Steep Hill, Animal Crossing

    in Post Your Game ReMixes!

    Posted

    Thanks for the suggestions!

    The choir bit will definitely be changed when I start producing it. Either it'll be replaced by a singer, or some other instrument. Not sure if brass will work, 'cos it kind of clashed with the trumpet already in there when I tried it out... but with some panning and EQ, it might sound good.

    For now, I threw in a second guitar and a little trumpet bit in the interlude.

    http://www.mediafire.com/?cgevdmd73q6m8rm

    Later, the main guitar will have a few tweaks, triplets or something interesting, where it'll fit. I think I might add in some more drums as well—at least some cymbals and timpani.

    Steep Hill, Animal Crossing

    in Post Your Game ReMixes!

    Posted

    Only midi for now: http://www.mediafire.com/?5lfdypyj8z335cp

    Original:

    So I kind of hit a wall on this one. It's more of an arrangement than a remix... the original melody's so good, I can't think of anything more to do with it, except add lyrics and sing it. Maaaybe fiddle around with the interlude a little more? I was going for a kind of

    style, but that could change.

    What would you do, composition-wise, if you wanted to pass the panel with this?

    When does a remix stop being a remix?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Wahh. So sorry for not replying earlier. Really have no excuse (laziness and fear?)

    Anyway, thanks, guys! This has been tearing me up for a while now, so your replies have soothed that dragon considerably. I maaay even start to put some of my songs in the workshop forums now I know I won't get laughed out for nicking a few things.

    (Mr. Bleck, you are my hero, too. :D)

    When does a remix stop being a remix?

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    Something of a moral dilemma...

    At what point, when working on a remix, does it stop being a remix and start being an original composition with, say, really familiar chords? I have two examples of this, and one example of another kind of cross-over point.

    In the first two, the songs were basically just chords without any melodies (or very few) of their own. So I added melodies of my own, stirred things around as usual... but when it was all done, I felt like I had composed more of the piece than the original composer had. The song was more "mine" than theirs, in my mind.

    http://www.mediafire.com/?hd33uvpvesos0ax - original: http://compo.thasauce.net/files/materials/PRC147_PRC147%20-%20Bowser%20Castle.mid

    http://www.mediafire.com/?g5nf156cl79nmn1 - original: http://compo.thasauce.net/files/materials/PRC135_Bible%20Black%20-%20Main%20Theme.mid

    The third example I feel even more strongly about. The original, as far as I can tell (not having a good ear for quiet harmonics) is only simple a melody and a bassline. I wrote chords for it, a guitar part, organ part, some kind of harmony melody, and so on. Then I submitted it! It was rejected. I was elated; it was not rejected for production reasons. So I think: Okay! I'll go back and try to work on it!

    But in the process, I got a weird urge to try something. Instead of adding more of my own to it, I removed everything Star Fox—except some of the bass, which can't really be changed because of the chords, and the piano at the final bit does still reference the original melody...

    http://www.mediafire.com/?3kqu4pokxbj13j8 - original:

    And now I'm so in love with it (it'll sound better sung, promise), I don't want to do the Star Fox remix anymore. I want to produce it as my own song! Obviously I will still need to remove the Star Fox piano bit at the end... But apart from that... is it not my own? Without the original melody, and with the bass notes mangled... certainly I can claim to have composed it entirely myself?

    Ah, but what about the other two, still using the chords from the original songs—I can't really change the chords or the melodies will sound off... but apart from them, and the obvious references to King Crimson's "Starless" in the second one, isn't everything in the songs mine?

    So I'm wondering: Legally, would I be allowed to get away with this and put them on albums for profit (I'm working on a rock opera/musical), or would I have to erase the chords and start fresh with the melodies I have left over? Would I have to give credit, and thus face the embarrassment of using a hentai PC game song's chords? Pay royalties of some sort? I mean, if I'm going to get in trouble at all, I'd rather ditch the songs right now, while there's still time. But I'd rather not! I really love the parts I did write and I can't imagine them using different chords, and they fit the mood of the whole thing so well...

    Anyway, I didn't want to just whine about my own thing. Anyone one else ever find themselves in a similar situation, then?

    PRC208 - 8th Anniversary (Free Round)

    in Competitions

    Posted

    @Binweasel: If not for the fact that sometimes people are struggling to find one song to remix, that could be a good idea.

    Having options might make it easier to get started, but having to mash up sources will needlessly complicate the compo.

    That's especially true for the folks not wanting to remix in the first place, simply because they aren't familiar with the game.

    For those, whether there is one or five source to choose from isn't gonna matter. Only the game in question will.

    And this issue is at the core of what's been plaguing the PRC for months: the lack of participation.

    What else can we do for people like that, though? They're going to be turned off by any PRC with an unfamiliar game anyway. For me, the prize of getting a chanceto pick the next song is worth fiddling around in unfamiliar territory. If that's not enough, what else can tempt people into it?

    For everyone else, an extra option or two might just be the thing. You wouldn't have to mix them all together, same as when there's a tied round; you can do one or the other if you like.

    Hmm... What if remixers who apply get to pick one game, and then there's a 2-3 day poll, where all the people interested in the next competition vote on the game? Then the winner gets to choose the track, like usual... But what if the winner doesn't like the game and any non-remixed tracks left in it... That's not a very good prize for them.

    What if it's three songs from three different games, then? Something special would have to be thought up for tied compos...

    What I like most about my earlier idea is it would make people listen to more songs from unfamiliar games to help them grow an appreciation for it, possibly. One of my favourite parts of PRC is listening to the midi or YouTube link at the start. I don't often like the songs, but I give them a chance. I wouldn't mind listening to a few more to see what else the game has to offer. And I'd love to show people more than just one gem from a rare game—I remember being rather torn about which one to pick from Dare to Dream.

    And then, maybe, that opens up more ideas for anyone who has trouble picking a song when they win. "I didn't know [game] had so many cool tunes, I wonder what else there is... hey, this is a great one! Why hasn't anyone done this yet?" :-P

    PRC208 - 8th Anniversary (Free Round)

    in Competitions

    Posted

    What if the winner could choose not one, but up to three uncovered tracks (maybe so long as they're from the same game?) I don't often miss seeing a new PRC start, but if I'm not too busy to enter that week, usually the problem is I just can't get into the feel of the chosen song. Half the time I'll work on it a bit, lose the mood, and forget about it until the next one starts.

    Having three to choose from might get a little more inspiration flowing. If one isn't working out, give the other two a shot, or find ways to combine them to build medley skills or something. If nothing else, it might get people to listen to more songs and find a little more appreciation for a game's soundtrack than just one snippet would offer.

    PRC203 - A Leveled Theme (Tyrian)

    in Competitions

    Posted

    For some reason I'm not able to open the ThaSauce page now. Everytime I open it, it links me to a different site and anti-virus starts running. I hope it's better monday.

    I was trying to show a friend the page the first day it went up and he got the same, and again today. That kind of scares me (and him)... I'm not sure it's something that'll go away on its own.

    Only problem I had was trying to log in. Bottom link 404s and the site was all scrunched up to the left. Took a few minutes of browsing before it sorted itself out into the middle and the link at the top appeared. In fact, the main page of ThaSauce still scrunches up...

    Sale/Want 3.0

    in General Discussion

    Posted

    You're welcome!

    I've got three other things, but I don't know if it's worth putting them up on the first page. I can't ship them, because if I could, I'd just ship them to my new place. I'm hoping to move out by September 1st.

    Guitar - http://annapolis.craigslist.org/msg/2554177998.html

    Amp - http://annapolis.craigslist.org/msg/2549307649.html

    MIDI keyboard - http://annapolis.craigslist.org/msg/2554156818.html

    So if anyone's around Annapolis (Maryland)...

    I'll also be selling my desktop computer later, but only after I've saved all my stuff and wiped my info off it. It's one of these: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227314

    Starfox 64 - Menu

    in Post Your Game ReMixes!

    Posted

    Ohhhh! Yeah, I see what you mean now. Thanks! It's pretty hard to go from using Reason to trying to sync up VST recordings.

    stats.png

    How's this? I THINK the guitar is more on beat... I moved the strums forward a little, and the one part where the piano is doing part of the guitar's picking seems pretty on-time still.

    Also lowered the volume on the ending notes (the high ones) so that should be easier on people. :-)

    The only thing still bothering me is the piano... despite being centered, it still sounds like it's mostly in the left-ear. Apart from manually splitting the midi track into two halves (or more) and panning each part appropriately, is there any way to have the right-hand notes come out the right side more?

    Edity: Dah. I'm going to have to sell my desktop in a week or two, so after the next suggested change, I'm going to submit it. Then hopefully by the time it gets No'd (if), I'll have a better computer to continue with it.

    Starfox 64 - Menu

    in Post Your Game ReMixes!

    Posted

    Thanks for listening!

    stats.png

    Okeedoke... changes:

    - fiddled with reverb (probably too muddy now)

    - changed the drums using a demo of Abbey Road 70's drum kit. Kept the bass drum from the original to double it up.

    - re-recorded the organ, but couldn't remember the settings I used on the guitar pedals, so it's a lot different. Good or bad different, I can't say... I did, however, make sure to tune the MT-32 to 440 Hz this time—its default setting is 442, so that would account for a little bit of the off-key sound.

    - fixed the panning. For some reason the piano was a little bit to the right, so that's centered. The echoy synth is a little more centered as well, by about 5-10%. The organ was supposed to be 20%, but since Reason only goes up to 64... Anyway, that should be fixed, too.

    - dipped some of the high-end EQ (over the whole thing; missed the part about "at the end", so that might be an issue still?), as well as a bit of the mids on the guitar

    I also used yet another pair of headphones... I probably shouldn't have. Bose QuietComfort 15; I read the active noise-reduction causes problems with clarity, but they sounded great with Pink Floyd's Division Bell album (a lot more instruments are used in "A Great Day For Freedom" that I wasn't aware of before) so I'm hoping it's not a problem here.

    The one thing I'm not sure about is the guitar sounding loose... I'm afraid I'm not really sure what that means. Is it during the strumming parts, or during the picking, or in general?

    Starfox 64 - Menu

    in Post Your Game ReMixes!

    Posted

    Thanks again!

    I think the dissonance is just reverb. I've done some more EQ and such to make the lower notes not as loud, and hopefully cut out any clipping that was going on.

    Couldn't get a lo-fi intro to work the way I wanted. If the song had a drastic change of instrumentation, it would work, but as it is now the "coming out of the clouds" moment was either too abrupt or so gentle that it might as well not have started out lo-fi at all. Kept the new intro sound effects, though. What's a Star Fox song without cheesy sound effects, after all? :razz:

    stats.png

    I believe I will put this into Mod Review now. The only thing I can think of to change is the overall volume: I noticed the waveform in Audacity was a little thinner than usual.

    Starfox 64 - Menu

    in Post Your Game ReMixes!

    Posted

    stats.png

    Version... 4! Skipped right over 3.

    Trying out a new guitar sound, plus some strumming instead of that off-tempo picking. Still need to tweak some velocities and transitions.

    Figured out what I think was the problem with the echoy synth: it has a pre-echo ( ". o O o o . ." instead of "O o o . .") that was throwing it all off. I was setting the note triggers back 1 note length to compensate, but things didn't quite click until I sent them back 2 note lengths. How's it sound now?

    I'm tempted to add in some background intro/outro spacey-radio-crackle effects--like Fox is listening to it while drifting in a broken Arwing... If I do that, what do you think about having the first part be slightly lo-fi, then the song breaks out into clarity when the synth comes in? Sort of a "Wish You Were Here" kind of thing.

    Starfox 64 - Menu

    in Post Your Game ReMixes!

    Posted

    Ooh! Thanks, you guys!

    New version (2))! I found my Grado SR60 headphones, found out the bass was waaayyy too loud to compensate from my iPhone earbuds, and hopefully fixed things up a bit better.

    stats.png

    Changes:

    Different piano. Quieted the low notes (deleted some of them completely) and loudered a few higher notes and things. (There is one high plink that might be too loud; I'll get that fixed next version.)

    New bass. I'll stick with this one unless people hate it.

    Different synth—a mix of the bubbly thing from the original, hopefully a little more on-time now, and helped along by a Suitcase Rhodes soundfont of some sort.

    And here's a version without drums! I got another request from someone to take them out, so I gave it a whirl. I... don't really like it, myself. XD

    stats.png (drumless!)

    While very pleasant initially, the piano is at it's worst when those really REALLY low notes start up. Also the reverb, although suitable for the spacey effect - leads to some clashing later on in the song...as if it's not fading out correctly or something.
    With the low notes—did you mean the piano sound itself, or the composition?

    Also, not sure if you mean the reverb in the whole song, or just the echoes on the synth. At the very, very end, the synth is delayed by an eighth note or so. It sounds off, like it can't keep up. That bit's intentional! But if it's too mucky, perhaps it should go...

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