Tostigroover

Hell yeah I'll enter this contest to meet this legend.

Hi people, I finished a track: Cloudburst. I want to know what kind of genre you would label it as. I have heard wildly different reactions to this. "Sounds like a kiddy video game a la Mario." "Dude, I can totally see myself blowing of zombies heads with hits music." "This is new age." I do not think I agree with any of those.

I like your take on this. The track could use some diversity. + Spakku mentioned it as well -- I like the roughness of the sounds. It does indeed sound very undesirable, dirty even. I like that tone for the track so if you're going for that, keep it that way. + I think the instruments sound very clear, despite there being lots of low frequencies. - This is my biggest gripe: the tracks seems to dabble a bit. For example, at 1m22s you have a build-up. It creates the opening to something new, there is possibility there. But you return to the same things we heard already. I would really like to hear something different in the track. A different sound/instrument would really help -- switch the atmosphere a bit. The break at 2m20s is helpful but I'd rather have something even more different first. So in short, I like your take on the track but, to my ears, it's now four minutes of the same. There's too little diversity for me.

Hey Haterade, I heard your first version but before I posted my comments, you already finished a new version. (I'm slow.) I cannot get to the new version, though. Do you -- or anyone else, for that matter -- have the same problem? Cheers.

I like this interpretation. It sounds very fragile, very open. Some points: + Solo piano works. + Playing with the tempo works as well. The atmosphere of the track is beautiful. + I like the length (read on) - Although I love the softness of the track, it's a tad too soft. - As mentioned before, the track never really picks up the pace. It starts to do so (at 1m33s and at 2m00s) but those two combined last for 30 seconds. Way too short. In my opinion, if you build the expectation of a more defined part, you have to go with it. Otherwise you make a promise to your listeners you do not keep. - So, I said I like the length but I just said I think you should continue with the parts where the tempo picks up. So I guess what I would like to say is: do not add anything new to the track, just expand on the parts where the track starts to feel more defined I think this is a great start. If you expand on the parts I mentioned, I think your track will measure about three minutes... That should definitely do.

I like it, Nathan. especially the part where you have the snares-that-feel-like-handclaps on the 2 and 4 (2m52s) -- at that point the track really gets a nice, cosy feel. The bassline in that section also sounds great. I do not remember that from the original. Your own?

I like the idea of the remix: it sounds energetic, has well-sounding instruments and diversity. Subjectively, some of the melodies just sound too faint, too distant. I like that in the beginning -- the piano is faint. That fits: it's the start of the track and there's plenty of time for recognition later on. Don't give too much away. However, the acoustic guitar (I guess) that starts around 0m51s could use a lot more volume. And if you go to a sudden quite section (1m37s), I would suggest you have a build-up before that. the song retains the same dynamics, the same volume throughout until that drop. So now it sounds like you just cut something out. If you build up to something, your listeners expect something different. Whether it be a harder part or, as you do, a quieter part, does not matter. The build-up signals that a change is coming. It would not feel so sudden, any more. To me, at least. Really looking forward to this.

Kater, Funky track. + I like the bass sound -- it really sounds raw. + The main melody sounds awesome. I like the free feel you have given to this song -- I recognise it immediately but in no way is that because the original melody is all-present. Despite the fact that you really turned down the recognisable parts, I should say. That is a good thing. + I love the improvisational feel you give to the melodies. - The high melody in the third quarter of the track sounds too high-pitched to me. - The ending sounds too sudden. Hope this was helpful. Spin the feedback around, see what you agree with and what not. Cheers.

Sounds great. I find it especially nice how the different original songs flow into each other. I did not like the ending -- it was too sudden. I actually exclaimed "What?! That's it?!?!" when it finished.

Hey Jedihillis, I hope your work on the track fares well. The link does not work any more but I will keep my eye open for a new update. Cheers.

It starts great. The beginning makes you get the instant recognition because, as you mentioned, it sounds just like the original. Then you kick it into high gear and, as Sir_Downunder mentioned, it gets "really, really awesome." I would love to hear more but this really sounds the kick-ass song you want to hear when you are ready to win that last set of battles.

I really like the original track. I never, ever thought about this track remixed as you did. It blew me away. I don't even like this heavy rock stuff but -- pun intended -- this track rocks. + I really like the strength of the track. The track keeps its rhythm guitar (no idea what the technical term is) and it retains its presence eve during solo's. I like that. + You play around with different aspects, without the track becoming a pot-pourri of random ideas. For example, you use extremely programmed rolling snares twice. It works. You have one spoken sentence in the song. It works. + The drums (especially the kick) and one of the guitar layers play the exact same rhythm at times. It gives a feeling of power, which suits. - The only thing that bothers me, relates to two measures. Near the end of the track, the hi/hats play on the offbeat (2, 4, 6). It does not work for me. It feels out of place. The 5/8 part fit but that, to me, does not. It's a small part but I figure you could roll it around in your head. If you disagree, I can surely imagine. As I said, great track.

This sounds amazing. So fluid, so diverse. At times bare, at times full, at times careful, at times bold. I really like you playing with measures as well (even a 7/8 section). The only thing that you could improve -- optional, not necessary -- is that sometimes small breaks fall in the song somewhere. Without those, the track would be perfect. Awesome. Really impressed.

Hi people, I had another fiddle with the remix. You can find the result in this file: As always, I would love to hear helpful responses, either positive or negative. Cheers.

Hey neblix and Pander, thanks again for the comments. Although I like the harshness of the ending, you make a strong point. Going from 0 to 100+ dB seems like a big leap. I will see what I will do about it. I like that the start and end sounds very sudden, in this mix. Maybe I will keep some bass or synth rolling during the final four notes -- no jump from 0 to 100 dB but the same effect. Or do you foresee a problem there already? I will also try to see what to about the transition from FF I tot FF II and the lack of guitar after that. I hope you forgive my inexperience by saying this again but I still do not fully understand what you mean by a "mechanical verse." As I see it, you give me two points of feedback. First, you suggest the transition form FFI to FFII to go through a real transition (e.g., first settle the synths in an original piece before starting with the synths that now kick off FFII). Secondly, the guitar should return earlier during the FFII part. Many thanks again to both of you. It really helps hearing the thoughts of others on the track. Cheers, Dirk.