Dj Mokram

Always a pleasure to hear some Gradius arrangement. While this actually sounds more like a peace treaty than a declaration of war, this is a solid re-interpretation. The song is a dangerous yet addictive cocktail of distinctive adrenaline pumping guitar/rythmic parts, coupled to a nostalgic and driving synth sound, and some enticing melodic piano breaks. The alchemy works very well in this case, reaching some key moments from 1:08 to 1:30 and from 2:44 to 3:05, where you can really picture the 'shmup' craziness: flying your little ship through dozens of enemies, with projectiles coming from all directions, wating desperately for a power-up while trying to avoid crashing on obstacles... I thought the part from 3:07 to 3:30 seemed a bit rushed and/or lacking compared to the rest of the song, which again is pretty solid. But that's only a minor subjective bias, which doesn't reflect on my apreciation of the whole remix. Definitely great fun, and a great listen.

The Okami OST is undeniably one of the best game soundtrack ever made. As such I'm always both curious and admirative to hear anyone trying his hand at remixing this soundtrack. Globally, it still has this distinctive traditional japanese feeling, but the ethnic element is less prominent. This piece is even more emotional, much like the piano arrangement of the soundtrack, and in that regard, is very well executed. The building is quite similar, with some signature instruments to retain the characteristic of the source. But the disparities with rythmic elements, bass, piano solos are really giving this piece another dimension. I find this rendition much more personal. It feels like another point of view on the same story. This remix succeeds at re-imagining the original tune, and also tops the vocal version effortlessly imo. While these winds now sounds a bit more like they're coming from the west, they still bring a refreshing breeze on the source. No less exotic, slightly more melodic. Nonetheless exeptional.

From what I've seen on friend's game, you technically can't die with the Siren class. When in a pinch, just phasewalk the heck out of here and wait till health recovers and shield replenishes itself. I've also seen that the whole random/special weaponry makes this game pretty addictive ...thankfully I'm not playing it. ;D Had a glimpse of the Safehouse filled with Badmuthas Maniac in the second playthrough. And here I thought those bandits near Fyrestone were tough.

2009 (sigh), I'll never forget it... It was the year when those grisly lack of progress started occuring. The wips update were disapearing, hitting the peaceful little workshop section with a devastating blow, crippling on its very fundations. Soon after the news was off to the world, Robotaki Inc was responsible. Not taking any chances, the OCR government issued an undefinite suspension of business to my musical carreer, until his remix was completed. Soon, my wips stopped arriving at their destination, and my e-friend stock crashed. Right now, I have no less than 10 project directors holding me at mouse point. The look on their face is rated M for mature. For all intend and purposes, I'm finished. Unless of course you decide to reconsider completing this awesome song. It might be a slightly better alternative to having my corpse desecrated and exposed on the new year eve at MagFest as an exemple to all. I trust that you will make the right choice... not that there is one to begin with. Thank you in advance for Kokari. Workshop City Garbageman Mork.

This is a perfect exemple of a song being true to the original and liberal enough not to be frustrating for anyone who know the source. While originally not my favorites tracks, Shnabubula's take changed the way I was seeing (hearing) them. He kept the Matsueda spirit while building around, and expended the song structure and its boundaries almost to the... infinite. Thus the title I guess. This is still a very poetic/romantic song, but it definitely has more of a dramatic feel to it this time around. The variations are of the 'subtle but essential' kind, and every new element fall into place, making the whole song flow very well. A nicely refined remix, quite different from the usual Shnabubula's trademark style. Serves as a good demonstration of both versatility and talent.

Megaman X, one of the most beloved game in the franchise, and of course one of the most beloved soundtrack too. The Zero Sacrifice is faithful to the original, with lots of synth and atmospheric soundscapes, and an almost identical structure. Now don't get me wrong: this is a good thing, since the source was really great to begin with. The remix is fairly even in terms of material and arrangement, and adds some interesting elements as well as a straight rock twist that is very fitting. I was really pleased at how the Megaman 2 intro/end theme was incorporated seamlessly into the mix. I also loved how the sounds (appart from the guitar of course) were subtly refined to make the remix sound almost like an update of the orignal song, keeping the spirit of the game intact. Somehow, I couldn't help but notice the sudden change in gain at 3:26 when the end part with the reversed notes rolls in. Sounds a bit like a clip-crop gone bad, but this isn't a big deal. Overall, it's a satisfying song to hear as a Megaman fan, and all in all, a very cool remix.

Shadow of the Colossus in... rock. How awesome could that be? Well I soon found out, and I wasn't disapointed to say the least. I honestly wasn't imagining electric guitars could enhance the source so well, and truth be told, the violin solos just blew me away. The cohesivness of this mix is impecable, and it's always amazing to hear some already great source being refreshed so effectively. It has a different yet slightly more convincing 'battle' feel to it. I already imagine holding my puny blade while this song plays in the background, providing me with an appropriate adrenaline rush, effectively preparing me to get stomped on by a 200 ft tall building. ;D Joke aside, this is an astounding remix. It has emotion, passion, energy and focus. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

This is one of the most dynamic rock remix I've heard so far. Being familiar with the source helps concentrate on the little details and additions... er, excuse me, did I said little? I meant huge of course! Scarse breaks and deviations everywhere, tempo changes and alternatives drum sections, crazy new harmonic parts and distortion all over the place. This is a very creative and balanced take on the source... yet very naughty at the same time, if that makes sense. What can I say: we have both Norg and Snappleman. What else should we expect apart from stunning arrangement goodness and a demonstration of pure skill? A fantastic tribute.

Just a quick bump to remind people wanting to join that atm, this is not an official OCRemix project. Hope to see some more support in the future. Just a few tracks left to claim.

This is quite a surprise, and a pleasant one at that, since I'm fond of Castlevania music. Unexpected though, as solo albums haven't got any precedent here. It's in the continuity of the ever-changing and evolving process that OCR has undergone this past year. So in that regards, I guess that makes sense. But kicking off Xenogears from the front page doesn't though...

I'd like to make a suggestion for the Ending Theme:

Yeah, having just seen the number of problems inherent to the PC version, the console version appears to be the best option. Though I won't be playing it myself, seeing as loot-fest are generally the most addictive time-sink ever, I can attest the game is really fun and engaging, especially in co-op/multi-player. I was starting to notice the similitudes with another game from Bethesda, when I heard a bandit said: "Scared? You should be". Wasn't that the raider's line in Fallout 3?

Ok, finally got to hearing it. Due to the nature of this album (half cover / half original), I can't really be impartial. Even more so when I like both her music and yours. That being said, I enjoyed it a lot as you can imagine. It has a chill, jazz feel to it that I can't ignore. This distinctive style, with really beautiful moments, voluntarily goofy ones, and sometimes cohesion of both, is what makes it unique. I like almost every track of this album, and can once again appreciate the very emotional feeling that emanate from your music. Actually I really wish Starla was singing on top of your solo piano in Wrong/Beans. That would have been a memorable colab... er, I mean it will be. Make it happen! Only complain is Leather and Lace. Clearly not your best work, and really not fitting with the rest of the tracks. But I still like those 20 minutes albums. They loop really well, and before you know it, you can't get those melody out of your head... So keep them coming! Oh, and nice hidden reprise of Magical Bags of Chips after Pants by the way. I'll finish mine one day for sure...

^ this. Believe me, I tried... Whatever you do, don't pitch the lead upward, PLEASE!

The decision is ultimately up to Bahamut & Arek on this one. But if they decide I'm still worth keeping on board, your help will definitely be welcome Luke.

This is a brillant idea. If only days were 48 hours instead of 24... Anyone's up for a collab on this one?

This is sooo in the works. Gimme a couple of month. Gollgagh made a good point: the real secret to making a request is patience.

Can't believe I missed that too... Hope you have a good one Rozo. You're one hell of a musician, and one wise man for sure. Thanks for all your help, advices and critiques. The workshop section is in your debt. Keep the awesome Megaman X / Fzero remixes coming. Will forward an updated SD3 wip as soon as humanly possible.

Oops, totally forgot about the project forum. I've sent my track update to Bahamut yesterday. Also, made some small banners:

Yuki Kajiura - Aura (from Dot Hack Sign soundtrack)

I've been making my own samples for some time, and have build a personal sample-bank over the years. But I've never actually thought of creating a Virtual Instrument. Meanwhile, I've gotten used to the ease of VSTi, compared to say, the tedious and old-fashioned task of importing each audio sample one by one into a sequencer. Plus, no matter how good algorithms are, pitch-bend clearly isn't as practical and precise as having each note assigned to a velocity sensitive key. Very good idea you had here Harmony. I'll research on how to create a kontakt library. This should be a great opportunity to learn something useful.

Hey Arc, It really depends on what samples you're using, and what result you're hoping to achieve. Some effects will work well with some instruments, and not with others. I'm not a pro by all means, but here are some things that I use: -distortion/overdrive on drums for a cool dirty effect. -large room reverb and EQ tweaks on strings or woodwinds, to give them presence. -high-pass on guitar and low-pass filter on bass, plus fuzz on both to add some character. -mutli-tap delay/echo for piano or synth to give an eerie, more ambient-building sound. -mix two or three different sounds/samples on the same note to create a new customized one. Then again, it works for me on samples that I know well. The more you work with your samples, the more you know them and can determine what to apply to get desired result.

The trailer by Jose is stellar, and the preview sounds fantastic. I'm holding off on hearing more till the listening party... the wait is excruciating though.

Since I tend to tune in on RTS-live when I come back home, I'll have to agree with Dyne. Plus, even if some folks already have listened to it, that's still great to have the world premiere of an entire OCR album on a live radio show.