GrayLightning
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Posts posted by GrayLightning
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I found this enjoyable, despite its many failings. It really reminded me of a lot of early 90s american game music. I actually thought the arrangement was quite good, although certainly not enough to overcome the average samples. The form is also a bit strange, but after several listens I actually got accustomed to it and got to appreciate it.
It's a nice arrangement, but the production both in samples and processing is a let down. OCR standards don't require thousand dollar production tools and methods, however you can easily find free samples of much higher quality than this, like 64-256 MB GM soundfonts. Finally while I liked the intimacy here, reverb would have helped spice up the samples a bit.
Close, but no cigar. I hope you consider polishing this up for a resubmission. NO
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Loved every second of it. Superlative work as usual.
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Pretty cool. I remember hearing the wip version and prot definitely did make this more polished. Enjoyed the synth lead a lot, which I'm guessing prot made. It's my favorite part of the mix. The synth work is quite good and sounds like a trademark of protricity's other mixes. Rhythms, drum sequencing were good as well. Though, as Israfel, I thought it was mixed in too loudly and is dominating the mix too much.
Neat mix and certainly a credit to the DKC project, but the main failing of the mix for me has been covered by other judges; due to the short length of the mix there is untapped potential. Which isn't directly linked to the short length of the mix per se, but in this case it just feels unfulfilled or incomplete in this context.
borderline NO.
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This is completely awesome and amazing. I love the style, the writing and the orchestration. Samples are well above the bar. BUT there's one major problem here, there's so much clipping/audio distortion/deformation/poping issues throughout, particularly in the louder build up sections. Does no one else hear this?
Also Very light compression is in order here, and it looks like you've limited the track to 0db. I would set the limit at the respected standard of -.3db and/or go back to the mixing stage and work on your levels a bit.
I've asked Zircon to contact the mixer to resubmit a rerecorded version. Once most of the issues are fixed, it's a Yes from me.
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The pads and drumwork that start off this mix are so great despite the simplicity. I had high expectations, but once a number of elements started to sound off for me, it went downhill. This is a tricky one for sure, but I suggest going back and checking into these. The vocals are pretty cool, it reminds me of the Mortal Kombat ending theme.
Pretty cool despite the flaws though. Borderline no. Please work on this more and resubmit.
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There are a great deal of audio problems here. Light compression and limiting on the master bus would at least solve some of the problems in the mix. The arrangement and execution is a bit lacking on the whole. Instrumentally it's a bit simplistic and compositionally repetitive. Like the piano pattern. I suggest going back and reconsidering the mix from both compositional and production methods. There are some nice things here. I particularly liked the glassy pad from the beginning sections. I hope to hear more from you in the future, but this needs more work. Better luck next time. NO
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The arrangement and composition is pretty good.
Main problem here is the production. Everything sounds muddy. There is no attention paid to the high frequencies. Everything sounds like low and lower mid frequencies. Very lofi sounding as well. The lead isn't very nice sounding. This needs more effects processing to add more dimension to these sounds.
Pretty decent, but it's let down by a number of production weaknesses. NO
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I thought this was quite cool and a very pleasant listen. I agree especially with what analoq stated. There needs some change, and contrast here either instrumentally or compositionally as it progresses. I also think the production could be spiced up a bit with more interesting effects processing or better mixing/mastering. Close, I suggest working on this a bit more and resubmitting. I'd like to see this pass the panel.
Borderline NO.
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DJP is direct posting this. Votes are probably unnecessary at this point.
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Pretty much what the other judges said. Too minimal an arrangement, underdeveloped and in general pretty bland production values. This is too simple to pass. I'm certain you can do more compositionally here. This needs more work. NO
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Pretty much agree with the other judges on this one. Pretty conservative arrangement. Try to expand it more and give it your own style. Also you say hall in the title, how about using hall reverb here to spice things up. Everything sounds dry and too upfront in the mix. I also personally suggest trying another sample or eqing the piano. It sounds really plinky and bright.
I actually like a lot of how this was put together and the orchestration is ok. Definitely has some promise, but it requires much more work put into this. Decent.
NO
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OCR is more about arrangement, not conservative covers. I would suggest that you expand the concepts of this mix. Change up the structure or form of the arrangement. But as this is more of a cover, I can't pass it. Pretty cool guitar work at some parts though. But NO.
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Main problems are already pointed out, but let me reiterate. First, a lot of the times it does indeed sound very sparse. Most of the time it's just the melody, drums. This needs more pads or synths in the middle frequencies in my opinion. Try adding more in either instrumentation or composition to help here.
Second issue, for using reason and other high end gear, this sounds very average in production and sound quality. Most of it sounds like a GM soundfont with little processing. Third and slightly minor complaint, I think this is way too long a mix. It's hard to keep the attention of a listener on an 8 minute mix.
A couple of good points in the mix:
There are a lot of cool ideas that mesh pretty well together. It is obvious you spent a lot of work here. The drum sequencing is particularly good.
Needs more polish and work. NO
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Yeah this is quite conservative, but the reinterpretation and subtle additions sprinkled throughout the mix make it certainly a viable OCReMix. I wish the the mixer played around with the theme more creatively and took more liberties. That aside, wonderful and emotional performance. Very cool ending sections also. Definite YES.
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Absolutely incredible and one of my favorite mixes from Israfel. The opening duduk phrases are chosen perfectly and set the mood from the start. Solo fiddle and middle eastern hand percussions also helps establish a middle eastern motif. Piano work is subtle and sounds great in the background too. I love the chords in this.
Production is excellent. Even with the freebie samples like the papelmedia choir and synths it doesn't sound out of place with the other high quality samples. I particularly like the soundstage here with the clever use of reverb and even the attention paid to little things. Like the stereo delay on the finger cymbals.
I have no gripes. This is an excellent mix combining influences from arabic, new age and jazz. Stellar.
easy YES
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The arrangement definitely needs more expansion or development in ideas. The lead isn't too pleasant, it's almost like the lead is all short notes with lots of delay. Production as a whole definitely needs more work also. Work on giving the mix your own spin, as is, it's a NO. Not bad though, keep at it.
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I agree with what has been said. I actually like the drums, it is way too strong/loud though. The questionable flute/flute pad composition is the biggest flaw here for me. The rest is a bit too simplistic with simple pads. Actually pretty nice and enjoyable, but this needs more work and more additions along with some of the fixing and polishing. I hope you go back to this, this has promise. NO
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Excellent, I thought the arrangement was right on. My only criticisms are the drums get extremely repetitive and I wasn't digging the sampled voice materials.
That aside, this is really great work, might be one of my favorites of zyko's. Good stuff all around. I have no reason to no, so it's an easy YES.
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I have to say I rather enjoyed it. Having two schala mixes on OCR, I'm really familiar with the source material and am hard to please. I'm always looking for a new take of the material instead of the generic Fruityloops preset take of the mix.
It does have the sense of dragging on, but on the other hand with both the composition and production I felt it created a very otherworldly and enjoyable soundscape. I particularly like the harp and piano writing and the interplay between them has to be one of my favorite parts of the mix. While I think the reverb is appropriate in the piece to give it a lusher sound, I think the piano could have been slightly dryer.
I think the percussion tended to lose focus as it went on. But it's kind of low key anyway and not a focal point of the mix. I wish the viola sample was better, but solo strings are not only hard to find, but incredibly difficult to sequence anyway.
The anticlimactic feel I thought was perfect for this kind of a mix, there was a sense of constant immersion at least for me. Dynamically, the piano parts could have been better put together though.
For me it comes down to the arrangement, which I quite enjoyed and found refreshing. There are problems, but I don't feel it's significant enough for a no from me. An effective and immersive mix. Good outweighs the bad, so YES
Schala is better than caramella.
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Yes, I think it's a valuable thread as long as there is some consistent activity for general forum goers of this section.
Stickied.
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In other news:
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What we have here is another generic sounding Schala mix. OCR and other communities have had this theme mixed so often that I would like to hear something new with this material. This sounds like a first mix try and using an often mixed theme. First problems, are the awkward transition points, like at :13/:14. It almost sounded like two pieces of different material pasted together and just crossfading into each other. The main lead is not too pleasant, and very thin sounding. It needs more effects processing. Beyond the lead, there's not much going on in the background. I also think the drums are really strong and overpower the other elements. For a sparse, not hardcore sounding track, I'm not sure how appropriate it is.
A couple of positives, I felt the ending parts got better compared to the beginning sections. There's also some nice ideas here, and the production in some respects is fairly good. Other than the overpowering aspect the drumwork is one of the better aspects in the mix.
Not bad, but I feel it needs quite a bit of work in composition and presentation. There is not much here I haven't heard in the dozens of Schala mixes before. NO. Keep working at it.
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Two main problem points of the mix for me are conservative arrangement, second the production is a bit average. For some reason this reminds me of tracker works from '99/00.
Reverb here is very appropriate for this type of mix, as is the percussion. Percussion in this kind of piece should be understated. More clever things could be done to it as far as effects processing like more reverb, pitch shifting, something similar to what Enigma does, but I can't mark points off as the intent is viable. Being extremely familiar with the source tune and the genre, I actually enjoyed this. I didn't find it boring at all, but I would suggest the mixer expand more on the ideas and make the mix his own beyond the conservative nature of the mix. The ideas are there, but it needs to be expanded on further and more polish in the execution is needed.
Keep practicing. NO
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OCR has a policy of a maximum 192kbps encoding rate for mp3s. This is over that.
Repetitive, oldschool percussion does not a good mix make. Sequencing sounds very mechanical and robotic as well. I understand the attempt to try to sound nostalgic, but I think the arrangement is ok, and the production is below average. At times this is pretty groovy and catchy, so it's definitely salvageable, but it needs quite a bit of work with the arrangement and production. So I agree with the other judges, this is a NO for me.
*NO* Gargoyle's Quest 'Scorching Resonance' *FT*
in Judges Decisions
Posted
Pretty cool. Some of my main issues as noted are definitely the slow attack on some of the semifast notes for the strings. Some of the compositional and instrumental aspects of the mix result in a very sparse, thin sounding mix.
I like the drumwork but throughout the mix it sounds kind of static. As analoq said, the mix can't seem to find forward momentum, on top of that it's not a chill out slow piece either. I would work on the composition again, add more instrumentation and change up the rhythms a bit as it progresses. A unique mix, but it needs more polish and work, to pass.
Some of the highlights for me is the interesting woodwind writing. It adds a nice texture to the piece. I would focus on adding complimentary sections. Keep at it, this shows promise.
NO