GrayLightning
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Posts posted by GrayLightning
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A lot of clipping and too much reverb as things begin the mix. There's a lot of odd compositional problems and choices here, like that really wierd lead that appears at 58 seconds. Much compositional and arrangement work is needed from start to finish. The percussion work at times is nice though. This sounds like a work in progress and needs much more work. The ending was a little too unique for our tastes.
NO
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Mixing and compositional issues throughout as cited already. I don't feel the style of sounds as a whole blends well together either from a textural, component point of view. The arrangement is lacking and could do with more work. I like the second half, and yes I like the synth bell section. I would suggest working on this more as I definitely can hear a lot of potential here with some more attention and polish.
NO
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Xylophone, though it sounds more like a vibraphone to me.
I found this really charming. The xylophone sequencing and execution - I found quite authentic, considering. Yeah there's plenty of flaws here to cite that other judges did, but the overall result came off for me as really appealing. The second half is really nice.
Unfortunately the big problem here is it's an imitation of the original with less than stellar sound quality. Where's the arrangement? Work on your arrangement next time as you have the skills. Pretty nice mock up, but definitely NO.
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Really enjoyed this one. The pacing didn't bother me. Issues are pretty much covered by the other judges. Needs more arrangement, and some change ups as far as repetitivity. Try changing the tempo, rhythm, instrumentation throughout at least. Something to break up the monotony. Also less reverb for this kind of style is necessary in my opinion. Use short reverb decays or short delays.
Keep at it, this is promising, but not quite there yet. NO
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Shallow composition throughout. This is also very very muddy. Your bass and kick drums are making this very dark and cloudy throughout. This needs a lot of fixing compositionally, attention paid in the treble areas to brighten the mix up a little. Working with EQ or multiband compression at this point could work as well, but I think this needs to go back to the composition mixing stage. I also felt the transitions were lacking. You just jumped around to different pieces as if throwing caution to the wind.
Needs more composition, arrangement work. NO
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Check out the sticky threads, and read them.
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Yes there are issues here, particularly the lack of dynamics. I also thought there was way too much staccato playing. The humanization isn't the very best, but I don't think our standards should be so narrowly focused where quality material is just nonchallantly rejected for requiring a live pianist. At least in this case where I feel beyond that one main flaw, everything else is very well done.
I thought the overall sequencing, execution and considering the sophisticated and complex material here; the end result was definitely above the bar in my opinion. The beginning really reminds me of Rachmaninov. A very good thing.
Enjoyable and passable in my book. YES
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This is in desperate need of middle frequencies. I thought it was way too sparse for the kind of mix this is. Especially with the dominating kick drums. I felt this was overall shallow and given the sparseness, the ambience was uninteresting. More layers are needed in my opinion. The mix does get much better as it goes along. Ending needs more beyond a generic abrupt stop like that.
Not bad, but there's not much to this either arrangement wise, production or composition for me to pass. More work needed. NO
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I would say the material of new material and the arrangement does need to be integrated better. And there needs to be a stronger relationship between the two rather than a clear conservative/liberal/conservative/liberal structure in the way the mix switches back and forth.
I personally really like the style of this mix, especially with the 80s style drums. Enjoyable, but without more/better integrated arrangement, a lot of it is very conservative. Try changing the structure, form rhythms, key, expand the melody/harmony in a more integrated way. Something to add to the arrangement value of this mix, that shows of your style. Keep at it, very promising work. But as is, it's a NO.
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Essentially what protricity said. Also this is very simplistic instrumentally and compositionally. Ambient music can and should take advantage of compositional, or effects processing to create a dense, interesting, atmosphere. Here, I feel this is lacking somewhat. The section when the piano just jumps in is abrupt. And then suddenly it's over. This has a lot of good ideas but could be improved on with more work compositionally or with some effects processing. I also think this could do with some more bottom end. Component synthesis could be used here in some aspects, especially for the lead.
NO
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Was looking forward to hearing this, as I loved your last submission. As others mentioned, I think the first half is especially weak with the very repetitive piano rhythm parts. I also feel the piano is panned far too wide right. Snare click is indeed a tad loud. Really liked the lead sequencing near the middle parts. The second half is definitely the most well thought out and executed part of the mix. Work on the first half as much as you did with the second half.
Very borderline on this, as I love the ideas and the second half of this - I say fix it up a bit and easy resubmit. Just a little more polish and this is ready.
No, for now
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Enjoyed the synth sweeps and the gated/stuttering synth. I actually liked the lead, it has a very classic game sound. I do agree that it gets a bit repetitive towards the end. In addition to what the other judges recommend, I personally felt the song tended to drag on and on. Neat mix, but it could be improved and having heard your previous mixes, I know you're capable of more.
Also the ending just cuts off with the note decaying. Is that just me? But that needs to be fixed.
Not bad, but needs more polishing, new ideas.
NO
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The intro is kind of excessively long and very repetitive. Pretty neat phased drums, but beyond that there's really no substance here. There's no hook here, nothing that is too interesting. This isn't bad, just very average in my opinion.
Needs more work compositionally.
NO
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Definitely better. My vote is as before, YES.
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Definitely covered by the other judges. I agree. Very minimal arrangement here. OCR requires more arrangement work. I really like the style and blending of elements in here though. It's very pleasant. Work on arranging your mix more if you want to submit - change up the structure, form, add your own progressions, melodic or harmonic expansion, countermelody, anything. Something to qualify more arrangement work done to the mix. Not bad though, it is a fun mix. But without much arrangement work here, it's a NO.
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Contrary to Siamey's views, we aren't overly harsh on this genre. This is pretty neat, for what it is. My main problem here is the simplicity. I thought this sounded almost generic. If you want to keep a mix of this nature where's the interesting synth design, effects processing, interesting hooks? I don't hear enough hooks here for this genre. The ending parts are pretty neat, however I feel this is overly long for the kind of mix it is. Could do with some trimming down. I do understand that this is a very controversial topic but I thought this was overly loud. We all have volume controls - I don't buy the louder is better fad going on. This is too much in my view. The ending ends with coughing. Doesn't fit at all.
Decent mix, but too many issues compositionally, production and in execution for me to pass. NO
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Very sparse and thin - definitely beef up the middle and bottom range compositionally and instrumentally. This definitely needs compositional meat. Kick the bass up louder - in fact, everything needs to be louder. Ending also is kind of generic with the very long sustained violins/high strings. I do like the disco string runs.
I recognized this was Reason instantly before you even mentioned it. Reason is capable of better production results than this. Outside of the compositional issues I would work with the compressors, eq and other effects to add more dimension to this mix. The peaks need to be tamed. Make the instrumentals louder. Once tamed, you could get away with a 4 to 5 db boost : but rather I would go back to the mixing stage in Reason and work with your velocities and volume levels there.
This is cool and fun sounding, but to me sounds very incomplete and unfinished. NO
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What more is there to say when DanB covered my exact sentiments on this mix?
My main complaint is the lead was really thin sounding and clashed a bit with the hhats. Also, I too agree that the ending was kind of wonk with how the boom just appeared like that. Little issues aside, everything else is definitely above the bar. Nice arrangement, enjoyable.
The duo did a good job. YES.
Sammy Farha still pwns Sadorf in poker though.
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Haha, I wouldn't mind. Can someone get him to vote, ASAP?
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Looks like the ball is in DJP's court then.
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I can certainly see why this has divided the panel. There are a myriad of good and bad things in this mix. The performance problems in the beginning of the mix to me are the most obvious and unpleasant. As the mix progresses the quality and performance improves. I really enjoyed the second half of the mix. Performance and production could have been better, considering the recording, better EQ work would have been welcomed - but it sounds good enough and certainly doesn't prohibit it from OCR. The ending is sudden, a surprise, and I don't like it.
First section is conservative, but not without minor expansion, and as mentioned by others gets more interpretive as it moves towards the end. I had no problem with the structure or how ultimately the arrangement was put together and executed well overall.
There's a number of issues here, but there's a lot of charm to this mix. I found it, the pacing and the atmosphere quite enjoyable, especially after the rocky beginning. Passable in relation to the standards and in comparison to others passed recently.
YES
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Interesting project, somewhat tempted to join, but ultimately I don't like the limitations placed. This is not a criticism of the project, I simply like to have complete freedom when I do something.
Good luck to everyone involved.
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Things
For one thing this mix is almost 4 years old. I think we can be a little more lenient than that considering the age. Second, you say "But this mix is sort of killing my love for your other mixes." What does one have to do with another?
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Technically from what I remember DJP allowed it. But I don't think we really count it officially.
*NO* Super Mario 64 'Bravoski Marioski'
in Judges Decisions
Posted
I'm torn on this one, it's quite cool, but needs more arrangement work. I really enjoyed the percussive work here. Very fitting. Overall it is solid though, but I suggest working on the arrangement more and putting your own ideas. Also I too felt the ending was cheesy, with the mario vocal phrase.
Borderline NO.