timaeus222

This is very loud. The rumbling stuff underneath isn't actually really contributing anything. Overall the arrangement doesn't really go anywhere; it's kind of plunky/choppy, and not really trance either. Not a lot of instruments going on. From here I guess I'd say try identifying what each of your instruments is currently doing, and what you meant it to be doing. EX: A bass doesn't usually lead, and a lead doesn't usually play really low. Also, make sure not every instrument is doing the exact same thing. The whole remix sounds like it's practically in unison (one voice, monophonic), though it might not be on your side. Have a general idea of what you want to hear. Many times, you need a bass, some sort of harmonies (chordal instrument), a lead, and maybe some drums. Like this.

Cool man! Looks like you're using a blown MIDI controller?

The Recruit & Collaborate forums will ultimately be the fastest way, barring the wait time. We don't know how long he's used Cubase.

I thought this was pretty cool. A few flaws here and there, but otherwise solid remix.

There's that, and there's also whether or not they know how upfront or how far back they should place it (among other things, like sample selection; Heavyocity Damage, for example, is not consistently heavy, heavy, and heavy across the board). There's a difference between using a good library in an integrated manner and just using it to cover up other samples you don't like as much. Besides, the how-to-use-a-sample-library dilemma can be solved at least in part by reading the manual, trying it out, and asking someone for feedback.

With the smaller concerns, please list examples for those too if you want. Jazz of the big-band sort can be done in FL Studio by anyone with the motivation to veer away from over-pasting patterns ("Copy/Pasta") and to make sure the timing of each note isn't rigid (quantized/locked to a grid-based computer-perfect rhythm). Another DAW can do it too, but I know ectogemia has done something similar to that before here (0:58), and he uses FL. Native Instruments Kontakt is a well-liked sampler resource that a large portion of sample libraries out there are made for. I'd recommend libraries like Native Instruments Session Horns, Session Horns Pro, and Vienna Symphonic Library Dimension Brass purely for the sample quality and flexibility. Session Horns Regular seems like more of a fit for your big-band tracks and is about 3 times cheaper than Dimension Brass, but it depends on how much more you want to do with the brass. Free brass samples are easy to find, but I've yet to find enough good ones that you can stitch together (though I stopped trying to find them early on). Besides, stitching is so much hassle, so sample libraries are much more convenient and less time-consuming to use (you know, once you get the hang of them). Remixing in general is not easy, but it is not demanding. As you expect, you can learn at your own pace. No one is rushing you, and we're a very dedicated/helpful community. There's a lot to learn, but there's nothing wrong with trial-and-error (or post-and-get-critique). As a general piece of advice, I would suggest you to get a handle on a DAW reasonably well before diving into using sample libraries and such. For example, if someone were to literally start writing electronic (on-computer, not necessarily synthesized) music for the first time and immediately start using a thousand-dollar sample library (they exist, but this is a hyperbolic example), their ears might not have developed enough to perceive most of the audio frequencies present in the samples. I've found that as you write music with a DAW, your ears slowly get used to the audio system you're using. As you continue writing, if you want to get better, you may want to buy a better audio system. This better audio system should have a wider frequency spectrum, and that is what your ears slowly adjust to. You never really know for sure if the one you already have is what you'll want to stick with forever, but eventually you'll get to the point where you are just happy with what you have. Generally speaking, that's about a good time as any to start looking up and comparing sample libraries and begin seeing what works for you and asking others for advice on what you can choose. However, I wouldn't say that that's something you "have" to worry about right now. If I were you, I'd just put the sample library thing aside for now and just focus on confirming your choice on a DAW and working on your workflow, EQ (Equalization), and the DAW's default plugins. Once you get to know those, posting some sort of remix on the Workshop forums for feedback is always a good idea. That's generally the place where the most development could occur. Remixing is fun. I think you should do it.

Yep! 10char

Well, think about it. Average song: 3 minutes. 4 hours = 80 average-lengthed songs.

Might have been this edit, but the bass sounds clearer, especially at 2:11 and 3:07! At least at 2:11, I can hear every harmony! The violas at 3:07 sound more like the lead now to me, but maybe trying them one octave above that couldn't hurt, just to juggle your options and see what you like better.

Sounds like retro world music. o.o

Too awesome.

I *might* want to change my source to the Password Menu instead. The Finals Duels source seems like it'd lead me to writing a remix in too similar a genre to the original. EDIT: Yeeeeah, I'm feeling much better about this source, and it's still from the same game, so... It's also leaving me plenty of room for interpretation.

I'm going back over this again, and I agree with Joe, especially on these points, and I've put some reasons why:

How about The Coop?

I listen to everything at the same set volume as I'm already good to go on a consistent volume, and everything is audible to the extent of the mixing. 2:30 - 2:50 wasn't cluttered. Sounded normal to me. Things were mixed audibly/distinctly.

Really awesome big band sound!

Make a hip hop beat for dropbox! :DDDDD

Yeah, things felt a lil washed out, but overall, I liked it.

This is awesome! I haven't heard a good orchestral arrangement in a while. Yeah, just look over this for minor details, polish it up, and make sure that exposed piano at 6:55 isn't overly quantized. I'm pretty sure this is a good balance of source usage vs. original, too.

Perspective: You have 80's-esque synths plus some acoustic drums. Sounds to me like an 80's approach could be interesting.

Sounds nice so far. The violin sounds more upfront than the rest of the instrumentation, so I think it should be a bit quieter with a little more reverb to let it sit in the mix more.

Yup, sounds like Industrial Metal to me.

It's too low, but I think it sounds fine in context. Nothing's wrong, the bass volume is just low.

Hm. Something at 3:10 - 3:56 is making the mixing sound washed in reverb. Could be the bells.