Chimpazilla

Hey Jim! Nice first attempt! My first observation is that the drums aren't actually keeping time with the melody. I would do as other suggested, and make a very simple drum pattern with kick, snare and hat, and paste it over the entire song, for now. Use this simple pattern to get the synth melody timing right. Then, once that is sounding right, add another element, maybe another synth playing a counter-melody, or a bell accent or something. And you just add from there. Later, you can add more drum elements, and more patterns, but start with the basic one as a backbone for your song. At least this is what I do. Is there a bassline there? If so I either couldn't hear it or it also doesn't match the melody timing. I think you have the right idea about using the source, then progressing into your solo-ish variation, this is good. But just start by matching up drums, bass and melody, then see where it takes you.

What is the timeframe? I will finish my other project, then brush this puppy up and shoot you a wip in a pm.

Pokie, do you have specific rules on this? As in how many songs can be mixed together? The remix that I have started actually already contains three themes (maple treeway, dk summit and kart selection screen). Is that ok as long as the main theme is the one selected?

Wow I like that a lot, good luck!

OK I will. I'm 90% done with a Ganon remix (which I will post on ocr shortly), then I'll brush it up and see what can be done with it!

I started a remix of Maple Treeway a couple of months ago, it's been on the back burner, but maybe I'm interested?

You took out the drum breakdown that was starting at the end of the other version... I liked that soooo much and was hoping for more... was hoping for alternations of drum breaks and deep wubs. I really like this (love the source tune too)... love the dubstep and the contrast as I mentioned... but it is way too repetitive. How about at least incorporating the other part of the tune? At least once? And at least one original theme somewhere would really make it. The lead is too plain. The farty sound just sucks, sorry. I think the coins are fine and not overdone imo. Please vary and make this more interesting!!!

I like this. The intro is way too long though, and needs more interest and variation. The farty sound has GOT to GO. I like the drop, and the contrast, very skrillex. The drop needs to come sooner, or at least a pre-drop dirty teaser. (couple of filtered wubs maybe) I can't wait to hear where this is going next, it starts to get interesting and then stops! Also: I like the chiptuney lead but it could be more interesting, less vanilla. Add some effects or change it somehow. Same with the other synths, just a little more interest will make a big difference. Judges hate vanilla synths.

Nice ideas! Needs to be much more raw sounding, that wub bass needs to be more evil! Needs some more melody variation, some key/chord changes, more interest. And yes I think youtube may be killing your sound quality...

It is just lovely!!! I agree about making the violin legato, there's too much staccato going on, the legato violin would make an excellent contrast and it would flow like a happy little river. Really, really great sounds here. Please add some melody variations and make it a proper mix!

Geez...

What PS console should I get? If I get PS3 will it (or other older PS games) play on it? Or what is the latest PS?

That's great, he will definitely be a "cool kid!" And wow that's crazy about being born in the car on such a short trip to the hospital, sounds like a real go-getter! Great story!

Just for fun... here's my Tom beating one of the dreaded cart levels in DKCR and making it look like business as usual.

Another question: What about the 3DS? Someone mentioned to me that 3D can be hard on the eyes, especially kids eyes... do you guys agree? I'm toying with the idea of a 3DS for Christmas for Tom, with Mario Kart 7 and OoT 3D.

Conversation between me and Tom while playing Skyward Sword: me: Get that red rupee, red rupees are good! him: They're OK mom. me: They're better than rupors, at least there's no rupors in this game, thank God. him: Don't thank God mom, thank Shigeru Miyamoto!

He's got a great attention span, logic, and photographic memory. His map reading is crazy good. His only real downfall is getting frustrated when he loses a race or challenge, but getting killed by worthy adversaries seems to be no problem. He is learning quickly about the importance of going into battle fully stocked on health and potions! And thanks for what you said, I hope your nine month old is a cool kid too! We have Super Paper Mario, that was great! Will check out the Thousand Year Door, thanks! Will have to check out SMRPG. We played through Bowser's Inside Story and that was another terrific reading practice. These are great replies, thanks so much everybody.

Wow great recommendations... gonna check them all out! For some reason Sonic doesn't do much for Tommy (I love Sonic though). And we played through Okami all the way to the point where you *must* do the digging challenge to continue (not a side quest) and it is IMPOSSIBLE so we gave up on it... (sad chord here) @Ecto: Yes he is a video game wizard, amazingly advanced for his age, navigates all the confusing dungeons with ease and fights the gnarliest enemies and makes it look easy. *so proud of him* Tom is the only first grader (only kid in his entire school I think) who has a backpack covered with triforces. No one else he knows has even ever heard of LoZ. That music from Alundra is awesome. I forgot to mention Tom is a music afficionado as well... he remembers every song from every stage of every game we have ever played, and can hum every bar perfectly, even four years later. I can't wait to get him started with FL Studio, he's going to be my favorite music buddy too. He needs to be reading more reliably first... we are getting there. Can you tell I love my kid? Thanks again for these suggestions, keep 'em coming if you've got more.

Hi all, My 7 year old son is a very good gamer. He took my ds lite out of my hands when he was 3 and beat the entire NSMB including the final castle. We have played every Mario game for DS and Wii, and he has nearly completed DKCR by himself. He is top notch at Mario Kart. We have played through every Zelda game together and we are halfway through Skyward Sword now. Can anyone recommend other games that my bright child might find interesting, yet that are suitable for his age? The Lego series are way too easy and boring for him, and I don't want him getting anywhere near the Call of Duty type games... looking for other epic adventures similar to Zelda* that he can do. We have a Wii but would consider getting another console if the game was right. *yes of course I know NOTHING compares to a Zelda game except Zelda, haha!

Thanks so much Stevo! Those are great comments, and great ideas. At this point we will wait for the judges comments, and if we need to revise it we will take your suggestions into consideration. Thanks for the kind words and your vote of confidence!

That would be great, thanks. I use FL10 also! edit: I just sent you a pm.

Funny you should ask... I don't have one yet, but I believe my husband will be getting me one for Christmas. Any suggestions on what I should get?

Hi friends, I have recently been working on piano humanization and have learned many skills. I now have a remix underway which has piano, flute, three kinds of strings, and some trumpets. Can someone point me to a thread or tutorial (or just offer some quick words) about humanizing strings, brass, winds? I'm assuming it is going to be "swells" using volume automation, but I'm sure there are plenty of other tricks. Any advice is greatly appreciated! p.s. the remix is very dramatic and dark as it revolves around Ganon. Heh heh heh!

I like the snare just fine! And the kick. It's the OTHER drum elements that are frying my brain, haha!

I really love the contrast between the chiptuney stuff and the realistic drums, especially the snare. But the whole drum loop sounds distorted? A little too much fizzle and crunch, it takes away from the other clean elements. Some cleaner hi hats would help a lot I think. Nice track, I like it. (sorry, I'm not a mod... I'm waiting for a mod review too...)