Chimpazilla
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Posts posted by Chimpazilla
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This is a great cover, wonderful performances. I agree with the production crits though, the track is bottom heavy, and hopefully this is a fairly easy mixing fix. The sour notes at 1:38 really need to be fixed also, I hope that is an easy fix too. Otherwise this is good to go. Hope to hear this back quickly.
NO (resubmit)
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This is so, so, so good.
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Sorry NO judges, but I'm with Larry. If this were my track I would mix it with the lead violin more upfront (less reverb, longer predelay, tad more volume) but dang, nothing dealbreaker here. Sounds good to me, so much to love here.
I feel like this NO vote is a case of groupthink. Our standards are high but we generally allow for some flaws. I don’t disagree with the comments of my fellow judges, but even though the criticisms relate to the lead instrument, I still don’t hear anything dealbreaker. If the artist wants to make the revisions, that would be great and would only make the track stronger, but if the artist cannot or will not make the changes, I’m still a yes.
TABLEFLIPPING YES
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This is lovely, but I have to say I agree with Gario's production comments in full. The overall level is too low, everything lacks sparkle, the pads sound weak and apologetic and the drums are almost comically quiet. The arrangement and performance are very nice and I could almost pass it just based on that, the pause in the middle doesn't bother me too much, but the production needs another pass.
NO (resubmit please)
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Gaaaaaaario you forgot to hit the DP button on this one. HOT DAYUM this is fire.
DP
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I'm listening to this without hearing the sources first, to see if it sounds cohesive, and to me it does. The transitions don't bother me too much, it is an interesting and varied arrangement. I agree with Jivemaster that the mix is surprisingly clear considering the amount of parts in each section. The master is so loud though, and starting at 0:36 it sounds very overcompressed to me, and that lead is way too loud, especially in the mid-lows. I'm going to ask for one more pass at the mixing/mastering to get it sounding clear without sounding so compressed, otherwise I dig it.
NO (resubmit please)
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The arrangement is dynamite, but wow the mixing is crowded. Even the source tune is pretty crowded with so many things happening at once, but in the metal interpretation it is really fatiguing. I suggest trying to mix so the elements have their own space better, or possibly removing elements here or there. Your synths and guitars are all blasting in the same frequency range right now and it's just too much. Some creative panning could help a lot too, for example put the synths in the center more and let the rhythm guitars be wide stereo, or let the synths even replace the rhythm guitars for a few bars. You can experiment until you get a soundscape that is wider and isn't stepping all over itself. The arrangement and performances are great, it's just the mixing for me holding it back.
NO (resubmit, please)
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Oh man.... the mixing is 100% improved, awesome job. Everything I asked for got fixed. There is still room for improvement as others have pointed out but this production gets the job done for me, it fits the genre well enough now. The arrangement is quite static though, and hearing it again this much later is making that more clear for me. The creativity of the idea and the wonderful performances push me really close to a yes, but ultimately that long section from 2:17-3:16 does sound too static in terms of arrangement and chord progression, even with all that soloing. It's a very cool interpretation of the source tune, but doesn't work as well as it needs to as a standalone arrangement for OCR.
NO (borderline)
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I LOVE this arrangement, and those vocals are WOW. But I agree with Larry about the piano and strings. The piano is so dry. The strings work fine as a backing element but when they are exposed starting at 2:11 the fakeness is too obvious. The bass does sound a bit indistinct, I'm not convinced this is the best bass patch. The overall mix has just a tad too much mid-highs for my taste. VERY cool track, just needs a bit of production cleanup.
NO (borderline, resubmit)
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The track takes quite awhile to get going but once it does, there is a lot of creativity. The mix is repetitive overall though, despite the strategies used to make it more interesting. My biggest gripe though is the mixing. The sounds used are very basic, and the overall mix lacks sparkle and depth so the result sounds quite flat. Needs another pass at the mixing, at the very least.
NO (resubmit)
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This is a super creative arrangement, I give full credit for how interesting and unique this Western-style track is. The ideas and the writing are all terrific, although I agree that the dissonant flutes are a bit distracting, but even so they add interest. Ultimately though, when I ask myself "can I imagine this being posted on OCR" my answer is no. The brass and strings just sound too fake to me. Larry says they sound like they could be stylized and I get that, but to me, the track sounds like it is trying to be an organic arrangement, and with those elements as exposed as they are, it just doesn't get the job done. I'm sorry to come down on this so hard, since the arrangement gets an A+ for creativity.
NO
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This song is well produced but it plods. The problem is that every element in the track has the same energy level. The organ is the worst offender since it only ever plays whole notes and it is present throughout the track. I have two suggestions. 1. Add some elements here and there that have some movement and interest, like a synth arp or filter-motioned synth line or even an interesting hat groove, in the background. That will add texture, motion, and interest. 2. Change the organ to another type of pad sound somewhere in the arrangement. You can return to the organ for the ending if you like, but give us some variation somewhere in the middle.
NO (resubmit)
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Thanks Gario for the timestamps. This version is MUCH better but I still have some concerns. I feel like there are too many vocal clips. I'm generally a big fan of vocal clips, but as in the previous decision I particularly dislike "Daruk's Protection" and the others (I don't like those in-game either). I really like the groove here quite a bit, and the mix of musical elements, but the arrangement seems quite dependent on the clips where more ear candy would be preferable. The trap hats sound pretty repetitive and loopy after awhile, perhaps some filtering or processing would make them more interesting. There are a few moments of heavy dissonance from 2:29-2:50, that's pretty distracting, not sure what's happening there.
This is close for me, a few more bits of TLC will push it over the bar for me, primarily that section of dissonance.
NO (resubmit)
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On 6/8/2017 at 0:10 PM, Gario said:
Chimpzilla
Gaaaaario.... Chimp-a-zilla.... plz
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Agreed totally with MW. Something this simple should never pump like this. Low end is boomy, highs are non-existent other than that super-loud snap, which is off-timed. Arrangement is much too conservative, sparse and repetitive. Not ready for prime time.
NO
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The overuse of the arp bothers me, even with all the timbre change-ups. I think it would be better off dropped out for a section or two, and then brought back with a massive amount of filtering and movement on it, but as it stands the arrangement already feels stagnant to me, it hits full speed and stays there for the most part. I don't hear any sidechaining to speak of so there's a lost element of groove for me. The instruments being very vanilla, and the beats unchanging, is enough to make me ask for another pass at this. I love the concept though, and hope to hear it again.
NO (resubmit)
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What a concept! And I do love that Stranger Things track (who doesn't?). I have to agree with the others though, even with the cool elements here, the track feels dealbreakingly repetitive and underdeveloped. To do this concept justice is going to require some next-level arrangement and production, tons of automation and reverb tricks and filtering and morphing soundscapes/pads. But did I say wow, what a concept. Hope to hear it again!
NO (resubmit)
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There is a lot of variation in what instrument is playing lead, which I think is wonderful. I have the same nitpicks as the other Js about too much reverb/release on the lead sitar, and unnatural envelopes on the strings and choir, but each of these elements plays a bit and then gets out, so it isn't bothering me that much. If this doesn't pass, and even if it does, please pay special attention to your articulations, attacks/releases, reverbs, and learn to automate CC11 well so that your strings and choirs can sound the most realistic possible. The track overall can stand to be several db louder. But this arrangement with all it's twinkly wonder is too good to pass up.
YES (borderline)
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I think the balance is fine, considering the entire arrangement is played with higher-register instruments, my ears aren't expecting bass. The articulations could be more natural but there's nothing here that's standing out terribly for me, nothing that puts this below the bar. (I don't anticipate any listeners saying "that vibrato tho!") The arrangement is beautifully detailed and I love the interplay between all the elements. I love it!
YES
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Very cool concept and sounds, I adore the vocoding. Unfortunately I'm in the NO camp here because of how static the arrangement feels, and the mixing. A few suggestions: 1. Try to make arrangement variation by actually removing elements in different sections so we aren't hearing everything in your arsenal full time. Break it down to just a couple of elements, and vary those element combinations throughout the track, save the full bang for the final chorus. 2. Make some sections a little more quiet, and possibly slower (without the pulsing bass), and with a different drum groove/fills (this in addition to the breakdown you already have). 3. Fix the mixing by letting each of those midrangey syths play wherever their fundamental is the strongest, and eq so that other elements can do the same. Take three samey things and open their eqs at the same time, and adjust until each one is clearly audible. You can also differentiate the sounds using stereo widening on some elements and narrowing on others. Looking forward to hearing this one again!
NO (resubmit)
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There are some really great moments in this track, such creativity, and the guitar playing is absolutely ace. The mixing needs work though. The first couple of minutes are so thin and lacking bass that it almost sounds like an extended intro. The lead guitar at 3:03 is WOW loud compared to the soundscape. The kick is so strange that it really sounds like something has gone wrong in the track, like rendering pops instead of a kick. The mix is crispy enough that I'm wondering if it is a bit overcompressed. Many parts feel cluttered and overly busy, too many elements and possibly too much saturation used on things. The arrangement goes on a little long for my taste. This one isn't quite there yet for me.
NO
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Gotta agree with the NOs here, this is a fantastic arrangement but the mixing is blowing it for me. The lack of low end is a BIG deal to me, the drums sound small, and the rest of what is here is much too crispy/hot/busy/competing in frequency. Needs another mixing pass.
NO (resubmit please)
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Great arrangement, and very interesting mixture of sounds and styles. I like the chippy sounds and sine bells mixed with the growls and also organic elements, and I like the swing breakdown section at 2:19. I see the complaints about the sidechaining. If this were my track I would probably replace the kick with something that hits a bit harder but with less of a tail, more smack and less boom. Also I would sidechain elements in varying amounts so it doesn't sound like the entire track is ducking to the kick with the same intensity. I would sidechain the bass at 2:1, 12ish db of GR with fast attack but with a much faster release than you have here (which may be due to the length of your kick tail), pads/backing about 6db GR, leads 3db etc. Regardless, I do deeply dig this track.
YES
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This is a great arrangement, it is quite a moody piece. The brass does sound fake and dry in the intro and also at 2:14, and the constant string swells take away from the legato feel. I think this is still in pass territory but I can see why Larry wants it polished. I'm going to pass it, but I am hoping Rebecca reads our notes and starts incorporating these crits into her submissions.
YES (borderline)
OCR03664 - *YES* Donkey Kong Country "Terror Plant"
in Judges Decisions
Posted
This mix could be HUGE if things were stereo-spread better. The entire drum track is hammering away in mono. If this were my track I'd make copies of the clap track and the hats too, and make them very wide (haas, even) and mix the copies in with the original, and what a difference that trick makes. Many of the synths could also have more movement, either filter movement or creative panning. Even with the synths being vanilla, some creative movement would bring this track to life. In a track like this, having a soundscape that is alive is everything. I like the track, and none of what I've said here is enough to reject it, but I see a lot of lost mixing potential here. Perhaps suggestions for next time.
YES