Chimpazilla

That is one beefy kick. It may be the beefiest kick I've ever heard. I love it, so much. It's probably too loud, though. Unfortunately after I've really started grooving with this kick and a terrific bass groove... what follows is a rather wimpy choir patch which is indeed sounding behind the beat due to it's slow attack. This choir is acting as a lead for awhile, until it is joined by an equally tame faux flute thing, then back to soft choir for a bit, then a breakdown already? Ok here's the buildup... waiting for something epic... generic saw lead, ok. More choir and into yet another breakdown. At 2:35 I like the lead best so far, but it still feels very meek and tame and I'm expecting so much more based on the unbelievably cool kick and bass groove that's still going. At 3:20, super soft pad. At 3:34, more soft choir. Where's the epic lead work? The instrumentation in this mix feels so unbalanced. The other big issue in this track is that the writing/arrangement is very repetitive. The verses, breakdowns, buildups and drops are all incredibly similar, with the writing in each section being super simple. There are three of each and they are nearly identical to each other. The part at 2:35 is really the most unique and best section imo, but the rest is just too similar. The section from 3:04 to 3:34 is just way too sparse. You've got a really thin sounding rimshot break before some of the drops. I'd recommend removing those completely as they add nothing to the drops. Take them out and push the drops up by that one bar where the rimshot break was. The track seems to be mixed pretty well. My main issue is the repetitiveness of the three sections of the track (3 verses, breakdowns, buildups and drops). A bit of more varied writing would help keep it interesting. I also feel that some more exciting lead timbres would really make the instrumentation match better, and maybe a wicked solo section somewhere. This song could really be so epic. NO (resubmit)

Interesting intro idea, I like it, although when the mix begins at 0:15, those first few notes feel way too loud by comparison. The intro idea is cool but the execution isn't quite there. I'm not hearing "lossy" per se (maybe it's because of that 8-bit snare and white noise bursts?), but what I do hear is that all the timbres seem to be competing for frequency space, and many of the timbres could use a high-pass to cut out some low frequencies that are conflicting with the bass. With this many similar timbres at once, each one needs to have it's own frequency space, and they can't all have the same volume. The flute synth sounds just a touch too realistic to fit in as a synth, and too fake to be real, and it's lost in that fakey middle ground. That bit of string backing has the same issue, although it is less pronounced since the strings are a backing and not a lead. You've got some unique writing ideas. I love glitchy stuff, but I think it could have been pulled off with a bit more finesse by using it a bit more sparingly and without the panning. I'm not a fan of fadeout endings in general, and I always think it is a better idea to end a track on some resolving chord, at a minimum. NO (resubmit)

I like the lo-fi intro too. When the bass enters, it is too loud, too mid-heavy and the writing is WAY too busy to fit well with the lead writing which is also busy. Only one element at a time should be that busy, either bass or lead but never both, as they are competing for focus. I agree with Larry about the strings starting at :56, that timbre with it's slow attack completely takes the energy out of that section, because it is so exposed. The drum writing is quite repetitive and the kick is too loud. The clap/snare is very simple and plain both in timbre and writing, and gets old fast. This track suffers from extremely repetitive writing, despite some attempts at interpretation. You will need to do some melody writing variation to keep things fresh. Changing up the lead instrument in different sections will also help a lot with repetitiveness, as would adding in some unique chord progression ideas for at least one section somewhere. NO (resubmit)

There are definitely some mixing and balancing issues here. Each instrument sounds like it is playing in a different room. The snare starts out way too loud, then the entire drum kit seems to fade into the background. The drum writing is repetitive and the kick is relentless. The rhythm guitar is mixed way too loudly and seems to want to take the lead at times, I'm often confused about what the intended focal point is. Everything competes for volume and for space in the middle of the frequency spectrum. The track has very little in the way of dynamics, but oddly also seems too quiet overall. The writing/arrangement is also very repetitive despite some soloing going on. Ending the track with that relentless kick still firing really doesn't work. Lots of work to do here, still. NO (resubmit)

This is a really nice sounding track, lots of cool little details, fills, vocal fx, filtering, great sidechaining. Nice full soundscape. I like the soundchoices generally. I think the drums and percussion sound pretty good. The clap is ok but you could make it a bit snappier and add some great delays to it every so often for fun. Larry is right, the arrangement feels underdeveloped, and this is the biggest issue holding the track back. The track is repetitive, and I understand that trance can be repetitive, but you've got a couple of sections that sound very copy/pasta. Some variation on the melody, lead timbre, backing, even the chord progressions the second time around would improve that situation, as would some additional variations in percussion and some more fun fx. The ending is a disappointment... at 2:24 there is another buildup, and I'm expecting the track to open up super wide and just tear it up but the song just... stops... You really do have some great sounds going and the mixing is quite good. You just need to vary the arrangement and writing so it doesn't sound so repetitive (same verses, breakdowns, and transitions). I think some kind of resolving ending would also help a lot. The intro is really unique and well written, kudos on that. NO (resubmit)

Dayum. 7/8. Dat's cool. Yeah bring the piano out a bit more, separate the sounds somewhat with eq. The simple drums are fine imo. I love it, finish it!

Jake, you never cease to impress me with these huge soundscapes full of lots of awesome little details. Track sounds great, wonderful dynamics between the different sections.

Really super nice mix, guys. It's very relaxing, and detailed, and your talents combined beautifully here.

I hope you had a great day today!

Still has to go through album eval. Bar will be *slightly* lower, though.

My two are done and subbed already. Use 'em. Remember though, tracks will still have to pass album eval to be included.

Yes you can use my two tracks.

Yay, Damage drums! I love 'em. Very cool arrangement on a great source. I feel like the entire track has too much reverb, that could be dialed back quite a bit, especially for any leads. Also the reverb can use a lowcut, it is bordering on muddy. The strings are noticeably fake in timbre and sequencing but it doesn't bother me terribly. Andrew might be right about using a more ensemble patch to thicken the timbre a bit. I think all the instruments need another pass at the eq, I'm hearing a lot of low-mid mud in the bass and lower instrumentation, especially noticeable in the low bells, low pizz strings, and the guitar. I'm hearing borderline overcompression in the heavy portion before the outro. Make sure you aren't overdriving your limiter. NO (resubmit)

Andrew is right about the piano, the low end is muddy and there is way too much reverb. The dulcimer doesn't sound as dry to me as Andrew thinks, I think it sounds pretty sweet... it might sit better in the mix once the piano's reverb is turned down. The strings are indeed weak and unhumanized (need some kind of volume swells), and they are also too loud. I think just adding volume swells might take care of the "too loud" issue. Agreed the drums are pretty flat and lifeless, you could do with some better samples or just better mixing, and a few fills here and there. The drum kit seems to have been high-passed. Nice key modulation at 2:56. The ending is quite sudden, maybe that last piano bit could be drawn out for just a few more bars. The writing is pretty simple overall, but I think the arrangement works well enough, with some mixing fixes. I believe (after several listens) that there is enough source. NO (resubmit)

I've liked this since I heard the first wip. Really nice synth work, great arrangement. I love the time signature changeups. The production is tight and it sounds balanced to me. Guitar work is solid. Transitions are good and the track has lots of nice detail. YES

This is lovely. I like it a lot!

Happy Birthday, Superior Dude!

Your preview sounds pretty darned good!

Really super cool ideas here. Wow, the bass stuff is cool. Unfortunately, that wobble bass occupies the entire frequency range and I can't hear anything else most of the time when it is playing, the leads are completely obscured when they play together with the wobbles. It doesn't help that most of your leads are saws as is that wobble bass. Your drums are also fuzz-heavy, so that's a lot of buzz and fuzz going on. Sounds like your sub-bass is fine. You'll really need to carve out room in the middle of that wobble bass timbre for your leads and other backing elements. Also, most of your other elements are competing for space in the middle of the frequency range. Even your sfx are getting mushed into the middle. I adore this arrangement but it just needs a bit more production love (eq and sound choices mainly). NO (resubmit)

Cool ideas... it's funky, and orchestral? Mind=blown. Cool, yeah continue!

I haven't done an extensive source check but it seems like there is enough there on a cursory listen. This track sounds good but I think the lead guitar (one of them anyway) is shockingly loud and quite dry and doesn't sit nicely in the mix. The drums and bass sound too quiet by comparison. Rhythm guitars sound really good to me though. I like this arrangement and I don't think it will take much to rebalance the leads and drums, using the level of the rhythm guitars as reference. NO (resubmit)

Definitely funky! But my first impression is that the entire track has been band-passed, it sounds muffled and lacks both highs and lows. The instruments are competing badly for frequency space all in the middle of the spectrum. The track is also sounding extremely dry overall. You've got some leadwork playing panned right, and some panned left, and this is kind of an odd effect and I don't think it really works. It would have been better if you had centered and slightly stereo-separated the leads rather than hard-panning, it sounds very two-dimensional and unbalanced as is. Your backing keys and strings would also sound so much better with some nice stereo spread. There are a several of points where the track comes to a complete stop, really interrupting the flow (and I hear that same idea in the Mega Man source). It would be better to bridge those gaps with something, a drum fill or even a sweep or sfx. The arrangement sounds good though, and you've got some fun soloing. That solo at 1:45 is really nice... but the lack of reverb or any kind of effect on it is really leaving it flat. It seems like the source use is adequate and you've done a good job of combining the two sources. But production and mixing are unfortunately holding this one back. NO (resubmit)

I have not heard the other versions. On this one, everything is competing for frequency space in the middle. The bass is so muddy and flabby and indistinct it feels melted. The kick could be louder. That's not the best snare I've ever heard, it is very mid-heavy. Funny, it sounds exactly like the snare in the "Boomer" source song, just way too much "thwap." (my personal technical mumbo-jumbo for snare mids) Some of the drum writing is really stiff, especially in the hats and that snare. The arrangement is good, source use is fine, rhythm and lead guitar tones sound good but much of the lead writing is pretty stiff, a little more interpretation would be great. (Andrew mentioned some of the note timings sound off too) The lead writing from 1:34 to 2:01 is particularly uninspired. At 2:18 you have some really cool soloing starting! But the mixing is enough to really drain the energy out of it. You'll want to lower reverbs all around (and high-pass reverbs at around 500Hz), and use eq to give each instrument its own breathing space. The bass needs to have low-mids (250-350ish Hz) lowered a few db and low-lows (below 30Hz) removed, then play around with compressing and/or eqing what's left to bring out the fundamental. NO (resubmit)

Ok... so I've spoken with Jake, and he wants to add source motifs to the intro and outro. He's traveling home from helping Xarnax42 move from Alaska to Indiana, so it may be a few days or so before he gets to it. Let's put this on hold for him. edit: Jake updated the track super fast. He has added quite a bit of source motif work into the intro and outro. I'll leave it to Larry to do his stopwatch thing. My YES stands, so good luck Jake.