Chimpazilla

WHOA Big T... you managed to write MOAR than 100% source... *impressed* lmao! (yeah, overlaps, I get it, haha) Ok so I haven't listened to anyone's tracks yet, gotz some errands, then I'm all about it. T I'm sure yours is dynamite, can't wait.

Edward Penelo's Waltz - mix notes This is the first 100% orchestral mix I have done. I recently purchased the EWQLSO Platinum library so this is the first time I have used it. The samples are gorgeous! But I have discovered that FL Studio is not the best daw in which to write orchestral pieces. FL is terrific for electronic music due to its flexibility, but for orchestral, that flexibility is actually severely limiting! Also, FL is still a 32bit host making it tough to load all the required samples into memory properly to really humanize things correctly. I can hear my humanization flaws but this is the best I can do in FL in one week's time. This will be the only time I write a fully orchestral mix in FL Studio. I have actually purchased Cubase and I'll be learning that daw as well, primarily for orchestral work but we shall see how much I like it for other things. It is always good to be daw-bilingual. So, on to the source usage: 0:00 to 1:20 of the mix is the Edward theme pretty much verbatim (minus the in-between triplets) but with a few variations to make the transitions flow. I didn't use all the weird harmonies in the source tune, but instead made the most emotive and varied chord backings I could think of. 1:20 to 2:10, the harp is playing the main Penelo theme (0:00 to 0:31 of the Penelo source). The harp is playing the in-between triplet style found in the Edward source. In this section, the flute and lead violins are playing a simplified variation of the Edward source at the same time as the Penelo material is playing on the harp. I was really quite pleased with how well the two sources combined here. 2:10 to 2:35 is the final part of the Penelo source where it transitions back to the beginning (1:00 to 1:15 in the source). 2:35 to the end of the mix is the Edward theme again, with the harp playing the triplet style of the source but without all the weird harmonies of the source.

Mine is sent. I'm going to post some notes and my source usage here but I'll wait until tomorrow to do that. Mmmmmm stuffing. Needs to be drowning in gravy, though.

Mine too. This one is 100% orchestral, first time I've done that. Also, this is the last time I do such a mix in FL Studio, it's not made for orchestral at all. I'm getting Cubase before I do another of these!

Why so apathetic toward your OWN COMPO Brandon? Or are you just planning to get everyone thinking maybe you won't write anything, then WHAM blow everyone out of the water?

Timaeus, don't worry too much about strictly obeying Edward's theme, some of those triplet notes ARE in fact kinda weird. Just capture the main melody I say, that part is simple and lovely.

The Chimp will pimp the PROnoob any chance that comes up, haha!

Mine is done. Just fine tuning the production and mixing. Turned out pretty good I think, the themes went together quite well.

Happy Birthday, Mirby! Brandon, that cake... that's a lot of cake... looks so sad, but yeah lots of cake! When one sees such cakes, what can one say...

Happy Happy Happy! 111 is my lucky number btw.

Did you write to Joe? (XPRTNovice)

ShaggyFreak, your track is in 11/8??? Whoa.... dat groove!

It is actually quite simple and lovely. I actually really like your source too, it is also lovely, and has five distinct sections to choose from! Hhhmmm... how to weave one or several of them in... choices, choices...

I typically program my own drums and make the the main drumming focus. But I ALWAYS throw extra loops in there for interest. Usually the loops are just high end percussion stuff (little hat patterns etc.), but they always add interest to an already groovy drum pattern. If I'm going to use the drum loop outright, I'll throw it into Slicex and have my way with it first.

Hey Timaeus, *snicker, chuckle* let's secretly COLLAB both our tracks and make the voting IMPOSSIBLE!!! Bwahahahahahahaha!

Oh my. Well alrighty then!

Thanks, I think so. I should mention that when I first started here, I got some harsh yet constructive feedback from one person (anterroir). He suggested some really specific things to try and even attached a little mp3 of one of his ideas. I wrote to him and flat-out asked him to mentor me. Pretty bold, eh? Well he took me under his wing, we became great friends, and he really helped me get a leg up with music. I owe him so much. Anyway, if I could, I would love to see other people have a similar experience, even if only for a limited time. It makes such a difference.

In the last talkback I mentioned the possibility of some kind of mentor project. Maybe a thread in R&C. People could offer to mentor someone on a specific daw, or technique, or instrument. So they would put their name down in the thread and list the things they feel they could help with or teach, and someone could be matched up with that person either for a period of time, or for the length of a specific project or maybe just to complete one remix. It would be similar to RWTS, but it would be at a more relaxed pace and not a compo at all. Just people helping each other on a one-to-one basis, for free. I could work out the specifics and spearhead this, if anyone is interested. I'm sure there would be at least a few people willing to do this, I would for sure.

This is really awesome. Those Kokiri parts still feel a little awkward to me, but you said the timing was intentional? Still sounds cool. Piano tone is really very nice. Dynamics are good. Good amount of bass but not too much. I still hear a teeny amount of distortion buzz on some of the louder notes. I also still think there's a bit too much reverb overall. I think this one could be a winner. Would you like me to help again with mastering? I could take a crack at it, if you send it dry. Honestly though, it's already really good if you just lessen the reverb a little bit. Castle town is very clear to me. I love what you did with it. I recommend doing a timestamped source breakdown for the judges though, that will help. Really very nice track Markus!

Happy Birthday Vinnie! Enjoy your day. Mirby, a cake please!

Shame on anyone who replies... you should all be HEADS DOWN, doin' da mixing.

This is epic. Is it going to be looped I assume? My only issue would be the string stabs, somehow they sound a little flat, quiet and dry. I'd love a sharper attack and a touch more volume and some more reverb too. I wonder if it the sample that's the problem. Maybe the strings just need to be mixed so they aren't sounding quite as squashed by the other instrumentation. I just think they could be more prominent, pop out better. Maybe stereo-separate the poop out of them too. Other than that, WOW so cool Pete.

Sure! Sounds fun! What girl doesn't want that much attention? (no wait, that's creepy haha)

Oh SWEET. I'm soooooo excited!!! Can't wait to meet everyone!

It's down the block 0.10 miles, haha! I'm not worried about missing anything. My husband though, is worried about my walking back to the hotel alone at night! Gonna need some Big Strong Dudes as bodyguards.