Chimpazilla

Happy birthday, Shariq! 30, eh? (just another young whippersnapper compared to me) Have a great day!

Happiest of birthdays, Avaris!!!

This is a fantastic album! I just bought my copy on Bandcamp. Support WillRock, people! It's worth it! Also the listening party last night was super fun!

Wow! What a nice hybrid of sounds. Really well-sequenced and humanized orchestral parts, paired with acoustic and electric guitar and synth work. Good dynamics as the piece progresses. The acoustic guitar sounds a tiny bit too up-front when it briefly appears. When the drums come in, the kick is a little soft compared to the "snare," I wish they had been a little more similar in volume (but that's a wicked snare!). I wish the transition to the soft outro had lasted a bit longer to let the energy recede a bit more naturally, but this works. Great track, nice work! YES

I agree the mix gets a bit noodly, but it never loses focus of the source imo. I think it is pretty creative. I like the sound choices. I do agree that the writing sounds stiff and robotic through most of it, but I'm not having a huge problem with it. I'd like it if the sounds were separated a bit more with eq, stereo separation and reverb techniques, but it's getting the job done. The soundscape sounds a bit flat, it could use a few surprises. Something to work on for next time. I like the 3/4 intro but I'm not a huge fan of the transition at 0:40, I wish that transition had built energy instead of letting it drop. The transition back to 3/4 at 3:42 works a bit better, but could still use an effect like a downward sweep or something to glue the sections together a bit better. This isn't going to be my strongest YES ever, but I do like this track and I think the production is over the bar. Nice work Eino! YES

This is a super cool arrangement, even while playing it close to the amazing source tune. I agree that the mix has almost no high end. It sounds like the whole mix has a blanket over it. Drums are way too quiet in general. Also I'd like to hear hats, crashes and high-end percussion elements a little wider in the soundscape and not just sitting in the middle. This needs a better mixing job to give your elements some sparkle. I hear the elements competing somewhat for frequency space, but my main complaint is that the whole soundscape is flat. The writing and playing are really good though! The ending is a bit abrupt, feels like it needs one more chord to resolve it properly. I'd recommend posting this in the workshop to get some top quality advice on how to bring the mixing up to code, and then please resubmit this one! NO (resubmit)

Oh gosh another lovely piece by PI511... you really are wonderful on that piano. This piece is so gorgeous. I have no complaints about the piano tone or playing, I hear beautiful dynamics. I think you could bring the master limiter up just a few decibels as the track peaks about -12db at the loudest point. You don't have to bring it to 0db of course, but maybe just a few db louder. Interested to see if this bothers anyone else. The track is arranged medley-style, one theme following another, but it feels cohesive. You have added some really nice personality to each theme, and I hear that you've transitioned them *very* well so the track has good flow. The original transitions are short but nice and fitting. Lovely piece! YES

Not true! The truly hardcore can ALWAYS find a way. Super congrats Dave, she is absolutely beautiful!

Well, I LOVE weird muziks and this one sure is weird. It's so creative. I am loving the wide soundscape and varied textures here, track is full of surprises. I love the different moods created as the piece goes along. Because the arrangement is so inherently weird, I'm not having any problem with the transitions between source and not-source, it feels cohesive to me. Plenty of source, mixing is great. My only complaint is that I wish the outro was a little more different from the intro, they kinda feel like bookends... but both are cool enough that I won't whine about it. Very cool track! YES

I think Larry and Andrew summed this up quite well. Gosh, it is really lovely, some really nice sounds here. It just needs to be fleshed out some more. Layer some source-melody variations over the empty patches of pad for starters. How about some distant arps, or a sound shooting from left to right like a shooting star, in the background? That would sure add interest to the cool spacey feel you've got going. The song comes to a full stop right before 2:20. Seems like a perfect opportunity to put in an entire new section with unique writing and different textures. I think the incredible minimalism in the intro and outro could maybe work, but there needs to be some more ideas going on in the middle! NO (resubmit)

Terrific arrangement, I love the slow pace. The instrumentation choices are solid. Definitely needs some better mixing though, everything is competing for frequency space and volume. This will require some creative automation. The string sample sounds fine, and I even hear some nice swells happening, but they are too loud quite a bit of the time. They need to recede into the background when they aren't the main focus. I love the dark piano, but it is a bit low-heavy and ends up sounding muddy. Cut out some low-lows, and give it a boost on the higher end to make it cut through a bit more. It isn't so much of an issue when the piano plays alone, just when it is in the denser sections. Drum kit works well I think, the drum writing gets a bit repetitive sometimes. The breakdown at 1:41 for example, could have an altered, softer drum pattern. Also, please widen hats, crashes, and high-end percussion, no need for those to be sitting in the middle. At 2:04 you've got so many things going on. String sustains, string staccato notes, piano, and a plucked instrument, all playing in a similar frequency range and at similar volume. That is a lot of competition. You can separate these things with eq notching, volume automation, stereo separation of some things, panning left or right with some things, and some reverb tricks to push things back or pull them forward. I love the two brass stabs, but they feel a bit lonely. Overall, I'd suggest thinking about what you want the listener to focus on at the different parts in the track, and find a way to bring those forward. Should be just one or two elements taking the lead at any point, and the rest should take a backseat, otherwise it is just a wall of sound. I'm loving this. Please give this a mixing face-lift and resubmit it, please! NO (resubmit) p.s. I have a sample of that Goldeneye pipe (poohm) sound if you want it, it might be a fun addition to this track, let me know if you want it! (I use it a lot myself!)

Soft lovely intro, then whammo... metal... with no real transition, I feel like that is a little jarring. To signal this a bit better, how about a rising snare pattern, or a couple of low guitar chugs, or even a white noise sweep to glue the sections together? Once the track gets going, the soundscape sounds very full, and the instruments are really competing for frequency space. I agree with Larry about the choir only serving to add unnecessary mud. For a soundscape this busy, the sounds need to be mixed (really, separated) very well, to ensure that each element is as clear as possible. I actually like the glass lead, but it does end up sounding a bit thin on top of the wall of guitars. The kick does sound boxy, could use a little more low-end punch, but it does cut through. Snare is a little weak and muted, needs more smack. The hats are too loud by comparison to kick and snare. The breakdown section from 2:21 to 2:52 is... a bit odd, maybe I'm not quite getting what you are going for there... and it feels sort of washed out and muddy. The piano at 4:09 sounds quite mechanically sequenced and could use some humanization, but it is a very short section so not a dealbreaker, but it would be nice. Source usage is fine and the energy is certainly there. This is a fun arrangement! Just gotta clean up the production and mixing a bit and it's good to go I think. NO (resubmit)

Whoa, interesting combination of instruments here, I'm loving that. I absolutely dig that you transcribed this source to 6/8. The song has such different flavors all through it. I wish I could hear the piano better after the intro. I love how the leadwork trades off from the piano, to synth, to guitar. Great dynamics, especially in the breakdown from 2:21 to 3:06. Source usage is more than enough, and the track has amazing peronalization. Soloing is dynamite. Soundscape is packed, for sure, bordering on too busy at times, but it is nice and wide and it works for me. Yes, dat snare. Impressive and enjoyable mix. YES

Gotta agree with Larry about the leads being buried. Also I'm finding the bass lacking definition just a *teeny* bit, but it's balanced well. Other than that, the track is produced and mixed very well, writing and arrangement are good, nice wide soundscape, drums are awesome, guitar work is crazy good, track has great energy, fun listen! Works for me! YES

I really kinda love this. It's a bit of a tricky source that really does call out for a trance interpretation. I like this arrangement a lot. I can definitely hear the bLiNd inspiration here. I do agree with OA that a few little surprises would have been nice, in between the melody writing. I also agree that some deeply sidechained bass would really make this. (I'm on headphones, gonna withhold vote until I can blast this on my monitors and check out the bass better) Ok, on my monitors now... kick sounds loud and punchy... but I have to agree about the bass, it really needs to be more present... louder and sidechained please, this song will be so wicked cool. Please do this soon. NO (resubmit)

Whoa, these two sources are made for each other! Remix sounds great right off the bat, nice wide soundscape, good ambiance, lots of detailed synth work with some really great effects added. Drums are varied in the different sections of the mix, with a few fun syncopation surprises thrown in. Production and mixing are really tight. That tempo slowdown I'm finding VERY cool, you surprised me and I like that, it changes mood while still staying cohesive, and the tempo change is smooth enough not to be jarring, so I'm loving that section. This is an interesting arrangement that kept my interest the entire time. Very groovy. Great job! YES

Great sources! The mix does play it fairly close the the Lighthouse source a good part of the time, but the personalization is there. What an interesting arrangement, the addition of the other sources works to make it varied but it still feels cohesive. Wonderful drum writing and syncopations. Track keeps my attention all the way through. I hear what Deia means about the synths, for example from 2:41 to 3:05 the synths compete with the lead guitar somewhat, and that whole section is nearly too busy as a result... but I think generally they fit in well enough and they definitely have some personality. I think the synth work compliments this arrangement really well and gives it some good excitement. Kick could stand to be a drop louder. Other than that, no production crits to speak of, this is really dynamite. This track will make a great addition to OCR. Nice work, guyzzz! YES

This is a very cute and fun little track. It has enough source with some nice personalization. The instrument choices are definitely campy, I love the quacky little brass synth in particular! Sfx are fun too. Some of these samples are pretty weak, the main sax in particular. I'm impressed with how well it is used though! The drums are weak and distant too, but similarly they add to the cheesy atmo created here. The mixing sounds pretty good overall, good balance, reverb levels are generally working (although most of the sfx are a bit too up-front and dry), nothing is competing too much for space. Bass could be a bit better defined. I like how you've used the bass in this track, though. Oh man those identical crashes from 1:20 to 1:29... I'd like the track a bit better if some instruments were widened somewhat, everything sounds like it is sitting dead center with the exception of crashes, hats and other high-end percussion. As it stands, the soundscape feels unnecessarily narrow. I agree the writing and sequencing is quite stiff, and a lot more personality could be added with some more groove here and there, but yet, for what this is, for that cheesy vibe, the stiffness seems almost ok... but what about adding a swingy hat pattern in the background somewhere, or some other swingy element, just to make it less robotic and more groovy? I'm torn here, this is close for me because I identify with what you're trying to do here, and I say kudos for doing the absolute most with these samples. I think in the end though, those samples are bringing this below the bar. I like the arrangement and the variety you've got going here. With some sample upgrades and a bit more groove, I might take this just seriously enough to pass it. NO (resubmit)

Wow, what a lovely source, and an equally lovely remix. The guitar playing is gorgeous and emotive. The rain is a great accent, but I feel like it drones a little bit, could have some volume variations or even a mild bit of thunder to break it up, also it seems a little dry. (edit: did I seriously just say rain was dry? haha) The guitar strums starting at 2:15 are jarringly loud compared to the rest, to the point of near clipping at 2:17. That will need to be tamed. Other than that, this seems like an easy pass if there were enough source, but it seems there isn't quite enough (as painstakingly timestamped by my fellow judges). I hope you will find a way to add more source and resubmit this, I'd love to see it on the site! NO (resubmit)

Jooj-bro! Miss you. Let's catch up. Why you no call me. love, Gamer-bro-cat

Eino's out? Did I miss that?

I'm officially out, guys. Sorry Brandon, but I enjoyed this compo very much anyway (it was my first one!), and 9/10, would do again. Hopefully the next one you do Brandon will be less jammed up against the holidays. Electronic and orchestral production and mixing are entirely two different beasts! They each have their own challenges and I'd say they are equally difficult to do, just in different ways. I have not done a rock song, so I can't comment on that. Good luck to everyone still in the compo!

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