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XPRTNovice

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Posts posted by XPRTNovice

  1. [modreview]

    Hi there. Nice groovy mix you've got here, with lots of good production stuff going on. To make this shine, here is my take:

    - The intro is nice, but there are some very noticeable volume jumps in the melody line (first noticed at 0:04) that make 4 notes sound way louder than the rest. Just pull them back town and they'll blend fine.

    - I agree with Timaeus that there's something...off about the drop. But I can't tell what it is. It could be that the volume difference between the intro and this doesn't mesh, or it could be the way the instruments are stacked. It's hard to tell. I feel like it might also need some low end in that drop.

    - The drums disappear for about 4-5 seconds at 0:33. In fact, the drums in the first section are really inconsistent, they sort of come in and out and make me feel like I can't get into the groove of the piece (which is so tasty, and I want it). This doesn't appear to be a problem after about 0:45 though.

    - The chiptune lead is a bit loud at 0:50, just a touch. It's not sitting right in the mix. Maybe even a touch of verb in addition to volume control might help tone that down.

    - Be careful that subwoofery bass doesn't overpower things at around 2:00. It's borderline and it's a really cool touch, but I might pull it back just a touch to avoid it taking over that section.

    - The piano has a doubling synth lead at 1:31. For the most part I think it works great, but there are two sections where it doesn't decay fast enough and it's too loud - pierces right through the mix. One is at 1:52 and the other is at 2:08 (the two high notes)

    - The piano lead that jumps in around 2:16 is way too out in front and punchy and doesn't blend. I think a simple volume adjust will fix that, but you might consider shaving some of the highs just a bit. When you do pull it back, take care you don't bury some of the softer twirls that make them quite nice.

    - I dig the outro :)

    [/modreview]

  2. People kind of mill about, see panels, play games, buy merch, etc. The OCR group itself is so big that there are constantly shifting mini-groups all weekend, since getting food with 40 people in an area that is already packed with 10k visitors is ridonk.

    Cool. I ended up feeling lost last year because I had only been on OCR for about 10 months and didn't really know anyone but I think this year should be easier to float around without feeling like a creepy person

  3. Confidence is the key to any performance

    This. I always try to be really cocky and really humble at the same time - the really cocky part is when you're performing, because you have to KNOW you are the BEST THING THAT HAS EVER TOUCHED MUSIC.

    But once you step away from that stage, you must, must, must ditch that attitude. For one, it makes you a dick. It also makes it impossible to get better because you think you already know everything.

    So, when I've been on stage, I am the best musician in the world. All other times I am awful and I don't understand why people like my music. It's a weird mind-splitting duality but it works for me.

  4. Hmmm...

    1.) Get a book on the shelves at Barnes and Noble (that's only me, not an anthology)

    2.) Level up in Parkour to a red wristband, possibly become an instructor

    3.) Land at least 3 video game OST gigs

    4.) Write the first draft of at least 3 more novels

    5.) Win a Hugo award (bahahah)

    6.) Learn a whole lot more about music production and these sample libraries I have

    7.) Expand my voiceover business and quit my day job so I can live in a cabin in the woods and actually accomplish #1-6 without severely burning out or making my daughter forget she has a dad.

  5. I got mine on Monday. I poo-pooed handhelds for a while, but this is a massive step up from the PSP. I'm playing Xenogears right now, but I hope to actually play some PSV games soon - I got the package that came with the Amazon bundle, so Sly cooper/uncharted etc are waiting for me. I'm more interested in getting back into RPGs though, since they seem to be exclusive to handhelds nowadays.

  6. So, my person...I ordered you stuff from Amazon, and it just shipped with a deliver range of anywhere between next week and JANUARY 16TH. I said WTF and ordered you something from eStarLand. So you'll be getting 3 deliveries, or something, over the next years.

  7. Hi there.

    - I like the piano intro; nice samples and tastefully verbed. I could use a bit more of that oboe there. Nice swell.

    - I agree that this is more of a piano arrangement with backing orchestral arrangements, but that's just semantics

    - The piano "left hand" sounds a bit hammered - as in over-quantized and same velocity. You might want to take some time to humanize it a bit.

    - I feel like some bells would be nice in here, like music box bells or glock, but that's me projecting how I'd do things onto you.

    - Overall I think it needs more low end support from some double basses, particularly when the whole thing gets big

    Otherwise this is nice!

  8. it's mid-level common sense that anytime someone gives you a business card, it means they're trying to sell you something, and the only time you would get a business card is to get their business, meaning you're also trying to get money from them.

    Definitely not. I have business cards galore from writing and other conventions from people that can't POSSIBLY be selling me something, since they don't sell anything. It's an easy way to share contact info; way easier than saying "hey, write this down. oh, where's a pen. oh where's a piece of paper. Oh whatever, just search for this not-often-used term that you won't remember." And if someone is already asking you about the T-shirt you're wearing or the subject you've already talking about, it's perfectly acceptable to pass them a card.

  9. That generic one is cool, but a two sided one that had the remixer's name on the back gives a bit more of a professional air of importance. If on the back it had the OCR color scheme and logo and it said "Liontamer" and underneath "Larry Oji: Judge, Wine Enthusiast, and Seriously a Lion Tamer" or something like that with links to both OCR pages and his personal music pages would be reaaally slick.

    They could become collectibles! "OMG I HAVE DJP'S CARD" and people could play triple triad with them and shit

  10. There have been lots of times where someone has looked at my OCR shirt and been like "Hey, what's that?" Or someone has come to my house, seen my studio and been like "What do you use this for?" or any number of questions about my life that lead back to OCR being a core pillar of my leisure activities and hobby life. I typically tell them the address of the website and explain it, but I thought it would be an interesting idea to have business cards drawn up. Nobody remembers to go home and check OCremix.org after meeting me randomly in the play area of a mall (this happened last week) but if they found a card in their wallet later on, maybe they would.

    My thought is to have one central design template that can be modified by remixers or customized for people that are fans and don't remix (and probably ordered at the remixer's expense, since I understand there's a cost associated with this). A dual-sided business card where one side has the website information and a brief description and the other side with the remixer's name and maybe a track or two or what he/she is known for (and maybe a link to their personal page) might be a great thing to just hand to someone and say "Check it out - it's all free and you're going to love it."

    The ultimate cost would be almost nothing, as sites often have $10 deals for more business cards than you'd ever use. We'd just need someone to design it and then the OCR staff to approve it. I think this would be a great (and professional-looking) way to spread the love.

  11. Contracts are a lot more arbitrary than people think. All you really need is a set of terms and two signatures, between you and the other party, and it becomes a legally binding document.

    In my few experiences, I've had one instance where a contract was given to me by the company. It was their standard procedure for hiring "independent contractors" so they gave me the contract and the statement of work. That was the most formalized.

    In another instance, I wrote up the contract and won't be making any music for the guy until he signs it. It clarifies terms of compensation, when he's supposed to report on royalties to me and deliver my cut, and how I'm allowed to treat the soundtrack as my property in perpetuity but will give him a cut of album sales since it uses his game's IP.

    They can be as complicated or as not-complicated as you want them to be, but it's ALWAYS a good idea to make sure you are protecting your IP and you're getting paid. In an instance where I operated without being under contract, I simply didn't release the soundtrack until I have money in hand. I do the same thing with my voiceover work.

    If it's a repeat client, I'm much more flexible as there's a trusting relationship there, but first-time clients always pay upfront if they won't do a contract that I can hold them to later.

  12. Shipped mine out! You'll be getting yours in two packages since the stuff I wanted to get you came from two different places and they may not have my gift message in them. But if you randomly get two packages, you know why! I also might not be done getting you things...

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