XPRTNovice

Thanks Jean. Now, the whistling. Natural whistling is so harsh-sounding when recorded that I'm having trouble keeping the levels up without making my own ears hurt. I actually sent this to a professional friend of mine for advice, and he said "Nobody likes anyone whistling right in their ear". He actually suggested I back off, but I tend to lean on your side on this one. If you have any suggestions on how to do this without causing ears to bleed, I'd love to hear them.

Thanks C&C. I hope for this to go to mod review this week so I can stop obsessing over it.

Okay, got a new version out there that I think is much, much cleaner rhythmically and audio quality wise. I redid everything using stereo micing and brushed up on my EQ/leveling. The metronome was my friend. How does it sound? http://soundcloud.com/xprtnovice/not-the-taxi-you-whistled

Wow, Jean, you went at that like a f@#kin' surgeon! Thanks! Those are all really helpful things. I think this could benefit from another version of most of the tracks once I make my room's acoustics a bit better. Then I can pull the right freqs out with the eq and avoid the background hiss. Thanks again man!

Balancing, leveling, EQing, and timing fixed. And the title is better, I think http://soundcloud.com/xprtnovice/not-the-taxi-you-whistled-for You guys think this is ready for the judges yet, or what?

Had a good mando day Several updates on the same file, I think it's staring to come together. I still have some level issues...

Thanks guys, that's good stuff. Jean, the dobro (the instrument you were commenting about in the Gold Saucer section) is definitely a bluegrass instrument, but the sound font doesn't do it justice. I'm going to try a take with the mandolin, with maybe those synthetic instruments softly backing it up in the background, and see if it sounds any better. Today is Mando day. The whole mandolin track needs a reset, and I aim to give it one. It's less of a pain in the ass to just lay it down again than it is to go about time stretching and all that. I just need to make sure I can hear my metronome.

I did some work on this over the past few days. Here are some things that I've changed: - Eliminated Fiddle de Chocobo - Blended transitions between themes - Added some guitar ornamentation (FF Prelude in the middle of the Saucer theme, too) - Re-recorded guitar/mando parts using different micing for clearer sound - Adjusted levels and gain to try to make it not so quiet - Some improved whistling ornamentation - Added a bass to the opening slow section I'd love some feedback - especially from those that called me out on my transitions. Here's the new link: http://soundcloud.com/xprtnovice/farmboy-v2

Well, I have to say I'm totally in love with my own Gold Saucer section, but the Chocobo section is starting to bore me. I think I am going to find a way to bridge up the middle section so it's a smashup of Farmboy and the Saucer theme, and smooth out the transitions. I did like the idea of having a wailing fiddle solo in there, and Fiddle de Chocobo begs for a bluegrass arrangement, but I think it might just have to go.

This is my main problem with the arrangement as well. I got a little giddy once I heard the playback for the first section and just started adding stuff. I was trying to avoid shameless medley, but that's what I ended up with. Since they all revolve around the same general bluegrass chord progressions, I might see if I can blend the other two themes back into Farmboy, but I risk being overly repetitive. Thanks for the feedback doc, that's good stuff. How does the guitar sound? I'm not using really high end stuff so I was worried the live instruments don't have the quality.

Hey Calum, that's great feedback, thanks. We'll see how this one goes. When you say dobro, do you mean the mandolin? The dobro only comes in during the golden saucer and is playing the melody. the mandolin is the "choppy" instrument that is playing throughout.

Thanks Wiesty

Thanks for the praise guys! I haven't quite understood how to get mic levels, which almost always break up, to get to the levels that are pleasant to hear. The whistling needs to come out. I'm glad you all liked it so much - I was being a little conservative and I think I'm going to spice it up a bit in later versions. Looking forward to some expertise thrown my way on how to make this something that the judges will slap their thighs to...

Hey, I think this is cool man. There are a couple of times where it sounds like your kick-drum and bass hits are out of sync, though. I personally have no issues with the dramatic syncopation and timing changes. I'm a prog head, so I'm used to it.

Upgraded to mod review: Alright mods, do your worst! Even if you and the judges hate it, all I did during all parts of this was laugh my ass off, so I'm happy. http://soundcloud.com/xprtnovice/not-the-taxi-you-whistled Thanks, XPRT FARMBOY: GOLD SAUCER: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rT4xRwi5gUU There are a couple of prelude and chocobo theme licks in there too.

Thanks for the link to Sonatina, I'm loving it right now.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/drums-percussion/simmons-sd5k-electronic-drum-set?source=3WWRWXGB I paid about 1/3 the listed price

Hey all, Thanks to my tax return, and a serendipitous ebay auction, I am expecting a rather nice electronic drumset at my door within the next few days. I was wondering if anyone here uses them for remixing, and if so, if they had any pointers on how to set it up and utilize it. XPRT

Just sent you some samples of my alto sax work, Wiesty.

If you want to do something different, I'm an experienced beatboxer (vocal percussion). There's always room on a hip hop album for some good VP...

I am all over any sax part you can hand me, but I only own an alto at this moment. Big band was my first love, so this is awesome.

Still need a sax player? I only own an alto, but I'm available.

Nah, I have it set so that even a staccato hit of a sample will force it to play the full thing. Oh well. Piano roll it is. And no, Kanthos, I've messed with the channels until the cows come home with no results.

So I'm playing with the Kontakt5 and some samples I have in Cubase using the drum map. but it seems like whenever the drum map is ON, I don't get anything going through the contact even if the drum map is littered with hits. Then, as soon as I turn off the drum map and switch it back to piano roll, it goes through and I hear all the sounds loaded up in the Kontakt. What's up with that? I'm not changing anything except the way I view the MIDI track.. I feel like I'm very close to getting what I want out of this. Thanks for your help so far, guys.