jnWake

Is it that bad to run VST/Kontakt samples from an external hard drive? I don't have space for everything that comes with Komplete

Nice! This reminds of Journey/Dream Theater, stuff like that. The toms feel a bit too weak and the kick is a bit too clicky (that's a bit unfitting with this softer rock imo). Try to see if you can make both of them more powerful! You don't have that much stuff in the low end so it shouldn't be that hard. The rest is pretty cool, nice guitar playing and the synth is very fitting. Source usage seems fine but I'm not that familiar with all the sources you used. EDIT: Woops, meant kick, not snare.

I'm not sure what industrial dance is but this doesn't feel industrial at all to me Drums are too clean. Despite that, this is a fun mix, even if a bit conservative. I think it has potential.

Well, now I'm glad I had to cancel my previous order due to credit card issues

"Yes, that is a legitimate email from us. We require that info anytime there is an issue with a payment. This is done to protect our customers and ourselves, to help verify the person placing the order is indeed the card holder." Doesn't reveal much but at least it's official.

They responded clarifying that they indeed sent me the mail. I guess I'll just send them an ID... I guess there's not much danger with that if it's officially from them. Thanks for the answers.

I find it wierd too so I sent an e-mail to their support... I think they may be asking for an ID because I changed some of my account settings (address and other stuff) for this order.

Hi, Yesterday, I ordered Komplete 8 through the Native Instruments (payed using a credit card). However, I got a mail from them today asking me to provide a scan of my ID to validate the buy... I'm not that familiar with internet stores so I don't know if this is a common practice. Should I just send my ID? I'd call them but since I'm not from the US it'd be very expensive Thanks!

I did contact a judge, my post is more about how the mail works with responses than the problem I had with the submission. Liontamer told me he'd look into that.

I have a question about the submissions e-mail. If I want to change the download link to a submission, should I just send a response to my original mail? I ask because I did that for a submission I sent on August 3rd last year ('A Waltz for a Kingdom' from Final Fantasy VI) but then the submission "disappeared" since I didn't get a rejection e-mail and it never appeared on the judges thread. Also, I recently sent a submission mail and immediately replied with the download link (because I didn't put in the original mail ), so I just want to be sure that the submissions are correctly received.

Very nice! The arrangement is fun and the mix sounds very clean, every instrument is easy to hear clearly. The synths are very cool! I'm too lazy to check the sources but I recognized some sources from Yoshi's Island so I guess it's fine. My only gripe is with one noise/glitch effect (used at 2:05-2:06 for example) that sounds a bit too loud and slightly unfitting.

Very nice! This remix keeps the feeling of the original in a very interesting way. Some background instruments remind me of Starcraft's Zerg music I didn't really like that the track has a sudden bump in volume when the drums come in. The first section could work being just as loud as the rest of the song. The synth lead at 2:03 is too quiet which is a shame since it seems interesting. Nice work

This is pretty cool since for some reason I could never register on The Shizz...

The click sound is very noticeable on Symphony X's kick drums (listen to for one of their latest songs, the sections with fast kick drums show the click).One very important element, besides from the kick, is having a noticeable snare, especially if you want the DT sound. Snappleman gave some nice tips there, the 200-250hz region makes your snare sound powerful and the higher region gives some presence (I'm no expert but that's what I've found out in the few mixes I've done and in some websites!)

I like it in that song, it makes me remember Symphony X's tone on Paradise Lost. Also gives me a Killer Instinct feeling

Not sure how to achieve it but you could try to get a Toto-esque tone. Sort of like this song but maybe heavier: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MmX5f3wzo8 .

Wow, this is amazing. I love how this is all over the place, the harmonies and effects picked make this sound so cool. I can't really offer any criticism

I think the guitar feels a bit off because the rest of the samples sound a bit mechanical (bass especially, the synths and pads are fine) and are a lot quieter than the guitar (drums should be a lot louder and could use more variation!). I may be off here, but do the other instruments use reverb? That may be causing the guitar feel a bit appart from the rest. Ignoring the above comment, I'm not that fond off the guitar tone you're using. I think I don't really like the distortion you picked. I like that it's light, but it has a flanger or something that doesn't sound that good.

I'm not sure if my headphones are to blame, but isn't this mixed a bit loud? Anyway, the arrangement is pretty, feels slightly conservative because it evokes the exact same mood than the original, but I guess that's what you wanted! I can't add anything that Gario didn't point out about the production, so... Nice work!

You always pick cool sources! This one has a lot of solo stuff that makes remixing a bit harder though, but the progressions are so cool. Your WIP is slightly short so it's hard to say if the track has future, but it seems pretty nice to me. Doesn't feel medley-ish at all. You keep the feeling of the source pretty much intact while adding some cool guitar licks and stuff. Despite how short it is right now, I think you can make a nice song out of it. You could add some jazzy solos and maybe a calmer chill-piano section, stuff like that. It has potential!

Woops, sorry for that! Included WAV and MP3 in the OP for anybody interested in having a WAV! I see what you mean. It has to do with a boost I made when mastering, but I fixed it now! You're right, I analyzed various metal tracks from different bands and noticed drums are usually much more present in the mix than what I had. Guess I knew that but I didn't see it as a problem until you pointed it out. I upped the volumes of the higher frequencies quite a bit and gave the snare a different EQ, I think it sounds a lot better now. Glad you liked the rest! I like the strings in the end but they may go on for a bit too long... I uploaded a new version to Dropbox (both MP3 and WAV, even though the WAV may take a while to upload), so check it out!

I think what strikes me a bit from the intro is that on the first section (until 0:13) you explored some interesting harmonies and then, when the main melody kicks in, all the interesting harmonies kind of a disappear for a while. I really like the slow paced parts of the mix, they sound very chill. Very nice!

I use Reaper and mix with headphones. Guess I'm really doing it wrong

Your comments are pretty much the issues I had with the mix, so that's cool! I uploaded a new version where I mainly tried to pump the kick and snare more. I also raised the "lower end" of the guitar and lowered it's mid. Raised the guitar volume and took a little off the bass too. Glady you liked the rest of it.

I think Soundcloud derped... I can't even access my Stream. EDIT: Fixed the link. Also, Dropbox link since Soundcloud is kind of slow: https://www.dropbox.com/s/c0p41c182j6itpa/jnWake%20-%20Into%20the%20Sandstorm.wav .