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jnWake

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Posts posted by jnWake

    Mega Man X: The Sigma Fortress Remix Gauntlet 2015

    in Competitions

    Posted

    Reception to my track in the listening party was better than I expected. That makes me glad :)

     

    I wanted the drums to be "thinner" to fit the sort of old prog rock mood of my track but I clearly could've done it better. That applies to all the mixing since I did it awfully quickly haha. When I first wrote the arrangement I planned to use chiptunes instead of guitars and stuff but my total ignorance about chiptunes forced me to change instrumentation on Saturday night so I couldn't ask Brostock or Hyruu to play. In any case, if either of you are interested in recording tracks for better sounding versions I'd be glad :D

     

    The whole song is in 3/4 by the way, except for like 4 bars in the 2:30 transition that are in 4/4.

     

    I'll be posting more detailed impressions later but I really liked the tracks this week. Lots of creativity and different styles. I particularly liked the first sections of Flex's track, super cool mood. I also enjoyed the crazy metal-whatever-genre-it-was song, the choir thing by Jason (I have no idea why you were so down on it haha) and timaeus' crazy glitch song. Neat use of the C/B/A# progression there.

    Mega Man X: The Sigma Fortress Remix Gauntlet 2015

    in Competitions

    Posted

    Subbed. As always I ended up rushing the mix but oh well. At least I can say it's interesting? Could use more polish though haha.

     

    Source usage may feel a bit strange since the song is in 6/8 but I hope you guys can follow where I used the sources... Intro is a variation on the bass riff from Final Weapon btw. It's the same notes in a different rhytm.

    Mega Man X: The Sigma Fortress Remix Gauntlet 2015

    in Competitions

    Posted

    Song indeed begins in C minor. However, the organ plays C minor with major and minor 7ths in the following bars, making that chromatic progression Lee mentioned.

    Section with the main melody is still in C minor, adding minor 7th, major 6th and minor 6th in the following bars (essentially, highest note of the chord goes C, Bb, A, Ab).

    Then there's a bass riff that is in Db minor for two bars and F minor for two more bars. Song essentially repeats once before a new change.

    Final section is on Db minor and chords are Db minor, Gb major/Db and a weird one that feels like Fsus but I'm not entirely sure.

    Mega Man X: The Sigma Fortress Remix Gauntlet 2015

    in Competitions

    Posted

    Just in time for Round 3 I'll post my thoughts on Round 2 entries!

     

    Arsonist - I don't particularly like this track tbh, sorry ;_; Production-wise it's fine, the percussion is fun and the instruments are clear. I like the rhytm in the intro and the first sections with Mammoth's theme are cool. The guitar sample is crappy though. The rhytm change near 1:30 is cool but after it the song gets a bit stale. Source usage isn't particularly strong in the arrangement since it's basically Mammoth with a bit of Doppler near the middle (and the bass is pretty unfitting here imo).

     

    Tiger Millionaire - Intro is cool, very unique sounding. Production wise it could be better. The drums sound very crushed and the soundscape feels muddy, making it hard to understand what each instrument is doing (too much stuff going on in similar sections of the spectrum). Source usage is cool, especially with the variations on Neon Tiger's theme (a source that I find terrible haha). The second half starting with Doppler is pretty cool. Nice song, I feel production could be improved but it's neat.

     

    Arma Gonna Topple That Dopple v0.1 - The v0.1 in the title says a lot about the song. It's very barebones in production and arrangement. Transitions aren't very strong and I'm pretty sure there are a few off-key notes in some melodies. This is pretty unfinished and it shows, sadly.

     

    MMMDop - My favourite from the round! I like the chip sound, reminds me of Shovel Knight's soundtrack (intro makes me think of the water stage in that game). I don't have much to say about this since it's pretty good IMO. Arrangement is great with some very clever uses of both sources together and production is, for the most part, super-clean. Break near 1:30 is very cool and almost a trademark in Willrock's songs haha. Guitar playing is cool too. Change at 3:13 is very good and the arpeggios in the 3:39 solo are amazing. Very nice work!

     

    I Don't Run At All - From the get-go production seems rushed. Guitar lacks power and the drums are very low. Vocals sound nice, even with the rickrolls haha. Ending with the clean guitars is really cool. Source usage is great and fun. I like this song, with a better production it'd be one of my faves of the round.

     

    Is é mo aingeal imithe - Another of my favourites! Instruments used in this song are great. Source usage is cool and production is pretty clear. The only complaint I have with this song is that some instruments sound weirdly tuned, especially the piano and the choir-ish samples seem to have weird tuning. Also, there's a bass note in the first riff that is very dubious to me. In any case, that's a bit of nit-picking since this is cool.

     

    Red Shifting Drift - Yet another one I liked a lot! This feels like typical Gario to me, energetic song with many chip and electronic elements. Production is cool and the arrangement is fun although I felt it dragged on a bit. I felt MMMDop was an overall stronger song so this one got my second place.

     

    Thermoception - This one is interesting. The playing in the instruments is cool but also feels a bit loose as if you missed some timings or something. Arrangement is very cool with some very clever mixes of both sources. I'm not really sure what to say, it feels nice and the arrangement is good but it lacks some polish. It was definitely a contender on the strength of the source usage though.

     

    Winter Weather Advisor - Very interesting armonies here. Brass instruments are very fake-ish but the writing is amazing. I also really like the piano and e. piano writing. Drums are uh... unique I guess? I can dig them in some parts but I really dislike them in others haha. This song grew on me with a couple listens but I'd still change the drums to be easier to listen! In any case, it's pretty good and interesting.

     

    Just Give me a Minute - It's clear this was rushed. It has the potential to become something good but right now it's a bit messy. Production is muddy and the song is super short so uh, that's that. Last section (like final 10 seconds) is very good!

     

    Dark Times, Happy World - Not a very big fan of this one. While production is clear, I feel the arrangement lacks excitement or something to carry it. Right now it's just, to me, a few melodies that go after the other without much structure behind them. Sources were easy to identify but weren't used in interesting ways IMO.

     

    Beetle Dopplerganger - My song! I rushed the mixing and some of the writing but I feel it turned out decent haha. I may fix it in the future.

     

    Tropical Relaxation Method - Very nice song. Mood is unique and source usage is interesting if a bit too liberal (reason why I didn't vote for it). The part with Peacock usage was very good and I'd have liked to hear more of that (especially of the progression in 1:26). In any case, super creative arrangement and nice production!

     

    Like before, sorry if I sound harsh or nit-picky!

    Mega Man X: The Sigma Fortress Remix Gauntlet 2015

    in Competitions

    Posted

    I'll continue timaeus' reviews, but focusing on Round 1 first:

     

    Wanderforce: Production here is great. I'm not much of a dance/electronica/whatever this is called guy but I dig this. I really like how the pads sound. Regarding the arrangement, I can very easily identify the Antonion usage but Palace Ground (while identifiable) felt underused in comparison. In any case, not much feedback to offer here since this actually sounds pretty great (maybe a tad too long though? haha).

     

    Magma Flow: Soundscape feels very sparse in the intro. Probably intentional but it felt a bit boring. Well, actually, not much happens in the track in its entirety... I feel the arrangement lacks variety since the same beat with the same background and slightly different leads gets a bit tiring quick. Production-wise it sounds good if a bit unbalanced in volume terms (percussions are pretty high).

     

    Rolling: There's something about the production that feels a bit muted here, a bit hard to explain. It fits with Walrus' theme so maybe it was intentional though! Anyway, this is the first appearance of vocals this round and it's great. Harmonies sound good even if the voices seem a bit tired. I also like the integration between the two sources, very clever and nicely pulled off. Not a big fan of the glitch effects in the voices, don't feel they add anything worthwile tbh. I enjoyed the bass too, nicely played. Some notes and chord progressions in the 2:17 sectin sound a bit iffy but nothing too major. Great job overall!

     

    Smoothlike Fellow: I can barely begin writing and this is over. Sigh. The E. Piano and synths sound nice but not much happens in the track sadly.

     

    My Beerly Beloved: Nice mood in the intro. I'd have honestly changed the last chord of Blizzard Buffalo's theme and let it stay in the previous rather than following the source to perfection, feel like it would have sounded better for the mood. Voice is pretty cool here too, the effects made it sound dreamy and chilly. Source integration is pretty good here too. Great track!

     

    Electric Moves and Cephalopod Grooves: This is way more calm than what I was expecting from SuperiorX, especially with a rocking track like Volt (or Volk?!) Kraken. I don't really like the bass patch used in the song sadly, it lacks punch. Overall I feel the track is a tad too slow (and short!). Source usage is pretty good though.

     

    Toxic Seas: I like how the song gains energy near 0:47, very welcome. As pointed out before, the kick is lacking presence, which is key in this kind of music. Snare is also a bit tame. The soundscape gets a bit cluttered near the 2:00 mark with too much stuff going on. Arrangement-wise, Seahorse usage is very very straightforward and Palace Ground is barely there (is it even there? haha). I feel you could've experimented more.

     

    Firefly: Intro is sweet, a pretty smart use of Hotarunicus. Production is pretty good (and loud) although I don't like the sound of the hats, seem low quality. Some of the melodies from Palace Ground seem a bit forced here but besides that source usage is good if skewed towards Hotarunicus. This was a strong contender for my third vote, especially for how groovy it is haha.

     

    Hidden in the Palace Grounds: Intro is so weird haha, feels like playing some old PC game. I'm not sure what to offer as feedback. I'm not big on melodies being so focused on low tone instruments and the arrangement doesn't have much direction. Production is pretty clean though and it's easy to identify both sources.

     

    Bounce Too High: This track stands-out a lot this week! Nice groove at the intro. Synths and bass are damn good too. I really like this track, it's pretty fun and entertaining. I'm a sucker for slap tones. I have to wonder why you didn't ask me to play the synths though (my excuse for not asking anything was being sick btw)! Very nice one.

     

    Sigmandrill Palace: This has potential but seems super rushed. Mood is cool and the weaving of the sources is interesting, shame it's so short.

     

    Sorry if I sound mean or too nitpicky, I'm trying to be as honest and helpful as I can. I'll post Round 2 impressions later.

    Mega Man X: The Sigma Fortress Remix Gauntlet 2015

    in Competitions

    Posted

    I missed the listening party but this gem in the log got me:

    <+Gario> Ground Scaravich? Isn't he the beetle that carries poo around?

    If the stupidly weird harmonies in the song hadn't made me regret my choice enough!

     

    EDIT: Also, regarding the criticisms I read in the log, I rushed a lot of the writing so my guitar lines are very simple haha. The guitar leads are MIDI recorded so I guess that's why they don't sound that sequenced. I may re-visit this with more time later to add more variations to the guitar and stuff.

    Mega Man X: The Sigma Fortress Remix Gauntlet 2015

    in Competitions

    Posted

    Sent mine. Mixing was very rushed but it's decent I believe haha.

     

    I'm too lazy to post a source breakdown but I hope people take into account that Ground Scaravich has like no melodies when listening to my track. Most of the Scaravich usage is in the chord progressions (in fact, practically every section of the track is a Scaravich chord with a Doppler melody on top).

     

    Anyway, hope you guys like it!

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