lazerblade

I finished this EP up a little while ago, but I just realized that I haven't shared it here yet. http://lazerbladegames.blogspot.com/p/cyber.html This was a journey of discovery in a way for me, as I kind of found my style in a way I hadn't before. I think track 4, Epic Alien Space Adventure, is the best thing EvAR! But don't go easy on it. If you guys have tips/criticism for anything in this EP, lay it on.

It seems that whenever I do the serious mixing/mastering tweaks of a track, the snare gets buried somehow. It's an interesting quirk that is fixed now. A number of other volume and automation tweaks and fixes complete this next version: https://dl.dropbox.com/s/ttkstlc0s0w0ie1/World%20Of%20Potential%20-%20wip26.mp3 Also, on my Youtube, my viewers have started giving the advice on my various hopeful OCRemix WIP's that they need more cowbell. I think that is a pretty solid expression of what working on these feels like. I do really think that the focus on detail has been a great learning experience for me, as well as helping push my tracks past the "cool" line over into the "awesome" territory though.

Spoilers for Deus Ex: Human Revolution: Take the poorly justified and tonally and thematically incompatible with the rest of the game boss fights, zombie apocalypse, and ending cutscene selector out of Deus Ex: Human Revolution.

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/7fqv6vpsdd4g7aa/World%20Of%20Potential%20-%20wip25.mp3 Automating that took a bit of thought and tweaking, but I like the way it subtly makes the instrument seem more organic. I wasn't sure how extreme to make it, so I just made it so that it was hard to pick out but would be noticed if removed. Right now the most difficult parts are always starting recording when the LFO is in the right place and then performing the filtersweeps properly. I'm pretty satisfied with it at this point, so I'm upping the status to finished. Anything that needs a little more polish, or any problems with the mix? On the lead, should I have a stronger sync envelope with slower LFO speeds, or is it good?

My day is now made. Granted, a lot of them were small incremental improvements. I loved the idea of automating the sync LFO speed and got some pretty nifty sounds out of it as well as doing a bunch of other things for this version: https://dl.dropbox.com/s/b7onteuz7aed638/World%20Of%20Potential%20-%20wip24.mp3 Of note is that I've added some subtle harmony variation in the three voices that make up the looped arp at 1:50, but I'm a little stumped for other ideas that fit the mix and arrangement to mix that part up. EDIT: blammit. I accidentally put the old link here. I have now replaced it with the new one.

Combo bump and fixing some things that somehow ended up broken about version 22. Everything in previous post is still correct. https://dl.dropbox.com/s/7fpxb1syelsaifl/World%20Of%20Potential%20-%20wip23.mp3

So I finally got the organ to sit properly in the mix... then I realized that it really did not fit in with the rest of the sound design at all, which I had been in denial of. It took me awhile to settle on putting together a pseudo-house pizzicato string with extra unison detuning and automated filter cutoff for the replacement. I've also done a lot of work on the articulation for a couple of of the leads as well, and a bit of similar work on the other lead. https://dl.dropbox.com/s/zs218j8cqs2nc9u/World%20Of%20Potential%20-%20wip22.mp3 ATM I can only see a couple of things that I'm not sure about, which I left because... well I'm not sure. Is the pizzicato too quite in the outro, and did I overdo it with the variation on the sync lead?

Ah yes, I couldn't put my finger on any of those problems myself. Here they are fixed, and I've made a very small tweak to the arrangement. I'm not sure this performance is perfect on the acid filter controls, but it's not the final recording and I think it works anyway. https://dl.dropbox.com/s/hhiawb7mwdc8s03/World%20Of%20Potential%20-%20wip21.mp3 I'm starting to feel pretty satisfied with the sound, but how is the arrangement? Do the melodies and structure take what is recognizably the original and do something interesting with it?

Actually, the only sound in there that was that dry was the resopad, but I've fixed that now. Perhaps all of the delay, reverb, and EQ were hard to hear because they were playing with other instruments or I had too much compression. I get what you're saying about following a song structure over a progressive structure, but I'm shooting for something between and am moderately satisfied with the area the current structure has landed in. That doesn't mean there isn't room for change. I admit that I'm new to anything other than straight up progressive like Trance and Acid though. Anyway, here is a new update. https://dl.dropbox.com/s/0s9d3oqd1hn0a2m/World%20Of%20Potential%20-%20wip20.mp3 There are articulation, EQ, FX, PAD, and slight composition improvements.

I'm not dead! Here is another update! I used synth sounds instead of orchestral for everything! I'm using exclamation points satirically! I used a sync lead in place of the old strings, although I think it might need more organic variations before I'm 100% satisfied with it. I also funked up the drum beats in some places and... stuff. https://dl.dropbox.com/s/t3anwvrgn3wjthz/World%20Of%20Potential%20-%20wip19.mp3

Here is another update. Most of the work in this one went into improving structural and instrumental dynamism and uniqueness. I have not put much into making the melodies played seem more organic. I don't doubt that more work needs done, but I'm liking the direction this is taking. https://dl.dropbox.com/s/90tuj5xe7i67unw/World%20Of%20Potential%20-%20wip18.mp3

Exactly. I agree that practice is what I need as well. ATM I'm having a blast just going crazy tearing the structure of this remix up and seeing what I can do with it. I'm also playing with organic variations(like vibrato, velocity, and all that stuff) and different kinds of transitions. I'm trying to keep it fresh and original by changing things up like you said, but have it still be recognizable and coherent.

Eh... I've got 2+ years of EDM production in my XP bag, and most of it was very progressive. I'm talking about my general style in terms of repeating pattern layer based tracks vs organic song style tracks, not the style of this particular track. It's a very different way of thinking about and perceiving a musical work for me, and I don't quite understand the style I want for this track on the level that I do others. I have to admit that I'm itching to pick up some more pro orchestral sounds. I like the orchestral + electronic style that shows up in a lot of cyberpunk movies and games. Unfortunately, I had to spend six months saving just to pick up my Oxygen 61, so I might just do more synth hacking to create some highly stylized but very organic instruments for now.

You don't have to apologize. I knew what I was getting myself into: a chance to get some serious critique and learn what needed improved. I needed somebody to just lay into this and give me a ton of data as you did. I think I need to find the style for this track. A big part of the problem is that my habitual style is very progressive, but I want this track to be a lot more organic. That is something that I'm going to have to work for since it deviates from my usual conventions.

Then mod review it is. Here I've added an extra note on the end using the root chord, thus resolving on the root of the key. I'm not 100% confident on that note, but it's solid enough IMO. Linky: https://dl.dropbox.com/s/aqam0px9eb3oo5n/World%20Of%20Potential%20-%20wip16.mp3

With this version I'm upping the status to finished. The main thing I'm unsure about is the ending, which does seem a bit plain now that it was mentioned. I kind of like the fact that it trails off and ends with the arp though. Updates to this one are really subtle. I automated up the volume of the organ for the parts it is playing without another lead, as I use it to fill in the sound when they're playing. I also tweaked the end a bit and lengthened some of the notes in the string section to give it a more varied or human sound. https://dl.dropbox.com/s/2lmwxdbhzmdbd6k/World%20Of%20Potential%20-%20wip15.mp3 I don't want to wimp out right at the end or settle for the mediocre, but my creative juices are only dripping at this point. Does it need something else I should wait on inspiration for, or does it just need fixes to bring it up to par?

Okay, this version has improved EQ. The cello was indeed too strong in the low/mid freqs, so that and other things are fixed. I've also fixed the dysfunctional sustained note before the jam. I was originally trying to pitch-bend it, but eventually went for just a volume automation fade instead. Yes, this has a small audio glitch in it, but since it's a WIP and I'm tired of retaking I'll leave it for now. https://dl.dropbox.com/s/q9o5t5qii11z0sz/World%20Of%20Potential%20-%20wip14.mp3 If it still needs humanization, I could use tips or places to get tips for that. I can add vibrato, timing, staccato vs legato, pitch bend, the occasional volume automation, etc, but that's about it as far as stuff I've done before. Do I need more of these, something new, or is it organic enough already?

I replaced the snare with hats and then started it with a hipass filtersweep to bring it in and help emphasize the buildup to the full beat intro. I'm using a soft knee compressor on the snares, but a hard knee limiter on the master. Since the snare is a layer of three samples, each of them is on a different track with a different volume. The loudest is at 100% volume though, and they are all piped through the same FX rack. I've boosted the volume of the snares(maybe too much) via their FX rack and added my favorite reverse clap fill sample in several places, as well as doing a bit more subtle volume automation on the cello to make sure it's the right amount subconsciously notable at the right times. It's at the point where it sounds really sweet to me, except that the snare seems a bit loud. That might just be my not wanting to give up my original idea of a really soft snare influencing my ears, but knowing what more experienced ears say is the point of feedback. https://dl.dropbox.com/s/ja59n4hy8182ext/World%20Of%20Potential%20-%20wip13.mp3

Oops. I screwed up the automation on the lead volume. This version = more work on kicks/snares and better mixing/mastering. I'm debating as to whether I should use a clipper or not. Is it an accepted standard, or can I get by without it? I like to keep mastering to a minimum. (deprecated link removed) At this point I'm getting worried(probably unneccessarily) that this interpretation is too similar to the original. Sure I'm still probably going to add more fill FX and variations, but I'm not sure it's different enough at the core.

To clarify, is it the cello or the other strings that sound fake? IMO they both did. Anyway, here is a new update in which, among other things, I went through parts of my sample collection that I'd been telling myself I should dig into and put together a more elaborated kick and snare and did some fun envelope/volume automation stuff with the cello. Now in the mix I'm at that point where you're teasing the edge of awesome ambient power vs horrible mud. (deprecated link removed)

Time for another update. There are enough changes that I won't bother listing them. While the arrangement still needs a bit of work, the issue that really stuck out to me in this version was the kick, so know that I'm going to be fixing that. There are a few subtle audio glitches(first time ever my machine has had CPU almost maxed out working audio) but its not anything serious or anything that would make it into the final submission. (deprecated link removed)

Aw shux, the idea that I'm giving even slightly reminiscent feelings of Zircon makes me feel all fuzzy inside. The interesting mistake I mentioned was that arp/string/bassline combo. It's funny that Shadows is in my favorites playlist but I still came up with those sounds by choosing some wrong presets by accident while working on the arrangement. Maybe I decided to keep them because they reminded me of Shadows. And, at the risk of getting off topic: is my Zircon influence really that dominant compared to my others, or are you just as obsessed with Zircon as I am?

I just now realized the problem with the strings. They actually weren't meant to be realistic strings except in the intro, but they aren't stylized or realistic enough to work. The mud is probably coming from the synth guitar I added, which really doesn't fit or improve the sound. That is just something else that shows this track is missing something, and I need to find what it is. In order to get this off the ground, I think that is the key. It will increase the length, fill in the sound, help clarify the interpretation, and hook the listener. I haven't really gotten to work on improving the drums and transitions yet. I think I'm going to need to change a lot in the next few WIP's before I update again, but I'm really liking the direction this is taking.

Yea, I still had a lot of EQing to do. A lot of that(and other mixing) is done in this new version though: (deprecated link removed) I ended up opting for just adding more pitch bend to the first lead, since I didn't feel that vibrato really suited it. Plus, I wanted the vibrato on the big lead to really stick out. I also changed the 303 arp to a faster more standard one and added another subtle instrument to the part at about 1:12. Tweaking the vibrato on the big lead was a cinch. I usually do my vibrato by routing an LFO controller from my DAW to the pitch bend controller on the synth and then automating the power of its effect. This lets me draw whatever kinds of curves I need without worrying about envelopes or anything. Working title announcement of remix get! It will be "World Of Potential."

Original: Latest version: https://dl.dropbox.com/s/29yf0zww955pyoz/World%20Of%20Potential.mp3 Original post: I normally wait until a track has a lot more polish and development on it before sharing it, but this one has me really excited for whatever reason. Thus, I'm posting a really raw unmastered mix whose interpretation is not 100% realized yet. To this day this track remains one of my favorite videogame tracks of all time by a composer that was a huge influence to me. So yea, I have a lot to measure up to in this remix. I had a few ideas, and then had a few really interesting sounding accidents that helped get the idea for this interpretation going. This is an unusual style for me, but that is part of what makes it spontaneous and creative I think. BTW, Is it usual/preferred to wait until a remix is pretty close to done before starting a thread, or are long, in-depth WIP threads cool too?