H36T

Dude, you are awesome! I'll have to take a deeper look at some of these. Good ol' bestservice is one of the most underrated VST companies in my opinion. Heck, I tend to forget about them myself. Maybe their name is just uhh unfortunate lol. Ive recently but the bullet on my first word builder type using realivox. I don't really want to get another until I really put that through the ringer but I'll take notes of the one you gave me from bestservice. I...entirely reject using anything from EastWest honestly. I really abhore their interface and function of their software. I used to have composer cloud during my last year of masters and I canceled after four months. Fantastic deal but I couldn't stand the software. Not having Hollywood Choirs as a choir guy is a bit upsetting but I've supplemented pretty well. Still bruv, you are awesome for taking the time to help little ol' me. Thanks very very much!

Such a good...really good amount of wisdom here. I wish there were like posts we could archive to help new composers or lost ocremixers. You bring up a lot of critical points and the one that resonates the most for me—and they all resonate strongly—is the point about appreciating what you have. As a collector I like having lots of vsts to fiddle with but as a composer it can get me in trouble if I don't spend enough time getting the most out of what I have. It's why I like doing these "remaster" projects where my goal is not to add myself in but to make a midi of a game soundtrack feel new and modern. It takes away my need to be too creative and helps me focus on the ins and outs of my libraries and my DAW. Over time I've gotten to find which of my libraries are my workhorses that I really like to employ and actually slowed down my desire to get more things. I can't actually say less is more from the heart but I do believe more is less if you don't have the ability to employ them properly.

Okay so big caveat, I've spent my single adult life with no responsibilities collecting thousands of dollars worth of libraries even though I don't work in the industry...or have anything to do with it haha. So I think I should at least clarify I may not follow what I'm about to say...but it may also give you some tips on what these libraries won't do for an amateur like myself. I don't think you necessarily need to have many expensive, "realistic" sounding libraries. I do think that many great, versatile libraries do have fantastic realism to them, but I don't believe not having many of them will stop you from making good stuff. Firstly and most obviously, it will depend on your target genre of music. I don't think having spitfire symphonic strings and chamber strings along with other string libraries will help you if you make primarily electronic music. However, maybe having one of the cheaper ones like Audio Imperia's Nucleus could open up your possibilities and the like. Secondly, it will depend on your skillset. I'm more of a collector (don't judge me >_<) so i don't mind excess but it doesn't help me make better music. It helps with realism I guess...well, not I guess. It does, but it's possibilities are often limited by my own skills. Those have expanded as I've grown more comfortable and more experienced but it's been a tough road learning how finicky these things can be! Another...weird consequence is excess can leave you wanting more and doing less with what you already have. There are very good libraries I rarely use anymore. I like having them because I'm weird but I also realize that sometimes I actually forget I can use them. This is not a good road to go down I think but if you are aware it's okay. Anyway, lastly I think you really have to watch out for what is realistic in terms of performance of the libraries and what may be... overstated or hype. I don't like to call out any libraries but there are many people who are disappointed with 8dios Majestica for example. I actually find use in the fact that it lacks realism sometimes and can give me an aggressive synthetic sound. Same thing with Spitfire's ultra smooth sounding strings at times. You just gotta get more experience to really tell what is a bit of hype and how libraries act outside of a demo video. Also how they act in the hands of, again, an amateur like myself! I hope this helps some. I can give recommendations on what I use and daily drive, as well as things I use rarely, and stuff I don't use at all but I own...for better or worse. For me it's all gravy because I got so many cool things to fiddle around with. But I think it's worth looking at what you actually utilize etc.

HoboKa go go go! Do your best and make some lovely music happen with whatever tools you desire. Looking forward to your submission!

Banger is a genre now? What does it encompass?

nuuu nevermind i messed something up really bad and have to start all over. No late entry but I'm definitely working on this on my own time haha.

Sweet because I just saw this and im gonna load it up and see if I can do anything. This jawn sounds wild good. Probably won't be much in terms of originality though.

Sent my msg to VideoGamer. Good luck in the next round everyone! I hope we can have as many as this time~

*potential spoiler warning* Sometimes just talking about a soundtrack gives spoilers and in this case, there are many moments that change from the original, so just knowing certain themes exist could spoil any potential surprises. Just a friendly warning! I just beat the FFVII remake and am going to do the DLC soon but after the doozy that was the remake, I have to say...they managed to pull off not only their vision for the story but the soundtrack as well. That being said, what do you think they got the most right? What did they get wrong, if anything? It was certainly a tough ask and I'm glad they had Masashi Hamauzu to help out along with a few others. I'd say the ones they got the most right are the following Jenova Quickening, Flower's Blooming in the Church, Aerith's Theme - Home Again, all the Wall Market themes, and all the various boss fight themes. The Jenova Quickening is I think now my definitive version. Wow they went all in. Many people love One Winged Angel Rebirth and I think they did it justice but it shares a heavy amount of its DNA with the original orchestral version by Shiro Hamaguchi and supplement it with a beautiful suite of twists and turns that often resemble FFXV's final boss theme. I feel like they are saving themselves for whenever the last game is. Aerith's theme and the Flower's Blooming....whoa *chef's kiss*. They never give you the full painful beauty of Hamaguchi's orchestral arrangement but maybe they are saving that too. Wooboy though, they tug at the heart a lot with this one. It's almost never sure of itself and doesn't let you get resolution either. That is a beautiful way to introduce a complicated character for the story to handle. Lastly, I think Wall Market they really set the tone. Every little theme, the evolving versions of them as you move around. The honeybee inn stuff too! Even the jukebox version is lit. I wasn't expecting them to do so well with it because the original theme is alright but not so important. Instead, they relegate the original to the goofballs you meet along the way there haha. Now that's amazing sound direction. As far as the themes that I think they missed the mark on....unfortunately I think the main theme of Final Fantasy never really gets the chance to shine. It is used more as a motif than anything. That's great in my opinion and its often effective. Hell, its always effective. Unfortunately they give us a full version and it doesn't really do it for me. Like its okay but they may as well have given me Hamaguchi's instead. However, like One Winged Angel, they may be saving it for part two because that's where the original really comes from anyway. Another miss for me was the chocobo themes. They are rarely used and seen. If you have an SSD I think the load times kill any chance to listen to them when you hop on a big birdy. The birds themselves were super cute though haha. Hopefully we get more in part two. Phew, that was a lot. Would love to hear your guys thoughts!

Thank you so much for the comments, critique, and help as well as the thanks. This round was so fun because we had so many people giving it their all! I hope we can have more people like this again. Im gonna nominate a sauce soon.

Maybe I need to go back to my computer for this but I think everything sounds ultra quantized. I'm one to talk because it happens to me too but I think it pops out a lot here. The guitar as well seemed to be a very stock-ish vst. This will make realism pretty difficult but I think you can take that sound and try to make it work for what it can do. That tends to be very old school vgm synthy kinda vibes. I think this track seems to be stuck between a few different worlds. The concept though is a nice start. Would like to hear more when you expand. Thanks for the listen!

Hihi kind as always. Thanks!

Haha you flatter me. Thanks!

These are both using Heavyocity patches actually. Heavyocity Vocalize and Scoring Guitars. I use them so often because the phrases work well if you are willing to work with them, take the time to find ones that work, and tweak em a bit

I actually struggle to use Insolidus but it has some good things in it. I think it's because when I was first starting I wanted to make all sorts of music and currently the music im making right now needs more full legato lines that sort of need to be forward. Like Olympus elements is my go to because the "hmm" patch is so full and lush. Still, your thoughts inspire me to make something using insolidus

Thank you so much!

Just a quick note, if you are in the latest MnP round, please save your comments for there. This is my first foray into this kinda music but I really wanted to try it. Actually I have a lot of ideas/thoughts that I want to use with music like this but I usually don't have the time or motivation to bang it out. The YT video has a description for how the piece came to me conceptually but in short, the title "Spin" comes from circular thought that I tend to fall victim to. Another thing to note is the piece actually uses the base of a concept song I had awhile back. However, as we grow as people and life takes us places, so did the concept of that song and now it's fully fleshed out here. Lastly, my midi keyboard is acting up a bit currently so some of the piano is super quantized. Still, I really like how it came out and would love any critique you guys have!

Aww, what a beautiful little piece. I feel like I can dance like a Disney princess in the woods! 8dio surprises me with those winds. I still feel betrayed by Majestica though so it'll be awhile before I buy something from them LOL. Anyway, I enjoyed it. Like Wassup Thunder said, its very organic and has a lovely sound. Feel like I went from one place to another....well, I guess I danced from one place to another! If I had any critique I'd say maybe a bit...too organic? Like it would be great for a soundtrack, or background music in a scene but maybe not so much for pure listening. But hey, not every song has to be! I could definitely see this being used in a VN or RPG. Great job

Got my first entry in. Original song! edit: its on my YT channel as well and I'm gonna post it in the original song sub forum for feedback. If you see it there, please don't comment haha.

Haha, never! I hope you get in so I can hear it.

I'll be joining in! One will be a MnP mix like usual. One will be a pure midi mock up—no changes. When I say no changes I mean no changes. No adding anything to help the sound. Just take what you got and try and make it sound as good as possible! Need to find a really nice midi but I have a few ideas. I don't think I'll have a third entry but if I do it'll be an original song. Hope I can get two in! Maybe three if I'm lucky haha

Like you I don't remember the place much story wise but apparently its some underwater path of some sort? Once I heard about the origin I knew I would definitely have to explain that I took it a different direction than was probably intended originally lol

Hello again, long time no see! Been working on things here and there but recently I got an FFVI track done that was short and sweet. For some reason the YT conversion made it a bit louder than I would have liked but YMMV. Still, it was fun to work on a track and not go for the atmospheric style I normally go for. Couldn't resist using vocals though ^_^. If you have any thoughts or critiques, its all welcome! I mostly liked the braaams from the brass and the male choir I think.

I'm not at my PC right now so I can't say for sure, but 8dio has a few free VST packs that contain a plethora of interesting sounds. I'm pretty sure some of them are more machine like as you put it. Other than that, Damage 2 certaintly has plenty of industrial type sounds to choose from

*sniff sniff* There is something.... Funky in the air. This song just got the stank! The best kinda stank there is. Man you really worked that melody on the piano. I was bobbing my head and moving my body. Really enjoyed the feel of this. The only critique is I wish it was just a little less artifical sounding with some more acoustic type of instruments (even if they were VSTs). However that may have done more bad than good if it was done lazily or just tacked on. I like things as they are. Real good effort and a nice smooth vibe. Thanks for the track and congrats!