Unknown Pseudoartist   Members

Nah, no worries, seriously! Organizing an album project with many people involved is not as easy as it might look like from the outside, and even less so when real life stuff gets in the way. It's very likely to miss things and commit extremely minor but somewhat embarrassing mistakes and more stuff like that. That happens to me ALL the time with my own stuff too haha, and I'm always doing stuff with lots of people involved. The thing with the right subforum to post the thread is not a big deal either. If I were you I might hesitate about bothering people in General, because maybe doubting about how appropiate or how important or worth it is, as I also tend to have this kind of thoughts. "Post your remixes" sounds more fitting if weren't because that's more like "Post OUR remixes" with so many other people involved. So totally understandable And regardless of all that, you did an excellent work organizing, seeking for people interested and especially on the mastering for all tracks. I wasn't confident with my own mixing but the way it sounds now in the album version I can quite notice the improvement, and how you tamed the annoying fluctuation of frequencies and other issues that are pretty common in my own mixes, and all sounds quite smooth in comparision. Can't wait for next year to craft more spooky stuff for this if you plan to do this as a yearly thing!

Hey! Kinda weird to post a comment on my own track, but there's just a couple things I wanted to respond to from what was said by the judges. First, @Chimpazilla the fact that you assumed this was @jnWake's own arrangement was like... one of the biggest compliments I got in a long while 🥰 You are right on how the original source totally fits his style, tho, and that's why I called him for keys. Also to @Hemophiliac, you are right on that more stuff could be added after the outro and voice clips. I can totally imagine more action coming, with the initial riff along with some drum hits caving the path for a somewhat funky section and then having a solos duet between guitars and keys. I note that for a potential future versions if everyone else involved agrees (maybe just toying on my own DAW with the additional stuff and then @minusworld adding the extra parts on his own mix project). And in general, thanks all 3 judges for the nice comments! I was quite discouraged after the first rejected track because that one was too much personal in many ways, so I'll consider submitting more tracks like this that, while proud of them, aren't that important in a personal/emotional level. In fact I was already toying with the idea of submitting the track 5 from the same Phantasia tribute album, which has a very similar lineup.

Oh, and just a note, since it was not included in neither the website or the txt inside the zip download, worth adding the credits list for my own track, because the way it's shown right now it might look like it's a solo track, and unfortunately I could never archive that level alone 😅 DeLuxDolemite - orchestral percusions (timpani, bells, taiko drums and cymbals) donut - clarinet jnWake - lead synths (organs, harpsichord, music box) minusworld - bass robshoppe - rhythm guitars Serrin's Toes - metal drums tibonev - lead guitars Unknown Pseudoartist - arrangement, programming, SFX, mix, etc I'm still planning to finnish a music video for it in my usual weird style but it'll take at least a few more days.

Oops! Haha, I commented in the other thread before noticing this one. So funny and also kinda ironic considering the plan to post it in General was to give it more visibility, yet I noticed the one in Recruiting first :D Anyways, glad to be part of this spooky cool thing! I finally managed to listen to all tracks and just saying everyone did an awesowe work! Special mention to the Golden Sun one, maybe a bit biased because how much I love that game, but still have nothing but sweet words about how great and original the reinterpretation is, since the source is that extremely different (more into the spiritual or mysterious vibes rather than dark or spooky, yet fitting so well as a soundtrack for a horror movie or whatever!

I agree that this subforum might be not the most appropiate if we want more people to notice the album release. After all, this is more like the place to find people interested to make something new, rather than showing the world the cool stuff that was just already done. As a former lurker in the scene (and including these forums) I might not even check here at all. But yeah, I understand the hesitance, and even more so in times when forums in general aren't as active as used to, unfortunately. So, if anything, my complain is that... why not adding the spooky front cover artwork to the first post too, instead of just the spooky Santa or whatever that creature is? :P

I didn't touch any Windows system since 2008-2009, when my transition to GNU/Linux and free software programs began. The times when Ubuntu was still good, basically. Of course my situation is kinda different, since I was not interested in music production back then (I barely started on this around 2020-2021, or arguably late 2022 - mid 2023 if you count only the serious attempts). So I hadn't any problem with any of the creative subjects or programs I was active in at the moment, as I had a proper replacement working for pretty much all programs I was used to before the transition, even if some of these weren't the most convenient. And regarding user interfaces and customizability and all that I couldn't be happier. Used to hard-closed and walled gardens all felt so fresh and so much like "my own system" in comparision... With music making, however, I was already hearing/reading comments online about how the situation on GNU/Linux and free software was still pretty rough and many steps away from other systems. So when I got into this (by totally accidental ways) in 2020 I expected the worst, but to my surprise all was a lot easier than expected. Surely a lot of stuff improved and lots of new programs, plugins, etc making life easier in comparision to 1 decade earlier. And nowadays I know of a few examples of musician doing great stuff using exclusively free software and on GNU/Linux systems. The guitarist Daniel Bautista is a good example, if anyone knows him or is curious to check. Although totally experimental and bizarre stuff I wouldn't recomend to everyone, the avant-garde band Sebkha-Chott is another curious example that also relies purely on free software for their live shows and other related stuff. So definitively things can be done, and not even needing the privative DAWs everyone is used to. And still with Reaper having its own native version and Wine working pretty well to open Windows programs, Jack as low latency sound server, etc... probably easy to do stuff without even needing to migrate regarding your favorite DAW. It's weird, as a person who was long fleeing away from the many problems of Microsoft and other "big tech" companies, to see so many people joining such campaigns precisely now, but kinda optimistic about that. Hopefully will see similar steps happening regarding the situation with Youtube and the move to free and federated alternatives instead (already started prioritizing on Peertube myself).

So, I didn't start anything on my arrangement, and honestly I'm not that motivated by the source and idea at all. However, some time ago I had a weird dream that was pretty inspiring for a totally different source and style that also happens to be VERY fitting with the usual christmas vibe. It's the generic city theme from Illusion of Gaia, usually known as "Live City" and mostly linked to South Cape, the main protagonists' hometown. In genre terms the idea is to be some classic 70s rock in the style of Deep Purple, with heavy use of hammond organs and simple guitar riffs, but also some bells and more stuff. Including an ambiance intro with church bells, street noises and kids playing around (planning to record most of that myself during one of my walks out). A lot simpler and softer than my usual stuff, but still a vibe I'd love to try. Basically pretending to give that kind of nostalgic vibe commonly associated with our childhood playing with fellow kids and family members in the city during christmas times, this time without any grumpy stuff :)

So, if I understood it right, this is a parody VGM album without any specific theme, right? Or should it all be about fishes? Either way, I'm strongly considering to use the parody aspect to try something with birbs again (for those unfamiliar, a silly vocal style emulating the sound of a chocobo humming melodies and screams and stuff). It's a long time since I did that, and I avoid doing because the prejudgements. But I see that fitting pretty well with what I understand about the concept of this album. So maybe... 👀

Hey! I released this thing this Friday and just though of posting here, in case anyone were interested and brave enough to listen. It's hard to define in musical terms and labels, but I'd say it's mostly metal but also many other things. This time perhaps moving closer to folk and cinematic elements, and musically softer and more emotional than in previous 2 original releases, while still some moments of aggressiveness. Oftentimes moving under a pretty dark atmosphere and using some ambiance stuff (using my own recordings of [real] birds, rain, etc). Lots of melodies, maybe sometimes somehow catchy, but also plenty of riffs and more stuff. Lots of stuff happening all the time, so not a single second of boredom or repetitiveness. I'm personally happy with the balance I got this time, since it's kinda experimental and chaotic but also pretty melodic and accessible enough, not moving too much into any of both extremes. Most of these tracks were originally done for quick compos in ThaSauce (OHC and 2HTS specifically), which I know many people from there is active here too, but with all the later improvements, extended arrangements, etc which took a lot of time to get to the current point. I also experimented a bit with the visual artworks for a style that is both silly and scary, using photos of my dear kitty Kira in some abandoned buildings I seen during my walks in the far outdoors. Also somewhat combining elements of genres like metal or goth along with hip hop (because the graffiti style text and logos in combination with the many ones that were already in the background pics) despite the lack of hip hop elements in the music. The idea and concept, for both music and art, is closer to that of the depths of the underground scenes in a 2000s internet full of passionate folks than that of today more superficial scene with more experienced and technical artists that aren't that much for fun anymore. It's that kind of spirit and special charm that, even before I ever dared to try anything of my own, just got me hooked up back in the times as a curious teen exploring this old good cyber-world. An internet that had plenty of shit in more social and ethical terms and which was far away from ideal, but definitively a lot of cool and special stuff that unfortunately got lost in favor of the more superficial stuff and the hegemony and dominance of big corporations and algorithms. And yeah, it's all fake (MIDI) instruments but REAL feelings! Just try and listen without fear :) But enough talk; have at you! You can listen and download all the tracks in Bandcamp (a few bonus/extra tracks included if you download. It's free!): https://unknownpseudoartist.bandcamp.com/album/a-third-placeholder Also linking to the album's page in my own website, since it's getting closer to finished and properly manageable, and it has more organized info and stuff about each individual track there: https://unknownpseudoartist.com/discography/placeholder3/ I hope someone likes :)

Hey! Honestly I didn't read 100% of what you wrote yet, but I seen you posting similar walls of text regarding concerns on music production, and the kind of crussade you are going is interesting, to say the least. People may agree or disagree with your thoughs, and may like or dislike your own mixes and stuff. But at least you are questioning these things and going your own way with them, rather than simply pretending to fit the current trends on whatever works or sells best, and that's an attitude I personally applaude. My own concern with the so-called loudness war as a musician now is more about a simple fact: to make mixes that sounds good and clear can be hard enough, but to make it to sound good and clear AND also loud as heck... definitively not a comfy thing. I'm not fond of mixes that are too much dynamic either, since it can be annoying (as a listener) to listen to music that can be totally quiet at a moment and extremely loud at another moment. It's just not a pleasant experience when you have to keep fingers at the volume buttons to adjust it. But everything sounding hella overcompressed and loud can be a headache for real, and so I totally understand and even relate to the special charm on older productions, even though oftentimes that might be a bit too raw. Funnily enough I see the exact opposite trends on other media forms, like movies, series, animes, etc. When people is talking you have to rise volume because you can't hear the words right, but when action happens your ears are screwed and have to decrease it. It's like they assume everyone watches stuff in a home cinema, but that's a pain when you just use an ordinary computer in a small bedroom with regular 2.1 speakers and living with more humans at home in near rooms.

If no problem with that, I'd be glad to join this album too, for the first time. After all, there's no strict quality controls or anyone being nitpicky with mixing on this one, right? :D You say any source is okay, even if not VGM, but just asking: are original compositions allowed, too? Because it sounds more tempting to try something original but influenced by good weather (aka cold and snow haha). If this is only about arrangements/remixes of other things, the source I'm thinking of is "Ary" from Tales of Phantasia. The original is slow and chill as heck, but I'd love to try something a lot faster and upbeat, in the style of the so-called "doujin" artists from the 2000s like I-Chu, Akineko, U-Gen, etc. I can totally see the vibe fitting this style and still fitting the theme, kinda sounding like some weirdo is having fun running with a skate all around the streets of an empty city because everyone is busy at their homes with family and stuff, just a funny concept I'm toying with mentally :D

Well, good news regarding my track: I already managed to assemble an awesome team of performers to join! 2 guitarists (for rhythms and leads separately), bassist, drummer, clarinetist, keyboardist... that'll be like a real great band. I got some progress with the video already, which, sure, not a requirement for the album at all haha but I'm doing it more of my own, as a kind of concept thing to better show the ideas. Basically inspired by classic horror movies in general and Nightmare on Elm Street in particular. All is going really well so far and everyone involved has plenty of time, so unless shit happens last minute, I have some good expectations with it. Excited to see what everyone else is cooking as well :)

Not exactly the genre you are looking for, but I did an arrangement of the same source a few months ago. It's more of a pop punk with smooth intro and lo-fi interlude, tho haha. More Illusion of Gaia covers (or of other Quintet games) are always welcome, in all kids of styles, moods and whatever. These games deserves ALL the love! Hopefully someone else will make something closer to what you are asking for :)

Hey! Your nickname sounds familiar. I especially remember you from your stuff in Vampire Variations. Nice to see you back :) Also this track sounds nice. MIDI Metal FTW! Simple and raw, just what sometimes we need. I can see that fitting pretty well in an early 90s shooter game like Doom or Duke Nukem.

Hey! No problem! It's not like we all have to always give quick replies at all. As to add my track in the tracklist... that's up to you, if you think it's worth it. Maybe I could help on other things too, like web development/design, which I have more experience in than with music making haha. Or with artworks or anything requiring image or video editing, which I do a lot too even though not a pro on these subjects either.