zircon

Malcos + Liontamer pretty much covered the major problems here. This really is sort of a 'downgrade' and re-sequencing of the original. Doesn't seem like a lot of effort went into the percussion (I recognize a bunch of the samples) or the synth/sample-work: basically, the number one issue with the mixing is that EVERYTHING is dry as hell. Learn to make use of reverb, delay, chorusing, flanging, phasing, filtering, and automation - you can get a hand with that at the Remixing forum, it's not as intimidating as it seems. I think I understand where you were trying to go with this, but the actual implementation of everything just didn't work out. It's also important, especially when using a really progressive and energetic original mix, to have a strong arrangement. A daunting task, for sure, but you can start by working in variations of the melody, adding new harmonies, using layering of sounds to create a more defined structure in your mix, and creating new sections in the same style as the original. So, the bottom line here is NO. Don't be discouraged, though. My best advice, in short, would be to head over to the Remixing forum and start going through the sample/VST/FL help threads. Good luck!

agh. I don't usually like to be negative, but you've gotta go back to this and completely retool it. Offkey bass, unbelievably repetitious, flat-out BAD mastering and effects processing, bad mixing of volume levels (especially the percussion), no real rearrangement. Check out the wip and remixing forum and see if you can pick up some times on how to put together a strong dance mix that would pass our standards. This isn't a violation, but it's a pretty obvious NO. Keep at it.

I'm not sure if I feel as certain as some of the other judges. My problems; Beatdrop always does great technical work, which you really need when you're working with edgy sounds, but sometimes I think he goes a little overboard with distortion. Vocals aren't that great here either except for the stuff from ~3:00 - 3:40, perhaps because they are sung by a male and have massive processing. I think at times like 2:09 the mix is really cluttered soundwise, partially because of all the distortion and heavy processing. I'm not a fan of the rapidfire kicks that don't really fill up the low end. I also agree with Larry that the ending was somewhat lackluster. On the other hand, the synthwork here and choice of sounds is good all over. Excellent usage of effects and down-n'-dirty lofi sounds. I'm not a huge fan of this style, but this mix really does rearrange and retool the original very well. The minor issues I have with the implementation of some of the sounds are not enough to prevent a YES vote.

Going to use my earlier vote on this: The arrangement here doesn't dramatically change the original in that the original itself is fairly ambient, using lots of effects and non-standard percussion. To be fair, it also lacks a strong melody, so I realize that there's not much to work off of. Moving on: this mix is really fairly similar to the original right down to the clanging percussion and ambient wind-like effects. My problem here is that while this isn't identical to the original, basically the new additions and changes are just new/upgraded effects, different percussion in parts, and an extended intro. Production-wise, I have no problems, and this is an enjoyable mix by itself. However, I think even considering how sparse the original is, this is not much of a reinterpretation and more of an 'upgrade' than a full rearrangement. It's difficult to remix tunes with so little melody, but even so, I think this is too close to the original in style, instrumentation, and presentation (similar ambient intros/endings for instance). What I would like to see here is more of a departure from the instrumentation of the original, at the very least, such as perhaps replacing the strings playing the 'melody' with a different type of pad, or accompanying the chords with a different type of instrument. Basically, changes that would give the mix its own character. In short, I'm not concerned with how much time the remixer spent on this, unlike Prot, but I do agree with him that this isn't really much of a change from the original. I feel very borderline on this one, but I believe a NO vote is justified.

This one has been on my playlist since I first got the wip for it. Very clean, articulate guitar playing combined with a good mastering job for the whole mix. Awesome. I don't know whether the drums are sequenced or not, but whichever they are, they sound great. I'm impressed that that the mix really works without being cluttered with lots of instruments and layers. Arrangement-wise, I'm in agreement with the other judges. This is an excellent example of how to use variations and original material in a remix while still keeping the original in mind. YES

It's not just that one pro-53 patch. LOTS of synth presets I recognize are used here, and lots of dry percussive samples that haven't been edited. There's really nothing wrong with using presets, but it's pretty bad when I can pick out at least four of them. I have the same arrangement issues the other judges have, but I think the bigger problem is the lack of stylistic concept. There are a lot of different elements (slap bass, super sync lead, sax, etc), but they just don't fit together to create any sort of groove. This needs more work all around, like Larry said. Keep at it. NO

I would say using Chorus + Unison would be more efficient than using layered subtractors.. but that works too. And yea, Vanguard is good for supersaw sounds - but I think that Reaktor's "Junatik" ensemble or layering a bunch of Synth1s is even better.

Rellik uses 3xosc a lot for that type of sound. If you want THE tb303 emulation, you want Audiorealism Bassline.. but you can get those distorted sounds with the 3xosc just fine.

Um... the controller + desktop/laptop has nothing to do with it. This worked on my old desktop setup too, with a crappy generic soundcard. No LSD needed.

explain plz I did, several times. You create MIDI OUTs, configure your ports, sequence notes, you have MIDI. I have the mapper on port 0, main output (microsoft wavetable or whatever) with no port. I will hear GM sound if I set my MIDI outs to port 0. very simple! Doesn't seem to work, could you take a screenshot of your settings or something? Uh.. here. http://www.soundtempest.net/z/midiout.PNG I hit a note on my PCR, I hear GM through the MIDI out.

Just so you know, I didn't use any soundfonts. Designed the synths myself using 3xosc, Reaktor, and Pro-53. I realize the elements that I used were a little on the generic side - I can't really argue that they weren't - but Ty had wanted portamento effects which could only be done with 3xosc, so I had to go with that for most of the leads and such. If I could do it again, I would have prepared my parts better, since I've learned quite a bit since I've made this, but Ty and I were both happy with the way it fit in with his part, so we stuck with it. Anyway, really glad you guys enjoyed it! It's really kind of funny how Ty and I started this one. We both were remixing this, with him doing a pure-electronic version, and me doing an electronic/orchestral hybrid. He was actually going to give up on his version, until I suggested he continue. From there, we just decided to collab and see where it went. I know our interpretation is more dramatic and epic in scope than haunting and melodic like the original, but I really think this style worked and I'm hoping you guys think so too.

I'm truly sorry to hear that. I could still use somewhere to host the music files and also someplace to make an official website, if you have any extra room on the ST server. Also, I know you have teh madd connectionz with people on ST, so a bit of advertising would be a welcome addition, though I don't want to force you into anything. Unfortunately, I don't have much extra space on ST.. and I can't really advertise there because it's rather dead while it's being redesigned. Sorry I wish I could work on this project, but I'm just not good enough.

No offense, but you've been working a maximum of three hours, probably closer to two. Perhaps you should give it a little time? You do have three weeks, you know. A good suggestion would be to listen to other orchestral stuff similar to the style you want yours to be in, and take notes on the patterns of different instruments, and how they use them effectively. Fast, detache, higher-octave strings, or slower, drawn-out, lower ones? Fast brass or extended? Play by example would be my suggestion. Just...please don't give up. I'm positive you can do something extraordinary. I mean, come on. You're zircon! I know when I'm beat. I have absolutely no artistic ideas, nor do I have any skill in writing this sort of thing. No promise whatsoever in what I currently have.

hm. I'm actually running into a lot of trouble here. As much as I'd like to do orchestral stuff, apparently I'm not quite ready yet - perhaps you should take me off the list.

Ooh, I've always wanted to try orchestral film scoring. I'll get started!

Fruity LSD comes with FLStudio.

explain plz I did, several times. You create MIDI OUTs, configure your ports, sequence notes, you have MIDI. I have the mapper on port 0, main output (microsoft wavetable or whatever) with no port. I will hear GM sound if I set my MIDI outs to port 0. very simple!

Well, MIDI is just a type of message format, basically. So when you export a MIDI file, those MIDI messages get transmitted to your soundcard, which then plays the sounds of the notes of whatever instruments you chose. However, when you render to MP3, all FL is basically doing is recording audio generated from within FL. The MIDI sounds being played by your soundcard apparently don't count as that.

Not sure what you mean. I don't use fruity LSD, just MIDI outs, and my MIDIs render fine. I also hear the output in the project. No offense, but that shouldn't happen. The website specificly says that because MIDI is post-FL in terms of sound card application, it doens't render in FL. Are you playing the MIDI into the computer? that might be the only way that I can think of that would cause that. Playing the MIDI into my computer? Not sure what you mean. If you mean, do I use MIDI outs to interact with VSTs/DXis, yes. If you mean, do I use MIDI outs to create .mid files, yes to that too. If you mean using them for controlling hardware... I do that as well. No LSD needed.

Not sure what you mean. I don't use fruity LSD, just MIDI outs, and my MIDIs render fine. I also hear the output in the project.

You don't need the fruity LSD. I've used FL on numerous machines with different soundcards, and I've never needed it for anything MIDI-related.

Get the full version of FL, it's WELL worth it The problem of imported MIDIs not playing is a really common question. First thing you should try is setting all the MIDI Outs that appear from the imported MIDI to port 1, as they default to port 0. Check your MIDI general settings; the MIDI mapper should be on port 0, I think, with the MIDI output going to port 1, so your MIDI Outs will play.

Well.. those synths were just cheesy. Lots of tremolo and high pitches. Looks for FM synths, since FM became popular in the 80s. fm7 would do the trick, I think, but it's not free.

Uh, put notes in MIDI out, set to pattern mode, export -> MIDI? Very easy, really..

I'm having some weird ass rendering problems. The audio for fruity SF player channels using HQ Rendering on *certain* soundfonts, randomly, doesn't work at all. As in, after rendering, the result WAV/MP3 is just high pitched buzzing. I get the same exact high pitched buzzing when exporting certain instruments from Kompakt and Kontakt, using their default settings. Any ideas for what could be causing the program? FL is set to export at 16bit WAV, all FL sampling is 44.1khz, and my sound card is an EMU 0404 which I believe supports 24bit wav/96khz sampling rates.