Monobrow

There are a lot of reasons not to like Ron Paul. One of them being trying to introduce into law that life begins from "conception", and leaving it to the states to decide who gets to marry whom. (Yeah that went well w/ Prop 8 and homosexuals), as well as all that gold standard stuff, isolationist views, repealing Roe vs. Wade, and saying he wouldn't have voted yes on Civil Rights Act of 1964 as a matter of principle (because there is no grey area or compromise in this world, everything is black and white right?) as well as pro-deregulation, which got us into the Wall Street mess in first place. Yeah, no, and he's supposed to be the best Republican.

Neither is the case here though. There are huge differences between FFXII's battle system and any of its predecessors. Most of which I liked. And I feel that the comparisons between 13's system vs. 12 that you just made up there kind of misses the point of what 12 was about. They just aren't all that similar, and I prefer not to generalize.

I think the logic got lost in the sarcasm and they somehow negated each other in this sentence.

Hey guys, I made this video in response to a hilarious glitch today: Sabercat Meets American Beauty I felt it was highly appropriate lol.

Listening. Okay cool intro. Cooler build. Okay... Your flute sticks out kinda like a sore thumb. Maybe some reverb, or just another instrument. The oboe works really well. The strings aren't very dynamic IMO... they are just too weak. The guitar starts sounding kind of out of place around the 1 minute mark, and the booms all throughout the song start to get kind of old by 1:30. I think by this time you need some other kind of progression going on... Maybe start layering the oboe w/ low strings, or even have the guitar start picking with it. See... The impression I am really getting is, some instruments sound fine, and can get away with lower quality, but others, such as the flute, and the strings, sound more fake... So it's all about your ear, gotta mask sample problems, EQ your instruments in ways that make them sound better. Also the song gets way too repeditive by about the 2 to 3 minute mark... I'd suggest a key change... A cooldown section, stop the drums, let the listener breathe. Do something else, expand on the KH stuff w/out Star Wars. Really... anything here. I think your low brass section could have come earlier too. Those high dissonant strings near the end are really cool btw... But a bit too late, I think you could have put them in earlier and progressed with them and built into other sections that aren't so "Star Wars". What I think you need really is less Star Wars in general, albeit I don't really know the KH OST at all, but all I hear is Star Wars Star Wars... Needs to be broken up. Get a bridge section in there. So anyway, it was pretty cool, I like the idea, I dunno if it could technically be an OCReMix, you'd have to ask a judge/mod I think... But either way, cool idea. Just the implementation needs to be strengthened. Hope this helps!

Overall... I think it's a bit too messy and muddy. You need to EQ and get the lows to sound really phat, the highs to sound crisp, a lot less competition in the mid freq range, and for there to be less competition between instruments in general. Those arpeggiations are bugging me. And Rockos is right, the synths might be a little too "default sounding". I wouldn't recommend submitting. Also I can't tell if YouTube is messing w/ the quality somewhat, so I'd suggest linking to the mp3. Also I like the transition from lullaby to Zelda 1, it was unexpected, but it fits really well with the WUB WUB bass.

Intro is really cute. Right off the bat though, your mix feels muddy and clattered. I think you really need to just EQ and separate all the elements of your song in a way that when they play together, they aren't clashing. Check out what freq ranges each instrument is taking up. EQ away unnecessary frequencies by determining which ones make your instruments sound best/stick out, and which ones don't really affect the sound you are going for, and remove those. This would give other instruments more room so they don't clash as much when they are playing together. The writing is cute, I like that crazy synth solo later too! The bass is neat, even though it might need some EQ itself. Some other things just are hard to tell as is especially in the more full sections, because of the competition of range between instruments. Keep working on this!

Suggestion: 2:07: I don't like that piano playing the lead anymore... Up until that point, it's perfectly fine, but it seems way too exposed and anti-climatic when it hits the next section. I would replace it or double it up with something else, or maybe just get some accompany, chords, harmony, really anything to fill the space and basically let that part climax more. 2:45's drums IMO have too much reverb on them. Not WAY too much, but I don't think it would hurt pulling it back a bit. They get muddy and clashy, the boom I think is just a little too much. You have some clipping, and probably competition vs. the bass and the boom kick that may need to be addressed. Just overall, everything about the drum fx, and even maybe some of writing needs to be assessed in a "Is this necessary to get the point across?" way. You had a really good vibe, and it's still pretty good, but the drums are kind of distracting. I think you can get the same kind of punch out of your drums in other ways, the way they are written sounds just like.. they keep banging notes over and over to re-emphasize that "HEY THIS IS IMPORTANT" but not really achieving it. Also that clicky noise I think might be a little too stick-outish, especially later... I'd pull it back just a tiny bit. It's hard to put my finger on exactly what to say about this mix, so I hope that helps. Good luck!

I'm gonna add to this. I think Larry's right about changing up with another instrument. But I don't necessarily agree with a change by 1:17... You do some cool things with it for that solo that are very charming. It's just what comes after it that might make it lose its appeal. Whichever you do, by 2:02 though, you definitely need another lead. I think you shouldn't necessarily cut out that very strange lead you already have altogether... But let it take the back seat. Just, get another synth in there to take over the melody, preferably something lighter, even an octave higher... But at the forefront, most importantly. And also, for double bonus, write for it in a different style than your main synth... Give it it's own personality. Though the writing you already have there just might generally sound better when you use a different synth anyway. You want two separate synths, established w/ personalities, but complimenting each other. Anyway, after it's established itself, duet your weird low synth with it for the second verse. You already seem to do that in parts, cut it in and out, and let them build around each other. You have so much room for it IMO, and a lot of room to be selective. That really is the key to a melody so exposed in front of that background. 3:03 would IMO be the perfect place to bring back your weird synth in the forefront, I wouldn't be so tired of it if it had passed the ball for an entire minute to something else. You already do this, but it falls flat because of the previous sections. I think once you work out the previous 3 minutes, you might know what better to do for a more dynamic feel. Basically this song is very much a duet. You're gonna have to be intimate. While one instrument plays the lead, don't be afraid to have some accompany maybe even playing some scales/arpeggiation. Don't be afraid to contrast the kind of sluggish nature (in a good way) of this mix with some faster progressions. As for the rest of the song, your soundscape sounds great in my headphones. No problems with it. Good luck!

Haha... Yeah I honestly do think you kinda went overboard. The biggest problem I have w/ the new version is that the crazy drumwork is really happening too early. You're not giving the song time enough to build, and that the drums really seem separate from the rest of the song. They aren't working with the bass or the actual rhythm in the background. Also they kinda hurt my ears. In this case, I like that you can do this stuff to drums now, but until it's appropriate, less is more. Let the song build and climax a bit, then BAM the drums are in. Your atmosphere for this song is pretty nice otherwise... Right now at is is, the drums seem very out of place. I recommend starting over on them, with a feel/compromise somewhere in between version 1 and 2.

This needs a lot of love in the lower freq throughout the whole thing. The lows and even the low mids don't feel there. It's not beefy enough, and it sounds like it should be. This also sounds like it should just be wider in general... I feel like I'm listening to this on an old radio. Given, I am on headphones, and I can't exactly say how much with accuracy, but that bass needs to phatten the phuk up Overall, I think the more crowded the mix gets, unfortunately the more flat it sounds. EQ EQ EQ, and maybe widen your sound a tiny bit with some panning or stereo FX. The writing is spaz, but excellent lol. Also I think around :35 to :42 is actually not the right chord progression for that source. If you're willing to correct that, I'd be immensely happy, unless it was a personal choice, but I don't think the change there specifically was for the better, as it feels like a chord lost in limbo. You do this also with the Wily Castle theme later, and there it seems more acceptable. Good luck!

I actually agree. Maybe a more legato approach w/ the violin might be better, or at least only that staccato for certain notes, and not all. You could keep the (irish whistle?) (flute) short and cute which is fine, but I think it actually loses its cuteness if the violin is competing with it in that way. The emphasis on the rhythm might be a little too much. You also might want to get some grace notes in there, I think grace noting the violin would probably help a lot. The flute would be a no-brainer as well. I also think maybe the panning might be a little bit too severe with the violin. Or maybe I'd feel more comfortable if the panning of the flute and violin were switched lol. It just feels like I should say that. Also grace notes on the dulcimer (?) would probably be a really nice touch as well when it's playing the melody. Taking small liberties here and there would really spruce this up. I have no qualms about the background elements, the guitars are great, the percussion is excellent. It might be hanging back a little too much, but that would probably be a very minute and personal choice. Really nice so far, keep at it please

FFXII really had an amazing battle system. That was the best direction they could have taken it.

Yeah I love this song, always have. It is very unique and stands out on the album. I think my favorite thing about this song really is its pacing... It's very patient. The pads are held in suspense in the intro... The song takes the time to chill out a bit and let us fill in the blanks... The builds are amazingly ethereal and really fit for a Kirby song. The drums are so beefily-distorted, and paired with the bass, they really drive the song, which is otherwise long and flowing. It's a contrast that works REALLY well. The flute is so cute, it's plain, but it's written with a lot of heart, and it really stands out as clear vs. a lot of heavily distorted instruments. Again, really good contrast. The brass also do this vs. the pads. In other words, this song is a journey that I immensely enjoy, it's the kind of music you can either listen to deliberately, or can put in the background and chill out to. It also really has an incredible amount of detail with the soundscape, pulling back, and flowing back in. LIKE WATER. Bruce Lee would be proud A+

Just want to echo the crits on FFXIII. I played for hours and hours, gave the game a HUGE chance, until I got to the Carnival w/e place. I never give up on games, but this game... this game... I felt I had been duped into playing it for that long. I realized that I was only playing for the last ten + hours or so in hopes that it would get better. That is not a good motivation for anything. When I got to the Carnival area, and they had this "minigame" where I chased the annoying-as-all-hell baby chocobo in a hide and seek match that a pre-schooler could finish... I literally found myself as mildly angry. Where's the challenge? Why did they even put that scene there... To annoy the shit out of me? Was that even a mini-game? What was the point? It all accumulated to that point. I was controlling a dude with a chocobo in his afro who looks like he's 30 but acts/speaks with the maturity of a 15 year-old. And I'm supposed to be showing this red-headed annoying some sort of Aussie accented girl that I actually couldn't stand, even after significant character development, a fun innocent time by literally just walking on a straight path for an hour. And for that matter... It literally got to the point here where I would walk a little, completely unable to interact at all with my surroundings, running to invisible walls hoping for something interesting, and then a cutscene would happen. After that cutscene would happen, I would walk about twenty more steps, and another cutscene would happen, and again, and again. Why bother letting me control my characters at all? To make sure we haven't fallen asleep out of boredom? Then of course, the bad guys come, and we start battling our way out of the Carnival, that I had zero fun in, don't even know why I am there (at least I can't remember), with a battle/XP system that gives you two characters that suck together, doesn't let you have any choices on your power ups, won't let you progress in levels past a certain point, and conveniently pits you against enemies that are annoying as shit to kill, where you pretty much have no choice but to auto-battle for extended periods of time against weak enemies, and realize that the ability that would make even the smallest amount of strategic difference is something you can't even have yet, or is on someone else who is also being paired up with a shitty partner. The best I can say is the environments were nice, the music was okay, the story was mundane when it wasn't annoying and confusing, and the gameplay was either extremely boring, frustrating, or both. Give me my 30 hours back please

like like like! (again)

Omg Ilp0: You get so many kudos JUST for Cornflake Girl <3 <3 <3 I think I guessed about, I dunno... 60% or so right.

Nice, an interesting approach to a very popular theme.

Interesting, and creepy. I wasn't expecting that at all for a Ys remix Way cool video too. Kudos!

You might wanna label this one as finished *_* I realized it when I looked at the YouTube link later :J

Hello. Nice, R-Type is so cool. Anyway, I think my problem w/ this is the drums may be too pronounced... Usually these types of drums seem a bit more muffled/distorted... Less choppy/precise... Could be about your room size. I think the scope of your sound could be a bit wider... In comparison to the beat, the instruments have this ethereal effect, and do well in this regard some... But I think maybe layering your pads w/ something else to kind of tease the ear (left to right) might make a difference... To keep that moving feeling. Bringing back those drums a bit, and maybe some instruments to the forefront more I think would be worth a shot. Otherwise, really nice/smoothe, I enjoyed :J

Well, in version 5 I definitely hear difference on that piano. Yes, everything sounds clearer, which is really cool. And yeah, the right amount of reverb is tricky. I think a lot of people underestimate room size, they associate reverb with just making the song sound wetter... But it's also good to think about where the mic sits, as in do you want the instruments close up or not. Coincidentally, I think your vibraphone could be turned up, and you could definitely get away with a bit more wetness, and even a tad more brightness. A closer mic (smaller room size) might help it too, the same with your harpsichord. You're on the right track... Just get in the habit of EQing out your different instruments... Pay special attention to where all instruments are are sitting in the mix vs one another, EQ out ranges your instrument doesn't necessarily need to sound good, so you can leave room for others... I think this is especially necessary in quirky songs, because they are usually bright, with some cool panning, and "tricks" to delight the listener. It's really all about your ear... Maybe take a day off and come back to this version, because it sounds better to me, so you just may be too used to it. Another trick I use when my ears get tired is Winamp Pacemaker It's a plugin that you can play (a little lossy albeit) at different keys and different tempos, so you can kind of cheat yourself with new ears, when you are used to your song. And about your samples: http://www.kvraudio.com/ This is a site where you may find some better samples, even for free. Just give it a search and maybe you can find at least some strings that do better staccato. Unfortunately samples seem to be this song's biggest weakness. Hope these help and feel free to keep posting versions. Later!

I am excite!

Was talking about the piano. And yeah, play around w/ freq, figure out what is making it sound that way... Do you have any effects on them? Any reverb etc... Or maybe they just come that way? Talking about the piano chords actually , however when you address any chords, sometimes what is implied will be filled in by the listener anyway, so you don't always need full chords everywhere, not that I have much of problem w/ anything besides the fullness of the piano (it just sounded kind of sloppy and the notes sounded too long)... But the rule of thumb is to try to get the most out of every instrument you choose, and sometimes implying can be effective vs. using every note you can etc. See I dunno, because I can make my samples sound more staccato... It might just be the samples you are using won't cut off... Which would suck when trying to emphasize rhythm. Can I ask what sample library etc. you're using, and maybe I could point you in the direction of some alternatives? And yes, basically as long as you have a goal in mind, however you achieve it is okay, so if turning them up can make it feel dryer and emphasize, then go for it. Glad I could help, hopefully I at least got you leaning in a certain direction.