ambient

Red Rum! Good to see you back buddy, with a new version of a SOR mix, definitely dig your other SOR stuff, even if it does not strictly follow OCR standards. Ok, I know how discouraging OCR standards can get sometimes, and I myself struggled with it for a while before I got accepted. Recently, I had a collab rejected by the panel (http://soundcloud.com/ambientonline/sakura-remix), which is discouraging, but there are just certain guidelines that make an OCReMix, and if you want to be featured on the site, you need to follow them. I am intimately familiar with the SOR soundtrack and each midi file. And the source you are remixing here was probably one of the first remixes I attempted many years ago (combining this one with the SOR2 supermix). You have some very cool things you did with the theme - the original piano parts fit in pretty well, the fill at 1:34 is super cool. Also, this is something I very rarely say - you can definitely extend your mix, I was totally expecting the chorus to come in again just as the mix ended (expected to hear the part from 1:25). It should totally work. The variations leading up to the end kind of set the mix up to return to the main theme, and I think the listeners will dig it. I really really don't want to discourage you, but I don't think this will pass. I could tell you "this is awesome and it rules and jgdfgts better pass it", but it won't do you any good. While you have variations, and some original parts in there, the basis of your mix is identical to the original and it is especially obvious in the beginning. The bass is the same, along with the repeating chords, the drums, the overall feel. What judges expect is rearrangement, and rearrangement in its most basic definition (at least to me) is the rearrangement of the supporting parts, of the bass, the supporting instruments, their rhythm, changes in percussive patterns, switching up the style. So, in general, I don't think the rearrangement factor is quite there. It would be great if some other remixers or mods would chime in on this. Please keep at it and don't get discouraged!

Like, seriously? This wouldn't even pass as a remix here... straight ripoff...

Dude, so I wake up this morning and this song is playing in my head. I don't know whether I should thank you or curse you, lol.

Love it! Great work in the breakdown sections and keeping the energetic mood. Synths and EQ are great. However, there are some pointers and reservations I have: - This is not psytrance, strictly speaking. - This is a pretty straight forward arrangement, it gets repetitive after a while. I would definitely recommend reworking the section at 1:58. I don't know, glitch the hell out of it, rearrange the main theme into variations, chop it up, make it 3/4 waltz, do something with it so that makes the rest of the mix seem less repetitive. - The sfx at 1:02 sound distracting, they almost sound like an off-key chord. Either tune them or take them out. - The ending is boring, you just repeat the melody. Again. Need some kind of feeling of conclusion on there, vary it slightly toward the end. Ok, so the above was a mixture of OCR standards compliance and general feedback. Good work though. Adding this to my playlist!

Ok, I know the main issue with this track - it's the mastering and EQ. Man, this track sounds like a recording of a live performance by a 90's German techno band at a stadium played on a tired cassette tape. I love it, and it's fun to listen to, and it reminds me of my misspent youth, but mastering has a long way to go before this is on par with OCR standards. I like the stereo effects, but you drown everything in reverb. So dial back on reverb a little bit, I think you have too much of it on every instrument, or are you applying it to the entire track? At 0:47 you have a nice pump going when the kick comes in. However, I would recommend sidechaining the hoover synth that comes in at 1:06, it doesn't have to be much more, just a little bit more, so that the mix continues to pump. The clap/snare at 1:45 is poor. You need something way better there. It is weak and cheesy. And from this point on you have some good ideas, but it all just is so mushed together and drowned in reverb. I am actually surprised by this, but your piano section sounds better and clearer than the rest of the mix. That is not to say that the piano sounds good - it sounds way mechanical, but fits the genre and would be passable if the rest of the mastering is up to par. My recommendation - turn down all the reverb knobs, take off all the EQing you might have done, turn down all the volumes. Then start bringing the volumes up, little by little, but don't overdo it. Then, start adding reverb, also very gently. If that is starting to sound right, then tweak your EQ, which shouldn't really require that much work. "Smiley face" EQ over the entire mix should suffice to start with. And replace that snare/clap. Finally, the arrangement. It is more or less straight forward, and I think the long intro and the final section that are devoid of the main melody will work against you when you submit. I would recommend adding the main theme (possibly via the piano) from 3:38 to 4:03. Best of luck and I can't wait for an update! Btw, it looks like you are using Reason. If you want, PM me and maybe I can give you a more hands-on advice.

Fun little mix! Are you planning on submitting it? If so, I don't think it is quite there yet. So if you want a proper review in that regard, I will be happy to oblige.

Generally agree with what Gario said - definite EQ issues on some instruments, but overall good rearrangement of the source. While I think that the intro feels somewhat disconnected from the rest of the mix, it shouldn't be a deal breaker. Overall production/mixing is adequate. It is not squeaky clean and could use some more TLC.

Ruku, I like your stuff. While generally your tracks are not in line with OCR standards, they are really chill and nice to listen to. This one continues the trend. Adding it to my playlist!

Glad I checked this out. Really nice work! Pretty imaginative way to reinterpret the original. My thoughts: - Arrangement and source usage are definitely in the green for this one. - The crash hit is too loud for my taste. And to me it seems that it is panned to the right a little. Which sounds strange. - The guitar is great. I like the variations, I like how it sounds. Although, it is a little too loud in most parts. In any case, this is great. Fix the volume issues and I think it should be ready!

I seem to come in right after Rozo in all the threads and pretty much end up piggy-backing on his comments. But what can you do if his comments are usually spot on? I need to listen to the source tunes a few times to see how they connect with your mix to be able to comment on the arrangement. Gotta say that Rusty Ruins is an awesome source. This mix is not far off overall. But still rough around the edges. - Sir J hit it on the head, you need to do some layering of rap vocals here and there. Key is, they shouldn't be in unison (which I think what you have in some places now), generally you would either rap the same line again with a different intonation or pitch the backing part down a bit. - Singing vocals don't work the way they are right now. You have some slight vocoding going on them, and then a synth completely overpowering them, so it is hard to discern the lyrics. If you want to keep them, and I think you should, just run them through a vocoder, or have clean vocals. But definitely take out that high pitched lead. It ruins the vocals. There is always autotune, don't be afraid to use it. They needs a lot of work - both from processing/EQ and performance sides. - Rapping is not prefect. Rhymes are fine, flow is ok. Delivery is a little bland and lacking energy/intensity. If you inject a little more expressiveness and emotion into them, it will also improve the flow. - Having listened a few times to the source tunes I can see that you are using them throughout the mix. I don't think there are any major issues with arrangement. At a minimum, I would say try to work out the singing vocals issues and then post again here for some feedback.

Alright, interesting and playful source. I think Rozo covered the issues with this track pretty well. I get the percussion, it is supposed to have that new wave-ish feel, and it definitely does. But the drums are loud and overtake the mix (the main culprit being that snare). This is probably because the arrangement is sparse, as Rozo mentioned. The drums are also rather repetitive. After a few more listens, it is even more apparent to me that the snare pretty much makes the mix sound full. If you had a short snare, the sparseness of the arrangement would stand out a lot more. You have a few sections where there is not much going on in terms of arrangement, and when you have some mid-range instruments, they are really thin. Which brings me to another problem I have with this mix - the arrangement and synth design are rather basic. While you definitely rearranged the track, the arrangement is sparse and not necessarily interesting. It kinda loses the playful nature of the original, and never quite creates a fleshed out interpretation. The synth design could also be better. You see, ideally you will have both, great synth design and intricate arrangement. Sometimes you can compensate with one for the other. I think you can fix a lot of issues by cutting down on the length of your track, which at almost 6 minutes is too long, and there is not enough meat to justify that length. You can make it more compact and beef up your arrangement a little, which should make it sound a lot less repetitive. Finally, there is one critique that Rozo didn't mention - it's that piano. Very basic notes, very basic sound. Even if everything else with your mix was above the OCR bar, this alone would keep it from getting passed. Sorry if I focused on the issues too much, I tend to do that and miss highlighting the strong elements of the mixes. Your source usage is definitely in line with the standards. You get what rearrangement means, and I think you will be able to implement the critiques to improve it without a problem. Mixing and mastering, while it needs some work (mostly tweaking volumes), is not far off. Looking forward to hearing an update! P.S. That bass in parts makes me think of Britney's If U Seek Amy. Love me, hate me, say what you want about me... never mind...

I really like what you've done here in terms of sound upgrade, but... that lead, it's no good, to put it mildly. It just ruins the mix for me. It's overbearing and just doesn't work.

And I think Tinker, Tailor, Soldier Spy trailer had a track from the X-Men First Class soundtrack.

Great stuff! Love what you've got going so far. Not too sold on the intro, but the dubstep part is awesome.

I was about to write up my assessment and then saw one written up by Rozo - and he pretty much covered all of the points I wanted to raise in this mix. Left hand part of the piano definitely sounds robotic, and it becomes more and more apparent as it goes on, as it repeats pretty much through the entire mix. I also didn't quite love the piano sound, and I would try all of the production tweaks that Rozo recommends. I also felt that while there are parts that are just piano, and parts where you have strings, there was little in terms of intensity changing, the mix feels like it has the same level of intensity throughout. I think you can definitely make the mix a bit more dramatic and emotional. Right now the mix sounds somewhat repetitive and you could definitely change that by making the parts where strings come in more dramatic. Don't be afraid to bring some bass in on those strings either, even layer it with a synth bass so that they have more of an impact. While I understand that you are going for a mellow arrangement, my opinion is that right now it is a little too subdued and could use some tweaking. I really like where you are going with this, reminds me of The Fountain soundtrack, which is a good thing! EDIT: Listened to the version where you changed timing on the bass note - that's a bit too much. It needs to be more subtle. I am far from being the top authority on sequencing piano parts in a humanized fashion, but it not only timing, it is also velocities, samples, and EQ.

Big dawg, can we please keep with the guidelines and post a link to the source tune too, to facilitate easier mod reviews? Btw, do I hear a bit of that FFX rock action in there? I definitely do!

Glitchtastic complextro? Fun to listen to, but how does it stack up to OCR standards? Let's break it down. - I don't really have complaints about your production values, they are good. The beat is tight, the synths are crisp, most of the glitching is clever. - The detuned lead sounds like it is sampled from the original track. Is it? I think OCR generally frowns upon that, since you can easily recreate it yourself. And it will be especially pertinent in this case, since you are using it for your main melody. What gives it away is the panning acid synth. - Transitions come off a bit sudden and can be better. - The mix sounds sparse, especially since you have drops in almost every measure. Everything gets dropped, the beat, the bass, and the melody. Constantly. While this trick is used often in electro to create a driving beat, you take it to the next level and the result is a mix that is begging to be filled out a little more. - The bass during the entire track is just 4 notes playing over and over again. And it is at the forefront for a good portion of the track's 2:39. - Finally, arrangement is very basic here, in my opinion. It lifts the arp and a couple of measures of the main theme directly from the source and layers them over the same 4 bass notes playing over and over again. There are no variation, just some rather simple chopping/gating of the main melody. And the second half of the mix is more or less a repeat of the first half, albeit with some changes in flow and automation. Here is what I recommend. I think you focus on the technical side of things too much - ie synths, making your beats sound tight, and glitching stuff. These are actually secondary bells and whistles when it comes to ReMixing. You need to have a well-arranged base first, even if you make it a little bit vanilla. Then you can spice it up with some nice glitching.

Yup, just that part. The rest is solid.

Tight beats, production is not bad, but man, a lot of this is so obviously off-key... EDIT: Just read that you are removing Sakura from the middle - good, please do.

Chrono Cross. To this day cannot listen to Unstolen Jewel, because of the ending. Oh and thanks for reminding me, fuckers... now cannot get it out of my head... it is a great song, but man, it has such an amazingly strong emotional effect on me, I can't describe it. I actually haven't listened to it for a decade, but as soon as I start thinking about it, it has the same effect. EDIT: Looking through the thread it looks like a few people also mentioned Chrono Cross ending. Good to have company.

Saw this stuff on CNN a few days ago, and was glad that deadmau5 was honest about what goes down. Definitely EDM bands like Pendulum and Prodigy (actually along with that have to highlight Scooter, they are a cheesy German techno band, but they do live vocals and a lot of improvisations on keyboards during live performances), who follow more of a rock style presentation in their live acts deserve more credit. Pressing play and tweaking knobs is really not that hard... But I agree when he stresses that it is really all about studio releases. That is what EDM is really about. It's not about live performances, but more for playing at a club.

This is some really tight electronica right here. I will be on the lookout for more of your stuff in the future!

One last thing - not a fan of the title. Passing Breeze. Makes me think of passing/breaking wind...

Good stuff man! Always nice to hear some dance music over here.

Not bad. Definitely more of a loungey type of house than something you would hear in a club nowadays. The beat is pretty cool, though the snare could be a little tighter. Personal preference gripe - the EPs playing the main melody are kinda cheesy, though admittedly the leads were cheesy in the original too. The arrangement seems too straightforward for OCR purposes. So, in case you were thinking about subbing it, I would try to make it a little bit more creative in that department. I hope you get more comments than just mine.