OCR01752 - Final Fantasy VI "Searching the Woods"

[djpretzel]

What did you think? Post your opinion of this ReMix.

[DragonAvenger]

Very cool concept. Love the jazzy feel, really fits nice with the melody. My favorite part starts at 2:20, that part is really awesome.

I'm not sure if I like the processing. I feel like the piece is supposed to be set in a small cafe, but the performance is in a huge hall. I think that's personal opinion, though.

The timing doesn't bother me, but the intonation does. It's off enough that it draws my attention to it, distracting me. If that were fixed the mix would be golden.

Also, as a side note, I don't think the Judges Decision thread is visible. It's telling me I don't have access to view.

[finn]

Oh, props. I live in the same area as djpretzel and I agree: this is perfect for the curl-up-with-a-cup-and-watch-it-pour, sure-glad-I-live-on-a-hill weather. I understand why one might fuss about the timing but, as has been said, it does create a more intimate setting, a one-on-one between composer and the listener-as-individual, as opposed to the man of the crowd. I very much appreciate the cozy atmosphere evoked by this piece and hope to see more of its like in the future.

[derako]

Good effort, however, I have relative pitch.. so I guess you already know how I reacted to the piece. Nevertheless good effort.

-Derek-

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

instantly reminded me of the "Braid" soundtrack...=p

[Millman]

I like this mix quite a bit, but I do have a couple of complaints.

First the complaints. I think the EQing really is an issue. There is a bit of 'hiss' going on, so I can't really listen to it at loud volumes or it becomes very noticeable. Also, the length bothers me a bit. For being such a jazzy, and intimate piece, it ends far too soon. Something a little longer, maybe touching the four-minute mark would help it resolve a little more for me, but it just feels like it ends when it's just getting really groovy.

But I love the feel of the track. This would not feel out of place while listening to the Waking Life OST or Coltrane. It is very jazzy and very stylish and the overall atmosphere really pulls me in. The loose timing compliments the atmosphere, and I personally love that in songs. Same with loose tuning. It honestly just sounds like there are a lot of blues notes in there, not quite being as high or as low as they're 'supposed' to go, which is another very common jazz/blues technique. To me, that's what really gives this piece its character.

Overall, it's a nice mix, and a welcome addition to my FFVI mixes and my jazz collection. =)

[maniacodepressif]

I really love the style and groove but I can't really stand the off notes, the bass at the beginning is out of time too much for me to feel it before 25~ seconds. It's pretty off all the song, the instruments behind sound perfect in timing and notes, the bass takes too much place, but hey, I guess jazz songs are often like that, reason why I can't say I like all jazz. The overall sounds isn't perfect but i think it fits the song perfectly, the exact same thing, with the bass track redone would be a really great song imo

[Corran]

I'm always interested in truly acoustic tracks here, and you've arranged a favorite of mine.

I can deal with the performance issues and tuning, BUT what I really can't deal with is the recording and post-processing. The cello barely sounds like a cello. It almost has a violin quality; too much high-end, and where's all the low-end (yes I know it was in a higher range)? There is also about 300x too much reverb on everything. I'm not sure what your recording was made with, but you could stand some better recording techniques or better equipment, or both.

The quality of the music is fantastic in general but the recording quality is just a real let down. Also, very short and the ending is "meh".

I don't mean to be harsh, but to me, this sounds like a "WIP, version 0.5". As in, you've got a great arrangement started and here's a super-rough demo to show a friend. Now you need to extend, polish, and then do a great performance with some great recording equipment. I wish you were near me, I'd offer to record it myself.

[Arek the Absolute]

Very nice.

Zyko is totally right about the cafe comment.

I can dig it.

[OceansAndrew]

A very classy arrangement, but the sound just gives me 'bad acoustics' vibes.

Enough has been said about that, so lets focus on the strong points.

This is a very personalized and intimate sounding mix, where it sounds like you guys set up in my back yard for a somewhat informal jazz concert.

Great solos, and though the performances are really loose, I think it works overall, and it's something nice and unique for OCR.

[Eino Keskitalo]

Everybody has been pretty spot-on so far with the criticism. The tuning bothered me the first time I listened to this, but on this listen right now, after a very long time, I don't even notice it. Timing I have no problem with. The reverb is so big though, I don't buy the "intimate cafe setting" scenario. It sounds more like a school performance in a gym, you know. It's a downer on an otherwise fine track. But listening past that, it's very enjoyable.

I really like the instrumentation and their collective sound, even while it is not super hifi. I like the double bass solo tremendously. The violincello has some lovely little supportive figures during the solo. Hmm.. is this a virtual quartet, or did you restrict yourself like that?

I didn't keep this when it was posted, but now I definitely will!

--Eino

[Lucentas]

I love live strings and these are great, very well done.

[42]

A very classy arrangement, but the sound just gives me 'bad acoustics' vibes.

Enough has been said about that, so lets focus on the strong points.

Agreed and I won't rehash that here.

This mix reminds me of the scene in It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown where Snoopy, as the WWI flying ace, has already been shot down and is crossing the French countryside by night. This mix also even has a similar mood to it, a uniquely mellow, slightly dire, "searching the night" feel to it.

Ultimately though I'm ripping out my hair trying to decide if I like this or not; it does just as many things right as wrong. >.<

My recommendation is just go see for yourself.

[Rexy]

Ah, the Phantom Forest. I got to say it's one of my personal favorite songs from the score simply because of the beauty for it

The recording quality may not be the cleanest all the way around, but the instruments were for the most part very well emphasized and managed to stand out well. The double bass performance comes off as ridiculously sloppy though, which makes it hard to try and keep focus here.

With those qualms out of the way early, this can be seen as a somewhat classy arrangement, with some nice layering work taken throughout and some interesting panning work with various additional layers of double bass and cello being panned in various places in the stereo field, capturing what may be seen as a more mysterious approach to the forest setting. The improv skills within the second half showed a lot of great colors as well; if anyone else on that site tried to do that kind of performance on a double bass they'd probably blister in half the duration; takes some endurance and creativity to really put that together.

So, not the best production setups seen, but with that kind of performance ability we can definitely see you going places. Hopefully you'll be back sooner than we think