Chrono Trigger - Secret of the Forest/Undersea Palace/Magus Castle Orchestral

[Blue Note]

Hey everyone,

This is my first attempt at remixing and I know there are plenty of Chrono Trigger remixes out there but I was inspired at the dentist to write this (long story). It's an orchestral version of Secret of the Forest that then segues into Undersea Palace which then ends with the ominous Magus Castle theme. It's also my first time working with a DAW so I probably left out a few things here and there so let me know if something seems off. I mixed it all down to where I liked it and exported it to wav. Fast forward to a few plugins later and the backgrounds seems too dense in some areas. I like what plugins I used on it but If there is a way to fix it let me know. Worst case scenario is that I have to go back and edit the parts and re-export the wav. Please share your comments and don't be afraid to criticize (constructively ). I won't learn anything if people aren't honest and even if this remix goes nowhere the experience was well worth it for future projects.

Thanks!

[rig1015]

A great start. I look forward to you hopefully adding more orchestral instruments in. Your strings are your driving force so just use other orchestral instruments as a garnish to that main course.

Are you bussing your reverb for this or are you putting reverb on each instrument? ... Cause I would do both. Your strings sound.... I would try and clean-up the sound by placing an impluse reverb plug on the strings then an EQ plug, then I would buss out on a send to another reverb (more for polish that atmosphere). Also edit your note velocities on you strings more, when it is soft and quiet your strings should not sound like someone is hard bowing. This sounds different than just turning down your fader, makes it sound more real.

~3:00 hold that sustained note before you start the cello work. Felt you shifted to fast into another feel without letting us linger on the power of the one before it... and let it tale out (the notes not being held but you still hear the acoustics of the sound ringing in the atmosphere).

All in all not bad. If you need DAW pointers with what I said in my crit, PM me with what DAW you're using. Always happy to help.

[Blue Note]

Thanks for the feedback!, to answer some of you comments;

A great start. I look forward to you hopefully adding more orchestral instruments in. Your strings are your driving force so just use other orchestral instruments as a garnish to that main course.

I'm trying to think of else I can put in there that won't be in the way...

Are you bussing your reverb for this or are you putting reverb on each instrument? ... Cause I would do both. Your strings sound.... I would try and clean-up the sound by placing an impluse reverb plug on the strings then an EQ plug, then I would buss out on a send to another reverb (more for polish that atmosphere).

I believe there is a reverb coming from each plugin already but I don't think I have much turned on for it. I put an overall reverb on the wav as well which is the majority of it is coming from. I'll pm you about busing the reverb since I have no clue how to do it.

Also edit your note velocities on you strings more, when it is soft and quiet your strings should not sound like someone is hard bowing. This sounds different than just turning down your fader, makes it sound more real.

I'm a little confused by what you mean when it comes to editing the velocity of the notes. Practically 99% of the dynamic levels I put in was by hand using the note velocites because I didn't know how to use automation until the very end. I'm not saying I disagree with you as I can hear what you're talking about and it drive me crazy, but how exactly do I edit to make it sound like they're not hard bowing?

~3:00 hold that sustained note before you start the cello work. Felt you shifted to fast into another feel without letting us linger on the power of the one before it... and let it tale out (the notes not being held but you still hear the acoustics of the sound ringing in the atmosphere)

Are you saying that you want the strings to fade out while the cello is holding the note?

Thanks again for the quick response

[Tuned Logic]

This is very well done for a first-timer; I really like your arrangement of this. If you want to add something non-invasive, I would suggest a very soft synth pad, which would add atmosphere to the music without detracting from the strings. Also, some very light percussion might sound good Oh, and maybe lower the strings' volume a tiny, tiny bit in comparison to the beginning of the song; they kind of startled me.

Keep up the good work.

[rig1015]

PM'd

Are you saying that you want the strings to fade out while the cello is holding the note?

I'm saying I want you to hold the note for... I dunno maybe another 4 count... that might sound good. It just feels to fast when you let go there... a better time is ~3:01 / 3:02 that last chord... hold it for another count. This is a artistic crit so still feel free to do whatever you want.

Thanks again for the quick response

It's a Chrono Trigger mix... I'm always down to help with those.

[Blue Note]

Ok a new reworked version is up. I reworked a lot of the dynamics through automation rather than velocites and also put the song's average volume from 78% to 50% (for the plugins later). I buried the tympanis in this version which I'll have to fix tomorrow/later today (5:20 AM right now) and some of the dynamics are still getting altered from the plugins during the "wave mastering" phase.

I also rewrote the transition from the "Secret of the Forest" theme to the "Undersea Palace" theme which is still a work in progress. Suggestions for this area are more than welcomed.

I also use some reverb on the strings to clean up the muddiness and fixed some odd articulations.

I like the cleanness the plugin give but I don't care for how much gain I get. If anyone know how to balance the two let me know.

I didn't add any new instruments because I just can't hear anything other than wind chimes working but I don't have a VST with those. I don't know what kind of light percussion to write in and I don't know how to fit a synth pad without detracting from the orchestral atmosphere or what kind of synth pad to use. I'm not knocking people's opinions, I just need some suggestions.

[darkmaster987]

The theme you've used is actually the Magus battle music; the music that plays in his castle is just the ordinary dungeon music.

Sounds good so far, I look forward to hearing more of this.

[Blue Note]

The theme you've used is actually the Magus battle music; the music that plays in his castle is just the ordinary dungeon music.

The song is taken from when the party first arrives at the castle. According to the SPC file, the sheet music, and the OST the name of the track is called "Magus' Castle". The music that plays in his dungeon and in the first phase of the fight is an ambient music called "Confusng Melody" and the song that plays when the second phase of the fight occurs is called "Battle with Magus".

Sounds good so far, I look forward to hearing more of this.

Thanks. I didn't realize how much work goes into one of these remixes. Hopefully I can making something out of it .

[Blue Note]

Bump to say that I reworked the track again. Thanks to the help of rig1015 I've set EQs for every instrument and correctly added the proper reverb. I've added some parts as well to mix it up towards the end. I think the reverb is a little heavy but everywhere I looked online everyone said that same thing; Use lots of reverb to emulate the concert hall experience or something to the effect.