Lemonectric Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 (edited) Sword of Sand (8-5-14) Originally a People's Remix Compo bonus entry from 2009. Planning to submit a revised version to the site to offset the fact that I just contributed a Link's Awakening arrangement. Includes: Phantom Hourglass: Ocean King's theme, Oshus' theme Wind Waker: Great Sea I'd post links to YouTube videos, but I keep getting an internal server error when I add them to the post. Look for them yourself if you care. Edited August 5, 2014 by Hylian Lemon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M W Posted October 17, 2009 Share Posted October 17, 2009 I love this. For sure, my favourite parts are fading into and out of the great sea melody. The entire song has this new-age seafaring sensory to it, like if vacationing in the Canadian Marinetimes actually wasn't a waste of time and money. If I could offer anything to the song's betterment, the synth-cords at the beginning seem a bit shrill; they made my blood tingle the first time I heard them. While it's good to evoke reaction, it won't befit the rest of the song. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rom Tom Posted October 18, 2009 Share Posted October 18, 2009 This song is amazing! So happy sounding! Good to hear happy songs =) Just watch the volume levels of some instruments.. and there are alot of high frequencies that might need to be toned down on the eq. But just a smidgen! I look forward to updates! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemonectric Posted October 18, 2009 Author Share Posted October 18, 2009 Yeah, I was struggling with the frequencies, trying to get them to not sound so shrill without making them muffled. I'll tinker with it some more when I find the time. Thanks for the comments! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemonectric Posted August 3, 2014 Author Share Posted August 3, 2014 Who does this guy think he is, updating a track from 2009 Sword of Sand I'm gonna submit it. Criticize me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eino Keskitalo Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 Who does this guy think he is, updating a track from 2009 Awesome. I remember the round. :> Sword of Sand I'm gonna submit it. Criticize me. Pretty good I'd say! If I can I'll try to give a closer listen soon, I need to compare with some chip-heavy stuff if there's anything to point out. I thought there was enough variety of sounds and depth in the instrumentation and mixing, though it was still decidedly chiptuney. Some nice stereo detail and processing on the leads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timaeus222 Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 Ooh, phaser harp. Dunno if that's even been done before. At 0:20, it's a small thing, but maybe you could widen the soundscape a little bit more. At 0:31, it's about good on the stereo field IMO. To me, the lead at 1:02 is a little too upfront; maybe try EQing down the low-mids a bit. Nice and nuanced tones overall. Perhaps at 1:53, you could try delaying the vibrato until a little bit later in the note sustain, for some variation in the vibrato predictability, but that's not a big deal. Nice change-up at 2:14. The key change works. Also my opinion, but at 2:34, considering the harp being there, maybe that arp could be pushed a little further back for some dynamic contrast (with reverb dry mix, or EQ). Maybe you could even automate the dry mix up from a low value to make it seem like it's moving towards you from far away? Otherwise, this is a great update. Finish it up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eino Keskitalo Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 Okay, I pretty much agree what timaeus222 said. A tiny bit more TLC here and there. Generally, I felt that some of the leads were blaring just a little too hot, but I wanted to check with some comparison. Haven't done that, but now that timaeus brought it up too I thought I'd second it. I liked the harp sound too! Good development and progression throughout the piece as always (I complimented this way back then already). I like that I never feel that your pieces have a blocky AABA, ABCD or whatever structure, but that they always flow like narratives. Keep up the good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemonectric Posted August 4, 2014 Author Share Posted August 4, 2014 At 0:20, it's a small thing, but maybe you could widen the soundscape a little bit more. At 0:31, it's about good on the stereo field IMO. Ahh! As I was exporting it, I remembered that I'd meant to go through and widen the square arps a little. Then I forgot to go back. Also my opinion, but at 2:34, considering the harp being there, maybe that arp could be pushed a little further back for some dynamic contrast (with reverb dry mix, or EQ). Maybe you could even automate the dry mix up from a low value to make it seem like it's moving towards you from far away? I'm not sure what you mean here. Pushing the staccato pulse back? Is that considered an arp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timaeus222 Posted August 4, 2014 Share Posted August 4, 2014 (edited) I'm not sure what you mean here. Pushing the staccato pulse back? Is that considered an arp? Ah, yeah. I guess I was a little distracted or something at the time, but yeah, the pulse wave with the delay. Edited August 4, 2014 by timaeus222 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemonectric Posted August 5, 2014 Author Share Posted August 5, 2014 Woo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eino Keskitalo Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 I do find the balance better now! Nice work! One thing that I notice is that some of the long sustained leads in the middle (2:04-2:30) have no rests to them, having some (and thus letting the backing "surface" a bit in those sections) might give it some more sense of room so to speak, and more rhythmic interest, especially the first lead. At 1:48 there's a harp note that sounds off-harmony to me. Man, does that bug me now that I noticed it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timaeus222 Posted August 5, 2014 Share Posted August 5, 2014 I do find the balance better now! Nice work!One thing that I notice is that some of the long sustained leads in the middle (2:04-2:30) have no rests to them, having some (and thus letting the backing "surface" a bit in those sections) might give it some more sense of room so to speak, and more rhythmic interest, especially the first lead. At 1:48 there's a harp note that sounds off-harmony to me. Man, does that bug me now that I noticed it. I hear what you mean at 2:04 - 2:30, but personally I liked the lack of rests at 2:14 - 2:30 because it felt like a buildup. In my opinion, I would consider making the lead sound at 2:04 - 2:14 more lively with perhaps a few portamentos, a more delayed vibrato (slower attack), or even small arpeggiated fills/scales. Maybe at 2:04 - 2:30, it *might* be that the leads are slightly too loud. Perhaps try lowering their volume or velocity so that the background harp and synth arp (lol, harp arp), respectively, can be heard. I hear the note at about 1:47.5-ish, and though it's there, I'm not quite as bothered by it. Maybe because it's kind of quiet. The interval sounds like a clashing 2nd, I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemonectric Posted August 6, 2014 Author Share Posted August 6, 2014 At 1:48 there's a harp note that sounds off-harmony to me. Man, does that bug me now that I noticed it. Doesn't really bug me, but changing it doesn't bug me either. Well...changing the harp note would bug me, but changing the pulse note doesn't. Update Also reduced the volume on the leads from 2:04-2:30 and broke up some of the long sustained notes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timaeus222 Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Great update! I'd be happy with this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eino Keskitalo Posted August 6, 2014 Share Posted August 6, 2014 Excellent revision once again, the tweaks did a lot! I can't think of anything to nitpick now. Niiiiiice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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