Zelda: Haunted Windmill - Ruins of Kakariko

[CodeD64]

Just a little background, the Windmill song from Ocarina of Time is one of my favorite VG songs ever, so I thought I'd try and do it some justice with this.

I'm labeling this a WIP since, I'm not 100% satisfied with the mastering persay but for the most part this is a finished song atm. Whaddya think? Close to being submittable?

A remix/re-composition of the Windmill song from Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

Re-imagined in a dark and melancholy mood, the windmill is no longer a cheerful and enchanting place. In my version, Kakariko Village is no longer the place where young Link once lived as a boy. As a growing darkness has spread across the land, the people have fled their homes and all that is left are decaying ruins.

I made some changes to the original composition of the song, including an intro, an interlude at about 1:35, some descending basslines and a couple other things.

"Ruins of Kakariko" is an idea I had for a possible project, basically a dark version of the ZOoT soundtrack.

All comments welcome! Thanks! Leave a comment or two on my soundcloud too if ya like.

http://soundcloud.com/djcolletta/dj-colletta-haunted-windmill-ruins-of-kakariko

[Chaotix_Prime]

I like it, but it's very gets very simplistic without any change.

The start of the windmill and the way it keeps repeating again and again and again and... well, you get the point, keeps to same pace throughout the piece and it messes up the melody for the Song of Storms part after a while. To me, that's the biggest problem.

I would suggest stopping it at certain points and starting it back up after a certain amount of time to customize the pace.

Also, maybe a change of instruments once or twice would give this a wider personality. To stick with the same thing makes it monotonous. There are quiet a few things to use to keep the spooky image while morphing it at the same time.

Plus one more thing. Maybe lessen the volume at certain points to give a "sneaking up" feel and then pull it back up like a "boo" moment. I'd say that may help the "haunted" feel to it.

But, of course, this is just me. If any of this help, then glad to be of service.

[Spakku]

So what I'm hearing is ORGANS!! and then Melody! and then and then the rest. You gotta balance it out a bit more.

You're going full-blast haunted amusement park with the arrangement - badass and faithful to the source, I might add - but that doesn't really work for a whole song. What you've got now is all "boo" with barely any tension building to give it any power. Anything you can build up in 30 seconds is long dead after 3 minutes have gone by.

You could build longer (either more drawn out what you already have or start with what you've got and hit harder, both would work) or you could wind down at parts. Two at the most, though, I think all of them would be overkill.

And more variety wouldn't hurt.

Also, this is the least melancholy song I've ever heard called melancholy. It's all aggression, there's no sadness at all.

[CodeD64]

Okay, well it's haunted by angry ghosts then I guess I see what ya mean though.

Thanks for the suggestions on building it more. I'll work on that.

[Spakku]

When I said "two at most" I meant two of my suggestions, not two parts. Don't think I was clear there.

[CodeD64]

Oh and just FYI here's a breakdown of the parts:

0:00 - Full Orchestral and Brass Swell

0:20 - Timpanis and Drums

0:25 - Organ/Choir

0:35 - Bells

0:56 - Bellpad (melody)

1:17 - Piano (melody)

For the most part the timpanis, drums, bells, bellpad, organ/choir plays throughout the piece so it does seem to get a little busy. So I can definitely spend more time on piecing it together but for the amount of work I put into it so far, I'm pretty pleased. There's room for improvement though of course.

[Chaotix_Prime]

There's room for improvement though of course.

Yes, there is room for improvement. I'm sorry, but I have to be truthful.

To start, well, it's about the start. I can't exactly pinpoint it, but there's a moment there that ruins the build-up. After hearing it, I shudder in the beginning because I know there's a point somewhere where it messes up and throws me off. I think it's around the 0:40 mark.

Secondly, halfway through the piece it sounds like a power struggle for the parts. I don't feel the cooperation anymore and everything goes into disaster in my ears.

If it helps, try and stop one part from playing and let the other parts of the music pick up where it left off. Then do it to another part and so forth so on to let the listener know where everything is coming from.

You see, I see music as a movie trailer of sorts. Forgive me if that sounds weird, but when there's a piece made into its fullest potential, I can set up a theme, characters, scenes, action, emotion, and all that. So far, I got couple scenes, but that's it.

You have taken a step in the right direction with switching what plays the melody though. I'll give you that. You just need to get a rising action, a climax, and a falling action well sorted out.

I'm sure you know Luigi's Mansion. Listen to it's music for awhile and you might get at least a hint of what I'm talking about if you don't understand me. And if you don't, don't worry. You're not the first one.

[CodeD64]

Lol, shoulda done Pokemon instead

But seriously, I already knew it had some build-up/business issues, which is why I marked it a WIP of course.

I'll let it sit a day or two then get back to working on it.

Thanks for the feedback.

[Rozovian]

u stoles me avater u bustard

The original melody starting at 1:28 clashes at 1:40, 1:48, 1:55... and more. Careful about what notes fit with what chords. It fits well, rhythmically and sonically, but needs to be edited to avoid clashing.

The problem with Windmill remixes is that they end up in the same groove as the original, and it's hard to do variations of that. I turned mine into 4/4 for a reason. Yours kind'a hits a point around 0:35 where it stagnates and doesn't really go anywhere, just gets layers of stuff stacked on it. I think you need a different groove to build on if you're gonna keep the mix interesting.

You wouldn't get far with this if you submitted it. Either the rejection letter or a quick trip to the panel for some nice feedback and quick NOs.

You have a decent sound, a nice, consistent sound design, but the writing needs work. I'd hate to hear something like this said about my own work, but I think you'd be best off rewriting it completely. Keep the instruments, but rewrite the song. Sorry to be all negative like this.

[Chaotix_Prime]

Lol, shoulda done Pokemon instead

But seriously, I already knew it had some build-up/business issues, which is why I marked it a WIP of course.

I'll let it sit a day or two then get back to working on it.

Thanks for the feedback.

I'm just trying to help. I like the idea you have, really. I just needs some... oh, what's the word? You know how some music starts getting powerful and when it reaches its highest it stops suddenly and starts soft agian? I'd say something like that may give it more emotion.

I understand it's a WIP and it's going to be a while until it's near perfect, but whatever the case, I want to help. Cool?

[CodeD64]

Hey sorry about the avatar Roz

I was hoping they'd have some C64/Amiga avs or that you could upload your own avatars

@ CP:

You mean progression/build, elevation and break. Yep. Needs moar work

[Chaotix_Prime]

@ CP:

You mean progression/build, elevation and break. Yep. Needs moar work

Okay. At least we're on the same page.