DragonAvenger Posted November 14, 2010 Posted November 14, 2010 Remix: Skyggesang - Entranced Amidst Thorns ReMixer name: Skyggesang Real name: Alex Melching Website: www.myspace.com/skyggesang User ID: 32069 Name of game arranged: Metroid Prime 3: Corruption Name of individual song arranged: Bryyo File format: mp3, 196 kpbs, 44100 Hz stereo, 6,32 MB hard disk space Track length: 04:36 Background: First of all, unrelated to this remix, I would like to thank the judges for giving me very useful feedback on "Frozen Swamp". I will start working to improve the track soon and resubmit it. "Frozen Swamp", I felt, was too hastily put together. I still really like the idea and atmosphere (I won't change much on overall composition), but productivewise, it wasn't good. For "Entranced Amidst Thorns", I took way more time finding good sounds, tweaking them, and mixing the song. Volumes for a lot of instruments and drum sounds were individually changed for each section of the song. I also learned a lot more about my arrangement program and thus played around with some effects. Lately, I've been into trance music a lot. Mostly the old stuff, but when I started goofing around in my arrangement program, I found it more fun to make more eurotrance-ish stuff myself. Hence, "Entranced Amidst Thorns" is a more modern trance song to the core. When put alongside your average trance songs (those unrelated to game soundtrack, that is), it's nothing very original. But this is a remix. I took to heart the advice to be more daring with the source material in my compositions, and so I simply used the four main melodies in the source. They're there, but the rest of the song is completely unrelated. I added my own loops and some melodies and, of course, a different scale which I thought suited trance more. The title of this track is taken from the fact that Bryyo is a planet full of rich wildlife. One part of Bryyo is called "thorn" jungle. Though the song played in that area is different than the song I used as source material, I still found this to be a suitable part of the song's name. As for the "entranced" bit, well... that's obvious. Source melodies: 01:05 to 01:31 - 1st source melody (after intro section; trance lead + choir pad in the background) 01:43 to 02:09 - 2nd source melody (breakdown section; trance lead with effects) 02:12 to 02:38 - 2nd souce melody (main section 1; trance lead) 02:38 to 03:03 - 2nd + 3rd source melody (main section 1; trance lead (2nd melody), piano (3rd melody)) 03:16 to 03:29 - 4th source melody (interlude section; strings in the background) 03:29 to 03:55 - 1st + 3rd source melody (main section 2; piano (3rd melody), choir in the background (1st melody)) 03:55 to 04:20 - 1st + 3rd source melody (main section 2; piano + trance lead (3rd melody), choir in the background (1st melody)) -------------------------------------- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBl6BtDVt6I
OceansAndrew Posted November 17, 2010 Posted November 17, 2010 This was very difficult to wrap my head around, sourcewise, since it is such a departure from the original. There is a ton of interpretation (maybe too much, in some cases), but after listening to the source track until I had it memorized, and the helpful breakdown provided, I was able to sus out that the main melodies were present throughout. I do think a section that featured the melody and original chord progression just for a bit would help ground the source in the listener's ear though. Production was definitely a step up from your previous work, but still was a little generic. I think as you learn your software you'll come more into your own, as you are already making good progress. It's really close for me, but I think this is just below the bar. You are definitely making gains though, and I think with a little more work, this would go over for me. No, please resubmit
DragonAvenger Posted November 23, 2010 Author Posted November 23, 2010 Going to have to agree with Andrew here; there are times where it's a bit too difficult to pick out the source in this, but I do like that you've worked on adding your own spin and interpretation to the melodies. I think you've got a good handle on how to arrange, now you just need to pull it back a little. As Andrew said, things are really on the right track, but the production and sounds are a little generic, and that combined with the source being a little too well hidden is putting this one just a little below where it needs to be. I think you can pull this one up and I'll look forward to hearing it again. NO (please resubmit)
Palpable Posted December 9, 2010 Posted December 9, 2010 I'll go contrary to my fine fellow judges and say I liked the arrangement. The source melodies aren't too prominent in the original and as such, the connection isn't obvious. I thought it was strong enough however, and I was able to feel the tie. I will agree with them in that the production is generic, and there were some issues too. The snare was not good, it sounded like a low quality sample. The sequencing on the harp synth and especially the piano wasn't cutting it - that sequencing needs to be a lot more subtle to contrast the rigidness of the rest of the track. The repeated cymbals weren't working for me, and the ending also got a little too overlay happy. I know it's hard to resist the temptation to overlay different melodies, but it made that section lose focus because there were too many competing elements. A lesser concern was that some elements were a little dry and some delay on those might have been nice. Good start, but I think the production needs to improve. I guess including more source wouldn't hurt since you've got two people telling you that as well. NO (resubmit)
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