Panzer Dragoon Zwei - Main Theme - "The Sky Boat"

[Fringale]

Hey there! Lots of firsts for me with this thread: first post on OCR, first game remix, first track that I take the time to actually polish.

Anyway, here's my take on the main theme of Panzer Dragoon Zwei, one of my cherished games back in the Saturn days. I took the main melody (about 30-40 seconds) and for good or bad turned it into some 5min+ prog metal/rock number. I'm afraid it's quite liberal, but hopefully it doesn't cross the line.

Source:

ReMix: current version

• 31/07/2015 version (ending a bit on the loud side)
• older version from october 2011 (different mix and libraries)

 

Source breakdown:

• 0:00 - 0:45 | Theme on bagpipes
• 0:45 - 1:22 | Theme variations played by the two lead guitars
• 1:22 - 1:40 | Original part (melody is actually borrowed from a folk song)
• 1:40 - 2:17 | Further variations on lead guitar and bagpipes (more loosely connected)
• 2:17 - 2:35 | Original part
• 2:35 - 3:49 | Variations on clean guitar
• 3:49 - 4:07 | Theme played by bass
• 4:07 - 4:27 | Loose variation on lead clean guitar
• 4:27 - 4:45 | Guitar solo loosely based on theme
• 4:45 - 5:04 | Theme on bagpipes, harmonized theme on lead guitar
• 5:04 - 5:13 | More variations on lead guitar and bagpipes
• 5:13 - 5:45 | Theme ending repeated

 

Some interesting and not-so-interesting trivia about the track:

- The Sky Boat in the title stands for the airship Shelcoof, which Lundi and his dragon Lagi chase throughout the whole game. But it also refers to a Scottish folk song called The Skye Boat Song, which is not an uncommon tune to play on bagpipe. I actually used the melody from this song at 1:22.

- I'm pretty sure Grandia's Farewell To Sue was an inspiration for the part beginning at 3:49. This song had quite an impact on me when I was young. On an unrelated note: the soundtrack had some bagpipes in it. 

- The trailing melody starting on the left guitar at 5:22 is a small nod to the Witcher menu theme (see 0:55 and 1:35). Unrelated note: bagpipes in there too!

- Apart from the source, I listened to the

on the Alternative Elements album quite a lot. It's a bit of a stretch, but I think the strings starting at 0:35 in that song have somehow resulted in what's happening near 1:59 in my remix.

- I was trying to go for a "journey" feel, so there are few parts repeated, the whole track is more like a linear progression instead of something with verses / choruses. Exceptions are 0:46 - 1:40 and 1:40 - 2:35, which are constructed identically (and alternate between 3/4 and 4/4).

 

Many thanks in advance for your feedback!

[Gario]

Not familiar with the source, but I'll trust it's all there.

The performance is actually pretty tight, man. I liked it overall, but I felt that the guitar sounded too thin (not filling the soundscape enough). Not sure if it's my headphones or if it's something in the mix, though - it'd be nice if someone could clarify that for me.

Love the bagpipes

Yeah, this is pretty badass, especially if this is your first remix ever. Nice work - hope to hear this one updated. Oh yeah, and welcome to OCR.

[Fringale]

Thanks for the comments! : )

I'll look into the guitar EQ. I know that the rhythm guitars still need some beefing up (most apparent at 1:05, when they are exposed) - I thought I had it checked, but seems it was not enough. Unless you were talking about one of the lead guitars?

Also, I'm not too sure about bringing back the bagpipes out of the blue at 1:50 and 4:05, as it feels a bit like a afterthought (which, well, they are).

I'll try to update soon!

[Fringale]

New version is up at last - now with more bagpipes and brand new EQ!

=> https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/1288634/OCR/Panzer%20Dragoon%20Zwei%20-%20The%20Sky%20Boat%20(Main%20Theme)%20-%2020110928.mp3

It took me waaay longer than I expected to get this second version out.
In my defence (if I need one), my speakers died on me two weeks after I posted the original version, which didn't exactly help. And I have to confess, I redid the EQ from scratch... twice. Hopefully, it is better now (at least, I learned quite a few things in the process).

Thanks in advance for listening and feedbacking! (is that a word?)

[Fringale]

Bumping and flagging for mod review. I'd like to get pointers on areas in need of improvements, and to know how far this track is from something that could be submitted.

In the meanwhile, enjoy the music (link in post above) and feel free to criticize!

[Level 99]

Sounds pretty good but there's some pops and clicks throughout that I think are due to the clean guitars or the bass. Might want to check on that. Other than that, the guitars are solid and the arrangement is pretty awesome and just needs a bit of mastering tweaking to bring out the best of all the instruments.

[Fringale]

To quote a famous ancient greek god whose hobbies include resurrecting dead threads centurions : WISE FWOM YOUR GWAVE!

 

So, well, after casting aside this remix in late 2011 (as at that time I felt I couldn't bring it up to submission standards no matter what I did or tried), I recently gave it another go and updated it to my current sound libraries / effects, amongst a whole bunch of other tweaks. The guitar recording is still the same, though.

 

I edited the first post with the latest remix version and all relevant information. I would gladly welcome any feedback.

 

And many thanks Level 99 for your comment. Unfortunately I saw it quite some time after this tune and I had become, well, estranged, for a lack of a better word. 

[Fringale]

A new version is up, featuring a slight touch-up on crash cymbals, and overall reduced loudness / overcompresssion (more specifically on the 'let's throw everything at the listener's face' part starting at 4:45).

 

...Would you say the track is in a submissible (enough) shape?