SZRC - The Sonic Zone Remix Competition 2012

[Brandon Strader]

You gotta hear what I did because it's the dumbest fucking thing I've ever done, music-wise.

I knew what key to record the song in for the sax -- G.

Then I put the sax away, and started writing the song... but I wrote and recorded it in Bb.

So then I had to transpose the entire session down -3.

Now that I've recorded the sax I think I'll just transpose the song back to normal and the sax +3. Because. Damn. I don't want to re-record the entire song. x_x

[SuperiorX]

That sucks Brandon... just make sure the sax doesn't sound funny when you transpose it. Sometimes transposing wind instruments doesn't always work out right because human players almost never play a note 100% on key, whereas a sequenced instrument will be whatever you write it as. So when you start shifting the pitch up or down it may not sound right. Back when I used to play trumpet regularly, I found that out the hard way once haha.

[KingTiger]

BTW, I'm done with my track.

I hate you.

I've got the main part of my track done, but now I have some lyric-writing to do and a pop filter to make, and then I'll double check all my levels and do any mastering, if necessary.

[Damashii!!]

question, superiorx: like everybody else, i'm also using a secret weapon/bonus remixer so do i just use the tagging system similar to what akumadigi did? Sir Jordanius feat. *secret weapon* - *fancy title* (Sunset Park & Launch Base)?

Done? I haven't even begun tracking yet... ARGH!! A sonic remix compo awaits, yet here I am calling my friends trying to get them to read from the AEON Flux script for my assignment this week... No worries.. I am confident I can finish a weeks work today and have the rest of the time to work on the compo

if it makes you feel any better, i'm working extra hours this week so i probably won't get started either until much later this week also.

oh yeah, and

You gotta hear what I did because it's the dumbest fucking thing I've ever done, music-wise.

I knew what key to record the song in for the sax -- G.

Then I put the sax away, and started writing the song... but I wrote and recorded it in Bb.

So then I had to transpose the entire session down -3.

Now that I've recorded the sax I think I'll just transpose the song back to normal and the sax +3. Because. Damn. I don't want to re-record the entire song. x_x

you do know that you're not supposed to play it with your penisecret weapon, right?

[halc]

You gotta hear what I did because it's the dumbest fucking thing I've ever done, music-wise.

I knew what key to record the song in for the sax -- G.

Then I put the sax away, and started writing the song... but I wrote and recorded it in Bb.

So then I had to transpose the entire session down -3.

Now that I've recorded the sax I think I'll just transpose the song back to normal and the sax +3. Because. Damn. I don't want to re-record the entire song. x_x

can you not re-record just the sax?

[Ethan Rex]

oh yeah, and

God that fucking cat

[SuperiorX]

question, superiorx: like everybody else, i'm also using a secret weapon/bonus remixer so do i just use the tagging system similar to what akumadigi did? Sir Jordanius feat. *secret weapon* - *fancy title* (Sunset Park & Launch Base)?

Everybody has no-longer-secret weapons now! hahaha, and yeah that tagging system that Akumajo did is just fine so, "Remixer Name feat. Secret Weapon" is good! Thanks for checking!

I hate you.

I've got the main part of my track done, but now I have some lyric-writing to do and a pop filter to make, and then I'll double check all my levels and do any mastering, if necessary.

lol this isn't a race guys. You can actually use the whole week ya know

[Damashii!!]

Everybody has no-longer-secret weapons now! hahaha, and yeah that tagging system that Akumajo did is just fine so, "Remixer Name feat. Secret Weapon" is good! Thanks for checking!

lol this isn't a race guys. You can actually use the whole week ya know

ok, thanks.

no but for real, mine is pretty much secretively secreting secretary secrets. they don't hand out secret weapons like this to just anybody.

[Phonetic Hero]

ok, thanks.

no but for real, mine is pretty much secretively secreting secretary secrets. they don't hand out secret weapons like this to just anybody.

I forge my OWN secret weapons!! IN THE FIRES OF MT. DOOM!! WITH SAURON AS MY SMITHING PARTNER!!

[Ryan Jobson]

pffft whatever I don't need a secret weapon. I do wish I had dance / electro music making skillz cuz that high-energy shit seems to do well in things like this

[Brandon Strader]

can you not re-record just the sax?

I only know one scale... ~~embarrassed~~

[SuperiorX]

I only know one scale... ~~embarrassed~~

lol... go recruit your own secret weapon sax player!

[Damashii!!]

pffft whatever I don't need a secret weapon. I do wish I had dance / electro music making skillz cuz that high-energy shit seems to do well in things like this

i know that feel bro.... or are you just trying to trick me into thinking that you're not good at electro so you can throw everybody off guard and then proceed to musically obliterate me?

regardless, good luck to you homie. i look forward to hearing everybody's sonic goodness.

[Damashii!!]

and brandon, as long as it's the scale of love that's all you need.

[Xenon Odyssey]

So I wrote up some reviews for the first round...I hope to crush all of your egos and make you spend the night with a tub of Ben & Jerry's and The Notebook.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Magellanic - Proxigean Tide

Intro felt too disjointed from the rest of the song; a kinda abrupt transition. The solo synth and drums at 1:36 felt too naked to a degree; some pads or something crescendoing there would have made the section not stick-out so much. Other than that, pretty nice; I don't know Tidal Tempest nearly as well as I know Star Light, but it seemed like you had more of the Light than the Tempest (as if I'm one to talk).

AkumajoBelmont feat. DiGi Valentine - Pandemonium

At 1:50 the piano seemed a bit delayed with its attack, but I don't know if that was intentional or not. Overall, solid arrangement, with the sources nicely intertwined. Only gripe would be its kind of repetitive and doesn't vary too much from the initial beat.

SuperiorX - Liquid Hot Magma

I don't really understand the transition at 0:47, but I guess it works. The naked bass could have used something to compliment it or something; felt like it needed more to me. I really like the pads at 1:37; it fills out the section up to 2:08 really nicely. I don't know if it's my declining hearing, but it seemed like it was panned to the right. Having a stereo panning between the right and left could have really given a full effect to it. Bass is kinda loud at 3:16. Again, I'm not too familiar with the Sonic CD soundtrack, but it sounded like more Lava Reef than Quartz Quadrant (and again, like I'm one to talk about equal source usage).

Mr. L - Lumitron Quandrant

Love the bass and drums! You've got some really nice sounds in this; I really dig the soundscape. The section at 0:44 is really really busy; I can't really tell what's going on with all the different parts. At 1:52, it sounds like you delayed a bit with the melody of Lava Reef and that threw you off of the beat until 2:08. Also, there wasn't really any changes to accentuate the melody. It sounds like most of the instruments are at the same volume, so when more than one plays together, it's like a fight for who gets the attention. And I didn't really feel a sense of direction with the mix; it was, to me, aimlessly wandering overtop of the b 'n d to try and weave something out of the sources. Like I said about Akumajo, it was kind of repetitive too; there were a couple of times you could have changed it up to keep it interesting, rather than riding the beat throughout the song. This kind of reminded of a cake from one of those design competitions...it looked (sounded) nice, but it was mostly frosting (nice instruments) and not much cake (arrangement structure).

The RexAsaurous - NightCapped

The pads at the beginning are kinda soft...I don't know if that's because of my ears though. The bass transition at 0:37 is kinda weird...I think it's because of the decrescendo and crescendo; it supposed to be an anchor but it sneaks in rather than establishing dominance. Transition at 0:55 is unsettling too, but I believe that's because it's only a half bar, rather than a full one or two bars. Also, I didn't really hear too much of Casino Night 2-player...just during 1:30 to 1:41, but again, whom I'm to critique about that?

Rexy - Just Like College

Don't know where the voice clip comes from...inclined to believe it was AoStH. The lead at 1:18 is kind of soft...feels like it and the strings were battling for attention. I liked the way you went back to the Genesis samples from the intro, 1:44 with the bass and 2:10 with the drums. Also at 2:10, the same lead is there with a solo, but I feel like it could have been louder; the bass and drums almost drown it out until it starts going higher in octave. There's a really high frequency at 3:02...I don't know if that was a sound effect or not. Good change of pace at 3:53; I was starting to worry this would be another constant-tempo track! Overall, I think you squeezed out all the possible ways you could put those two sources together. My only complaint there would be, aside from the solo, there wasn't much original material, and thus it made the mix feel a little homogeneous throughout.

DusK - Tails Visits Green Hill Zone

Man, I really don't have anything to say about this. Good sound, great arrangement. Love the chord at 2:27. I guess one nitpick could be the chords could have been a little softer when combined with the lead, and maybe a different timbre (I don't know squat about guitars though, so take that as you will).

Main Finger - Seraphim Factory

The stutter at 0:58 is awkward, especially since the bass makes me thinks it's about to go into a half-time feel. Key change at 1:12 didn't sound too hot; the transition into it could have done a better job leading into it. Other than that, fantastic stuff; loved the choir sample at 2:08 and all the change-ups throughout.

Jakesnke17 - Chaotic Chemistry

The progression at 0:54 doesn't really work for me with the melody; it doesn't seem like it fits together. The stutter at 2:10 seems weird, like there needed to be more to make it work, or not be so abrupt. There didn't seem to be a climax either...after a point it just coasted until the end. Not necessarily a bad thing, but it was kind of disappointing there wasn't a high point to top of the mix before conclusion. Aside from those, good stuff, nice sounds.

PixelPanic - Spring In The Hills

I felt the intro was a little long; you could have probably introduced more instruments at once than you did. The chord lick is nice, but having it constant until 2:08 makes it grating to hear after a while, especially with no variation in sound or notes. The organ/rhodes seems to be panned to the left mostly, but I can't tell if that's just my ears or not. The drop to just lead at 3:06 didn't really do much in terms of changing the pacing or having a tension-release effect, since there really wasn't anything built up in the first place. Overall, this mix was sparse, but not in the good way; there could have been more instruments, or the instruments present could have been doing more. The pacing was sluggish and not very Sonic-like, and there wasn't enough going on to compensate for this aspect. The arrangement also left a lot to be desired; as in addition to the slow tempo and minimal instruments, nothing was really happening to ensure the listener's attention. I didn't hear too much Hlll Top either, but that could have been disguised in the chords which were very static and didn't change too much besides the obvious.

Phonetic Hero - Groovin' on the Hilltop

When the melody comes in at 0:04, I think there's like an extra note or something, but I get thrown off. I don't know if it's a compliment or a complaint, or I guess take it as you will! Only issue I have is at 1:28-1:30 and 1:38-1:40, the bass and the Spring Yard lick don't really go together; it sounds like they wanted to do two different things, and the result didn't really mesh very well. Otherwise, quite excellent; great groove, solid arrangement, the whole shebang!

Hakstock - Restoring The Groove

The synths that come in at 0:28 have some phasing thing going on that doesn't sound too hot. I think it may be the release or something; maybe the doubling with the guitar? I can't quite put my finger on why it doesn't good. Aside from that, this was really nice; very cool use of the sources. Oh, yeah, the ending could have gone on for like two bars longer or so; it felt kind of abrupt.

Amphibious - Aqueous Vibe

Why did the guitar start to decrescendo at 2:13? By 2:24 I can't hear it over all of the other instruments. I don't really have anything to say about this; great arrangement, great sounds, good times, albeit on the short side.

Benjamin Briggs - Trash FM

What's that smell? Smells like CA$H

Xenon Odyssey - Unda PRESH-SHAH

So, where's the Aquarium Park? I heard the melody briefly at 0:27, and then at 0:59 and 1:31, but that was it. Otherwise, a glorified cover of Hydro Shitty Act 2 (no Act 1 love?) with a bunch of spastic references thrown around (actually, I'd call the whole thing spastic); I think I heard Star Light, Ice Cap, Lava Reef Act 1, Sonic 2 Race Results, Lava Reef Act 2, Marble, and Turquoise Hill. The soloing is alright but the backing didn't seem to change much. What's with the sudden halt at 1:44? Plus, you just rehash the beginning at the end, albeit it with a different lead. Oh, and real mature at the end there.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Too bad I don't have ice cream; looks like Captain Morgan will have to do!

[Jamphibious]

Amphibious - Aqueous Vibe

Why did the guitar start to decrescendo at 2:13? By 2:24 I can't hear it over all of the other instruments. I don't really have anything to say about this; great arrangement, great sounds, good times, albeit on the short side.

I made the guitar decrescendo because the higher notes sounded much louder than the lower ones. In retrospect I screwed up the balance a bit, but I also didn't want the guitar to shine too much since the other melodies come in at that point as well. It was a tricky part to mix, and I'd have probably worked on it more if I had more time But I'm glad you liked the arrangement!

[PixelPanic]

I agree with all you said, it was hap-hazardly assembled, but I kinda have issue here.

I didn't hear too much Hlll Top either, but that could have been disguised in the chords which were very static and didn't change too much besides the obvious.

It was the melody. Like, most of the song. I transposed it to Spring Yards key, but it was definitely the melody of Hill Top, as well as the inspiration for the pad/chords. Also, there is a little bridge part which is taken directly from Hill Top. I know the slowed tempo makes it a little difficult to decipher, but it's the same progression, note for note.

[Mr. L]

Thanks for listening and for the write-up, Xenon!

0:44 starts Quartz Quadrant - Present, and then it shifts into the Good Future variation when the lead changes (in case you were curious). I tried to integrate, not so successfully, Lava Reef's familiar beginning into those weird 'plucking' sounds you hear in the background shortly after the aforementioned lead change.

As for everything you wrote, well... yes ; it all hits home.

I'm still learning my way around EQ'ing and arrangement; still light-years away on all of this, but I'll eventually get there, I'm hoping!

Finally, well, glad I at least brought frosting... hopefully next time I'll bring the cake too.

[DusK]

DusK - Tails Visits Green Hill Zone

Man, I really don't have anything to say about this. Good sound, great arrangement. Love the chord at 2:27. I guess one nitpick could be the chords could have been a little softer when combined with the lead, and maybe a different timbre (I don't know squat about guitars though, so take that as you will).

I'll take that as obvious, considering my main rhythm tone and my main lead tone are derived from the same base starting point and I have yet to change that. And I really should.

Glad to have your vote!

[benlugia]

I'm merely a humble listener, but I just wanted to say by holding this competition and releasing the first tracks today, you've indirectly given me one of the best birthday presents I've ever had.

Thanks guys, I love your work!

likewise--birthday was on friday, and this was such an awesome outstanding gift (i mean...aside from my sonic esp guitar)! seriously, fantastic work.

i wanna give a massive props to DusK (love your generation gap EP--wish you had more sonic tunes! you're doing jun senoue proud!), AkumajoBelmont (seriously, I was listening to your song on my way to patient interviews. sick beats, awesome rhymes), Benjamin Briggs, and Main Finger. and of course, awesome job to everyone who's been participating. I can't wait to see what the robeatnik bracket pumps out--seriously gives me an incentive to look forward to at the end of the week with my massive workload! again, thanks for the amazing tunes and good luck to all!

[Xenon Odyssey]

It was the melody. Like, most of the song. I transposed it to Spring Yards key, but it was definitely the melody of Hill Top, as well as the inspiration for the pad/chords. Also, there is a little bridge part which is taken directly from Hill Top. I know the slowed tempo makes it a little difficult to decipher, but it's the same progression, note for note.

Oh wow, I'm sorry dude; I did a back-to-back listen of Hill Top and your tune (which I was doing with the tracks at the beginning but then stopped as I went along since I was thinking 'I know these tunes'), and you're totally right; majority of your tune is Hill Top, albeit slowed significantly and enough to make me not even catch it when I listened the first time around. Really sorry about that! But like I said, repeating all of that stuff without varying it up somehow can be draining to listen to, so keep that in mind the next time you arrange something, and don't be afraid to deviate a little into your own writing; they just helps bring new blood and/or freshness to an otherwise known tune that people enjoy. Plus, it always helps to practice practice pratice, even when it comes to writing and arranging music. It something I still have issues with today, a year after getting a bachelor's in music composition (but please, don't take my word as the end all be all; I learn stuff routinely every day from different websites including OCR. One can never stop learning).

Glad you guys enjoyed the write-up! Sorry for any bruised egos, but then again, you should have expected it if you joined the compo anyway!

[Rexy]

Don't know where the voice clip comes from...

Naturally being in the lizard bracket, I actually sampled Gex (though AoStH is a great show of my youth ). But... now that I said that, this is where everyone who voted for me reverts their votes completely. (oh, and screw you for not giving me your vote x_x)

[Xenon Odyssey]

(oh, and screw you for not giving me your vote x_x)

as of this post, you're in the lead anyway...

[DusK]

as of this post, you're in the lead anyway...

I'm getting thoroughly Rex'd.

[Chernabogue]

For those who are surprised I'm already done, it's because I still have exams this week, and I think I won't have any more time to work on it before the deadline.