Darangen Posted November 27, 2012 Share Posted November 27, 2012 Chrono Trigger - Devotio Aeternus Sources: Schala - http://youtu.be/dJtwEpQe6w0 Ocean/Undersea Palace - http://youtu.be/iSP-_hNQyYs Link to remix - http://www.darangen.com/music/devotio4.mp3 This was submitted to the panel a few months ago and I thought I had lost the project files in a computer crash. Luckily I was able to find a back up tucked away on an external drive and was able to recover a good portion of it. Had to redo some of the guitars though. Mainly submitting for Mod Review, but I'm still open to other opinions as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockos Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 NICE PIECE out there. I really love the ocean palace intact lead. Plus all the atmosphere helping around is great. The two themes fit very well togheter. Nice takes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timaeus222 Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 The somewhat bitcrushed synth that comes in right away feels weird. It doesn't seem to have a pleasing tone. To me it feels like the kick is clashing with the bass. Maybe EQ out some of the sub frequencies on the kick (just a bit), and sidechain if you haven't already? Overall, it sounds slightly muddy, but probably fixing that up and doing soft knee compression on the master will be the only thing that is needed to fix this up. I know for sure that you used hard knee compression. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elder Kirby Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Rockin! I would definitely try to fine-tune the drums; I just get a really fake feeling from them at some points, and I can't quite place my finger on it. They're over-compressed, and you need to increase the release on some of the crashes, they seem to abruptly cut off here and there. Did you record the guitars yourself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Argle Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 I'm hearing some pumping on the master bus whenever the kick hits. That stuff drives me nuts on rock mixes. Everything seems too strongly compressed, mix feels claustrophobic as a result. Agree with the comments on the bitcrushed part. Maybe just notch out some of that peakiness in 500-1k range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darangen Posted November 29, 2012 Author Share Posted November 29, 2012 http://www.darangen.com/music/devotio2.mp3 Did a little update. Worked out the intro a bit so it's not so choppy and redid some production. Tried something new for the break too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flexstyle Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 Sounds a lot better than the previous version. Still a bit overcompressed, but I betcha one more pass would really make this thing shine. I feel like you might be overloading the stereo field--don't be afraid to use the center of the mix! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikeaudio Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 The mix does seem a little bit overcompressed. The drums seems to be mechanical, in feel and in velocities and dynamics, particularly the snare. I love the mix idea though, I hope to hear this finished sometime soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timaeus222 Posted November 29, 2012 Share Posted November 29, 2012 Yep, it's still a little overcompressed, and the majority of it is because of the kick. I suggest using some sort of spectral analyzer to check what the kick waveform looks like, and adjust the volume to make it just barely reach about -0.2dB, because it'll stack to reach 0dB for the most part. Also, if it's compressing like that, you probably are still using hard knee compression right now. A good soft knee compressor/limiter could be TLs-Pocket Limiter, which is free. Soft knee compression lowers the chance of overcompression, but then you really have to watch what's too loud and what's too soft, because there's a chance it can get so packed that some things are hard to hear, but it isn't actually truly overcompressed. I personally feel like that's a more flexible method. This does sound a lot better, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darangen Posted November 30, 2012 Author Share Posted November 30, 2012 Another new version: http://www.darangen.com/music/devotio3.mp3 Lowered the kick, brought some things to be more central in the mix. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Argle Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 Guitar sounds out of time with the drums, pretty noticeable in some spots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikeaudio Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 Guitar sounds out of time with the drums, pretty noticeable in some spots. I agree with Argle, it is quite noticable actually. But it sounds like maybe the wav file is a bit off time in the playlist only at certain parts. This is sounding much better than before, the drums still seem a bit too straight forward, perhaps adding more fills and little rhythmic ornamants here and there throughout the song. What I usually do (because I'm not a drummer), is I will imagine being behind the drum kit and what a drummer would feel when playing the music. How would he express himself rhythmically? How would he respond to the other instruments? Thats my subjective opinion, in the end this is your baby . Sounding much better though, really excited to hear the finished work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timaeus222 Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 It still sounds a bit overcompressed. Check your levels. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Argle Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 It still sounds overcompressed. Again, try soft knee compression. Or he could just ease up on the threshold.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timaeus222 Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 Or he could just ease up on the threshold.... I guess, but from the looks of the waveform it seems hard knee compressed. The threshold also isn't the only possibility. The compression curve or ratio is always a good option... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darangen Posted December 1, 2012 Author Share Posted December 1, 2012 I don't use any hard knee compression, I always use soft. I've eased up several times on the threshold and my usual ratio is 3:1 which isn't that intense at all, but I'm going for a wall of sound so it's going to be compressed. I'm happy with the level of compression I have right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timaeus222 Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 Weird, I guess it's something else then. Maybe you can try making the guitar and bass amplitude in the waveform lower while keeping it sounding loud enough. I've just managed to do it on one of my own tracks just now. Remember that stacking waveforms does amplify the final waveform, and it's definitely possible to minimize that amplification. If you do that, it'll allow you to lower the kick a little more. It'll help if you use a spectral analyzer as well to see what the kick waveform looks like. Right now it might actually be hitting the limiter too hard, even under soft knee. I don't know if it's the sample or if it's just how loud it is under the limiter. Or maybe it's the limiter's ability to limit. What limiter are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rozovian Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 Guitar is too loud, drop it a little. Schala source is obvious. I keep missing the Undersea Palace stuff, but it's there. I don't know what you guys are talking about regarding compression. The track is loud, but I don't hear any big compression issues. At most, I hear stuff quickly duck under the kick, but that's not a big deal. Trying to listen to the background stuff isn't that pleasant tho. Perhaps you could ease up on the mastering a bit if dropping the guitar slightly doesn't solve that already. Orchestral parts aren't very realistic, but they're not the focus of the track either. Could be worth humanizing the orchestral leads. That high string melody at least. PRODUCTION - Too loud - well, the guitar is - Unrealistic sequencing - the orchestra Not much else to say. Guitar is too loud, orchestral parts aren't human, track otherwise kicks ass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timaeus222 Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 I don't know what you guys are talking about regarding compression. The track is loud, but I don't hear any big compression issues. At most, I hear stuff quickly duck under the kick, but that's not a big deal. I agree, that's why I suggested lowering the guitar and/or bass so the kick doesn't *have* to be that loud. ;D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ambient Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 Guitar is too loud, drop it a little. Schala source is obvious. I keep missing the Undersea Palace stuff, but it's there. I don't know what you guys are talking about regarding compression. The track is loud, but I don't hear any big compression issues. At most, I hear stuff quickly duck under the kick, but that's not a big deal. Trying to listen to the background stuff isn't that pleasant tho. Perhaps you could ease up on the mastering a bit if dropping the guitar slightly doesn't solve that already. Orchestral parts aren't very realistic, but they're not the focus of the track either. Could be worth humanizing the orchestral leads. That high string melody at least. PRODUCTION - Too loud - well, the guitar is - Unrealistic sequencing - the orchestra Not much else to say. Guitar is too loud, orchestral parts aren't human, track otherwise kicks ass. While I am going to be lazy and say that I generally agree with everything Rozo is saying there, I will also add a few comments of my own (which might be repeating some of his points). - Overall, I like the idea. Interesting take on a couple of popular old themes. The arrangement is also above the bar. That wah-wah guitar at around 2:35 is awesome. - The guitars sound great, but all the other instruments could use some work. Especially the strings. They sound rather lo-fi. Maybe layer them some more, put more verb/effects on them so they don't sound so thin. This is pretty much throughout the track. - Also, I am not really digging the intro of the transition at about 3:00. Definitely some room for improvement here. - EQ and mastering can also be improved. This is not my forte, so I am afraid I cannot offer any practical advice on this front. Good job - just need to polish it some more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darangen Posted December 2, 2012 Author Share Posted December 2, 2012 Thanks for the feedback. Here's a new mix: http://www.darangen.com/music/devotio4.mp3 What I've done: - Lowered guitars (just a little, about -1.5db on the sub bus because -3db seemed to quiet to me) - Redid the solo violin for the lead using a midi controller instead of a mouse. - Beefed up the strings a bit. I tried adding more layers on the strings but then the mix started getting really muddy. Hoping I found a happy medium here. Thanks again everyone for the feedback, even if I don't agree with certain suggestions/critiques I still greatly appreciate them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timaeus222 Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 There we go! Significantly better. I actually didn't notice those strings in the beginning until now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darangen Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 Ok, I'm submitting this to the panel. Thanks again everyone for your critiques! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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