Final Fantasy 13 - Eidolons on Parade

[Vidilian]

The remix's time signature is different but kept key changes and rests that were in the original.

Original:

 

 

Remix:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11NuqaiEno8H98MOAMOyJamkI8Np9p_jg/view?usp=sharing

Edited November 7, 2022 by Vidilian

[Vidilian]

Update. Cleaned up the mix and changed the synth bass. Same link.

[brink-of-time]

I like the arrangement of this mix. However, there are some issues with the instrument/drum choices.

Let's start with the drums.

First off is the initial kick. It is over powering the mix, causing it to stand out. If you only used the softer kick starting at 0:40, that would be much better. Second is the hi hat. I like the panning, but it is too loud, try lowering it just a bit.

Now onto the instruments. Alot of the are very soundfonty and midi like. Almost like you played them through a 90s roland midi machine. Very vanilla, ie: they have no fx added to it to make them fuller.
With some good FX mixing, you can even make that sax sound good. Everything just sounds like it's being played raw in a sound studio.
 

Lastly, is the how some sections sound very bare. In some areas (mostly the 1:01 to 1:40 mark), it sounds bare. But this may be from synth/fx choices. There just doesn't sound like there is enough going on with that bass and drum beat moving the mix along. I really like the break at 1:46 to 2:04 though. 

You have a good foundation in the arrangement, but needs some more work. Good start!

[Vidilian]

Thanks for feedback. Helped a lot.

Update: 

Adjusted eq to clean things up more in low end and remove harshness on hihats, sax and some of the synths. This helped the hihats stick out less.

Introduced either chorus or delay effects to most sounds and a longer reverb that only the sax uses in addition to the reverb that almost everything already had, which is now shorter. 

Tried using softer kick that stars at 0:40 for  the intro aswell but it didn't meld well with it, probably because the intro has a bit more energy to it so the softer kick felt out of place. However, I Adjusted eq and lowered the fader levels for the kicks in general so they're less overpowering.

Pitched down one of the synths at the beginning by an octace so it clashs less with another. Filled out the middle part of the song by adding a couple more intruments.

Same link.

Edited April 2, 2020 by Vidilian

[Vidilian]

Update.
Tweaked effects in general to clean things, but hopefully still be noticeable and do their job. Also tweaked EQ.
Removed the side chain compression, that was triggered by the kick, from every instrument except the bass.

Same link

[Vidilian]

Update.

Adjusted effects on synths so they're more noticeable again, but tried to keep them clean.

[Vidilian]

Update. Adjusted the low pass filter on the synth effects to tame their airiness. 

 

[Vidilian]

Got a Google Drive access request meaning the link hasn't been publicly accessible since I switched to using it for the last 2 updates. Should be fine now.

[Vidilian]

Update.

Was doing some over high-passing that was hurting some of the synths so I've dragged those back but still tried to control the low mid frequencies.
Went back to having synth effects be less noticeable but increased overall reverb for everything. 
Exported a WAV and then converted it to mp3 with Audacity as its encoder does a better job with these sounds at 192kbps than the Cubase encoder.

[Vidilian]

Was trying to brighten the mix in an incorrect way by removing too much mid frequencies, making things too tinny, 
so greatly toned down these adjustments.
Then, to make the mix brighter in a more balanced way, I did transpositions and additions to arrangement 
in some parts and fader adjustments. Used slight distortion on the snare to brighten them in a balanced way

Removed high/low cuts from synth effects and made them more wet but instead reducing delay time on the low mid synth 
to keep the mix clean overall while still having the effects be much more noticeable.

Changed the way I played the e piano part in the middle as the staccato way was making it sound more mechanical than intended.

Also some other changes.