Liontamer Posted December 22, 2022 Posted December 22, 2022 Original Decision Hello! I would like to resubmit "Treasure Beyond Dreams". Your panel's advice and criticisms were very useful, so I implemented as many of your suggestions to the best of my current capabilities. I had made a bad mistake and didn't mix with headphones, but the panning issues were very clear when I put them on. I agree that the 2nd lead that comes in around 1:25 was quite harsh sounding in some parts, so I toned it down with eq, but there was actually also a lead guitar part that was layered with it in the "chorus" that I completely re-recorded and brought forward. I must admit I originally used that synth to kind of hide my guitar playing, but this time around I decided to practice it a bunch and go for a better take with a different tone. I re-recorded the other electric guitar parts as well with a softer tone so hopefully that is also an improvement. The file: Thanks again for your time! Kevin
DarkSim Posted December 22, 2022 Posted December 22, 2022 Great to hear this one back again! Even better, you've taken on board a lot of advice and this version sounds fantastic. It's always a pleasure to see feedback being taken on board in a positive way, and producing a result like this. It's a dreamy remix, very fitting for an ending theme, and the instrumentation fits well. The resonance on the lead guitar at 1:28 and 2:11 is still a bit on the harsh side, but it's a huge improvement over the first submission, and I'm really glad you were able to tighten up the performances and re-record those parts. All the other issues I mentioned in my previous review have been addressed, so I'm happy. Not much else to say really - thanks for resubmitting! YES
prophetik music Posted December 22, 2022 Posted December 22, 2022 i voted on the original one, calling out issues with synth selection, effecting, and some mastering bits. right off the bat, this sounds a lot better. the lead is nowhere near as grating, the electric guitar sounds better, and the mix is smoother. it's a little over-panned for me, but it fits when everything's going. the lead at 1:28 and 2:11 is still very bright and highly resonant, but it's not as harsh as before. i noticed the strings in the background more this time as well - i really liked that. 2:26 when the rhythm guitar kicks up is great. it really has a great driving feel without being too heavy. overall, i still think the resonant lead at 1:28/2:11 and the electric guitar lead are both too bright. they cut through the mix so clearly and are harsh to listen to. i would like to hear a filter put on those to bring down the top end of their freq range. i think that's a five-minute fix, though, so i am good with a conditional here. the rest of the mastering is nicely balanced, and the arrangement is still simple but enjoyable. CONDITIONAL
Liontamer Posted December 30, 2022 Author Posted December 30, 2022 Intro still sounds strong, with the bass having nice presence. The warbly lead brought in from 1:26-1:45 still comes off piercing and overly loud to me. Then the guitar from 1:45-2:09 came in even louder and over the top, and seemed to steamroll the backing guitars and drums. Then more of the warbling lead from 2:09-2:28. Although the panning issues have been fixed, I still feel the mixing of the leads for a third of the track isn't ideal. However, the arrangement remains strong, and my issues with the mixing would be nice-to-have fixes rather than dealbreaker stuff, even though I'll definitely share my feedback with Kevin if this passes. I'm there, but I wish it wasn't a borderline YES due to EQing issues that could still be improved on rather than the full boat. EDIT (1/23/23): I sent over the votes, and Kevin was kind enough to knock out another pass at this. Odd note at 1:16 was mitigated, and the mixing was better than ever, with the piercing areas meaningfully dialed back. Able to revise my vote into the full YES!
MindWanderer Posted December 30, 2022 Posted December 30, 2022 I'm largely in agreement with the above. EQ could be improved, especially in that resonant section everyone else mentioned, but I don't think it crosses over into dealbreaker territory. YES
Chimpazilla Posted January 21, 2023 Posted January 21, 2023 There are definitely some balance issues here, warbly lead is on the loud/piercy side, guitar comes in too loud. At 1:16 there is one wonky note, whoops. But overall, what a lovely interpretation of this source. Guitar performances are great, part-writing is good. It's a sweet feel-good mix that makes me smile. YES
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