Seth Skoda Posted March 7 Share Posted March 7 I first started this project in 2016, lost it due to a computer crash, recovered it years later, rediscovered it, worked on it recently. And this is what I've got so far. Sonic 2 - Hidden Palace Zone [WIPv1].mp3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liontamer Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 I like that the beats have a kind of swung rhythm, but they do plod after a while. New section at 1:04 dragged a lot and the texture felt too empty; the overly fake-sounding string sustains, piano, and kicks all hurt this on a sound quality level. I like the string writing at 1:42 in principle, it's just an ultra fakey sound, and the placement is so loud compared to everything else. Cool rhythmic change at 2:01. I wish the textures were more sophisticated or better padded, because there's so much empty space due to how thin the instrumentation is. Could use more melodic usage of "Hidden Palace" as well. It's a start! Seth Skoda 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronald Poe Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 I listened to this remix as part of a workshop event and I kinda like it. It's got a great groove to it and is pretty creative. However I feel the violin section is both thin and misplaced (it'd work better as an intro than in it's current placement). Also agree with Liontamer/Larry on not having enough of the melody of "Hidden Palace Zone". Still it's a good start and I'd love to hear a completed version of this on the site some day. Seth Skoda 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pixelseph Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 Hi Seth! The 12/8 vibe for the opener is killer, though the energy drop at :48 was rough. The writing during that phase has a lot of promise by itself, it just feels disconnected from the intro and outro - is there a way to weave the melodic content from that section into the others? Or place the slower waltz bit ahead so that the change to the industrial bop feels like an upswing? Down to hear more of this! Seth Skoda 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Vodoú Queen Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 (edited) Heya Seth, here's my thoughts on it so far: Arrangement-wise -- right off the bat, @ ~ 00:48, the two distinct genres between your EDM and Industrial / change-up jarred me. IMO, they both work separately but not together. I think if you were to introduce your remix with the slow dance-like beat, and then rise it up to the hype / fast-paced beat, it would work better. Perhaps start with the violin, drop it for the plucky synths, and then re-introduce it later on in a sort of interlude / mixing the two genres, before the end? That might make your groove feel more fluid and coherent between the two styles employed here. Instrument/Mixing-wise -- I had no issues with your synths, really. I found them all to be nice-sounding in timbre and appropriate, even though they might be a little basic, but I am unsure if that is because these are still your stems from your original work from 2016 project, or because you had to rework/rebuild this from scratch and some of the sounds are currently placeholder. The plucky synth around 00:15 is a bit soft as well, but unsure how mixed this remix is currently...or how far in production. However, everything sounds clear, I love the vol raise and contrast you have with the additional synth playing the same melody with the plucky synth, and your bass and kick/drums are hella groovy. :) Hope this all helps. :D I look forward to hearing more work on this. :3 Good luck with it! o/ Edited April 19 by The Vodoú Queen Seth Skoda 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paradiddlesjosh Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 Arrangement: I second Liontamer's suggestion about expanding the instrumentation. The sparseness isn't selling the concept. Additionally, the drop at 0:46 seems like it was intended to change up the soundscape, but in execution, it's a big letdown because it throws all the energy you just spent the first 45 seconds or so building. It would be more effective to start with that more sparse, chordal bit and build the energy into what you've done with the intro. The false fade-out ending allows the interest curve to drop off too soon as well. Production: The lead synth at 0:16 could use a boost of about 1-2dB. Otherwise, the volume balance of your elements is well executed, at least to my ears. The solo violin at 1:45 is overexposed; if you have a higher-quality sample library you could replace it with or another texture for the lead overall, that would improve the sound greatly. It's a great relief to be able to recover some work after a crash. Keep pushing on this one, and you'll have something awesome. Seth Skoda 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xaleph Posted April 19 Share Posted April 19 I think the change in genres could work - but you'd need to add space for the transition. I have to agree with the other comments here though - would love to see more work from you, especially in that first genre (but I'm biased towards EDM haa haa). Seth Skoda 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Skoda Posted April 19 Author Share Posted April 19 Thank you to everyone for the thorough criticism. I will definitely keep these things in mind when I have time to give this project another go. pixelseph 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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