Liontamer Posted March 23 Share Posted March 23 Aritst: Michael Hudak This is a "strange" song from Mario Kart 64. For remixing, it's a perfect track with which to explore different sounds without being chained to a melody. I've done a few mini-suite remixes like this before with The Great Boggly Tree (very cut & paste-y) and Ice Cap Zone (a little more thematic cohesion), and this might be in a similar vein as those, at least in terms of structure. The source is almost all 16th note arpeggios: 8 bars of A (A-C-D-F), and then slowly rising and falling through A# (A#-C#-D#-F#), B (B-D-E-G), and C (C-D#-F-G#) as well. At times, I played the arpeggios using a similar log drum sound, but at other times I recreated these arpeggios by recording electronic drum lines and tuning them with EQ notch automation via FabFilter. I also used a harp sample to play the chord progression in moments, layered with a flute at the end (for a Les Baxter Jewels of the Sea tribute). The moments in my mix that have those arps/chords are: 0:00 - 0:44; 1:01 - 1:23; 2:03 - 2:07; 2:18 - 2:38 Also in the source are some horror strings that play from 0:29 to 0:45 in that YouTube vid. The moments in my mix that have those strings notes are: 1:45 - 1:56; 2:03 - 2:10 There's a ton I could say about the methods I used and how I experimented with what to get what sound, but I'll just say this - I was a lot of trial and error. Thanks again to the judges who have to listen to this and figure out if it works for the site or not. - Mike Games & Sources Game: Mario Kart 64 Source: Banshee Boardwalk (link) and also the item box jingle from the same game, which I know doesn't count as source because it's a sound effect (link). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chimpazilla Posted March 26 Share Posted March 26 WHOA. That Banshee source sounds more like something I would expect to hear in Twilight Princess than in anything Mario Kart! Clearly I did not play Mario Kart 64! But it sounds like a tune that would inspire Michael! The source song is full of arpeggio, sharp bells and plucks, creepy strings, ominous bass, and dissonance, very Twilight Princess. The remix seems to be primarily the arp from the source song played over and over in a billion unique ways, along with the chord progressions and horror strings. Wow, this is super cool. So many different elements, forming a constantly evolving emotive soundscape, with that empty-yet-full feel that I love. So much variation, holds my interest all the way through, making me wonder what is around the next corner. Definitely has a comic-nightmare vibe, which is so unsettling. Production and mastering are ace. Thank you Michael, I dig this maximally. YES Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emunator Posted March 28 Share Posted March 28 Hot damn Michael. You know sometimes when you can't quite find the words for why something sounds amazingly produced, but you can feel it on a visceral level? That's what the production on this track does to me. Every single sound feels deliberately placed, and there's not a single space in the frequency spectrum that feels neglected or overemphasized. "Empty but full" is an absolutely perfect way to describe this, and I think you've made some tremendous strides in the quality of your mixing and mastering to help achieve this effect. The better frequency balance, spatial presence, and attenuation of harsh frequencies is absolutely felt here. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that this sort of triumph simply wouldn't have been possible a year or two ago, and it speaks to the level ups that you've made as an artist in that time. Even the arrangement itself feels like it flows more naturally than some of your previous genre-bending mini-suite sound design experiments. Would it be going to far to even describe this as a pleasant listen? I don't think so. I'm not sure how you do it, but keep doing it. YES!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prophetik music Posted April 1 Share Posted April 1 breakdown is highly appreciated. i love the timelessness of the opening sections. it initially sounds like it's going to be in time and then just immediately falls off the rails. it's clearly immediately heavily influenced by vaporwave sensibilities (ＡＥＳＴＨＥＴＩＣＳ) with the tiktok-brain switching of styles and ideas every few seconds. there's some really wild elements to this that are so far afield from the original that i can't imagine how you got there, and i'm so glad you did. combining the sound design with some of the traditional music theory techniques (like the diminution of the rhythm at 0:58, or the tapestop effects straight out of 1950s french musique concrete at 1:14) is just so fun. the breadth of innovation here is impressive. i just hope the acid wasn't too expensive. YES Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Liontamer Posted April 13 Author Share Posted April 13 Wow, great experimental concept per your usual, bro! Love the different sound combinations! Appreciate the source usage walkthrough just to clarify things, even thought the source usage was very straightforward. :-) YES Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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