Waltz is Beautiful (Arrangement of "Life is Beautiful" from the "Deadly Premonition" OST)

[moebius]

Hello!

I am currently reworking my remix of Life is Beatutiful for submission to OCR.

Heres the original:

On prior versions of this track I have had the following feedback:

• The kick drum was not easy to hear.
• Too conservative on the changes from the original.
• A bit hot/cramped on the mix.
• Sound pallete was very static throughout.
• More changes in dynamics.

Besides trying to adress the mixing issues I did the following changes to the arrangement:

• Wrote an interlude loosely based on the original melody to introduce more changes.
• Added two lightly distorted guitars that also play the repetition of the A section and improvise some of it.
• Added an electric piano to get a more childish toy-like vibe. It plays the melody in the first half and the harmony in the second.
• Removed the whistling in the second half and only bring it back at the climax of the piece to play alongside the guitars.

I would appreciate to know how well I have addressed the issues so far. :)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/10hoKOBtCiOJWAcGhUAnvkRb9Wc4asNO8/view?usp=drive_link

 

Edited June 12, 2024 by moebius

[pixelseph ⚖️]

Hey Moebius!

We cannot listen to the file currently as we'd have to request access... are you able to change the sharing settings to "Anyone with link can view?"

[moebius]

Hey Pixel, 

Sorry for the oopsie, I fixed the permission! 🙈

[pixelseph ⚖️]

Sorry to take so long to come back to this one!

The detuning on the EP (or is it a marimba? sounds like a hammered instrument) at the beginning is a bit too heavy, and when the whistling comes in to double it, it gets sour. I recommend either not doubling with the whistle, or reducing the pitch shifting on the EP to match the whistles. The tremolo picking on the guitar isn't working for me - because of how tight the rhythm section is, it must be together with it or it sticks out uncomfortably.

Tonally, the guitar is right where it needs to be; the (programmed) performance is not there yet.

Overall, though, this is a great remix! Love the swap from bossa nova to waltz feel - wouldn't mind hearing the drums shift either to half-time or double-time for a section to give some difference in kind to add more spice.

[moebius]

Thanks a lot for the feedback, and also the help on Discord fine tuning the tremolo.

I tried to address all your points.

• I decided to try without the whistling, to also get away from the original further
• Adjusted the tremolo and some additional programming on the guitars.
• Changed the middle section to half time feel.
• A few edits to the melody lines to make them more unique and distinct from the original

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11MUAvDkXcK-Vifl3GQ_Ha1gSO0XKnjxi/view?usp=drive_link

Edited July 5, 2024 by moebius