Music

Hey, uh. This is totally unrelated, but I did a little ditty for Chemical Plant. I know we don't actually need Chemical Plant and I'm more than happy with Steve's version, but hey why not. Woo!

Here.

Just because I always thought the song did best with synthy shit. :3

 

Usually I love your music work Tweaker, but I'm not really too keen on the sound of the 'chords'[?] to that; it sounds a like it was played on one of those cheap-ish music keyboards. I can't explain what, but it feels like there's something... slightly missing to it, I'm not sure.

I'm not really very good with music terminology, so please forgive me for that. ^^;

 

You're right that it's a very cheesy synth brass, but that was kind of the point. When you remaster a tune composed in the early 90s, sometimes it's good to consider the era it was made in and pick the instrumentation to suit that. By all means the original FM instruments were in a similar vein of cheesy; you just didn't mind because that was sort of the norm for music made on the YM2612. Plus it didn't have reverb.

 

While I can see what you're getting at, isn't the idea of this all project about 're-creating' Sonic 2 for the 21st Century? I'm not suggesting that we create a totally different-sounding Zone tunes, but more along the lines of 'updating' a 90s tune with 21st Century music technology.

The whole reason why we're redoing it in HD is because they were limited to 90s technology - as like you said, they didn't have reverb back then.

So why limit ourselves to their limitations while we're trying to make this a HD rendition of a classic 90s tune? It doesn't sound very logical to me (if... you get my drift?).

 

Won't load.

 

This sounds awesome.

The only critique I have is that I think the snare may be a bit too bright. Still - I absolutely love it. It sounds great.

 

It's not a limit—it's an aesthetic choice. Every single synthesizer and sample set I used in that track is absolutely modern. The whole buzzword of "HD" that people keep throwing around for music is, frankly, ridiculous. The music should be judged not through what era the general sound was popular in, but by now appropriately they fit the song. I can insert grungy as fuck buzzy saw synths all over the goddamned place if that's what gets your rocks off, but that won't make it sound any better at all. This artificial notion of adherence to an arbitrary "HD" standard of music quality is, frankly, ridiculous.

scubaSteve's Emerald Hill has patches that sound like they came out of the 80s, but you didn't hear anyone bitching about that. Why? Because the choice in sound was completely appropriate. I don't see how mine is any less credible.

In other news, I did Wing Fortress too. Love it or leave it, I guess. And yes, I'm aware the brass is a little too high; unfortunately, I couldn't get Kontakt to dip into the lower octaves without taking a shit all over my face and refusing to play the notes. I'm also not totally happy with the percussion. Maybe you'll like it, though!

Wow, dude. You seriously need to either get a better reverb plugin or use a lot less of it. I can't take this seriously when it's absolutely drowning in it.

The instrumentation and arrangement sound like they might have potential, but not like this. Please do something about that. I'd also suggest percussion that doesn't consist of nothing but drumsticks frotting. Respectfully, of course. Needs a lot more punch to it. I might give something a shot later if I can be bothered; if you want, I can also try improving the mastering on your arrangement. Either works for me at this point.

 

Could do with some stronger bass. Maybe through use of a Double Bass or even a loud Bass Guitar.
There is a bit too much reverb as a stated by Tweaker, but I like the effect it gives in the bridge section with the piano [the part before it loops].

The main meldoy should also be stronger.

Otherwise the type of instruments and instrumentation is fine.

 

It's probably because I've been listening to the OC version of CPZ, but this just doesn't have that thump to get the pace of the level and Sonic in general across fully.

 

When I download your files, they always have the OGV extension. Since Firefox won't play it (because it thinks it's a video), I can't listen to it without changing the file extension. Could you save it as OGG next time?

 

This is much better. As for that wider "cave" sort of feel you're going for, I'd suggest either a drier reverb (I know, I know... wet cave, dry reverb, laughing_elf_man.jpg) or some sort of ambient sound effects in the background—drips, maybe some panned delay on more of the tracks or something... you know, whatever can capture the attention of the ears as often as possible.

I wouldn't be too afraid of a powerful snare; this is one of the cases where one would be entirely appropriate. Give it a shot and then decided whether you want it or not. You might be surprised.

 

I got a feeling (while listening to it) of exactly what Guess Who described - being in a big ol', reverb-filled cave. I thought it was great and matched the level perfectly. I'll take a listen to the 2nd version now.

 

Lol, as I was listening through this, it kinda reminds me of a 'haunted house'- style music :v:

Tweaker, as I said before, I absolutely *love* all your work before (and you have nailed WFZ spot on - it truly sounds epic!); it was just that one particular instrument which sounded a little flimsy, that's all.

 

This is a loop I created for Wing Fortress Zone. I don't think I ever posted it. Obviously I didn't make the music.
Video Game Orchestra - Wing Fortress Zone

 

Definitely agree with this . Just listening to it makes me feel like I'm playing through the level. It feels so "Sonic 2"!