Great, but it's missing something...
This piece is begging for a melody. It needs a solid melodic line that ties the whole thing together. The harmony sections create wonderful flow and the different patterns you've got here create a backdrop for a melody, but there isn't one.
The piece would seem much less repetitive with something taking the lead here, y'know? :D
~Joshy676
I was merely going by the original. What kind of melody would you suggest? :3
By the way, I DID manage to make the kick drum a lot stronger than before, so now you've got nothing to complain about from that. >:D
Anyways, thank you for your review, and I await feedback on what kind of melody you mean.
Well done!
I like your original stuff a lot, Shawn. You always come up with awesome progressions and such. This piece even has a melody and a working rhythm section. Great job once again, man. :D
~Joshy676
I wasn't even trying on this one! xD If you want, I can try to make a full song from this, but I don't know what I'd be able to do.
Thank you for your review. I didn't know I came up with great progressions under such a creative block. xD
Well done!
I like how this piece keeps moving, keeps grooving, as it goes. Some may complain about the polyrhythm between the guitar line and the drums, but I think it's cool. Reminds me of early Rage Against the Machine, actually.
Anyway, good work done here, Shawn. Keep it up! :D
~Joshy676
I really did NOT expect this kind of review, even from you! I was sure this piece would almost fail on the Audio Portal!
Anyways, sorry for my lame response. I'm under a deep contemplation state.
But nevertheless, thank you for your supportive words. I will keep working at things.
Needs more kick drum!
During some parts of the piece, particularly during the groove from 1:33-1:53, it's very difficult to pick up on the rhythm. Don't get me wrong -- the groove is awesome -- but without a solid kick drum, trying to follow along to this piece is like running into a brick wall at every turn.
Otherwise, it's well done. I need to check this composer out.
~Joshy676
I can always count on solid reviews from my favorite drummer. XD
I didn't think the drums were a problem, but rather what else was contained in the song. I was hoping to follow more closely to the SO3 version with the organ solo, but eh, I can hardly follow the SO4 version by ear.
Thank you for another fantastic review. I'd love to see you make a mix of this one.
You picked jazz guitars because...?
...Is it perhaps you finally realized, like I did, that distorted guitar soundfonts suck? If so, good job! If not, here's a tip: FL Studio 9 still has the Buzz Effect Adapter (that's been in the Effects section since at least FL Studio 7, if not earlier). Screw around with it for some neat distortion effects, but do use it sparingly; distortion has a bad habit of spiking a channel over the peak line.
I like that this arrangement is more varied than the others, but it's becoming clear that pattern swaps are not enough variety. If you do this polkka again, add an original section in there somewhere. Even the same thing, but in a different key would be preferable!
~joshy676
I chose the clean guitar part of the SGM soundfont because it fit best with what I was trying to get at. The distorted one would have just done... massive damage to its, forgive this very obvious and blatant reference, Life Points and sent it to, as 4Kids says, the Shadow Realm.
...Yes, I've been watching Yu-Gi-Oh Abridged lately. So what? xD
Anyways, I guess I could try your suggestion. I just did it because I was bored and followed it with my ears and such. Even so, I appreciate your review.
Sidenote: "cor Anglais" is an English horn. :D
Simply speaking, the English horn is to the oboe what the tenor saxophone is to the alto saxophone. You (possibly) unknowingly picked the best possible instrument for the lower harmony voice in this ensemble by going with the English horn.
Once again, though, it's very repetitive!
~joshy676
Actually, I willingly selected it. Out of the ones I had, I used that because it had the best low voice. And yes, indeed I knew that the cor anglais is an english horn. :D
Interesting... Interesting...
I like where this piece goes. I've only got a couple of gripes.
First of all, you have access to the Mixer in your copy of FL Studio 9, yes? Have you used the Fruity Parametric EQ 2 before? Try it; EQ processes are great ways to shape your sounds. One sound in particular that could use some shape change would be that concert bass drum that's prevalent throughout the piece; with its current sound, the real-world equivalent is hitting the drumhead dead center -- a major no-no in concert bands and/or orchestras for most percussion instruments because it sounds like the percussionist is slapping a mallet against a wet sock. Remove some of the middle to middle-high frequencies (move down sliders 5 and 6 -- play around with their widths and knees, too!) and bring up some of the low to low-middle frequencies (move up slider 2, moving it right a touch and widening the frequency range of the slider). This will give your bass drum a darker, warmer tone that, you'll find, blends nicely into the soundscape.
If you know how to change the root key on the Fruity Soundfont Player, move your snare drum up 6-8 semitones. The result will be a brighter, tighter sound.
Otherwise, I love the progression of this piece and its relative simplicity. Keep up the good work, Shawn.
~Joshy676
P.S.: If you don't have access to the Mixer, ignore my advice about the bass drum -- you could then either lower its note velocities down or find another soundfont.
Man, you do all the good reviews.
Well, this is what I get for asking for a review from a drummer. XD Oh well, I like the advice you give me. If I make a re-release of this, I'll be sure to try what you've given me.
Thank you again, man!
Very good work, Shawn. :)
It took me a long time to realize that long note harmonies are often more effective background than syncopation. Blame the drummer in me! xD
On a more serious note, the long note harmony is what makes this piece work so well. Everything is in proper balance and it flows smooth, like good liquor.
Once again, great work, Shawn.
~Joshy676
Thank you, Josh! I was wondering how I'd do on a new one, but I think I outdid myself here. I think it's time for a little StarFox.
A bit repetitive, but technically sound.
This one's a keeper, Shawn. Good blend of sounds, interesting percussion choice, flows nicely. It's just a little on the repetitive side. A second percussion pattern for the "break" (where it moves from the material that was exclusive to the original to the material from the Black Mages version) would break the monotony there a ton, or even just another loop on top of the current one.
Either way, good work, Shawn. :D
~Joshy676
P.S.: Been busy, but I thought you might want a review. :)
I got bored and redid this, lol. But thank you, man. Really glad you keep up on the reviews. :D
It's well arranged, but it sounds incomplete.
I like the arrangement directions this mix takes, but it's missing a few things:
1) A bass voice. It's my opinion that you should write an additional part that plays notes in the C1-C3 range, possibly doing simple arpeggios underneath the thematic melody (the exception, of course, being at beats 3 and 4 of the last measure of the loop, where the melody hits a chromatic stepwise resolution -- the bass voice should play the same resolution, but in the lower octave)
2) Another drum pattern or two that you can interchange with your current pattern for more flavor or variation. You'd be surprised how much a simple beat change can alter the feel of a section.
3) A working harmony. This piece seems like it'd be more silly with some percussive major chord work -- again, resolve with the chromatic as with the melody -- and the more ostinato the chord work, the better. You could even have the harmony syncopate with the drum patterns and create an interesting rhythm-countering experience in the background.
What you've got so far is good work, though. Keep it up, Shawn!
~Joshy676
P.S.: Sorry I'm so late writing this review, especially after all the times you've asked for one. :P
You sure know how to write good reviews, man. Everything I've gotten from you is simply awesome. I'm glad you like it, even with those few nitpicks. Glad to hear it!
He/Him. Drummer for Totally My Hat! One half of Pixels & Paradiddles.
Age 33, Male
Drummer
GCC AZ
Griffin, GA
Joined on 7/15/04
SSJ3 - Still Going Strong RDX