New Song: Eclipse

Eshmasesh · 01-30-2007, 02:32 PM

Eclipse

The title was sort of rushed because I didn't feel like dedicating the brain power to come up with a good title

Other than that, I think the song is pretty solid. I've been told that the bass is too overpowering by some, others say that they disagree and like the song as is. I'd love criticisms...this will probably be the song I enter into the DDR contest thingymajig.

I've also started a song recently called The Monsters They Saw. I won't be entering it, because the BPM is 93, way too slow

Unless I did some tempo double or something. Oh well, it's 2 minutes long and not finished, but I'd like comments on if the direction is good, what I should keep in mind and improve.

Eshmasesh · 02-02-2007, 04:03 PM

My thread fails.

Arctures · 02-02-2007, 07:50 PM

Sorry for not doing this earlier :<

Eclipse
Intro progression is nice. You seem to know the genre really well and how it works, with the filtering of the synth patterns. The scratches add a very nice touch to the genre. It seems like melody is your thing, because they all seem to work very nicely together. And the strings kind of remind me of MGS2 mission R, which is a song I'm quite fond of.

A couple issues though. You have to remember that if you want to enter this in the DDR competition, it has to sound like a DDR song. And there are a few tips that will give you a pretty good upper hand in it. First of all, it's not percussive enough. This where most of the interest in playing a song lies, if it rhythmically advanced, and all I get is a kick drum with the occasional hi-hat. Throw in some congas, djembes, any sort of rhythmic drumming. The track also lacks quite a bit of high-end, since there are little to no hi-hats.

The kick drum is fairly weak. I'm not sure how you got it, I assume it was by taking the kick drum preset sample in FL Studio and adding some Blood Overdrive/Distortion on it. In order to give it presence, you should probably get a better sample. If you own FL Studio then you can download free samples off of their website. Make sure that you know how to use the EQ as well, because every sample always needs a little bit of tweaking. Another little tip: reverb on the kick drum doesn't help at all, unless its used as an accent.

I'm uncertain as to how anyone can say that the bass is overpowering, because I'm not really hearing any. This too can be solved by a change of samples. I've got quite a selection of free ones that came with a magazine my mom got (forgot the name of it :P), so if you want any just ask me. Again, they all need EQing, because nothing is perfect.

Finally, you also have to remember that in DDR, the listener has to be instantly captivated, so a long intro like the one you have given is not going to hook the listener. By itself as a song outside of any video game, the intro is good, but in the game I'd suggest taking it out and going right into the rhythmic stuff.

7/10
You have plenty of fantastic ideas, just now how to back them up with rhythms and other intricacies. You just need practice, which can only happen with time. I look forward to hearing more work from you.

P.S. hi5 for being a furry

Eshmasesh · 02-02-2007, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arctures

A couple issues though. You have to remember that if you want to enter this in the DDR competition, it has to sound like a DDR song. And there are a few tips that will give you a pretty good upper hand in it. First of all, it's not percussive enough. This where most of the interest in playing a song lies, if it rhythmically advanced, and all I get is a kick drum with the occasional hi-hat. Throw in some congas, djembes, any sort of rhythmic drumming. The track also lacks quite a bit of high-end, since there are little to no hi-hats.

Hmm, that's a very good tip. I'll have to play around with the idea...

Quote:

The kick drum is fairly weak. I'm not sure how you got it, I assume it was by taking the kick drum preset sample in FL Studio and adding some Blood Overdrive/Distortion on it. In order to give it presence, you should probably get a better sample. If you own FL Studio then you can download free samples off of their website. Make sure that you know how to use the EQ as well, because every sample always needs a little bit of tweaking. Another little tip: reverb on the kick drum doesn't help at all, unless its used as an accent.

Well, you got my kick drum exactly right. I guess I should have spent a lot more time with it, thanks for the heads-up.

Quote:

I'm uncertain as to how anyone can say that the bass is overpowering, because I'm not really hearing any. This too can be solved by a change of samples. I've got quite a selection of free ones that came with a magazine my mom got (forgot the name of it :P), so if you want any just ask me. Again, they all need EQing, because nothing is perfect.

If you'd like to contact me some time soon, I'd like that

Quote:

Finally, you also have to remember that in DDR, the listener has to be instantly captivated, so a long intro like the one you have given is not going to hook the listener. By itself as a song outside of any video game, the intro is good, but in the game I'd suggest taking it out and going right into the rhythmic stuff.

You're giving them the rights to make a cut of the song when you send it into the contest. So I wasn't too worried about it.

Quote:

7/10
You have plenty of fantastic ideas, just now how to back them up with rhythms and other intricacies. You just need practice, which can only happen with time. I look forward to hearing more work from you.

Thanks

What do you think of the second song, by the way?

Quote:

P.S. hi5 for being a furry

eh?

DjMeas · 02-02-2007, 10:49 PM

Sorry this post isn't too long and detailed, but i listened to the track and i felt that overall the track was pretty nice. I thought the percussion was pretty neat but i wish there was more flute throughout the whole track ^_^

Arctures · 02-02-2007, 10:57 PM

On "The Monsters They Saw", I really like where its going. Great use of rhythmic and melodic progression, and the samples aren't generically FL Studio which I always love to hear. It is unfinished though, but I'd like to hear a completed version if and when you decide to work more on it. And honestly, it didn't sound like 93 BPM to me: all you really need to do is add the kick drum on the 8th notes and it'll sound just fine.

On the note of the basses, by AIM is leonid2098. Give me a ring when you're in town (not this weekend though, won't be home).

Also, I assumed that you were a furry since you were on furaffinity.

Eshmasesh · 02-03-2007, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arctures

On the note of the basses, by AIM is leonid2098. Give me a ring when you're in town (not this weekend though, won't be home).

I don't use aim anymore ;-;

Quote:

Also, I assumed that you were a furry since you were on furaffinity.

Well you see, I...um...well...
The jig is up.

Arctures · 02-06-2007, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eshmasesh

I don't use aim anymore ;-;

Yahoo! works fine too, mine's at the same name as my AIM account.

Ætheros · 02-08-2007, 06:38 PM

I don't think the buildup is too big of a deal for the DDR contest tho, since Konami can edit the song for time if they choose, but i did like it!
I agree though, it need more bass, and it seems to lack ENERGY! I'm not an expert on energetic songs at all, so i can't tell you how to add that extra UMPH! but i can tell you it needs it (exception on the slowdown at the end) good though.