Topic: Descent: Orchestrated

[Alieo]

@TechPro: I see your point. However, when I did these, I did them with the "good speaker systems" in mind. My main objective in rearranging the instruments of the MIDIs is to replace those instruments that sounded "old-soundcardy" and replace them with more "natural" instruments (Though, if a song required "electronic bass" tracks, then I'd theme up the whole song that way, like Game05). Perhaps what I really need to do is to purchase a GOOD soundfont. This one is one I found online for free. It's a pretty good soundfont, but I don't like the way the MIDIs sounded originally with this soundfont, which is why I have been reassigning some of the tracks with different instruments.

You're right though, with a "good speaker system" they do sound better, and that was what I was going for, but I don't have time to redo any of this. Classes are starting in a couple of weeks, so I will just continue to finish this project and put any future Descent music editing on the back burner for the semester. At least I scored with Game08. lol!

Still to come is Games 22-26, D1 & D2 Themes, Briefings, and Credits, D1 Endgame, and D1 Exit.

Now, here's Game14 (Deranged Mix) re-uploaded. I found what was bugging me about it from the first time I posted it a few days ago, and I'm happy with this one:
http://www.planetdescent.net/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=958

Also new is a completely different take on Game19. It's been slowed some and the different instrumentation goes with it much like how I slowed Game11 down a bit with matching instrumentation for the new tempo. Game19 (Dream Cave Mix):
http://www.planetdescent.net/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=961

[Alieo]

TechPro, compare these. I always thought the bass was a little weak on even the good speakers with GAME21.

Here's what was on there...
GAME21 (Doppleganger Mix):
http://www.planetdescent.net/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=948

And here's some changes to the bass:
GAME21 (Reprise Mix):
http://www.planetdescent.net/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=962

Also, some improvements...

Game07 (Napoleon Dynamite Mix) >> BASS improved:
http://www.planetdescent.net/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=964

Game01 (Power Mix) >> Swapped out the Harpsichord for a steel string guitar:
http://www.planetdescent.net/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=939

Game19 (Heavenly Mix) >> Good thing the original post of Game19 had no views. It sucked! I was rushed to get it done before work, so here's the real deal on that, again, with a different take to it:
http://www.planetdescent.net/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=963

Next, I'm going to improve (possibly completely redo) GAME02 (Because it bugs me... unless I get mass opposition from doing so), and then finally work on Game22 and beyond.

[Scyphi]

Eh, I have to admit that the new Game 19 mix isn't doing it for me. It's an interesting take, yes, but...yeah. No sparks, as it were.

Also, I've decided that I'd like your mixes of Game 01 a lot more if it weren't for the fact that right now, it actually seems kind of...empty.  I'm not sure why that is. Maybe it's that lack-of-bass issue Techpro pointed out, maybe not.

[Alieo]

Eh, I have to admit that the new Game 19 mix isn't doing it for me. It's an interesting take, yes, but...yeah. No sparks, as it were.

Also, I've decided that I'd like your mixes of Game 01 a lot more if it weren't for the fact that right now, it actually seems kind of...empty.  I'm not sure why that is. Maybe it's that lack-of-bass issue Techpro pointed out, maybe not.

I think it's because I swapped out the harpsichord for an acoustic guitar. The bass on GAME01 is as sharp as you can get, and let's put it this way; I can hear the bass just fine on my cell phone speaker. IT SUCKS!

Updated GAME01 - GAME03...

GAME01 (Grave Mix)
Similar to what I did for Game20.
http://www.planetdescent.net/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=965

GAME02 (Cyber Goth Mix)
A rowdy synth bass themed version of this one with a different drum track.
http://www.planetdescent.net/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=966

GAME03 (Doppelganger Mix)
(You may have heard this already, but I did some minor tweaking and I have it sounding exactly the way I want it to now.) No matter what anyone says, THIS IS THE HOLY GRAIL of GAME03's I've been going for for so long!! My first impression of GAME03 was, of course, from the Descent 1 Demo version which has no drum line and is arranged very differently from the GAME03 in the final release of Descent. This one is arranged JUST LIKE it, but does contain drums, however. There's a link to the actual Game03 demo version in this link for my song so that you can compare the two. I'm going to be conceited and say that this one is my all-time favorite version of GAME03, even though I was the one that arranged it. 
http://www.planetdescent.net/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=944

[Alieo]

Finally, new stuff...

GAME22 (Blowout Mix):
http://www.planetdescent.net/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=967

THIS is a fine example of what this sound font is capable of. Only 3 minor edits: Swapped out the warm pad for the string ensemble you hear in the background in the intro, adjusted one of the guitars to be an octave higher, and adjusted the gunshot SFX to be an octave lower. Other than those three elements, this song is pretty much a straight MIDI translation of this sound font.

[Scyphi]

It took me a second for me to warm up to the organ for Game 01, but once I had, that is indeed an improvement. (although...i think I liked the acoustic guitar from the last mix a little better...oh well).

In fact, Game 02 and 03 seem notably improved too.

Game 22 truly was a thrill to hear. But then again, it's a very dramatic track already, and that lends to it immensely.

[Alieo]

Alrighty... prepare for Descent 2!

GAME23 (Biotech Mix)
Biotech... when non electronic instruments collide with synthetic "tech" instruments. All I did was clean up a few messy instruments the soundfont converted badly. There's a DEEP bass line heard in the intro and one of the mid bass tracks were changed to an acoustic guitar plus increased an octave higher. The "Echo Drops" were replaced with "Choir Aahs" cuz they sound SO much better than the frickin' Echo Drops.
http://www.planetdescent.net/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=968

GAME24 (Dynamic Mix)
Pretty much left this track as a straight conversion except I edited the intro "thump and breathing" SFX, and I replaced all "echo drops" with "choir aahs". Like GAME22, this one is a good example of what the SGM-V.2.01 soundfont is really capable of.
http://www.planetdescent.net/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=969

GAME25 (Biotech Mix)
Biotech... when non electronic instruments made by biological beings collide with synthetic "tech" instruments. I WAS going to make this a full acoustic mix, but the synth pads of this soundfont were too good to pass up for use in the climatic part at the end, so we've got another biotech mix. I replace some of the synth bass tracks with slap bass, background organ beats were subbed with steel string acoustic guitars, and the tremolo strings work well with the first part of the song before switching to string ensemble that leads us to the climatic breakdown of Game25.
http://www.planetdescent.net/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=970

GAME26 (Heaven's Horn Mix)
This one was a MAJOR pain in the ass to record in spite of the fact I only changed out a few instruments. In the first half of the song, the French horn was only audible on the left speaker, so this took some nitty-gritty editing to get it where I wanted it; I had to independently record the French horn as a solo track, reverse stereo channels with audacity, then paste it into the beginning of the song. It was freakin' ridiculous. Also increased the pizzicato strings an octave, changed out the echo drops for a vibraphone because I didn't like how the echo drops sounded when they go from left to right to left to right really fast, but the vibraphone does the job and maintains that "heavenly" element I was going for. The rest of the song is pretty much unchanged.
http://www.planetdescent.net/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=971

Next: Menus, Briefings and Credits, oh my! I don't have time to work on this anymore. Perhaps if time finds me, I will work on it, but I'm gonna have to leave it incomplete for now. At least I got all the playable level BGMs done.

[Scyphi]

Hmm. The only one that really stands out to me is Game 23 (or D2 Game 01) because it actually has a different sound to it, especially within those first few opening moments of it (it gradually loses that the further it goes into the song, but never entirely).

The others sounded rather mundane and same-old, same-old though, if you don't mind my saying, especially Game 26 (D2 Game 04), which was the one I was probably most disappointed with, as that's my personal favorite of the D2 midis. 

[Alieo]

...especially Game 26 (D2 Game 04), which was the one I was probably most disappointed with, as that's my personal favorite of the D2 midis. 

Aww! What didn't you like about Game26? Is it the French horn? Honestly, I can't stop listening to that one on repeat! 

As far as 24 goes, I didn't alter much because that bugger has like, 32 tracks, and is already using several things from the entire soundbank.

What I need is a SUPREME full-bank soundfont that would make these sound better.

UPDATE: Ugh, I'm gonna have to put this whole project on hold. I despise leaving things "incomplete", but I have to start school soon, and I won't have time to work on this. Perhaps if I have time, I'll work on it.

[Scyphi]

To answer the question, I just didn't find anything special about Game 26. It sounded, as I said about the others, same-old, same-old. Like any other midi-based remix of the song I've heard. It didn't sound unique enough, I guess.

EDIT: Upon re-listening to it, trying to determine what might be holding it back, or rather what it is lacking that it needs, I am unsure as to what it could be. I think you're actually on the right track with the french horn, it's just not enough, I guess.

[Alieo]

Okay, so I went back over Game23-25. I'll do 26 later because it just takes way too long to record it thanks to the speaker channeling error that the program creates for it.

GAME23 (Kinky Mix)
Changed around a lot more than before
http://www.planetdescent.net/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=968

GAME24 (Poltergeist Mix)
It is exactly as it sounds. A bit of a dark flair to it. I begin with a timpani causing a more dramatic banging sound and I subbed all the organs for harpsichords and clavinets. I use brighter sounding lead pads and SFX than the regular ones that were originally there. The part towards the end with the moaning now sounds like cop car sirens thanks to the square lead. It really sounds like a poltergeist incident to me. Also, enjoy the lil poem that just came to me as I was reuploading this. ;-)
http://www.planetdescent.net/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=969

GAME25 (Acoustic Mix)
Expanded upon what I originally started and made it an almost all-out acoustic mix save for some electric pianos and guitars. How do you like that CRAZY electric clean guitar that kicks in at 3:37?
http://www.planetdescent.net/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=970

[Scyphi]

All right, improvements all around, although I could do without Game 24's organ.

[Alieo]

GAME26 (Heaven's Gate Mix)
http://www.planetdescent.net/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=971
Changed a bit more around giving it a "heavenly" ascension feel to it. Also, a surprise ending on the drum track. 

I actually have the Descent theme, Briefing, Credits, and Endgame themes completed, but I need to go back and switch out a few things on the Descent theme first because I wanna post 'em in order. I like how Endgame turned out. Let's just say it's going to be similar in instrumentation to the CLOSING theme of Unsolved Mysteries (NOT the intro). Here's a refresher:

Unsolved Mysteries Closing - 1992

[Scyphi]

Better, although now I'm not sure about the background percussive instrument (you know, that ba-dum, ba-dum, dum, bit?). Not sure what it is, but it feels mildly...I dunno...I don't want to say off, or that it's bad...I just...I dunno.

Still though, this would be good enough as is for me, even with that.

[Alieo]

are you talking about the bass in the beginning? (That's what I can best match the "ba-dum, ba-dum dum" to.) Cuz I didn't change that. Or are you referring to the parts that have the chimey thing that goes back and forth real fast from left to right to left to right? If not those, what time stamp is it at?