SymphoniC Final Fantasy VII Soundtrack Project.

I definitely agree with armorvil on this one about the guitar being too much in a gameplay sense, but I still like your remixes. One thing I'd suggest for them though, is something that in my opinion, would enhance many remixes greatly but people seem to avoid doing it or forget altogether usually.

 I feel like you should add more variance in the volume. The heavier parts should be a bit louder, as should some instruments, as even though the Jenova was good, adding more volume variance helps to make it sound less like a typical remix and more like a performed song. That, and maybe reduce the amount of notes that use vibrato so it has more of a noticeable effect. Just IMO though.

Also, the beginning of the solo part of your Jenova sounds like something from Doom 1/2

I personally find this to be the most faithful and best remix of Jenova

Still, here is the MP3 I edited so it loops with FF7Music (I deleted the intro part). I'll remove the link if it bothers anyone.

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Do you have the full MP3 of that?

Bloodshot, I completely agree with what you said about the variance of volume. The Jenova remix I did was originally intended for OC ReMix, and one of their submission standards is for the volume of the song to be as loud as the average song... unfortunately, that means I had to squash the dynamics with a compressor, which in my opinion destroyed the overall sound. But I have the version before it's squashed with a compressor... it's just not as loud, because increasing the volume would easily cause digital distortion. I'll upload it later, if you like.

I can see why there's some disagreement with the guitars. It's unusual! It's different. Not very many people are used to hearing guitars within this kind of music, and it wasn't featured in the original game. So it's kind of an abrupt change that I think a lot of people aren't used to hearing. All I can say, is... if you have an open mind and let go of what you think FFVII should sound like, you might enjoy it more... like I said before, I'm doing something different, most people will simply replace the samples used in the MIDIs from the pc version (I was one of them), and I just think more can be done instead of sample replacement. I want something refreshing and brand new, some of you might also want something like that too. I've had people tell me that my remixes are very suitable for the game itself... so personal taste is also at hand (this music would probably be more suitable in a remade version of FFVII too). My dream as a musician is to get this kind of music featured in future video game soundtracks and ultimately music scores. For some reason, I believe that it fits well atmospherically for Final Fantasy VII. Anyways, I'm trying to introduce to the world the true potential of the electric guitar, there's so much more that can be done with it than mindless shredding, and it is such a beautiful and emotionally powerful instrument when played properly.

I'm fearless in throwing myself out there, and doing something controversial. Famous inventors were criticized highly before they became famous, guess who ended up looking like the fool in the end? Not the inventors, who were considered completely genious by the world. I'm not saying that those who criticize me are fools. I for one appreciate any feedback I can get. Feedback is like a compass that lets me know how well I'm doing and if I should improve what I'm doing. So if anyone happens to hate what I'm doing, please say so. If you like it, say so! Either way, once I set my mind something and I want to do it, consider me unstoppable. Anyways. Thanks for the feedback Remember, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder... or should I say ears? 

And just a reminder, not all of these remixes will feature guitar playing. I like variety.

Do you have the full MP3 of that?

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Yes. I just found it in a remote location of my hard drive. Download it here. Still, the "full MP3" isn't much bigger ; there's the intro part, sure, but the track still comes to an abrupt stop around the same point.

Also, I don't understand what you mean about the harmony part. Maintaining harmony was an important part that I took into consideration when I recorded my guitar playing, I even added harmony in certain parts. Blending electric guitars with Classical style instruments is extremely difficult to do. It's also not as common even still, so maybe you're just not used to hearing it?

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Ha, I wasn't talking about the harmony instrument. I tried to say that I think that some sound samples could have been better suited for the piece, and that some don't seem to work too well with others. "Harmonious" would have been a better word, I guess. But I'm no music expert, mind you, so you can take what I say with a grain of salt. It's possible that this only happens in my ear.

Armorvil, thank you for your reply. I assume you're talking about the Jenova remix. What samples/ instruments are you talking about specifically? I really think I can make the guitars work so that everything sounds more natural together, and acceptable to more FFVII fans' ears. I want this project to be enjoyable for as many people as possible, as a soundtrack alternative for FFVII. I'm willing to compromise a bit. I'm also aware that not everyone can be pleased, but a reasonable balance can be achieved.

You're welcome SymphoniC, and I appreciate your stance on the matter, but... ...err... ...this is kinda hard to explain with words... ...I'll say this, though : from 3' 03'' to the end, something feels off to me with the percussions. I think it's the percussion and guitar sounds that do not mix very well. Yes, I think the percussions (the battery) must be my main gripe throughout, actually. Thinking about this more, I guess the percussions do not match the "strength" and "power" level of the guitar / entire track. It might sound too weak (and even slow, especially at the start) and thus, doesn't give the piece its full potential. It holds it back, somehow.

J-E-N-O-V-A is one of those tracks that should get your blood boiling - almost send you into a trance - so my problem might come from the fact that parts of your remix are kinda slow-paced. It sounds "gentle" at times. Perhaps with more bass...

Well, I hope this helps.

EDIT:

Oh yeah, from 00'39'' to 00'58'', the battery sound might sound better if it was a little louder. But as I said, take this with a grain of salt ; I can't be sure of what I'm saying without listening to the song with the changes I envision. And since I don't have the tools/programs/instruments, those advices of mine might be completely off. I'd love to be able to create my own remixes too, but there are many obstacles : I have no musical background, and don't know what to buy exactly / which programs to get. I only have what I think is a good ear. Truth be told, I already have many projects anyways, so I'm already happy listening to your great remixes

I don't see what the issue is with changing things up a bit. If people really want something as close as possible to the original, that's what FinalFanTim's remastered soundtrack is for.

My personal opinion is that it's great to have another option being worked on that is close enough to the originals that it can work in-game (unlike Voices of the Lifestream, for example), but at the same time unique enough that it doesn't just feel like a rehash of what's already out there. I agree about the dynamics being a little off, but other than that I really like it.

A good point has been made. The drum samples I used aren't of the best of quality, plus I may have cut the bass frequencies on the track a bit too low. The part that sounds supposedly gentle, I intentionally left drums out, it should give you a "free flying" sensation, a huge release of tension. I have a strong musical background, but I still need improvement in the mixing department. So the feedback is awesome. I strive to get all of these mixes sounding as professional as possible, not easy. I will point out that I have a surround sound system and very high quality headphones with deeep bass, so I hear a lot of power in that mix, while those with normal computer speakers and average headphones won't hear what I'm hearing dynamically. I listened to the mix on cheap computer speakers and the difference is phenomenal... in a very bad way. The bass drums are almost not even present, same with the bass itself. So, the mix itself is very blamable. I will correct this. Thanks again for the feedback.

Wow! Guitars abound in this version of J-E-N-O-V-A ...Although it has a feeling of a " Transformers - Anime" soundtrack for the most...but musically its amazing!!!... If this was used in the Advent Children Movie..I might have been "headbanging with a Buster Sword"...If you know what I mean   :-D

I wanna see where this project leads to....kudos to you man!  :mrgreen:

I haven't forgotten about this project. I'm working on a lone wolf music project... something unique and I'm busy with other things so I've little time for this project at the moment. But an interesting thing to think about is... how to maintain the "FFVII feel" and make the music more contemporary? I thought a metal Jenova song was perfect, because it's aggressive, like a tense battle song should be. The story is different for the Opening theme... Nobuo used Synth Bass and Repeating Snare sample, along with Strings and Synth Lead to convey that "Futuristic feel" that goes along with the showcase of Midgar for the first time in the Opening video. These songs don't really match with the original game, but I feel strongly that (with a little work) they would do well in a remade, modernized FFVII with today's graphics. Any thoughts on this?

Hi SymphoniC,

I've run into the same kind of thoughts on my latest project as well. I think FF7's "percussive metal" sound (similar to an anvil being struck) contributes to the steampunk feeling of the game, as well as the various synths you mentioned.

I see a parallel between the techniques Uematsu used in FF7 and those used in 80s musicals like Les Miserables or some of Andrew Lloyd Webber's shows. A lot of times when a new technique or new tool is introduced to the "pop" music world, everybody will overuse that technique at first as they experiment with it. Later, everyone settles down and that technique finds its niche in the recording world.

Go back to the 80s when synths were in style. Les Mis experimented with the blend of early synths and an orchestra, and the original orchestration was quite synth heavy. Now fast forward to the mid 90s, when the PSX sound chip offers enough polyphony and enough sound memory to start mimicking a full orchestral ensemble. Now it's Uematsu's turn to play with the same synth/orchestral scoring.

For Les Mis' 10th anniversary concert, the music was reorchestrated and synths were more conservatively used (not so much as synths, but as simulations of real instruments like harpsichords or mallet instruments). If there's a melodic line that you find odd in your arrangements, maybe ask yourself if the original composers and sound techs included those lines simply because of the novelty of the PSX sound chip, and maybe if so how you can use that material in a way that blends with the rest of the ensemble a bit better.

If it helps, here are some audio examples:
Les Mis - Opening: 1985; 1995
Les Mis - Waltz of Treachery: 1985; 1995

Anyways, love your stuff. Keep on rockin' in Midgar!