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Batman + Illusion City (PRC282)

Votes (8)

Oct 27, 2014 Yami

Wow, what a great round and what a difficult decision (again).
My votes:
1) Enter the Illusion: Damn, that was great, it started slow, but it got better and better and the guitar made it.
2) Illusion City Theme 1: Well, the setup was pretty unique and this made the entry so interesting.
3) El bati-twist: Well, Batman is my favorite superhero and even if I didn't mix the source myself, I'm glad someone tackled it, so it deserves a spot.

Oct 27, 2014 bundeslang

Gercr - Good that you picked Batman. Funny combination, that trancy lead and the more rocking background samples. The song is not completely in balance and is noisy at some parts, but I liked the idea.
Jorito - This style really works nice with the source. Especially the part around 1:46 is amazing, also the ending is good.
Meits - The choirs are great in combination with that piano and drums. They are all from great quality. That flute (or whatever it is) at the end is also great.
Supercoolmike - I think the string is a bit too dominant at some parts, but I liked how you put everything together. Especially that synth around 3:00 is great.
Yami - After listening to the three other Illusion City mixes I didn't expect this... I'm a big fan of this style and it seems to work as well on this more 'orchestral type' source. It could use more variation (even though you did that at 2:10 and at the ending), but it's another good one.

Hard choice, the decision that Gercr did the best Batman mix was the only easy decision this time.

Oct 27, 2014 Jorito

supercoolmike: Cool and interesting intro :) Feels a tad disconnected from the source song though. You added a fresh take on the source, with an interesting sound palet, so much appreciated. The orchestral bits could have used a bit more oomph and epic I think, the original is quite bombastic and I missed that a bit.

Meits: welcome to OCR, buddy :) I know the quite spartan way you work, respect for that. My main issue would be that's it's a 1:1 cover (including the false notes) with better instruments. As such better suited for the MnP compo, the PRC compo has room for own interpretations and it's a pity you didn't take it (I know you can do it!) Still, enjoyed it and looking forward to seeing you around here more.

Yami: I never imagined this song as dance tune, not in all the covers I heard before of this song. So it's a fresh approach for me, even tho it's quite repetitive. I'm not fond of the lead instrument and it seems drowned in reverb and delays. The transpositions up and down feel a bit like a cheap trick to make the song longer (I used to do this a lot, LOL). Nice ending there. Overall enjoyable and good that you got back to mixing again, looking forward to more of your songs!

gercr: kudos for covering the Batman song and for delivering it at the last moment. I liked what you did with the intro with the brass and the sfx, feels very superhero. The chosen sounds (guitar/synths) work well for this type of song. My biggest gripe would be the timing issues in the rhythm guitar and the synths, distracting me from enjoying it as much as I could. Like the guitar solo improv at the end, and it feels like a complete song. I'd like to see you polish and finish it properly, you have a real good starting point here!

Oct 28, 2014 Meits

Jorito won easily. #2 and #3 were close to each other. It could as well been turned around.

Oct 28, 2014 Grauw

I’m really happy to see my choice of source sparked some inspiration. A real bummer that Anorax lost his work, and I also hope yet to hear Sir_NutS’s bonus track even if it did not get finished in time! Below are my notes, I try to describe some points for improvement, but I enjoyed each and every entry!

Truth Behind The Illusion — Really gets going after a minute or so, I like the orchestral approach. Not a big fan of the intro, feels disconnected from the sourced part. With regard to the mix, the oboes are a bit too soft, I think it would sound good if they were more dynamic, really swelling up when joined by the flutes. Overall it could be a tad more bombastic. With all these remarks, don’t mistake that I didn’t enjoy listening to it though! :) And submitted so quickly, too!

Illusion City Theme 1 — I really like that unique set-up you’ve got, and the result sounds good. At the same time, a downside is that control over the dynamics is limited. But limits are part of the fun, and the song and style can take it quite well. I still hear some off notes, I think you could’ve taken the liberty to change those. Talking about liberties, it’d have been nice if it had some original part :). The mix sounds full and doesn’t leave much to be desired. Finally, the video is a nice touch!

Enter The Illusion — Great remix, very exciting, thrilling (opzwepend in Dutch). Many nice touches like the nod to MGS. Love the “swirls”. I struggle to say more because there’s not much to be remarked upon :). A definite winner! You should submit is for an ocremix…

Maboroshi — Though not really my style it’s yet another nice remix! The bass has a nice rhythm but would’ve sounded better if it didn’t follow the pad’s “step-up” to the next measure. Also it gets a bit repetitive, the same part (marimba in the source) for a full two minutes is a bit much. In stead of the double key change, leaving it out for a while and doing some interesting bits, either original or incorporating the square wave tune from the source, would’ve been good. For example, I never get the chance to hear the background part (pops up for a few seconds here and there, like around 2:27, but mostly gets drowned by the supersaws) and it sounds like it’s worth hearing by itself!

El bati-twist — A great last-minute entry! I like the style :). Nice intro. A timing issue around the 0:37 mark. The steel-sound is a little too detuned for my liking. The transition to minor around 1:00 sounds a bit odd on one hand, but on the other hand it’s also got a certain something to it. When the lead guitar kicks in around halfway it becomes real nice and relaxed, also nice rhythm guitar.

Thanks to all participants! Another great PRC!

Oct 28, 2014 gercr

1:
I watched the video, and felt overwhelmed at the process, also its a really nice classic videogame vibe, and great choice of sounds

2:

Really close to the first place, great entry. Also that metal gear theme sneaking in the song was a nice touch

3:

Nice intruments choices, and pretty cool arrangement.

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I wanted to hear someone else do the batman source, too bad everyone choose the illusion theme.

Oct 29, 2014 evktalo

Nice round! Difficult vote.

Truth Behind The Illusion

Hmm, some of the cello/double bass? writing sounds a little unfitting for the overall harmony. Meits' comments make it sound like there's fault in the source too, maybe that carries over.

I like the harp having such a prominent role. The rock kit is interesting - I don't think the lone BD fits in the beginning, could be an orchestral BD there but I like how the kit picks up at 01:06; the combination with xylophone is nice too. Thinking about it, the intro is a bit meandering, but once the arrangement gets going, it's quite good structurally. I like the rock kit + orchestra combo, it gets quite groovy!

Illusion City Theme 1

Cool distorted sounds, the flute is also nice. Love the description of the work process! It makes a cool 90s old school sound but with more modern sounding mixing if that makes sense.

bd+snare too loud (no hihat? or just so quiet?) could also raise the energy with introducing a faster beat (say at 1:56) to give more sense of progression to the track.

0:47 (and other similar spots) piano sounds off-harmony, not necessarily piano on its own but it+other instruments together.

Enter the Illusion

Solid stuff, nice hybrid sound. Great guitaring. Definitely cinematic.

Maboroshi

Nice groove at 1:11. Pretty cool arrangement, but a bit sparse & could have more energy.

El bati-twist

Cool synth rock take on the theme. Some of the synth+bass+guitar chords don't always line up harmonically. A bit meandering with the structure, lots of potential though for a little editing & progressive part-to-part writing. Nice jamming feel (not too noodly, but the right amount of noodly). I really liked how the drums dropped out at the end and the other instruments kept the rhythm going. Maboroshi & ICT1 were stronger as complete pieces but I voted this third for the concept, sound and ideas (e.g. potential).

Oct 29, 2014 supercoolmike

Meits - saw the video and its pretty badass, and I don't know anything else to say other then it was great.

Jorito - yes, aggressive ass orchestra.lol. The way u used the synths worked great with the orchestra, making it sound way more tense/urgent. nice job.

Yami - its really cool but imo its a lil repeptive.

gercr - very cool rendition there and those guitars just help it sound so edgy.