Remake of an old C64 song: tusker

[bosone]

Hi everyone!
i am trying to remake an old commodore 64 from "tusker", a game made by system3.
this is the original song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxL1I0Hw-b8&t=35s
i always liked it a lot, especially the rhythm and the main theme.

I am working on a metal version:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5HKs ... VEtQk01dGs

still in progress...

the intro is somewhat orchestral, but then i like the metal mood!

i have used NI studio drummer, west africa, amplitube for bass and lead and the mesa model in Scope for the rhythm guitar. main mix in scope but also some cakewalk FX added.

I'm still in doubt if adding some orchestral arrangement in the rest of the song... but i was also thinking about using an hammond...

what do you think about the overall sound so far? maybe i have to re-record some parts, there is some sloppy playing here and there...

[next to nothing]

Hey, nice one
Personally I'd work a bit with the lower frequencies, the bass guitar seems to drown a bit, and maybe I'd tone down the "boomyness" of some drums a little.
Then again there are far more competent people here than me, with far better monitor equipment, so I'm sure you'll get better advice elsewhere

[dawman]

I'm an expert...

Run that sucker through Optimaster.
I've been recording the last few days after 6 years of nothing.
I'm trying to make iPad mixes, since that's my way of listening, but I attach JHAudio Layla IEMs.
I try all sorts of tweaks and Optimaster always fixes me up.

I'm way to impatient and get ear fatigue too quickly to get all scientific.
I can't even watch a movie without fast forwarding.

[bosone]

thanks for listening and for the suggestions

Optimaster will be the last addition! as well as psyQ to spice up and pump the sound...

now i have to finish the arrangement and refine mix/playing. it's a very long process, since time is very limited...

[bosone]

Hi again!
arrangement is almost finished:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5HKs ... ndsekNBVjQ
need to refine the mix and the overall sound... what do you think so far?!

[yayajohn]

cool song! well arranged and sounds great. Thanks for sharing!

[JoPo]

Yeah ! Absolutely brilliant !
lovely ! In comparison with the original, it's awesome ! Bravissimo !

I must just confess that parts with the electrical hardrock guitar are not my favorits...

[bosone]

thanks!
i will come here again with the final vesion!

[Marco]

Nice cover version! Thumbs up! Up the iron!

[bosone]

... and here it comes the "first" final version with mastering:

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B5HKs ... WxsUTJBOEU

how does it sound??

[Marco]

Sounds good, the lead guitar could be more in the front.

[kensuguro]

I'm not sure if you want this to sound contained or big and spacious. The song itself has a spacious quality (grandness) to it so I think it'd be interesting to put the whole thing in a much larger space with explosive drums, like more of that stadium sound. The symphonic elements would probably benefit from that too. (to become more symphonic) I think that's more of a creative choice than anything else, mechanically I think the current mix is balanced and sound.

BTW, percussion wise I thought the high end was a bit light for the amount of grandiosity taking place. Mallet cymbals or even gongs would help build ups and also help sustain high energy portions.

[bosone]

I'm not sure if you want this to sound contained or big and spacious. The song itself has a spacious quality (grandness) to it so I think it'd be interesting to put the whole thing in a much larger space with explosive drums, like more of that stadium sound. The symphonic elements would probably benefit from that too. (to become more symphonic) I think that's more of a creative choice than anything else, mechanically I think the current mix is balanced and sound.

BTW, percussion wise I thought the high end was a bit light for the amount of grandiosity taking place. Mallet cymbals or even gongs would help build ups and also help sustain high energy portions.

thanks ken for the comment, indeed there is much to think about!
i never really thought about how the mix would sound like... i am used to listen to metal bands with very dry drum /guitar sounds and the orchestral arrangement is certainly not so much "symphonic" or "full"... i focused on brass to get a very pompose section and i also dried up the reverb (by lowering the room size in S|C masterverb) because otherwise it sounded too muddy...
i like the suggestions about the percussion, that would work, ideed!

but that's really a great suggestion. i tend to read it in a more "phylosofical" and "creative" way for my next productions!

[bosone]

Ok, here it is the final vesion:

https://soundcloud.com/bosone-2/tusker- ... e-64-remix

I just made some small refinement, nothing exceptional as ken suggested...
i also plan to record a video (in playback... ) of me playing guitar/bass and some video excerpts of the game... should be fun!

[kensuguro]

Lead guitar sounds mighty victorious to me!

[bosone]

those were courtesy of mesa-amplitube!