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heya, i saw someone had a similar question but i just wanted specification.

do you mean 5 multitrack MAX in a session? e.g. if i have 5 instruments/multitracks, but i use fx and bounce em so they sound altered, am i allowed to use a 6th multitrack or more? as long as any of the sounds are from the original 5? thanks in advance

haha thank you for the kind words, i appreciate you taking the time to take a look

i've listened through at least a few times since it's been submitted, i find the sound palette makes a really unique listening experience that stands out as a submission. you've managed to build a world just by sound which is pretty awesome. i also enjoy the sound design/choices in songs like Battle Against Corruption. i'm also personally a fan of more atmospheric or ambient tracks. 

there isn't much critical feedback i can think of, besides just the mix in certain songs but this is pretty minor

fave tracks: Battle Against Corruption, Breaching The Corrupted Temple

rated some time ago but did not remember to leave a comment. but it's cool, i get to listen to it for the third or fourth time haha.

clearly you have experience with writing music, so much intention in your tracks. i don't have much "critical" feedback to offer as the entire soundtrack is quality, but personally as a sound design enjoyer i'd have love to see what you can do with sfx but it's not completely mandated, what with your chosen instrumentation. 

furthermore, i'm a big fan of the instruments and sounds you selected. the entire soundtrack is very cohesive while displaying intention, and the written context is super fun, but if i were to close my eyes and listen without the context, i hear the soundtrack as being futuristic, telling a story, sort of "space-themed" but i'm not necessarily directed toward the idea of mechs, ai and cyborgs. these are relatively minor nitpicks for a soundtrack that displays serious skill and intention.

fave track: Sector Alpha

listened and rated a while ago but didn't leave a comment. this is subjective but for some reason parts of it remind me of castle crashers or alien hominid lol. i also find it light-hearted and fun, something i personally have a hard time making. i can definitely hear this in a game where it wouldn't be too monotonous, or overbearing to hear looping. 

among the very few things i'd point out is the EQ'ing of the snares, as well as the hard synth in PROCESSING... though this could just be subjective taste.

all in all love it

oh yeah, this also is one of my fave submissions. listened some time ago but haven't left a comment. came to revisit. great compositional skills. i like all of them but Rising Tide is something special. there are only a couple things i'd point out: 

- the mix is generally well done, though there are some parts that stick out to me. it's not so much a levels thing so much as i think it may be an EQ and/or compression thing. specifically, the plucked instrument & synth (the one around) around 01:36 of Rising Tide, as well as the lead synth in Passing Time stacked on the pads.

- while i'm a big fan of this soundtrack, i find the written context necessary to make the connection to the jam's theme (except for Rising Tide. it's flames). without it i feel the soundtrack could fit a variety of other games.

all in all a high quality submission

heya, thanks for taking the time , i really appreciate the honest and thoughtful feedback. 100% agree, definitely need to work more on melodies haha

hey, really appreciate you checking it out! those actually are real guitar recordings in the first song haha, but indeed heavily modified.

 if you're asking what i used: 

iirc it's both mic-recorded (a cheap amp and an SM-57 mic) and also DI (recorded directly to computer through audio interface). used some ableton stock plugin distortion,  adjusted so it's a little "piercing". i do 2 recordings for each part and then pan one left and the other right. 

thanks for checking it out, i really appreciate the thoughtful constructive feedback. 100% agree, probably should have added more context haha. i also feel i could have done more tracks with a wider instrument variety, or even build even further on these ones. i got too used to trying to make things short and sweet that it can start to feel rather abrupt to me lol. thanks again for listening!

i listened to the entire thing a few days ago but am commenting now. i'm a big fan of the more rock oriented songs. the album does show your range in terms of genre and instrumentation. 

a couple things i'd like to point out are:

- the mix. if i'm being honest some songs such as Mecha could use eq adjustment in the guitars. 

- would have loved to hear additional instrumentation or fx in the songs (e.g. Fight, among others)

- i appreciate the story context, would enjoy hearing more of the music that somehow illustrates your world in such a way that it  is either obvious or undeniable to the audience

still, the ost is rather consistent and makes a cohesive listening experience

i think this is among the ones that have wowed me the most. the fx, the instrumentation, the arrangement... all quality and demonstrate serious experience and intention. there isn't much criticism or constructive feedback that i can currently come up with except for maybe the mix, but this is a very minor point unless you're an experienced sound engineer, and does not affect my rating. great work

i enjoy your instrumental sound palette, it stands out to me. i quite enjoy the third track as it's a sort of whimsy take on the jam theme. personally would have liked to see more musical aspects that somehow illustrate the jam's themes more succinctly but this is merely a personal preference, i can hear the music fitting right into a game as it currently stands. 

big fan of the drums and percussive elements! a few small things: some of the elements in the mix could use use revision, such as the theremin-like synth in Manchine Town. i do enjoy the retro element to your music. 

Hello. It seems my submission somehow was removed? Is there any way to double check it or have it returned to its previous state? I have a lot of helpful reviews and ratings already...

Heya. I saw it's not part of final placement but I still wanted to take time to listen fully. Personally I'm big on post rock (e.g. GY!BE, Sigur Rós and Mogwai, among others) so you've already got me there. It's evident you have quite a bit of experience writing music, by way of the melodies, instrument/tone/fx selection, arrangement. 

Couple things I'd point out are:

- the mix in the OST-- personally that is one of my own biggest challenges. 

- this one may be a personal thing but the synths used... big fan. I'd get more enjoyment out of them being meatier via either EQ, fx or stacking, though I do recognize this could very well be a creative choice. 

- another personal thing, i could definitely see/imagine more build up toward some sections but that's also me as a post rock fan who listens to like 20 minute songs

Fave song: RELIC TE4M

Heya. Big fan of the chords and melodies throughout pretty much the entire soundtrack. Furthermore the fx really flesh out a number of the tracks without adding excessive instrumentation. I think your soundtrack as a whole succeeds in creating an original world, just by audio. That's awesome. Different time signatures besides 4/4, also awesome. 

In terms of what I'd like to hear more... I'd say a tweak in the eq/mix.

FAVE tracks: Multiphase Boss Fight, Save Spot

Hey again, I done goofed, having reviewed the wrong OST. The fault is on my part. I've now deleted my initial comment and thoroughly listened to the correct OST. I've have also revised my rating. Apologies for the confusion!

First off I quite enjoy your selected sound palette. In your description you described experimenting with sounds and arrangements and that's actually a big plus for me, I love experimentation and trying out new things, that's how I try to break away from "conventional" practices in order to discover new territory. Different time signatures are also a plus for me.

There are a few things I'd personally like to hear more: 

- Either instrument layering or tweaking some of the synths, or other instruments. As I said, I love the sound selection, and I think it would be sweet to have some of the leads really stand out by way of fx/eq. Synths could layered or tweaked in a way that enhances the space and depth in the tracks.

- Similar to the first point: Adding a bit more to the drums by way of ear candy, fills, or percussion to accentuate and enhance the kicks and snares would be sweet.

- The melodic phrasing may purely be a creative and intentional choice, focusing on a couple in a given song would reel me in a bit more.

- While I'm a big fan of sfx/sound design being used in particular contexts, I'm not counting it in my rating, but since I enjoy your experimentation I'd have loved to see what you can do in that regard. 

Overall, big fan of experimentation and sound exploration.

Fave tracks: Serenity Encoded, Code Between the Lines

Firstly, I'm a big proponent of percussive instrumentation so that's a big plus from me. It's prevalent throughout much of the soundtrack. I personally enjoy the instrumental range and variety in your soundtrack. One thing I will say is while I personally very much enjoy the vocal samples used in tracks like E.S.P., I'm not sure how it would translate in a game setting. Furthermore, while it may have been a creative choice, I feel some layering or more fleshing out of certain sections would level up a soundtrack I already genuinely enjoy. Fave tracks: INTRO,  FINAL BOSS 3 PHASES "AiV" and FINALS. 

Came back to give a rating. Meant what I said in the first comment. Feelin it. The ideas, to me, are succinct in terms of the instrumentation; and in correlation to the jam's theme. Big fan of the sound selection. One thing I would say... I like the fx you added, and I'd have loved to hear a bit more of those fx in such a way that they help transition from one section to the next.

In the context of your story idea in your description I find that a more mellowed dynamic range is spot on. I do enjoy the sense of melancholy and (intentional) monotony you conveyed in your tracks. While i read the description and listened to all of the tracks, I find there needs to be some element that more succinctly conveys the idea of cyborgs or AI. That being said, I still enjoyed your work!

Hello. Firstly I'd like to say I quite enjoy the compositional aspect, it clearly shows skill and deliberate intention. There is clearly a consistent theme throughout the soundtrack. In my humble estimation one thing I would have liked to hear is a touch more of dynamics throughout a couple of the pieces; for example in From the ashes, there is a sense of "epic-ness" as the track progresses where you built a steady feeling of excitement. It's not so much a lack of excitement as it is you already giving the listener (me) a desire for even more dynamic excitement. All in all, I genuinely appreciate your work. 

Hello. First of all I'd like to say I genuinely enjoy the direction you took. I took the time to listen to the entire thing at least a couple of times and I do want to be honest and in good faith. The theme and compositional quality is consistent throughout your OST. One personal opinion is I feel there could be a bit more added to some parts of the songs. The ideas and the themes are so succinctly illustrated, in an ergonomic way, that I can easily tell what you are going for. I'd just like to hear some parts developed more (in regards to instrumentation or sfx).  All in all, quite enjoyable.

Hey again, so I see the rating of the submissions is now open. I'm not too familiar with how jams typically work, so does everyone just listen to the submissions and rate? I already started listening to a number of submissions a few days ago. Anything in particular we should be aware of or do? Thanks in advance.

feelin it

feelin it

flames

hello. just wanted to ask if the deadline extension was for any particular reason, and if it's acceptable to add additional tracks to a previously-submitted project due to the extension. thanks in advance