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EeToN Group: Members Posts: 845 Joined: Sep. 2001 Posted: Feb. 28 2005, 23:35 'Saga' is similar to 'Oclamoorie' in many ways. It's also a remix of one of my earlier music and it was also composed in 2001. However, this remix resembles the original version more than in the case of 'Oclamoorie', even some instruments came from the original version. However, in style, 'Saga' is (intended to be) more serious than 'Oclamoorie'. It's interesting to note that when I found out the melody, I managed to remember it only with the help of In Dulci Jubilo. Don't ask me how though. The ending with the pipes is another hazardious idea after the speeding-up in 'Oclamoorie', I'm curious how many of you will hate that part. EDIT: You can now download the two versions from these new locations: Saga, Saga (Different Ending) I tried to create an intro to it, but it goes in a totally different way, maybe it will be my next finished track: Saga Intro (Demo) -------------- If I were music, I would be Enigmatism. Back to top

Alan D Group: Members Posts: 3670 Joined: Aug. 2004 Posted: Mar. 01 2005, 13:31 I've been playing this (Saga) at intervals through the day. Well, let me start by saying that if I were putting together a CD of tracks downloaded from Tubular.net like María's, this would definitely be on it, alongside Oclamoorie. And I think the pipes are wonderful! Something is called for there... to give it weight... to make us realise we've arrived somewhere - and the pipes do that brilliantly. My only quibble - and EeTon, I couldn't even begin to do any of what you're doing, so my observations are of little value, being based on complete ignorance of what's possible - but my only doubt is about the rather mechanical and 'thin' sound right at the beginning and right at the end. So, at the beginning the tune seems to be presented in a rather soul-less way and I have to wait a bit for the sound to get interesting. And then at the end, having come so far, and having revelled in the richness of the pipes, I have to accept the thin gruel again one last time. How about letting it end with a bang rather than a whimper? But even like this - it makes it onto my hypothetical CD. Thanks. Back to top

EeToN Group: Members Posts: 845 Joined: Sep. 2001 Posted: Mar. 01 2005, 20:48 Thank you, Alan! I made some modifications, I hope you'll be glad to hear them. I was braver with the bagpipes, they're rather in the foreground now (the whole day went with experiments how they sound the best but I suppose this is still not the maximum I could reach), the glockenspiel lost some reverb, and the ending is totally different now. (Quite funny that the original Saga also had two different endings and those are equivalent with the endings of these two remix versions.) I also tried to make something with the mechanic sounding of the guitars but I'm afraid they became prim now... The link is the same as above as I've have overwritten the previous version: Saga -------------- If I were music, I would be Enigmatism. Back to top

Korgscrew Group: Super Admins Posts: 3511 Joined: Dec. 1999 Posted: Mar. 01 2005, 23:26 Dare I say I liked the way the first version ended? The new one works too though, I think you can probably save yourself any further worry by leaving it how it is. I doubt there's much more you can do with the 'guitars' really - a part of the problem is that melodies are generally played on guitars and similar instruments using a combination of up and downward strokes with the pick, and a sample can only ever be one (usually a downstroke). There are loads of little bits of articulation players add when they're playing a melody, which would take so much effort to program convincingly, I think it would be quicker to learn the guitar! Anyway, I like this one, it has really quite a powerful sound by the time the pipes come in, which I like a lot. The sound reminds me of The Cock and Bull Band, actually (you might find it interesting to check out some of their stuff, they're well worth a listen). Good stuff. Back to top

Alan D Group: Members Posts: 3670 Joined: Aug. 2004 Posted: Mar. 02 2005, 04:19 Well it seems to me that you can't go wrong, really - because this new version certainly isn't less interesting than the first. Having come to know the first version quite well by now, the new ending came as a shock - but I think it works pretty well. Still, having both versions now, I can understand Korgscrew's comment about preferring the original ending - so I've been listening again, trying to figure out what causes that 'soulless' effect that I mentioned before. I'm not sure what instrument is being simulated at the start and at the end - is it a harpsicord or something like that? I think that's the cause of my problem - that particular 'instrument' just doesn't convince my brain when it's playing alone (or nearly alone). I can accept the guitars and the flutes quite happily... but something in my subconscious is rejecting the 'harpsicord'. (Can I get therapy anywhere for this?) Anyway, my hypothetical CD will now start with version 1 and end with version 2. Back to top

raven4x4x Group: Members Posts: 1535 Joined: Jan. 2002 Posted: Mar. 02 2005, 05:54 This is pretty darn cool!! Great tune and beat. I've only heard the second version, and it's very nice indeed. The beginning and ending are perfect. Well done. -------------- Thank-you for helping us help you help us all. Back to top

EeToN Group: Members Posts: 845 Joined: Sep. 2001 Posted: Mar. 03 2005, 20:28 Thank you all for your comments! I uploaded both versions in better (192kbps) quality mp3, the previous ones were in 128kbps and had noticeable quality loss compared to the original wav file. I couldn't help also making some minor modifications, you can seek for them. The links: Saga Saga (Different Ending) (WARNING! The original ending is now a mix of the new bagpipe section and the old acoustic guitar ending - so that 'ending' word indicates the very ending part.) Quote There are loads of little bits of articulation players add when they're playing a melody, which would take so much effort to program convincingly, I think it would be quicker to learn the guitar! Yes, I suspect that, too. But at least you can listen to it now. Quote Anyway, I like this one, it has really quite a powerful sound by the time the pipes come in, which I like a lot. When I listened to it with "clear head" (I mean, not directly after listening to it a hundred times) yesterday, they seemed to sound quite strange, I guess I overdid the 'out of tune' effect that made the three bagpipe sound more than three. I tried to help that in the mp3s above but my head is filled with the the melody again now so I can't decide whether I succeeded or not. I'll check The Cock and Bull Band. Quote I'm not sure what instrument is being simulated at the start and at the end - is it a harpsicord or something like that? No, it's (intended to be) an acoustic guitar (or two at the end). Well, not too realistic if it can be recognized as harpsichord... Anyway, it's the same two type of acoustic guitar sounds that you can hear throughout the track. Quote Anyway, my hypothetical CD will now start with version 1 and end with version 2. Could I make 15 versions so that the CD will be called Saga Variations? Quote The beginning and ending are perfect. So does no-one hear the 'out of tune' effect overdone? (Anyway, is anyone interested what Saga was back in 2001? Just to see how much the track (and the technique I use) improved.) -------------- If I were music, I would be Enigmatism. Back to top

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