Mirror (ElectroProg - Seismic Ambient Horror)
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 11506 posts since 13 Mar, 2009 from UK
Our ill-fated hero stands at the open door of the dark, empty room. There is nowhere else to go. He enters the room and quietly closes and locks the door, temporarily (in his own mind at least) delaying the pursuing terror. He turns around and realises that the room is in fact not quite empty. Some 20 feet away in the centre is a large mirror, with no visible means of support, apparently hovering some 10 inches from the floor. He turns towards the mirror and approaches it silently, stealthily, until he is just able to discern his outline encapsulated within its dark framework when, suddenly...............
Projection/Incidence/Reflection
Originally recorded over 15 hours in March 2010, The February 2012 remix took 10 hours. I heard Valhalla Shimmer just before starting the remix and knew it had to go on this track. This was a "concept" piece based on a horror scene I had in my head for some reason whilst working on the original version. Shimmer gave it an edge.
edit: mp3 download link removed
http://soundcloud.com/whatsisname/mirror
Recorded in EnergyXT2.5.2/Remixed in EnergyXT2.6/EnerygyXT2.7beta
Wollo FMERA 2
NI Pro-53
Microtrance
EnergyXT Drum Sampler
Superior Drummer 2.3
EnergyXT Delay
EnergyXT Reverb
Frohmage
Valhalla Shimmer
T-RackS 3 Equalizer
Edit: 20130216 remix: re-introduced a delay that got lost on earlier mix. Edited drum parts, EQ mods, added FerricTDS to master bus, re-levelled and mastered using T-Racks3 - took 5 hours
DR - 15
Projection/Incidence/Reflection
Originally recorded over 15 hours in March 2010, The February 2012 remix took 10 hours. I heard Valhalla Shimmer just before starting the remix and knew it had to go on this track. This was a "concept" piece based on a horror scene I had in my head for some reason whilst working on the original version. Shimmer gave it an edge.
edit: mp3 download link removed
http://soundcloud.com/whatsisname/mirror
Recorded in EnergyXT2.5.2/Remixed in EnergyXT2.6/EnerygyXT2.7beta
Wollo FMERA 2
NI Pro-53
Microtrance
EnergyXT Drum Sampler
Superior Drummer 2.3
EnergyXT Delay
EnergyXT Reverb
Frohmage
Valhalla Shimmer
T-RackS 3 Equalizer
Edit: 20130216 remix: re-introduced a delay that got lost on earlier mix. Edited drum parts, EQ mods, added FerricTDS to master bus, re-levelled and mastered using T-Racks3 - took 5 hours
DR - 15
Last edited by seismic1 on Thu Jul 22, 2021 7:46 pm, edited 5 times in total.
-
- KVRAF
- 8072 posts since 12 Dec, 2003 from Canada
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 11506 posts since 13 Mar, 2009 from UK
Hey Matt, thanks for listening and commenting. Glad you enjoyed it. "The Lamb" was an odd album for me. It wasn't one of my favourites back in the mid '70s, but later as time passed, I appreciated it more and more. By the early '80s I had grown to love it.polyslax wrote:Wow, very nice piece Tim! The arc of energy and emotion is handled with great skill. I love the slow contemplative build. Your lead story and the opening of the track instantly made me think of Lamb Lies Down.
Thanks very much for the SoundCloud comments too. Made my day
-
- KVRian
- 609 posts since 29 Feb, 2004 from Toronto
As I commented on soundcloud, I enjoyed this. Fine choice of sounds and mood. I will ask again, does our hero survive in some way? Ill fated, as in dead or merely suffering psychic scares for eternity?
Reverbnation
see ya 'round...
see ya 'round...
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 11506 posts since 13 Mar, 2009 from UK
Thanks for the listen and comments Morgaxx. Glad you enjoyed it
Do you sometimes feel cheated at the end of a "happy-ending" movie, knowing that the sequel is soon to follow? This was a great chance to redress the balance. Think of the mirror as a supermarket cashier.
Do you sometimes feel cheated at the end of a "happy-ending" movie, knowing that the sequel is soon to follow? This was a great chance to redress the balance. Think of the mirror as a supermarket cashier.
-
- KVRAF
- 1585 posts since 13 Nov, 2005 from St. Paul
like polyslax said, the skill with which you develop your ideas and build up suspense is really impressive.
-
- KVRist
- 443 posts since 20 Nov, 2010 from stuck in transition
horror, really?! well, I'd call it beautiful (it's relative, I guess)
the rhythmic shift @ 4:48 was totally unexpected. Made me wonder what ambient fans would think of it. whatever, I thought it was cool. now I understand why it's labeled electroprog
this piece is 10 min long but it doesn't feel like it. You know, some things go on for 5min+ and you think to yourself, "that needs a cut." not this, not
at all. The pacing is great! I struggle with that a lot. I tend to pack my ideas to tight and then go back and forth trying to get a good flow
listened on soundcloud, will be back for more. good stuff! (i have an account there...need to put some music up tho)
one more thing... The opening part, what synth/patch?
the rhythmic shift @ 4:48 was totally unexpected. Made me wonder what ambient fans would think of it. whatever, I thought it was cool. now I understand why it's labeled electroprog
this piece is 10 min long but it doesn't feel like it. You know, some things go on for 5min+ and you think to yourself, "that needs a cut." not this, not
at all. The pacing is great! I struggle with that a lot. I tend to pack my ideas to tight and then go back and forth trying to get a good flow
listened on soundcloud, will be back for more. good stuff! (i have an account there...need to put some music up tho)
one more thing... The opening part, what synth/patch?
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 11506 posts since 13 Mar, 2009 from UK
Thanks very much for extremely kind comments jopy. Glad you enjoyed itjopy wrote:like polyslax said, the skill with which you develop your ideas and build up suspense is really impressive.
- KVRAF
- 2645 posts since 21 Jul, 2004
i loved the gentle build up leading into the smack in the head by the drums - expertly done.
as kcisANDderit said it really didn't feel like ten minutes... evidence of witchcraft and/or a very deft hand at arranging
excellent tune Tim.
neil.
as kcisANDderit said it really didn't feel like ten minutes... evidence of witchcraft and/or a very deft hand at arranging
excellent tune Tim.
neil.
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 11506 posts since 13 Mar, 2009 from UK
It sent chills down my spine when I wrote it, but I always had that little story from the original post with me. A little like that 2001 fantasy scene, which I always found exhilarating and unsettling.kcisANDderit wrote:horror, really?! well, I'd call it beautiful (it's relative, I guess)
The rhythmic barrage was intentionally jarring, but, like the horror/beauty contrast was a required component. Without a comparison/point of reference each has little meaning.kcisANDderit wrote: the rhythmic shift @ 4:48 was totally unexpected. Made me wonder what ambient fans would think of it. whatever, I thought it was cool. now I understand why it's labeled electroprog
Most of the tracks I put up here and on SoundCloud were approximately 2 years old at the time of posting. My feelings towards them usually change over the intervening period, and I tend to cut down the length of the tracks when it comes to the edit/remix process, and maybe add a melody line or two. This track was an exception. It actually grew by some 12 seconds (longer fade-out), but the edits were really just FX additions, a cymbal here or there, or the addition of the string synth during the Incidence section. The original version of this came together so quickly in one long session. It was basically done in one day, which, for me, is really fast.kcisANDderit wrote: this piece is 10 min long but it doesn't feel like it. You know, some things go on for 5min+ and you think to yourself, "that needs a cut." not this, not
at all. The pacing is great! I struggle with that a lot. I tend to pack my ideas to tight and then go back and forth trying to get a good flow
That synth was WOLLO FMERA 2kcisANDderit wrote: one more thing... The opening part, what synth/patch?
The patch was from the Dimitri Schkoda patchbank
These can be downloaded from www.wollo.com (go to the VST link)
The patch name is Plastix Tears
Thanks for taking the time to listen and comment. It is much appreciated.
-
ThoughtExperiment ThoughtExperiment https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=7790
- KVRian
- 743 posts since 26 Jun, 2003 from UK
As has been said before, that 10 minutes goes by very quickly. A very fine arrangement that tells a story well. Nice one Tim
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 11506 posts since 13 Mar, 2009 from UK
Maybe I should have called it Smack My Witch Up. Yeah, those drums weren't very subtle, were they?macmurphy wrote:i loved the gentle build up leading into the smack in the head by the drums - expertly done.
as kcisANDderit said it really didn't feel like ten minutes... evidence of witchcraft and/or a very deft hand at arranging
excellent tune Tim.
neil.
Thanks for the very kind words Neil, and thanks very much for listening.
-
Programentalist Programentalist https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=8597
- KVRian
- 657 posts since 21 Aug, 2003
Very nice, great tension and atmosphere and the transition to the more fast paced section at 4:48 was great.
While you built some good moods though, I didn't quite feel the horror vibes. Everything was too nice somehow. Felt more like dramatic moments in life (some sadness there perhaps?) but not quite haunting in that sense of the word.
Still a very cool piece, and making it last for 10 minutes without me getting bored is impressive
While you built some good moods though, I didn't quite feel the horror vibes. Everything was too nice somehow. Felt more like dramatic moments in life (some sadness there perhaps?) but not quite haunting in that sense of the word.
Still a very cool piece, and making it last for 10 minutes without me getting bored is impressive
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 11506 posts since 13 Mar, 2009 from UK
Hey Mike (Ratledge), Thanks for listening and commenting. Glad you enjoyed it.mikusan wrote:As has been said before, that 10 minutes goes by very quickly. A very fine arrangement that tells a story well. Nice one Tim
Now it's back to the heavy stuff
-
- D.H. MOD
- 16415 posts since 21 Jun, 2008
Well done. Like Programentalist I'm not sure I felt the horror, but horror or no I enjoyed it. Thanks.
No longer a moderator.