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- KVRAF
- 8791 posts since 13 Mar, 2009, from UK
In October 2010, I installed SampleTank Free and immediately recorded this. It took 9 hours to record, and the August 2013 edit/remix/master took me 10 further hours, of trimming, editing, FX, levelling, panning, EQ and mastering.
I would call this a moody dirge.
mp3/192kbps/5:40/7.8MB
or, under gathering SoundClouds:-
http://soundcloud.com/whatsisname/thx-15
Recorded in EnergyXT2.5.4/Remixed in EnergyXT2.7beta
SampleTank Free/SampleTank 2.5
EnergyXT Drum Sampler
MicroTrance
ConcreteFX Ensembler
NI Pro-53
Valhalla Shimmer
IK CSR
EnergyXT Reverb
FerricTDS
T-Racks Linear Phase EQ
T-Racks Opto Compressor
T-Racks Vintage Equalizer
T-Racks Brickwall Limiter
DR - 10
I would call this a moody dirge.
mp3/192kbps/5:40/7.8MB
or, under gathering SoundClouds:-
http://soundcloud.com/whatsisname/thx-15
Recorded in EnergyXT2.5.4/Remixed in EnergyXT2.7beta
SampleTank Free/SampleTank 2.5
EnergyXT Drum Sampler
MicroTrance
ConcreteFX Ensembler
NI Pro-53
Valhalla Shimmer
IK CSR
EnergyXT Reverb
FerricTDS
T-Racks Linear Phase EQ
T-Racks Opto Compressor
T-Racks Vintage Equalizer
T-Racks Brickwall Limiter
DR - 10
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- KVRAF
- 2163 posts since 28 Oct, 2007, from michigan
I would call it beautiful Seismic
"the digital photo of that guitar just doesn't have the same warmth as an analog photo for me"
https://soundcloud.com/mrnatural-1/tracks
https://soundcloud.com/mrnatural-1/tracks
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- KVRAF
- 8791 posts since 13 Mar, 2009, from UK
Mister Natural wrote:I would call it beautiful Seismic
Thanks very much for listening and for the kind comment, Mister Natural. It is much appreciated. Glad you liked it

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- KVRAF
- 4555 posts since 18 Jul, 2008, from New York
We are well into the "Concert Rust" / "Reconstruct" era. Unfortunately, I am unable to decode the meaning behind this track title other than pondering what happens when you divide George Lucas' first movie by 75.
A bit of a detour for you but I enjoyed this a lot. The beginning conjured up visions of suspense films with measured piano, dramatic pauses, and wide open spaces. I had no idea where it was going. I was delighted when the lady started singing. It was like sunlight bursting through the clouds. (Was she provided courtesy of SampleTank or did you track down Mike Oldfield's "Incantations" vocalist?) From that high point, the track cruises towards the finish line.
There were some potential mix level issues. The most significant was at 4:21 when that riff came in sounding very loud and distorted. There were also points, like 2:55, when the piano is covered up by other instruments. I think volume automation could solve this if you want to do some extra work.
Soundwise, I wasn't crazy about the drum kit, especially the electro-toms, which sounded like an 80s hip hop record.
But overall good stuff Señor Sísmica!

A bit of a detour for you but I enjoyed this a lot. The beginning conjured up visions of suspense films with measured piano, dramatic pauses, and wide open spaces. I had no idea where it was going. I was delighted when the lady started singing. It was like sunlight bursting through the clouds. (Was she provided courtesy of SampleTank or did you track down Mike Oldfield's "Incantations" vocalist?) From that high point, the track cruises towards the finish line.
There were some potential mix level issues. The most significant was at 4:21 when that riff came in sounding very loud and distorted. There were also points, like 2:55, when the piano is covered up by other instruments. I think volume automation could solve this if you want to do some extra work.
Soundwise, I wasn't crazy about the drum kit, especially the electro-toms, which sounded like an 80s hip hop record.
But overall good stuff Señor Sísmica!
Last edited by Frantz on Fri Aug 23, 2013 6:03 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- KVRian
- 1106 posts since 11 Sep, 2008, from UK
different, interesting and original! Seemed to take quite a meandering route but I was loving it by the end... good work Seismic 

- KVRian
- 736 posts since 30 Apr, 2008
my new favorite track from you!
is this really the piano sound from the free sampletank player?

is this really the piano sound from the free sampletank player?
- KVRist
- 243 posts since 22 Oct, 2009, from Bandung, Indonesia
Great work, Tim, soundtrack material..! Somehow the first part of the song reminds me of the early "Doom" game series. Love the vocal sound, where did you get it?
Best,
Adi/Thedeadsoul
Best,
Adi/Thedeadsoul
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- KVRAF
- 8791 posts since 13 Mar, 2009, from UK
Frantz wrote:We are well into the "Concert Rust" / "Reconstruct" era. Unfortunately, I am unable to decode the meaning behind this track title other than pondering what happens when you divide George Lucas' first movie by 75.![]()
I can see that you're just going to love the next one

Frantz wrote:A bit of a detour for you but I enjoyed this a lot. The beginning conjured up visions of suspense films with measured piano, dramatic pauses, and wide open spaces. I had no idea where it was going. I was delighted when the lady started singing. It was like sunlight bursting through the clouds. (Was she provided courtesy of SampleTank or did you track down Mike Oldfield's "Incantations" vocalist?) From that high point, the track cruises towards the finish line.
No. It wasn't Maddy, but it's funny that you mention Oldfield. My favourite album from MO is Ommadawn, and that unison vocal duet from Clodagh Simonds and Bridget St. John on Side One had a ghostly quality that still sends shivers down my spine all these years later, and was probably a subconscious contributor to the thinking behind the vocal part here. To answer your question, the vocal is from SampleTank Free, but I had to pick the notes carefully to achieve the cleanest sound and, when I had it, I smeared it with Shimmer to smooth out the rougher edges.
Frantz wrote:There were some potential mix level issues. The most significant was at 4:21 when that riff came in sounding very loud and distorted. There were also points, like 2:55, when the piano is covered up by other instruments. I think volume automation could solve this if you want to do some extra work.
That riff is quite loud, but much quieter than my 2010 original recording. Maybe I will cut the level a little. I chose the sound to deliberately contrast with ths "cotton-wool" qualities of the vocal/trance gate and add some abrasive character. I agree that the relative volume of the piano is too low in places. I'll probably tweak this at the weekend.
Frantz wrote:Soundwise, I wasn't crazy about the drum kit, especially the electro-toms, which sounded like an 80s hip hop record.
.... If you ride with me on a Friday anything goes.....
Frantz wrote:But overall good stuff Señor Sísmica!
Thanks very much for listening and commenting, Frantz. Glad you liked it

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- KVRAF
- 4555 posts since 18 Jul, 2008, from New York
seismic1 wrote:Actually, this was just a punctuated anagram, if there can be such a thing.
THX-15 = 51XTH = Sixth.
OK, sixth what? Is it a musical interval.
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- KVRAF
- 8791 posts since 13 Mar, 2009, from UK
sazb30 wrote:different, interesting and original! Seemed to take quite a meandering route but I was loving it by the end... good work Seismic
meandering.......that's about right. Probably the story of my life

Thanks very much for listening and commenting, Sarah. Glad you liked it

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- KVRAF
- 8791 posts since 13 Mar, 2009, from UK
astrochimp wrote:my new favorite track from you!![]()
is this really the piano sound from the free sampletank player?
Thanks very much for the listen and the kind comment, Clemens. Glad you liked it

Yes. That piano came from SampleTank Free, along with the Female vox and the Taurus.
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- KVRAF
- 4555 posts since 18 Jul, 2008, from New York
seismic1 wrote:It wasn't Maddy, but it's funny that you mention Oldfield. My favourite album from MO is Ommadawn, and that unison vocal duet from Clodagh Simonds and Bridget St. John on Side One had a ghostly quality that still sends shivers down my spine all these years later, and was probably a subconscious contributor to the thinking behind the vocal part here.
You seem to be referencing Oldfield a lot lately so that's why I thought of it. Ommadawn is also my favorite of his. Everything on it flows seamlessly (except for that horse song).
seismic1 wrote:To answer your question, the vocal is from SampleTank Free, but I had to pick the notes carefully to achieve the cleanest sound and, when I had it, I smeared it with Shimmer to smooth out the rougher edges.
It worked like a charm. In the future, I wouldn't mind hearing SampleTank lady singing backed by a mellotron choir.

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- KVRian
- 1460 posts since 11 Nov, 2004, from Kansas City, MO
Love this, man. You're such a good composer and producer, my hat's off.
"The Law speaks too softly to be heard amid the din of arms." -- Gaius Marius {Roman consul,soldier}
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- KVRAF
- 1859 posts since 28 Aug, 2012, from Melbourne, Australia
Excellent Tim. Love all of it but in particular the choir section!