Wooh, yeah! This is such a great remix, and even though I'm not familiar with the original song, your rendition really got me into it! The mix of funk and wintry charm really makes for a unique sound style that I haven't heard, like ever! I first have to talk about the instrumentation here, as there are some really fun and unique choices with loads of character. Those "waow-waow" rhythmic chords that introduce the remix have such a retro style that feels reminiscent of 70's era pop, like "wah guitar" kind of sound. Combined with that tight synthwave-styled bass, it really makes an impression! And wow, those solo segments are so sick! I love the confidence you have in your solo composition, backing it up with just the bass and percussive elements. And the timing of the notes really gives it a humanized feel, like it was recorded with live input on a midi keyboard! (...was it?) Also, the choice of synth for those parts is brilliant, with a vibrant and powerful lead that slices right through the mix. No layering needed here! And on the topic of instrumentation, I also want to mention that the plucky metallic synth used for the melody at 0:31 is a subtle, yet crisp way of delivering the theme! The percussive elements here are so cool - and in more ways than one! I love that you went with a retro, synthwave style, with a kick and snare that have the quintessential Linn drum machine sound. I'm a real sucker for drums that have that kind of quality, and it's a great fit for a classic game like Sonic 3! And besides the sounds themselves, the rhythms you've written for this piece are excellent! The groove constantly changes in a way that's smooth, yet noticeable, and I'm a big fan of those snare mix-ups at the ends of phrases, as well as the back-and-forth between regular- and half-time rhythms. And wow, these percussive elements are icy-cold! The reverbed sleigh bells sound beautiful, and the way it pans across the soundscape makes them feel even bigger. Because the percussive elements are so clean, even the subtle details, like those twinkly rising sounds leading into the sleigh bells (e.g., 0:14, 0:45, 1:18) can be heard clearly. Ooh, and I LOVE that sound effect that quite literally shakes the screen at 1:38 - it's such a satisfying one-off and the little stuttered hat that follows it immediately afterward is icing on the cake! The iconic Sonic SFX are also expertly placed, like that spin dash at 2:12 and the other sound at 2:19 which I can't place but have definitely heard before. Just, immaculate production, all-around! And woah, these visuals are really well done! Compiling and editing all that footage couldn't have been an easy task, but it really makes the video that much more immersive and provides some much-appreciated context for Sonic neophytes like myself. It's so cool that the transitions between gameplay clips correlate with shifts in the music, and you've got a great variety of transitional effects! For awhile, I had assumed that you use the ZGEV to make your visualizers, but I'm thinking now that a lot of the effects you're using are definitely from another program. I'd love to know what program(s) you use, if you don't mind sharing! In any case, I have to mention that the synchronicity between the sound effects and in-game actions is brilliant! In addition to the aforementioned two SFX clips, that bouncing sound lining up with Sonic hitting the spring at 1:42 is perfect (and the fact that he comes back down the ramp, too?... so good)! And as usual, the SteelDragon8 logo is the star of the show, with thematic colors, rhythmic spins and twists, and a series of neat color effects! And dude, ending the video with 3 lives, 3 rings, and a completion time of 3 minutes?... If that isn't attention to detail, I don't know what is! Once again, incredible work here. You've had an amazing year of remix videos, and I am _so_ excited for what you'll create in 2025 and beyond! Until next time, my friend! 💛
Thank you so much Equalyze! I'm so glad that you enjoyed this production! I'm overjoyed to hear all of your thoughts and thank you for all of the specific mentions! I initially went into this production with a synth wave type idea in mind. That is what brought upon the choice of retro instrumentation but I was feeling a different vibe as I actually started putting it together. Thank you for all the kind words regarding the instrumentation! Sometimes I have productions that take forever to finish to completion with hours of drain over the course of a year or more. But this one came together FAST like the blue hedgehog himself! I started this just on December 6th without much worktime between then and release. If I'm really feeling the vibe it's like the remix almost makes itself, it's such a cool thing! I think that's a lot of what brought the confidence for the solo composition. That and a lot of practice on projects this year that I have yet to release! And I can confirm that the solo was not recorded live via midi. But hearing that the solo could pass as if it was recorded live puts a smile on my face! Thank you! (Though I do have some plans for some upcoming remixes) ;) Thank you for the specific mentions regarding the percussion and sound effects! You actually named the exact percussive source actually! I pulled the drum samples off of splice from Zenhiser Linndrum - The Drum Machine Pack. There are SO many samples there, it is crazy how many they have! Thank you for all of the kind words regarding the rhythms! I was really on a time crunch for visuals, I'm so glad I was still able to deliver and thank you again for the kind words! This was actually the first time I played Sonic 3 so I had to buy Sonic Origins on switch and play all the way to Ice Cap Zone. (Also they replaced this area's music in Sonic Origins for copyright reasons so I didn't even get to experience the original sound track for this area, so that's ironic!) I found out that I am NOT good at Sonic games! I only played Sonic 1 as a kid so my experience was almost non-existent. But I did not give up after 4 hours of gameplay to get the footage I needed haha! I use Microsoft Clip Champ to edit and splice my game footage together with transitions. It's actually the default Windows video editor, it should be on just about every Windows 10 PC! Definitely not the best software but it can get the job done! From there I export into FL Studio to add all effects and the visualizer in ZGEV. Thank you once again for all of the kind words Equalyze! I thoroughly enjoyed reading your comment! I fell short on time this weekend but you will see a comment from me on your Zora's Domain remix soon, it's just SO good! I am excited to see what you'll create in 2025 as well, you've had a phenomenal year of remix videos too! Thank you my friend! :D
@@SteelDragon8 Thank you very much for taking the time to write such a detailed and generous response! Even if I don't always reply, your responses to my comments are always appreciated and sincerely cherished! 💛 And thank you for the tip about ClipChamp! I just tried it out for the first time yesterday, and it looks like it has some great potential to be used in tandem with the ZGEV! 😁
Noice!
Loved what you did with this one. Feel right at home listening to this and that swing is so nice.
Thank you! I'm thrilled to hear I could bring an at home feeling for the holiday season! :D
LET'S GO!!!! This rules dude, I love the kind of synthwave-y feel with the synths you got here 🔥🔥
Thank you! I actually initially wanted to tackle synthwave but it turned into something else that I liked so I went with it haha!
Nice work!!! Loving the retro synths, especially that crazy solo around 1:02!!
And of course, a very Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays to you!!! ❄️
Thank you Player2! So glad that you enjoyed this one!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you as well! :D
sounds good man
Thank you Fantom! :D
Eyy, cool that we got this chill bop from you! Happy Holidays!
Thanks Ryu! Glad to hear I could deliver! Happy Holidays! :)
Epic remix 🎉❤
Thank you! :D
Dah crap now I have to add another track to my next broadcast… 😏
Haha! Thanks man! You’re the best! :)
Wooh, yeah! This is such a great remix, and even though I'm not familiar with the original song, your rendition really got me into it! The mix of funk and wintry charm really makes for a unique sound style that I haven't heard, like ever!
I first have to talk about the instrumentation here, as there are some really fun and unique choices with loads of character. Those "waow-waow" rhythmic chords that introduce the remix have such a retro style that feels reminiscent of 70's era pop, like "wah guitar" kind of sound. Combined with that tight synthwave-styled bass, it really makes an impression! And wow, those solo segments are so sick! I love the confidence you have in your solo composition, backing it up with just the bass and percussive elements. And the timing of the notes really gives it a humanized feel, like it was recorded with live input on a midi keyboard! (...was it?) Also, the choice of synth for those parts is brilliant, with a vibrant and powerful lead that slices right through the mix. No layering needed here! And on the topic of instrumentation, I also want to mention that the plucky metallic synth used for the melody at 0:31 is a subtle, yet crisp way of delivering the theme!
The percussive elements here are so cool - and in more ways than one! I love that you went with a retro, synthwave style, with a kick and snare that have the quintessential Linn drum machine sound. I'm a real sucker for drums that have that kind of quality, and it's a great fit for a classic game like Sonic 3! And besides the sounds themselves, the rhythms you've written for this piece are excellent! The groove constantly changes in a way that's smooth, yet noticeable, and I'm a big fan of those snare mix-ups at the ends of phrases, as well as the back-and-forth between regular- and half-time rhythms. And wow, these percussive elements are icy-cold! The reverbed sleigh bells sound beautiful, and the way it pans across the soundscape makes them feel even bigger. Because the percussive elements are so clean, even the subtle details, like those twinkly rising sounds leading into the sleigh bells (e.g., 0:14, 0:45, 1:18) can be heard clearly. Ooh, and I LOVE that sound effect that quite literally shakes the screen at 1:38 - it's such a satisfying one-off and the little stuttered hat that follows it immediately afterward is icing on the cake! The iconic Sonic SFX are also expertly placed, like that spin dash at 2:12 and the other sound at 2:19 which I can't place but have definitely heard before. Just, immaculate production, all-around!
And woah, these visuals are really well done! Compiling and editing all that footage couldn't have been an easy task, but it really makes the video that much more immersive and provides some much-appreciated context for Sonic neophytes like myself. It's so cool that the transitions between gameplay clips correlate with shifts in the music, and you've got a great variety of transitional effects! For awhile, I had assumed that you use the ZGEV to make your visualizers, but I'm thinking now that a lot of the effects you're using are definitely from another program. I'd love to know what program(s) you use, if you don't mind sharing! In any case, I have to mention that the synchronicity between the sound effects and in-game actions is brilliant! In addition to the aforementioned two SFX clips, that bouncing sound lining up with Sonic hitting the spring at 1:42 is perfect (and the fact that he comes back down the ramp, too?... so good)! And as usual, the SteelDragon8 logo is the star of the show, with thematic colors, rhythmic spins and twists, and a series of neat color effects! And dude, ending the video with 3 lives, 3 rings, and a completion time of 3 minutes?... If that isn't attention to detail, I don't know what is!
Once again, incredible work here. You've had an amazing year of remix videos, and I am _so_ excited for what you'll create in 2025 and beyond! Until next time, my friend! 💛
Thank you so much Equalyze! I'm so glad that you enjoyed this production!
I'm overjoyed to hear all of your thoughts and thank you for all of the specific mentions! I initially went into this production with a synth wave type idea in mind. That is what brought upon the choice of retro instrumentation but I was feeling a different vibe as I actually started putting it together. Thank you for all the kind words regarding the instrumentation!
Sometimes I have productions that take forever to finish to completion with hours of drain over the course of a year or more. But this one came together FAST like the blue hedgehog himself! I started this just on December 6th without much worktime between then and release. If I'm really feeling the vibe it's like the remix almost makes itself, it's such a cool thing! I think that's a lot of what brought the confidence for the solo composition. That and a lot of practice on projects this year that I have yet to release! And I can confirm that the solo was not recorded live via midi. But hearing that the solo could pass as if it was recorded live puts a smile on my face! Thank you! (Though I do have some plans for some upcoming remixes) ;)
Thank you for the specific mentions regarding the percussion and sound effects! You actually named the exact percussive source actually! I pulled the drum samples off of splice from Zenhiser Linndrum - The Drum Machine Pack. There are SO many samples there, it is crazy how many they have! Thank you for all of the kind words regarding the rhythms!
I was really on a time crunch for visuals, I'm so glad I was still able to deliver and thank you again for the kind words! This was actually the first time I played Sonic 3 so I had to buy Sonic Origins on switch and play all the way to Ice Cap Zone. (Also they replaced this area's music in Sonic Origins for copyright reasons so I didn't even get to experience the original sound track for this area, so that's ironic!) I found out that I am NOT good at Sonic games! I only played Sonic 1 as a kid so my experience was almost non-existent. But I did not give up after 4 hours of gameplay to get the footage I needed haha!
I use Microsoft Clip Champ to edit and splice my game footage together with transitions. It's actually the default Windows video editor, it should be on just about every Windows 10 PC! Definitely not the best software but it can get the job done! From there I export into FL Studio to add all effects and the visualizer in ZGEV.
Thank you once again for all of the kind words Equalyze! I thoroughly enjoyed reading your comment! I fell short on time this weekend but you will see a comment from me on your Zora's Domain remix soon, it's just SO good! I am excited to see what you'll create in 2025 as well, you've had a phenomenal year of remix videos too! Thank you my friend! :D
@@SteelDragon8 Thank you very much for taking the time to write such a detailed and generous response! Even if I don't always reply, your responses to my comments are always appreciated and sincerely cherished! 💛
And thank you for the tip about ClipChamp! I just tried it out for the first time yesterday, and it looks like it has some great potential to be used in tandem with the ZGEV! 😁