Winterscape - MusicBoxx

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Winterscape - MusicBoxx

Author Comments

I don't think that I've ever mentioned it on Newgrounds, but I actually own a programmable music box (a little bit like player pianos, but with a paper strip).
If you'd like one, you can buy one over here:

http://www.grand-illusions.com/acatalog/30-Note-Music-Box-Set-554.html

To start off with... NO! No matter what you think, that sound is tooootally not me sitting there jerking off to the music D:<
It's clearly the sound of me cranking the music box. That's definitely it.
No question about it...

That said, it's really freakin' hard to do it on tempo (which I'm sure you'll notice). Especially as this is such a slow piece, so in order for it to fit on a paper strip, I had to place the notes close to each other, which means painfully slow rotating.

I just figured I'd record my favorite part from Winterscape, but in the music box version I cut out a year ago or so. It feels good to finally have a nice microphone :D
(But I didn't put much effort into recording and mixing, which explains the cranking sounds and such. I figured it'd be more authentic this way XD).

Enjoy ;)

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TaintedLogic

2015-05-18 21:09:42

Haha, I like the distorted beginning and the slow, dreamy tempo it has. It almost sounds like it's from a flashback to one's childhood - a lost memory somehow reignited by a fleeting moment in old age. I see a little girl holding the music box for the first time in wonder, and watching the ballerina in the middle spin in an incessant dance, and then the old woman tearing up as she realizes it's still in her attic somewhere, long since broken, but not forgotten. Sorry, I got carried away there. I think you already know that the mixing/recording quality wasn't great, but other than that, it's a beautiful melody played on a beautiful instrument. :')

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Yeah, I got the tempo pretty much like I wanted, even though I'd have liked it to be even more stable. But it's not easy to crank it at a steady pace!

I think that solo music boxes always give a great atmospheric feel, be it horror, sadness, or like you said, just a memory. And whoah! That's quite the vivid picture you shared there! A pretty nice, and short story.

As for the mixing and recording, this was more of a quick test run :3

Thanks for leaving this review! You're almost at the present... But boy, do I have a surprise for you and the others tomorrow >:D

deathofsun

2015-04-25 00:17:10

Reminds me of cowboy bebop for some reason, very soothing, nice job.

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Thank you!
I've actually only watched the first Cowboy Bebop episode so far, but I look forward to watching the rest, which will happen pretty soon :D

SpeirMint

2015-04-23 20:13:11

Wow, sounds super cold and authentic. You gave it a very definite tone, and it sounded creepy, but I felt like I was wandering around in a frozen cave made of crystals. Only one issue, I clearly heard you jackin' at 0:45. Good otherwise.

LucidShadowDreamer responds:

Thanks! The golden recipe for an authentic sound is, well... Being authentic...

It's not necessarily meant to be creepy, but I do get it. When is an authentic solo music box with a lot of reverb not creepy?

I'm thinking more of the crystal cave though, which to be fair, could be pretty scary too XD

NOOOOOOOOO!!!!! I just told you that it DEEEEEEFINITIVELY wasn't me jacking off )':