Commodore Remix

The thread title says it all, no?

In reaction to some discussion in another thread here, I spent some time researching and just blog posted a list of 10 popular C64 games that have decent SID tunes (or melodies, at least) that have, for the most part, avoided much or any effort by remixers to remix them.

The gist of the post being....nostalgia from C64 gamers who frequent C64 Remix sites like Remix64, RKO and SlayRadio is a good thing to consider if you want to hit a broad audience. Or at least as a C64 Gamer myself, I like to think so. So I did a hunt for popular games without remixes but with remix-able SIDs.

As also discussed here, some of the best C64 SIDs (especially post 1999) don't really lend themselves well to remixing, so "primitive" or "just an OK SID" - or a nice melody - can be a good point to start from if people remember the game in a positive light.

Since the post is heavily laced with links to SID Find, etc., if you don't mind the jump too much it would save me a lot of link posting!

http://c64walkabout.com/2009/03/18/10-c ... mixed.aspx

Here are the SIDs:

Emlyn Hughes International Soccer - Composer: Barry Leitch
Pool of Radiance - Composer: David Warhol
Jumpman & Jumpman Jr. - Composer: Randy Glover
Spellbound Dizzy - Composer: Allister Brimble
Mayhem In Monsterland - Composer: Steve Rowlands
Project Stealth Fighter Composer: Ken Lagace
Power Drift - Composer: Dave Lowe (Edit: I heard a remix of this on SubZero's podcast)
Law of the West - Composer: Ed Bogas
Mail Order Monsters - Composer: Unknown
Tass Times in Tonetown - Composer: Dave Warhol & Russell Lieblich

As far as what I'd want from them....well, I'm not picky at all really, and it's a rare day that I give a bad vote to a C64 remix, so let the creative juices flow!

I'm sure there are PLENTY more good examples, but I wanted to keep it to 10...and mix the genres up to include more than the genres that typically interest me.

RobinsonMason wrote:Emlyn Hughes International Soccer - Composer: Barry Leitch

This is one of my SID guilty-pleasure, and I had plans to remix this myself a few years back.

Hi Guys,

I am working on a emlyn hughes remix right now, check it out and give me out your comments!

http://www.goear.com/listen/a0d6ae3/C64 ... ethan-mix)


although it needs some work, im pretty sure the idea is there!
btw......this is my first remix. Im a 28 year old guy from Argentina.

retro-love Greetings!!!

prof_ethan wrote:Hi Guys,
I am working on a emlyn hughes remix right now, check it out and give me out your comments!

http://www.goear.com/listen/a0d6ae3/C64 ... ethan-mix)

Nice, I like it. One thing I would say, is the drums are very loud and the rest is very quiet.

Prof_Ethan, you rock! Welcome!

I love it, having listened to the SID extensively recently. I agree with C64Glen, maybe pull back the big thumping drum in the first minute or so a bit and let the rest shine. The drums later on are good but again, seems like you could dial up the guitar and pull back the big thumping/slapping drum a bit later also.

The end needs a big note, too, but I guess you are still working on how to end it.

This is a nice birthday present for me BTW -- anyone making remixes of stuff on this list (or any others) has my sincere thanks! I also did a podcast of other rarely or never remixed SIDs here: http://c64walkabout.com/2009/03/21/c64w ... ixing.aspx

Heyyy guys C64GLeN and Rob'
what an incentivative welcoming!
thanks very much for that!

ok, listening some advices from you, i just pull out better some mixings on the remix, plus i added some new effects.

Please, listen it again and give me one more shot! hope i have just not mixed up too much new things!

I know i have lot of work during the week, but hey, weekend is here and this remixing sid stuff it is very interesting! it keeps me busy remembering those after-school emlyn matches
enough bla, there it goes....hope you like it
http://www.goear.com/listen/8aad03d/Eml ... prof_ethan

btw: check this out, its incredible the original sid!!!! barry did some fantastic job!
http://www.gamebase64.com/sidplayer.php ... sid&song=1

Love it! I like the new ending and at 3:50 or so it is really pumpin'. Good stuff, look forward to hearing more from you --- are you submitting to RKO yet or waiting for a few more tweaks?

Here are the SIDs:

Power Drift - Composer: Dave Lowe (Edit: I heard a remix of this on SubZero's podcast)

I must point out that this has already been remixed by me in May 2007. I do agree that some sids get remixed more than others and it would be nice to hear something a little different which is something I try to do when picking a sid to remix. Though as they are not deemed as a sid classic then getting that red smiley is not always the case!

For future remixes I'd like to do Stormbringer and I have a version kicking around in my mind of International Sports Challenge subtune 6.

Doddsy wrote: I must point out that this has already been remixed by me in May 2007.

For future remixes I'd like to do Stormbringer and I have a version kicking around in my mind of International Sports Challenge subtune 6.

Can you link to your Power Drift remix? I was pretty sure I'd checked them all on SID Find, etc. It could be that Power Drift, being a Sega arcade game, has remixes here and there not necessarily tied to the C64 SID...? (I assume the one on SubZero's podcast was not based on the C64 version)

I look forward to those other 2!

Though as they are not deemed as a sid classic then getting that red smiley is not always the case!

I've noticed higher ratings than one might expect on some remixes of popular games. I won't mention names because I don't want to put down the remixers (quite the opposite, for they made the effort) -- but what I mean to say is that the SIDs that the powers-that-be in the C64 Musicians Community have deemed "classic" ----- are not always the same as those games you played/play that just give you a warm fuzzy to hear the music to.

This applies doubly if there is only one remix on RKO of the SID/Game in question. So when a general C64 fan of music AND games comes in and searches for "Apshai" -- he'll get 2 by DJ Lizard -- and assuming they tickle his fancy, they'll get a good vote. No need to be overly harsh on the technical aspect...they're just fun to hear again.

A SID from a game that evokes powerful emotions of nostalgia doesn't need to be "classic" -- is what I guess I'm saying. Especially if your remix of say, a Dizzy tune like Spellbound Dizzy happens to be the only one!

RobinsonMason wrote:Can you link to your Power Drift remix? I was pretty sure I'd checked them all on SID Find, etc.

Tried using the search-feature on RKO?

http://remix.kwed.org/index.php?search=power+drift

Well...that's embarrassing.

Ah, I see the problem. I copied the list from a post on my blog with this title:

10 Chart-Topping C64 Games with SIDs Rarely or Never Remixed

http://c64walkabout.com/2009/03/18/10-c ... mixed.aspx

But I named the thread here "non" remixed to try to fit it in to the character limit.

My bad! Changed the thread title.

It's ok Robinsonmason no worries, I can see what you mean.
Compared to Outrun I'm suprised Powerdrift hasn't been remixed more often.

Thanks/Gratz to Ic3m4n for doing the first Law of the West remix! w00t! http://remix.kwed.org/index.php?search=law+of+the+west



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_the_West

Thanks, Gratz to Lord Nikon for the first Spellbound Dizzy remix!

SID: http://remix.kwed.org/sid.php/4224/Spel ... e%201).sid

REMIX: http://remix.kwed.org/download.php/4224 ... ers%29.mp3

Bloody good stuff!

I think I'll have a bash at the rarely remixed SIDs thingy. But I think I'll try something new by actually reworking some SIDs for the Commodore alone. No beefy outboard synths, drums or other kinky extras, just pure Commodore or Commodore VSTi and nothing else.

Has anyone else actually tried this?