ReMix:Chrono Trigger "Time Management" 6:32

By E-Bison

Arranging the music of one song...

"Chrono Trigger"

Primary Game: Chrono Trigger (Square , 1995, SNES), music by Nobuo Uematsu, Noriko Matsueda, Yasunori Mitsuda

Posted 2003-06-25, evaluated by the judges panel


Newcomer E-Bison offers up a four-on-the-floor techno arrangement from Chrono Trigger that involves some poetic license but also incorporates some other unique elements. The ReMixer explains, "I had fun doing this track. Not only is the CT main theme on of my personal favourites, but I got to try out my minidisk and sample 6 different clocks! Also, I included some game samples as transitional material. The voice samples used are from the Original Astral Projection hypnosis tapes (sampled frequently by AstralProjection the Group), as well as some crazy self help tapes." - there you have it, six different clocks. No one can accuse him of clock sample monotony :) Actually, the way these clock loops form a layered rhythm is rather cool, and judges unanimously noted that synths, pads, bass, etc. are all high-quality. The bassline is interesting in that it sits on the root initially then opts not to change with the chord progression, and it also sometimes skips an offbeat or does a little rhythmic variation in transition between bars - nice touch. Using the whole "time management" concept, with the samples and what not, is stylistically interesting and cohesive, and rather clever. The mixing, layering, stereo imaging, and programming on some of the underlying synth riffs are all impressive. In the end, I think the mix could have been a minute or two under its 6'32" running time, or instead used some of that time for a solo or more dramatic breakdown that really shook things up a bit. While largely positive, judges had some comments about the "extra notes" that E-Bison's added to Mitsuda's original, but I had no reservations there myself and they seemed entirely intentional and informed. Israfel writes: "Really fantastic work in my opinion. It manages to stay interesting, add original ideas and pull off these ideas in a convincing way - all the things a good mix should do. This is one of the very few times I can actually say I *enjoyed* a 4-on-the-floor type dance track, and as such, gotta go with a yes" - and I'd tend to agree; techno is a very explored, "done" genre, and most of us know essentially what to expect from a average to above-average techno game arrangement these days. It takes a couple touches here and there to raise eyebrows or get some new angles workin', and E-Bison pulls that off with a combination of nuance programming, conceptually themed samples, and... six different clock samples. Recommended.

djpretzel

Discussion

Latest 15 comments/reviews; view the complete thread or post your own.
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Octagon
on 2014-01-15 10:08:54

Wow, this aged really well. I wish there was a bit more variation to the beat, but I love how the main melody is stretched and fades and echoes through multiple layers, and the sample choice and timing is really nice.

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Zen Frazier
on 2010-11-08 20:50:10

OCR featured this track on its Facebook page today and a few people were wondering about this fabled "extended version." The link was buried a few posts back, but here it is again for anyone still looking!

Unfortunately it's only 128kbps but hey, better than nothing!

http://www.rpgamer.com/games/chrono/ct/sounds/mp3/TimeManagement(E-Bison).mp3

EDIT: Forgot to mention, this has long been one of my favorite OCR tracks. Thanks E-Bison for making MANY of my workouts much more enjoyable! :D

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E-Bison
on 2010-10-12 02:36:38

Glad you like it! I can't believe how much I used to love melodic trance! This really takes me back.

You are right about the harsh upper mids. Nothing I can do about it now though.

Thanks!

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OA
on 2010-06-04 14:45:50

Some of the higher end frequencies were a bit harsh, but the arrangement was pretty cool, with a lot of personality. Almost 7 min is a long time for a mix, but it was kept interesting with a lot of cool ideas.

Good stuff

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42
on 2009-12-28 01:01:45

I like this mix so much because it does something so strange and wonderful. It elevates clocks/clockwork/time to a near mystical level in the same fashion that Lewis Carol did to playing cards and chess pieces. I also like the tape samples; they add a very distinct flavor to this mix and contribute further to the overall mysticalness of time theme of this song.

This truly is an amazing mix that no one should miss.

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Nutritious
on 2009-07-04 13:02:24

Man, this song's been on my playlist forever. I never seem to get tired of it. Yeah, there are plenty of chrono trigger mixes around, but this easily one of my favorite. I'm not always a fan of 4 on the floor, but E-Bison pulls it off in a fashion that doesn't grate on me.

Combination of solid production and constantly evolving arrangement really makes this song shine out. Creative use of voice clips here too - another thing I normally don't care for, but pulled off great here. Only bummer to me is the low bitrate due to the length of the mix. I'd really love to hear a higher-quality version.

Overall, well done, this is one song on OCR that's aged extremely well. Looking forward to more of your stuff *cough* xenogears project *cough

EDIT:

This is one outstanding mix. I love the beginning with the clock and the self help tape message. I would like to know what the tape says though. First time I heard, I fell in love with it.

Self help lyrics as best I can hear them:

We all know that time is limited

That a day's worth has to be accomplished in the same finite 24 hours that we have

Some of us do it

Most do some of it

Some others procrastinate

And some never get around to it

Those that get things done and do them well know the right way

And that's time management

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Baato. Honda
on 2009-06-08 17:51:05

This is one outstanding mix. I love the beginning with the clock and the self help tape message. I would like to know what the tape says though. First time I heard, I fell in love with it.

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Duokun
on 2009-04-07 05:08:07

MARVELOUS! I love this remix in so many ways that it's hard to keep one train of thought on one aspect going before I think of something else I want to say about it.

To pack it all into a little rectangle of words,

Excellent song concept,

Excellent song title,

Excellent mixing,

Excellent excellence!

I would have to give massive humungous props to the "clock solo" at 3:04 to 3:32. That heavy kick and slamming clock beat was simply one of the most amazing combinations of sounds I have ever heard.

Vocals are beautifully done and are actually quite inspiring in some senses.

E-Bison be rockin' the house!

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superjoe30
on 2009-04-02 16:58:30

I really dig the self-help tape samples from 3:30-3:57. Perfect bridge.

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Manablast
on 2008-03-22 15:32:18

I usually don't like Chrono's theme mixes but this.. Ahahaa.. I love it! In particular, 2:59-3:03 When it has the sound of the Epoch charging up and changing time periods, then the tick tick tick of the clock. like it's flying through the time stream. wicked sounding! The other part i really liked was with the 3:57-4:24 with everything fading out but the bell and the beat, like they made a stop over the millenial fair, then flew off to another time at the end, the epoch warp sound again. 3 excellent mix!

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Deryck Khusial
on 2007-05-13 23:36:45
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Akuen
on 2007-05-11 07:55:20

Still, this continues to be an awesome mix.

Unfortunately I seem to have lost my uncut 8min+ version of this piece - does anyone have it?

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TaVeRnErO_RuDd
on 2006-11-23 11:36:13

this one freaking rocks....if you love the phat beatz you'll love this one

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dantheman
on 2006-11-22 13:02:03

Hey E-bison. Just a quick comment before I begin: when I came on these forums and read that there was an extended version of the song, I immediately went out a searched for it. The site I found it on is currently down (I think it was VGmix) but there's an alternate link at http://www.rpgamer.com/games/chrono/ct/sounds/mp3/TimeManagement(E-Bison).mp3 if anyone's interested. The intro is a bit more repetitive in the longer version, but overall the song is much enhanced by the added length. For instance, there's an entire electric guitar solo right after the second speaking segment ("Those who get things done and do them well know the right way, and that is time management") that was omitted for the OCRemix edition.

The song itself is genius. It is without a doubt my #1 favorite track on the entire site. It takes the main melody and adds a personal spin on it without making it completely unrecognizeable. I really don't know exactly why I like it so much, but I end up playing it all the time because it's so awesome. 8 minutes of pure bliss. Basically, I agree with everything paperCrane said a few posts up, and then some. As with AboveTheDust, I too love the "dot matrix printer" effect, and the part that features nothing but that sound is actually one of my favorite segments of the song.

Once again, great job, and awesome track. Truly a track that will be on my playlist for years to come.

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E-Bison
on 2006-10-10 00:45:42

But my band does a lot of videogame covers live. Fans love it and we love playing it. I even got on national television talking about videogame cover bands and our new album.

For legal reasons we opted to not to record any of them in the studio. On our last album we got the rights to a Duran Duran track and it was a big pain. I can't imagine how crazy it would be to secure the rights to the Tetris theme or something else like it.

Has anybody on here ever tried to get performance rights for this stuff? Recording rights?

E-Bison

www.tentoomany.com

Sources Arranged (1 Song)


Primary Game:
Chrono Trigger (Square , 1995, SNES)
Music by Nobuo Uematsu,Noriko Matsueda,Yasunori Mitsuda
Songs:
"Chrono Trigger"

Tags (1)


Genre:
Mood:
Instrumentation:
Additional:
Time > Duration: Long

File Information


Name:
Chrono_Trigger_Time_Management_OC_ReMix.mp3
Size:
6,365,953 bytes
MD5:
67c7ef2f6cfb27a52d640d96b74ad09f
Bitrate:
128Kbps
Duration:
6:32

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