Great job on using real instruments and daring Super-Chalenge! Loved guitar solo on "On Your Shoulders".
I think, all 3 of the tracks might really benefit from shaker here and there (should work fine when reversed) and some dynamics at pad department.
Play soundtrack
Mirrorscape's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Quality | #13 | 4.095 | 4.095 |
| Overall | #15 | 3.940 | 3.940 |
| Creativity | #16 | 3.905 | 3.905 |
| Composition | #18 | 3.905 | 3.905 |
| Impression | #23 | 3.857 | 3.857 |
Ranked from 21 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Message from the artist
Runtime: 10:11
Genre: Ambient
The way I went about making my tracks fit the criteria of this challenge was:
- Thinking of an imaginary game I would compose these tracks for
- Making a chord progression that sounds nice both forwards and backwards
- Balancing instrumentation between instruments that sound similar to their original sound when played in reverse, and instruments that sound completely different when played in reverse. This step was crucial to make the tracks interesting and not repetitive.
- Balancing between instruments that would play in reverse from the start and ones that would play normally and only afterwards would play in reverse.
- Finalizing the tracks by "Mirroring" them (duplicating the whole track and then reversing the copy) so that they would be identical when played normally or in reverse.
I imagined myself composing for a puzzle game, where you play as two different characters separated by a dimensional mirror (one of them is stuck in the Mirrorscape and the other would be looking to release them), I tried to make the tracks emotional, with a feeling of longing to meet again.
Track 1 - "On your Shoulders"
This track was meant for the menu of the game or as a main theme. I focus on the feelings of uncertainty, an unknown place, hidden Frustration.
It features guitars, synths, and some of my vocals with the following lyrics:
Getting closer
Take me home
On your shoulders
On your own
Follow my lead
I'll get you home
On my shoulders
Not alone
Track 2 - "Where Are You"
This track was meant for game levels, the main feelings I tried to compose for are determination and focus.
Track 3 - I Will Find You in the Mirrorscape
This track is another track for levels or it could fit in the ending of the game as well.
It is about the bond of the separated characters, that are at this point very close to meeting once again. The main feelings I tried to compose for are love, memory, and Anticipation.
Overall, this was one of the most difficult and interesting experiences I had composing. I really had to think creatively about technical parts of the composition to make it sound nice while played in reverse. I have learned a lot from this jam, and got some new tools to use since now I am far more knowledgeable about reverse sampling.
Also, guitars sound really great and special in reverse!
I used Cubase 13 Pro and free plugins such as Surge XT, BBCSO Discover, Amped by StevieT and more...
Difficulty
C (Super Challenge)
Make something that has elements that can be listened to both backwards and forwards.
Link(s) of the submission on streaming services
https://youtu.be/3vXKNTkBDuw?si=oKNUR1kCwCCX_Mew
https://soundcloud.com/shachar-dahari/sets/mirrorscape
Number of tracks3
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