Illumination Theory (Radio Edit) (Unofficial)

[Moonchild]

Not to toot my own horn, but my Youtube page has some song edits that might give you an idea of how to make your own edits flow better. Are they perfect? No, (maybe the Nemesea song ) but I do think they're better than some of the official DT single edits like Take the Time *shudders*.

https://www.youtube.com/user/Zook85/videos

Bridges in the Sky :

[wolfking]

Not to toot my own horn, but my Youtube page has some song edits that might give you an idea of how to make your own edits flow better. Are they perfect? No, (maybe the Nemesea song ) but I do think they're better than some of the official DT single edits like Take the Time *shudders*.

https://www.youtube.com/user/Zook85/videos

Bridges in the Sky :

Yeah, I had the volume up too loud and Mike scared the shit out of me. 

The Lost Not Forgotten one was really well done.  The Enemy Inside was good, except the first edit was a little abrupt.  The rest of it was well done though.

[Zook]

Thanks guys. Yeah, I don't like the TEI edit very much.

[PROGdrummer]

I don't think it's possible, but I might try for the 3:30 edit of IT... Just for fun, you know... Cause I have no life.

Post results asap

[dparrott]

Wow, I have a lot to learn about abrupt edits.  They didn't seem so bad to me.

That's the problem, they should sound flawless, and edits should sound flowing and not make the listener think that something has been chopped out.  'didn't seem to bad' doesn't cut it mate, sorry.

Ahh...I see.  That helps.

[KevShmev]

Not to toot my own horn, but my Youtube page has some song edits that might give you an idea of how to make your own edits flow better. Are they perfect? No, (maybe the Nemesea song ) but I do think they're better than some of the official DT single edits like Take the Time *shudders*.

https://www.youtube.com/user/Zook85/videos

I like the way the Lost Not Forgotten edit omits the tickle section.  But I missed the piano intro.  Man, if you could make a Lost Not Forgotten edit that omitted only the tickle section, and had a transition as good as the one there, that would be sweet!

[The Stray Seed]

Not to toot my own horn, but my Youtube page has some song edits that might give you an idea of how to make your own edits flow better. Are they perfect? No, (maybe the Nemesea song ) but I do think they're better than some of the official DT single edits like Take the Time *shudders*.

https://www.youtube.com/user/Zook85/videos

I like the way the Lost Not Forgotten edit omits the tickle section.  But I missed the piano intro.  Man, if you could make a Lost Not Forgotten edit that omitted only the tickle section, and had a transition as good as the one there, that would be sweet!

This! Or actually... I like the first part of that section, it's just that it drags on for way too long!

[?]

BITS with MP made my day

[d-tailer]

I like the way the Lost Not Forgotten edit omits the tickle section.  But I missed the piano intro.  Man, if you could make a Lost Not Forgotten edit that omitted only the tickle section, and had a transition as good as the one there, that would be sweet!

Kev, I happen to have a modified version of LNF just without the 'tickle' section that I prepared earlier and normally listen to - check it out via this link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3l3ihoqamup3r7d/Lost%20Not%20Forgotten.mp3

[Zook]

I like the way the Lost Not Forgotten edit omits the tickle section.  But I missed the piano intro.  Man, if you could make a Lost Not Forgotten edit that omitted only the tickle section, and had a transition as good as the one there, that would be sweet!

Kev, I happen to have a modified version of LNF just without the 'tickle' section that I prepared earlier and normally listen to - check it out via this link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3l3ihoqamup3r7d/Lost%20Not%20Forgotten.mp3

That transition was NOT WELL.

[KevShmev]

Yeah, with all due respect, d-tailer, Zook is right; that transition was too jarring.  But good effort and thanks for posting it, so we could at least check it out.

[d-tailer]

That's cool guys - I agree it could have been a smoother transition.

See what you think of this minor trim I did to IT around the 1:50 mark to remove the distracting 'chirps/whistles' - the only other change was to leave off the Outro:  https://www.dropbox.com/s/o4sdv2lsr72042x/IT-noOutro.mp3

Update: I like Zook's LNF edit around the original 1:40 mark and have made a similar adjustment to mine - the rest of the song is unmodified. Just wanted to put the previous comments in correct context and thanks Zook for getting it spot on. 

[Zook]

Hey, I like the 'chirps/whistles'! How dare you remove the 'chirps/whistles'!

[d-tailer]

No worries Zook - I'll try to resist the urge to circulate my tweaks in future.   

[wolfking]

I'm actually surprised this thread is still open.

[Zook]

I'm actually surprised this thread is still open.

Me too, but I hope it stays open. I enjoy the challenge of editing songs that weren't intended to be edited just to see if it can be done. I did say I have no life. Oh, and sharing with others is cool too.

I don't think it's possible, but I might try for the 3:30 edit of IT... Just for fun, you know... Cause I have no life.

Post results asap

It isn't possible. I tried.

[dparrott]

I'd still like to try again now that I know where the jarring edits are and what they are.  I got a couple of more ideas for it.

[Zook]

See what you think of this minor trim I did to IT around the 1:50 mark to remove the distracting 'chirps/whistles' - the only other change was to leave off the Outro:  https://www.dropbox.com/s/o4sdv2lsr72042x/IT-noOutro.mp3

The problem with this is you cut the stanza (please excuse me if my terminology is off) short when you made the edit, so it sounds like there's something missing.

Here's my take:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/958rppd8wsndp7j/Illumination_Theory_nochirps.mp3

But again, HOW DARE YOU REMOVE THY CHIRPS AND WHISTLES!


















Twerk it baby

[d-tailer]

Hey Zook, I've got to agree that you've nailed it again - and I should be a bit more thorough with my editing.

At least everyone's got the original version if they don't mind the 'chirpy' effects, so there's no harm done.

I'm wondering why they thought such an epic song needed them at all and how they were created. I'm guessing they've been triggered by kick pedal - any other suggestions?

[Zook]

I think it's the guitar strings making the noise, but I could be wrong. They don't bother me at all.

The studio version of Staind's Outside has a ton of squeaks from the guitar, and that's a bit annoying, but these squeaks on IT are a nice fun touch.

[GasparXR]

All this talk about edits, I feel like I should ask this question: Has anyone here made a single track of the Twelve-Step Suite? I made one recently, and it's 99% perfect except for the transition from TGP to TDS. I made it so it was like when they played them back to back live, the final chord from TGP is cut and it starts at the double-bass drum rhythm at the beginning of TDS, cutting out the first couple notes. It sounds good, but I can still hear a bit of a cut, and it's really annoying to try to figure out exactly where I should cut each track so it's proper. I'd like to hear what it should sound like if someone's done it already.

[Perpetual Change]

All this talk about edits, I feel like I should ask this question: Has anyone here made a single track of the Twelve-Step Suite? I made one recently, and it's 99% perfect except for the transition from TGP to TDS. I made it so it was like when they played them back to back live, the final chord from TGP is cut and it starts at the double-bass drum rhythm at the beginning of TDS, cutting out the first couple notes. It sounds good, but I can still hear a bit of a cut, and it's really annoying to try to figure out exactly where I should cut each track so it's proper. I'd like to hear what it should sound like if someone's done it already.

There are actually several floating around.

Biggest problem with all of 'em is, you've gotta listen to the TSS in full.

[Zook]

All this talk about edits, I feel like I should ask this question: Has anyone here made a single track of the Twelve-Step Suite? I made one recently, and it's 99% perfect except for the transition from TGP to TDS. I made it so it was like when they played them back to back live, the final chord from TGP is cut and it starts at the double-bass drum rhythm at the beginning of TDS, cutting out the first couple notes. It sounds good, but I can still hear a bit of a cut, and it's really annoying to try to figure out exactly where I should cut each track so it's proper. I'd like to hear what it should sound like if someone's done it already.

There are actually several floating around.

Biggest problem with all of 'em is, you've gotta listen to the TSS in full.

That's a problem?

I made a single song version after BCSL came out. It's ok I guess. I'll try to find it. I have it on a CD somewhere.

[Perpetual Change]

That's a problem?

Yup.

Well, not saying they don't exist, but I have seen VERY few people come forward saying that they really like listening to TSS in full as one work. It just doesn't work, and is poorly paced. You get all-out blitzed for the first 30ish minutes, until Repentance finally kicks in. Even MP has admitted something to the effect of the saga probably being different had more foresight gone into it.

You know what might be cool? If MP looked at TSS as kinda a long "first draft" and went back, chopped it up, rewrote some parts, and changed the sequencing around. The main musical ideas and the lyric concept are still pretty compelling. The saga itself just got way out of control.

[Zook]

I love it. To each their own.

[Ben_Jamin]

I've made my own single song of the 12SS, with as flawless a transition from each. I had to cut off the intro to TROAE, which starts at the ending of TDS riff and TROAE ends as is. The Shattered Fortress fades in from Repentence as the last note is hit, and it gets full volume as "All you can do is live with it" is said.

Its not bad,  but it drags during Repentence. Nothings wrong with the regrets at the end, it's the section after it and before the dirty bass begins, cut out that part down and it'll pace better.

Also, I hope they bust out The Shattered Fortress during this tour. It'll kick major ass.

[PROGdrummer]

I just wanted to pop in and say that the "chirps/squeaks" riff in IT is one of the coolest moments in Dream Theater's discography, imo. It sounds so damn cool, very aggressive and full of rock and roll flare.

Why so much hate for that very brief riff?

[The Stray Seed]

I just wanted to pop in and say that the "chirps/squeaks" riff in IT is one of the coolest moments in Dream Theater's discography, imo. It sounds so damn cool, very aggressive and full of rock and roll flare.

Why so much hate for that very brief riff?

Yeah this! It's such an amazing riff!!

[d-tailer]

Glad you like the complete IT guys - the short riff wasn't meant to be a big deal.
I've decided to remove my modified mp3 files mainly to avoid any possible issues with circulating copyright content - so ignore my previous Dropbox links.

[GasparXR]

All this talk about edits, I feel like I should ask this question: Has anyone here made a single track of the Twelve-Step Suite? I made one recently, and it's 99% perfect except for the transition from TGP to TDS. I made it so it was like when they played them back to back live, the final chord from TGP is cut and it starts at the double-bass drum rhythm at the beginning of TDS, cutting out the first couple notes. It sounds good, but I can still hear a bit of a cut, and it's really annoying to try to figure out exactly where I should cut each track so it's proper. I'd like to hear what it should sound like if someone's done it already.

There are actually several floating around.

Biggest problem with all of 'em is, you've gotta listen to the TSS in full.

That's a problem?

I made a single song version after BCSL came out. It's ok I guess. I'll try to find it. I have it on a CD somewhere.

I went and rectified my version and all of the transitions feel a lot more seamless. If anyone's interested in it, I could post it.

In response to the OP's take on IT, I did feel like it was a bit jarring simply because I'm always expecting the original arrangement, but I didn't think it was too choppy at all.

[bosk1]

That's a problem?

Yup.

Well, not saying they don't exist, but I have seen VERY few people come forward saying that they really like listening to TSS in full as one work.

Then I would say you weren't paying attention.  When TSF was released and people circulated a couple of versions, the majority opinion was that it was very cool.  I still think it is.  Yes, it is exhausting to listen to becuase (1) it is so long, and (2) it does have pacing issues.  But that doesn't mean it is bad.