2021 has been a crazy year.  I forgot I even had this Soundcloud until someone told me.

This area from Kirby 64 evokes the genesis of new life and I wanted to evoke that emotion with sharp instrumentation.  The choir and orchestral hits are MIDI - the rest is Guitar Pro 7 with Realistic Sound Engine.  I can't stress enough that violin is underrated in a hard rock mix and acts like sea salt to a dark chocolate.

Kirby 64 Neo Star GP7

Super Circuit is out on Nintendo Switch Online!  While I feel the game is still among the black sheep of the Mario Kart series, the music and most of the tracks are great!  This is an arrangement of the music for the Bowser Castle tracks.  Used Guitar Pro 8, and this hits HARD!

MKSC Bowser Castle (Guitar Pro 8)

This is an audio export of a Guitar Pro 6 project that applies hard rock tones and effects to the music of the "Bianca City" track from F-Zero: Maximum Velocity.  The rhythm guitar is heavily palm-muted with some phaser and delay effects.  The lead has phaser, delay, and some chorus.  The synth is ripped from the game itself with some additional delay.  Drums are tight with heavy presence on kick and snare.

This is also on my YouTube Channel, so feel free to check out more of my work.  I just play around with RSE effects in Guitar Pro 6 until stuff sounds good.  Others seem to like it.

F-Zero Maximum Velocity: Bianca City (Guitar Pro 6 Arrangement)

The Strange Wobbly Inflatable Thingy has received the loud and proud treatment.  This is also on my YouTube Channel, but for this upload, I added a bit of compression to even things out.  As you can probably guess, most of the horns are replaced by guitars.  I broke up the chords in one of the final phases into a flurry of pentatonics to "create" a solo.  I definitely had fun with this one.

Banjo-Tooie: Mr. Patch (Guitar Pro 6 Arrangement)

I always liked this track from this swan-song game from the Nintendo 64 era, and the fact the word "Rock" in it gives me an excuse to turn it into rock music.  Desert-sounding instruments like shamisen and shakuhachi are replaced by guitars, though some brass and piano elements were kept to retain color and midtones. 

It is a fine balance to not "mix mud" as Bob Ross would put it, but by "thinning" the instruments with presence, they are able to "stick".  The man was a genius.

Kirby 64: Rock Star (Guitar Pro 6 Arrangement)

This one is more laid-back than most of my other work.  I love the music in this game since it manages to be epic without going over-the-top.  I think in addition to Guitar Pro 6, I used the "Timbres of Heaven", "Mysung Kite" and "DSK" soundfonts for synth and orchestral tracks.

Wario Land Shake It: Mt. Lava Lava (Guitar Pro 6 Arrangement)

Among the most popular of my arrangements on YouTube.  This is an evolution of several iterations where I experimented with fusions.  Blending "Powerful Mario" in with "Metal Mario" worked out quite well.  The Powerful riffs gradually gain presence with the repetition of each phrase.

Once again, everything was done with Guitar Pro 6.  Fun and great program.

Super Mario 64: Powerful Metal Mario Mix (Guitar Pro 6 Arrangement)

I've gone back to one of my Mario Kart 8 arrangements and given it more teeth!  There are three different guitar styles I use: hard wah, crunchy, and hard chorus.  I also added heavy phaser to the main melody and rhythm chords and added more chorus to the alto sax.

I'm looking forward to Mario Kart 8 Deluxe when it comes out on Switch!

Mario Kart 8: Mario Circuit (Guitar Pro 6 Arrangement)

I went back to this arrangement from two years ago and gave it sharper teeth!  Noise gate expansion, enhanced bass and treble on the guitars, and somewhat stronger synth make this sound much more metallic than the original and certainly moreso than the OST, which is crunchy with the vocoder synth.

Splatoon Theme: Splattack!  (Guitar Pro 6 Arrangement)

I went back to this classic (great tune from a great game) and gave it a fresh coat of paint... wrong game.  I added vibrato to the lead guitar to make it sound "spookier" and strengthened everything else so that the noise-gate takes care of the dynamics and normalization.

Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon: Haunted Towers (Guitar Pro 6 Arrangement)

The original version I had on the YouTube Channel had piano tracks in it.  While that is closer to the original version, I removed those and strengthened the guitars instead.  And also the drums while I was at it.

THE BEANSTAR IS MINE, SEE?

Mario & Luigi Superstar Saga: VS Popple (Guitar Pro 6 Arrangement)

It's been a while!  I remember this game being better twenty years ago than it is today, but it's still a novelty.  The soundtrack is super gritty/grungy on Genesis - even for Genesis.  The Super Nintendo OST was higher-quality in most cases.

Beavis and Butt-head Genesis - Hospital and Fat-Man Chase

I decided I wasn't fully satisfied with the original upload.  It was a bit too muddy and orchestral.  It needed more metal.  So I used only the Guitar Pro 7 instruments and cleaned things up with Audacity.

If you want something done, find me the MIDI, and I'll make you your metal.

MGTT: Peach's Castle Grounds (Guitar Pro 7 Arrangement)

I'm still figuring new stuff out in Guitar Pro 7 and put those ideas to the test with this battle theme that was ripe for some metal!  I added lower harmonies to the guitar to make it super gritty.  One of the strings tracks is replaced with a solo guitar.  The rest is mostly untouched from the imported MIDI data.  The orchestral instruments actually sound fantastic in Guitar Pro 7 with the updated Realistic Sound Engine.

Rayman: Mr. Skops Battle (Guitar Pro 7 Arrangement)

Game by Chris Sawyer
Music by Allister Brimble

This is an enhanced version of a music choice you can select for one of your rides in RollerCoaster Tycoon (expansions only) and RollerCoaster Tycoon 2.    It is my favorite among all of the selections because it has the kickass tinny metal sound suitable for roller coasters!  It sounded quite good for its time, in fact.

I actually quite like using Clean setting for solo guitar tracks on the amp in Guitar Pro instead of Lead.  It made the solo seem more "crispy".

RollerCoaster Tycoon: Rock Style 2 [Guitar Pro 7 Arrangement]

OOF!  This mixtape is FIRE!  Get it?!

Anyway, I decided to try working with this recently uploaded MIDI and it turned out wonderful.  I love phaser effect, like holy crap.  I went for big bass and treble with this one.  Maybe too much treble, I don't know, but I don't like "flat" music that sounds like farts.

Sonic Advance 2 - Hot Crater Zone [Guitar Pro 7 Arrangement]

I was going through my discography one day and this struck me as a song I wanted to improve with new knowledge and Guitar Pro 7 software.  With strong low-high EQ, some phaser for the rhythm, wah for the lead, and a couple surprises, I made massive improvements.

This is among my favorite tracks from Mario Kart 7.  It would have been amazing as a retro revival in Mario Kart 8, but maybe it'll get some love next time (inb4 you say Shy Guy Falls is basically a clone).

Mario Kart 7 - Rock Rock Mountain [Guitar Pro 7 Mix]

While a few bends and graces aren't quite right, I hope I've captured most of the essence of the OST.  I've always loved the synthmetal soundtracks through the F-Zero series, and I hope there will be a GameCube VC, where this game can make a return for a new generation (it's already been almost 15 years!).
I love using phaser effects since they work so well for racing music.  They lend the "zoom" sound in several tracks.

F-Zero GX: For the Glory [Guitar Pro 7]

Although Bianca City was my most popular arrangement, there has been positive feedback from this track as well.  It's definitely more of a "metal" track than "crunchy".  I thought I would revisit it with the new software and techniques at my disposal.

F-Zero Maximum Velocity: Stark Farm (Guitar Pro 7 Arrangement)

It has been five years since I started fooling around with Guitar Pro software and video game MIDIs.  My first attempt way back was decent, but I've learned a lot in that time.  Gated reverb, wah (get it?), chorus, delay, and other effects are present throughout, with updated soundbanks.

Mario Party 3: Waluigi's Island (Guitar Pro 7)

WARNING: This is among my loudest and thrashiest work!

This was definitely the most badass of the Crunch boss fights in Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex.  Golems are cool; magma and fire is cool.  Magma golems are insanely cool.
Despite not being made by Naughty Dog, this was a competent game created in much the same style as its predecessors.

I tracked down a decent MIDI and made it the most bass/treble metal thing I could.  Some experimenting with a few different preset instrument combos led to happy accidents that make this far better - in my opinion - than my previous efforts on my YouTube channels years ago.

Crash Bandicoot The Wrath of Cortex: Crashes to Ashes (GP7 SynthMetal)

This was a fun mission!  Racing your way through the canyon at extreme speed while dodging boulders, which becomes insanely difficult by the end.  Save your boost power for the end when there's a clearing between rocks in the middle about 2-3000m away and floor it!

F-Zero GX: Red Canyon GP7 (Goroh the Vengeful Samurai)

It's been over five years since I tackled this song as a remix for Nintega Dario in celebration of Pac-Man's reveal for Smash 4.  It's still a classic MetalYoshi GuitarPro arrangement, but I wanted to do this again slightly differently.
I like having some wah-wah in addition to a mix of overdrive and distortion for lead guitar and I had a happy accident.  Tuning the wah-wah a certain way created Pac-Man like sounds that I was very pleased with.  The rest came together nicely.  This ended up sounding great not just from my laptop speakers and DJ headphones, but my car stereo as well.

Pac-Mania PacMan's Park v2 (GP7)

It's been just over five years ago since Mario Kart 8 came out and I approached this song for an arrangement.  Like most of the other MK64 tracks, I do prefer the original version of Rainbow Road over the MK8 version.

One MIDI transcription I found (the Jace version on VGMusic, in the Newly Submitted Files) was quite a bit more exciting to work with than the others, and a lot of small tweaking resulted in an arrangement I'm very pleased with.  Synth and guitar can work together in harmony.  And as always, Guitar Pro 7 is an excellent program.

Mario Kart 64: Rainbow Road GP7

An oldie but a goodie - made good as new!

I'm getting better with fine-tuning EQ, reverb, delay, overdrive/distortion combos and placements in effect-chains, and the subtle differences among 20+ guitar tones.  Guitar Pro 7 is truly a wonderful program.

I wanted to make the rhythm reminiscent of the SNES sample but keep the solo distinctly a wah-guitar sound as opposed to the synth-brass sound of the original.

Star Fox: Titania Boss (GP7)

Super Mario Maker 2 is out, and it's excellent!
And shoutouts to Lu9 for transcribing this high-quality MIDI file.

This is another one of my favorite new themes and compositions in the game, and I definitely needed a wintry arrangement while this heat wave is still going on.  The first half is more orchestral while the second half has guitars and drums added.  The jingle bells and accordion still lend that festive timbre throughout.

Super Mario Maker 2: SMB1 Snow (GP7)

I'VE FOUND INSPIRATION AGAIN!

This was already badass 4 years ago, but I made it more badass with flanger synth, phaser guitar, stronger bass, and mellotron.

I used Guitar Pro 7 for the score and audio engine and a MIDI from JexuBandicoot @ VGMusic.

F-Zero Maximum Velocity: Beacon Port (GP7)

It's 2020!  Here's to a good future!

Everyone seems to love the Japanese soundtrack, especially the "Bad Future" track for Stardust Speedway, but I feel that was meme'd to death ten years ago.  Until Sonic Mania, this was the best Sonic game but its levels got borderline vertiginous toward the end.

Sonic CD: US Stardust Speedway Good Future (GP7)

Who would have thought mixing Mario and the Rabbids with X-Com gameplay would turn out so incredibly good?  Ubisoft Milan & Nintendo, I suppose.

Grant Kirkhope composed the soundtrack, which has that orchestral bounciness signature to his style.  The midboss music combines whimsy, mania, and urgency and never gets old.  I just found a transcription and then made it metal with Guitar Pro 7.  This was a fun one - though I had to strip out most of the orchestration to make it less muddy.

Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle Mid-Boss METAL!  GP7

This is inspired from the composition by Eric Swanson and Greg Turner for the Super Nintendo version of the video game.  It's a heavy tune in the style of Metallica or GWAR, and as such I used virtual pedal arrangements that simulate the signature Hammett/Hetfield duality.

Beavis & Butthead SNES: Stairway to Hell (GP7)

I've waited a long time for a transcription for this music to finally be available!  MIDI by Ninjaboyj - the score is one octave too low but that was an easy fix.

It took a fair bit of tinkering in Guitar Pro 7 to get the balance between guitars, organ, and drums to levels resembling the OST but still uniquely metal.  Drum rides are annoying to balance - generally EQ control is more effective than volume.  I added a few ornaments for rhythm to fill auditory gaps.  Very pleased with this one.

Paper Mario Final Bowser Phase 2 (GP7)

Quarantine got you down?  The doctor's here, and he's dropping some Megavitamins!  Kill those viruses!  If only it worked that way.

Arranged and mastered with Guitar Pro 7
MIDI by Total Yosh

Dr Mario 64 QueQue GP7

Less than three days and there's already a MIDI out in the wild!  I love this idea of a boss that's a death metal robot and you're jumping in rhythm over shockwaves.  I couldn't ask for a better excuse for a new Guitar Pro 7 metal arrangement!  I also love how this theme borrows a bit from N-Gin's boss theme in Crash 2 (listen for the synth trills and brass).

Crash Bandicoot 4 looks dope and I want a port on Switch!

MIDI by JexuBandicoot at VGMusic.com

Crash Bandicoot 4: Stage Dive GP7

It's almost #Wahloween, so it's time for a Waluigi track!  You'd better get up and dance or Waluigi will come over to your house and steal your candy!

Inspired by "Destruction Dance" from Dance Dance Revolution: Mario Mix.  I dunno why it took me so long to make an arrangement.

DDR Mario Mix Destruction Dance GP7

YOU DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE WAY WHEN MY LASER GOES OFF!

Just a little bit late for spooky season and Rocktober, but a headbanger is good any time of the year.  This is a metal arrangement of the OST from the Nightmare Buzz level from the Toy Story video game released on Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, and Windows 95.  It is from a scene cut from the movie where Woody fights a nightmarish apparition of Buzz Lightyear.

I grew up with the Genesis version of the game and it is still among the best licensed games I've ever played.  Fantastic graphics and audio with challenging gameplay make this game a cult classic.  The soundtrack in particular is a wonderhorse for the Genesis made possible by very clever programming from Traveller's Tales (as demonstrated on the Coding Secrets YT channel).

Toy Story Nightmare Buzz GP7

I import MIDIs into Guitar Pro 6/7/8 and turn them into hard rock arrangements.  Just a fun hobby.

MetalYoshi GuitarPro

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