Diary
The Premium Pack of “THE LAST REMNANT”!!!
Hello, this is Sekito.
Long awaited the Xbox 360 Premium Pack of “THE LAST REMNANT”, finally it has been released!
Yes!
Next month, I would be commuting by train for that though…
END
Translation: Atsushi Suganuma
Diary
Here are my answers!
Good evening,
This is Sekito. This is the 2nd time today for my comment.
I am answering Mr. Isogawa`s questions right now!
(Please check out the answers if you have not already read them)
Question.1
Which kind of the guitar, do you play the most lately?
1. Stratocaster
2. Les Paul
3. Acoustic guitar
4. Air guitar
Answers:
Normally, the answer is 4! (Joke)
But actually the answer in reality is in between 1 and 2.
The sound of Stratocaster is customized with both front and rear pick-ups replaced with Humbucker to enable the Les Paul-like sounding guitar. It also the transmitter has been changed to Orange drop and the volume knob is also replaced as well.
Question.2
Which set of strings do you prefer the most?
1. D` Addario
2. Ernieball
3. Custom made guitar strings
4. Self-made strings that made from needles
Answers:
The answer is 2!
I have not yet tried! LOL.
2 seems to have brighter sound, I might be wrong…
Question.3
What do you use for the guitar lead the most?
1. The guitar lead from Custom Audio Japan
2. The guitar lead from Belden, which he bought from internet auction
3. The guitar lead from unknown brand
Answers:
The answer is 2! You know the answer perfectly!
I use Belden8412 cable with Jack lead headed.
I sometimes use 1 and 3, too though. I do have those 10 other guitar leads.
Question.4
How did you record your guiar part in the studio?
1. Recorded by in line recording
2. Recorded by one take
3. Reamp technique
4. Mr. Sekito did not play the guitar for the recording in the first place
Answers:
I mix between 1, 2, and 3 when I record the guitar. For the backing guitar part,
Usually I use 2 and 3. For the lead guitar part, I use 1 mostly.
For acoustic guitar part, the way of 4 can be done, too.
Question.5
Which magazines do you read the most lately?
1. The Young guitar
2. The Guitar magazine
3. Moe! Magazine
Answers:
I usually read 1 and 2 with the edition of 1 month old-not the up-to-date edition! LOL
I have not read 3 just yet.
Question.6
Which is the most outstanding joke of yours among other 108 jokes?
1. The first one
2. The 108th one
3. The hidden joke of the 216th
Answers:
The answer would be 2 for this year`s the end of year bash ,, maybe. LOL
Didn’t I use to say 3 in the past ???
Question.7
Which dialog is it that each character have the least of their conversations in the game of
“THE LAST REMNANT”?
1.Rush, saying ”Irena!”
2.Irena, saying ”Rush!”
3.David, saying ”Yes my Lord!”
Answers:
My straight answer is 3 !
Question.8
As you consider both the quantity and quality of all, Which product is the worthwhile for you, personally?
1. The soundtrack of “THE LAST REMNANT!” including 3CDset.
2. “Steak lunch” with Ice coffee, only available during lunch time at Sue**ro- restaurant-chain.
Answers:
I would nearly choose to say 2… But the answer is 1 this time!
【Mr. Sekito comments; 】
Please send us as much messages as you can.
I will be answering all the questions like today.
You can send your comments and questions by clicking the banner of “THE LAST REMNANT” page.
(Please register as a member of “Square Enix MEMBERS” before sending your messages)
It would be great to have your questions and messages.
Thank you
Diary
Mr. Sekito about his guitar collections
Hello Marushi Akio is here!
Today, I questioned Mr. Sekito about his guitar collections.
I have just been to Mr. Sekito`s recording booth for the interview.
I brought Mr. Yamanaka with me in case of an emergency for technical answers.
Knock! Knock!
Mr. Sekito welcomed us with his smile and was kindly enough to show us his collections.
Here are his guitar collections.
Wow! 4 of them! He really has a lot of the guitar.
Do they really make any differences for the sound?? Of course they do, Don’t they?
【Question1:】
Do you remember which guitar did you use for each track?
【Mr. Sekito answers; 】
I remember the most of the order for the use of my guitar. LOL
I have 6 guitars in total, I ended up using 4 of my guitar after all.
≪1st left of the photo:≫
1.Fender Stratocaster Master builder series, customized by Art Espaza NoAE587
≪2nd left of the photo:≫
2.Fender Stratocaster American Deluxe series
≪1st right of the photo:≫
3.JamesTyler Studio elite deluxe
≪2nd right of the photo: ≫
4.YAMAHA classic guitar
【Question2:】
How do you divide the use for each guitar?
【Mr. Sekito answers; 】
I mainly use No 1 guitar. I use the Most of my electric guitar part with No 1.
I use No 1 guitar on my previous live concert, also the past live for the band “Star Onions.”
No 2 guitar is for the use of the special low tuning that 7semitones down tuning.
I use No2 guitar for the track “Reversal”.
No 3 guitar is for mainly overdub recording, for example I use for melody.
I used No 4 guitar for the track “Echoes of the Past. ”
This might be my own limit as my knowledge for music on my brain has so little.
I will pass on questioning for Mr. Yamanaka.
【Question3:】
What do you use for your usual guitar-effects, and what is your usual guitar sound?
【Mr. Sekito answers; 】
I did not use a huge amount of guitar-effect for “THE LAST REMNANT”.
I love the sound of Delay effect in general. I did use “Ducker Delay” a lot.
I like my distorted guitar sound usually. My distorted guitar sound goes more towards the sound that produced with modeling effect and pre amp than an ordinary over-drive effect.
I like to use EQ that cutting off on Mid range for the guitar. Outcome for this EQ is similar to “Biting sound”, also the sound of muted guitar with lot of depth.
I tried very hard to have my own exact guitar, spending a long period of time.
I am happy with outcome of the sound after all.
【Question4:】
Do you have to be fussy about your sound?
【Mr. Sekito answers; 】
Absolutely! When I am creating muted guitar, for example.
Even though muted guitar sounds great when you listen to it in front of the amp,
After the sound mixing process, those great sounding muted guitar tends to be out in the mix, or muddy sounding.
For “THE LAST REMNANT” though, I passed on my job of sound mixing process to Mr. Yamanaka! He must have had a nightmare of mixing sound. LOL
【Question:5 】
What are those stickers which you can see on 1st &2nd left of 2 of the guitar on the photo??
【Mr. Sekito answers; 】
Those stickers are from my private fellow guitar group that I have been involved with for a long time. Are n`t they look cool on the guitar??
【Mr. Yamanaka comments; 】
That is it for my interview for today.
It is only 3 days left for the release date of the soundtrack!?!?
Tomorrow, we are introducing new commentary for you.
【Marushi Akio comments; 】
Oops!
Mr. Yamanaka just did my job for me to tell you guys about the release date.
The soundtrack of “THE LAST REMNANT” is going to be released on Dec 10th 2008.
It contains whole 97 tracks from “THE LAST REMNANT”, I am highly recommending you this soundtrack!
Please check out for tomorrow’s interviews, Thank you
Diary
Thanks for all your messages! Vol.4
Good morning!
This is Marushi, a promotion staff.
This week also, we have received many messages from everyone.
We are introducing received messages for you below!!
【Message1】
I am very looking forward to hearing the news for the release for the soundtrack.
As well as furious battle music, I personally love a field part of the music from the game.
By the way, as I have been enjoying reading this blog, I have just found out that I am not able to listen to the track on this blog for my PC setup. Even if I click the link for the tracks and wait for a while, it does not respond me. My browser is FireFox2, I am able to listen to the music on the top page of “Square-Enix Music”!?
I could only listen to the track from the very first page of this blog…
It is a shame, but I should be waiting for the release of soundtrack.
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
Thank you for your message!
This is Sekito.
We produced our production with a conscious on having a quite huge variety of music style. With the exception of music for all the event sequence, the music is divided by dungeon part of the music, which is composed by Mr. Yamanaka, a field part of the music, city part of the music and battle.
Is not the music for a field part of the game rather brilliant after the big battle??LOL
I think that I have succeeded to compose great music for it in order to bring out such a big scale of “THE LAST REMNANT world”.
To solve your technical difficulty, Marushi will be answering your question for me.
【Marushi Akio comments;】
Thank you very much for your message.
This is Marushi, a promotion staff.
I am very sorry for our technical problem when you tried to listen to the track.
We have not yet faced such a problem like yours, unfortunately.
The reason might have been your PC set up, but I would love to know your PC setup and your technical issues further more in detail to solve this problem.
Again, I apologize for your technical problem while you are enjoying the soundtrack.
For the solution to that problem,
1.You will be able to listen to the music on the official website of “THE LAST REMNANT”.
2.Considering that the soundtrack is sale for 3.300 JPY that has now been released on store, it might be an idea that you buy the CD in the store!?!?
I will have a research for that particular technical issue for you, as well as I will need for our further management on the blog.
I hope that you will enjoy “Return of Sekito Clinic” from now onward.
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【Message2】
Hi there, I have been enjoying this blog everyday.
I have been looking forward to listen to the soundtrack before the release, as I used to go the official website of “THE LAST REMNANT” just to listen to the music.
To listen to the music on this blog is my daily pleasure.
The 6th track of Disc 1”The Assault” is my favorite track especially. As I am trying to copy the rhythm pattern of cymbals on drums, I still find it difficult to play on the drums. The track is indeed my favorite track that has very cool rhythm section.
I can not wait to hear about the release for the soundtrack as the date is close to the release date.
I feel a little hesitated to listen to all the music from the soundtrack before I complete the actual game. But I bet that I would put my hands on the soundtrack once I get the CD anyway.
My plan is that I will be listening to the soundtrack very carefully while I play through the game. I will look forward for your future game!
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
Thank you very much for the message, this is Sekito.
This blog was started out from one silly conversation that our staff and I used to have.
Since then, with collaborations from so many people, we have been updating this blog pretty much, almost everyday basis. Just recently though, we might be able to update from “Almost everyday basis” to “everyday basis”! LOL
Maybe this blog is a little annoying, might be very enjoyable!!?? LOL
Honestly, I am so glad to hear everyone`s response and contributions.
Meanwhile, on the rhythm part of the track “The Assault”, you might find it easier to play when you concentrate on playing along with the bump of the string section rhythmically.
Here is a photo for your reference for the track below…
I did not realize that you have noticed this rhythm pattern like that.
I shall be trying to write the music in more complexes… Oh no, I should be going to add greater impression in game with my music. LOL
I really hope that you would enjoy both “THE LAST REMNANT” and the soundtrack.
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【Message3】
I have been enjoying this blog very much along with your commentary and other stuff!
Just the other day, I have completed the game!
The music for the ending of the game, which Mr. Sekito mentioned before on this blog, was so great that I have now ordered the soundtrack while I was feeling a little dizzy.
Everyday, I have been listening to the music from the CD that came with “Infinite Undiscovery” special edition, hoping that the day for the release date of the soundtrack would come soon.
Once it comes out, I will be listening to the soundtrack while I think of the “THE LAST REMNANT”. I have a feeling that I will cry once I listen to the music for the ending of the game… I was not planning to buy the soundtrack to be honest…
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
Thank you so much for your message. this is Sekito!
I hear that you have completed the game, then? Congratulations!
I hear also that you have already ordered the soundtrack! I imagine that you would have received the CD by now.
Thank you very, very much.
I am so glad to hear that you have enjoyed the music for ending when you completed the actual game.
The music was not too bad, was it?? LOL
The track order of the soundtrack follows the story of the game itself. You might find satisfying to listen to the soundtrack by making your own play-list, while you could imagine and indulge your own story of the game. That might be fun!
【Marushi Akio comments; 】
I hope you enjoyed Today`s messages and answers.
I like the message concerning about the rhythm pattern, very much!
You have pointed out great bit!
We are still waiting your messages for our development team on the “SQUARE-ENIX Members” website.
We are welcoming all your messages, such as comments on the game, the music, also the question about the music making skills. Any messages are welcome!
We will be also introducing our received messages tomorrow.
Please do not miss that out!
Until then, Good bye!
Diary
Thanks for all your messages! Vol.5
Hi all, this is Marushi, a promotion staff.
As I mentioned yesterday, we will continue introducing our received messages today.
That, of course, includes commentary from Mr. Sekito and Mr. Yamanaka.
I hope you will enjoy today`s messages!
【Message１】Dear sound department staff,
I love reading the commentary of the soundtrack on this blog!
I am enjoying updates of the commentary everyday.
I used to listen to a few of the tracks on the official “THE LAST REMNANT” website before.
I feel so glad of the fact that I can now listen to the music on this blog.
In fact, I still do not own either Xbox 360 or Playstation3 yet. I still have not played “THE LAST REMNANT”, yet.
I am a big game fan myself, I did check out the trailer of “THE LAST REMNANT” when the first announcement for the release of the game came out.
I loved the music on the trailer which gave me a goose skin when I listened to it for the first time!
I used to listen to the music endlessly on the trailer over and over.
I do not have an exact memory of the music on the trailer that I saw as the website has been updated a few times since then. I assume that the music that I love is I think the track “First Awakening”. It maybe it was a different arrangement!?
I was touched when I found the track after the updates of the website.
I hope I am not mistaking the name of the track though…
Anyway, I still feel awesome when I listen to the music on this blog. I also love the game music scene. The fact that I have not yet played the actual game make me eager to listen to the music more and more when I listen to the tracks on this blog.
I would want to listen to the tracks for a whole length for once.
The game itself seems very interesting. I am planning to buy the game.
I just wanted to let you know about how I was impressed with the music.
I am still looking forward to reading the rest of the commentary on this blog.
Thank you
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
Thanks very much for your comment, this is Sekito.
I feel honored to hear that you have a positive impression on the soundtrack just by itself!
I am not so sure whether you could categorize “game music scene” or not. LOL
But I know exactly what you are trying to say anyhow.
We have compiled the soundtrack that follows the order of the story in the game.
I think that you might enjoy imaging the game by listening to whole track when you have a spare time.
Also, our sound crews have made a huge effort to create such a quality sound production for the game. If you ever feel like playing the actual game, I would recommend you to play this awesome game!
Shall we ask what Mr. Yamanaka thinks about “The First Awakening”??
【Mr. Yamanaka comments;】
Hi there, this is Yamanaka.
To answer your question about the music of the trailer, I have a feeling that It might have been the first ever theme that we had written for the game. Sorry, if I m wrong!
The track has been arranged its variation from the music for “TGS 2007 trailer”, Disc3 “Overture TGS 2007 Mix”, to Disc1 “The first Awakening”. We have a different arrangement of it on Disc3 “Finale” also.
The closest arrangement I think is that the last part of Disc3”Overture TGS 2007 Mix”
To agree with Mr. Sekito's comment. I would love for you to play the game!
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【Message;2】
Good evening.
I have been enjoying playing “THE LAST REMNANT” very much.
The other day, I was playing the game with my headphones on, without any intensions.
I realized how good the music was for the first time! I was listening to the title track over and over.
I thought that the battle tracks must sound so cool, and then I discovered that I totally love the track changes when the moral gauge moves back and forth during the battle.
That really makes me feel great!
As I was looking for the release date for the soundtrack, I just found out that Today is the release date! I think that the online shopping might take a while to deliver, so that I will buy the CD in store. I feel bad about the fact that I did not realize how great the music was while I was playing the game before.
I will definitely choose the music during the battle for my wake up alarm in the morning.
That music brings my feeling right up.
Of course I am following this blog everyday. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the commentary!
【Mr. Sekito comments;】
Thank you very much for your message, this is Sekito.
I am so glad that you are enjoying both the game and the soundtrack!
When you listen from headphones, I can actually hear more frequency band of the sound that TV speakers are unable to reproduce. .
On the game title part, you would hear two tracks “The First Awakening” and “Cherished Memories”. You might also enjoy many of different variations of those two tracks in the game.
I agree with you mentioned about the music for the battle would be suitable for a wake up alarm! LOL
I would love for you to listen to those tracks when you are in the situation that you must bring your feeling up!
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【Message3】
I just have bought the soundtrack of “THE LAST REMNANT” online!!
I can not wait to have the CD in my hand. I will be listening to the soundtrack when I read my own message this blog! LOL
I am a big fun of Mr. Sekito since “The Brave Fencer”
As much as I like his music, I really like his sense of humor.
I am looking forward to reading your almost every track commentary session!
【Mr., Sekito comments;】
Thanks very much for the message! This is Sekito.
Oh, good old “The Brave Fencer”! LOL
The game was released 10 years ago…
Since then, my enthusiasm toward music for games has not changed the slightest.
I feel that you will enjoy “THE LAST REMNANT” as I have put all my effort to the game.
There is a lot of great music on “THE LAST REMNANT” also! LOL
Someone pointed out about my work, saying that “his work has now a little rack in color these days” LOL
This opinion may be grateful!? Or it might be not so grateful to hear!? LOL
From now on, I will try my best and challenge newer projects in the future!
I really hope to have your support!
【Marushi Akio comments; 】
Thanks for your enthusiastic messages, everyone!
Thank you very much for your messages that makes me encouraged!
We are continuing to have more and more messages from all of you for this blog.
If you have any question that needs to be answered by us, or if you want to deliver your feeling to us, please do send us your messages!
We are welcoming your massages from the link below…
Tomorrow, we will begin with Disc3 13th track commentary session.
This blog might have been reckless for a start as to update on everyday basis.
But since we have only 3 days left, we will continue this blog enthusiastically,
We hope for you to enjoy as much as you can.
Thank you!
Marushi Akio, A promotion staff
Diary
I would like to thank everyone who has been reading “Return of Sekito Clinic”
Good evening. This is Marushi , a promotion staff.
I would like to thank everyone who has been reading “Return of Sekito Clinic” for whole month.
Looking back, this blog has improved from “almost everyday update” to “everyday update”, and it went smoothly until the final day of this blog.
For the final day, Mr. Sekito ,Mr. Yagi. And Mr. Yamanaka has greetings for everyone about this blog.
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Greetings from Mr. Yagi
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
Good evening, this is Yagi, event planner.
“Return of Sekito Clinic” has just been a month since the first day.
Today really is the final day for the blog.
When Mr. Sekito asked me that “I would love you to do the commentary session with you for the music for event sequence” for this blog, I was worried that what I should be writing for this commentary. But I managed to finish this with the constant struggle of looking back the past memories. I would like to thank all of the reader who has been reading this blog until this final day.
On this final day of this blog, I would like to say that I want everyone to have a great fun playing “THE LAST REMNANT”.
I hope to see all of you sometime very soon.
Thank you very much!
Yagi
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Greetings from Mr. Yamanaka
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Good evening, this is Yamanaka.
Finally, the blog “return of Sekito Clinic” has come to its end!
We used to struggle with our comments that not knowing what to write about.
But as this blog continues, we began receiving many encouraging messages from everyone. I started enjoying and having good time writing after that!
Thank you so much, everyone!
I hope to see you very soon.
Yamanaka
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Greetings from Mr. Sekito
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
Good evening, this is Sekito.
It is now on the final day for the blog. Has everyone had a good fun on this blog?
We have started hoping that it would be great to update every day for the blog.
As soon as we have started, I realized that t is actually so much fun doing! LOL
4 weeks flew by for only a blink of an eye. We have had a lot of ideas from Mr. Yagi, Mr. Yamanaka, and Marushi for the blog.
I am a classic optimistic guy most of the time, but I feel a little down from time to time. LOL
When I feel a little down, I must look back about this blog that I have had so much fun with.
Finally, I would like to thank to the people who have been reading this blog, who have sent us encouraging messages, and who have helped us to work this amazing blog for us.
Thank you very, very much!!!
And also…
This weekend on Dec 20th, “Jump Festa in 2009” is held in Makuhari Messe, Japan!
On Dec 20th approx. 14:00pm, Mr. Sekito is going to show his appearance in “Jump Festa in 2009” at Square-Enix Music booth.
We will be waiting all of you at Makuhari Messe.
Please do not throw something at me in the convention! LOL
Sekito
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Greetings from Marushi
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As Mr. Sekito mentioned on his comment,
Mr. Sekito will be appearing at the convention of “Jump Festa in 2009”, which is free entrance, in Makuhari Messe, Japan!
This might be a great opportunity for meeting Mr. Sekito for everyone!
He will be appearing at Square-Enix Music booth,”Jump Festa in 2009”. His appearance time would be approx. 14:00pm.
At the Square-Enix Music booth, we will also be selling CDs of Square-Enix Music.
If some of you are still not planning of doing anything on this weekend, please feel free to visit Square-Enix Music booth! We will be selling “THE LAST REMNANT” soundtrack as well!
Again, I have just managed to do a promotion for you until right at the end of this blog. LOL
I really hope to see everyone sometime in the future!
Thank you again for reading this blog for whole month with us!
Thank you
Marushi Akio, a promotion staff
