It's usually wise not to expect criticism in this thread. It really is a rare occurence. If you wish to receive criticism, work on your thing until it's no longer a short loop or doodle, and post it in its own thread.
However since I'm here and VRC7 is somewhat my "speciality" (or so I've been told), I'll take the opportunity to tell you your cover isn't bad, but the sound design is suboptimal. Everything is low and sounds flat; raising the first three channels by an octave would help lighten things up slightly.
Then, you didn't use any custom instruments. I understand that this may very well be your first steps using the VRC7, but it's important to take into consideration the fact that you're given one instrument that can be anything you like, so it's usually best to make use of it. Lagrange Point has really few tracks in which it doesn't use a custom instrument.
Also, in frame 01 the second half of FM channel 3 plays the same thing as FM channel 1, which doesn't seem like something that was intended.
And lastly, you have an unused channel (FM 6), which is generally bad practice in chiptunes (unless you need to free one channel for SFX in your game, for example). Generally you want to make sure you make the best out of what little polyphony you're given. Stuff like OPL3 which gives you an insane amount of channels doesn't count, however; but in the case of NES/Famicom music, if you have a channel that's not doing anything, there's usually something it could be doing (even if it's just doubling up the bass or echoing the main melody for instance). Be creative! And use the 2A03 alone a bit more if you want to get used to thinking of new methods of using your channels more efficiently.
A whole lot of games that use expansions leave a channel or two unused, sometimes as a good place for sound effects that don't interrupt the music (e.g. Lagrange Point, Erika to Satoru no Yumebouken), sometimes because they didn't think they needed them (e.g. Akumajou Densetsu's triangle). Most SNES music has at least one free channel, similarly.
It's only when the number of channels is very small, like on the plain NES, that using every channel for music is common practice.
Anyhow, my point is that using all channels is neither a virtue nor a flaw, in my opinion.
As for this particular thing (cv2_vrc7_attempt.ftm), I would start with the square channel. In pattern you set up an interesting accompaniment pattern, which then gets immediately dropped in the next pattern for seemingly no reason (why not continue it?). The square thing that replaces it is something I like too for pattern 01, except I think it's a little quiet. However the squares in pattern 02/03 begin to wander very erraticly, it no longer makes a melody and feels kinda pointless. If you want a change of texture when pattern 01 begins, considering opening up your noise instruments (longer envelopes with slower decay, louder, etc.) The mix kinda feels like there's no "lead" voice. I would either pump up the squares, and turn that into a lead melody, or maybe double FM1 with a different instrument on FM6 that will cut more.
I agree with jrlepage on the channels, however with VRC7 I think it's ok to let one or two go unused, I mainly fill my VRC7 songs with two or three echos of the lead just for the effect, and I rarely use the triangle since it's so quiet
Also @jrlepage if you export it as nsf and play it like that it sounds better imo, (unless that's what you did)
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I really really really love the melody. The only thing bugging me is that triangle volume.
Thank you!
It's constantly mindblowing when I make things I think are bad the response is overall positive anyway (e.g. 3/6 of my OHC entries thus far)
Not sure if this means my expectations are too high, plain wrong or I just need to work even harder to meet them and mindblow everyone else with the quality.
I don't usually post stuff before it's done, but I thought this metal-ish riff from my WIP "Into the Maw" was too awesome not to share. The arpeggiated sawtooth really gives it a brutal edge.
Also, Instrument 03 is labeled as [not used] since it was only used in another section of the song, and I had 04 as a crash.
