Chrono Trigger - Secret of the Forest (Orchestral Remix)

My orchestral rendition of Secret of the Forest from Chrono Trigger.
Now available on iTunes/Loudr: ldr.fm/WyDXG
ALBUM LINKS:
iTunes: itunes.apple.c...
Loudr: www.loudr.fm/re...
The album version of this track contains the following minor changes:
-Removed a strange buzzing release noise in one of the samples.
-Reduced some harsh flute frequencies.
COVER INFO:
Album: Chrono Trigger: Orchestral Selections Vol. I (2015)
Arranger: Malcolm Robinson
Title: Secret of the Forest
Track #: 5
UPC: 841234180041
SOURCE INFO:
Original Title: Secret of the Forest (樹海の神秘)
Composer: Yasunori Mitsuda (光田康典)
Video Game: Chrono Trigger (1995)
System: SNES
Publisher: Square-Enix
SOFTWARE USED:
Cubase 7.5
EWQL Hollywood Strings (Diamond)
EWQL Hollywood Brass (Diamond)
EWQL Hollywood Orchestral Woodwinds (Diamond)
EWQL Hollywood Orchestral Percussion (Diamond)
EWQL Symphonic Orchestra (Platinum)
EWQL Pianos (Platinum)
EWQL Ministry of Rock 2
EWQL Stormdrum 3
EWQL Ra
Spitfire Albion
Impact Soundworks - Plectra 2
8Dio Claire
8Dio AGE
HALion Sonic SE 2

[@NoHandleThisIsntTwitter]

I love that you kept the original bass line.

[@MalcolmRobinsonMusic]

The bass was absolutely necessary to capture the feeling of the original. I suppose I could have replaced it with a contrabass, but I usually prefer to keep the instrumentation as close to the original as possible. I'm glad you liked it!

[@NoHandleThisIsntTwitter]

Malcolm Robinson Music You're absolutely right. One problem I have with remixes is that the original feel is often lost to the remix. But I can always count on yours to still hold on to the original. Keeping the bass really made this feel like the original.

[@AiNaKa]

@@MalcolmRobinsonMusic I'm really glad you recreated the instrumentation. That's a problem I have with most remasters. The instrumentation is integral to a song's feeling in my opinion.

[@ace0135]

don't fix what's not broken

[@gundumbwing291]

@@MalcolmRobinsonMusic 5 years late...but i love you. Thank You for you epic contribution. This is literally one of the songs i fall asleep to every night.

[@LavosTheOneEyedTick]

I often listen to this when driving in the rain/fog. I live surrounded by forests, so I find this version of the song particular to be one I come back to quite a few times.

[@Fenrisviivii04]

before.. you know.. You destroyed it all in 1999 AD. Thank you Lavos, very cool.

[@reyespiano945]

Your remixes sound like HD versions of the original songs. They sound so true to the originals

[@synbrainstorm6179]

Man...seriously how did i not find your channel earlier. Your orchestrals are absolutely stunning.

[@MalcolmRobinsonMusic]

+Syn Brainstorm Thank you! :) This is a very obscure channel and I do absolutely nothing to promote it, but I'm glad you found it anyway.

[@doscuramenos]

Syn Brainstorm - good comment!...

[@nigi7773]

@@MalcolmRobinsonMusic Man on the internet liven it up for ya'

[@nightmare3ds95]

L.A. 0 0.

[@cometsands]

This is one of the most relaxing songs in video game history

[@Xarkom89]

I played a lot in forests with ravines as a kid and this tune played in my head a lot. Especially when the sun light beamed through the leaves above, casting patches of light on old dead timber, rocks, and water from the ravine. Back when imagination was all that most of us needed. Don’t forget to dream.

[@tdm_tdm_]

This bassline is so good

[@samuelshock6292]

Our forest light Many secrets we hide What will you find When you go deeper inside

[@felpz7780]

Link

[@xelreg.3399]

Poeta pu ti ta.

[@Yuckpulver]

Beautiful. I like the Bass. Really nice warm mix^^

[@MalcolmRobinsonMusic]

Yuckpulver Mixing the bass was a concern for me because it had to be noticeable without overpowering the mix. I experimented with it a bit and finally got something I was satisfied with. I'm glad you liked it!

[@jjlnguess7354]

I played a ton of RPGs back in the 80s and 90s and somehow I missed Chrono Trigger… but man the soundtrack feels so familiar to me. And Secret of the Forest is one of those pieces of music that reminds me of enjoying the last of those summer days, playing with my friends outside and playing my SNES, before school started up again. Those days seem legendary to me now in my 40s. It was such simpler times to me. Such bittersweet memories for me. Now I get to see my kids grow up and make precious memories in their lives. I hope to instill in them the sense of adventure, awe and wonder that I experienced through my childhood, especially with stories like Chrono Trigger.

[@mahram]

PLAY IT if you haven’t already. It is still an absolute classic and holds up to this day.

[@jjlnguess7354]

@@mahram yes I need to play it. I have it on my Android tablet. I just need to get started. Thanks 👍

[@linmayo790]

amazing, amazing, i dont have words, im just crying. Perfect.

[@Walter-by7sw]

* crying in brazilian * pure nostalgia

[@yoshaosaxofonista]

lindo demais

[@Jomhezthaze]

Unico room hack que tinha tradução em português num daqueles cds de "5 mil jogos" do snes pra ps2, nostalgia demais!

[@ATVdiscreto]

bom ver brs por aki

[@phelipecidade7963]

que jogo nostálgico, que história e trilha sonora... como foi bom jogar pela primeira vez, sem detonado, sem internet ou hacks

[@mikeax24]

* sucks your cock in french * el dia del payaso...

[@edifyguy]

One thing I'm noticing is that you understand the importance of the electric bass to the feel of the original in so many of the tracks. You've done something very special with this soundtrack. It's orchestral and authentic because you keep the instrumentation correct.

[@MalcolmRobinsonMusic]

Glad you liked it! I almost always try to preserve the original instrumentation, especially when it comes to SNES electric bass in a non-rock context.

[@zeldafreak133]

Gives my a 'misty, deep sacred forest' vibe. I absolutely love it.

[@chrisliam2]

This Piece always takes me back to playing Chrono Trigger for first time , good times.

[@AncientChrono]

Nailed it. Nostalgia is being dumped by the buckets on me.

[@Blues2Dark]

I'm just loving that bassline.😊

[@jesusisbac]

Such a nostalgic wave. I have no words. Fantastic.

[@steamymeatyboi1685]

You truly deserve more subscribers..... These remixes have so much effort put into them and it shows.

[@THAPHENOMUBI]

I listen to this after a great workout & it never disappoints.

[@Revenge221]

Absolutely stunning, I felt like a child again listening to the track for the first time, all over again.

[@Dennisaj]

Such a refreshing song!

[@lunamaria1048]

The base line stayed perfect which is great because i love it!

[@cyanlos01]

You've really breathed some new life into these old tunes. Thanks!

[@TheAdvertisement]

Oh so mysterious and mystical... this really feels like a song of the woodland creatures.

[@TheAdvertisement]

Lavos Yep I’m planning on commenting on every one.

[@NyxTheShield]

Instant chills

[@L4Vo5]

Oh hey!

[@therealedboi]

I can't thank you enough for this. Chrono Trigger was my childhood and you captured this perfectly this masterpiece. Keep up the phenomenal work. I would love to see the rest of the Chrono Trigger soundtrack done by you!

[@Hoopryfien]

This is absolutely beautiful

[@rapidJazzhands]

This is by FAR my fav remix of this song. Well done bro 👍👍👍

[@sephrinx4958]

Absolutely beautiful.

[@andrewalbright4529]

This song is magic.

[@timothys820]

The reverb on this is hauntingly good.

[@cgomez0010]

I just found your channel. I've been listening to your Chrono Trigger tracks every day while cooking. It's a very nostalgic experience for me as they are beautiful done and hold true to the original masterpiece. Thank you for all your hard work.

[@MalcolmRobinsonMusic]

Thank you! It's great to know that people around the world are listening to them and getting some sort of value out of them. It took a lot of work to make them, but it was mostly enjoyable and I learned a lot from it.

[@gatomarrom3239]

Nossaaaa!! que grave lindooo!!!!

[@lucasbernardo1889]

Sim

[@gabrielcorreia6369]

Melhor jogo que já joguei

[@tomwier3152]

You really need extended versions of all of your remixes...these are unfathomably amazing.

[@THAPHENOMUBI]

BEAUTIFUL.

[@gamerprince-tl5hg]

This is just amazing... I didn't know you did this theme. My eyes are just watering right now... just... amazing...

[@MalcolmRobinsonMusic]

+gamerprince1999 I wasn't planning to do it at first because it wasn't a very memorable piece for me, but then I gave it another listen on the soundtrack and I really liked it. I was also really interested in seeing how I'd tackle the percussion and that weird moaning or "owl" sound.

[@survivingdepression9587]

absolute fire

[@damiencrossley7497]

I fell asleep to your version before. I love it! Nice and relaxing.

[@JustSonicShorts]

I just found this and man! It sounds amazing with headphones wow

[@ciromauriciodecristo1517]

Dude how come i never found you before. Great job!

[@CountArtorias]

This one is really nostalgic, great job!

[@Bonus_Bananas]

This is beautiful! Thank you so much for bringing this to the world.

[@LuizFelipe-xw5xf]

Que delícia de música!!! Faz jus a saga Chrono!!

[@yoshaosaxofonista]

as versões dele são incríveis mesmo. poderia tranquilamente serem usadas num remake

[@user-gm8gn4rq1k]

so good

[@dgtamer43yt]

I honestly don't understand why a lot of official remastered tracks of games tend to be too overexaggerated in a way where they tend to deviate from the original source and also force emotions unlike this one... where Malcolm just made sure that the instruments sound to date while giving it a breath of fresh air as if you're dusting off a long lost object that you haven't seen in years..

[@adamdesanti6713]

Exactly! Malcolm has no ego. He lets the original tell the story while faithfully arranging it with modern orchestral libraries.

[@XIskandarX]

Omg bro you are a fkin genius, of all the versions I have heard out there these ones are the most majestic ones that also keep the feeling of the originals, I wish they could put these into the rematerizations.

[@jvega2447]

1 second in... and I had to lay back in my seat, look at the roof and listen... this completely stunned me. So many memories.

[@anmolsarps]

Imagine being with bae, nice little lights set up across the room in a little cabin in the woods, having a conversation about where you guys were and where you all are going, after going through a huge struggle and making it out stronger. Around you are candles flickering, the warm smell of a fire from the fireplace. It's very mellow and you both feel the heat between you... then this song starts playing.

[@DanJonesKing]

I played this in my car at night through the forest. I saw 2 bigfoots (bigfeet?), a unicorn and the Jersey Devil ...

[@capnmojo]

But did you see a Nu?

[@rebeccascarlet4305]

what about Nue Houjuu?

[@onlythequestion]

+capnmojo wasn't raining

[@Rhovanion85]

Bigfeet sounds better than bigfoots XD

[@BluuDemon]

Nigga were u high?

[@nateisameme6682]

Ive been watching a playlist of your songs, and i gotta say, i am very impressed with your work. Great detail even down to the littlest sound. Just subbed

[@MalcolmRobinsonMusic]

Thanks! I'm glad you like my work.

[@TheBfutgreg]

Fretless bass guitars always will remind me of Chrono Trigger, or Hey You by Pink Floyd...such an interesting and unique sound when there's a whole pitch range to choose from

[@AJslayer86]

This is timeless

[@maycoc.9107]

So beautiful! Thank you for creating this.

[@elbarry7016]

Man, do you have the FLAC of this sweet beauty? It would be awesome to listen with more than 1 Mbps

[@FuzzyWok]

SO GOOOOD

[@Dennis_Reynolds_Golden_God]

That bass is so powerful.

[@PlanetToca]

These are great

[@bartholomewtwo]

These are truely amazing - not only is your own work fantastic from an arrangement and technical perspective, but I think this helps prove how much soundtracks of many SNES era games were on par with a lot of modern classical at the time. Incredible work!

[@dominiccanis406]

Beautiful.

[@Mr.RobotG]

These remixes are sooo goood. I wish I'd discovered them years ago wtf

[@alanreis4122]

Beautiful

[@SmokerCrow99]

I love your work, dude

[@Xorcrupt]

Splendid as usual! Your consistency knows no bounds. :) By the way, are there any plans to remaster Schala's Theme? Her theme is one of my favorites from Chrono Trigger. I always liked how the string parts blended and harmonized with each other along with the melody in that one.

[@MalcolmRobinsonMusic]

Alex K Thank you! :) I'm planning to do Schala's Theme along with most of the other major tracks from the game. I have 30 tracks planned in total, and I'll get started on Schala's Theme as soon as I release the first volume of my Chrono Trigger cover album. I really like it too, so I'm looking forward to making it.

[@seramiru]

wow, i really love this

[@Daveman94]

How long did you work on the recreations roughly on average? Especially with choosing instruments, tweaking sounds etc.? I used cubase in the past, but lost track, because it was so labor intensive...

[@laprepper]

Arguably one of the best video game soundtracks of all time

[@Bugberry1]

Brilliant!

[@MalcolmRobinsonMusic]

Richard Eckelberry Thanks Richard!

[@michigandersea3485]

This will get remixed into a lofi track

[@nocturne.nocturnal]

hopefully not

[@IBA333]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/aJbHZoSHbMqrsNk @11:26

[@AlgaeEater09]

@@nocturne.nocturnal Agreed. Hopfully not. Lofi hiphop is good but Lofi Videogame remixes are pure awful and COMPLETELY lose what made the song good in the first place. for example... the Poke & Chill album is pure trash- its pokemon songs but in slower beats.

[@johnkazmierczak5979]

Chrono Trigger - Secret of the Forest By Man on the Internet: Our forest's light Many secrets will hide What will you find When you go deeper inside? Come and see The forest symphony And we will show What our life should be? And you'll find Long as this forest grows We can be free A world of our own. Somewhere inside Our secrets you will find Deep down we hide From the light.

[@misslucywucy]

Thank you ^-^

[@funes_]

Masterpiece!! ❤️

[@inddarbarreto1746]

Beautiful!!

[@danthedeer8]

love these compositions you've done! Thank you for sharing them with us!

[@MunnyDShot]

I like how you keep it 100% true to the original 🔥 i would love for you to recreate a few breath of fire 3 tracks

[@HelvecioGomes]

So peaceful

[@khsabia]

This is fantastic. I appreciate how faithful to the originals these renditions are. Super pumped I stumbled across this channel...maybe the youtube algorithm knows me after all...

[@armorvil]

I'm not gonna comment on all your vids, but I started using Reason to also remaster songs, because I wasn't satisfied by the many remixes I found on KZbin at the time. If I had found your channel at the time, needless to say I would never have started! Respect.

[@MalcolmRobinsonMusic]

Thanks! I'm glad you like my channel. Digital music production is a great skill to have, so it's a good thing you didn't find my channel earlier. :)

[@JM-co9op]

wow!you're amazing man!

[@rayckgode8737]

Mano do céu, isso e uma maravilha de música adoro essa maravilhoso game

[@lucasbernardo1889]

Também

[@xelreg.3399]

Sopa de macaco.

[@grizzyu6285]

@@xelreg.3399 sim

[@nocturne.nocturnal]

@@xelreg.3399 como descobriu?

[@Bboy-Master13]

This track is fire!!!!!!!!!!!

[@ChristianGomes8291]

Playlist sensacional!

[@joejokool]

i want to cry

[@therearpane]

The piano portion is so properly understated, some versions really ratchet it up. That transition at 02:18 absolutely slaps.

[@andrewalbright4529]

This makes me want to create more accounts just to Like it more.

[@dexms4]

Hey Malcolm, just found your channel and I'm loving both your Undertale and Chrono Trigger covers. I noticed something interesting- you share a name with Blake Robinson, another youtuber I know who makes orchestral remixes. In fact it seems that both of you have produced a Chrono Trigger remix album. Quite the coincidence..

[@misterklonoa1602]

Oh cool, this was uploaded on my birthday

[@bbydinobeats]

This is fire🔥🔥🔥

[@45johngalt]

love love love

[@faroukrizki8320]

I love it very much! I would love it more if the sound of the bass is a bit louder though... still, this is verrrrryyy goood

[@lunamaria1048]

This is so beautiful and the nostalgia has me in tears :)

[@artemirrlazaris7406]

The problme I find is the L and R channels that bring you deeper into the woods is missing, from teh original accompanment. Pretty sure the orchestral version would have that melodic sway, I find this was a trance inducing timeless appeal of the alternating sometiems even teh baseline that goes subtly louder and quiter between ears, as if your traveling through something... Not sure if its teh data uploaded or the mp3, but there is something missing without that dynaimic range to encompass teh ears.. Its why I think orchestral shouldn't divide themselves in such ordered systems for equal ambience of sound ,but more over an interplay of the accoustic interplay of how the ineterence of some ranges cna play in teh ear of hte left and right, I hav ebeen to symphonies and this is also missing, perhaps because their smaller, but often jsut replica music without an aspiration to tickle the mind, thus the overall original in game is better, ebcause of that loss here, even though the playing is and seems better. hmm. Plus mp3 destroys the high and low, and thus you miss so much nuiaunce which can lead to anticipation, and other feelings, making some msuic feel more robotic than played.

[@OrbitalSP2]

Nice. The sequence that starts at 1:45 and just changes elevation, each last note is not played in the original. Dunno if this intentional or not. Just saying.

[@MalcolmRobinsonMusic]

I took a listen to the original again and you are right in recognizing the difference in the dynamics of that sequence of notes, but actually, the last (eighth) note in each sequence is played in the original, just very quietly. It's debatable whether it's an "echo" note, which was a common way of mimicking reverb on the SNES, or an actual quiet note. Anyway, I should have tweaked the dynamics to match the original. Thanks for pointing this out!

[@OrbitalSP2]

@@MalcolmRobinsonMusic Yes actually after writting this I listened again and again and arrived to the same conclusion as you, maybe it's played very low or its an echo, but there is a small difference there. Anyways, your version is also excellent, thanks for your work!

[@waynemack9053]

Never been part 2 🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@jeffreyscott825]

time for you to arrange golden sun :)

[@MalcolmRobinsonMusic]

I have one Golden Sun orchestration pretty much finished and I'll upload it in the next month or so. Without revealing which track it is, I'll just say it's one of my favorite VGM compositions of all time and it isn't a battle theme. Unfortunately, it'll probably be the only one I do from the series.

[@jeffreyscott825]

awesome!!

[@rootbeerconnoisseur6104]

@@MalcolmRobinsonMusic Aaa

[@magnificent10304]

....... wow. Lemme say wow. I've heard a lot of other versions but wow. Thanks dude really thanks, I have the complete OST and a ton of other versions but on a real sound system it still sounds 16bit. I'll be buyin your tracks to support your skills to hear this quality music of memories. It's almost perfect, the battle remix isn't perfect, by far, but better than the original, meaning it's basically flawless to the point it blows the original away, as in this case as well, the $^%#. It's perfect! This is my 2nd fav track beaten by the end credits only, I remember i falling alseep to this tune while learning the game an it drilled in my head for hours. This is the best version period. Funny you wasn't gonna do this track an i'm beyond happy you did, that's y i'm leaving this long ass comment. Now for the negative..... There is none really, only where the Magus mix???? Brah.... Request FF3 Final boss battle, Kefka theme, Cyan theme, 1st world map theme... Secret of mana all lol. I understand this skill takes time an the same.... feel as when playing through the games back in the day but man you spot on.

[@MalcolmRobinsonMusic]

+magnificent10304 Thanks so much for the comment! :) I put a lot of time into all my Chrono Trigger orchestrations, so I'm glad you liked them. I'm eventually going to get back to Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy, and Battle with Magus will be a priority for me. I've actually already finished Kefka's Theme and it's on my channel in the FF6 playlist. I'll eventually get to the other FF3/6 tracks you mentioned, but I think Secret of Mana is a long way off.

[@magnificent10304]

+Malcolm Robinson Music It's all good man I know this stuff takes effort an time, I'm patiently waiting. I went down memory lane last night with a couple of beers, it was a good feeling, thanks man. I forgot 6 is 3 here I'll listen to those tracks tonight, I can't wait

[@RenevousAssasin]

i swear if SE doesnt hit you up with an offer to use this soundtrack rendition for a remaster, i will be deeply disappointed.

[@Oldstalk]

Did you know, Breath of fire 3 has the exact same song for the beginning forest Well, no wonder why, this is such a beautiful track

[@maddmike5265]

Could I use these songs for a remix?

[@felipefeitosa9201]

my dream remake of chrono triger

[@jonathdemian123]

Sin palabras... 👍👍👏👏👏👏👏