Revisiting "Ironbound" – Growth as a Composer

In 2023, I started my Master’s in Music Composition for Video Games at ThinkSpace Education, and Ironbound was the first project I worked on. Now, as I approach graduation, I’ve been revisiting my old projects—remixing, polishing, and reflecting on how much I’ve grown.

Listening back to Ironbound, I realized just how far I’ve come in both composition and production. Here’s what changed in the latest version:

1. Instrumentation

My sample library has expanded, so instead of replacing instruments, I layered multiple libraries. This added depth and realism—just like a live orchestra, where every musician’s instrument has a unique sound.

2. Reverb

The original track was overly washy. I adjusted baked-in reverb, routed instruments through a unified reverb bus, and dropped the fader to maintain clarity.

3. Timing

I fine-tuned tempo changes to better sync with key moments in the scene—because in game and film scoring, perfect hit points rarely land on a static tempo.

4. Balance

Mixing isn’t “set and forget.” Walking away and coming back with fresh ears helped me rebalance elements dynamically, using volume automation to add impact.

Revisiting Ironbound was an eye-opening experience. Hearing my earlier work with fresh ears made me realize just how much I’ve grown—not just in technical skills, but in my ability to shape a more immersive and dynamic sound. It’s easy to get caught up in always pushing forward, but taking a step back to reflect on past work can be just as valuable. If you haven’t done it in a while, I highly recommend revisiting your old projects. You might be surprised by how far you’ve come—and even find inspiration for where to go next.

Below, you’ll find both versions—my original 2023 mix and the new, polished 2025 update. Let me know what you think!