Uploaded May 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago

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Here's my Chiptune-inspired Rock cover of "Moonsiders 1st" from Tekken 7!

Listen to this cover on streaming services here: ffm.to/0qopdqb

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*Twitter:* twitter.com/kadekalka
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~ * ~ credits ~ * ~

Originally composed by Taku Inoue.

~ * ~ about the song and stuff ~ * ~

I've never played a Tekken game in my life.

When Kazuya was first added to Smash, I heard Yoko Shimomura's arrangement of "Moonsiders 1st" and was blown away. I proceeded to listen to the original, some more tracks from Tekken 7, and then a bunch of stuff from Tag Tournament. I wouldn't say I'm obsessed with the soundtracks yet, but I'm at least a fan.

So yeah, I decided to cover this now because I just wanted to do a quick cover I could put on streaming. I looked up a list of VGM OSTs that are on streaming in NA and found Tekken 7 on there (along with some others like some Capcom stuff, did you know Monster Hunter's on Spotify, wtf??).

I started the cover on Tuesday and didn't really know what I wanted to do with it at first. I transcribed most of the parts then started playing bass on it. That's when I realized I could make it sound like a Kubbi song!

I'm a huge Kubbi fan. Kubbi has been one of my main inspirations since I started years ago. I've always wanted to make either a Kubbi cover or a song that sounds like them. It's never really worked out.. until now I guess haha.

BASS:

I used this new bass amp sim I got for free through Plugin Alliance, Ampeg SVTVR Classic. It sounds amazing for this type of stuff.

I did a lot of palm muting during the more chilled-out sections and let loose for the big chorus section.

GUITARS:

I realized that using a crunchy tone with the bridge coil split sounds very Kubbi-like. So I did that and I think it sounds great! Amp sim is Archetype: Nolly with the second amp and second cab. I also added a bit of reverb to most of the guitars. Short decay, a lot of early reflections. Makes it feel a bit more real in my opinion.

DRUMS:

I used Steven Slate Drums 5.5 for this. I usually don't use SSD for much more than layering, but I think it worked perfectly for this.

Kick: Kick 10 SSD, Kick Electro.
Snare: Snare 11a SSD, B Snare Hybrid 03.
Toms: Tom Drw MPL 10-16

I used the ADSR feature in SSD to cut most of the decay from the drums and make them very punchy. I also turned the room mic all the way down.

I put an EQ, multiband comp, and a FET comp on the kick. EQ, slow attack comp, multiband comp, Phat FX, and EQ on the snare. I also turned them way tf up haha.

PIANO:

Alicia's Keys is a great piano library, you should get it when it goes on sale for Black Friday. I played it hard to get a bright sound and used multiband compression and dynamic EQ to tame anything that sticks out.

TDR Nova is a fantastic dynamic EQ and it's FREE! I use it all the time, especially for piano, and highly recommend it.

SYNTHS:

I originally used Ymck Magical 8Bit for the chiptune leads, but I had some problems with it and ended up just making some patches in Alchemy. That plucky one in the verse was made using a quick ADSR on the course pitch of the oscillator. I really tried ripping off Kubbi with it, but you can tell it's just an imitation lmao.

I also did that thing where the synth lead just bends down a lot, and I think that's cool.

How many times did I say Kubbi in this description? lmao.

I hope you like the cover!

~ * ~ thanks for watching / listening ~ * ~

#VGM #Tekken7 #Smash