NASA Contest entry, Neo-classical Rock

think you did a great job to make TTS-1 sound half-decent! Kinda Devin Townsend meets Tony MacAlpine or something. I enjoyed the song itself. It sounds over bright but only listening on the laptop. I would love to hear this with some decent drum sounds (think EZD, Superior, Steven Slate etc), and a less fizzy guitar sound, as you have some good chops and a talent for cool little riffs and runs.

Really cool epic song.  I like how the first riff or two have that "anthem" sound, IMO.  Well written song, like all the harmonizing and stuff too.  Shame you weren't considered. 

Nice work!

Good to see you Matthew, I was wondering where you'd gone. This sounds fantastic through my headphones, love the stereo fx. Lead guitars are just a little low in the mix perhaps? Love all the little details making up the groove, I'd like to be able to write something like this.

Matthew,
  That is some piece of music you have created.  A majestic, space rock opera type of thing.  Very well done and unbelievable how much stuff you managed to get in there.  I enjoyed it quite a bit.  That certainly could wake up some astronauts (as well as get them going on their daily exercise routine).  Nice stuff!  I thought the mix sounded great and I liked the various elements and how they interacted.  Very cool ending!

TONY - I was really shooting for a musical representation of the perils, imagination, and adventure the space program and activity in space represent and engender. I imagine what it must be like strapped to a franetic rocket on a minutes long ride into orbit. The senses must be reeling from the experience, with sounds and sensory input coming from every possible direction. Those ideas greatly contributed to the busyness and activity of the song, and the steady shifting and changing of melody and motif. Thank you very much for your encouraging comment!
 
BOB - Thanks for your expert guitarist feedback. I wanted this song to fly past the listener and wrap itself around the head over and over. YEAH! IT WORKED! I love unexpected panning and sounds. I'm glad you do too.  

GR - LOL Thanks! I tell you, the TTS-1 was a challenge to work with, mainly due to how limited the dynamic controls are, but I focused intensely on midi event velocity and manual variation of each hit so they would sound more organic and sound like they were performed by a human.
 
I spent hour upon hour listening to each section of the drum track, spotting hits that needed duration, velocity, and volume adjustments. I think what made the TTS-1 set sound as good as it does are the VST FX I applied to them, particularly the stereo track splitting and FX sends I have applied to the drum kits. I think the tracking I used could make a duck fart sound ready for the Super Bowl. (sorry, that's just way to funny to me!) LOL *the crowd goes wild!*
 
Thanks again for the nice words.
 
Best Regards, Matthew

too bad you didn't win, Matthew, but this is really cool!!

Very ambitious undertaking producing a tune of epic proportion.  It seems like you captured the feeling of space travel.  Remarkably inventive use of TTS and conglomoration of different elements.  Nice work.

Thanks Philip. I can't tell you how surprised I was to listen to all of the Space Rock contest entries and find that they all sounded the same. Same instrumentation, same genre. It was kind of surreal. Certainly there is a style preference with either NASA, the contest judges, or astronauts. Well, I'll just have to get a radio transmitter, point it at the sky, and broadcast my song. That will get it into space, right! LOL I would love to see a video of clips from the history of space travel and the shuttle program put to this song. That or computer animated visuals. The song is so visual to me.
 
Thanks Beagle!
 
Dean, Thanks for listening. I have a tendency to look for a kitchen sink when I write music . How do you think a drummer would be able to improve on the song? I'm curious to know the reasons, as a few others have made similar comments. I programmed the percussion hit by hit, so don't know how the performance might translate to a human. Interesting thought though.
 
Philz: Thanks for the comment. That TTS has some potential for sure. I bounced around a few of my software drum kits, but kept gravitating back to the TTS. With the right amount of duration and velocity, you can get some good dynamics out of it.  
Thepogue: Perhaps they could use "Andromeda" as rocket fuel for your next mission?! Thanks for the comment.
 
 

Wow!  Great job on everything.  It really sounds great and love the tune.  Great sound on the guitar.