Looking for some brutal (but constructive) feedback for my piece...

Author
MrBansaw
Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
  • Total Posts : 45
  • Joined: 2015/11/02 17:25:46
  • Status: offline
2017/11/13 20:55:18 (permalink)

Looking for some brutal (but constructive) feedback for my piece...

Any input from more experienced ears than mine appreciated.
Also, did a lot of this on headphones and lack good studio monitors, so am wondering if I got a good frequency spread.
Don't mind brutal feedback, as long as there's a hint on how I can improve it!
 
Soundcloud link:
https://soundcloud.com/bansaw-843690132/the-wait-is-over-2nd-albion-piece-november-2017
 

Sonar Home 6XL 64bit (and Reaper), i7-770k 16GB Win10,  & Toshiba Sat L500 INTEL I5-430M 2.26-2.53GHZ, Win7, 4GB, 1TB, Albion One, Avenger, Motu Ethno, Studiologic 990Xp 88-key
#1

14 Replies Related Threads

    evadianepug
    Max Output Level: -30.5 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 4477
    • Joined: 2008/07/11 20:53:21
    • Location: Phoenix, Arizona
    • Status: offline
    Re: Looking for some brutal (but constructive) feedback for my piece... 2017/11/13 22:23:57 (permalink)
    Well, I thought it took too long to get to the meat.  Maybe the whole thing took too long to develop for me.  Let me start by saying I am not a big Emusic fan.  One of the reasons is that without a video they always seem to take too long for me and I don't really imagine where they are going. The instruments and the sound were fine.

     Fairy tales do not tell children that dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed. (GK Chesterton

    Warren (Pug) Willingham
    THE PUGTONES
    http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=919339&content=music
    SonarX3
    #2
    bitflipper
    01100010 01101001 01110100 01100110 01101100 01101
    • Total Posts : 26036
    • Joined: 2006/09/17 11:23:23
    • Location: Everett, WA USA
    • Status: offline
    Re: Looking for some brutal (but constructive) feedback for my piece... 2017/11/14 02:21:03 (permalink)
    It is spectrally sound. Not bass-hyped, a frequent symptom of headphone mixing. Pretty good balance of instruments and frequencies. Not overcompressed, good dynamics. So on a technical level, 4 out of 5 stars.
     
    Compositionally, I'd agree with Warren's assessment: as a standalone piece of music, it takes too long to get to the meat. What I'd suggest is throwing in some ear candy early on, perhaps some high percussion to float above the long drone at the beginning. and add some interest for those with short attention spans. Maybe just bring up that little rhythmic (flute?) part that you've already got going there.
     
    My rule of thumb: let no phrase go more than a measure without something changing. It can be a subtle shift of emphasis, automating EQ or reverb, adding a new voice, muting an existing voice, adding a counter melody, or tossing in a triangle. It doesn't have to be a big thing.


    All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. 

    My Stuff
    #3
    synkrotron
    Max Output Level: -22.5 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 5263
    • Joined: 2006/04/28 16:21:21
    • Location: Warrington, UK
    • Status: offline
    Re: Looking for some brutal (but constructive) feedback for my piece... 2017/11/14 12:30:27 (permalink)
    Hello Mr. Bansaw,
     
    I have just finished listening to both The Wait is Over and Bluebanks.
     
    In my humble opinion, for pieces that are tagged as Cinematic Orchestral I think they are fine, in terms of composition. As the credits roll, both of these pieces are just the ticket.
     
    I, too, usually work with headphones but lately I have managed to set up my (not so great) Tannoy Active Reveal nearfields. And, as best as I can tell, the mix is fine.
     
    I also listened on my headphones and all is fine there too.
     
    Frequency wise, I am not sure, as this is something I struggle with myself. I always use SPAN to check the frequency spread on my pieces. Are you doing something similar, perhaps?
     
    cheers
     
    andy

    http://www.synkrotron.co.uk/
    Intel Core™i7-3820QM Quad Core Mobile Processor 2.70GHz 8MB cache | Intel HM77 Express Chipset | 16GB SAMSUNG 1600MHz SODIMM DDR3 RAM | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M - 2.0GB DDR5 Video RAM | 500GB Samsung 850 Pro SSD | 1TB Samsung 850 Pro SSD | Windows 10 Pro | Roland OCTA-CAPTURE | SONAR Platinum ∞ FFS| Too many VSTi's to list here | KRK KNS-8400 Headphones | Roland JP-8000 | Oberheim OB12 | Novation Nova | Gibson SG Special | PRS Studio
    #4
    Wookiee
    Rrrrugh arah-ah-woof?
    • Total Posts : 13306
    • Joined: 2007/01/16 06:19:43
    • Location: Akahaocwora - Village Yoh Kay
    • Status: offline
    Re: Looking for some brutal (but constructive) feedback for my piece... 2017/11/14 17:12:21 (permalink)
    Mix does not sound to bad on the Adam's though it does require a little something to keep the attention, probably be fine with a video.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain.
    Karma has a way of finding its own way home.
    Primary, i7 8700K 16Gigs Ram, 3x500gb SSD's 2TB Backup HHD Saffire Pro 40. Win 10 64Bit
    Secondary  i7 4790K, 32GB Ram, 500Gb SSD OS/Prog's, 1TB Audio, 1TB Samples HHD AudioBox USB, Win 10 64Bit
    CbB, Adam's A7x's - Event 20/20's, Arturia V6, Korg Digital Legacy, Softube Modular, Arturia Keylab-88, USB-MidiSport 8x8 
    #5
    ULTRABRA
    Max Output Level: -81 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 484
    • Joined: 2009/07/07 05:27:34
    • Location: Helsinki, Finland
    • Status: offline
    Re: Looking for some brutal (but constructive) feedback for my piece... 2017/11/15 10:20:35 (permalink)
    For me, compostionally, it sounded incomplete.   I think you need a melody of some kind, such as a string line, during the main section, plus some more percussion such as higher loops to keep it moving.    For the brass and string parts you need to use your modwheel a bit a create some dynamic movement.  Particularly the brass long notes are very static.  It doesn't hold its own as a stand alone piece as it currently is, but you have a solid basis to develop.   The start and ending was unnecessarily long.

    HP Z420, Intel Xeon E5-1620@ 3600MHz, 8GB RAM,  Windows 7 Pro 64-bit, Soundcard : Focusrite Saffire 24, & Sonar : Producer X3    
    My Soundcloud
    #6
    jamesg1213
    Max Output Level: 0 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 21760
    • Joined: 2006/04/18 14:42:48
    • Location: SW Scotland
    • Status: offline
    Re: Looking for some brutal (but constructive) feedback for my piece... 2017/11/15 12:34:41 (permalink)
    I thought it was excellent, really well thought out, good dynamics and through headphones the mix sounded clear and crisp.

     
    Jyemz
     
     
     



    Thrombold's Patented Brisk Weather Pantaloonettes with Inclementometer
    #7
    dcumpian
    Max Output Level: -34 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 4124
    • Joined: 2005/11/03 15:50:51
    • Status: offline
    Re: Looking for some brutal (but constructive) feedback for my piece... 2017/11/15 13:24:38 (permalink)
    I don't think there is anything wrong with the piece, in context. As backdrop for a film/video, title screen or credit roll it is perfectly suitable. Overall, the mix is pretty good, though I think you might have filtered out a little too much low end on the horns. Other than that, great job!
     
    Regards,
    Dan

    Mixing is all about control.
     
    My music:
    http://dancumpian.bandcamp.com/ or https://soundcloud.com/dcumpian Studiocat Advanced Studio DAW (Intel i5 3550 @ 3.7GHz, Z77 motherboard, 16GB Ram, lots of HDDs), Sonar Plat, Mackie 1604, PreSonus Audiobox 44VSL, ESI 4x4 Midi Interface, Ibanez Bass, Custom Fender Mexi-Strat, NI S88, Roland JV-2080 & MDB-1, Komplete, Omnisphere, Lots o' plugins.    
    #8
    emeraldsoul
    Max Output Level: -56.5 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 1858
    • Joined: 2009/01/02 23:16:43
    • Status: offline
    Re: Looking for some brutal (but constructive) feedback for my piece... 2017/11/16 05:45:22 (permalink)
    Seems like a nice mix here. Credits roll just fine to this, is that your intention for It?
    I like how it's  tastefully reverbed, not over reverbed  !
     
    To me, those trombones do need some lows back in, they sound a little farty, apologies for the brutality. :)
     
    It's perfectly suitable and a good mix! I can hear everything cleanly.
     
    -Tom

    A work in regress:
    www.studiusinterruptus.com
     
    Cornbread - video   audio
    A Very, Very Troubled Soul - video   
    Kilometers Davis - video   audio
    Mayans (Face in the Crowd) - video  audio
    The Sweet Slow Fade - video
    #9
    kevmsmith81
    Max Output Level: -85 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 259
    • Joined: 2015/04/24 16:13:01
    • Location: Winchester, UK
    • Status: offline
    Re: Looking for some brutal (but constructive) feedback for my piece... 2017/11/16 22:28:34 (permalink)
    Personally, I like the slow build as it helps build some tension to a degree.  I'd like the percussion to be a little louder as it seems to be drowned out a little meaning the impact is lessened.  But other than that, I liked it.
    #10
    NuclearWinterProductions
    Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 3
    • Joined: 2017/02/20 20:39:59
    • Status: offline
    Re: Looking for some brutal (but constructive) feedback for my piece... 2017/11/17 16:56:03 (permalink)
    I agree raising the volume of the percussion, just a hair, would make it feel a little more powerful. 
     
    I listened while I read the other comments and it felt like I was watching (and reading) the opening credits of a Michael Bay movie. 
    #11
    e2studio
    Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 22
    • Joined: 2014/12/26 12:27:00
    • Status: offline
    Re: Looking for some brutal (but constructive) feedback for my piece... 2017/11/17 19:12:10 (permalink)
    Hello 
    I don't know what library sounds you used, but it's not very convincing .. especially the brass in the first time.
    Little stereophonic sound ... I expanded a bit more the stereo image.
    at the end is not bad, Go on !!
     
    Regards
    Elix
    #12
    e2studio
    Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 22
    • Joined: 2014/12/26 12:27:00
    • Status: offline
    Re: Looking for some brutal (but constructive) feedback for my piece... 2017/11/17 19:12:12 (permalink)
    Hello 
    I don't know what library sounds you used, but it's not very convincing .. especially the brass in the first time.
    Little stereophonic sound ... I expanded a bit more the stereo image.
    at the end is not bad, Go on !!
     
    Regards
    Elix
    #13
    MrBansaw
    Max Output Level: -90 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 45
    • Joined: 2015/11/02 17:25:46
    • Status: offline
    Re: Looking for some brutal (but constructive) feedback for my piece... 2017/11/18 23:36:33 (permalink)
    Thanks everyone.  Good input there.  This is the kind of thing I'm looking for so I can get different angles that might help me in my next piece.
    I used Spitfire Audio (Albion One).  Its a very good library which I got recently.  I does lack a little bit sharpness in the high frequency so I'll have to layer it with something.
     
     

    Sonar Home 6XL 64bit (and Reaper), i7-770k 16GB Win10,  & Toshiba Sat L500 INTEL I5-430M 2.26-2.53GHZ, Win7, 4GB, 1TB, Albion One, Avenger, Motu Ethno, Studiologic 990Xp 88-key
    #14
    pistolpete
    Max Output Level: -59.5 dBFS
    • Total Posts : 1584
    • Joined: 2007/02/08 18:03:18
    • Location: Brentwood, TN
    • Status: offline
    Re: Looking for some brutal (but constructive) feedback for my piece... 2017/11/18 23:55:42 (permalink)
    As with most cinematic attempts, there is no musical story or point. What's with the bang at 0.27? I agree with the comments above that brass sounds a bit too synthy.
    I would suggest, get a story or a movie scene in your head and try to fit the musical score to it. Make the song tell a story, build up, fall, speed up or slow, whatever sounds like the scene. Then when you play the song back, picture the scenes that you are trying to fit as the song plays.
    #15
    Jump to:
    © 2024 APG vNext Commercial Version 5.1