Morning Mist new mix, 1/12

This was inspired one morning while walking to work, seeing the mist on the lake. The first few measures came easy. The rest I had to fight for.  And I make no pretensions of having played this live.  I kept having to stop and think about what to play for the next section.  At one point it's 3-handed.  I tried to add a different part and decided I liked it how it was, even though it would take 2 people to play it.  What's the fun of having a DAW if you can't play with it a little?  :-) 

Morning Mist

Beautiful... And Ivory sounds stupendous! 

as ever a beautiful tune Janet. it's hard to patch in piano with the sustain/enharmonics etc, but i coldn't hear any joins though i was listening out! it'd be fun for you to do more 4 hand piano stuff, maybe instead of using orchestral parts in some tunes?

Nice composition, Janet. The low end notes sound kinda tinny and metallic. Does Ivory give you the option of a closed piano top?

I always love to hear you playing piano Janet. in this one, You have a very strong right hand, cool. A bit more bass and some stings will take this to another level. I like the tune and what your doing here so far
 
 
 
Cheers,
Terry Carroll is SilverBeat
 
 
M-Audio interface
HP Pavilion a730n XP
Sonar producer 8.5
Dimension pro
Alesis Q8
Blue Bird mic
 
 
 
http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_5952498

nice tune. sounded good to me.


second listen... cranked up the computer speakers....

Does your keyboard have touch sensitive keys?   If the piano has velocity sensitive keys, I would have used a lighter touch.... there are many parts that sound wide open, really hitting the keys hard. Lighten your touch.

For a song that is about the delicate mist rising from a like.... I don't get that mental picture when listening. I think it's a good song but it is more "regal and majestic" sounding,  so a title change would suit it better.

third listen... there are a few places where you have the opportunity to tone it down....and you start but then don't stay there long enough. At 1:22 there is a hit that does bad things to that poor bass string.  Starting at about 2:30 on to the end.... loose the bass notes totally, they are distracting from the delicate notes being played higher up.

OK... that's my 2 centavos...

    I recently watched on netflex a show "the making of a steinway". One of the
pianist was speaking about how he plays with more expression (if) the piano
is (giving) him that option. And,  that of all the "same model" pianos made they (all)
have their own tone as well.

  Of course everyone (or most people) know that but none the less that is interesting.
That brings me to the question of (as well) if "your" piano sound is "too this or that?.
I don't know.

  I think I would tend to think of it instead in this way:

     Are there any distractions? I'm not sure I can even answer that with any validity.
A concert pianist might "hammer" some low notes on a piece and I'm wondering, is
he trying to "break the piano?"

  It might come to the fact of the intent, style, genre, what the song or writer/ producer
is going for and so on.

  I've listened to this one several times now to see what each new listen does to me
in the way of how my "perception" and the "listens" affect me.

   Yes the low notes are sometimes too bright and the dynamics at times sound a bit
strong. It's even a little bit choppy sounding. (but) that is "my perception". That doesn't
make my perception correct, it only says that those are things that (I) would think
about.

   I would see if there is some way to thicken the overall tone (or maybe cut some
at around 3K)

  Compress it enough to smooth it out (but Not) be noticeable.

  If there is a way to "increase" the (I think most vst's can) release/ sustain
of the vst (without having to use the pedal) that would give the notes more of a "ring"
Although you'd still use the pedal the notes would be a little thicker sounding
for lack of better words.

  Maybe add a "touch" of a hall concert verb to what you have now (for thickness, not
so much making it verb sounding. Thats why I say a "touch" of it.

    The 3K cut I mention (may not) be necessary if the other things "lush up" the sound.
I think what I'm referencing to is just that, if the piece was a bit more warm or lush
in its sound "that" would really be a treat.

   Anyway this sound great Janet

Janet

I alos love to hear you play because it reminds me of when I was growing up. My little brother played keys and Iwas so used to having that sound around ....I remeber when he got married (he was the first of 4 to do that ) and moved out the house had changed quite a bit......I really missed that sound going on......

Actually he's told me the same about me cause he was used to me as well.....

anyway enough .....on the composition....nice work....on the articulation I would have to agree with Herb.....

In my silly noggin mist is quiet and soft and gentle and flowing and wet........

(trying to say nicely here)  this is articulated to hard for that.....

but I still like it......

Clifford

OK, Jimmy, new mix up.  I tried to make it less bouncy (I thought the exact same thing about the original version and thought maybe you would too, but decided to try it anyway.)  Thanks for helping me with this one too!  I put it in a concert hall (is it too much?) and added extra resonant sustain to Ivory (I haven't used that very often so I'm wondering how it translates), I took out a lot of the bouncy chords, changed a few notes just 'cause, changed the eq.  (you recommended a cut at 3K.  I had a bump at 4K. lol), brought all the velocities down, etc.  Anyway, I hope it's warmer and more lush.  It's still not exactly how I envisioned it, actually, but it's closer. 

Cliff...is this better?  I hope so.  I guess the idea was to start with the morning mist and then have the piece progress as the mist dissipates and the sun comes out.  Does it make more sense if you think of it that way?  Maybe I should change the title. 

Adji, welcome back!  I tried to change things a bit, so I hope it's better now.  I can't believe you mentioned Ludovico Einaudi!  I just heard of him a few months ago and made a Pandora station so I could listen to him and others like him.  I doubt if I've listened long enough for him to influence me, but that's uncanny.  :-) Thanks so much for listening and commenting!

Thank you, Charles.  Shucks, you guys are too nice. :-)  No, I've never heard of Marshall Styler either.  That rock I've lived under all my life must be quite large.  lol  But I'm listening now and his music is just beautiful.  Thank you for introducing me to him.  I'll enjoy listening.  That's cool you got to see him in person.  I got to see Jon Schmidt in person a couple of years ago.  He's incredible and has a great stage presence too.  Sort of like Victor Borge, but not quite so over the top funny. :-) 

I'd love to hear your piece that the Grand Canyon inspired. That's once place I'd love to visit some day.  I seriously thought about it last summer but realized it might not be all that pleasant when it was probably 110 outside.  lol.  Maybe some day. 

Now I'm hearing a low buzz on this version.  I'll have to see if I can fix that. 

OK...now you are heading in the correct direction.........I LIKE THE SOUND much better....but you still need to do more.....especially with the dynamics.....go from very soft to loud in the center section back down to soft.

and keep the ruboto!

your last several bars are where you need to be for "mist" .  Or at least in my nogging!  :-)


CLIFFORD

Cliff...very loud in the middle?  OK, I'll work on it. (just found another one on my page that needs surgery...so I'm workin' on it now.)  Well, they all do, I know, but you know what I mean.  lol    See, that's the weird part...the ending with mist doesn't fit the picture at all.  Oh well.  Like I said, maybe I'll just change the name.  How about 'On my Way to Work?'  lol
Thanks again for the ears! 

Charles, I sorta figured the Grand Canyon was one of those places that pictures just can't do justice to.  Sounds like a wonderful time!  My DAW...Sonar 8.5 Studio. Is that what you mean? 

Yes Janet I do


CLIFFORD

Cliff:  :(  It happened with another one I just uploaded.  That's so sad.  I don't know what's causing it!

Yeah, Charles, I certainly haven't figured out everything about 8.5 Studio either.  Not sure if I ever will. :-)  And don't worry about being too weird around here. :-)

When I uploaded a new mix I hear a buzzing in the lower registers.  I don't remember hearing that before and don't know how it got there.  (or how to take care of it.)