"The Other Side" Louder, Prouder and Longer.

Re:"The Other Side" (ShadDOH)

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 22:33:27 GMT

Randall, I agree, good stuff!

Re:"The Other Side" (BIABDude)

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:18:20 GMT

+++1

Re:"The Other Side" (Slow Marching Band)

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:15:59 GMT

Giving this another listen Mark..I thought the 1st time round was nice, but, this is even better. This mix is not only louder, but, more defined as well. I'm listening on a pair of Ultrasone phones an it sounds full IMO. The ending is smooth now. :)

Larry

Re:"The Other Side" (mstodge)

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:17:49 GMT

Beagle: Thank you very much for the encouraging words.

Mark.

Re:"The Other Side" (Beagle)

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 10:59:41 GMT

Hey, Mark! I didn't hear the first version - but this is a great version! lovely textures, excellent playing. nice mix (I'm also listening on cheap computer speakers and a soundmax!). this is very "heartfelt"

thanks for sharing!

Re:"The Other Side" (mstodge)

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 06:05:37 GMT

Sorry i haven't replied earlier, been caught up with work. Damn thing is getting in the way of everything at the moment!

Scotty: Thank you. I will get to work on that cello.

James: Really appreciate the listen. I'm not sure how to give the piano more highs. Would i do that on the EQ on the master bus, or would i do it within the piano synth?

Ron: The flute is the Alto flute from EWQL Gold. I thought it sounded alright, but im not going to question you, as i aspire to compose like you do. So i thank you for the heads up on that. Will look at changing it.

Paulo: The reason the volume was so low before was due to my daughters messing with my speakers. They had the volume up to the max, when i came to compose i turned the volume down in the daw instead of checking the speakers.
I've sorted the transition out in the next mix, just need to iron out the reverb problems on the piano and a few other things, then i'll upload it again soon.

Thanks again
Mark.

Re:"The Other Side" (paulo)

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 19:15:48 GMT

Well, you certainly got the volume sorted. Still liking this a lot. I agree with the comments re the verb on the piano. The transition at 2:47 doesn't quite flow as it might, as the piano reverb seems to cut off at the end rather than overlapping into the next section and making it totally smooth. Real picky I know, which I really have no right to be, but just an observation as opposed to a criticism.

Re:"The Other Side" (rolifer@verizon.net)

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:11:48 GMT

Nice piece but since you did ask for critiques, I would suggest using a different Flute. It has a metal twang to it that just doesn't sound right. I know a flute is metal and I am not explaining the sound I hear correctly, but something is just not right with that flute.

It is almost like the sample includes some fake wind going across the mouthpiece.

Just my opinion.

The rest sounds great.

Ron

Re:"The Other Side" (jamesyoyo)

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:23:02 GMT

Wonderfully expressive playing. +1 on the piano getting lost when the other instruments come in. Piano is beautiful but a bit muffled, give it some more highs, as it is really apparent when the guitar thingie comes in, it feels like the lid was taken off the box.

Re:"The Other Side" (Scottytunes)

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:18:33 GMT

ShadDOH

For it to sound real, it has to suck a little :-)

Just like my fiddle playing! " />

Mark,
i like it overall. I think the cello is way too loud the first time it comes in to play....okay towards the end of the song. That's all! Great job!

Re:"The Other Side" Louder, Prouder and Longer. (mstodge)

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:18:09 GMT

Robby: Thanks man, i really appreciate it. You can find the original mix on reverb under the title "old" to compare if you wish. The guitar is midi as you guessed. I wish i could get it to suck though. " />

Mark: Thanks so much again for your generous advice. I will try that tonight.

Manny: Thank you very much too. I am very grateful you took the time to listen to this track. Thanks for the nice comments too.

Mark.

Re:"The Other Side" Louder, Prouder and Longer. (MannyNY)

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:44:04 GMT

This is wonderful. I’ve missed some really super tracks lately – this is one of them. Very expressive and very pretty – this would make a great backdrop to a north country winter journey movie scene – something in a movie like Jeremiah Johnson. There’s also a Windham Hill element and I mean that in a very positive way. Great job. Favorite section is the 1:30 through 2:21 for some reason. I seem to prefer the instrumentation when it is a simpler (less busy) – the basic piano, cello and violin really sounds terrific. Bravo!

Re:"The Other Side" (mgh)

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:32:23 GMT

Do you mean the reverb on the piano needs to come down?

yes. in isolation it's wonderful, but when competing against a lot of other instruments the piano notes are lost in that canyon. if you compare the sound to the second half when the guitar is taking on the piano part (with much less verb) you can still hear the guitar...

Re:"The Other Side" (ShadDOH)

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:42:15 GMT

The title reminded me of the Southpark movie? "Bigger, longer, and uncut". I definately remember the original version of this.

Sounds like a movie soundtrack, I loved it before, I still think it's great, I would have to stare and compare to give an objective opinion between the two, but this one sounds fantastic. Is that a real guitar at the end? or a midi one? It sounds midi because the timing sounds so good. For it to sound real, it has to suck a little :-)

Re:"The Other Side" (mstodge)

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:12:53 GMT

Tap: Thank you for listening and the encouraging words.

Mark: Thanks for coming back again. I understand what you are saying about it getting muddy, i just wasn't sure what was causing this. Do you mean the reverb on the piano needs to come down?
Thanks for the advice.

Mark.

Re:"The Other Side" (mgh)

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:48:43 GMT

new listen - still remains totally awesome, personally i would cut back some of the reverb once the other instruments come in as the piano becomes lost at that point. also, maybe spread out the other instruments a bit more at that point, it's all getting muddy in the middle (cutting back the verb will help that anyway) the second half sounds really good, again a little use of panning or the channel tools plug in will help, but it's not as much of an issue as initially.
primarily my feelings are what a ****ing tune, of course, and it really is every bit as good s anything heard on these forums.

Re:"The Other Side" (Tap)

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:40:12 GMT

Wow,,,, Forgive me I'm listening on computer speakers, but it does sound like you spent some real time making it sound just as good on cheap speakers as Near Fields. - Sounds terrific, love the transitions. Nice blending of strings and horns and flutes with the guitar. Composition is really Good! Hope it sounds as good as I can imagine it on good speakers.

Both thumbs are up for this one!!!

Re:"The Other Side" (mstodge)

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 12:12:19 GMT

Kev: thank you very much.

I finally manged to mix this properly ( I think).

If you wouldn't mind having another listen. I would really appreciate your views.

It's the top track here:

http://www.reverbnation.com/markstothard
Thanks
Mark.

Re:"The Other Side" (drumstixkev)

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:36:12 GMT

I just made the cut off! " />

Re:"The Other Side" (drumstixkev)

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:34:07 GMT

Hey Mark
WOW.... what a wonderful piece of music. Your piano playing had great emotion. I loved the flow from piano into the acoustic part. I agree with the others on the volume. All in all this was well worth the five month wait. Looking forward to hearing more!

Kev

Re:"The Other Side" (mstodge)

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 20:26:37 GMT

I can't thank you all enough for listening and passing a lot of very nice comments on this track.

However i think i posted it too soon, as there was a lot of problems with the mix and a few anomalies in the composing department. I was hoping it would be fixed a lot sooner, but a few things came up. Hopefully it will be amended tomorrow. I would be very, very grateful if you came back for another listen when it's done. I have since deleted the track so it is not yet available.

Many thanks
Mark.

Re:"The Other Side" (paulo)

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 07:18:19 GMT

Liking this very much. It seems a little quiet so hard to get a proper listen, but very emotive for sure - a little to the dark side which is right up my street. The lead part that comes in around 1:45 would sound nice with cellos. I was kind of expecting the piano to come back at the end too. Not a crit as such, but it just didn't feel like it ended where it should have, which I guess is a round about way of saying too soon.

Re:"The Other Side" (No How)

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 23:29:26 GMT

Hi Mark,

Piano is absolutely Beautiful. I love that Garritan Gofriller sample. I would have loved for that piano to come back for a little reprise. Really outstanding job.

Re:"The Other Side" (Scottytunes)

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 19:45:27 GMT

Mark,
Your playing is immaculate! That piano sounds so rich and soothing. You play with such great feeling. The cello sounds fake, but that can be fixed. The addition of guitar and flutes (?) was nice. The ending was to soon and abrupt. A little longer please, with more of a build up right where it leaves off.

Re:"The Other Side" (timidi)

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:33:21 GMT

Very nice Mike. It seemed quite a bit low in volume. I couldn't really get it loud enough to "hear".
Liked the mood and tone though.

Re:"The Other Side" (Slow Marching Band)

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:10:34 GMT

Very nice Mark! Got the headphones on and the image sounds great. I like your minimalistic approach as it sounds 'big' in the mix. Beautiful sense of space. My only nit is I thought the ending dropped out to quickly. Maybe some delay or reverb tail on the fade? Great playing and composing.

Larry

Re:"The Other Side" (twisted6s)

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:02:46 GMT

Beautiful. What piano is that?

Re:"The Other Side" (blipp)

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 17:50:20 GMT

This is really beautiful Mike.

The piano is is just fantastic and you've added the other instruments in a very creative way.

This is a wonderful piece of music and i loved every second of it.

Bravo.

Re:"The Other Side" (mstodge)

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 10:47:30 GMT

Thanks for the listen guys.

I've just realised this mix is really bad, and very low. I will be back in a few hours with a better version hopefully.

Robby: Thanks for having a listen. The accordion thingy was supposed to be a garritan gofriller sample. I guess i messed that one up too" />

Mark: Thank you too. I'd appreciate you listen again on the new mix if you would please.

Philip: You sure do have a way with words, Thanks so much for stopping by.

Janet: Thank you, i do intend to make it longer. So will get back to work on it now.

Thanks again
Mark.

Re:"The Other Side" (Janet)

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:33:48 GMT

You know, that could have gone on for quite a bit longer and I wouldn't have minded. Very beautiful and soothing. Very well played.