Epic Movie Trailer - First Stab - Newbie

[Fullertime]

This is my first stab at an epic movie trailer. Deadline tomorrow. Is this worth 5 bucks?

What do you guys think. Any of you with orchestration experience out there?

I'm a newbie at this classical thing.... Any tips or pointers.... Does it need "more" or "less"...

Thanks guys!

LINK:

https://soundcloud.com/fullertime/epicalypse


ORIGINAL LISTING:

HEART-POUNDING, PERCUSSION-BASED ORCHESTRAL INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed by needed by an A-List Music Library with many placements in HUGE Feature Film Trailers! You WANT to be in this catalog! They're looking hard to find some fresh, new intensely dramatic, and epic Mid-to-Up-Tempo Instrumental Cues in the general stylistic ballpark of music heard during Blockbuster, action packed Trailers like:

Lucy

Man Of Steel

Edge of Tomorrow


Give them original Orchestral Cues that sound like they were done with real Orchestral instruments, with an intense driving quality to get the audience pumped! MIDI or synthetic sounding cues won't work for their needs. Your Cues should focus on single melodic motif, with big thunderous percussion, coupled with dramatic strings, and roaring brass. Please do NOT submit material that's a hybrid of contemporary genres. Male and/or Female, sparse, (non lyrical) vocalizations are fine but not necessary, and shouldn't be the primary focus of your piece.

Submissions should be at least 2 minutes long, with buttoned/stinger endings, and have some great edit points built in. Broadcast Quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine). This company offers an EXCLUSIVE deal.

[Cruciform]

Well, it's surprisingly good considering you said it's your first go at it. Far, far better than my first go at trailer music.

It doesn't hit the listing specs though.

"Heart pounding" - your cue is solid, emotional, but the composition never moves into the adrenalin pumping territory
"Percussion based" - you have percussion in it, but it's relatively sparse and never kicks into overgear. If I hadn't seen the listing and heard your piece for the first time, "percussive" is not a keyword I'd think of.
"intense driving quality" - missing
"dramatic strings" - your strings are nicely done, but they'd want interesting spiccato ostinatum that pull it forward and build the tension.
"roaring brass" - I can hear the trumpets. I can sort of hear some horns but nowhere near strongly enough, they should be roaring, really roaring

There is a basic formula for full length (2-3mins) trailer cues.

1. Intro - lays soundscape, introduces mood, moves forward.
2. Mid section - solid forward movement, underlines storytelling of the trailer
3. Final section - strong build, climactic, over the top, exciting, dramatic, powerful - at least 30s

Okay, so that's where I think it misses. But let me sketch out some more context.

This is a pretty solid cue as is. As it is, it could easily work for a tv catalogue and I think it could easily push up into "very good" territory with some more work: building the percussion, maybe adding some interesting spic ideas, and really pushing the brass hard. For a trailer though, not quite there. I want to say keep going! You've got ideas, the basic production values are there (they just need pushing). If this listing doesn't offer a critique, I'd suggest not spending the five bucks.

In the meantime, if you do want to pursue trailer stuff, spend dozens of hours listening to, deconstructing and applying the kind of production you'd hear in music by Two Steps From Hell, Jo Blankenberg, Mark Petrie, Audiomachine, Immediate Music, et al.

[Russell Landwehr]

This track shows some serious skills, but I don't think you will get the forward. If it is a "full critique" listing, it would be worth the $5 for some pro feedback.

I don't wanna discourage you from submitting... and CERTAINLY don't wanna discourage you from pursuing this genre, cause I think you could hit this mark with some attention to the listing's wording.

Things that stand out for me are.
"Percussion Based" "big thunderous percussion" which would mean that the percussion needs to be way out front and featured.
"Heart Pounding" in your track, the lack of percussion being featured puts this in an almost underscore realm.
"real Orchestral Instruments" right away, there are elements in the intro that sound not-orchestral
"dramatic strings" "roaring brass" these dudes want HUGE!
"button stinger ending" (I've been burned on this one...) in a case like this your whole track needs to build to that gigantic payoff on the last chord.

For a listing like this, you've got to cut loose. Balls to the Wall. I don't think "Epicalypse" will make it for this listing, but it has potential in other places.

Regards
Russell

Edit: I see that Rob O has weighed in while I was typing... I'll post this and then read his
Edit 2: Just read Rob's post... yep... Rob is the KING of trailers (hi Rob )

[Cruciform]

Edit: I see that Rob O has weighed in while I was typing... I'll post this and then read his

Haha! Hi Russell. Yes, I must have beaten you by seconds. Looks like we said the same thing.

[Russell Landwehr]

Haha! Hi Russell. Yes, I must have beaten you by seconds. Looks like we said the same thing.

hehe. yeah, I learned all about this from you

[mobster85]

I agree with both Rob and Russell it needs more percussion. I also think it needs a couple of more edit points. But it really is a great first attempt. Good luck with it.

[Fullertime]

You guys are amazing!

That is the exact feedback I was hoping for. Thank you Rob & Russell for your detailed feedback that really gives me something to work on! (Are you sure you guys aren't the same person

Also Rob I really enjoyed listening to your sound cloud pieces very incredible! I love your concepts and some of your orchestrations man great work. I have learned so much in the last 24 hours just listening to your pieces and hearing your guys feedback thank you so much. I can see why Russell says you are the king of trailers lol!!

I will definitely circle back up with this piece and restructure the amount of percussion and work on some more edit points as well.

Do any of you guys have a good recommendation for orchestral brass?

I have session horns pro but it feels a little too poppy/R&B. I would love to find some deep brass that really sounds good in a mix of strings and stuff. I'm willing to spend some extra cash. I feel with the samples I have now I have to hide them a little bit.

What are you guys using for great horns?

Thanks again for your feedback guys this really helps!

Fuller

[singer1]

Totally agree with Rob & Russell. This seems to me to be more of an Anticipation piece, might work for another listing that is asking for Survivor - type music for a vote off. The anticipation of elimination! ha!
This has the legs to find a home, it's just not this one. Good luck, you seem to be on the right path. D.B.M.

... the only race we're in, is the human race... D.B.M.

http://www.taxi.com/davidbradleymau
http://www.davidbradleymau.com

[Cruciform]

Hi Fuller,

One can't really do an orchestral trailer cue...and hide the brass. Not gonna work!

There are some really good options. Cinesamples Cinebrass Core and Hollywood Brass are two good choices. Cinebrass runs in Kontakt. Hollywood Brass uses the EWQL Play sampler which requires an iLok and plenty of system juice to run well. Otherwise there are some great collections that include brass perfect for trailer work, such as Spitfire Audio Albion I (and Albion III for very low brass), or ProjectSAM Orchestral Essentials. Albion I and OE include all the orchestra sections divided into ensemble patches whereas Cinebrass and HB are just brass.

At the moment, I'm only using Cinebrass. It suits my needs for the moment though I am oft tempted by Albion. If you're patient you can wait for a great deal on CB or HB. They can be had for 30% and 50% off respectively when on sale. OE and Albion don't really go on sale so if you decide on one of them, no need to wait.

[andygabrys]

+1 for Cinebrass.

Fairly light system load. Fairly Flexible for mixing.

YMMV but you might consider staying away from the East West PLAY engine unless you have a slave PC or use a PC in the first place. Mac and Play haven't really gotten along well.