Confused....

[bobbyyaps]

Hi all...

So I just got a return that really confused me... The short critique from screener 374 says: "I like the tones, but the piece starts to sound a little too repetitive as the track progresses.."

Here's the listing:
U150803ED

ELECTRONIC DANCE INSTRUMENTALS are needed for NON-Exclusive Placements by the Music Supervisor of a Big Budget Feature Film with a killer, A-List Cast. She’s eagerly hunting for original, Mid-to-Up-Tempo Instrumentals in the general stylistic ballpark of acts like Daft Punk, Justice, Kavinsky, etc., etc., etc. Take a listen to the following references to hear the type of music they’re looking for… “Derezzed” by Daft Punk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhFCOS5f2l8 “Let There Be Light” by Justice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0-tWLi0Kp4 “Wayfarer” by Kavinsky: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArtophI2ORg Quoting the source: “You didn’t think we were done yet, did you? Once again, we need more tunes with the similar vibe as ‘Derezzed’ by Daft Punk. This will be for background source music, so it should really help set the tone of the scene and propel the scene forward.” Please submit tight, rhythmically engaging tracks, with razor sharp synths, and a hip four-on-the-floor feel. Arpeggiated synth lines could work really well for this pitch, but they’re not absolutely necessary if the feel of your submission can generally match the vibe they need. Your submissions can have a linear quality in terms of the overall arrangement, but should still add and subtract various instruments as it progresses to keep your track interesting from beginning to end. Your submissions should be at least 2 minutes in length. Do NOT copy or rip off the referenced artists or music in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for feel, texture, tone, and vibe. Broadcast quality is needed (great sounding home recordings are fine). The estimated license fee for this is $1000, depending on the ultimate placement. This is a Direct-to-Music Supervisor pitch, so you’ll keep 100% ownership of your Master and Publishing rights, plus you’ll also get 100% of the sync fee and any applicable performance royalties. You must own or control your Master and Copyright to pitch for this opportunity. All songs will be screened on a Yes/No basis. No full critiques. Please submit 1-3 Instrumentals online or per CD, no later than 11:59PM (PDT), on Monday, August 3rd, 2015. TAXI #U150803ED

I submitted this tune: https://soundcloud.com/rlymusic/its-alive

Its not the return itself I'm confused about... I've gotten used to them. But the critique seems not to match what the listing asked for. Which makes me question... Is submitting songs a crapshoot? Are particular screeners tougher cookies to crack? That "Derezzed" tune they liked is the most repetitive thing in the world if you ask me, and they were asking for something similar to that... Yet my tune was returned for being too repetitive? It was supposed to be background source music anyway...If you feel like listening, I would appreciate some enlightenment and/or advice on the issue...

Cheers!
Yaps

[SteveC]

Hi Yaps,

I've heard that some screeners are a bit tougher than others. My limited experience is that sometimes the examples can contradict each other. It may be best to focus on the language of the listing more than the examples. Would hate to think its a crapshoot but maybe to some degree it is. One persons opinion is exactly that, ONE persons opinion. Keep plugging. This forum is great for straight up feedback, so I'm sure some will be forthcoming. I'm not an EDM aficionado but took a listen. Sounded good to me, but I'm not screener 374.

best

st

steve

[bobbyyaps]

Thanks for taking the time Steve. Yea, you really have to hang on EVERY word of the listings and really give the a la's a few listens to nail what they want...I was thinking the repetitiveness was what they were going for! And I was sure I had pegged this one pretty good... Sometimes, gotta scratch your head and keep movin'!

Appreciate the feedback

[Paulie]

The listing says "Your submissions can have a linear quality in terms of the overall arrangement, but should still add and subtract various instruments as it progresses to keep your track interesting from beginning to end." They asked for 2 minutes, you gave them almost four. Perhaps the screener got tired in the second half and tha might not have happened if the cue was about 2:15 or so?

Good track. You definitely aded and subtracted layers, every eight bars was different in some way. The patches are current, the bass drum kicks, the basses are phat. I dig this track. I'm a little miffed tonight... got several more returns... seventeen returns in the past 7 days. I'm still trying to decipher the listing code. There is a lot of subjectivity involved, and the screeners often have more context than we do. They may have seen the scene the music is going to, or they mayu have a better feeling for what the customer wants than is provided in the listing. I think there could be some improvements with the listings, so much of the text is boilerplate, copy.paste stuff with subtle changes. Some key info could be added to really cut down on wasted time all around.

So, as I'm typing this I;m still listening to your track. Solid track all around. I think the length might have hurt you on this one. KEEPER for another listing for sure.

[Russell Landwehr]

Heya, B Yaps.

This has some excellent elements in it. Good composition, pretty good mix. I think Paulie hit on the main thing... The listing wants to hear instruments and elements come in an out. This would mean not having the same synth sound take the foreground-melody during all the important parts. You definitely have some good "edit points" in this... however... you would have been better served to let other synths take the lead...

In a two minute cue you could have three different instruments take the lead.

And as Paulie noted, if they are asking for "at least" two minutes... there is no need to double that unless you have something that Armin Van Buuren is going to feature on his show because it is constantly changing and keeping peoples' interest. THAT's the crux of it... keeping things changing dramatically enough to keep peoples' interest.

Still... well produced piece... keep pluggin at this.

Regards
Russell Landwehr

[bobbyyaps]

Russell and Paulie,

Really appreciate the feedback guys! Noted on the length of the piece. Will shave it down a bit, and keep for the future certainly. Maybe I'll toy with a few extra sounds. I definitely like this track. I was just a bit confused since the Daft Punk "a la" they referenced a couple of times was very repetitive too (and long!) Maybe I was hanging too much on sounding similar to that one track.

Thanks again for the suggestions guys - much appreciated!

[bobbyyaps]

And Paulie - I'm feelin' ya on the returns lately. I'm about 0 for my last dozen. Ugh...

[burpo]

Do you want the good news or the good news first?

I hear what the screener means, but it's an easy fix.

I think a soft, transparent pad-type voice over parts of the track
playing an ooh-type melody would really help. The arpeggiating
sequences have movement, for sure, but a unifying, coloring
layer on top, in places would make this track pop, me thinks.

Great work, thus far.

-b

[bobbyyaps]

Thanks for the feedback! Much appreciated!! Will def go back to it and tweak...

Yaps

[sansharbour]

We all live in fear of The Listing results email that says
Dear .........We listened carefully to your song.........but unfortunately it wasn't on target for the listing

not a great way to start the day