Do screeners stop reviewing after the first return reason?

[ohtravioso]

I've submitted the same tracks to several different listings in a batch submit. Don't worry, they were all on target. The tracks were instrumental upbeat indie/pop/rock tracks.

One reviewer only checked "Recording" on all three under not Master/Broadcast quality. So I took my tracks around to some good engineers and producers, and they confirmed that I had a problem with my mix. I went back and remixed and made it much better.

Those same tracks were also submitted to another listing. This submissions had not been remixed. The deadline had already passed and I didn't upload them yet. This screener did not check the "Recording" box as I had expected, but instead checked, "Music" and said:

"Where is the melody? Even when you submit 'instrumentals' they need to be able to stand-alone unless they have been requested as an additional take that accompanies the comp mix."

And the comment is completely accurate. I instead had a few different elements, but there's plenty of room for vocals or an instrumental melody line. Although, the tracks are already pretty complex in my opinion, and I think they would make good background music. But at least with a melody line, they can request one without the melody line.

So I agree with both screeners reviews, but why did it take two screenings to get there? Do they stop and move on after they have one reason for return? If both screeners have great ears and are pros in their field, which I have no doubt they are, why can't they both tell me I need a melody line and both tell me the recording quality is bad.

My assumption after the first review that told me my recording quality was bad, was that was my only problem. Once that was fixed, it was clear sailing to forwardsville. Obviously, not the case.

[Len911]

I believe they listen once through. You never mentioned if you put your song on the peer review forum or not. But you also said you let some good engineers and producers listen, and they concurred that the mix needed work. None of them asked where the melody was?
It's been said that when people listen, they tend to focus on one thing. I would think a professional listener could focus on different things at different times. Some would say that the most important thing in a composition is the melody, so if that's the case, it almost seems pointless to further damn a song if a melody is missing.
So to answer your question, I don't know, but maybe they do if there is something major enough, or major enough to distract them from anything else.

[ohtravioso]

When I asked for reviews from enginer and producer friends, I mentioned that my recording quality was the issue. I didn't ask for a full review from them. I also posted the tracks in peer to peer with same intro. My recording quality was rejected, please listen to the recording quality. No one took upon themselves to review the composition. They just said they liked the music and good work getting to the point that you need to improve the mix.

I agree melody is important, but a lot of my tracks are about the build. I will focus more on melody in my future compositions and see what I can add to this one. I disagree about
Nit mentioning recording quality if you dislike the composition. The more feedback I get the better. If all boxes need to be checked, so be it. Better I know all at once than one box at a time.

[rnrmachine]

Well, were both of these YES/NO listings? if either was... you're lucky to get ANY usable feedback on the YES/NO. After all, you were warned.. "this listing is YES/NO basis only..." in other words, /Rob get's his best rapper voice going and raps out, "know what ya have, when you submit. 'cause we don't plan, on telling you s++t" boom chicka, boom chicka, boom boom chickahhh... hehehe

If both were "critique listings" then be happy it only took 2 to show you the whole picture of what was wrong. After all, a "custom critique" is $20 so you saved $10 bucks. LOL

Rob

[davewalton]

Screeners are required to listen at least up to the bridge although they'll tell you (at places like the Taxi Rally) for the most part that they listen to the whole song, especially for critique listings. The reason for listening only up to the bridge sometimes... if the track isn't happening by then, the last verse and chorus sure won't rescue it.

[ohtravioso]

They were both YES/NO. However, I got back a YES/NO once with nothing checked off, and Taxi said that's not right and re-reviewed it for me. So they're required to check at least one box

I think that in one minute to two minutes of listening, the pro listener/screener could hear problems in broadcast quality and in composition. The engineers I played it for said they knew there was a mix problem in the first 5 seconds. That leaves 55 seconds to listen to problems with the composition if they only listen to half of my 2 minute instrumental.

I appreciate in this last review the extra time to write me a comment about melody. That gives me much better direction than just checking the music box. But I don't believe that if I had a great melody on that track, it would have gotten forwarded because the recording quality was still a factor. Yet I've not gotten a review that checked both music and recording.

I think all the feedback would be usable if I investigate it correctly. Let's say they just checked music. I would take the track around and ask, what could be better about the composition. Someone will say, there's no lead melody to latch onto. And I wouldnsay, oh, should instrumental tracks have one? And they would say, oh, yes. If it's not an atmospheric bed, then definitely. And I would say, oh, now I know for next time.

In my past few months with Taxi, I've gotten far better at hearing no. I can take all the boxes getting checked, and I'd investigate. But if they don't check it, I can no longer assume it passed that category. And that doesn't seem quite right to me. But it is what is, and I can work with that.

[rnrmachine]

I understand your frustration and I feel it as well. I am in the SAME boat you are... we're both members submitting to listings. One would think they would mention both so I do agree with you. It's just understandable imho, since it was both YES/NO listings, that you didn't get a whole picture on the return. It would have been nice though!!

In the one screeners defense... MAYBE he/she had just come off a crappy sounding recording so yours didn't sound bad and his/her only problem was the no melody thing. MAYBE you would have gotten forwarded if the melody was there... /shrug... I can only guess.

Rob