feedback on African Instrumental

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JosieQ
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feedback on African Instrumental

Post by JosieQ » Wed Jul 14, 2021 2:40 pm

I am a violinist who recently broke both arms, so I am trying composing using software instruments for the first time. I would love some feedback on this. thanks!

https://soundcloud.com/josie-quick/afri ... es-marimba
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Re: feedback on African Instrumental

Post by BradGray » Thu Jul 15, 2021 4:17 am

Hey Josie,

All the best to you for a speedy recovery!

The track certainly evokes a mood, relaxed and happy vibe at times. Beyond that, I don't know anything about this style of African Instrumentals. =)

Only suggestion I would have for you, if composing will virtual instruments, is to remember the Midi velocity of the notes. Doing some random adjustments along the way, to the velocity of the notes, can really give a track a more human feel - as we can't play every note exactly the same.

Good luck!
Brad

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Re: feedback on African Instrumental

Post by JosieQ » Thu Jul 15, 2021 2:09 pm

thanks, brad! it's funny because I have only two working fingers. when I played it initially it was very uneven. I went back and evened out the velocity. I'll go back and try to humanize it more. thank for the tip!
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superkons
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Re: feedback on African Instrumental

Post by superkons » Thu Jul 15, 2021 3:17 pm

Do I hear steel pans, or am I mistaken?
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Re: feedback on African Instrumental

Post by BradGray » Thu Jul 15, 2021 5:30 pm

JosieQ wrote:
Thu Jul 15, 2021 2:09 pm
thanks, brad! it's funny because I have only two working fingers. when I played it initially it was very uneven. I went back and evened out the velocity. I'll go back and try to humanize it more. thank for the tip!
Just for clarity, making the velocities a bit more varied, random, add a more human "sound" to it. If it's there already, no need to smooth them out.

Cheers,
Brad

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JosieQ
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Re: feedback on African Instrumental

Post by JosieQ » Sun Jul 18, 2021 9:46 am

Yes, i used steel pans because i wanted a different sonority there. I don’t have a different African melodic instrument than kalimba.
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Re: feedback on African Instrumental

Post by JosieQ » Sun Jul 18, 2021 9:48 am

Thanks, Brad, I understand. With my limited mobility the velocities weren’t very musical so they needed editing, but i can see how shaping of a phrase would improve it.
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Re: feedback on African Instrumental

Post by superkons » Sun Jul 18, 2021 2:27 pm

JosieQ wrote:
Sun Jul 18, 2021 9:46 am
Yes, i used steel pans because i wanted a different sonority there. I don’t have a different African melodic instrument than kalimba.
Screener might argue that steel pans are not an African, but Caribbean instrument.

If you have Kontakt, there is this Kora library, quite cheap: https://soniczest.com/kora/
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Re: feedback on African Instrumental

Post by jdkotaska » Sun Jul 18, 2021 5:27 pm

JosieQ wrote:
Sun Jul 18, 2021 9:46 am
Yes, i used steel pans because i wanted a different sonority there. I don’t have a different African melodic instrument than kalimba.
For $99 there are plenty of instrumental options for complete production in this pack: https://www.native-instruments.com/en/p ... st-africa/

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