Feedback on Uplifting Piano and Strings track

[Hauschild]

Hi fellow Taxi passengers!

Hope you are doing well

I recently received a return on a track I made for the listing S220216US UPLIFTING PIANO & STRINGS INSTRUMENTALS and/or INSTRUMENTAL CUES and was unable to take much of use away from the feedback. I have posted the listing text at the bottom of this post.

The track I submitted was this one (I hope you'll accept a SoundCloud link as my attempts to link to the track on the Taxi site have been unsuccessful so far ): https://soundcloud.com/m_other_tongue/g ... al_sharing


Here is the feedback I received (hope that it is ok for me to share it, otherwise let me know!):

What I like most about this song

Good harmonic structure for this sound, and I like effected pianos in general...

I think you could improve this song by

... but some effected pianos are too noisy and add too much unwanted noise to the track. We also need to remember that the listing specifically asked for cues ...

I returned or forwarded this song because

... 'that feature Piano and Strings as their only instrumentation', so the extra effects and pads are not going to work for this pitch.


As you can see from the feedback they felt that the effected pianos were generally fine but some of them were too much. However, they didn't mention what they actually mean by "effected" pianos - is it the close-miked felted piano, the reverse piano effects (which were also in one of the reference track) or the delays on the piano during the climax section of the piece. That makes it hard from me to take much away from that piece of criticism. Perhaps some of you more experienced folks can figure out what they meant?
Finally they also mentioned me using pads but there is only piano and strings instrumentation in that piece. However, they might have meant the ambience created by the tape delays and reverb at the end?

Any additional feedback or clarification of the feedback I got from the screener will be greatly appreciated Thanks in advance!


The listing text:


UPLIFTING PIANO & STRINGS INSTRUMENTALS and/or INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed by a NEW International Music Licensing Company started by highly experienced, successful founders!

TAXI TIP: This is a hot new Library that's BRAND NEW to requesting music through TAXI, so chances are you don’t have any material in their catalog yet! This company is all about "new, fresh music," so this is a great opportunity to get in first and create a new outlet for your music and begin a new relationship with an awesome new company!

This Company is searching for Instrumentals and/or Instrumental Cues in the general ballpark of these references:

"Just A Little Hope" by Adi Goldstein

"Far Away" by Elena Fallwell

"Awatere" by Ensemble Rivr Dane

Please submit well-composed Instrumentals (or Cues) that feature Piano and Strings as their only instrumentation to create an overall positive, uplifting vibe and sound. Your submissions should have captivating melodies, solid arrangements, and excellent musicianship. If you plan on using any virtual instruments, they need to be high-quality, modern, and sound like the real thing as nothing stiff or obviously MIDI-driven will work, here. Your production should be polished and contemporary, as well.

TAXI Tip: We suggest trying to keep your submissions on the simpler side, melodically. Your job is more about establishing an uplifting mood rather than winning "Composer of the Year"!

IMPORTANT NOTE: This Company offers an Exclusive deal, and has a strong preference for signing material from songwriters who have worked for libraries and licensing companies in the past and understand how standard deals work. If you don't have that experience and you don't know the drill on typical deals, they politely ask that you don't submit to this request.

All submissions should be at least 1:45 minutes long and no longer than 2:45 minutes, with non-faded, buttoned endings. Do NOT copy the referenced examples in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, tone, and overall vibe. Broadcast Quality is needed.

This company offers an EXCLUSIVE deal. You’ll split any upfront sync fees 50/50. They’ll get 100% of the Publisher’s share, and you’ll get 100% of the Writer’s share. You must own or control 100% of your Master and Copyright. Since this is an EXCLUSIVE deal, please be sure the material you submit for this pitch is NOT already signed with any other Libraries or Catalogs. Please submit as many Instrumentals and/or Instrumental Cues as you’d like, online or per CD. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM (PST) on Wednesday, February 16th, 2022. TAXI # S220216US.

[Casey H]

Hi
From the get-go, I hear what sounds like pads, not strings (e.g. violin, viola, cello). You would need to sound as those instruments sound naturally. Listen carefully. Does that sound like real string instruments?

It's a lovely track, just not what's been asked for.

Best,
Casey

[Hauschild]

Hi Casey

Thank you for your feedback and your kind words! I really appreciate it

I get what you are saying about the opening string textures having a more pad-like sound. But to me that does sound like real strings, just not played in a traditional way. I was trying to emulate the pad-like string texture in the beginning of the reference track "Just A Little Hope" by Adi Goldstein as well as the pulsating, every shifting character of the string textures in Max Richter's version of the first movement of the spring-part Vivaldi's Four Seasons: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLDvbnK_Sqk or for instance Ólafur Arnalds' *Brot*: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx_Wz0DSKE4

However, I may have overdone it a bit? I don't know, at least to me it does sound like real strings and the listing did ask for a modern approach to the use of samples and contemporary sounding production. But I guess it is somewhat subjective what that means.

[Casey H]

...But to me that does sound like real strings, just not played in a traditional way.

...But I guess it is all subjective what that means.

In our business, if you have to explain it, 99.9% of the time it's not working.
I don't think in THIS case it's subjective at all.

Just keep writing great tracks and looking for where they fit. Not everything we write is a match for a given listing.

Best,
Casey

[Hauschild]

In our business, if you have to explain it, 99.9% of the time it's not working.

Well, there's s a rule of thumb I guess By the way I'm curious - did you listen to the reference track by Adigold? If you don't mind, what is your take on their use of strings piano textures in beginning of their track?

[OBlyde]

I think your track is really good and maybe I agree with previous comments about strings.

I also had a return on this listing. This was my track, any comment will be appreciated

https://soundcloud.com/user-756858907/a ... no-strings

[cosmicdolphin]

I think it's very similar to Just a Little Hope..I can hear the reverse piano sounds etc, in the ref.

The thing that turns me off is all the piano noises ..possibly unavoidable on a real piano...but switchoff-able in a virtual library usually

Other than the noises I think it was good, and matched the ref track.

[Hauschild]

I think your track is really good and maybe I agree with previous comments about strings.

I also had a return on this listing. This was my track, any comment will be appreciated

https://soundcloud.com/user-756858907/a ... no-strings

Thank you OBlyde, I appreciate it

I had a listen to your track and I think it is beautiful! I especially like the way the lighter string textures combine with the lovely piano ostiantos/patterns. Really lovely vibe!

One thing that stands out to me as something that could be improved is the solo cello. To me it pulls a lot of focus and might distract from what would be going on on-screen and in the dialogue on top. I think this is largely due to the fact that it has a disjointed rhythmic feeling and is played quite hard. Something more flowing and soft would direct less attention and stick out less, think

I think it's very similar to Just a Little Hope..I can hear the reverse piano sounds etc, in the ref.

The thing that turns me off is all the piano noises ..possibly unavoidable on a real piano...but switchoff-able in a virtual library usually

Other than the noises I think it was good, and matched the ref track.

You know, I had another listen to the track and I agree with you. Especially in the beginning there are some quite prominent sounds from the piano that definitely pull focus. I will look out for those carefully in the future. Thanks for your kind feedback

[OBlyde]

I think your track is really good and maybe I agree with previous comments about strings.

I also had a return on this listing. This was my track, any comment will be appreciated

https://soundcloud.com/user-756858907/a ... no-strings

Thank you OBlyde, I appreciate it

I had a listen to your track and I think it is beautiful! I especially like the way the lighter string textures combine with the lovely piano ostiantos/patterns. Really lovely vibe!

One thing that stands out to me as something that could be improved is the solo cello. To me it pulls a lot of focus and might distract from what would be going on on-screen and in the dialogue on top. I think this is largely due to the fact that it has a disjointed rhythmic feeling and is played quite hard. Something more flowing and soft would direct less attention and stick out less, think

I think it's very similar to Just a Little Hope..I can hear the reverse piano sounds etc, in the ref.

The thing that turns me off is all the piano noises ..possibly unavoidable on a real piano...but switchoff-able in a virtual library usually

Other than the noises I think it was good, and matched the ref track.

You know, I had another listen to the track and I agree with you. Especially in the beginning there are some quite prominent sounds from the piano that definitely pull focus. I will look out for those carefully in the future. Thanks for your kind feedback

Thanks a lot for your comment