Help Please Understanding Critique

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MusicBug
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Help Please Understanding Critique

Post by MusicBug » Thu Apr 01, 2021 10:31 pm

Hi. I recently submitted this pizzicato strings cue for a listing, and I got the notice this evening that it was being returned.

I understand most of the reasons given for the return, i.e., not enough developmental arc, too repetitive, and a few others. I get that. What I don't understand is the comment that the instruments on the track sound "dated or of inferior quality". I used instruments from Spitfire Audio BBC Orchestra for most of the more prominent strings, as well as for the woodwinds. I also used strings from another modern library (which is neither dated nor, I believe, of inferior quality) to round out the sound and add some variety.

So my question is, am I just not hearing what the screener is hearing? I can usually understand their comments after listening back a few times and figure out how to make it better. But in this case I'm just not getting it at all. I'm hoping some of you might be able to describe to me what I'm missing. I don't want to keep making the same mistakes again and again, but I don't know how to fix this. Please understand I'm not knocking the screener, I'm doubting my ability to hear with their ears, so to speak.

Thank you.

https://www.taxi.com/my/artist/songs/Sj ... -pizzicato

If that link doesn't work for you, try this one:

https://soundcloud.com/user-594152513/p ... jen-150bpm
Last edited by MusicBug on Fri Apr 02, 2021 9:39 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Telefunkin
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Re: Help Please Understanding Critique

Post by Telefunkin » Fri Apr 02, 2021 2:50 am

Sorry, but the link to your track doesn't work.
Graham (UK). Still composing a little faster than decomposing, and 100% HI.

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Re: Help Please Understanding Critique

Post by KennyWayneBuffalo » Fri Apr 02, 2021 4:46 am

I have gotten feedback like that too. One reviewer even said something like "we have to write the patch." So I think regardless of library you're using, there is some tweaking that must be done. Creating the right volume envelope and amount of "expression" and ambience or reverb. I got a review that said my pizzicato strings were good, but legato were not. Both from the same library. So I have been working with the parameters on these. There are some videos, but I didn't find a quick and easy solution.
Ken

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Re: Help Please Understanding Critique

Post by MusicBug » Fri Apr 02, 2021 9:23 am

KennyWayneBuffalo wrote:
Fri Apr 02, 2021 4:46 am
I have gotten feedback like that too. One reviewer even said something like "we have to write the patch." So I think regardless of library you're using, there is some tweaking that must be done. Creating the right volume envelope and amount of "expression" and ambience or reverb. I got a review that said my pizzicato strings were good, but legato were not. Both from the same library. So I have been working with the parameters on these. There are some videos, but I didn't find a quick and easy solution.
Thank you for your comments.
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Re: Help Please Understanding Critique

Post by MusicBug » Fri Apr 02, 2021 9:38 am

Telefunkin wrote:
Fri Apr 02, 2021 2:50 am
Sorry, but the link to your track doesn't work.
That's odd. When I click on it it goes right to the track. Try this one:

https://soundcloud.com/user-594152513/p ... jen-150bpm

Thanks for letting me know.
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Re: Help Please Understanding Critique

Post by Telefunkin » Fri Apr 02, 2021 9:48 am

The Soundcloud link works fine.

I'm no orchestral instrument expert but you had me fooled with those sounds. They seem realistic and natural to me, so I hope someone else can hear what might be the problem with them, but I can't.
Graham (UK). Still composing a little faster than decomposing, and 100% HI.

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Re: Help Please Understanding Critique

Post by MusicBug » Fri Apr 02, 2021 10:11 pm

Telefunkin wrote:
Fri Apr 02, 2021 9:48 am
The Soundcloud link works fine.

I'm no orchestral instrument expert but you had me fooled with those sounds. They seem realistic and natural to me, so I hope someone else can hear what might be the problem with them, but I can't.
Thanks for taking the time. I think I'm just going to not worry about it anymore. Maybe some day when my ears are more sophisticated I'll be able to tell the difference, but until then I'll just hope I get a different screener next time, lol! ;)
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Re: Help Please Understanding Critique

Post by cosmicdolphin » Sun Apr 04, 2021 8:00 am

I think what it is, the mix.production isn't great and there doesn't seem to be much use of expression controllers to breathe life into the samples.

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