How to make sure that you compose according to the requirements - any ideas?

[Rolf]

i’ve recently got some returns and the comments on my submissions were very positive.but at different points I didn’t met the requirements of the listings. so I decided to create a little checklist and print it out to have it at hand while working in my home studio. Looks like this:

Please submit well-crafted Christmas Instrumental Cues that evoke the spirit of the Holiday season in a simple, understated way. You could incorporate

◎ subtle Christmas-y accents like a glockenspiel or jingle bells to give your submissions some additional Christmas cheer, but definitely don't overdo them.
◎ Remember, minimalistic pieces are the order of the day!
◎ Cues that are sparse and somewhat simple.
◎ Only 4 to 6 instruments maximum. Keep them simple and try to introduce some edit points along the tracks. Very very high bar, in terms of realism. Meaning,
◎ if any of the instruments sound too 'MIDI' then the Cues should be rejected.”
◎ Your submissions need to be around 2 minutes

I hope that this will help in the future.

do you have any ideas how to stay close to the given requirements when you are composing a tune?
Thanks a lot and greetings from Germany.

Rolf

[cosmicdolphin]

do you have any ideas how to stay close to the given requirements when you are composing a tune?

I analyse the reference tracks and import them into my DAW to A/B. Below is the analysis sheet from Sync Academy...filled in for a reference track https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qn862pSFe_M

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Reference Track Analysis Sheet : Safari Riot - Where is my mind

Instruments
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vocal atmospheric/ambience choir type pad

soft piano - very reverbed ( kick doubles in places )

Throbbing 16th synth, Percussive impact,Screaming Riser,16th bass synth

Alarm clock type synth lead ,Vocal ahhhs ( fade in )

Thud type kick, Percussive hits , White Noise Riser, Subby impact, agreesive synth drone ( chopped up ), alarm noise , glitchy fx

Long orchestral riser, heartbeat type kick + pulse, reverse fx, 4 on the floor type kick,

Cymbal crash, synth bass, high strings long and short ( 16ths ), pads


Sound Qualities
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Hard Hitting, Sound Design , Metallic

Lush, Big Reverbs , subtle until 60s, Cinematic, Dynamic contrasts from quiet to loud.

Quarter delays on vocals

Structure
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Chords used : E C#m G# A

1 - 60s ..Piano - Kick & Ambience..everything played soft subtle

60s..bass + Drums come in more , track is building gradually

90s .. changes feel..very Terminator -ish..building

120s... Drums , Orchestral strings etc all come in

140s ... Octave layers of orchestral added..more percussion


Emotions
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Subtle , Intense, Energetic, Dynamic, Dark, Aggressive