HYBRID, TRAILER-Style ORCHESTRAL INSTRUMENTALS (revised!)

[HenriettaAtkin]

Matt,

I think you have great samples and the right idea melodically and otherwise, the balance is very nice.

Just ONE thing I noticed -- the string melody in the beginning has a slow "envelope"' -- i.e. it comes in very smooth and the attack is slow, whereas your middle and lower voices come in very direct. This has the effect of making the melody LESS noticeable which is not, I think, what you want.

[MattCurious]

Thanks, Henrietta - I think I must've cut and paste some dynamics across by accident. I do want it to be fairly sweeping but I agree it may need to be at the leading edge of the pocket. Maybe nudge it forward a couple of ms.

[Cruciform]

FWIW...

Matt, I only clearly hear one layer of drums (and a second faintly) in your cue.

Build up drums in distinct registers.

Low register - big, massive, crushing - large taikos, surdos, low booms etc. These provide the size and sense of overwhelming scale. Used most effectively to accent edit points
Mid register - power - small taikos, toms, dhols, bombos etc. These create drive and forward movement. This is where the groove is built using layers of rhythms to maintain action
High register - smaller drums (riq, doumbek), metallic tiki-tiki. These are used to great effect when accenting fills, or creating 16th or 32nd high speed rhythms to build tension and excitement

Layer up in each register. Continue to build the layers and increase intensity over the arc of the cue. By the time the final section is in full swing, you should be able to mute your orchestra and have an exciting percussion cue that can stand on its own.

Did I say layer? Don't forget to layer!!

If you get the drums right, the rest of the cue will normally fall into place (production wise) quite easily.

[MattCurious]

Hi Rob

You're right that there's essentially only one layer in there - deliberately (and rightly or wrongly!) on this occasion, but that's great advice thank you - I'll try to implement it in another track and come back to you.

Cheers,
Matt

[josephdaigle]

One small comment as the others hit most of the points, breaks, etc. I would fill out the last chord with a third, at least. It seems a little out of context with the rest of the harmony. Minor point...

[megeath]

This was an excellent thread, thanks for posting!

[MattCurious]

OK, guys - thanks so much for all the advice. I was able to get a little more studio time today, and this is the version I'm going to have to run with. Albeit simplistically, I've tried to implement everyone's ideas and I do think it's a better piece for it. Thanks!

https://soundcloud.com/matt_curious/01- ... p3/s-hguYb

[Cruciform]

Drums are sounding much more in keeping with the context.

[edmondredd]

and I can't find the track to listen to it.. what happened Matt?

[MattCurious]

This is what became The Hour Approaches that you heard over on the Forwards thread

But if you're interested in following the development I've probably got the versions somewhere...