Insult or just irony?

Liked your review? Rave about it! Hated it, let us know!

Moderators: admin, mdc, TAXIstaff

ncc1701
Impressive
Impressive
Posts: 403
Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2007 5:09 pm
Gender: Female
Location: Astoria, OR
Contact:

Insult or just irony?

Post by ncc1701 » Tue Jun 16, 2009 9:07 am

So I got a return (not unexpectedly) on my uptempo investigative drama bed.The ChaseThe mini-critique said simply, "weak samples, especially the sax."Does anyone else find it ironic that the sax was the ONLY LIVE INSTRUMENT on this track? Any suggestions for tweaking this to sound better? Kathleen

billg
Serious Musician
Serious Musician
Posts: 2524
Joined: Fri Jan 12, 2007 11:23 am
Gender: Male
Contact:

Re: Insult or just irony?

Post by billg » Tue Jun 16, 2009 10:06 am

Well it sounds like a sax to me, and it sounds like it was well recorded. Don't go screwing up your cool track, obviously the screener made a mistake because he/she doesn't know any better. That in itself is a bummer but you shouldn't take it as an insult. Betcha a dollar that somewhere down the line you will get comments on how cool the sax sounds! (maybe from the same screener on a different day) The only thing I didn't like were some of the spacey synth sound fx but that's just a personal thing.I don't know anything about the 'investigative drama" genre, but I really like this track . . . I was thinking while listening to it that if it had a real fretless electric bass playing with sort of a Jaco approach & was lighter on the orchestration this could drift into older Weather Report territory which could be very cool.

ncc1701
Impressive
Impressive
Posts: 403
Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2007 5:09 pm
Gender: Female
Location: Astoria, OR
Contact:

Re: Insult or just irony?

Post by ncc1701 » Tue Jun 16, 2009 10:34 am

Thank you, Bill! I'm a little disgusted with myself over how much I let this get to me. I appreciate your honest comments and have now decided not to sell the sax after all.Kathleen

crs7string
Serious Musician
Serious Musician
Posts: 1283
Joined: Wed Dec 20, 2006 3:19 pm
Gender: Male
Location: Nashville, TN
Contact:

Re: Insult or just irony?

Post by crs7string » Tue Jun 16, 2009 10:52 am

Kathleen,This may be one of those rare times where you get Robin, the head screener in the loop.I had a screener call one of my guitar parts a "synth horn" part.My call to TAXI did not change the outcome of a return, but at least it may have planted a seed that the screeners sometimes are out in left field when they are listening to a track.I also created a short dialogue about "dated sounds" I think it may be impossible for one single screener to keep up with the sound sources we are using and continue to update. They may hear a sound that they have not heard before from a brand new sound source and refer to it as "dated" only because it is not part of their listening vocabulary.ChuckBTW Listening to "The Chase" I think the track could possibly fit the genre better without the sax. I don't think I've heard any crime drama stuff with sax or for that matter trumpet as a solo instrument. If the fills are an important part for you compositionally, you may want to try alternative instruments (low piano, low harp)
http://www.TAXI.com/crs7string

"Don't give me time, give me a deadline". Duke Ellington

User avatar
bmete
Serious Musician
Serious Musician
Posts: 1618
Joined: Thu Jul 26, 2007 2:29 pm
Gender: Male
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Contact:

Re: Insult or just irony?

Post by bmete » Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:00 am

Hi Kathleen,The sax sounded great....fits the vibe and style of the tune perfectly. I agree with my friend Bill a fret-less bass would be nice, or even pumping it up a little. Perhaps, bring the sax up a little in the mix, the screener probably couldn't appreciate the fine playing cause it wasn't out front enough.Chuck has a good point, I contacted Robin once when my minimalist piano pieces, weren't forwarded, she reviewed and actually reversed the screeners decision. It's definitely worth a shot, Nice writing and playing..Bob

User avatar
mazz
Total Pro
Total Pro
Posts: 8411
Joined: Sat Nov 11, 2006 6:51 am
Gender: Male
Location: San Francisco
Contact:

Re: Insult or just irony?

Post by mazz » Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:02 am

Kathleen,This is a cool track. I think the listing wanted the piece to build and this one kind of stays where it starts out for the most part. That's not a bad thing, it just might have not been exactly right for this listing composition-wise.The only thing I can surmise regarding the sax comment might be the amount of reverb that was on the sax. I understand aesthetically why you did it, but the reverb might have reminded the screener of the sax sounds from workstations of the past that had the sound drenched in reverb to make it sound better. Having that much reverb on it might take away a bit from the realism of the part. If it were more up front, it might sound more "real". But that's a double edged sword because any lead instrument that is too up front in a library piece tends to interfere with any spoken voice.It still might be worth it to try to "dry it up" a bit, or try a subtle echo instead.This is a cool piece, even with the reverb and I think it will eventually find a home. I would consider doing a mix without sax at all just to have the option. MazzEDIT: Try the sax part reversed, like flipping the tape over in the old days. Why not? It would make it even more a part of the texture rather than an obvious lead.
Evocative Music For Media

imagine if John Williams and Trent Reznor met at Bernard Hermann's for lunch and Brian Eno was the head chef!
http://www.johnmazzei.com
http://www.taxi.com/johnmazzei

it's not the gear, it's the ear!

taxirobin
Getting Busy
Getting Busy
Posts: 52
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:03 am

Re: Insult or just irony?

Post by taxirobin » Tue Jun 16, 2009 11:23 am

Hi Kathleen - Go ahead and send an email to headscreener at taxi.com. I'll be out of the office for a couple of days but someone will get back to you. Include the listing number and we'll look into this for you. - Robin

ncc1701
Impressive
Impressive
Posts: 403
Joined: Mon Apr 16, 2007 5:09 pm
Gender: Female
Location: Astoria, OR
Contact:

Re: Insult or just irony?

Post by ncc1701 » Tue Jun 16, 2009 12:55 pm

Jun 16, 2009, 2:23pm, taxirobin wrote:Hi Kathleen - Go ahead and send an email to headscreener at taxi.com. I'll be out of the office for a couple of days but someone will get back to you. Include the listing number and we'll look into this for you. - RobinCool, Robin, thanks!I want to make sure you know I'm not arguing about the return at all. But this kind of stuff does reflect on the credibility of the screeners. We'll see where it goes.Kathleen

ibanez468
Serious Musician
Serious Musician
Posts: 2941
Joined: Tue Dec 18, 2007 3:18 pm
Gender: Male
Location: The 'Chi'
Contact:

Re: Insult or just irony?

Post by ibanez468 » Tue Jun 16, 2009 1:53 pm

Hey Kath!I listened to this one more than a few times. I'm no expert at determining a real sax versus a sampled one, but it certainly sounds like a real sax ta' me!I thought your sax tone could've been a little brighter maybe?, but still sounds good. The bass & drums may have really caught screener's ear. I know, it's really tough when it comes down to those 2 instruments (guitar too). It's to the point where it's almost impossible to substitute for the real thing, without some super nifty programming & mixing, etc... I feel your pain, no question. I'd be willing to bet that that's what screener was focusing on, those 2 things. This IS a GOOD track though! If you have another way of addressing those 2 items (I'd be glad to offer any assistance, if needed), this should be GOOD TO GO next time 'round. These are just my opinions, so take 'em with a grain. ibanez468

User avatar
k o star
Serious Musician
Serious Musician
Posts: 3102
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2009 4:51 am
Gender: Male
Location: Victoria
Contact:

Re: Insult or just irony?

Post by k o star » Tue Jun 16, 2009 3:49 pm

Keltrasonics Kellosphere & KO Quantum Leap =D

©2012, K. O. STAR (Kelvin) APRA- All Songs & Artwork Registered & Protected.
http://www.kostar8.com

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 17 guests