Need a review for instrumental cue!!

[Jessiejames1978]

CINEMATIC 1980s-Style ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENTALS are needed by a globally successful Music Licensing Firm with a great track record of placements in Films, TV shows, and Commercials.

They’re eagerly chasing Instrumentals in All Tempos that would fall in the general range of the following references:

Stranger Things Theme Song

Le Matos - Summer Of 84 Soundtrack

The Thing Theme

Escape From New York Theme

Please submit Electronic Instrumentals that have a well-defined 1980s sound, style, and influence. Your submissions should have pulsing, driving beats that give some forward momentum and have some dark and mysterious elements. Analog-sounding synths with a steady Electronic beat could be a great starting point as long as they have that ‘80s appeal going for them.

TAXI Tip: Your submissions can be actual vintage masters recorded in the 1980s, or they can be recently recorded Instrumentals that are inspired by that era. If you’re going to be composing something for this request, using current-sounding synths or drum machines probably won't work well for this, so bust out those 1980's throwbacks (anybody have a DX-7 collecting dust?) if you really want to add some authenticity to your track!

All submissions should be about 2-4 minutes long, give or take. Non-Faded endings were not specifically requested, but are always a good idea when pitching to a Music Licensing company. Do NOT copy the referenced examples in any way, shape, or form. Era-Appropriate Broadcast Quality is needed. In other words, the recording shouldn’t sound too modern or slick.

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 other Libraries or Catalogs. Please submit as many Instrumentals as you’d like, online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a Yes/No basis – No full critiques. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM (PDT) on Friday, August 23rd, 2019. TAXI #Y190823EC


So...I’ve been writing cues that have been very 80’s sounding lately and I am SOOOO excited for this listing. Any of you awesome taxi members want to give me a review, I would love any pointers you might have on composition, form, mixing, production quality, etc. anything you think might help get this placed...



Here is another track that could be possible (MINUS THE VOCALS)....




Thank you so much in advance,
Jessica Jenks

[Ted]

Jessica, I think Couples Skate is a pretty good track for the listing. I'm probably going to try and submit something for this listing too, though I haven't settled on ideas yet-- but this is a fun listing.

To my ears-- overall it has a pleasant tone to it until around 1:50-ish when it becomes a bit harsh and "toothy" ( maybe the synth patch used at that part?. Maybe it's mixed a bit too loud?) Same thing at the 2:02 mark. Those are good authentic lead tones but they're just a bit loud and shrill. Maybe some EQ would help there.

Also I really like that main melodic motif that comes in from around the beginning. The one thing I think would impove this part would be to keep it streamlined and "focused" rhythmically for the whole song. After around the 40 second mark the melody starts to vamp a little bit on the "and" of several beats. It sounds a bit like "jamming" and "improv" and detracts from the composed anthemic feel. I know why it feels tempting to play these notes, but I'd leave it with some of the moody sparseness and not overplay. I'd keep the motif rhythmically the same, with the same number of notes as you do in the beginning. This would have the effect of making it more catchy. By keeping it the same, you reinforce the hook. That's just me; I could be wrong. But that's what I would do if someone handed me this track and wanted me to polish it up.

Cool track with a dark 80's vibe to it. Good luck!

[cosmicdolphin]

Hi Jessica

Sorry but I'm not really getting an 80's vibe from your track ( Couples Skate )

" using current-sounding synths or drum machines probably won't work well for this "

Your drums sound like samples of a real kit, and not like an old drum machine where the sounds are generated by analog synthesis..big difference

Synth wise the reference tracks all have a warm anlogue type sounds, or cheesy old FM type synths typical of the era. I studied the Stranger Things theme track for something I did a couple of years back so I know from my notes the guys used a Korg Mono/Poly for the Arpeggios , Jupiter 8 leads, Mellotron M400 choir stabs, Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 and 6 and VS pads and effects, Roland SH-2 on the bass line, Sequential Pro-One does the heartbeat thumps, and an Oberheim SEM Two Voice playing the main arpeggiated sequence. Whilst I don't own any hardware synths these days there are some excellent VSTi's that can get you close enough.

The sounds you are using at the moment all sound very digital and modern and combined with the EDM type FX such as the downlifter white noise at start, and some modern sounding claps it just doesn't sound much like the era they are asking for IMHO. Also you don't seem to use any arpeggiated parts which is a big part of the style.


Mark

[Jessiejames1978]

Jessica, I think Couples Skate is a pretty good track for the listing. I'm probably going to try and submit something for this listing too, though I haven't settled on ideas yet-- but this is a fun listing.

To my ears-- overall it has a pleasant tone to it until around 1:50-ish when it becomes a bit harsh and "toothy" ( maybe the synth patch used at that part?. Maybe it's mixed a bit too loud?) Same thing at the 2:02 mark. Those are good authentic lead tones but they're just a bit loud and shrill. Maybe some EQ would help there.

Also I really like that main melodic motif that comes in from around the beginning. The one thing I think would impove this part would be to keep it streamlined and "focused" rhythmically for the whole song. After around the 40 second mark the melody starts to vamp a little bit on the "and" of several beats. It sounds a bit like "jamming" and "improv" and detracts from the composed anthemic feel. I know why it feels tempting to play these notes, but I'd leave it with some of the moody sparseness and not overplay. I'd keep the motif rhythmically the same, with the same number of notes as you do in the beginning. This would have the effect of making it more catchy. By keeping it the same, you reinforce the hook. That's just me; I could be wrong. But that's what I would do if someone handed me this track and wanted me to polish it up.

Cool track with a dark 80's vibe to it. Good luck!

Hi Ted,

I totally get what you're saying and I tend to improvise melodies when recording electronic music and then I go back in and tweak what I don't like and keep what I think sounds good so it's interesting you caught on to that. I value your advice and am going to revamp and see what I can do...I would love to hear your choice for submission as well.

Thanks again!
Jessica

[Jessiejames1978]

Hi Jessica

Sorry but I'm not really getting an 80's vibe from your track ( Couples Skate )

" using current-sounding synths or drum machines probably won't work well for this "

Your drums sound like samples of a real kit, and not like an old drum machine where the sounds are generated by analog synthesis..big difference

Synth wise the reference tracks all have a warm anlogue type sounds, or cheesy old FM type synths typical of the era. I studied the Stranger Things theme track for something I did a couple of years back so I know from my notes the guys used a Korg Mono/Poly for the Arpeggios , Jupiter 8 leads, Mellotron M400 choir stabs, Sequential Circuits Prophet 5 and 6 and VS pads and effects, Roland SH-2 on the bass line, Sequential Pro-One does the heartbeat thumps, and an Oberheim SEM Two Voice playing the main arpeggiated sequence. Whilst I don't own any hardware synths these days there are some excellent VSTi's that can get you close enough.

The sounds you are using at the moment all sound very digital and modern and combined with the EDM type FX such as the downlifter white noise at start, and some modern sounding claps it just doesn't sound much like the era they are asking for IMHO. Also you don't seem to use any arpeggiated parts which is a big part of the style.


Mark

Hi Mark,

Thank you for your pointers here, it is very pertinent and helpful because I am new to the industry as of this past year and a half, although I have been composing most of my life since childhood, submitting cues for tv/film is new. I'm rolling with the returns/rejections and taking absorbing the feedback to refine the craft. You obviously have been doing this for a while. I've been writing "electronic music" for 5 years now and started on my iPad. I just got a Mac this year and some studio monitors to vamp up the project. I am working with an aka MPK Mini for DAW. I also have a novation mini nova that I want to start using a lot more. Any recommendations for software/hardware that you can give I am all ears so, thank you again!!

Sincerely,

Jessica Jenks

[cosmicdolphin]

Hey Jessica

Hardware/software can all be very dependent on the style of music. Even electronic music as a genre spans pretty different sounding sources for different subgenres.

I think the best tool is your ears and bring able to understand what makes the references tick.

If you can learn to analyze a reference track it will help you more than buying certain VSTs or Hardware.

Google famous reference tracks and you can often turn up an article from a music site or magazine that gives some insight into the production. Ie instruments used or mix techniques. Other times you can see from a music video or if you're really lucky there may be a tutorial on Youtube. As an example Charlie Puth breaks down his track 'Attention' in a video he put out, it was super useful when it came up in a Taxi listing.

So once you have their sound sources figured out and matched with a similar sonic palate from your own gear, it can be good to write down how they are played and voiced i.e arpeggiated synth chords, 8th note octave bass.

Then go through the structure .. does it have and A and B section ? How does it build and breakdown from section to section?

After that write a list of emotions for the track. So for Stranger Things, mysterious, spooky etc.

After that you should be ready to start writing.

[Jessiejames1978]

That is all excellent advice, thank you!!