Not Broadcast Quality..........?

[southpaw]

Quote:First about the headphones... they listen to all the music with the same headphones. (i.e. Not "good" headphones for everyone else and "bad" headphones for you). ...Its a darn conspiracy! Quote:My guess would be that you didn't get a forward for the reasons that you felt that it was a "long-shot". Clearly the quality is there but your own expectations of a likely return makes me think that it might not have been targeted well and the screener just checked the wrong box.BTW... if you step back a little bit from this it's a little funny. I've had listings where I was pretty sure I wasn't hitting the target but when it was returned for a reason *other* than the reason I already knew kept it from being forwarded... I felt cheated or something. We're such a sensitive bunch. After a few deep breaths.... (i begrudgingly admit) your comments are pretty on target in all honesty... But let me vent damnit! These were for the push listing.. So thats why i say, i knew it was a "shot in the dark". I still hear things when i listen, that i want to change and improve, but i never really stop doing that... My friends and family kept saying, "stop nitpicking" they are fantastic, and you are going to ruin them if you keep revising them...! Truth be told, I still felt on deeper level that they were not all the way there yet. The 'NOT BQ' reason for not being forwarded came as a bit of an insult. (It was just one of those quick critique forms, and wasnt anything more than the reasons no forwarded)Quote:But sometimes a beautiful stereo spread in headphones can be distracting from the other things that still need work. You mentioned minor mix issues... like the bass stops playing or drops out, or isn't finished? I don't get it, you say the mix has minor issues and you were hoping that the songs would be forwarded? I can't see them forwarding anything with "issues." Why would they forward something that isn't finished (in their opinion and yours)? That's just the truth the way I hear it. Neither song actually sounds completely finished to me. And you haven't posted the listings requirements, That is the most important set of conditions to measure your tracks against. When you send in mixes that you admit have minor mix issues, do you think the screeners are going to hear those, or miss them? My guess is that they'd hear them quite esily. That is their job! Worrying about what headphones screeners use is a waste of your time. It's casting suspicion on their equipment. It's your job to make sure your tunes sound good on any level of quality speaker. But they are very close, and with a little extra TLC, you'll polish them up and they'll be perfect for something. They are really good, just not ALL THE WAY GREAT yet. Best of luck man, 'cause it's obvious you know what you're doing. And you're a Logic guy. Sure hope you get what I'm talking about. Your tunes are awesome, but not finished. and we don't know what listing you sent them into. So it's very hard to be completely objective with suggestions.As i mentioned to Dave, after a little 'let the veins unclog' time... To be honest with myself, I have to admit that i dont think the songs are quite the caliber for push as they stand.. The 'minor mix issues' dont appear to be the real reason for the return.Still, I know what you are saying here Steve. I was putting a bit more hopes on this listing than i probly should have.. The unfortunate reality is "just suck it up" and get back to the drawing board. Its been a friggin frustrating first quarter this year with my music, and i could really use something to pan out or something like that.. Anyways, its back to work. I think i know where i could focus on more, plus i can probly put some of my frustration here to work! Later

[southpaw]

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement everyone, by the way. Thanks H.A.L. - Thats a good list. Nothing there was new to me or made a bell ring or anything like that to be honest, but it is a nice reference. I do think an important part of being able to improve, is being able to objectively see what areas may be lacking or taken to the next level, finding out how to actually do that, and most importantly, practicing doing that. (Sorry to sound generic and preachy)I can think of a few places where i can improve and i think they lean more on the arrangement and songwriting side of things. See you around folks! Best Regards,Jamie

[andreh]

Re: To Be A Better Man, I like the song a lot; lyrics are thoughtful, witty, and playful, and the production IS outstanding.One potentially major mix issue (that probably wouldn't be noticed on headphones) is that the bass is composed of primarily low frequencies, so it disappears altogether on smaller speakers (like you might find in TV sets malls). If the screener listened on "real world" speakers he/she may have noticed this and considered it serious enough for a return.Anyway, great work.André

[djb]

Someone clarify this for me please. I would think they would be listening more to the quality of the song and songwriting in this listing and not get hung up on what even Andreh calls a minor problem that would only show up on small speakers. Why not check the box that refers to the" music" or "lyrics" or "style". I don't see anything in the push listing info that even asks for broadcast quality. I see alot of "high bar" reference but not high bar recordings. Just wondering. Dave

[southpaw]

Thanks for the thoughts Andre. I did check the mix on my laptop speakers, there wasnt a complete hole or anything to my ears... Very valid point though. I figured id mostly compensated for this by applying a little extra snap and attack on these freqs. Dave, i think it was just an honest mistake by the screener. Instead of fighting this battle, ive just chalked it up to: If the song was good enough or was what they were looking for, i dont think it would have been returned. Push is arguably one of the highest set bars for a taxi listing, so they are going to be extremely picky and we are not really going to know exactly what they are looking for or not looking for, to any degree of certainty. All i know is, im just going to go try to write another great song! Take careJamie

[lsp]

You may want to tweak the rhythm guitar...there are some places where certain frequencies are fighting for space and it seems to be generating what may have been thought to be some distortion. At low volume the mix sounds really nice except for the electric guitar(s). maybe back off the high end a little and see if that helps BUT you have a vcery nice touch to your mix. Good Luck!!

[sheldontunes]

First of all I think the mix is just fine. After all, aren't we mainly just sending in "demos" to these people. I mean, come on. You don't need a fully produced demo to hear if a song is good or appreciate for a particular project. I just joined Taxi a few months ago after being out of the music business for 10 years. Back then when I was pitching songs for a movie or TV situation the Music Supervisor or A&R people had great ears and were able to here the music by a simple or semi produced demo. This deal I see here with the "Broadcast Quality" tag is somewhat confusing. Are the screeners in todays world unable to hear a songs potential without a so called Broadcast Quality or master mix or perfect arrangement? After all %99.9 of the time they are going to be rerecorded and rearranged. I don't think you should just "suck it up" and move on. I think Taxi needs to explain itself here if they haven't already. Your stuff is great. Don't toss it aside and move on.Good Work, Sheldon

[celeste]

They don't care about us.

[markjsmith]

The reality is screeners are screening for the listing and not the merits of the track! "Sometimes" if a track isn't right for the listing it seems they'll be extra harsh on other things, no matter how strong the track is in a more fitting genre! For example, 2 days ago I got back a review of my song Furthest Fire with an avg. rating of 4.5 ( I was kinda pissed off-my lowest rating ever, not to mention the listing was vague as to what they were looking for). Yesterday I got back a review from another listing that I sent the same tune - all 9's one 8 and a forward only a day apart (which I found odd and amusing). It put things in perspective a little. Granted the first listing was genre wise apparently on the edge, but it shows that if something isn't right genre wise it can elicit a harsh score in all criteria!This isn't true of all the reviewers though, a while back I had a score of all 9's and two 8's and got a return cause the track wasn't fitting the listing. The reviewer was very nice and recommended what genre to submit to, told me what he liked about the track, and was very encouraging!

[wta]

Listening to In REM, this is John Mayer with James Hetfield on guitar mate. Guitar sounds like a Mesa Rectifier when I want Fender Twin or a light Marshall Plexi overdrive. Things get pretty hot during crecendo possibly slightly over saturated master... I'd have an issue if I were the screener but would have been specific... HOWEVER this is a damm good tune LOVE the dynamics and progression with brilliant lyric... this could go Nickelback or Mayer and I think Mayer with the vocalist or Nickelback with the guitar work... Considering I have a hard time scraping together the iq to tie my shoes I'd take it all with a grain of salt... or pepper whatever floats you're spice rack, GREAT tune here mate...