orchestral piece - mixing advice wanted...

[crystallions]

I wrote a piece called "Nick's Theme" for a friend a about a month ago. I am finally getting around to working on the mix and would love some advice on it. I have done a rough mix but no tweaking at this point. I am looking for a large orchestral sound. Majestic and triumphant. If anyone has advice on choice of sounds and articulations that is also welcome. I am using EWSO Platinum + Symphonic Choirs.Thanks,LydiaNick's Themehttp://www.taximusic.com/hosting/home.php?artist=lydialashton

[kitz]

Wow - what a sound!! It is very majestic and triumphant indeed. The instruments and vocals all sound pretty darn real to these ears and they are mixed very well imho. I am really digging for something here because it sounds pretty done to me but if I had to come up with a critical aspect it would be:The high triplets that start around 1:43 were a tiny bit low or unclear to my ears meaning I had to listen several times to that spot to tell what was going on there. I'm trying to discern if that's strings, winds or a combination. However, the mix does sound very nice as is and I don't know if it's an issue really.The snare and timpani may be just a teeney tiny bit low in the mix toward the end of the piece but I'm sure that's just personal preference. I could be completely off here and if nobody else agrees then forget I said anything other than Wow!! - I think it's great!!Kitz

[mazz]

Hi Lydia,Nice piece, I like it, majestic and triumphant, for sure.At first listen, it sounds to me like the low strings are too loud. It makes the piece feel a little heavy at first. Later in the piece when everyone comes in, it sounds nicely balanced. Much lighter in the lower strings at first will give you some place to go. Same with the snare drum. When the trumpets come in, they could use some more expressive crescendos (subtle). The phrasing on the horns sounds great. Right after the section with the choir (or maybe one phrase later), feels to me like a natural place for a modulation, maybe up a step or minor third. It would lift the piece up and make it even more majestic than it is.For the last chord, I'd try a sforzando with a nice big crescendo, I think that would finish it off nicely and balance the ending with what came before.Sorry, I moved from mixing to composing but I just couldn't help it Very nice, can't wait to hear the final mix!!Mazz

[ideascapes]

Very pretty, Lydia. I like the appegiation you use in the strings; heard that on the Gideon song on your web site also.Things you might want to listen to again: - Between 0:40 and 0:60 or so, the strings sound as thought they are cutting off between notes with unrealistic releases--a little "synthy" there; I kept hearing that as that same string articulation kept playing ('til about 1:20) - At the time Kitz and mazz were thinking bigger crescendo (1:49 to my ears), I thought you could go away from the snare pattern you'd been using--you know, the roll, going into the 1/8 and 1/4 note hits...maybe just a steady tympani beat or stay on the snare...something more driving to the finish (it sounds like you're doing that on the bass and/or celli)You're motivating me to try something grander myself--I've only composed "chamber" pieces or recorded existing classical works (Mozart, Beethoven, et. al.).Vince

[crystallions]

Wow – thank you all so much!!! So much great advice. I had not planned to change the composition itself (only work on the mix) but I am going to need to work on the composition after all. I can see how your suggestions would bring great improvement without that much work. Definitely worth taking the time to do some changes.Kitz - Thank you so much! Your wow means a great deal! (made me smile!) I was wondering about the strings at 1:43 myself. I may bring them up a tiny bit. Even if I know what they play at that point I have to strain my ears to hear them. (and since you were trying to discern the which instruments were used for that part - it is only strings) Mazz – Thanks! I will lighten up the percussion and strings in the beginning. That is something I had wondered about myself. I do feel like I have trouble working with brass. That is probably the instrument group I know the least about. I will look at the trumpet part. Do you think that is done with the mixing or the choice of sounds? (or both) I like the idea about adding a modulation as well. I listened to it earlier today and felt like it would be nice with a change but wasn’t sure which kind of change. A modulation should be pretty easy to put in and should bring it up a notch emotionally for the ending. Vince – Thank you! I really like arpeggio strings too. The Gideon piece was the inspiration for this one. My friend heard “Gideon’s Return” and told me that I picked the wrong name – it should have been called “Nick’s Theme” (his name is Nick). So I wrote something similar and gave it that title. I listened again and can hear what you are saying about the strings. I will play around with that to see if I can find a better sound and make the note changes more smooth. I like the idea of a changed percussion pattern. It was the first time I didn’t use Stylus for a piece like this so the percussion isn’t exactly exciting – but I think I can handle adding some variation.

[geo]

Hi Lydia....Outa genre... enjoyed the listen.... not qualified to add more ....Peace, Geo

[crystallions]

Geo - Thanks for listening and leaving a comment!

[feaker]

lydiaVery nice.That is a very nice picture of you as well.I am old fashion, but I bet I can't say that? Am I in trouble now?good jobPaul