2 Moody Pieces

[lc]

Taxi members! Lend me your ears...(how many times has that been used, huh? I'm so original...)Anyways, I have two pieces entitled "From My Eyes" and "Winter in Blue" that I would greatly appreciate any comments/critiques.Due to time, I'm not really expecting anyone to listen to both, so by no means am I insisting that both pieces be reviewed. They're just my two recent ones.Thanks in advance for listening!From My Eyes:http://homepage.mac.com/missing_piece_m ... .mp3Winter In Blue:http://homepage.mac.com/missing_piece_m ... 20Blue.mp3

[questor]

I listened to them both, they both have a very nice classical/newage feel to them. The first one seems to envoke (to me) several different emotional feelings....where the second tends to stay more along one line.The first seems to be solid Title credits music (like in the beginning of a movie/tv series where the credits are pre-story layout is being shown with small abstract clips or just picture slide-show).Second piece is nice but seems to stay mostly more mellow. I really like the gregorian-type chants and I think adding more of them (and perhaps in a few different sections) would make the song more interesting/compelling.Looks like you are solidly on your way.Regards,QPS(Personally I am not a big fan of the quicktime player since it has no timer to show where in the song we are, making critiquing individual sections more difficult...my space is a good second choice...or you taxi homepage (if you have one...since taxi let me select the player)).

[lc]

Thanks for listening and commenting!Yeah, I've been solidly on my way for I don't know how long now. Ha! I think I'm just now finding my stride.Winter In Blue was written when I was feeling kind of down. I even tried to mix in the notes to "Taps" in the trumpet solo part. But, yeah, it pretty much marches in a straight line.I would've liked to add some more choral elements in it also, but my system starts struggling with all the huge samples. I know I'll be forced to upgrade my system soon. I actually do have a Myspace page. Not much to it really, but I will probably start using it to post pieces from now on. Here's the link: http://www.myspace.com/auraldreamscapes Thanks again for listening!

[vicky]

I like both of these...sounds are good....vibe is unyeilding...which is good.....I don't know enough about the listings this would work for, but both of these tunes can find home IMO...Quote:I would've liked to add some more choral elements in it also, but my system starts struggling with all the huge samples. I know I'll be forced to upgrade my system soon. 'forced to upgrade' is the plight of all of us....this seems to be a common problem...in my program this is related to effects on the tracks, so I wait til the end to add that stuff....also submixes, while working seem to help organize....and make the program happier...then at the end go back to the main tracks for final....good luck,Vicky

[lc]

Thanks for the listen Vicky!Yeah, I'm going to have to adopt to that style of recording as well. I use GoldXP, Stormdrum, Choirs and Superior...they LOVE snacking on my memory and sipping processor juice

[deantaylor]

LC, From My Eyes is a nice 'mood' piece. I liked it.Dean

[mixopenta]

Hi lc,I listened to both "From my Eyes" and "Winter in Blue", and they are indeed moody. You are on the right track.Some thoughts:From My Eyes are a bit over compressed to my ears. This kind of music is IMO relying rather heavily on dynamics, so if I were you I would cut back on the compression or better yet, use none at all.Both tracks could be tweaked to be more efficient as well. The same rhythmic and melodic patterns are repeated too many times. It's not to the point of getting annoying, but just about enough to let you get distracted.I would also work on some timing issues in some spots that comes with the inherent attack in these instruments.Both songs are very moody, and with some tweaking I can definitely see them being used in various situations.Good Job!

[lc]

Thanks for the listen dean and u peters!Yeah, mastering is an issue for me. I know that mastering is an art all by itself and really best left to someone who is a mastering engineer (as well as distance from the source material) but I know it's possible to get a good "ready-for-air" production at home too. I think I picked a generic mastering plug-in for it, which probably wasn't the best. I'm also working on getting some reference monitors. So along with further study, hopefully my mixes will improve.With "From My Eyes", I was kind of going for a "Lux Aeterna", "Requiem for a Tower" kind of feel, where both pieces pretty much have repetitive patterns/themes as well. "Winter in Blue" I thought had enough changes to keep it interesting while having a central theme But I'll try to keep that in mind. I can think of a few other pieces I've done that might have the same stigma...The timing issues, can't blame anyone but myself there. I know with some instruments (especially wind) you have to start playing them slightly before you would normally. Must've gotten a bit careless with some...Thanks again for the critiques!...and I completely agree with your quote under your avatar! Reminds me somewhat of what George Lucas says about movies: They aren't released...they escape!