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[samonbass]

Hey everyone,got a couple of returns on some songs, but with no critiques, just wondering if anyone can help us out with what they might think can be improved on them.1970s-style original INSTRUMENTALS (no vocals) are sought by the Owner of a Music Production Library for use in film/TV/commercials, etc. ALL GENRES associated with the decade of the 1970s will work as they're open to Soft Rock, Country Rock, Jazz Fusion, Jazz, Disco, Metal, Arena Rock, etc, etc. Great, authentic-sounding performances are a must - he needs material that sounds like it was lifted straight out of the 1950s. He needs tracks with button endings - no fade-outs. I submitted these 2 tracks for the 70s listing"Afros Anyone?"http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... am=1"Disco Heat On The Dancefloor"http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... 2&stream=1 wide range of WORKOUT MUSIC INSTRUMENTALS (no vocals) are sought by an LA-based Documentary Production Co. for an indie film about female bodybuilders. Style-wise, thing energetic Rock to Electronica to Dance/Pop for action scenes of the athletes working out and competing. Tracks should be at least 1:00 minute long. "Hard As Rock"http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... am=1Thanks heaps for the help. Sam.

[hummingbird]

70s listing"Disco Heat On The Dancefloor"http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... stream=1-- I think you need more melody. It's a nice bed track. Unless the listing specifically says "no discernable melody required" you need to have a compelling, catchy/quirky/unique melody.I'm going to go out on a limb here and say something that involves composition/production - that's a risk for me, cause I could be wrong... but here goes.. the drums have a good sound but feel loopy in scope. I wonder too if you need more in the "middle", you've got a good low end, and some bright sounds, but it feels a little 'empty' in the midstream.It IS funky. I get the feeling this was a very high bar listing - some good tracks got returned. "Afros Anyone?"http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... ream=1Nice funky beat. Very disco, good guitar playing too. Are you using drum loops? If so, I've found that they are not well received.WORKOUT MUSIC INSTRUMENTALS "Hard As Rock"http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... &stream=1I like it when it kicks in. I'd drop the 17 sec intro and get to the meat & potatoes right away. Awesome guitar. I could be wrong, but it might the drums. Just a personal observation - I started creating instrumentals that are about 1 to 2 minutes long, so I have the time to focus more on composition. I go back now to some of the stuff I was working on earlier this year and I pick a section that starts with good kick and edit it to begin there, then work on refining the rest. When repeating the same elements, I always add something to create variety. Nothing to do with your post, just sharing what I've learned.Stick with it, you've got some good stuff!!cheersHummin'bird

[samonbass]

Hey Vikki, thanx for the feedback, really appriciate it. I agree with the disco one needing a melody, just couldn't find the right melody for it, or the right instrument to play it, but I will. Yeah they are all drum samples, I made the loops for the disco & rock ones, but used a loop for the other funk one & added fills, I think the rock one may need a better snare on it too, even though they are samples of real drum kits, I thought the snare sounded a bit midi-ish.But to the melody discussion for a sec. Do you always have to have a melody for instrumental tracks? I've always wondered this, as alot of songs used for TV are instrumental without a melody. I have had songs forwarded for R&B which were just guitar, bass & drums with no melody..... maybe its different for the R&B style...???? But I guess its always better to be safe than sorry & a song with a melody will probably get forwarded over a song without one.If anyone else would like to give me a quick critique of the songs, it would be much appriciated, always tryong to improve my writing.Thanx & Merry Christmas. Sam

[hummingbird]

Quote:Hey Vikki, thanx for the feedback, really appriciate it. I agree with the disco one needing a melody, just couldn't find the right melody for it, or the right instrument to play it, but I will. Yeah they are all drum samples, I made the loops for the disco & rock ones, but used a loop for the other funk one & added fills, I think the rock one may need a better snare on it too, even though they are samples of real drum kits, I thought the snare sounded a bit midi-ish.But to the melody discussion for a sec. Do you always have to have a melody for instrumental tracks? I've always wondered this, as alot of songs used for TV are instrumental without a melody. I have had songs forwarded for R&B which were just guitar, bass & drums with no melody..... maybe its different for the R&B style...???? But I guess its always better to be safe than sorry & a song with a melody will probably get forwarded over a song without one.If anyone else would like to give me a quick critique of the songs, it would be much appriciated, always tryong to improve my writing.Thanx & Merry Christmas. SamHi - the reason I mentioned melody is it's something I've been critiqued on -- that I don't have enough of an interesting/unique/front & centre melody. So what I've learned is a) start with the meat & potaties (set the atmosphere right away -- like, if it's disco, start with the most disco sounds you can); b) unless the listing says "no prominent melody requited" or "bed tracks okay", then have a prominent melody; drum samples are fine but you need to work with them so that they sound "human"/work extra hard on making everything sound "real". (I think some of the screeners have perfect pitch, so make sure all instruments are in tune & vocals are well sung.)HEDIT - I was going to change "requited" to "required" but I kinda like it, so I left it in

[arkjack]

Hi SamI gave a quick listen to the Afro and Disco tracks. I think they are in the pocket for what the listing is asking for in terms of genre and overall feel. I wonder if for this listing the production is too good. The listing called for "like it was lifted straight out of the seventies....". It felt a little to me like some of the synth sounds and the actual recorded tones had a modern flavor, almost like I was guessing whether it was new gear and software as opposed to authentic vitage equipment of the era. Also, the bass playing is great, but there were a few licks to me that sounded too fresh compared to the music of that era, as well as kind of missing that James Jamerson dead string thumpiness.Hope that is helpful, and of course Article VI, Para B (2) (c) iii u applies..... I may not have a bleeping clue about what I'm talking about.ArkJack

[kurtkreimier]

Hello Sam.By and large I think these tracks capture the styles they are looking for. However, I think production is the bigger issue on these. I am going to comment on each track individually.Afros Anyone - The track sounds muddy overall. This is usually a problem when low mid's (around 250Hz) are boosted to much in your eq. You might want to try cutting the 250Hz range and boosting some of the high mid's and highs in your eq. Some reverb might also help brighten up the sound after you get the eq adjusted to your liking. The track has a reasonably catchy melody but the intro might be a bit to long or you might want to forget the intro all together for a listing of this type. You might also want to consider adding a bit more contrast between verse and chorus sections, making the chorus section a little bigger by adding some underlying horns or strings.Disco Heat on the Dance Floor - Once again, the long intro might be an issue. Or is that the verse? If so, more of a defined melody would help there. You might also want to consider adding a little more spacing between the melody notes (light strings) as they seem to run into each other. My comments on eq and reverb above would also apply to this track but certainly not to the same extent. You might also want to think about a different sound for the melodic line.Hard As Rock - Great title for this listing. I felt this was the best of the 3 in terms of production. I would have liked to have heard a soaring lead guitar melody over the chorus sections and the ending seemed a little off with the cymbals hanging over. The break around 1:35 could be a problem when trying to match this up to a particular video segment. For this same reason I thought there might be to much of a contrast between the verse and chorus sections. Both sections would probably work on their own in terms of matching the intensity they are looking for, although I tend to lean more in the chorus section direction. Regardless of the section, I did think more of a melodic statement might be needed.Overall Comments - I really like what you are doing with your guitars. I also think that you are definitely on the right track with your composition and arranging. However, I think most of the other sounds and patches you are using are letting you down, especially the string sounds on the disco tune. I realize many times this is a budget issue but some more realistic sounding patches would make a significant improvement on these tracks. These are just my thoughts but I sincerely hope they are a help to you.Peace,Kurt

[diogenes]

Hmmm, I'm listening to "Afro's Anyone" and it sure sounds like it fits the bill to me. If I was being SUPER nit-picky I'd say the performance is a touch sloppy in a couple places, just a few spots that aren't as tight as they could be, but like I said thats really looking for something. Now I'm listening to "Disco..." again, really sounds dead on that listing to me. great performances, appropriate production....I don't know why they weren't forwarded... I just checked out "hard as a rock" to...I'd say the production held you back on this one, it's really lacking compared to the 70's songs. (Sonically speaking that is, I know those genres are like apples and oranges), stylistically I'd say you were in the ball park for the listing though...

[samonbass]

Thanx everyone for the critiques. Am now thinking about getting new drum samples, but am unsure of what to get, have heard good things about ezdrummer & stylus, not sure which to get, also as I do some R&B & hip hop, also looking into some samples for these.Merry Christmas,Sam.

[ibanez468]

Gotta' watch your timing! Sometimes the drums drag behind the rest of the instruments. Wanna' make sure you hit on the 1 & 3 or the 2 & 4 consistently. I know it's tough sometimes, but not being on time will kill ya'. Just my .02 cents worth. Otherwise they had a good feel. Weren't there tracks done in the 70's that sounded somewhat muddy? I suppose a boost in the higher frequency ranges would've brightened 'em up a bit. I like the deep bass tone though. I thought it fit well for these tunes. Might want to consider using some compression on the bass or either back off a little on the low eq (I'm listening to Disco as I write this). The lower ranges tend to jump out at you at times. But target-wise, I think you were in there.ibanez468