Suspense Snippets

[mixopenta]

As usual after watching a CSI episode, I get inspired to create my own little 'lab scene bed tracks'. Having M.L.'s advise from a 'News from the Prez' a couple of months ago in the back of my head, I thought I'd have a go at making some 30+ sec's snippets to see whether or not I was able to pull something off in the shortest amount of time.This took me about an hour each to create, and then an additional 2 hours each to polish.What I don't know, is if these actually would be usable, - or if it's just a pathetic attempt in copying the works of Mr B. Brown and J.M. Keane?There are 4 tracks all called "suspense 1-4":http://www.broadjam.com/artists/artist_ ... =16057Tell me what you think, and be gentle but brutal

[tuite]

Hey mate,Your work is very good. Its good quality and well produced. They are the right length, the right tempo, the right sounds and tones etc. so you know what you are doing. Here are my brutally gentle criticisms:Suspense 1: Everything is spot on but Im not too sure bout the snare sound. Maybe it works but I dunno, try a few others. It kinda sounds too poppy or R&Bish for suspense? Also, I dont like the chord change. It goes, starting chord, then up a tone, back down a tone and then it drops 2 1/2 tones to a chord that makes it sound a little too happy and loses the suspense.Suspense 2 doesnt really create an atmosphere of suspense I dont think. It might work for something else though.3 and 4 are good too. I like the one bar breakdowns so music supervisers can use sections and split the song up if they want. Number 1 is the best though.You should submit these! If you do, let me kno how they get on?Colm.

[crs7string]

The tracks sound very good. These pieces would probably have worked for the recent scientific/medical listing. ( This listing seems to pop up every so often)Chuck

[davewalton]

Quote:As usual after watching a CSI episode, I get inspired to create my own little 'lab scene bed tracks'. Having M.L.'s advise from a 'News from the Prez' a couple of months ago in the back of my head, I thought I'd have a go at making some 30+ sec's snippets to see whether or not I was able to pull something off in the shortest amount of time.This took me about an hour each to create, and then an additional 2 hours each to polish.What I don't know, is if these actually would be usable, - or if it's just a pathetic attempt in copying the works of Mr B. Brown and J.M. Keane?There are 4 tracks all called "suspense 1-4":http://www.broadjam.com/artists/artist_ ... =16057Tell me what you think, and be gentle but brutal Good tracks. I think I would develop them all. As far as "suspense" goes, Track #2 seems a little too happy for a CSI suspense track. Track #3 has that kind of happy element also at the end but it's also the one I liked the most. The beginning feel of that track is top notch.I've paid a lot of attention to CSI music. Actually a lot of the music on the show is from outside contributers, mostly known artists/groups such as Crystal Method or Prodigy. The music that John Keane does is, in my opinion, extremely hard to replicate and/or capture the sound and feel. There's usually not a lot of things going on musically in his tracks. The flow is really loose within the boundries of the rhythm track, lots of soundscape ambience, dark, deep strings, usually with a light, trippy piano riff, and an overall mix that makes everything sound like it was recorded in a warehouse. Everything is just done in a way that, for me at least, has been impossible to replicate so far.I sent you a PM with a link to a 20 second MP3 snippet from the show itself of what I would call "typical or classic John Keane CSI music". This is not me, of course. It's the real thing from CSI, somthing I've been using as a reference. If anyone else want to hear that snippet, just email or send me a PM.Anyway, specifics of John Keane's style aside, these are all good and I would definitely develop these into full tracks.Dave

[davewalton]

Quote:If you wanna be original... Compose with live instruments. Put your keyboard away and burn your sample library... and see what happens. I don't think I could fit an orchestra into my house. Besides, a five-figure price tag to pay the orchestra members for each recording session would put me out of business before we were halfway through the first session. I did have Spariam (from the foum here) play his Irish Tin Whistle (a little flute thing) on one of my tracks and it did make a world of difference. I'd like to do more of that actually.

[mixopenta]

Thanks everybody for all valuable feedback. It's great to have experiments like these placed under the microscope! My initial thought with these snippets were just to create something similar to those heard on CSI, but as it often is when I'm doing something, it turns out a little different from my original intention.tuite, I haven't even thought about the snare until you mentioned it. And I agree, it's kind of thin, so I will try to find a good replacement.It's good to hear that these tracks may have the kind of mood that would make them eligible for TV placements, although not necessarily like the CSI one's. And as I don't play any other instruments than keyboard, I'd guess all I could do without the keyboard is silence, Either that - or it's work for hire, and I don't have the money for that. But I agree, real instruments are much more exciting, and I have had some thought of recording odd things, at least percussion wise, so I will have an excursion out in the garage to see if I can find me some good sounding junk to play I do happen to know a guy who plays weird string instruments and some rare pipes and flutes. He's quite busy though, so I haven't had the opportunity to ask him yet. But again, sooner or later, friends will eventually lose interest in helping out for free, and that's where the issue not having any money, once again stares its ugly face upon you. Finally, when I was doing the last overdubs it got me thinking they perhaps could be somewhat longer, so I will definitely develop them some more with all of your good advice in mind.Thanks guys!

[liamkelly]

I've paid a lot of attention to CSI music. Actually a lot of the music on the show is from outside contributers, mostly known artists/groups such as Crystal Method or Prodigy. The music that John Keane does is, in my opinion, extremely hard to replicate and/or capture the sound and feel. There's usually not a lot of things going on musically in his tracks. The flow is really loose within the boundries of the rhythm track, lots of soundscape ambience, dark, deep strings, usually with a light, trippy piano riff, and an overall mix that makes everything sound like it was recorded in a warehouse. Everything is just done in a way that, for me at least, has been impossible to replicate so far.Impeccably written, David.