Two days left

[jacowoody]

Hello, I posted this question in Peer to Peer. Thank you to Geo and Vikki for their responses. I'm posting it here to catch those who might not have seen it there.ELECTRONICA/DANCE INSTRUMENTALS a la Moby's "God Moving Over The Face Of The Water" are wanted by a Music Publisher with tons of Film/TV placements. The Moby track is tragically beautiful with an anticipatory mood, and your submission should reflect the same sonic qualities. The track will be used in a scene preceding a murder, as the character stands on a pier overlooking the ocean at dusk. The track should be mostly instrumental, but haunting vocals as part of the tapestry could work. If vocals are used, no story should be told lyrically and no words should be particularly heard at all. Great performances are an absolute must. His deal is very simple -- he splits the license fee with you 40/60 [that 60% is for you] and he doesn't take any publishing. The company's president will screen the submissions. Great recording quality is a plus, but excellent home recordings will work. Please submit one to three songs online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS ONLY -- NO CRITIQUES FROM TAXI -- and must be received no later than Feb. 25, 2008.TAXI # Y080225DAGeo suggested that I reduce the number of backwards cymbal hits. I'm going to try that today. With only two days left to submit this I would really appreciate any more ways I might improve this . . . other than hitting DELETE!Here is my Myspace link. The song is called "Murder"http://www.myspace.com/woodyschickenshackThank you in advance if I don't get back to you right away. - Jacowoody

[bassman]

Hi thereHad a listen to your track.There's a piano riff which starts about 36 secs into the song. I would get rid of it, it stands out too much and sort of breaks the mood. If you do want a piano part there try something which compliments the first piano part and does'nt stand out as much.About 1:29 secs there's a string line. May be a little too 'synth' sounding and publishers tend to have a problem with that. You could try layering it with a slightly more expensive sounding sample or if you don't have one, why not try layering the string line with a sort of ambiant guitar line, you know something that will take it into the realm of 'real instruments just to make the sound a little more interesting.Another thing you could try: on the foundation piano part, try adding a short delay in 16ths (I think) so that it gets an interesting rhytmic feel.You're using some reverb, it may sound good to add some predelay to get the reverb a bit more in the background.These are just ideas by the way which you can take of leave.

[jacowoody]

Thank you so much. I just posted a revision of the song. If you use the old link in my original post the new version comes up. I'm going back into my studio right now to check out your ideas. As far as the too synthy sound, I have gotten that comment in too many of my unforwarded critiques. I was hoping that an Electronica/Techno listing would overlook that. I have been avoiding adding real instrument tracks so I could adjust the tempo of the song easily, and the Moby song they refer to is all computer instruments. Do you think it's OK to add real instruments ie. guitar to an Electronica listing? I would love it. My forte is REAL guitar!

[jacowoody]

Bassman, once again thank you for your input. The piano part at :36 I can't find. If you mean the trill piano that starts a little bit sooner, listen to the Moby song that the publisher likes and you will know why I put that part there. That is the theme of the Moby song. Now, the delay. Can you suggest a plug in delay that I could bring in 16th note repeats? I'm an analog guy new to digital. In analog I could do that easily, but I haven't been able to do that with the plugins that came with my DAW (Cubase 4). Maybe it's there, but not to me. I'm also looking for a Flanger ala Eagles "Life In The Fast Lane". - Jacowoody

[bassman]

You could get away with guitar if you make it different enough, ie. almost electronic sounding, possibly fading in instead of picking, try different pedals, extreme settings, etc. think Adrian belew, Fripp, but it would need to be extremely subtle and whether it's what they're looking for is another thing. You may need to get out of the habit of thinking like a guitarist and more like a sound designer for it to work.Another option is if you have a violin/cello playing friend, get them to layer the part several times. The piano, you're right it's the trill piano. I understand why you put it there. With Moby's track the piano occurs as, although weird, also well composed and the notes are played continiously round and round, I would say the influence on the Moby track could be stuff like Steve Reich, have a look at this web link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY5_cwN1i74 about 40 secs in (although this has a slightly different mood). With your piano part you've got the repetition going which is good, I just think you could could compose it a bit more so that it becomes an extension of piano part one and not something stuck on top.The delay won't make or break the song but cubase 4 should have a basic delay.(these are just my opinions by the way, most of all trust your own judgement)P.s my lawyer asked me to mention that I don't take any responsibility for any lost revenue due to following my advice.