3/3 return on stingers/playons

[sethlit]

I really had no idea precisely what a "stinger" or "play-on" was before this listing. So off the bat, I'm grateful to have learned. But I also would like to learn what I did wrong. The screener did note that they sounded a "little thin." I kinda figured for reality TV type shows, the music needs to be a bit thin...for dialogue. But please correct me if I'm wrong, because I'm sure I am.

If you have time, for those savvy on play-ons and stingers, could you take a listen to my failures? Any tips are greatly appreciated. I love to learn! My tune are on my taxi page.

My tunes : "Cock Rock (play-on)"
"I Dare You (stinger)"
"Urbanization (play-on)"

Seth

[Len911]

Well Seth, if the screener said they are "thin", I would take that for needs more low end eq and compression maybe. If I was concerned about room for dialog, I'd probably carve out a hole in the 1.3khz center freq or thereabouts.

I don't like you speaking in terms of "wrong" and "failures",lol, as most mixing is just 16 shades of gray and you try to choose the gray that seems a little better over the least better,lol!

[sethlit]

Thanks for the words. I know, you're right. I sorta half sarcastically used the word "failure." I just haven't been too succesful with these "reality tv" listings as of late. There have been some great instrumental opportunities and I was hoping to have done a little better than I have.

With these realty tv listings, I feel that I have been consistantly picking the wrong shade of gray. I've been hoping to hear some of the forwards, but haven't seen many posted yet. Onward and upward! Thanks for responding, GREATLY appreciated.

Seth

[jdstamper]

Seth, I'm there with you. Actually I got 1 forward and several returns. I'll post my forward separately.

Like you, I was kind of fuzzy on the concept, so I appreciate the learning opp.

A couple returns were "too thin". And truly, the music is sparse and very background, so now I know that wasn't on target.

Another was ending too soon(?) ... which might be about too much ring out tail on the last note.

Jim

[mazz]

In my experience, it's not worth it to second guess things like eq. Make the music sound awesome and full and let the composition leave space for the dialog. The audio folks on these shows know what they are doing and will fit the music in sonically.

Besides, there is usually a request for alt mixes which is where you can thin things out.

Thats not to say that the music should be musically busy, it still needs to leave room for that unknown extra voice (dialog or vo).

Keep at it!