FEEDBACK NEEDED!!! WHAT AM I DOING WRONG!??

[magiceraser]

Been with Taxi for almost a year now and thought I was getting wiser. Submitted to U121211IN movie trailer. I was really excited about this one because I thought I was right on target but received a "Stylistically off target". I followed the instructions as they asked for a "loss", "sadness" feeling that built BIG!, into "anything can happen" I created a nice, sad, memorable melody and built it where the sadness left and the feeling of "anything can happen" takes over. I also gave it a KILLER ending but this one out of all the ones i've submitted hit me hard in the gut and made me think "Why the hell do I bother!!" I may answer my own question here but I went back and listened (boy I would love to here the piece that was chosen) They tell us not to copy or rip off but did they want me to (for the lack of a better word) copy the exact symphony style that was used in the two examples which were trailers by Steve Jablonsky "All the Spark" and Hans Zimmer "Time". I am curious to know that if I did NOT use piano and copied a deep, echoed bass, cello and drum and simply change my notes if I would have had a better chance. I am frustrated here and venting. Any feedback and critique of the situation and my piece is extremely appreciated. You can go to my taxi page and choose "Une seule chance" Thanking you in advance. Paul
http://www.taximusic.com/hosting/home.php?userid=me

[davewalton]

The link you gave doesn't work. It's usually something like http://www.taxi.com followed by your name or user name (however you set it up). Mine for example is http://www.taxi.com/davewalton

[cardell]

I couldn't get to it either...I'll check back on this thread later.

Stuart

[magiceraser]

Hello and thank you!
I am still a computer nerd (in the bad sense)
I just added my link so go to
http://www.taxi.com/paulbelair

The song is "Une seule chance" Translation. "Only one chance"

Thanks again!
Paul

[Len911]

Paul, I thought your piece was well composed, I liked it very much. The movie trailer "style" is generally in your face and heavily compressed and yours wasn't. It seemed very much in style otherwise with the other two examples imo.

[magiceraser]

Thanks for that comment Len. I am still learning regarding mastering and compressing.
Don't quite have the hang of that yet!
Thanks again.
Paul

[davewalton]

Hi Paul,

This can be pretty frustrating especially when we feel that the composition nailed the listing. In this case I think the composition *did* nail the listing. As a matter of fact, the composition itself is really very good and very well done and I think matches well with what the listing asked for. What's happening here is actually a good thing (and very fixable thing) whereby your composing skills have outpaced the sounds that you're using. Does that make sense? Take this composition and run everything through a different set of virtual instruments (the "flagship" products that most of the orchestral composers here use) and I believe that the outcome would be totally different.

One thing that was very important for me was to take whatever I was doing and A/B it against other guys/gals that were also doing orchestral stuff so I could not just hear my own orchestral stuff isolated from everything else but to hear it directly against another persons sounds. It's easy for us to "get used" to our own sounds and have them sound better to us than they actually do to the rest of the discerning world. The most extreme examples are sometimes we hear Walmart Casio type orchestral stuff being posted and the people posting that are convinced that it sounds great! That's because they haven't spent time developing their perspective. Your sounds are far from being in that category, they're not bad by any means but I'm not hearing a sound quality that will get you over the bar consistently and I'm hearing a sound quality that is lagging behind a very excellent composition quality.


So let's just start with what you're using. What are you using for your virtual instruments in this piece?

[playagibson]

I just had a listen and your composition is at par with what they are expecting.
The previous replies were spot on. You need to purchase some sound better sound libraries
and buy some top end mastering software.
The forums are a great place to get the proper advice.
I'm more of a rock guy so the mastering software I use is Slate which is geared towards analogue.
Ozone , Sonnex, Softube and Waves have mastering software that may be better suited to your needs.
The most important thing about mastering is to keep the compression as transparent as possible, while controlling transients and dynamics.
That means spending money on top end eq, compressors and limiters.
Just browse the recording section of the forums and you will get some excellent advice and info.
I post questions when ever I'm in doubt and it always helps.

Rich.

[magiceraser]

Thanks Dave!
Ironically I just invested in a complete new set of virtual instruments and that is another reason why I was so disappointed. I use to use the Halione Symphony orchestra from Steinberg along with my Cubase 5 but as you pointed out realized that those sounds were not quite cutting it for what I wanted to achieve. (Although I still like some of the sounds!)
I just in the last 6 weeks upgraded to Cubase 6.5 and invested in Eastwest/Quantam Leap. The sounds are truly amazing but perhaps since I am always learning I have not used them even close to their full potential along with the proper understanding of balance, compression, reverb, etc.
Not to use an excuse but if I could do this full time (which is my dream) then perhaps I could speed up the learning process. I have to work and support 4 kids and when these opportunities come up it's stressful "cram" time. Which, as you well know, for us artists can be pretty frustrating.
I appreciated everything!!!!
Paul

[magiceraser]

Thanks Rich!
Yeah, I think I am getting the picture here.
I will definitely look into better mastering gear!!!
I think the sounds I have are good and everything I am reading about what I purchased is over the top.
I don't think I'm using them to their full potential.
If anyone else has used EastWest/Quantam Leap....let me know and give me your personal feedback.
Thanks again Rich!