Need Feedback On Orchestral Track

[LewLaz]

Hi Everyone,

The track "Taste Of Peru" at https://soundcloud.com/lew-lazarus/taste-of-peru is intended for a listing that calls for:

"ECLECTIC, WORLD MUSIC-INSPIRED ORCHESTRAL TRACKS are needed by a Music Library for placements in Film and TV. They're looking for colorful Orchestral Tracks that have a strong emphasis on percussion to help create an alluring, travel friendly sound. It's all about vibe for this one; so let the percussive elements in your track add the worldly flavor, while delivering an uplifting melodic theme that gives your track a sense of adventure. Avoid dark or brooding sounding Instrumental Tracks for this pitch. Keep your submissions inspiring and hopeful, like the stuff you might hear when Anthony Bourdain or Andrew Zimmern eat their way across the globe. "

There are several things I would like to get feedback from the group about. First, is this too dark for the listing? Also, I know the flute sounds are not as realistic as they could be, but are they passable? Or would it be better to just replace them with guitar? Finally, is there anything I should do to improve the mix?

Thanks for your help!

Lew Lazarus

[andygabrys]

hey Lew,

not sure whether this hits the mark or not for World orchestral cause I haven't been able to figure out what that actually means

It does seem a little dark to me.

i like the flute sound in the middle better that the lower almost clarinet sound on the start and last third or so. If you can, some more personality in the performance would help - use some more articulations and ride the CC's to make it more human.
there are couple of things that you could look at production wise.

There are some loose hits that sound out of the pocket at about 0:51just slightly out - There are other places where things are a little loose. Strings at 1:12 seem way behind the pulse. Sometimes strings don't speak right on the beat even if the midi is quantized, so you might have to move stuff ahead in time a miniscule amount.

And some different ambient treatment of some of the mix elements might help to glue everything together and make it sound like a live ensemble. at the start, the quarter note pulse is carried by a very dry drum that sounds way in front of the wood winds carrying the melody. The shaker is the same though not quite as extreme.

Hope that helps

[VanderBoegh]

Definitely look into the things Andy mentioned. I'll echo all of them, except I don't mind the lower octave on that flute in the beginning section. But I don't think it sounds as appropriate later on. I'd stick to the higher octave where the instrument really sings after the intro section.

The only other thing I'll add is that the auxiliary percussion is pretty loud, especially at the end of the song, and overpowers everything else. Kinda like there's a deranged Peruvian dude with a shaker and finger cymbals and he's standing right next to me banging away in my ear... don't let that little part steal the show!

And like Andy, I'm still wondering at the whole "World Music" genre. I've been denied on all sorts of these things. Let's hope yours gets through!

~~Matt

[nick.moxsom]

Hey, Lew

This 'world music' genre thingy is a strange beast. In the end I think it comes to mean all the things that are outside our 'normal' frame of reference, and who'd know the difference... but for that one person in the audience.

I really like your composition here, but whilst I can see why this might loosely pass for Peruvian to untrained ears, it actually sounds more Yiddish to me. The MIDI pipe sounds more like a clarinet than pan pipes (which is what I'd expect to hear), and your rhythmic emphases sound more Middle-Eastern than South American. The strings actually sound quite Bollywood, especially being over-loud in the mix. (I love Bollywood strings, btw.) As Andy mentioned about articulation, I'd add some sustain, vibrato and expression to those strings – they def shouldn't cut off so short.

Probably save your $5 this time is my guess. I really like it, though, and look forward to hearing more from you.

Sincerely,
Nick

[HectorRContreras]

Hello dear Lazarus,

Welcome to the Forum.

I really like : "Taste Of Peru". I really do. I am actually singing with it. It feels good !
It is ECLECTIC, it is ORCHESTRAL, and it is WORLD Music.
Here, at the Forum, this Genre does not come very often, so we are not familiar with this Genre.
Myself, Catherine, I love to emulate the Spirit of a Country, with my Music. See the Links below in the Signature.

They're looking for colorful Orchestral Tracks that have a strong emphasis on percussion to help create an alluring, travel friendly sound.
And so you did !
I guess that this was the difficulty to have a strong emphasis on the Percussion, in a skillful way. It is probably just a wee bit too loud, the Percussion that is.

It's all about vibe for this one; so let the percussive elements in your track add the worldly flavor, while delivering an uplifting melodic theme that gives your track a sense of adventure.
Well, it works for me, big time.
An UPLIFTING MELODY, yes ! Your Instrumentation and Orchestration is awesome. Love your use of the Strings.

So, what ? Perhaps rest a night over it, and just perfect it even more, as much as you can, ... and the rest is out of our hands !

I really like it. "inspiring and hopeful"

PS: Oh no. I would definitively keep the Flute.

[LewLaz]

Thanks Everyone!!!

Andy, Matt, Nick, Hector and Catherine (hope I didn't miss anyone) I really appreciate all your helpful comments, and will do my best to incorporate your suggestions.

Thanks again,

Lew

[bobporri]

Lew,

I liked the song. I agree with what has been said. I definitely picked up on some slight timing issues? Good track though.

Bob P.

[LittleRedChurch]

I like it, too!

I really like the journey it takes. Very exotic. Warm. Pretty! Like the use of space!

Cool

LRC

[LewLaz]

Bob and LRC,

Thanks for your comments and for taking the time to listen!

Lew Lazarus