"Hi Impact Insttrumental Cues..." Does this fit the bill?

[Markzilla]

This is my first instrumental cue and I was just looking for input from the community. I've seen a few listing for high energy, guitar driven instrumental cues and thought I'd try that direction. I am looking at a listing for "High Impact Instrumental Cues" and thinking this might fit the bill.

I call the piece "Not the Golf Channel Highlights," tongue firmly lodged in cheek. After the breakdown, does the buildup become too busy? Is the production okay? I'm new at this. I tried to stay contained so no real soloing or lead, per se as those types of listings discourage that type of thing generally.

Anyway, thanks for any assistance and I'd be happy to return the favour if you have a piece for which you're seeking input.

An edit... it helps to link to the song. D'oh.

https://soundcloud.com/user-484444857/n ... highlights

[markhimley]

You've got some great ideas in here!! I really dig this piece.

I'm assuming you are looking for some constructive feedback though - I have submitted a few cues in this sort of style and from the returns I got I think the screeners may say some of the same things. The transition going into the breakdown (at about 0:50) could be a little bit tighter, and there a few minor performance issues. You did however avoid a big mistake that I made - having too much lead guitar in the upper register - so kudos to you on that!

Again I think this is great start to a cue and I really like it! I don't mean at all to be harsh, just trying to give my .02 on how you can improve an already good idea.

[Markzilla]

You've got some great ideas in here!! I really dig this piece.

I'm assuming you are looking for some constructive feedback though - I have submitted a few cues in this sort of style and from the returns I got I think the screeners may say some of the same things. The transition going into the breakdown (at about 0:50) could be a little bit tighter, and there a few minor performance issues. You did however avoid a big mistake that I made - having too much lead guitar in the upper register - so kudos to you on that!

Again I think this is great start to a cue and I really like it! I don't mean at all to be harsh, just trying to give my .02 on how you can improve an already good idea.

Thanks, Mark! That's extremely encouraging. I was wondering about that section at the :50 mark; it feels abrupt and there's another punch point at the 1:00 mark anyway. I've got to get a handle on this "easy edit/punch point" thing. Does that mean everything stops, or everything falls together on the beat?

I always wonder about minor performance issues; do I edit, re-track or leave it alone? Time for some tweaks! I'm *really* glad you like the piece. One just never knows how one's work will be received! Thanks again and do you have any pieces in particular you'd like another set of ears on? Let me know, my brother!

[Markzilla]

Definitely has that high energetic feeling to it! To me, the breakdown at 0:50 feels just a tick too long. Not too much, perhaps just a matter of milliseconds, but now it doesn't 'keep me in the flow' if that makes any sense?

One thing I'd try to tweak (if I were you) is the mix on the guitar licks (at 0:15 for example); they could use a bit more definition, a tad more punch. Personally, those are always the parts in high energetic rock songs that I imagine screeching out that lick on an electric guitar, and I definitely wouldn't object to a bit more 'screech' at those points in this mix. Disclaimer: totally a matter of personal preference of course, not everyone has a screeching-tendency.

Best of luck with the track!

Paul

Thank you so much, Paul! I'm using an American VG Strat on which I'm using the Roland bridge pickup to model the two baritone guitars. I have to retrack the second baritone guitar, which appears first after the breakdown to correct some minor performance errors. The temptation to spank the plank and play skwee skwaa lead is high, but most of these types of listings seem to discourage the upper register solo territory. Although... on a baritone guitar that stuff is middle register... hmmmm...

[markhimley]

You've got some great ideas in here!! I really dig this piece.

I'm assuming you are looking for some constructive feedback though - I have submitted a few cues in this sort of style and from the returns I got I think the screeners may say some of the same things. The transition going into the breakdown (at about 0:50) could be a little bit tighter, and there a few minor performance issues. You did however avoid a big mistake that I made - having too much lead guitar in the upper register - so kudos to you on that!

Again I think this is great start to a cue and I really like it! I don't mean at all to be harsh, just trying to give my .02 on how you can improve an already good idea.

Thanks, Mark! That's extremely encouraging. I was wondering about that section at the :50 mark; it feels abrupt and there's another punch point at the 1:00 mark anyway. I've got to get a handle on this "easy edit/punch point" thing. Does that mean everything stops, or everything falls together on the beat?

I always wonder about minor performance issues; do I edit, re-track or leave it alone? Time for some tweaks! I'm *really* glad you like the piece. One just never knows how one's work will be received! Thanks again and do you have any pieces in particular you'd like another set of ears on? Let me know, my brother!

I think those both work under the idea of "easy edit points". I think the most important thing is to make it a very obvious and clear edit point. One way I've heard it explained, is that you should be able to tell the edit points by just looking at the waveform. Now of course you're not always going to be able to do that, but if you can keep that in mind it wouldn't hurt. You can leave a quick moment of silence, make an obvious downbeat, use stingers/transition fx - I don't think there is any ONE way to do it, it just depends on the style and what is appropriate for that particular piece of music. The more clear you can make your edit points though, the better. As for performance issues - I think that's really up to you! I am new to making rock cues as well, so I'm still figuring out the process also. IMHO I would probably re-track. I think re-tracking guitar parts would sound more natural then editing them.

Since you asked, if you'd like to take a listen to some music of mine - here is the cue I mentioned earlier that got returned. It was for a somewhat similar listing if I recall, I don't think it was for sports though. Maybe just high energy rock? It's been awhile. Anyways the feedback said my transition needed work, drums sounded too midi, and that there were some minor performance issues. Oh and the lead guitar was a problem obviously as well.

http://www.soundcloud.com/markhimley/ro ... us-1st-mix

[waveheavy]

You got some cool licks!

Me personally, I never liked doing rhythm with the neck or mid guitar pickup with heavy distortion. I always used either the bridge pickup mainly or less distortion, the reason being because the fatter sounding neck pickup looses definition quicker when distortion is added. But for lead, it can sound great, which it does on your piece. But for the rhythm guitar parts, little too much for me personally.

[Markzilla]

Since you asked, if you'd like to take a listen to some music of mine - here is the cue I mentioned earlier that got returned. It was for a somewhat similar listing if I recall, I don't think it was for sports though. Maybe just high energy rock? It's been awhile. Anyways the feedback said my transition needed work, drums sounded too midi, and that there were some minor performance issues. Oh and the lead guitar was a problem obviously as well.

http://www.soundcloud.com/markhimley/ro ... us-1st-mix

I like this piece; it's got punch and it's got lots of energy. I think it could benefit by shortening the intro and bring the drop in dynamic much earlier... maybe the :15 second mark? Either that or maybe add another instrument playing counterpoint to add another focus point and create musical tension. The line you're playing over the bass could work in that capacity if you dropped the phrase an octave. Personally, the chords on their own at the beginning feel like an intro, so I'd favour shortening it then letting the bass carry it, adding and subtracting guitar layers throughout as points of interest and to always keep it fresh. I like the solo over the riff. That's a nice riff, my brother! The choppy walk down at around 1:35 would work great in a conventional song and it *does* work nicely for the buttoned ending, but at two minutes it down shifts the energy level. I really like the bass line and I think perhaps structurally, letting it carry the tune more and adding color would allow the piece to breathe more. The drums are steadier in that section, more driving the groove and when everything jumps back in at around the 1:00 mark, it's very dramatic. A good template to use for this tune as an influence would be "Bullet the Blue Sky" by U2. Making midi drums to feel organic is definitely labour intensive!

I hope this helps... take what you feel helps and leave the rest! Very nice work, Mark. This is a kickin groove!

[Markzilla]

You got some cool licks!

Me personally, I never liked doing rhythm with the neck or mid guitar pickup with heavy distortion. I always used either the bridge pickup mainly or less distortion, the reason being because the fatter sounding neck pickup looses definition quicker when distortion is added. But for lead, it can sound great, which it does on your piece. But for the rhythm guitar parts, little too much for me personally.

Guilty as charged... d'oh. I find it's much better when I roll off at 60 hz... but it still needs tweaking. Getting there!

Thanks Dave!

[markhimley]

Since you asked, if you'd like to take a listen to some music of mine - here is the cue I mentioned earlier that got returned. It was for a somewhat similar listing if I recall, I don't think it was for sports though. Maybe just high energy rock? It's been awhile. Anyways the feedback said my transition needed work, drums sounded too midi, and that there were some minor performance issues. Oh and the lead guitar was a problem obviously as well.

http://www.soundcloud.com/markhimley/ro ... us-1st-mix

I like this piece; it's got punch and it's got lots of energy. I think it could benefit by shortening the intro and bring the drop in dynamic much earlier... maybe the :15 second mark? Either that or maybe add another instrument playing counterpoint to add another focus point and create musical tension. The line you're playing over the bass could work in that capacity if you dropped the phrase an octave. Personally, the chords on their own at the beginning feel like an intro, so I'd favour shortening it then letting the bass carry it, adding and subtracting guitar layers throughout as points of interest and to always keep it fresh. I like the solo over the riff. That's a nice riff, my brother! The choppy walk down at around 1:35 would work great in a conventional song and it *does* work nicely for the buttoned ending, but at two minutes it down shifts the energy level. I really like the bass line and I think perhaps structurally, letting it carry the tune more and adding color would allow the piece to breathe more. The drums are steadier in that section, more driving the groove and when everything jumps back in at around the 1:00 mark, it's very dramatic. A good template to use for this tune as an influence would be "Bullet the Blue Sky" by U2. Making midi drums to feel organic is definitely labour intensive!

I hope this helps... take what you feel helps and leave the rest! Very nice work, Mark. This is a kickin groove!

Thank you for the great feedback!! Listening to the U2 track right now as well, I am digging this!

[Markzilla]

Thank you for the great feedback!! Listening to the U2 track right now as well, I am digging this!

I thought I'd responded to this but maybe not. So you can see how you're catching the vibe of that tune?

Mark Chatham