Fantasy Trailer Return

[Cale]

Hey Everyone,

I was absolutely confident this one was getting through, but the screener had other plans -

https://soundcloud.com/user-265280615/f ... al_sharing

The critique: It will need to be more adventurous, with brass, building, calm, huge drums, epic, Fantasy like magical, orchestral, Riser, Strings, whimsical, wonder, woodwinds, etc. And these types of trailer music have to have huge and massive endings to match the visual. / I think it needs to be improved as far as the mix. It needs to be thickened up a bit (layering sample libraries will do the trick).

The confusion: I look at all the descriptive words they use in their critique that they apparently weren't hearing in my composition... I don't even know what to do with that or how to improve this track. More adventurous? This was modeled after the 2nd & 3rd references and I think mine sits in their 'general stylistic range.' As far as the mix and 'thickening,' I don't know what else I can add sonically to make it bigger/thicker, there's only so much room until layering becomes redundant and I thought I had reached that saturation point. Any advice on how to make this track 'thicker' would be appreciated. For the orchestral nerds, I'm using a combo of EW Symphonic Orchestra and Hollywood Orchestra.

Thanks in advance for any input, much appreciated!

(Here's the listing if you want to compare to the reference tracks:)

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Potter-Style" FANTASY ORCHESTRAL TRAILER-Style INSTRUMENTALS are needed by a hard-working Music Library that’s always hustling and landing placements for TAXI members in TV Shows, Film projects, and Movie Trailers!

This Library is looking for Instrumentals that could fit in the general stylistic range of the following references we got directly from them:

"Hedwig's Theme" by John Williams

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts Trailer

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Trailer

While one reference is not trailer-style, please submit trailer-style Instrumentals only for this request. The last time this client requested music in this style, the creative fees were up to $20,000 for pieces that got licensed.

Please submit top-notch Orchestral Instrumentals that could help establish a magical and wonder-filled mood and work well in the context of family-friendly fantasy movie trailers. Your submissions should have captivating melodies, sweeping arrangements, high-quality Orchestral instrumentation, and three "acts" that build to a climactic ending. If you plan on using any virtual Orchestral instrumentation, it should be state-of-the-art and indistinguishable from the real thing – nothing that sounds stiff or obviously MIDI-driven will work for this request. Overall, your production should be polished, high-quality, and competitive with the references, as well!

TAXI Tip: Don't be afraid to layer up your instrumentation to create a majestic, blockbuster sound! The bigger the better for these types of Instrumentals.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Though we've used the phrase, "Potter-style," that does NOT mean you should try to emulate or copy the references or any of the music in the Harry Potter films or trailers. What we DO mean is that you could use similar instrumentation, chords, texture and overall vibe, but don't even think about similar melodies or anything else that would infringe a copyright.

[johndalenow]

Hey Everyone,

I was absolutely confident this one was getting through, but the screener had other plans -

https://soundcloud.com/user-265280615/f ... al_sharing

The critique: It will need to be more adventurous, with brass, building, calm, huge drums, epic, Fantasy like magical, orchestral, Riser, Strings, whimsical, wonder, woodwinds, etc. And these types of trailer music have to have huge and massive endings to match the visual. / I think it needs to be improved as far as the mix. It needs to be thickened up a bit (layering sample libraries will do the trick).

The confusion: I look at all the descriptive words they use in their critique that they apparently weren't hearing in my composition... I don't even know what to do with that or how to improve this track. More adventurous? This was modeled after the 2nd & 3rd references and I think mine sits in their 'general stylistic range.' As far as the mix and 'thickening,' I don't know what else I can add sonically to make it bigger/thicker, there's only so much room until layering becomes redundant and I thought I had reached that saturation point. Any advice on how to make this track 'thicker' would be appreciated. For the orchestral nerds, I'm using a combo of EW Symphonic Orchestra and Hollywood Orchestra.

Thanks in advance for any input, much appreciated!

Your musical ideas and their discretionary use is VERY impressive. IMO, going forward, I would ALWAYS keep in mind the overall "form"" requirements of a Trailer. As I have learned the hard way, it's a very high bar that's sometimes easy to slip through the cracks when those creative juices are flowing. Make some decisions, or perhaps even more aptly, some discoveries, (that you do not deviate from) regarding what ALL of your Trailer submissions MUST contain regarding FORM. You can find lots of info on Youtube, I won't begin to try to list them all here, but I will say that the phrase "Cliffhanger" comes to mind as each of the 3 Acts culminate to a climax. Also, your track seems to have not enough "bottom" and "layering" that causes a "building" effect to climax. We all have a "learning curve." Sometimes I wish mine was shorter, but c'est la vie! Best! John

(Here's the listing if you want to compare to the reference tracks:)

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

"Potter-Style" FANTASY ORCHESTRAL TRAILER-Style INSTRUMENTALS are needed by a hard-working Music Library that’s always hustling and landing placements for TAXI members in TV Shows, Film projects, and Movie Trailers!

This Library is looking for Instrumentals that could fit in the general stylistic range of the following references we got directly from them:

"Hedwig's Theme" by John Williams

Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts Trailer

Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Trailer

While one reference is not trailer-style, please submit trailer-style Instrumentals only for this request. The last time this client requested music in this style, the creative fees were up to $20,000 for pieces that got licensed.

Please submit top-notch Orchestral Instrumentals that could help establish a magical and wonder-filled mood and work well in the context of family-friendly fantasy movie trailers. Your submissions should have captivating melodies, sweeping arrangements, high-quality Orchestral instrumentation, and three "acts" that build to a climactic ending. If you plan on using any virtual Orchestral instrumentation, it should be state-of-the-art and indistinguishable from the real thing – nothing that sounds stiff or obviously MIDI-driven will work for this request. Overall, your production should be polished, high-quality, and competitive with the references, as well!

TAXI Tip: Don't be afraid to layer up your instrumentation to create a majestic, blockbuster sound! The bigger the better for these types of Instrumentals.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Though we've used the phrase, "Potter-style," that does NOT mean you should try to emulate or copy the references or any of the music in the Harry Potter films or trailers. What we DO mean is that you could use similar instrumentation, chords, texture and overall vibe, but don't even think about similar melodies or anything else that would infringe a copyright.

[nicotina]

This sounds great to me! I think you're in that John Williams bag, and the sounds are really good. You caught me at a good time because I've been listening to tons of symphonic movie music lately, including John Williams.

I think this doesn't hit as hard as the stuff I've been hearing. Somehow you might have to vary the dynamics more and crank it up at the most dramatic parts. For rock, I would say use compression. For symphonic, I don't think it's that easy. In an orchestra if you want stuff to get louder, you might add more instruments. If you throw in another trombone playing a redundant part, that is not wasted. It's raising the volume (I think 3 DB when you double the source?). Then pull it out again when you want it to get quieter.
Same deal with percussion and strings. Hearing a real orchestra come to a crescendo is mind-blowing live. You want to convey at least some of that in your recording.

I'm not an orchestra expert: just getting into this myself. So don't take my word for it. But I do think lack of dynamic punch is the only problem I hear.

Best,

Vince

[Merryband1]

Hey Everyone,

I was absolutely confident this one was getting through, but the screener had other plans -

https://soundcloud.com/user-265280615/f ... al_sharing

The critique: It will need to be more adventurous, with brass, building, calm, huge drums, epic, Fantasy like magical, orchestral, Riser, Strings, whimsical, wonder, woodwinds, etc. And these types of trailer music have to have huge and massive endings to match the visual. / I think it needs to be improved as far as the mix. It needs to be thickened up a bit (layering sample libraries will do the trick).

The confusion: I look at all the descriptive words they use in their critique that they apparently weren't hearing in my composition... I don't even know what to do with that or how to improve this track. More adventurous? This was modeled after the 2nd & 3rd references and I think mine sits in their 'general stylistic range.' As far as the mix and 'thickening,' I don't know what else I can add sonically to make it bigger/thicker, there's only so much room until layering becomes redundant and I thought I had reached that saturation point. Any advice on how to make this track 'thicker' would be appreciated. For the orchestral nerds, I'm using a combo of EW Symphonic Orchestra and Hollywood Orchestra.

Thanks in advance for any input, much appreciated!

Hi Cade!
I agree with Vince about the dynamics... That's something I struggle with, too: not having everything at close to the same level. I've had several returns that mentioned dynamics as part of the reason. I love your track! Overall, I found it very engaging! It has a lot of heart. I think maybe going back to that initial soft sound may have been part of the reason for the return, though. While it can work in actual film scoring, for a trailer, the libraries seem to want things with a big ending, so they can go out with an explosion of sound. I'm still struggling with that, too!

Best wishes,
Merry And welcome aboard!

[Rolf]

Hi Cale, I like your composition very much. I guess for trailer stuff it's always the same thing (Action, family friendly, slow burner or fantasy) One motif, one mood, only a few chords, 3 - five parts, firing from all tubes at the climax of the third part, a complete artificial layering of brass and low strings. To be honest, I don't like this concept but that's the golden rule so we have to follow. My submission to this listing has been forwarded but I don't think it's better in any way than yours.

[Cale]

Thanks everyone, these are great suggestions and observations. I'm going to take a closer look at the dynamics and layering on this one.

[Paulie]

From the listing:

"While one reference is not trailer-style, please submit trailer-style Instrumentals only for this request. The last time this client requested music in this style, the creative fees were up to $20,000 for pieces that got licensed."

I didn't get trailer at all from your track, to me it sounds like a decent classical instrumental. Gotta have those big emotional and dynamic swings, with a big ending in order to meet the criteria.

Good music though!

[superblonde]

It's not trailer-style form, way too many motif's. Stick to 1 idea and expand it instrumentally so it develops from thin to thick. What you have is an entire symphony compressed into 2 mins (even too many motives for "Instrumental").

The critique: It will need to be more adventurous, with brass, building, calm, huge drums, epic, Fantasy like magical, orchestral, Riser, Strings, whimsical, wonder, woodwinds, etc. And these types of trailer music have to have huge and massive endings to match the visual. / I think it needs to be improved as far as the mix. It needs to be thickened up a bit (layering sample libraries will do the trick).

Wut. Lousy critique I'd say. "Needs to be More adventurous" ?? your track is incredibly adventurous in mood and texture and sectional melodic material, way toooo much adventure, needs to be more boring in fact. You capture fantasy-dreamy-adventurous moods with the instrumentation very well. It is only the form and motivic development which is off base. Your ending is a stinger which is ok in comparison to other accepted/forwarded tracks (it goes "daaa.. ... DUM!").

There were many forwards on this listing so check the forwards blog to review the accepted tracks and it will become clear. The return critique needs to be ignored & thrown in the trash.

actually your track sounds more like a dramedy instrumental cue in the 3rd section or so.. (the pizz part) Cut that out as a separate track..

Perhaps my favorite track of the forwards on this one was, The Wizards Apprentice by Phillip Mount
but yours is slightly similar to Magic is in You by Alexander Dilan Jr
so check those out.

[cosmicdolphin]

It's good but obviously didn't hit the bar.

Main issues for me :

1. It sounds like 5 ideas instead of one cohesive piece. The reference trailers may indeed be cut together from 5 different tracks.

2. The mix isn't up to par..it sounds closed in and lacking depth / height

Have a listen to some tracks from a company that lands lots of trailers https://harmony-music.sourceaudio.com/# ... ?b=7254953

Pull them into your DAW and use something like Magic A/B so you can instantly compare.

Mark

[Cale]

It's good but obviously didn't hit the bar.

Main issues for me :

1. It sounds like 5 ideas instead of one cohesive piece. The reference trailers may indeed be cut together from 5 different tracks.

2. The mix isn't up to par..it sounds closed in and lacking depth / height

Have a listen to some tracks from a company that lands lots of trailers https://harmony-music.sourceaudio.com/# ... ?b=7254953

Pull them into your DAW and use something like Magic A/B so you can instantly compare.

Mark

Mark, when I A/B to other trailers I do hear the difference but at this point I'm still trying to figure out how to get that 'next level' sound. I EQ, high pass, reverb and pan according to a typical orchestral set up. Beyond that I'm still watching tutorials on this music, strings in particular, and what else I can do to achieve more depth/height as you mentioned. Thanks!