Is This Simple Enough?

[bmoBauhaus]

2 questions:

Ok, so the brief says keep it simple but I am wondering if I fell into the traps that they mention in the brief (i.e., adding new harmonic lines and elements, melodies, even improvisations, etc.). Did I keep to the central motif or not?

Also, is this long enough? its just shy of 2 minutes.

The track:
https://www.taxi.com/members/N5SOUeh_Qe ... till-at-it


The brief: TAXI # S231001HR
QUIRKY, LIGHTLY HUMOROUS DRAMEDY INSTRUMENTALS are needed by a very successful boutique Music Library that's distributed by Universal for placements in Promotions, Advertising, and other TV Programming.

This is a catalog you want to be in! Please listen to the following references to get yourself in the general wheelhouse of what they need:

"Hidden Agenda" by Kevin McLeod

"You Don't Know What You're Talking About" by Steve Barden

"Scheming Weasel" by Kevin McLeod

IMPORTANT NOTE FROM THE LIBRARY: "Many composers throw in way too many ideas and are not focused on ONE CENTRAL MOTIF: they try to keep things interesting by adding new harmonic lines and elements (melodies, even improvisations, etc.), instead of focusing on the productions and textures." Put simply, keep it SIMPLE! We know that other Libraries like to receive music with complementary A and B sections, but this Library is NOT one of them – stick with ONE CENTRAL MOTIF per submission please!

Please submit well-crafted Instrumentals that have a quirky and slightly humorous sound and feel, that could work for a variety of sync placements! Fun and engaging motifs, and simple yet solid arrangements with one central motif are needed for this pitch. Instrumentation that's in the general ballpark of the references will work best (think pizzicato strings, piano, bass, percussion, etc.). Please make sure that your productions are polished. Live instrumentation is highly recommended, but if you choose to use virtual instruments or samples, please make sure they are high quality and not dated-sounding.

All submissions should be about 2 minutes long, give or take. Good edit points and non-faded, buttoned/stinger endings are required. Do NOT copy the references in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, tone, texture, and overall vibe. Do NOT submit any material with unauthorized samples of any other artists’ music, sounds, or any other form of media. Broadcast Quality is needed.
TAXI # S231001HR

[irthlingz]

On the length question, a common rule of thumb seems to be that "give or take" = within 10 seconds. (post604749.html) You're within 6 seconds, so probably okay? However, I've also heard that it's better to give too much than too little. So maybe tack another measure on at the end?

===
Michael

[Telefunkin]

I think that would make a good submission. If it was mine I'd want to tuck in that prominent tuba at 1:28 (which you can see poking up on the track display) and may some of the perc too, then lift the overall track level. Good luck with it .

[Casey H]

Nice! My only comment is the overall level of the track is low. Best of luck!

Casey

[bmoBauhaus]

On the length question, a common rule of thumb seems to be that "give or take" = within 10 seconds. (post604749.html) You're within 6 seconds, so probably okay? However, I've also heard that it's better to give too much than too little. So maybe tack another measure on at the end?

===
Michael

Irthlingz, haha. Your discord post inspired me to submit to this listing! We're going around in circles

[bmoBauhaus]

Nice! My only comment is the overall level of the track is low. Best of luck!

Casey

Thanks all, I updated an added a maximizer. Any better?

https://www.taxi.com/members/N5SOUeh_Qe ... ol-hijinks

[funsongs]

To these ears, the composition & production sound good.
If there's any concern about a single item 'popping out too much', you might try listening to a mono mix at low volume...
that's often the easiest way to discover the culprit.

I didn't listen to the reference tracks to hear what their common tempo is (yours is pretty slow); but if yours is like those,
then that's good.
Good luck; fun track.

[irthlingz]

Irthlingz, haha. Your discord post inspired me to submit to this listing! We're going around in circles

Well, based on the other comments here, it looks like we inspired a winner, so glad to hear that!

[irthlingz]

Nice! My only comment is the overall level of the track is low. Best of luck!

Casey

Thanks all, I updated an added a maximizer. Any better?

https://www.taxi.com/members/N5SOUeh_Qe ... ol-hijinks

Much better. Does your maximizer tell you the LUFS? Good to get it up to at least -14 LUFS. (According to my measurements, the previous one was -27.4 LUFS and this one is -18.2 LUFS, so could still use a little more.)
== Michael