Feedback on piano-based underscore (S240225UN)

[irthlingz]

What do you think? Does our cue, "Sparkling", work for this listing?

"Sparkling"

PIANO-Based UNDERSCORE INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed by a very successful boutique Music Library that's distributed by Universal and has tons of credits in Big Films, Countless TV Shows, and Commercials!

This company gets some really, really great placements, and lots of them! Please listen to the following examples the Company's CEO gave us to get yourself in the ballpark of what they need:

Instrumental Examples

Quoting the Library's CEO: "We'd like to hear sophisticated, modern, pattern-based piano cues that are intimate, soft, and underscore-friendly. Structure-wise, make sure to both have a consistent composition and give the editors options to use, i.e. a dynamic section, build-up section, and more intense section. The key is to have different sections in terms of intensity, but NOT different in terms of harmony or 'new ideas'. Pianos often have quite a few resonances – so Dynamic EQs, Multiband compressors, different reverbs, etc. are very handy techniques to keep them from sounding muddy."

Please submit well-crafted Piano-Based Instrumental Cues that could add feeling and emotion to whatever is being shown on screen. Instrumentation can include strings, percussion, acoustic guitar, etc., as long as piano is the main focus. Remember, you're not trying to show off what an amazing piano player you are, so much as creating a vibe, feeling, and emotion while leaving plenty of room for dialogue to be the focus.

TIPS FROM THE LIBRARY TO HELP YOU NAIL THIS PITCH: "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 production and textures. What I'm looking for is basically: obvious production music (in form and structure), that sounds like commercial music (production style)." 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!

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.

[AlonMarcus]

I think it sounds special and beautiful. There is a unique sonic concept behind it. It doesn't sound like the reference tracks, but I think its a creative interpretation of the brief and can actually and can actually meet the requirements in the brief.

[irthlingz]

Thank you, Alon!

[Casey H]

I wish everyone would present their tracks for review like this! The listing, the ref track, your track all on one simple page. Maybe you can teach others to do that in exchange for some production/mix tweaks. I'm serious there!

Your track is a pretty one. For this listing, the piano is supposed to stand out as featured and the piano is overpowered by the backing. It feels like you are making the build on pure volume. It's way too uneven. The repeating motif has to build of course, but that has to be with additional instruments, layers, etc. The piano lead is a bit too busy/pop-rock-ish. I think I'm hearing chords like repeating C-D-G (majors) which may not be the best choice here. One or more minor chords would soften it up, better for this type of underscore IMHO. The reference piano is a bit busy but gives off a softer feel.

HTH, JMHO, FWIW
Casey

[irthlingz]

Thank you, Casey and Graham!

Casey, I programmed the page in HTML, which most folks would probably not want/be able to do - plus you then need a website to host it on. But let me think if there's an easier way.

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Michael

[irthlingz]

It feels like you are making the build on pure volume. It's way too uneven.
Casey

This is the "Courage" ref:


So, is the uneven-ness / a lot of volume variation an aspect of the refs not to emulate?

[AlanHall]

In the ref track you posted, the piano starts and then as the cue progresses there are layers coming in that 'fill out' the orchestration and result in a natural volume increase from section to section. We can actually see from the waveform you posted of the 'courage' ref where one instrument is joined by a second and then a third; the waveform shows that step increase in volume as each instrument enters. By the end of the first half, there are three keyboard instruments (or "piano six hands" ) playing. While I do hear some level adjustment in (at least one of) the ref tracks as the cue builds, most of the dynamic change comes from adding layers. Hope that helps.

[Casey H]

Alan explained it well. For yourself (no need to post), take the sections from 00:30 - 00:56, 1:01 - 1:29, and 1:31 - END and put them side by side at equal volume. See how much true layering is there.

For the most part, the only layering (added things to make it more interesting as it progresses) I hear is the synth getting louder in the last of those sections.

Also keep in mind the other feedback-- piano needs to stand out more, a bit to rock-ish in chords/melody, etc.

It is a nice piece and with some TLC might be a forward (or you are getting closer than before) but as you always hear me say-- this is a very high bar listing. However, you might be able to shape it up for a more mid-bar library pitch.

[irthlingz]

Thank you, Alan and Casey. This is helpful!

[irthlingz]

Thank you, Graham. Yes, yes and yes.