Return : Not sure what to do?

[JoaoMoreira]

Hi everyone, I got the following return....

"Feedback for "Guardians In The Sky"
S241128CZ

What I like most about this song
More nice writing ideas here. This is the type of structure we should be seeing in all trailer submissions.

I think you could improve this song by
Another vital aspect of trailer structure is dramatic growth within the sections. The second and third act should be showing big builds to huge climaxes.

I returned or forwarded this song because
Rather than having your acts at one basic level of rhythmic intensity and dynamics, these should be growing as the act progresses. Growing a lot. If you think you're overdoing it you're probably about in the right place.

No boxes were ticked...."

Guardians In The Sky

So, I am really confused by the amount of returns I get.... and I get why most of the times. But this one just felt close to what it was asked from the listing.
I need to make it grow more, or at least have more contrast between acts.

However the explanation is a bit short, and does not really explains what or how I can achieve that. I know screeners are not supposed to do that.
I do have (rhythmic, dynamics, intensity) increase throughtout the track.
Can please someone who does trailer music guide me....or give me any feedback in order to improve the track?

Cheers,
João David Moreira

[gitanosoy]

Nice track!! Right away I would say the percussion hits are a bit too loud.

[AlanHall]

just looking at the waveform, I can see that Andre is spot on about the percussion. Act 1 needs to peak much lower than acts 2 and three. As I'm listening to it now, I could imagine the percussion in act 1 as a foreshadowing of what's to come - maybe low, muffled, and sounding as if from over the horizon. That gives you room to build as you progress. Act 2 also 'looks' a bit too loud in relation to act 3. I think starting smaller will give you the natural build that the screener wants. JM2C

[JoaoMoreira]

Hmmm. I think I get it.
I did a new version

Guardians In The Sky v2

Would love if you taook a listen.

Cheers

[macomposer]

So I just listened to version 2.

It's a good track - love the main motif. And in terms of the growth aspect, I think you're almost there. Certainly, the contrast is good! You can definitely hear that between acts 1 and 3. Between 2 and 3 is there it's a bit hairy... For me, there isn't enough of a growth contrast between the two... And I point that out because it's the same issue that I have had with my cinematic trailer pieces. So far, I have found that it's the hardest thing to get right. In terms of how to fix it... I think it's just down to trial and error. I mean, you can try the thing about muting parts to make it smaller, but that doesn't always work. And going the other way with layering is something that I hear a lot (particularly adding the choir in the 3rd act - which I think you've already done), so it's a big conundrum. Listening to some more of Ivan Torrent, Thomas Bergersen, Really Slow Motion, etc. might help...

Also, keep in mind that the screeners will oftentimes point out the MOST OBVIOUS issue that they are hearing.. It doesn't mean that it's the only issue. You can think - oh, if I fix that one thing they mentioned, then I'm golden. I've thought this, submitted for the next listing and then they point out something else that I thought was fine.

My point is, here, the mix sounds needs just a tad bit more work... The strings could maybe use a little cut around 2k.. and maybe just a small overall cut around 300Hz... something really minor like 2 db or something...

Or, I could totally not be hearing well today.

I wish you the best with it.
Mark

[JoaoMoreira]

Hi there!

Thanks for reaching out. I totally agree with you.
However this issue with screeners mentioning mastering and mixing kinda creeps me out, since when working with labels (in my past) they always ask for a non mastered version with stems so they can mix and master. Maybe it was not the case for this particular Music Library.
I'm still beginning how to properly mix and master a track so thanks for pointing that out!
Also, wouldn't a music library ask for these kind of changes? Meaning... Wouldn't specific issues like that be asked by the Music Library? Otherwise it's just a game of send and return untill I get it right. And getting it right involves receving a more detailed feedback or else I'll be blindly changing things. Obviously I'm kinda sad for ithe track to have been returned, but hey, rather get it right before Music libraries think I'm that bad ... Since I'm starting out.

I know Taxi does not send tracks that are almost there, but I didn't think mastering played such a role, or maybe I'm understading this in the wrong way?

Mentioning 300hz, I do have a bell filter attenuating those fequencies, I guess I have to push it a little further. For some reason my Taikos vst has a lot of rumble in that area (between 100hz and 300hz).

So I have listened to some trailer music, on some well known Music Libraries and it's kinda bit hairy too. Some don't even have that musch difference between act 2 and 3 also....maybe this just feels like rambling but I genuinely want to understand on how to get better at this.

Thanks for your patiance,
Cheers

[JoaoMoreira]

Ok, So I went to see the forwards blog for this listing, and I realize most of them don't have a lot of percussion (in act II) as I have in my track. So I definetily gotta chnage mine in that regard.
Maybe having the French horns (again II act) playing the main motif might be a bit too much? Perhaps a different instrument might help here. Or maybe just not play the main motif at all.

what do you think?

Cheers

[JoaoMoreira]

Ok, new Version....

Guardians In The Sky v3

Any feedback is welcome,

Cheers.

[MCPTigerBeats]

I really liked version 3 - i think it's the best version by far right now. The melody is really catchy.
The main thing you could do a bit better in my oppinion is the overall development arc. In trailer music it's important to have a constant development, every act has to feel bigger than the act before. A simple riser would work a lot here!
And i'd suggest to layer some sample libraries. The violin in act 2 sounds a bit alone if you know what i mean. Try to make it sound huge.

Otherwise really solid work here.

[JoaoMoreira]

Yeah, I guess so.... I'll do some violins doubling, and put some more SFX's


Thanks, cheers