Tension cue

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Zaychi
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Tension cue

Post by Zaychi » Mon Aug 09, 2021 1:26 pm

Still early days on this one... mix needs to improve a lot, I'm aware. But I'm wondering right now about the arrangement... do you guys think this is too busy for the listing below, especially towards the end? References indicate that it should be used under one of those "envelope-opening" sessions in a competition reality show where one of the candidates must go.

https://soundcloud.com/zaychi/shootout/s-cBluCMl4Xhr

PS - Soundcloud's automatic tag generator says this is "Electronic Trip Hop", no idea where THAT came from!



ORCHESTRAL-Based TENSION INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed by a very successful Music Licensing Company that lands placements on hundreds of shows on Major Networks every year!

This Company is on the hunt for Instrumental Cues in the general stylistic ballpark of the following references:

Survivor (from 2:40 to 3:05)

"Reality Show Music Tension" by Bobby Cole

Survivor (from 6:20 to 6:56)

Please send top-notch Tension Instrumental Cues with high-quality Orchestral-based instrumentation. Some sound design or hybrid elements are okay to include in your pieces, but don't overdo it! Craft your Cues around a singular motif, and layer instrumentation in and out as they progress to create a sense of forward momentum and dynamics. Please be sure that your production and any virtual instruments you use are polished and modern. If your pieces would work well in the context of nail-biting, suspenseful scenes in competition reality TV shows, send them in!

NOTE: The placements generated from this Company will likely have good royalty payouts on the backend since they would be on Major Network Shows! Sounds great to us!

Your submissions should be about 90 seconds to 2 minutes long, give or take. Non-faded, buttoned/stinger endings will work best. Do NOT copy the referenced material in any way, shape, or form. Use it only as a general guide for tempo, tone, and overall vibe. Broadcast Quality is needed.

This Company offers an EXCLUSIVE deal, so the material you submit for this request CANNOT be signed with other publishers or catalogs. Sync fees will be split 50/50. The Publisher will get 100% of the Publisher’s share, and you’ll keep 100% of the Writer’s share. You must own or control your Master and Copyright to pitch for this opportunity. Please submit as many Instrumentals as you’d like, online or per CD. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI. Submissions must be received no later than 11:59 PM (PDT) on Wednesday, August 18th, 2021. TAXI # S210818BG

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Re: Tension cue

Post by hummingbird » Mon Aug 09, 2021 5:51 pm

Hi... I'm going to leap in here and say the first issue with this composition is the drums, they do not have the epic quality of say, the 'Reality Show Music Tension' sample. Perhaps because of that the pace of your track feels too slow, and the stops & starts seem to slow it more. Since the listing is looking for 'forward momentum' I'd take a good look at your percussion and your bass lines, and then make sure the rest of the track is growing in intensity along the way.

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Re: Tension cue

Post by AlanHall » Mon Aug 09, 2021 7:15 pm

Nice work! My comments:
There's a main 'rhythmic driving' instrument that I can't place. String bass? tymps? Whatever it is, I feel if it were more aggressive - a brighter attack, more well-defined envelope or timbre, maybe - it would provide the forward momentum the track needs. If that sound is the main motivator, bring it OUT. And as Vikki says, put some powerful drums with it as it builds. Keep the tension level up by building the rhythmic intensity.

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Re: Tension cue

Post by irthlingz » Mon Aug 09, 2021 11:02 pm

To answer your question, Jur, to me it does not feel too busy at least up until around 1:35. Maybe the stop-and-start nature of it makes it feel more spare, therefore not too busy. I think it compares well with the refs in terms of how busy it feels up till that point. After 1:35, though, I think it does feel a bit busy, compared to the refs. However, I don't think you necessarily have to actually remove anything. I think maybe by bringing the higher pitched elements down below the bass-y elements, you could restore the more epic, less busy feel, because the slower-paced elements would predominate more.

JM2C

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Zaychi
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Re: Tension cue

Post by Zaychi » Tue Aug 10, 2021 9:22 am

The "bass driver" is a spiccato double bass. I'll look into making it more pronounced, and am aware the drum sound needs more mass.

Yeah I figured it might be too busy when the modulations start but you're right, maybe just bringing some stuff down is enough, I'll certainly experiment with that!

Thanks guys!

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Re: Tension cue

Post by Zaychi » Sat Aug 14, 2021 5:48 am

New version is up:

https://soundcloud.com/zaychi/shootout-1/s-YiJVYQJgcka

What do you guys think?

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Re: Tension cue

Post by AlanHall » Sun Aug 15, 2021 11:58 am

My memory's fading on the first version, but I agree that the emphasis you've given to the spiccato bass and the percussion are progress. What I hear:
I expected the percussion to build to the end, but it does not.
The motivic energy of the bass line would be better served if you "doubled" that line with percussion (in spots/layers, or as the piece develops). Having percussion instruments that follow the exact rhythm of the bass to clearly define for the listener what's going on will help maintain the tension.
Sounds a bit muddy when the horns etc. come in (I was just dinged on a recent submission for muddy LF, so I'm a bit sensitive to it right now :oops: ) so along the same lines as above, some percussive hits would keep the energetic "driving force" audible. JM2C

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Re: Tension cue

Post by Zaychi » Mon Aug 16, 2021 9:58 am

Hey Alan,

thanks for commenting!

I played around with your suggestions, but couldn't get them to work, especially doubling the base with perc which sounds really artifical. I DID cut some low end off various instruments to avoid the "mud" though. I'm afraid to get too busy towards the end and the perc is already pretty much, so didn't want to add more, and subtracting earlier on left it wanting.

Still thanks for the listen!

Jur.

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Re: Tension cue

Post by AlanHall » Mon Aug 16, 2021 5:55 pm

Everyone has their own aesthetic, my ideas are not superior in any measure to anyone else's :P
Zaychi wrote:
Mon Aug 16, 2021 9:58 am
Still thanks for the listen!

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Re: Tension cue

Post by swdaze » Tue Aug 17, 2021 3:45 pm

Hey Z.

I like the overall piece but think its too busy. Tension cues normally have a little more space in them for swells etc. I like the bass bowing (?) I believe it is but too much of it. I would start there.

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Good luck!!

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