Time for a change?

[BobGunnerfeldt]

After several years of little success, I am beginning to think it may be time for me to change direction.
My submissions often receive positive comments but consistently fall short of the mark.
I would very much appreciate any suggestions.
Examples of my music can be found at:

https://www.bobgunnerfeldtmusic.com/

Thank you for taking the time to help.

[DBarnett]

My submissions often receive positive comments but consistently fall short of the mark.

Hi Bob,
Your music is not my genre but I think it sounds on point - I'm not good with recognizing virtual instruments though
What are the not so positive comments?
Making sure that your submission is what is being asked for may be the issue, sometimes that's the case for me

[BobGunnerfeldt]

Thanks for the reply.
Most of the positive comments have to do with my composition and arrangements.
Most of the negative comments have to do with not being up to the quality or realism needed.
I use some very high quality virtual instruments. Maybe I need to move away from orchestral.

[cosmicdolphin]

My submissions often receive positive comments but consistently fall short of the mark.
I would very much appreciate any suggestions.

Yeah it's a tough one, they all sound pretty decent from the outset but when I listened all the way through I maybe didn't find them engaging enough.

It's almost as if you've got a bunch of good sounds but after a while don't know what to do with them to develop the track to hold the listeners attention. So although it mostly sounds pretty good they don't really take the listener on a journey but kinda repeat themselves.

Maybe think about how you write and structure your cues ? Try making the bones of the next cue entirely on a piano first with just chords and melody, split it into 3 acts and make each one build using just one instrument. Only flesh it out once you have a cue that works without all the bells and whistles.

Mark

[funsongs]

From The Peanut Gallery, just wondering: what % of your submits are solely your productions, and what % are collaborative efforts?
That includes working exclusively with current TAXI members AND working with ones who are not members.

[BobGunnerfeldt]

My submissions often receive positive comments but consistently fall short of the mark.
I would very much appreciate any suggestions.

Yeah it's a tough one, they all sound pretty decent from the outset but when I listened all the way through I maybe didn't find them engaging enough.

It's almost as if you've got a bunch of good sounds but after a while don't know what to do with them to develop the track to hold the listeners attention. So although it mostly sounds pretty good they don't really take the listener on a journey but kinda repeat themselves.

Maybe think about how you write and structure your cues ? Try making the bones of the next cue entirely on a piano first with just chords and melody, split it into 3 acts and make each one build using just one instrument. Only flesh it out once you have a cue that works without all the bells and whistles.

Mark

My submissions often receive positive comments but consistently fall short of the mark.
I would very much appreciate any suggestions.

Yeah it's a tough one, they all sound pretty decent from the outset but when I listened all the way through I maybe didn't find them engaging enough.

It's almost as if you've got a bunch of good sounds but after a while don't know what to do with them to develop the track to hold the listeners attention. So although it mostly sounds pretty good they don't really take the listener on a journey but kinda repeat themselves.

Maybe think about how you write and structure your cues ? Try making the bones of the next cue entirely on a piano first with just chords and melody, split it into 3 acts and make each one build using just one instrument. Only flesh it out once you have a cue that works without all the bells and whistles.

Mark

Thank you, Mark, for the advice. I'll try that.

[BobGunnerfeldt]

From The Peanut Gallery, just wondering: what % of your submits are solely your productions, and what % are collaborative efforts?
That includes working exclusively with current TAXI members AND working with ones who are not members.

They are all just me.

[gitanosoy]

"I use some very high quality virtual instruments. Maybe I need to move away from orchestral."

Hi Bob,
I am assuming that orchestral music is your genre, like you said Bob maybe try another genre and take a break as the submissions numbers in certain genres are pretty high.

1.Although I like and listen to HIP-HOP from time to time I am not an expert at it in writing a track but I do and submit to get my ass kicked by others who specialize in this and after a while I have to accept that I am not getting a forward for several usual reasons so either I leave it alone or up my game plan. Plus it forces me to take a little break from always writing guitar based compositions in various genres which is my main instrument.

2.I have write orchestral music and my first musical training was classical music and I find composing classical pieces the easiest but when came to write my first orchestral Hybrid track for a movie trailer a la Hans Zimmer I realized I needed to approach it differently than just writing a classical piece.

And like MARK said "Maybe think about how you write and structure your cues "

I guess (by pints (1 & 2)what I am trying to share from what I have learnt/ experienced so far from all this since joining TAXI are how you compose music for yourself is different from how you write for TV/FILM

Hope this helps a little or you already know this....and yes "change" is refreshing

[JohnDroese]

Hi Bob, some nice work thereI only listened to a few cues but a couple things jumped out at me first your reverb is very unappealing doesn't sound like a real space which leads to my second observation it doesn't feel like all your instruments are in the same room if that makes sense..... Do you use compression on the master bus? as far as structure goes here is a good exercise ask yourself why? why would I listen to this track if I feel exactly the same after I hear it? How can this track not just engage me but take me somewhere so when its over I feel different?
Your VI's are on point sans the reverb which I personally don't like..... so its not that. Your playing is up to par so its not that... Its the composition structure.....use the most current aggressive high profile tracks you can find as reference tracks.... Find one that is in a current tv show say a tension cue....load it into your DAW now make an exact copy of that track as close as you can using the sounds and tools you have.... note for note....sound for sound.... This will give you a new understanding of what it takes..... Once you are done .... open a new session and load that same song int your DAW and make an original track using that as a reference.... don't copy it just follow the structure to a T is there a build? a tempo change? when are new elements introduced? are they using any transitions? How does it end? That's just my two cents

Best of luck
John

[BobGunnerfeldt]

"I use some very high quality virtual instruments. Maybe I need to move away from orchestral."

Hi Bob,
I am assuming that orchestral music is your genre, like you said Bob maybe try another genre and take a break as the submissions numbers in certain genres are pretty high.

1.Although I like and listen to HIP-HOP from time to time I am not an expert at it in writing a track but I do and submit to get my ass kicked by others who specialize in this and after a while I have to accept that I am not getting a forward for several usual reasons so either I leave it alone or up my game plan. Plus it forces me to take a little break from always writing guitar based compositions in various genres which is my main instrument.

2.I have write orchestral music and my first musical training was classical music and I find composing classical pieces the easiest but when came to write my first orchestral Hybrid track for a movie trailer a la Hans Zimmer I realized I needed to approach it differently than just writing a classical piece.

And like MARK said "Maybe think about how you write and structure your cues "

I guess (by pints (1 & 2)what I am trying to share from what I have learnt/ experienced so far from all this since joining TAXI are how you compose music for yourself is different from how you write for TV/FILM

Hope this helps a little or you already know this....and yes "change" is refreshing

Thank you for the helpful feedback.