Too heavy? Too much solo?

[JonathanE]

Hey friends! Is this track too heavy for this listing, do you think? And do you think the guitar solo will disqualify it? I wish I had posted here before the listing closed, but I figured I would ask anyway, lots of great advice on here...

I had submitted this song: https://www.taxi.com/members/ocDl4_2KTS ... wpDA-human , to this Dispatch listing, asking for "EDGY SWAGGER ROCK":

""EDGY, SWAGGER ROCK INSTRUMENTAL CUES are needed by a hard-working Music Library that’s always hustling and landing placements for TAXI members in TV Shows, Film projects and Video Game Trailers!

This Library is looking for Instrumental Cues that could fit on a playlist with the following references we got directly from them:

"Numb" by Linkin Park

"Rollin'" by Limp Bizkit

"I Stand Alone" by Gobsmack

"Bring Me Life" by Evanescence

"The Diary of Jane" by Breaking Benjamin

Although the references have Vocals, please submit Instrumental Cues only for this request.

Please send well-produced Rock Instrumental Cues with an overall edgy, swagger-filled vibe and sound that could work well for various types of trailers. Your submissions should have strong motifs, rockin' guitars, and driving rhythms. Instrumentation in the general style of the references will suit your submissions best. We know that the references are a little dated, but imagine that sound and vibe translated into today's Rock production. We recommend crafting your Cues around a central motif and mood to maintain cohesion, and layering instrumentation in and out as they progress to give your pieces strong dynamics and forward momentum. Including edit points and breaks that will allow editors to hit those action beats could be a good idea, as well. Please be sure your production is polished and any virtual instruments or samples you use are top-notch and high-quality.

All submissions should be about 2 to 3 minutes long, give or take. Non-faded, buttoned/stinger endings will work best. Please do NOT copy the referenced examples in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, texture, tone, 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.""


The song "Diary of Jane" was one that I really focused on... I think my track has lots of swagger, but I'm wondering if it's too heavy, and if too much solo... too much for editing for music sups?

Thanks a lot for any advice!
-Jonathan

[Paulie]

I think it sounds great. I'd bring the drums up just a little bit in the breakdown section, and I wouldn't mind hearing some more bass in the mix. Solo is excellent... you might try to incorporate an edit point in the bar right before the solo starts to give an editor the the option to cleanly start there. Maybe a solid slam on the downbeat, silence on beat two, then the drum fill leading into the solo.

I think its solid!

[JonathanE]

I think it sounds great. I'd bring the drums up just a little bit in the breakdown section, and I wouldn't mind hearing some more bass in the mix. Solo is excellent... you might try to incorporate an edit point in the bar right before the solo starts to give an editor the the option to cleanly start there. Maybe a solid slam on the downbeat, silence on beat two, then the drum fill leading into the solo.

I think its solid!

Thanks a lot for your thoughts!! So you don't think it's too heavy compared to the references? I was wondering if it got too "metal", as opposed to the "swagger rock" they are looking for....??

[JonathanE]

I LOVE your signature BTW :-DD

[JonathanE]

you might try to incorporate an edit point in the bar right before the solo starts to give an editor the the option to cleanly start there.

That's something I was wondering about... does "edit point" usually imply a BREAK? Does it usually mean less going on, or imply more a sort of "pivot point"?

[3162Crew]

I think your work is really good within its genre, totally characteristic; I noticed like another comment said that you might want some more bass on your mix (albeit I'm listening on a laptop right now)

As for genre though I'm reading "swagger" as the 4/4, slightly dragging or swung rhythm in something like Diary of Jane. Your fast, insistent 2/4 sounds more like aggression and power than "swagger". Listen to that massive, dragged out snare when Diary of Jane pulls back a little. Just my two cents, I'm no expert.

[funsongs]

I think it sounds great. I'd bring the drums up just a little bit in the breakdown section, and I wouldn't mind hearing some more bass in the mix. Solo is excellent... you might try to incorporate an edit point in the bar right before the solo starts to give an editor the the option to cleanly start there. Maybe a solid slam on the downbeat, silence on beat two, then the drum fill leading into the solo.

I think its solid!

+1 (that TAXIism for "Yeah, what he wrote.")

[JonathanE]

I think your work is really good within its genre, totally characteristic; I noticed like another comment said that you might want some more bass on your mix (albeit I'm listening on a laptop right now)

As for genre though I'm reading "swagger" as the 4/4, slightly dragging or swung rhythm in something like Diary of Jane. Your fast, insistent 2/4 sounds more like aggression and power than "swagger". Listen to that massive, dragged out snare when Diary of Jane pulls back a little. Just my two cents, I'm no expert.

Thank you. That's exactly what I was wondering... I think you are right, that has been my suspicion. I'll assume it will be returned, and pay more attention to that in the future

[JonathanE]

I think it sounds great. I'd bring the drums up just a little bit in the breakdown section, and I wouldn't mind hearing some more bass in the mix. Solo is excellent... you might try to incorporate an edit point in the bar right before the solo starts to give an editor the the option to cleanly start there. Maybe a solid slam on the downbeat, silence on beat two, then the drum fill leading into the solo.

I think its solid!

+1 (that TAXIism for "Yeah, what he wrote.")

Cheers! thanks for your thoughts

[Paulie]

That's something I was wondering about... does "edit point" usually imply a BREAK? Does it usually mean less going on, or imply more a sort of "pivot point"?

Yes. An edit point is an actual section of silence where an editor can end or start a cue. You can see them in wave form view. It can be a single beat, it can be an entire measure, it depends on the genre and tempo and instrumentation. No sustained notes or reverb through it, all noise has to stop naturally (as in not sounding forced or abrupt).