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Faded Endings
Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:29 pm
by thesongriders
Hey everybody,
I've seen lots of listings (mainly Film & TV) that either recommend or need faded endings. To me this doesn't seem like the biggest deal in the world. All my songs right now have button endings, but if I was ever asked it would be very easy to do a professional sounding faded ending. So will songs be rejected for these listings because they don't have faded endings? Or would they accept the song and ask you to do one up if needed? I'd rather not keep two copies of each song on the site, but if needed I can go back and upload second copies as needed.
Thanks,
Re: Faded Endings
Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:06 pm
by davewalton
thesongriders wrote:Hey everybody,
I've seen lots of listings (mainly Film & TV) that either recommend or need faded endings. To me this doesn't seem like the biggest deal in the world. All my songs right now have button endings, but if I was ever asked it would be very easy to do a professional sounding faded ending. So will songs be rejected for these listings because they don't have faded endings? Or would they accept the song and ask you to do one up if needed? I'd rather not keep two copies of each song on the site, but if needed I can go back and upload second copies as needed.
Thanks,
I'd say *especially* because they asked for faded endings (which is a bit unusual) that your ending should definitely fade. If you're selling cars and the customer specifically says "red"... show 'em red.

Re: Faded Endings
Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 11:10 pm
by wickedsmaht
To me, it seems the fade-out suggestions are mostly for advertising listings. Unless I'm misunderstanding what Michael Laskow and Peter Greco have said, this ties in to the fact that Ad agencies want the cachet of using a hip indie band, and button endings shout "music library piece!"
Therefore, if your submission has a faded ending, the agency is more likely to think they're hearing a hip, loose indie band rather than some boring, buttoned-down professional composer.
In other words, I think in many cases it's not the end user who is specifically requesting fade-outs, but that Taxi is suggesting that we use them to boost our chances -- just like when they suggest giving a piece a cool title rather than something like "quirky instrumental #37."
Re: Faded Endings
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 12:07 pm
by thesongriders
Thanks all!
Re: Faded Endings
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 12:38 pm
by c4ward
I, too, was wondering about this. I actually did my first submission today and it asked for a faded ending. I'm sure I'll learn much more as I go- and think I made a big mistake not including the fade. The song I submitted seemed good for the listing but was recorded 10 years ago in the digital dinosaur age. Like I said, it's my first submission since joining Taxi last week- so I'll learn as I go. I'm going to have to go back and rerecord quite a few of my older songs to bring them to 2011.
Coleen
Re: Faded Endings
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 12:43 pm
by Ellwood
Not to worry! IF it's the right song for the listing, the ending won't stop it one way or the other with the customer!
Re: Faded Endings
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:10 pm
by c4ward
Thanks Ellwood

Re: Faded Endings
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:22 pm
by davewalton
Ellwood wrote:Not to worry! IF it's the right song for the listing, the ending won't stop it one way or the other with the customer!
That's not exactly true. If they're wanting/needing a track with a faded ending then a track with a button ending *isn't* the right song by definition. Especially since they'll be getting *lots* of really good tracks that do have faded endings. It's all about giving ourselves the BEST chance. Sending a button-ending song for a listing that specifically says "faded endings" is not giving ourselves the best chance.
If you want the *best* chance... send 'em the music they're asking for.
Re: Faded Endings
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:31 pm
by Casey H
For the overwhelming majority of film/TV uses, button endings are strongly preferred (some libraries won't even take tracks with fades).
Recently, ad agencies have been telling Taxi they prefer fades because they don't want the tracks to sound like typical production library music. At least that's what I've read here.
When you create a track, it's always best to do a button and create a fade out version afterwards if needed. As many have said, if the listing says fade outs preferred, it's best to give them just that. (I did forget to do that one one ad agency submission and got the forward anyway. But it was not the best way to go-- the forward is just hurdle #1!).
I hear ya that it can be annoying to have one song take up two slots on your taxi music page-- one button and one fade out. Some juggling may be required.

Casey
Re: Faded Endings
Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:34 pm
by mbywlb
I submitted too...without the fade. This was my 2nd submission, but both were done yesterday. Curious to see if we'll get through without it, or... live and learn. Good luck! ;0)
Melissa