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This is my first attempt at writing outside my comfort zone -- I should probably stick to blues/R&B, but I'm German and stubborn. I hate it when I can't figure something out; thus I am frustrated a lot, but in a good way if you know what I mean.Here's the listing:NEW LISTING -- HIGH TENSION/SUSPENSE INSTRUMENTALS for various Film/TV placements are wanted by a very successful Production Music Library who has placements with ABC, CBS, NBC, WB, Disney, Discovery, Lifetime, Fox, USA and more. These instrumentals can be in a variety of styles, but they must sound current and contemporary. If you take an orchestral approach here, it's suggested that it be blended with current-sounding instruments with "edge" - Electronica or Rock elements could be a good choice. These tracks need to be compelling dynamically, without a lot of motive/melodic repetition. Variation and momentum/build will be key for this one! Be absolutely sure that the instrumentation sounds fantastic - this company really doesn't like "bad MIDI". Broadcast quality is necessary, though excellent home recordings should be fine. Please submit 1-3 Instrumentals online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS - NO CRITIQUES FROM TAXI - and must be received no later than January 14, 2009. This is the latest incarnation, it's still underway but I was hoping to get a bit of feedback early rather than later.http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7234855 Here's my todo list:-Make the volume swell guitars in the front spookier, and probably leave a touch more space-Finish the segue between the front and back <heavy> sections-Finish the prograssion and melody for the back section, re-track crunch gits dead on in the pocket.- Reprise the front section for an end? (has to have a button...)Thx!,eRich

Yeah, high tension (in wires or blood pressure) can be a real killer. Great start/intro. Nice set up.The continued swells from the guitar lose their spookiness pretty quickly.The "dr. who" synth sweeps in the background don't really fit suspense.The rock section at 1:11 isn't really in the suspense vein either.Again your start is very good. Maybe pull up CSI Miami on YouTube and get a few ideas from there?

I like it...some good stuff and ideas that work.I'm not king of suspense though, so my $0.02 is only that:- some of the successful forwards have more stuff going on around the "fringes" of the stereo field...little chatters and surprizes that are panned hard left or right, or bouncing around before quickly dissappearing. Think nasty little creatures in the shadows, heard by not seen.- I like all the sections you have. Intro, guitar swells, and the heavier bit at the end. But each has it's one and only place in the song...can you mix them ALL together, alternating, jumping around, as a bed? Throw some of those crunchy riffs in behind your opening melody? Then find some surprizing sound effects to add that catch people off gaurd.- The use of straight-ahead guitar sounds has successfully been done by billg...a lot of folks default to the orchestra strings to build that tension, I've noticed.I've never had any ideas that worked for this genre, so please take my unsuccessful input as only that! Good luck...I think an entire song based on your ending riff/tone would also work for car chases etc if sped up just a little tiny bit and placed over some massive drums.Good luck with it...good stuff!

eRich,I've never submitted for this genre, so keep that in mind with my comments. To me, your basic motif and instrumentation don't feel suspenseful--more like playful. It might be worth trying devin's idea of bringing all the elements together.Vince

Thanks all for the input. I'm re-factoring this piece one more time (btw: re-factoring is a software engineering term that loosely translated means s**t-can everything and start all over...). I think I can scratch together about 1 to 1.5min of swells and crunches panning and swirling over a couple synth beds that will fit the listing. No strong feelings that I'll get a forward, but it has been a learning experience; 'that which does not kill me' and all. I'll probably post up a rough draft of x3 when it's ready.eR

Well this is what I've come up with on this piece. http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7252663Don't have a great feeling about getting it forwarded, but, I feel real good about it since it's new territory -- that which does not kill me. I like the drum sound. I like the volume swell gits. My synth stuff is pretty pedestrian... I'm off to work on stuff a little bit more in my 'wheelhouse'.eR