Help me out on this one guys!

[ibanez468]

Just lookin' to get as many thoughts as possible on this one. It got returned back in October for the news/current affairs instrumental listing. Was just wondering if any of you think that it sounds too much like something else you may have heard on TV. This was a YES/NO basis only critique. I made it up from scratch, but feel that perhaps I may have subconsciously 'borrowed' some melodies or phrases from other news instrumentals. Let me know what ya' think, and if this may possibly be a fit for a corporate instrumental. Thanx!Pay the Bills Intro/Outrohttp://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_id=6943 ... eibanez468

[jh]

Drum sounds and programming could be better IMO. Try to edit note velocities and timing.I´m not an expert on news instrumentals, so other than that I´m pretty clueless - JH

[vicky]

hi...I'm with JH on the drums....since you have the big fill at the beginning the toms sound stands out....I'd work on the drums, and do a few more moves in the mix (bringing parts up and down at choice momments to create more depth)You are on target for the listing, but I'm new, so ...I could be wrong....What are you doing in your final stages....are you compressing the entire mix....I'd use multi-band compression so the parts with more and less going on sit better....it may be cluttered after 1:00...sounds really good,Vicky

[marcblack30]

I think is a great piece! the melody that comes in around :30 sounds familiar, can't put my finger on it. I personally think the drums sound great for this type of tune, but maybe jh's suggestion would be good. Other than that, i don't know what to suggest.marc

[ibanez468]

Thanks jh, vickytbp, & marc. Guys, I'll definitely work on the drum parts. This one'll sit for a minute until I can get back to it though. Yeah, Vicky I believe the entire mix was compressed, not sure. I can't remember that far back exactly what I did. You're probably right on the 'cluttered' part. Marc, that's what I was looking for. When I was writing this, I kept sayin' the same thing! "Somethin' sounds familiar, but I just can't put my finger on it". And I wrestled, and fought, and re-did melodies and phrases to try and make sure I wasn't copying something else. I did that several times while composing the tune. If this sounds familiar to anybody else out there...lemme' know! ibanez468

[ephlat66]

It is familiar, but I don't think in a plagiarized sort of way. I think if you played with the arrangement and drums a bit as suggested, you'd have a winner.

[marcblack30]

i think this reminds me of the theme song to Quantum Leap!although it is different enough but has some familiar sounds.http://www.evtv1.com/player.aspx?itemnum=2414

[ibanez468]

I've never heard this song before. But yeah, I can see what you're sayin'.ibanez468

[mazz]

Hey ibanez,This has a good vibe to it, I'm not sure it's a news instrumental although maybe it could be used there, not sure.OK, now why did it take you so damn long to get to the guitar stuff at the end!!! Man you're a good guitar player and I'd rather have heard some type of guitar melody instead of the synth early on. Your synth sounds are OK but they'd work better if you used more live guitar over the top of them. You probably have a gazillion different guitar sounds at your disposal and you could have moved among some of them as the piece progressed. I would have started with the ending riff: ba ba da ba da ba POW and then in to the melody on strong guitar. Then maybe after 30 seconds go in to the synthy stuff for contrast and then end with the melody on guitar and the guitar lead riffing in the background in the spaces. Don't wait too long to get in to it. Hit em hard right away. This isn't the same as writing a cut for a CD where you've got time to build. You'll lose them after 5 or 10 seconds if you don't grab them up front.The drum fill at the beginning was very stiff and I'd dispense with that and use the ending riff instead.I'm being hard on you but I know you can take it! Good stuff!!Mazz

[vicky]

hey there...Got my first almost all 6's on a similar listing...the screener despised the drum sounds i had....gots to have the drum sounds!...like your guitar playing alot..Vicky