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Just finished two tracks for this listing:A range of great, authentic-sounding HEAVY METAL INSTRUMENTALS [no vocals] are needed by a U.K.-based Music Library/Publishing Co. for TV placement. This company ran numerous TAXI listings in 2006 (and signed many TAXI songs) and are now in need of more great material as their service has become very much in demand. Style-wise, think along the lines of Iron Maiden, Tool, Mastodon, Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall, Diecast, Korn, etc. They don't want tracks that sound like they were obviously MIDI generated - authenticity and great performances are the keys. Both instrumentals with lead melody lines and basic backing tracks that serve as "soundbeds" are OK - they want both. All tempos are OK. Track length should be in the 1:00 - 3:00 range. At this point they work mostly with prominent U.K. TV channels such as the BBC and ITV, but also supply music to other production companies that broadcast worldwide. They offer non-exclusive, 50/50 deals. Broadcast quality needed [great sounding home recordings are OK]. Please submit one to three songs online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS ONLY - NO CRITIQUES FROM TAXI. For ground submissions, please enclose a S.A.S.E. if you would like a response. As always, we will notify everyone via e-mail, whether your submissions have been Forwarded or Returned. Submissions must be received no later than 4:00 PM, Pacific Standard Time (California time), Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2007. TAXI # D071024HMJust curious to see if you guys think they're on target, are the right quality, etc. Here are the tracks"Decline"http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... ream=1"Run For Your Life"http://www.taximusic.com/song.php?song_ ... am=1Thanks in advance!Dan

Hey Dan,"Run for your Life" sounds more like classic rock than heavy metal to my head-banging ears. "Decline" seems more on target. I would try humanizing the drum rolls a bit, the listing specifically asks for it not to sound MIDI generated and those drum rolls are too stiff. HTHAntonio

Thanks for the tips, but for "Run For Your Life", think Iron Maiden. I actually patterned it after "Run to the Hills", so hopefully they'll recognize that since they were one of the "a-las".Thanks again!Dan

True, I was thinking of the more modern examples and I forgot Iron Maiden was one of the "a la's", sorry about that. Great tracks, though. If you just make those drums sound a bit more realistic I think you have a good chance.

Thanks man. Which song specifically did you think the rolls needed to be more realistic on? Or was it both?

It was the rolls in "Decline", at :20 and again at :58 to the end, the tom rolls seem stiff, IMHO.

Cool I'll check it out. I was (hopefully obviously) going for the style of Tool on this one, specifically the drumming style of Danny Carey which is super precise and controlled, but they might need a little bit of work. Thanks again!

You can be precise without sounding machine generated; even the most precise of drummers could never hit all notes on the exact time with the exact same velocity. If you add a few random changes in the velocity on those rolls, it could sound a lot more natural. Remember the listing specifically asks for music that doesn't sound obviously MIDI generated, so while you may have a stylistic preference for being that precise, the listing is asking you not to be.

Oh, I know, I've also found that an extremely slight change in pitch between each hit can help, too. There's no midi or midi generated sounds at all in either song though....

heya,just listening to "decline", here's my spontaneous feedback:* drums are obviously midi-generated, especially the kick (double bass!) sounds unnatural* guitars ok, I think the sound could be more heavy (NOT more distorted, just other frequencies/amps I think... hard to describe. I put one of my tracks at the end to show you what I mean. btw this is more a question of taste - your sound isn't bad, it's just not that much aggressive it could be for this style).* besides that I think it's not a bad match for a library listing.here's my little track:http://www.martytone.com/songbase/strea ... ers,martin