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Hi guys, I have uploaded 3 short songs in a zip file to the start page of my web site for you to listen to. "Dance" is a classical guitar piece, "Ramblin" is country line dance song with a fiddle lead and the last one "Lost In Paradise" is one I wrote yesterday for a listing. At least it started out to be for a listing and ended up a cinematic piece no where near what the listing wanted. Well take a listen and tell me what you think. Thanks to each of you who have posted replies to my threads. You can get to my site by clicking the link in my signature at the bottom.

OK. I downloaded them and had a listen.I tend to close my eyes while listening to see what a song conjours up in the form of images.Deep down. These compositions are very good, and there's quite a bit of intricacy going on. The parts go very well together.However.The expression is falling way short. I'm talking about the instrumentation. I know you already know that. I'm sure I read you talking about using only midi, and your resources are limited. I think that this quality of production would probably not get past the Taxi screeners, as the requirement for a lot of instrumental music is broadcast quality. That's because they want to use it as it is.It's a real shame because the actual songs are great.When I listened, I could hear what it could of sounded like if it was produced with top notch equipment and good production.I think that the best bet for you is to get a collaboration with another musician who can produce at a high level.Don't let those songs go bye the bye because they are very good.There are good reasons why a collaborator would be interested. First of all, you have a track record. Secondly you do write some good stuff. Third. 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing.There's no doubting you can compose well. I bet it really frustrates you that you cannot produce them as you want.I'd love to hear these songs bigger, wider, deeper. If you got them to that stage via collaboration, I think that they would pass through screening quite easily.

I agree with Jeffe completely! It would be great to hear these tracks in a "real production". Here's where "high-end gear" could take already good songs to a higher ground. However, I get the impression that you take some pride in creating these songs using computer equipment only? (Not using samples and/or loops). If that is the case, you could maybe look into the possibility to take this approach a step further, i.e. keeping the "midi feel" but using sounds that could make the production more "listening friendly"...Sorry if I sound a bit vague, but that's just because I really don't know how to accomplish it. One thing I would try, is to get a couple of mid, to relatively high priced synthesizers (maybe rent a couple of days), to generate the sounds triggered by the midi-files, instead of using the on-board PC sounds. Then, with some care and thought select patches that makes the songs sound deeper and fuller.Done tastefully, could perhaps make it more unique than using loops and samples.Just a thought

Hi Donny,Your composing, as I mentioned before, is very good. Where your pieces suffer is in the sounds and production values. This comes across most in the orchestral pieces. The sounds you have available to you for orchestral emulations will not pass muster in today's world. You are competing with people who have hundreds and even thousands of dollars invested in their sound libraries.All is not lost however. Your piece "When all is Lost" is the best of the bunch (until the sax comes in ) Even though it is obviously electronic, with a bit of a push further in the electronic direction, it could be a contender.I suggest focusing on the strengths of the sounds you have available to you. You obviously have a number of synth sounds and if you were to substitute a synth lead sound with some modulation on it for the flute part in "When all is Lost", the composition would not suffer and the ear would accept "oh, electronic music, cool" instead of "oh, not so great flute sample, bye". Same with the sax part in that piece.Even though you can obviously compose in various styles, some styles are more conducive to the sound palette you have available than others. I'm sure others (Dave Walton and Zircon come to mind) on the forum will have good examples of electronic artists to suggest for listening examples. Also, TAXI posts links to artists that are mentioned in the listings in the "in the style of" section.I hope this wasn't too harsh and this is my opinion only but it's based on my experiences in TAXI so far.Keep going (I know you will )Mazz

Jeffe It's a real shame because the actual songs are great.When I listened, I could hear what it could of sounded like if it was produced with top notch equipment and good production.Thanks for the input Jeffe, I guess I'm just happy I can put them in any kind of medium. I am a limited self taught guitar player and before I discovered MIDI was unable to put down what I could hear in my head. Now I can be an orchestra. I have recorded 48 albums as a singer and have been exposed to so many good players, be it piano or strings or horns. When I write I become each of them so at least I can put the package together. I don't have the money for the high end equipment yet so I just keep writing.u petersI get the impression that you take some pride in creating these songs using computer equipment only? (Not using samples and/or loops). If that is the case, you could maybe look into the possibility to take this approach a step further, i.e. keeping the "midi feel" but using sounds that could make the production more "listening friendly"...Thanks U, ha ha mister Peters, Yes, I take pride in the music I have written. Not because it was done totally on my computer but because I can't read music. Everything I write is by ear, and for so many years it's been running around in my head with no way out. I am a harmony person and the sound of counterpoint melodies with the color of harmony intermixed is the greatest outlet of my inner emotions I could ever achieve. What I hear are real strings and a real viola and someday if I can hang on long enough maybe my music will be done by real people.MazzYour piece "When all is Lost" is the best of the bunch (until the sax comes in ) Even though it is obviously electronic, with a bit of a push further in the electronic direction, it could be a contender.Hi Mazz, Thanks for taking the time to listen. I have lots more and they are all different from each other. I goofed and was looking at the size of the songs I put in the zip file as my site is free and I only have so much space to use. I grabbed "When All Is Lost" instead of "Dance" which I had posted would be there. When All is Lost was a piece I wrote for some rapper friends I was living with in LA. I wanted to write a rap beat that had a little more substance than most rap beats have. I'm glad you liked it. I have already been approached by someone hear at Taxi that wants to put some of my stuff through his $25,000.00 system. If anyone else wants to try to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, just let me know. I would love to hear what I can't afford. I will leave the Taxi zip on my site for a few days then I will make a new one with "Dance" and a couple of others for all to download and give input on.Thanks again to all who have replied and maybe in a while I'll learn hoe to use this board correctly, bye

Hey Donny. I don't read music either. I've got a couple of guitars and a mean beast of a computer.I would be interested to know what software you are using if you are using a PC or a Mac.If Mr Peters puts a link to one of his songs on here. You should take a listen. I've heard a good deal of his work and I was extremely impressed. The production quality is impeccable.You are always going to get people on here telling you you need this bit of equipment, or you need that bit of equipment. That's unrealistic on your current budget, so it probably seems like a slap in the face.That's why I mentioned collaboration. Find a collaborator that's willing to do a share deal with you on the rights.The way it would work is for you to compose your works. Then go to your collaborator to re-create the song under your supervision, using their equipment and production skills.If you're only going to try it once, it's got to be worth it to find out what the results will sound like. If you don't like it then abandon it. Simple as that.If you do like it. Then there's a budding parntership on the horizon

I certainly did not mean to imply that Donny go out and buy any gear. The point I hoped to make is that the state of the industry now for composers is that, for equal composing ability, the piece with the best sound will probably win out. These clients are too busy to ask for re-writes or re-records. It has to be ready for broadcast, etc. right out of the gate.Here is a direct quote from a newsletter recently sent out by a music library that I have some pieces in: "If your music is orchestral and you are using samples, fool us! Most producers that are buying symphonic music expect it to be , or at least sound real."There it is.Jeffe, your suggestion about collaborating is a good one and I remember Donny mentioning somewhere on the forum that he had found a collaborator already so that's a good thing. Mazz

Hi Mazz, Yes someone is going to do one of my tracks, the problem is selecting 1 out of the 80 I feel are good. I am excited tho, I remember the first time I was driving down the Ventura free way and a song that I wrote and recorded started playing on the radio. I rolled down the window and started yelling thats my song they are playing.

Quote:I am excited tho, I remember the first time I was driving down the Ventura free way and a song that I wrote and recorded started playing on the radio. I rolled down the window and started yelling thats my song they are playing.Man, I can only imagine how that must have felt!! Good luck on the collaboration, looking forward to hearing the results.Mazz

Quote:I certainly did not mean to imply that Donny go out and buy any gear. The point I hoped to make is that the state of the industry now for composers is that, for equal composing ability, the piece with the best sound will probably win out. These clients are too busy to ask for re-writes or re-records. It has to be ready for broadcast, etc. right out of the gate.Here is a direct quote from a newsletter recently sent out by a music library that I have some pieces in: "If your music is orchestral and you are using samples, fool us! Most producers that are buying symphonic music expect it to be , or at least sound real."There it is.Jeffe, your suggestion about collaborating is a good one and I remember Donny mentioning somewhere on the forum that he had found a collaborator already so that's a good thing. MazzI wasn't homing in on anyone particular Mazz. We all try to give the best advice within our scope of knowledge. You gave advice on what you know about. As others would do. I know I would, If I had experience with high end gear. I've been enlightened by a few of your posts myself, though I may not have made comment.I think Donny probably appreciates that having those things would definitely make a difference, but is unable to invest in such luxuries at the current time.My thoughts were on what he could do right now, without that investment.I do think his core compositions are good. I want to be one of the first to hear the result of one of his collaborations.Yes, for the sake of music, and just as importantly, to see what happens when us guys get together on projects.I've got potential collaborations on the horizon myself. I've got no idea what they will produce, and that's most of the excitement. The anticipation of hearing what you come up with together.Did I say that I am completely mad about music?