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deep breath.... okay, here is an instrumental pieces I've been working on. The aim is to get to film/tv broadcast quality level.#1 - Down in the Pitsambient / electronica / drama instrumental / trailerhttp://www.vikkiflawith.com/song/1I'd appreciate your honest feedback on a) the composition itself, and b) how I can improve the mixing/productionthanks in advance for your time,cheersHummin'bird

I dont see this as" restless and troubled", Probably the note intervals are too short for the desired effect. It is Hmmmm......... cartoon in its style but not as dramatic or as menacing as say "the sorcerors apprentice".j

Quote: deep breath.... okay, here is an instrumental pieces I've been working on. The aim is to get to film/tv broadcast quality level.#1 - Down in the Pitsambient / electronica / drama instrumental / trailerhttp://www.vikkiflawith.com/song/1I'd appreciate your honest feedback on a) the composition itself, and b) how I can improve the mixing/productionthanks in advance for your time,cheersHummin'bird Vicki - sorry for the delayed response, and thanks for the PM.Overall sound quality - very nice. Everything is clear, good depth.Mix - The synth on the right seems in a whole different world - somewhat out of place. Maybe backed down a bit and a touch more reverb to get it in the same space as the rest of the track. The percussion is too panned for my taste. I would separate some of those elements and distribute some right, some left to get more balance - also, think about some more variety in the percussion. The same pattern gets a little old by the end. Dark tracks like this often have accents with tympani, bass drum, tams, that kind of thing. Also, it's really hard to make those kind of horn sounds dark, especially staccato. The pizzicato strings are working, but the trumpet and lower horns kind of give an umpah umpah tuba feel. Might try Contra Bass and Cello's for the lower parts, and either an airy, eerie synth pad or legato Violins with some dynamic swells, maybe even some trilling.I think the composition has some potential. Listen to other "dark" tracks and see what kind of instrumentation is most common. Marimba, vibes, lithophones are used a lot too and might have a place here.Hope that helps,Auub

Hi Vikki,Overall in your mix it sounds like pretty much everything is vying for space at the edge of the stage (until the voices come in). More depth would help the drama of this piece more. If I were mixing, I'd put the trumpets in much more reverb and make them sound like they were on the back of the stage, this may help bring a bit more mystery to your story. The synth sound needs ambience around it to fit in with the mood you are trying to set. The pizz strings and choir are not together in their attacks. This probably would involve sliding your choir midi track much earlier in time. Speaking of the choir, if I were mixing, I'd feature the choir and have the pizz strings in a more supportive role. If the choir came in on the intro softly humming and then the synth, I think it would build better. They could go out and come back in in their current entrance but featured, like the demons' voices coming out of the pit!As the piece builds, more low drums would also help evoke the "down in the pits" mood. One low drum could support the accents of the choir and strings and another could do a complementary rhythm to move things along.Overall I feel like you are holding back a bit. This piece needs to be scarier and edgier to match your description. All the elements are there to accomplish what your vision is, they just need to be mixed in a way that brings that out.As always, my opinion only. Mazz

thank you everyone, for your time and such valuable feedback. Having specific and clear ideas on what I need to work on is incredibly helpful. I really appreciate all the help!

Quote:Hi Vikki,Overall in your mix it sounds like pretty much everything is vying for space at the edge of the stage (until the voices come in). More depth would help the drama of this piece more. If I were mixing, I'd put the trumpets in much more reverb and make them sound like they were on the back of the stage, this may help bring a bit more mystery to your story. The synth sound needs ambience around it to fit in with the mood you are trying to set. The pizz strings and choir are not together in their attacks. This probably would involve sliding your choir midi track much earlier in time. Speaking of the choir, if I were mixing, I'd feature the choir and have the pizz strings in a more supportive role. If the choir came in on the intro softly humming and then the synth, I think it would build better. They could go out and come back in in their current entrance but featured, like the demons' voices coming out of the pit!As the piece builds, more low drums would also help evoke the "down in the pits" mood. One low drum could support the accents of the choir and strings and another could do a complementary rhythm to move things along.Overall I feel like you are holding back a bit. This piece needs to be scarier and edgier to match your description. All the elements are there to accomplish what your vision is, they just need to be mixed in a way that brings that out.As always, my opinion only. MazzKarma for Mazz

I miss Karma... sigh

Quote:Hi Vikki. I PM'd you my thoughts. I don't feel experienced enough on these sorts of instrumentals to post yet Thanks for sharing your music.IMO all feedback is valuable, songwriter. Thanks for taking the time to listen and let me know what you thought.cheersHummin'bird