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feedback on African Instrumental
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2021 2:40 pm
by JosieQ
I am a violinist who recently broke both arms, so I am trying composing using software instruments for the first time. I would love some feedback on this. thanks!
https://soundcloud.com/josie-quick/afri ... es-marimba
Re: feedback on African Instrumental
Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 4:17 am
by BradGray
Hey Josie,
All the best to you for a speedy recovery!
The track certainly evokes a mood, relaxed and happy vibe at times. Beyond that, I don't know anything about this style of African Instrumentals. =)
Only suggestion I would have for you, if composing will virtual instruments, is to remember the Midi velocity of the notes. Doing some random adjustments along the way, to the velocity of the notes, can really give a track a more human feel - as we can't play every note exactly the same.
Good luck!
Brad
Re: feedback on African Instrumental
Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 2:09 pm
by JosieQ
thanks, brad! it's funny because I have only two working fingers. when I played it initially it was very uneven. I went back and evened out the velocity. I'll go back and try to humanize it more. thank for the tip!
Re: feedback on African Instrumental
Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 3:17 pm
by superkons
Do I hear steel pans, or am I mistaken?
Re: feedback on African Instrumental
Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2021 5:30 pm
by BradGray
JosieQ wrote: ↑Thu Jul 15, 2021 2:09 pm
thanks, brad! it's funny because I have only two working fingers. when I played it initially it was very uneven. I went back and evened out the velocity. I'll go back and try to humanize it more. thank for the tip!
Just for clarity, making the velocities a bit more varied, random, add a more human "sound" to it. If it's there already, no need to smooth them out.
Cheers,
Brad
Re: feedback on African Instrumental
Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2021 9:46 am
by JosieQ
Yes, i used steel pans because i wanted a different sonority there. I don’t have a different African melodic instrument than kalimba.
Re: feedback on African Instrumental
Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2021 9:48 am
by JosieQ
Thanks, Brad, I understand. With my limited mobility the velocities weren’t very musical so they needed editing, but i can see how shaping of a phrase would improve it.
Re: feedback on African Instrumental
Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2021 2:27 pm
by superkons
JosieQ wrote: ↑Sun Jul 18, 2021 9:46 am
Yes, i used steel pans because i wanted a different sonority there. I don’t have a different African melodic instrument than kalimba.
Screener might argue that steel pans are not an African, but Caribbean instrument.
If you have Kontakt, there is this Kora library, quite cheap:
https://soniczest.com/kora/
Re: feedback on African Instrumental
Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2021 5:27 pm
by jdkotaska
JosieQ wrote: ↑Sun Jul 18, 2021 9:46 am
Yes, i used steel pans because i wanted a different sonority there. I don’t have a different African melodic instrument than kalimba.
For $99 there are plenty of instrumental options for complete production in this pack:
https://www.native-instruments.com/en/p ... st-africa/