TAXI.com

Hi everyone

This was an interesting return for me, as the same project was forwarded yesterday to a similar listing. My take-away on this was that it emphasises the fact that there are things behind the scenes, like what the project actually is, that we don't know and can't influence - hence write, submit, forget, repeat.

But I'd be keen to get any additional feedback on this to sense-check my conclusions. Was it just a case of "not for this project"? Am I hitting enough tropes of the genre to give it wider appeal? It was deliberately written to be a bit melancholy -> soaring: profound loss leads to epic quest, kind of thing. But maybe that means it's a bit too soft to start with?

One Man's Fight: https://soundcloud.com/matt_curious/one-mans-fight
Today's feedback: "Thia track takes too long to build up. It lacks energy and drive overall. One's man's fight lacked the dynamics and emotional impact needed for this project."
Yesterday's feedback: "Nice stark tone set. The cue builds and progresses nicely to that big climax at 1:29. Well done piece of trailer music."

Here's the listing:

EPIC MOVIE TRAILER INSTRUMENTALS are needed by an Independent Music Library with global distribution and a long track record of awesome Film and TV placements. They're eager to find powerful Instrumentals that could work well for big Blockbuster Movie Trailers. They're open to anything that ranges from Orchestral Trailer-style Instrumentals to hybridized material with Orchestral, Rock and/or Electronic elements. Please take a listen to the following examples to get in the ballpark of what they need:"Protectors of the Earth" by Two Steps From Hell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASj81daun5Q"The Lion's Heart" by Audiomachine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQds6kUQrhM"Strength of a Thousand Men" by Thomas Bergersen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_fR-0pd-GEPlease give them Instrumentals that deliver a huge impact, with a structure that's typical of most film trailer music: three distinct "acts" that build as your composition progresses. Easy edit points and buttoned endings are strongly encouraged. Please do not copy or rip off the referenced music in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, texture, tone, and vibe. All submissions should be at least 2 minutes in length. Broadcast Quality is needed (Great sounding home recordings are fine). This Library offers an EXCLUSIVE, 50/50 split. You'll get 50% of any sync fees and 100% of the Writer's share. They'll get 50% of the sync fee and 100% of the Publisher's share. You must own or control your Master and Composition to submit to this pitch. Please submit one to three Instrumentals online or per CD. All submissions will be screened and critiqued by TAXI and must be received no later than 11:59PM (PST), on Monday, March 7th, 2016. TAXI #S160307ET

Thanks,
Matt

Matt,

I quite like this cue and I think there are some things you could do to make it more trailer-friendly. Not necessarily 'better' because that can be subjective, but ideas that will raise the probability of use.

1) The arp that comes in at 0:02 - the instrument is not particularly trailerish. I would remove that line altogether.

2) The second arp that starts around 0:06-7, I'd try to produce like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCKt8_OVXbs Listen to the instrument that starts at 0:19 and then runs sparsely through the cue. It could be a piano or a mallet sound, but it's the way it's mixed that makes me want to hear your arp sound something like it. Smallish, slow attack, not too bright, plenty of reverb. But it sounds very cinematic.

Could probably even cut forward and start your cue at the 0:20 mark.

3) At 0:38 I'd use an electric guitar to play the line currently being played by that first arp. Then introduce another layer of crunchy power-chords or palm muted chugging through that section.

4) I'd mix the drums bigger from earlier in that section. Not all the percussion but some big hits at edit points. Not bright, not high velocity - but big, deep, rumbley.

5) It's crying out for a bass fall at 1:29

The end section is great but there are some things that could lift it further into really epic.

6) Some wonderful fast violin and viola spiccs to enhance the excitement

7) Get the brass roaring in the last section, especially horns, bones and cimbasso (if you have one). It's mixed a bit apologetically atm.

8) And lastly, if you do use guitar through the first part, then really beef it up into some chuggin djent patterns through the end section.

I know that seems like a lot of things but actually it won't take a lot to implement (except for the guitar if you don't play!)

Anyway, take it or leave it, but that's how I'd approach a revision to it.

Cruciform (Rob), reading your review on that piece was extremely helpful! I am wondering if it would be possible for you to review mine as well? Hopefully that is not too much to ask. This was my first TRAILER piece and it got returned but not too bad. I believe if you can help me review it, I can get more specific with the changes. The TAXI comment was good, but a little vague. I would really appreciate the help.

Here is the TAXI review: "Lots of great stuff in here. The big hits and heavy drums are right in line with this style. The orchestra should be a bigger part of the overall sounds, not just a line that's mixed back. In hybrid cues the orchestra still needs to be a featured component. The build ending at 2:08 is good as well." ....This was more of an electronic piece for me, so the strings were indeed mixed behind..


Here is the track: https://soundcloud.com/wewillwriteuason ... strumental

Thank you so very much!

.. and the listing it was for:
FILM TRAILER-STYLE INSTRUMENTALS are needed by an International Music Library that specializes in a wide range of music, specifically for Trailers. They’re open to anything that ranges from Orchestral Trailer-style Instrumentals to hybridized material with Orchestral and Electronic elements (including guitars). Please listen to the following examples to get an idea of the range of music that could work for this pitch: X-Men: Apocalypse Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0io2w_6vT8 The Jungle Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtR9tqPa48s Gods of Egypt Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMVxECWC-vk Rise of a Legend Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QhUeLeL2aOw Cabin Fever Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A10CG-eXCKY Independence Day: Resurgence Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7a2u8lxWm8 Give them exceptional compositions that sound like a real-deal, Hollywood-esque Theatrical Trailer that’s consistent with the level of quality, style, and impact of current Blockbuster Trailers. Your submissions should be structured like a typical film trailer, with three distinct acts that build as your composition progresses. As mentioned above, they’re open to solely Orchestral compositions, to hybridized material with modern Rock instrumentation, and/or various Electronic-based elements. Non-Lyrical Choral/Vocal samples are okay for this pitch, but not a necessity by any stretch. Easy edit points and big, dramatic buttoned/stinger endings are strongly encouraged. Please do not copy or rip off the referenced music in any way, shape, or form. Use them only as a general guide for tempo, texture, tone, and vibe. All submissions should be at least 2 minutes in length.

ALSO, Matt - great cue! Very cool! I can learn a lot! Thanks again for the help and postings.

Marcus

Hi Marcus,

What you have is a really solid, really good underscore cue. Kind of CSI suited, almost noirish. It doesn't build enough to be trailer though.

The fundamental rule for action trailer music is to keep building, the energy keeps rising and rising. Layer it up. If you don't have brass, you'll need big bass synths. If you're using sustained strings you'll need to really grow the momentum and power with percussion layers, the groove will need to get busier.

I started a thread a little while back discussing trailer percussion. If you search my posts you'll find it easily enough. It'll give you a basic rundown of how to implement action trailer drums.

You have a great cue. You've got solid sounds and ideas. Work on the build, the growing intensity over the arc of the piece.

Check out this trailer. I think you've got the fundamentals to do this kind of trailer music: electronica and sound design driven rather than orchestral based. http://www.traileraddict.com/spl-2-time ... re-trailer

You won't see many (if any) Taxi listings for this style of music but it's hot right now in trailers, a big trend. If you can nail this kind of thing you'll have no trouble getting it signed. Check out especially music by Jack Trammell.

Hi Rob

Cheers for this.

I definitely do want to do a guitar-driven cue, but I'm not sure it's this one - I like your idea of the opening instruments being a bit more ethereal; I think I'm going to explore that.

Yeah - I feel like it needs a bass drop, too.

And I very much agree on the horns. Been thinking about that for a while, but have had such positive feedback on the string line that I'm nervous about masking it with the horns - hence what you rightly describe as an apologetic or tentative mix. I think I need to play with it though - it's been nagging me for about a month.

Cheers
Matt

Rob, wow! Thank you so much for that. I really appreciate it. Great info!

If I were to try to use it for underscore, csi type, would I need to remove most of the drums/percussion?

Matt - ok, good luck

Marcus - TBH, I haven't kept current with the requirements for that style of music but it sounds to me like it would fit. Maybe the percussion
in the second half could be a little sparser. If you want to push it that way, I'd say start a new thread in peer-to-peer and ask for feedback specific to that style. You're more likely to get targeted suggestions that way. My major focus is trailer/promo music.