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Hi everyone. I sure don't mind a return (I've had tons of them!), but now and then I scratch my head at the critique from the reviewer. This piece, submitted to a recent piano listing, was returned with the reviewer saying a more authentic sounding piano would increase its chances.

That's a new one! The pianos I use are the NI Kontakt pianos (The Giant, specifically), and I've never had a reviewer say they weren't authentic sounding. Anyway...I"m sure the reviewer heard something that prompted the comment, so if you wouldn't mind having a listen, I'd sure appreciate hearing what your ears have to say!

https://soundcloud.com/ldigiorgi/despair

Thanks,

-Loren

I believe it is due to the hammered nature of the piano. I think if it were "softer" in velocity and with some variation, it would pass. Remember, not convincing does not always have to mean the sampler/instrument, it could be the playing. Your playing on this does not convey emotion or sound like a pianist sitting at a piano playing.

Great composition BTW. Just vary the quantization and velocity. Maybe place some sustain automation as well.

Thanks for the feedback. I’m still stumped, given I played it in real time, not sequenced. I didn’t use a lot of dynamics since it would be background and shouldn’t be distracting.

Anyway, your comments are definitely worth noting, so thanks! On to the next one...

The attack is very drastic and very singular in nature. I would not have guessed you played it in real-time.

Hi Loren,

Maybe try the Alicia Keys piano....The Giant is not quite right for this......

Of course my 2 cents,

Tim

Hey Loren! Beautiful piece as always.

I am going into listening with a heavily critical ear to maybe try and figure out what *could* have been the problem. The only things that stick out to me are the sharpness of the attack and the overall eq. Had I just stumbled across this I might not have noticed, but since I went into it looking for a "problem".. that's all I got. There is little bit of a resonant frequency buildup on the attack of the higher notes (at least to my ears in my studio), and overall a little bit of a lack of clarity in the mix/eq. Little bit muffled. Again this is me searching for problems.. I really enjoy this piece.

I think you have a great attitude also regarding the screeners btw - they only want to help and for us to succeed - they heard something that prompted their feedback. Can't win em all, onto the next one indeed!