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Still trying to understand cues....
Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2020 8:57 am
by gitanosoy
Hi All,
I am still struggling to understand "cues" after all that has been described on this forum and watching taxi videos...This was a FLAMENCO cue which I held myself back by not doing too much and
keeping a simple "A " section, then a "B' section, back to 'A' and adding hints of percussion as it progressed and taking it out again at the end..that is my understanding of a CUE so far and even sometimes just an A section is enough as far as I know.
So my track I have an 'A" section that develops with adding percussion going into the "B" section which I believe it is the "ARC" and then bringing it back down to A section by pulling out some of the percussion instruments.
As I read on this forum many struggle and confused with the "Too repetitive" and "needs a more developing arc" dilemma
Any more advice would be appreciated.
thank you
https://www.taxi.com/members/M8lnHf2ZQO ... a-la-chica
www.taxi.com/members/M8lnHf2ZQOG5ldHvKp ... k6WBv3KhOQ
Re: Still trying to understand cues....
Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2020 9:13 am
by AlanHall
The first few cues I submitted had an intentional "arch form", ABA, with the climax somewhere in the middle - like orchestral miniatures or the like. Only after a few returns did I understand that
for a cue the idea is to drive to the big finish: no "arch", no "return", no ending that cadences quietly. A quiet spot in the middle is OK, but the end - stinger or button - has to be able to stand fanfare-like on its own.
I'm working on some cues now that will test that hypothesis

Re: Still trying to understand cues....
Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2020 9:15 am
by funsongs
One thing that comes to mind/a question I'd ask: would this track distract or take away from dialogue spoken over it?
Something this 'busy' might be suitable for a non-speaking scene; to set, create, support a 'mood'...
but what percentage of cues for listings are for placement under conversation vs. just an open scene?
Re: Still trying to understand cues....
Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2020 1:45 pm
by SubRivers
I suspect the screener was looking for uptempo Gipsy Kings style cues judging by the cue that was forwarded.
https://blog.taxi.com/forward/100820/
Think the "arc" in this context is more percussion and more upbeat.
Re: Still trying to understand cues....
Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2020 3:12 pm
by gitanosoy
SubRivers wrote: ↑Sat Oct 10, 2020 1:45 pm
I suspect the screener was looking for uptempo Gipsy Kings style cues judging by the cue that was forwarded.
https://blog.taxi.com/forward/100820/
Think the "arc" in this context is more percussion and more upbeat.
Thanks for replying ...we already talked about this last time on another discussion about Flamenco so not going to go there, just going to move on...then they should use Gipsy kings track as a reference..not Vicente Amigo, Paco de lucia....
If I see a flamenco listing next time now I now what to expect and write accordingly..thanks for posting the forward.
Re: Still trying to understand cues....
Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2020 3:15 pm
by gitanosoy
Thank you everyone who replied and took the time to listen to my track...still confused but thats okay, I will just keep at it until then..all good.
Re: Still trying to understand cues....
Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2020 4:13 pm
by SubRivers
gitanosoy wrote: ↑Sat Oct 10, 2020 3:12 pm
SubRivers wrote: ↑Sat Oct 10, 2020 1:45 pm
I suspect the screener was looking for uptempo Gipsy Kings style cues judging by the cue that was forwarded.
https://blog.taxi.com/forward/100820/
Think the "arc" in this context is more percussion and more upbeat.
Thanks for replying ...we already talked about this last time on another discussion about Flamenco so not going to go there, just going to move on...then they should use Gipsy kings track as a reference..not Vicente Amigo, Paco de lucia....
If I see a flamenco listing next time now I now what to expect and write accordingly..thanks for posting the forward.
No idea about the use of traditional examples but it seems the screening is for more pop versions of flamenco.
Re: Still trying to understand cues....
Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2020 2:44 am
by Kolstad
So you haven't got a "cue", eh
Its ez enough to get a handle on, and you will get better fast by getting more cues under your belt, but also remember to listen to cues yourself. After listening over a period of time you get used to the development arcs and the choices they take to get it in shape.
You can find albums I various genres from a lot of libraries and composers on Spotify. Its so easy to create a playlist and study when in the car or when you have time. It's market research, you need to do it to get in business.
Re: Still trying to understand cues....
Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2020 10:31 am
by gitanosoy
Kolstad wrote: ↑Sun Oct 11, 2020 2:44 am
So you haven't got a "cue", eh
Its ez enough to get a handle on, and you will get better fast by getting more cues under your belt, but also remember to listen to cues yourself. After listening over a period of time you get used to the development arcs and the choices they take to get it in shape.
You can find albums I various genres from a lot of libraries and composers on Spotify. Its so easy to create a playlist and study when in the car or when you have time. It's market research, you need to do it to get in business.
Thank you for replying...I have watched videos, listened to cues, read Mark's(Cosmicdolphin) post on this forum explaining in detail what to do so I don't know what else to do.
This one is a rare one too as Flamenco is not your common genre...I started my track gently, then I added more percussion, went to "B" section and the back to "A" section with fewer instruments , without playing crazy riffs and runs..kept it fairly simple as much as I could hold myself back...lol...I am not saying that's all you need for a cue and then I listen to the forwarded one(no disrespect) and try to study why this track got forwarded and I wish him/her all the luck....
As I mentioned in this post the reference tracks chosen for this submission is misleading, if they wanted a simple rumba then Vicente Amigo,Paco de Lucia is not the right choice
I am getting advice what to do but still searching for the answer for future submissions.
Thank you again
Re: Still trying to understand cues....
Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2020 11:15 am
by SubRivers
Just listened to the forward again and the surprising thing is it is only just over a minute and ends with a fade when the listing asked for
All submissions should be about 90 seconds to 2 minutes long, give or take. Non-Faded, Buttoned/Stinger endings are strongly recommended.
So the screener must have really dug it as either of those would be usually be enough to get the return.