TAXI.com

I had a submission to this listing returned today:

TOP TIER NY AD AGENCY looking for CONTEMPORARY, INSPIRATIONAL INSTRUMENTAL ROCK TRACKS a la The Verve (Bittersweet Symphony), Coldplay and Killers to underscore a 3-spot AD CAMPAIGN for a high-profile financial news company. Payout rocks it at around $20,000 PER SPOT!!! They need POSITIVE, UPTEMPO, ENERGETIC TRACKS with BUILDING INTENSITY. Nothing too edgy, schmaltzy or avant-garde please. Subtle TECHNO and VOCAL ELEMENTS OK, but NO LYRICS please. Tracks must be at least 60-seconds...

My track is called The Right Time: http://www.taximusic.com/hosting/home.p ... risdierolf

The screenter feedback was: "This is spot on, except for the drums..."

Can you guys take a listen and help me understand what the problem is with the drums? I mimmiced the Bittersweet Symphony drum part pretty closely.

I'm not angry, I'm just trying to learn. Thanks!!

Chris

Hi.

Your drums sound out of time to me.

They're also on the weak side of drum machine sounding.

It's fine to use drum programming, but it's gotta be out there and it isn't. It just sounds a bit wimpy.

Do keep in mind, this is only my opinion.

Hope it helps though.


Cheers
Darren

I agree with Darren, If you are going for a real drum sound, use real drums, if you can't use real drums, make them think you did.

Hi Chris....I think that the problem might occur at about 22 seconds when the drum part drops to just a kick part. I don't think that your sounds are bad at all and while they might be a little off the beat I don't think it's distasteful. It may be that what they're looking for is a continual build and of course the percussion part is one easy way to keep the sub-divisions coming.

Best,

Thanks for listening everyone. I don't have real drum playing skills to be honest. I usually use loops which sound pretty good. But I had to "play" the part using Logic's drum machine. I suppose my performance could have been better. You should have heard it before I lined the midi parts up!!

I dropped down to kick only so I could build back up. I suppose I should have just kept building energy. Oh well...

I really appreciate eveyones time here. Thanks again.

Chris

Hi.

Drop me a note via my website if you need any drum programming doing.

Happy to help out.

Cheers
Darren

Thanks Darren. I will hit you up the next time I can't use loops. I appreciate the offer.

Chris

What stands out most to me is the fills are all snare, which is no worse than just pedestrian. If you sat on a drum stool and mimiced a drummer's actions, you'd put some toms in there every now and again. Not far off, just needs to be more believable. Keep it up.

Nick