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I went 1/2 on this listing:

ORIGINAL BLUES INSTRUMENTALS (In all styles) needed by a Music Library/Publisher for Film/TV placements and licensing. Open to all tempos. Compositions and arrangements must be solid. For Film & TV, evoking an atmosphere or mood is the name of the game Ð it's not just about competent playing! Nevertheless, instrumental performances must be top notch and sound authentic to the genre! (No MIDI tracks! No programmed drums.) Broadcast quality needed (great sounding home recordings are OK). We recently ran this as Dispatch listing #D1011209BL, so if you submitted to that listing, send in new material this time around. Please submit one to three instrumentals online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS - NO CRITIQUES FROM TAXI - and must be received no later than Tuesday, January 11, 2011. TAXI #Y110111BL

My track, 'Headin' to the Crossroads' was returned with 'instrumental performance' checked. I wasn't trying to match Segovia or Steeley Dan here in terms of execution, but I don't hear anything performance wise that leaves a mark when I listen back. Still, I'm open minded and want to learn from the return. That's where you come in. Anyone hear what might have bonked this performance? Thx!

Hi Erich
From my area of expertise.... But I'm wondering if the drums sound a little stiff and mechanical-- the listing mentioned 'no programmed drums', emphasizing they wanted a natural, live sound.

The rest sounds really good to me! (But then again, I have fever and am entering the NyQuil-Zone)...

Best,
Casey

Thanks Casey! Like you I'm not bitter. 'Learn form the Return' is my 2011 motto. I've noticed that typically my first reaction after a return is to get pi$$ed (blame someone else). My second reaction is to take it personally (blame myself). I've decided to let my inner child have his 1st and 2nd response -- they're just thoughts, no harm no foul. But the adult me gets the last word. Taking it to this forum and getting an opportunity to learn seems to me one of the best things I can do. I'll try to be more active on this board as well.

The drums were real, in that they were stereo loops from DrumsOnDemand. But, you could be on to something. DOD's stuff is spot on time-wise. It's great for stitching parts together, but might lose some vibe and authenticity. I'm meeting with a great drummer I know that has a kit setup for recording at home. I'm going to work out arrangements to get him to play on tracks like this in the future where vibe and authenticity trump sonics and metronomic timekeeping.

teleblaster wrote:Thanks Casey! Like you I'm not bitter. 'Learn form the Return' is my 2011 motto. I've noticed that typically my first reaction after a return is to get pi$$ed (blame someone else). My second reaction is to take it personally (blame myself). I've decided to let my inner child have his 1st and 2nd response -- they're just thoughts, no harm no foul. But the adult me gets the last word. Taking it to this forum and getting an opportunity to learn seems to me one of the best things I can do. I'll try to be more active on this board as well.

The drums were real, in that they were stereo loops from DrumsOnDemand. But, you could be on to something. DOD's stuff is spot on time-wise. It's great for stitching parts together, but might lose some vibe and authenticity. I'm meeting with a great drummer I know that has a kit setup for recording at home. I'm going to work out arrangements to get him to play on tracks like this in the future where vibe and authenticity trump sonics and metronomic timekeeping.

Erich, while you have your friends kit mic'ed up you should get him to bang out a few different beat/variations each with three or for different fills. Then you can make your own loops. I did that several years ago & they've come in pretty handy. just be sure to get enough fill variations, which is something I didn't do.

Thanks Bill and Casey
I met with my drummer friend Mon. night. He has a kit all mic'd up and ready to go. We're working out a WFH deal where I can re-use his stuff like a drum library. He's a great guy and a killer player so this should be fun!

This piece found it's way into a library I work with, but I sure would like to crack the code to get a blues track with electric guitar through a TAXI screener. My acoustic slide stuff goes over well, so I should be content I guess but that's not my way . I'm working up some stuff for the blues listing due in the middle of Feb. I'll be posting up on P2P soon.

If anyone else has thoughts about why the 'instrumental performance' box was checked on this one I'd love to hear it. I want to sail way over the bar on the next listing!

Thanks Bill and Casey
I met with my drummer friend Mon. night. He has a kit all mic'd up and ready to go. We're working out a WFH deal where I can re-use his stuff like a drum library. He's a great guy and a killer player so this should be fun!

This piece found it's way into a library I work with, but I sure would like to crack the code to get a blues track with electric guitar through a TAXI screener. My acoustic slide stuff goes over well, so I should be content I guess but that's not my way . I'm working up some stuff for the blues listing due in the middle of Feb. I'll be posting up on P2P soon.

If anyone else has thoughts about why the 'instrumental performance' box was checked on this one I'd love to hear it. I want to sail way over the bar on the next listing!

I hope someone else chimes in with ideas regarding why "instrumental performance" was checked. It's not my best area of knowledge so I wouldn't go by just my opinion here.

Best,
Casey

I would tend to agree that the drums lack a little energy. Maybe this is why the "Instrumental Performance" box was checked. Also, this is just my opinion, I hear this tune much faster. I feel that it would evoke much more emotion and atmosphere with quicker pulse.


That being said, a return is not the end of the road for a cue. Someone will use it!!

Mike

I'm inclined to agree.... the drums are too perfect...even to the sound... when I listen to the harp and the guitars.... man they're nasty gritty... like a down south juke joint band.... but the drums don't match the rest of the music.

Just a guess, but a looser, "crappier" sounding kit, with some humanizing factor... beats not dead on the beat, would have fit right in.