(Yet) Another Attempt at DRAMEDY

[Cale]

How close to matching Sneaky Snitch did you get ?

We reverse engineered the first four bars = 11 seconds.

In terms of the notes played, it was close. What we learned from the feedback on our attempt to do something similar was that our reverse engineered fragment (and therefore also what we developed based on it)

1) sounded "robotic" - probably mostly because there was very little dynamic (velocity) variation

2) sounded "boomy" -- too much reverb (using the free BBC Symphony Orchestra pizz violins and bass)

3) In addition, when we tried to re-mold/expand the reverse engineered fragment into our own original piece, we weren't focussed enough on the "tension and release" aspect of the melody.

So ...

1) We edited the velocities to try to give it some groove.

2) We switched to Cremona Quartet Stradivari violin and cello, which allowed us, for example, to put a mute on the instrument (less "boom") and to choose how much to emphasize the close, middle and far mic, respectively. At first we assumed the close mic would be best, but that was actually too piercing, so going mostly with the middle mic but mixing in a tad of close mic -- which may still be too piercing, so working with velocity and EQ.

3) Created another couple of cues, trying to focus more on the melodic structure, especially tension and release, and the general "feel." (Which led us ultimately to start over rather than try to fix what we had.)

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Michael & Sharon
"progress ... not perfection ..."

Michael,

You're talking about changing libraries, editing velocities, emphasizing mics, etc.... at this point I would throw all of that out the window and get down to the basics - 1) HARMONY 2) MELODY 3) RHYTHM. I would consider focusing exclusively on those three things. Transcribe/reverse engineer the 1) HARMONY 2) MELODY 3) RHYTHM of the reference tracks. ALL of it. Don't get it close, get it exact. That will do your music a world of good. Hope that helps.

[cosmicdolphin]

Cale is right, you've picked up on a lot of technical things but the emotion is key, which comes from all the things he mentions

[irthlingz]

Tom, Cale and Mark, yes, need to get better at just listening for the feeling -- maybe involves stepping away for a while - or a day - and coming back with fresh ears and not so focussed on the details/technical stuff. Thank you!

[Paulie]

Gotta agree with most folks here. Based on this thread I don't think you've picked up on anything useful. You are drastically over-complicating this... you need to keep it SIMPLE. Did you watch my video about this? It's a hip hop dramedy, so the instrumentation is a little different, but the Dramedy concepts still remain. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlGRHvuGdW0


Here is a link to the examples from Dean's book "Demystifying The Genre," I don't see one called "Sneaky Snitch" in there. https://soundcloud.com/all-screen-music

There should be a simple theme, then perhaps a second theme, then return to the simple theme. This is the A-B-A form Dean mentions in his section on Dramedy. Listen to the first track "Slightly Askew." It's a simple 8 bar theme. It repeats. A second theme is played. Then the first them returns. There is a clear tempo, only a few instruments. No ambiguity.

The next track, "Tippy Toe" has a four bar intro, then an eight bar first theme. A second theme comes in, then returns to the main theme. Then this whole pattern repeats with some very slight variation.

What you've posted here is really not a cue of any kind. It has no form, I can't tell the time signature, and the instruments are not playing together. Casey is indeed correct, I think your time is better served focusing on songwriting if that is your strength.

[irthlingz]

Gotta agree with most folks here. Based on this thread I don't think you've picked up on anything useful. You are drastically over-complicating this... you need to keep it SIMPLE. Did you watch my video about this?

Yes! Thank you! Simple ... is not necessarily easy ... at least for us!

Here is a link to the examples from Dean's book "Demystifying The Genre,"

Bought the book (Kindle version) and downloaded the examples when it was first mentioned (by Michael Bruce Miller) earlier in this thread. Will keep studying it, though, with your comments a bit of extra help!

I don't see one called "Sneaky Snitch" in there.

That's a reference for the listing that this thread started with.

Thanks again, Paulie. We really do appreciate you taking the time and effort to listen and comment!

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Michael & Sharon
"progress ... not perfection ..."