And off we go

[Dimitri Asselman]

Hi composers,

Throwing myself to the lions  I've been playing the piano for about 2,5 years (i know, at least 25 years too late) now and recently started recording the stuff i'm playing.

Some 'improvisation', played in one go, no cut or paste-hence the errors/hesitation sometimes- it was recorded from my digital piano into the daw and i've added some vst instruments to it. It's also my first try in mixing a piece of music. 
I wonder how it sounds? I thought it was very difficult to get rid of the 'digital' piano sound, though the yamaha isn't that bad in samples. If you have any suggestions on how to clean the sound of the piano, or in general, any feedback to improve it musically and/or the mix, will be much appreciated!

 

Secondly I've made an 'arrangement' and mix of an epic score, written by some other guy.(2b short: that 'score' was posted on another site, anyone feeling to do something with it, could jump into this 'project'.) So, my first try to create something which sounds like a score: 242 Seconds to Leave (the name of one of the bas vst instruments is: 15 seconds to leave, needed to give it a name). Though the midi files seem to play 'ok', the result after mixing is a bit, out of time. I wonder if this is even possible? Still checking what is causing this, midi or wav+plugins. Total noob in all these things. For the rest, what about the sound, mix? What can be better, does it sound realistic (i mean, the mix and music, or too 'computerized'). As i've no composing/mixing background at all, any tips are appreciated, so I can try to work and make things better. Had already huge discussion about it because the music is not following a logical composing order ABAB etc... hum, but as I don't know anything about that;..:-s

Thanks for listening, thanks for your feedback.

ps: i wanted to upload the files in mp3 here, but its a 7MB limit, just a bit too small, will redo and add them later to my profile.

regards

dim

[Buga Lopes]

hey. 
so i'll get right to the point

so regarding the 'improvisation' track: 
there are a few mistakes note-wise, or maybe it's best for me to say, options that i would not take myself, but as you said yourself you played it all in one go so i guess that there's stuff that you would correct if this was a long term project. Apart from that the tune is quite allright, i suppose it could benefit of a section with different harmony, or a development of the existing harmony or a modulation perharps. I think the overall concept works, maybe as some kind of soundtrack for a film or so. I don't really know about structure, if there's one present and calculated structure or not. But if there is not, it does not bother me. one extra note: the ending seems rushed and not really an ending in my book.
The Vsts... i don't really the vocals or choir that comes in at around 1.30 but again.. it's an option. Also the percussion, i think i get the ideia you're after and i agree, i would've done something similar, i just don't like the actual way i ended up. and it's not a sound issue it's more of the rythmic patterns you chose for it.
Apart from that the sound quality is not professional but its good, and the piano sound does not bother me as well. Some good ideas on the strings, just not sure if some notes are right (mainly piano sometimes clashes). The overall mix is quite allright! 

Second track:
I'm not really sure which one i was suposed to comment on... the epic score in it self is something that reminds me of a game soundtrack.. like some sort of pirate ship adventure. it's sounds quite allright and i like the track. 
you second track (242 seconds....) i think is way more interesting, here the vocals are well used but the soprano voice maybe to loud sometimes. Again i don't like the percussion (only around 3.00 and after) and it is still because of the patterns you chose. i realise that it does feel a bit out of tempo, but that is not what's throwing me off, it's actually the patterns. I understand what you are trying to accomplish, but it doesn't work for me. But again, it's only my opinion, if you like it don't listen to me.
overall the track is more well accomplished than the first one ( the 'improvisation' one), and the mixing seems better then both the previous tracks. overall it's good work, you just need a little bit of tweaking in the tempo of the percussion i think. that maybe be accomplished by playing around with the midi's and trying to fit them better with what's happening in the track, sadly it's process that you need to do by hand detecting what's off and correcting it.

Sorry if i was to straight forward... that's just me.
keep up the good work

[Raymond Kemp]

http://composersforum.ning.com/forum/topics/rules-and-suggestions-for

[Dimitri Asselman]

Thanks a lot for you feedback Buga! It's really useful for me and I appreciate it a lot!

The improvisation track has indeed a lot of note issues... but, nothing I can do about it, it was recorded as audio in cubase (the ending is a playing mistake... I could remove it, but it would cut the overall sound at the end so I just left it as it is ;-)) There was no structure at all, i just played it: it might seem maybe that I've pasted different passages after each other but that's really not the case. The waits/cuts/parts are there, because I needed to press the correct keys on my digital piano in order to activate the orchestra/pizzicato/shut it down. The instrument is new to me so my brain couldn't find the correct switching sync'ed with my playing.. ;-) No excuses though! Strings and the Choir was added afterwards, and also the bassdrum (not the timpani/brass), that's the sound of the digital piano. For future purposes I'll record in wav and midi so I can split up the sounds afterwards in the daw, if necessary, that's for sure!

2nd track was indeed the '242 for seconds'..the other one was the original, not from my hand. There again, you are quiet right on the percussion and tempo, maybe patterns, not sure, another pattern might be more interesting, worth trying maybe!... at this point quantizing doesn't seem to work. Probably it's me not knowing how to use it correctly yet, i'm learning. On a daily basis I try to correct the timing, it's getting better, but I hear it's just not what it should be.

Anyhow, this whole thing is brand new to me, I can't expect to try and make some music like someone who was born as musician/producer :-)  i'm having a lot of fun (and that's the most important) and I appreciate your feedback! That's why I joined the forum, to listen and read about (other people's)composing, and if possible learn stuff whilst enjoying playing/making some music.

cheers and thanks again!

dim

[Bob Porter]

I have only listened to the first piece. I enjoyed it very much. It does seem to lack some organiztion.

I think that is because, to me , this is a performance, not a composition, as such. What I mean is, were this witten first, you could put more thought into where the piece is going. You could use all the same elements, but you could do more with them.

Not that music has to be written down to be music. Not at all. But how is someone else going to play this piece.

Thanks for posting.

[Dimitri Asselman]

@ Bob, thanks for you thoughts, I know what you're trying to say: good tip btw, i'll think about what you've said, might be interesting to really make some kind of composition out of this.

@ Raymond, also thanks for you 'comment' ;-) i'll try to keep an eye on the rules in the future, sorry for that. For this time, i've attached the mp3's as an attachment.

regards

dim

[Buga Lopes]

no sweat just keep up the good work! and remember that it doesn't matter if you were 'born to be' whatever..
what really matters is that you enjoy yourself and if the music makes you feel alive them go for it.

oh just a note: yeah quantizing is probably not gonna do it in this case although many many times is a very useful

feature/tool... but i don't think it's going to help you at this point... unfortunately taking every midi by hand and put

it in the right place seams to me the only solution at this point... no worries we all have to do it every now and then.

or you can play it and record it... but it's probably gonna take loads of time and there's no guarantee that after that it's

going to be perfect and you'll probably end up tweaking the midis anyway... so... yeah.... good luck with that

cheers