Post Your Music

[Reposer]

@padr18: I may feel like the final pea of the pod here, but this sounds good, however things are either melding together a lot or not quite connecting with each other. It sounds pretty good on all the parts, but they're not properly mixed, or they just don't quite fit together, can't really tell. I will compliment on that midway solo, sounds really nice, and does still fit with the flow of the song quite well! Work at it a bit more and it can definitely be a great piece!

@Archduke: I like that a lot, the piano sounds nice and mixes well with all the other instruments. Really don't have much to say on it other than that. Good work!

@muramasa: This is a decent start to something, but there are some issues with it. These things together could work decently, however you need to time them a bit better, especially the strings around the :30 mark. Another big problem is the volume. It starts in way too loud, and could either use a volume decrease or a fade in. Along with that, the piano overpowers everything else far too much, it's hard to tell what's backing it up. I do like the change in the 1:30 mark, but the piano still feels slightly too loud at that point, and I feel you could add more to the background of it. Everything with this is done good though, it just needs some tweaking to it. Good job on it.

Now I have a few things to put in here. Haven't finished editing much of Malorn or Try It All yet, but I have some more things that I just haven't gotten the chance to upload yet. The first one is the battle theme for the more futuristic parts of my area, I tried to make it something that would be more back there, rather than a huge up-in-your-face song like the way battle themes are usually done. Although that's probably the type of approach I'll take for some of the earlier ones, the slightly less ROCKIN' theme is because it's also meant to be for a later part of the game. Anyways, here's that:

https://soundcloud.com/the-reposer/envision

The other one is my Victory theme, and is aptly titled so. I have changed it from the demo, added some better drums in and notched up the synth a bit. Lemme know what you think, this is a short one!

 

[Scythuz]

@Muramasa: I can tell you're just starting out so I'll go easy on you, for now  

 

Actually my only real complaint about this is the piano rhythm being a bit too repetitive both in the way the notes are played and in terms of dynamics (they all play at the same volume) so change the timing of it every so often and experiment with the velocity controls and I think you'll be good to go

 

@Reposer: Victory: Perfect, can't really say anything on this one since it does what it sets out to do very well.

 

Envision: Length seems better on this so far, here's a little hint though: even though it's a slower battle theme you can still have the odd hit (kick drum, stab, anything hard hitting) every so often in order to keep those people who say things aren't battle themes all the time fooled.  I'm assuming this lack of variation in your tracks is coming from the music you listen to (trance?) as there's a lot of repetition here, for game music it's best to have more variation than this.  Perhaps for the next track you make you can make it your own personal challenge to focus on something with more variation?  

 

At the moment you seem to be suffering from the same problem I used to run into all the time (not saying I don't at all anymore but it's far less common now), where you only add slight things on instead of actually changing anything melodically or rhythmically.  Feel free to pm me if you want more specific help on individual tracks than I can provide here, same goes to the rest of you.

 

[padr81]

Thanks for the comments on my piece guys, noted and changes coming.  I guess I was listening to too much Dream Theater with those changes.

Archduke: It sounds great now.  Flute is a massive step up on the guitar and it just fits much better.  Great stuff.

Muramasa:  I tend to agree with the other guys.  You have some lovely melodies, the piano though is too samey throughout.  Vary up the rhythms, try a few different chord voicings too.  One of the biggest give aways with synths is if a rhythm and volume is too consistent and lack of dynamics.  What I like to do is when I listen back to a piece, think how would I feel about playing that part if I was musician x live.  In this case the piano and I'd be thinking, just let me play a little variation or something slightly different at times.  Maybe some arpeggiated bits here and there, the occasional little part where I could double the melody etc.. 

Resposer:  Envision: I'd agree with Scythuz on this.  Its very  much samey throughout.  Again lots of potential but just needs like a B part.  Changes create musicial drama especially dynamics ones which I think is definately needed in a battle theme.  It's a good piece though and will work well in the setting in game.  Few tweaks here and there and it'll be perfect.

Victory: is just about perfect, perhaps a tad bassy overall through my speakers but I'm not listening through my proper monitors and thats being overly critical.

Your game is certainly shaping up to have a nice soundtrack, different to the usual Nobou clones and hugely orchestral ones.

 

[Reposer]

@Scythus: Ah alright, I'll try to vary up a bit more in Envision, I can actually make one of my instruments more of a stab noise, because it was originally meant to be my lead throughout, and I varied it up along the song, but it's quiet in the song. I'll also try do something else with the drums in the midway part, when I get home later. And I guess that could be the reason why my musi is kinda like that, but I would guess it's more along the lines of just bad habit for me, since musically I listen to a looot of different things, and most every modern genre in some form or another.

 

[Luke_Flynn]

Hey all!

It's been a while since I've dropped in!!

Just wanted to share a new track that I put up yesterday! (This was originally meant for an RPG, but we ended up slimming down the amount of music, so this one is just a stand-alone for now!) Enjoy!

 

[Reposer]

@Luke_Flynn: I really like the starting ambiance of it, and the chants that come in during it as well! The strings are very beautiful, and everything here is timed and executed perfectly, and the rise at the 1:10 mark is just perfect, and the strings just add everything on top of what's already great about this piece. I can honestly say nothing wrong with this, and that you're very talented. Keep up the great work!

And now I have my updated version of Envision ready. I tried to do a lot of different things to vary it up throughout, but I'm a little unsure on if it's too much or not. I don't personally feel it is, but at the same time it's on that edge where I'm not quite sure, but I'll have you decide. I added some bass to it, mostly in early and ending, but the main changes were the melodies between the beginning and ending ones. I also added some chords (I think, mighta messed em up?) In the middle section, and added percussion to layer in with the drums that went along with the chords as well. I hope it's at least a bit better if nothing else, but be sure to let me know! Anyways, here it is!

https://soundcloud.com/the-reposer/enticing

 

[Scythuz]

@Luke_Flynn: This is pretty good, no complaints.  Must be a pretty solid cello sound set you have there since I can't distinguish it from the real thing too well.

@Reposer: Yep this is a fair bit better so far, an example of parts that could be cut out or replaced is that 2nd section, it spends far too long building up and those chords you added don't sound right, way too much distortion/lo-fi on those.  Basically it feels like it starts off great and then steadily drones on too much.  What I would suggest is treating that first section as a chorus and bringing it back in a modified form later on, then build off of that for a 3rd, completely new, section.  Treating one section as a chorus helps a lot in battle themes as it gives you a solid base to work from and the listener a familiar point to come back to between all the intensity.  Even games with as crazy music as Dark Souls do this.  I'm not saying to do this all the time of course, just when you're going for something catchy.

 

[Reposer]

@Scythus: Alright, so my idea for that would be to replace the middle of the second section with a slightly modified chorus, and remove the chords? Should I adjust the third section at all, or just put a buildup into it?

 

[Kaimen]

... Sorry for not reviewing any of your tracks guys... There's just too many. I'll try to give some feedback later though.

For now, I have two of my songs I want to present to you.




First there's this one. Lately, I've been inspired by "Yooka-Laylee", the spiritual successor to Banjo & Kazooie. And that lead to me composing "fan soundtracks". This is one of them and I must say, I'm quite fond of it. ^_^

https://soundcloud.com/king-madness/vicious-volcano-wip

And this is the other one. Just as "Humid Hollow" it was inspired by "Yooka-Laylee". I added "Work in Progress" since I kinda ran out of ideas for this one. A few days ago I recorded myself humming this melody and since then I've tried to build a song around it but it doesn't really work that well. Do you have any ideas? XD

 

[Scythuz]

@Scythus: Alright, so my idea for that would be to replace the middle of the second section with a slightly modified chorus, and remove the chords? Should I adjust the third section at all, or just put a buildup into it?

That sounds pretty good, though I think you should just make an entirely new third section with the focus being on allowing it loop back into the start melodically.

@Kaimen: 

Humid Hollow: This is a bit too dissonant for my tastes, it could use some background instruments too like strings or pads to glue it all together a bit better.  The triangle or glockenspiel is a bit too present for me and could use some toning down, you have to be extra careful with instruments like that.  You seem to have the right sound so far though.  More variations would be nice too.

Vicious Volcano: I like this one a bit better, the drums add a lot to it and the brass bass part you have.  It feels a lot more structured as a result.  This track could also use some more variations.

 

[Reposer]

@Kaimen: I've always liked the style of the B&K games, so this is a really nice thing to hear! However I do agree in a few ways with Scythus, in the sense that there could be a bit of variance added in, although I would suggest to keep it smaller variations, and just making more of them, maybe having an ABCA structure to it? Start off with a few different sections, then end with the first section. But I do really like them, and not much more I could say that they need, maybe the triangle/glockenspiel volume a lil, other than that they're great!

I've done more edits yayyyy... ANYWAYS this is sounding nice (to me) so lemme know what you think! I Added in a section with the 'chorus', I changed the bass around, and the third section was edited. I also swapped out the actual instruments used for the chords, so maybe it sounds better? Lemme know what I'll prolly need to fix! XD

https://soundcloud.com/the-reposer/envision

Enjoy!

 

[Archduke]

@Reposer: It still spends too much time building up at 0:41, and the chords that come in at 1:30 are very out of key. I also think that strange sound introduced at 0:48 is a bit odd.


Basically a lot of Scythuz's previous advice still applies to this.


- Duke

 

[Scythuz]

@Reposer: Whilst some of my advice does still apply, I do think it's a big improvement structure wise.  Right so the part at roughly 2:30 onwards doesn't feel necessary and I reckon if you do it right you can still set a loop from there.  At 1:44 I think the notes there could use a bit of bass removal if not an entirely different synth.  I still think it needs slightly more impact to it and I'm thinking it's need to be from percussive hits, similar to how you would use a cymbal or gong in rock/orchestral music but not necessarily limited to just a high frequency thing.

So since thanks to commissions I don't usually get to make anything I can post here but I got a bit of spare time before I start the next lot so, here's something of my own.  Piano driven tracks are a bit of a weakness of mine so it's something I've been practicing on and off, it probably still needs a lot of work. I also figured I'd practice with my Solo Violin plugin while I was at it, lemme know what you think:

 

[Reposer]

@Scythus: That's awesome! I started listening to your other stuff after hearing that because I'd realized I really haven't heard much of what you do. I have to say, too, that it's amazing! I have no qualms with Moonlit Grace, it's awesome! But I hadn't looked into you that much, didn't actually realize you were a full-time composer,

no wonder you're so good at feedback

And on the topic of Envision, I thought of something I could try aside from the ABAC sequence, but I'll make two versions and see which one you guys like better.

 

[Scythuz]

@Reposer: Thanks!  Yeah I've been a full-time composer for about a year and a half now

ABAC and ABCB structures work really well with short battle themes (3 minutes or less) but really it's a matter of what you want to set out to do.  I mentioned that particular structure because it might make things easier, both for you and for the listener.  It's great to go outside the box a bit but don't forget to go back inside it from time to time for a rest!

 

[Reposer]

@Scythus: Yea, the box is a nice place, it makes me feel safe. That's the one thing I've needed to get better at though, cause a lot of my older stuff, to me, feels 'in the box', although I can more easily enjoy and create those ones compared to my more recent ones. I'm unsure on if I'm just trying too much at once, which causes it to sound odd, or if my need for something more complicated is causing me to just be like, "Duuuuh, this is gud yeeeeseirre"

 

[Scythuz]

@Reposer: I try to keep it to going outside the box for a bit then going back in.  The cool part is that when you come back, sometimes your box house will have more rooms and decorations!  Yeah it's best to not try too much at once, just one or two things at a time unless you're feeling really confident.

 

[Archduke]

@Scythuz: If I had to say anything, I'd say the melody at the beginning felt a bit weak to me. And the transition at 0:50 felt really awkward. The strings end kind've abruptly as well. The track also feels like it could use a little reverb as well. This is all I could come up with in 10 plays, so overall it's really good. I love the sound of that solo violin!


- Duke

 

[Reposer]

Aighty! Got another version, hopefully this is better, changed it to an ABAC format, didn't end up shortening (though I thought I did until comparing times XD). I also added in percussives, made a heavier leadup to the 'C' part, and made sure it fits exactly when looping around in. Also I changed the 'weird' sound at around the :40 mark to a secondary version of the pings from an earlier part. Aside from that some mastering differences, took out the chords entirely.

Here it is! Only did the one version so far, if you don't like it as much I mayyyy try the second idea, but I may stick to editing this one. Anyways take it:

 

[Necrox]

Finished but maybe a WIP. Feedback is welcome.

https://soundcloud.com/twilight-stream/in-the-name-of-science