<pony><WIP> Endless Stairs

[the4thImpulse]

Based around the idea of those crazy stairs in the season 3 opener.

I cut the intro out so it starts at the first little 'break/build'. Is it boring? Does it sound bad? Is there not enough wubs? Tell me your thoughts on the track, whatever they may be.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67192836/Stairs.mp3

Obviously there is no mastering yet so expect it to be much quieter than a normal track.

[Patashu]

The start of the song is bland because there is nothing harmonically or melodically complimenting the 'stairs'. It gets better and better as you build on more melody, chords and interesting drums. I think it still needs drum fills, crashes and other transistory elements. I think that if you figure out how to make the intro full at all frequency levels and varied but in a different way to the rest of the song (maybe by having less moving melodic elements that play here and there rather than at the same speed as the 'stairs'?), this will be the beginning of a good track.

[Navron]

I like the concept a lot, and your choice of arpeggios continuously shifting roots but ultimately leading nowhere is a nice bit of symbolism to an endless staircase.

In all honesty, I would tackle this concept JUST...LIKE...THIS:

Start off with few instruments, and introduce the melody. I'd actually start off slowly as well.

From there, to build suspense, you can:
- Introduce more instruments.
- Increase the tempo.
- Create more interesting drum patterns.
- Utilize heavier hitting drums.

You've got the concept down, time to build the story. Is this person discovering these endless stairs just mindlessly exploring them, or are they slowly being driven mad by the sight of more and more stairs?

Your song, your story, but I would totally make this song about a person going completely insane.

[Conduit]

I like the concept, but the execution a little lacking.

Here is a few quick tips / observations:
-The kick is a little weak
-It should build up a bit more, either replace the lead with something a bit heavier part way through, or layer another synth over top.
-Having the BPM increase throughout the piece would be nice
-After that pause at the end of the track everything should come back heavier, with different drum samples as well as louder, more "in your face" type leads and basses.
-Navrons idea is pretty cool, it would be great if near the end of the song things started detuning, and growing darker.

Overall its a really cool track, and definitely creates the image you were going for in my mind.

[Anonagon]

I love the idea and the melody. But when it comes to improving it, I agree with Navron:

Your song, your story, but I would totally make this song about a person going completely insane.

I would definitely do the insanity idea. Make the drums get heavier and louder as it goes along. Have them variate, using crashes and different patterns. Like everyone else said, a BPM increase over the course of the song would help. Another small problem is that there aren't many different synths, and all of them play similar melodies.

Just some thoughts, but I could be completely wrong.

[the4thImpulse]

Sorry for the tardy reply, I have been busy with school all day and doing shows all night for the past two days, even now I'm still on my ipad writing this.

A huge thanks to everyone here who gave their thoughts. It's nice see that you all like the idea of the track and you think I should go a similar route with it. I'm sure you are all aware this was mostly an idea proposal but in case that wasn't clear, it was all an idea proposal. I can't respond to everyone due iPads being horrible for typing stuff so here's the short form.

I am quite content where the intro for the moment sonically, but I will see if I can add some more sparkle to keep it less 'bland'. Hall of the mountain king is a good idea of want I want to achieve but it is my intention to keep this a 'normal' dance track as the foundation. Things like tempo shifts would work great but that's not where I will take this song (remix possibly?). I will keep layering the synths/drums and making them heavier and more distorted as the stairs go up, I share that same idea as all of you seemed too.

Navrons story of someone going insane is similar to the story I had for it initially. Taking an idea from the show I will try to make a middle point where the stairs get easy/different like when twilight reversed gravity and slid down the stairs. Or it will end at the most insane moment like navron said.

Detuning is a great idea and one I will certainly try out as a finale piece.

Thanks again, you're all the best!