<WIP><Pony><Original> Peace and Quiet

[Magnitude Zero]

Link: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/96651118/Peace%20and%20Quiet/paq%20wip12.mp3

Something I've been working on for the past couple months for Soft Spectrum II. I know it still has some glaring mixing issues especially with the vocals near the end, but the deadline is next week so I thought I'd post it here for some feedback!

[Callenby]

Soft Spectrum is about chill music, right? If so, then mission accomplished!

As I so often say, this is not the genre I write in so take all my advice with a grain of salt.

First of all (and this is merely tangential), it might be better to embed your WIP rather than link to it. I don't know for sure but it seems like that deters some people from commenting.

When you use the really intense left and right echo effect (I don't know the exact term for it), it was a little on the distracting side. Not a huge deal, though.

The strings samples I'm not too wild about, though I know that quality ones are expensive and besides that's often a secondary concern to non-orchestral musicians. Don't be afraid to switch them out with something else entirely.

Around 3:41 the mix in general gets a little more energetic than I'm guessing you intended (the bass especially feels somewhat out of place). It's a totally legitimate direction to take it, but that sort of thing might better suit a different kind of track.

The only other point is that the mixing could use some tightening up, but you already knew that. Just do that and I'm sure you'll make it onto the album!

[Magnitude Zero]

Hey! Thanks for the review, sorry for the late reply.

First of all (and this is merely tangential), it might be better to embed your WIP rather than link to it. I don't know for sure but it seems like that deters some people from commenting.

Yeah I didn't think it would be that big of a deal since it can still be played in the browser, but apparently it is. I'll remember that for next time.

When you use the really intense left and right echo effect (I don't know the exact term for it), it was a little on the distracting side. Not a huge deal, though.

What are you referring to here? Vocals? Piano? Or just in general?

The strings samples I'm not too wild about, though I know that quality ones are expensive and besides that's often a secondary concern to non-orchestral musicians. Don't be afraid to switch them out with something else entirely.

Nngh, yeah... I don't really use strings often enough to warrant picking up a more expensive, professional orchestral library. I thought they sounded fine here though, are they really that bad?

Around 3:41 the mix in general gets a little more energetic than I'm guessing you intended (the bass especially feels somewhat out of place). It's a totally legitimate direction to take it, but that sort of thing might better suit a different kind of track.

I definitely meant for the song to climax since I felt it would just feel long and dragged out otherwise. It's a bit late to make any major structure changes, I think, but I'll work at the bass a bit.

The only other point is that the mixing could use some tightening up, but you already knew that. Just do that and I'm sure you'll make it onto the album!

Will do, thanks man!

[Callenby]

What are you referring to here? Vocals? Piano? Or just in general?

Oops, sorry. I was referring to the vocals. The rest is fine.

Nngh, yeah... I don't really use strings often enough to warrant picking up a more expensive, professional orchestral library. I thought they sounded fine here though, are they really that bad?

Eh, you're probably fine given the circumstances. I'm a string player so I'm likely overly sensitive to it. It's really just the sample starting at around 1:45 that is noticeably off. It's less of a problem when it returns at 3:13 because it's in the background then.

I definitely meant for the song to climax since I felt it would just feel long and dragged out otherwise. It's a bit late to make any major structure changes, I think, but I'll work at the bass a bit.

That's fine. It's totally your call. Just wanted share the direction I felt it was going in.

Good luck with the album!