[WIP][pony][Orchestration][remake] Anthropology

[Armystuntman]

https://soundcloud.com/the-unhappy-orchestra/wip-anthropology-orchestrated
It isn't finished, but it's based on Anthropology by AwkwardMarina.
I admit on taking a lot of reference from the tutorial video as some notes just left my hanging.

Despite it being a very early WIP, is there anything I should know so far?

[Callenby]

Nice work so far! It's sounds pretty good, especially since it's a WIP.

Might I ask what tutorial video are you referring to?

You do a good job of varying the roles. Nothing really gets used the same way twice. Sometimes orchestral producers don't make full use of their orchestra, but you don't have that problem. There are a lot of little inflections, which are nice even if someone's voice is going to be the main focus.

The intro (the first four seconds) I think could stand a little work. For whatever reason for me it doesn't quite mesh with the rest of it. The flow feels a tad off. Just a tad, though.

A couple of instruments felt a little out of place, specifically the electric guitar at 0:23 and the hi-hat (?) at 1:20. It's absolutely fine to deviate from standard instrumentation and practice, but these two things clash with what the rest of the orchestration seems to be going for (i.e. the standard orchestral grouping and style). Besides, the electric guitar pretty much disappears after a few seconds of playing, so its presence to me was too unusual. However, if your intention is to have truly unique then add more unusual instruments and make more use of them. Doing this will drive home the idea to the listener that it isn't supposed to be traditional and help them adjust accordingly.

Also, I feel that maybe you should tone down the drums during the last few seconds. Either that or expand the role of the orchestra so that the finish is more rousing. That's just me, though. Give it whatever ending you think the rest of it is building towards.

The samples here aren't the best, but people often can't afford better ones so it's alright. It's less what you have and more how you use it.

Again, you have good work so far. It's not really worth creating a new thread for another WIP of the same track so please update this one when you've had the chance to work some more.

[Armystuntman]

Nice work so far! It's sounds pretty good, especially since it's a WIP.

Thankies. c:

The intro (the first four seconds) I think could stand a little work. For whatever reason for me it doesn't quite mesh with the rest of it. The flow feels a tad off. Just a tad, though.

Failed incidental music :/ I'll change it I guess, or remove it completely.

Might I ask what tutorial video are you referring to?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWN6nR3LltY and referring to the original song itself for the "singing" parts. I'm planning to make two versions, one with only the accompaniment so someone can sing to it, and one like the WIP which has the instruments "singing" the singing parts instead.
Considering that I can't read music, that video helped me a lot.

You do a good job of varying the roles. Nothing really gets used the same way twice. Sometimes orchestral producers don't make full use of their orchestra, but you don't have that problem. There are a lot of little inflections, which are nice even if someone's voice is going to be the main focus.

Own of my personal aims in this song was to make it varied throughout. It seems that I've succeeded.

yay

A couple of instruments felt a little out of place, specifically the electric guitar at 0:23 and the hi-hat (?) at 1:20.

I had originally intended to make the hi-hat play throughout most of the whole song, but it became tedious and so I only put it there since it was a much more calm part of the song. The original song has this playing in the background, but it's not very noticeable. I guess I could take it out.
Also, the eletric guitar was composed there to fit in with the lyrics "while humans strum their sweet guitar." Kinda like how in a cartoon or very cartoonish musical, when someone talks about playing something there would be a little cue of that particular instrument. I tried to do something like that but...I guess it kinda failed. I'm a bit reluctant to remove the guitar part though~for the reason I just stated.

However, if your intention is to have truly unique then add more unusual instruments and make more use of them.

I was going for a very cartoonish style, where the music is somewhat incidental and based on the lyrics itself. This means the song is mostly orchestral, but has some creative license to use very bizarre changes.

Also, I feel that maybe you should tone down the drums during the last few seconds. Either that or expand the role of the orchestra so that the finish is more rousing. That's just me, though. Give it whatever ending you think the rest of it is building towards.

Oh. Well, about that.... I should probably remove that drum part entirely or replace it with orchestral snares. (I had accidentally composed it on POWER snares...yeah...it was 3 oclock in the morning...)
I'm not very good with percussion so I'm reluctant to put them in. I'll look over the percussion and re-do that last bit.

The samples here aren't the best, but people often can't afford better ones so it's alright. It's less what you have and more how you use it.

Eh, people have made great songs using internal MIDI's, so it shouldn't be an excuse on the quality of a song. (Unless the sample is out of tune, like one of my "High quality" tuba soundfonts ;_;')

Again, you have good work so far. It's not really worth creating a new thread for another WIP of the same track so please update this one when you've had the chance to work some more.

Thank you, and yesh.

[Armystuntman]

Bunp
https://soundcloud.com/the-unhappy-orchestra/wip-anthropology
Re-done the intro, made it more smooth. Also added a little more near the end of the WIP. Still having too much problems figuring out the changing tempo of the end of the song though, so I've cut it early for now.

[Callenby]

(Totally meant to reply sooner but I forgot! Sorry.)

Wow, this is almost like a blast from the past. I don't really remember your first WIP, but here are my thoughts for this one:

The mood of the intro felt a littler harsher then the nature of the song suggests.

It seems to be a lot heavier in the lower register now, especially with the strings. Tone that down a bit. That will also help make it seem less harsh. The mood is supposed to be pretty light-hearted, right?

I'd change that electric guitar to an acoustic one. Electric just doesn't feel right to me.

I wouldn't worry about changing tempo. You intend to add the lyrics to this, right? Don't fret about tempo until vocals come into the mix.