SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC091 March 2025 - results in preparation

[alphageeks]

Greetings and salutations,

I enjoyed composing with this chord progression. As a hobbyist, I always feel rushed to finish these competitions. But, I actually made it in time to submit this month(although I wish I had more time to polish the production...didn't have time to do any volume automation).
I attempted to give a little variation to the sixteen bar progression in some sections. All sixteen bars are used, except in the bridge section, where I only used the latter half. As far as the genre: I try not to focus in one genre, unless the occasion calls for a specific one. I guess I would call this soft rock or pop? All virtual instruments used - no vocals. For the intro, I happened across a unique pad in the Lunaris Kontakt instrument. One of the four voices is kind of de-tuned and delayed. I was going to mute that voice, but it grew on me the more I listened, so it's kind of a "happy accident".

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/r9ivofx5 ... qgfb3&dl=0

► Show Spoiler

Cubase 14 Artist

Drums: BFD Player Dark Copper Kit, Purafied Audio Liquid Death Snare
Percussion: In Session Audio Fruit Shake shakers, Sample Logic Impakt Multis x 2
Pads: Dark Intervals Guitars in Space, Luftrum Lunaris 2
Guitars: Impact Soundworks Hydra and Telos, NI Electric Storm and Acoustic Sunburst Deluxe
Bass: UJAM Royal

Other: Scaler 2, Pitch Innovations Eternal Arps

Mixing/Mastering: kHs Transient Shaper, Izotope Ozone 11, Sonible Pure:Unmask, Process Audio Protility, United Plugins QuickMuse, Mastering the Mix Mixroom and Bassroom, Steinberg Supervision metering tool

The guitar sounds are very effective and the melody is deep. I think it's a wonderful piece.

[alphageeks]

Hi fellow music makers,

For this challenge I wanted to make a lofi hiphop beat. For that vibe I added a 7th to all the chords to make it more jazz-like. To get a nice base with some movement I added an arpeggiator to the midi chords and ran it through my analog synth (Behringer Pro-800) while tweaking the knobs. All notes are delayed a bit to give it this laidback, wonky feel in combination with the drums that have a slightly different groove; After that some pads through the same synth. Just so that I had enough structure to come up with a melody. My classical guitar turned out to work better for the melody than my more jazzy electric guitar; It creates nice contrast with the synthetic sounds.
It’s hard to make a 2 bar drum pattern not feel stale after a while. That’s why I played the bass more freely; doing about 4-5 takes throughout and then picking the best parts.
The beat is programmed with samples I recorded myself.

I hope you get some studying done with this one
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aleaHO ... sp=sharing

It's sophisticated and tasteful, and the guitar and lo-fi sounds work really well together. It feels like the guitar is singing.

[alphageeks]

My submission: Ashes Of Time

WAV: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14hicW8 ... sp=sharing
MP3: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J2VP1m ... sp=sharing

An 80's inspired synth-rock piece, as I thought that this chord progression would fit perfectly for this type of song.

It seems that I've misunderstood the rules about the chord progression (modified it quite drastically at some places). I realized it too late, when the main parts of the arrangement were done. I will leave it as it is.

Instruments and techniques:

1. The drums are a combination of samples from TR-707 and 505 drum machines.
2. The provided chord progression was used for the piano arrangement. The whole song was built around it. The main piano part is the SampleScience "Cinematic Piano" library. The chords and melody are separate instances processed differently. The chords are slightly EQed and compressed and the melody has a very strong modulation effect on it."Room Piano" used for the bass notes. Additionally, "Drone Piano" is a reversed and looped piano library that is playing the same chords as the main part, creating a sort of a synth-like pad.
3. The electric guitars are MusicLab's "RealLPC". Two instances for the rhythm and one for the solo. Processed with "TH-U" guitar suite, a typical 80's mid-gain guitar sound;
4. The main lead synthesizer is "Repro-5". A simple unison lead with glide;
5. "Dexed" is used for the bass part, synth-arp and SFX;
6. "PG-8X" is used for the bright synth-keys layered with piano chords;
7. FL Studio "FLEX" playing the sounds from the general MIDI library is used for the synth-choir and brass chords layered with the piano chords;
8. Some of the sounds from "Ocean Swift - Sounds Of Life" free sample library were used to create transition effects;
9. BPB "Dirty VHS" is a lo-fi effect switching on and off in some sections of the song (mainly in the breakdowns).

Technical details:

► Show Spoiler

Produced in FL Studio 21.2.2

Generators:

x1 FPC
x1 Martin Lauders "PG-8X"
x4 Dexed
x3 MusicLab "RealLPC"
x1 SampleScience "Cinematic Piano"
x1 SampleScience "Room Piano"
x1 SampleScience "Drone Piano"
x2 FL FLEX

EQ & Saturation:

x1 BPB "Dirty Filter"
x2 BPB "Saturator"
x20 FL Parametric EQ 2
x2 TDR "Nova"
x18 TDR & VoS "SlickEQ GE"

Dynamics:

x21 AdHd "Leveling Tool"
x1 D16 "Frontier"
x2 FL Balance
x1 FL Stereo Enhancer
x2 TAL-DAC
x1 TDR "Kotelnikov"
x8 Thomas Mundt "LoudMax"

Delay & Reverb:

x7 Audiority "Xenoverb"

x9 FL Delay 3
x4 FL Reeverb 2
x1 VoS "epicVerb"

Modulation:

x3 FL Hyper Chorus
x1 FL PanOMatic
x5 TAL-Chorus-LX

Processing:

x2 Overloud "TH-U"
x2 Wavesfactory "Cassette"

Master Chain:

BPB "Dirty VHS"
TDR "Nova"
Limiter №6 GE

Total:

x14 Generators
x116 Effects
x55 MIDI Patterns
x37 Mixer Tracks
x17 Audio Clips
x33 Automation Clips

The electro melody with a slightly lonely atmosphere is impressive. As the sun sets, the evening scenery unfolds.

[juhu]

Hi,

Just uploaded my final revision:

Hi,

1) Here’s my entry named “Five in the Chamber“ (Rev4 final):
http://tinkerstate.com/mix-challenge/SW ... hamber.wav

List of Rev4 changes:

• Slightly randomized note timings and velocities on the piano;
• Auto-generated pitch-bend events per note for bowed string instruments;
• Slightly randomized note timings and pitch-bend events for bowed instruments;
• Made some Mid/Side EQ adjustments in order to tame low-mid build-up.

The slight randomizations made things a tad more "humanized" and the overall soundscape is now clearer I think.

2) Documentation for prior revisions below (click on "SHOW" to expand):

► Show Spoiler

Rev3 changes (file still available with "_R3" name suffix):

• Sped up the tempo a bit.

Rev2 changes (file still available with "_R2" name suffix):

• Improved dynamics, especially in the slow sections built on long string swells;
• Adjusted some articulations in the energetic development sections;
• Adjusted tempo map subtly to better suit each section.

As a result, the piece should feel a bit more natural now. Granted, there is no MIDI-substitute to recording a real string orchestra with a real piano. Might actually happen one day, though definitely won't happen within the March 24 2025 timeline.

Rev1 documentation (file still available with "_R1" name suffix):

Started by opening the provided MIDI file in Logic just to check out the chord progression and to think what can be done with it. Since the given sample chords sounded kinda plain with parallel motion and no voice leading, I began to mess around with the mouse in piano roll editor. After a while, something resembling 4-voice counterpoint started to emerge so I decided to keep going in that direction.

After I had my main theme fleshed out and harmonized using counterpoint voice leading, it felt a bit bland having just a piano alone playing this 4-voice thingy, so after some trial-end-error I ended up with a five-part chamber orchestra (or a mouse-drawn MIDI-imitation thereof) using stock instruments from Logic’s sound library: “Studio Grand”, “Studio Violins”, “Studio Violas”, “Studio Cellos”, “Studio Double Basses”.

Before I finally settled for the five-part chamber orchestra though, I had tried string quartet first (2 x violin, viola, cello), but the quartet sounded kinda weak without the piano and when I added the piano back in then I really felt it needed the double bass as well, so I dropped 2nd violin part in favour of the double bass - this particular set of instruments turned out to support each other well timbrally.

Hearing the main theme played by the orchestra, I noticed that it works better if I flip the first and second halves of it. By doing that, I also flipped the first and second halves of the chord progression. This should be OK rules-wise I hope, since the only difference between the halves is the "D minor (sans 5th)" at the end - in my version, that chord now appears in the middle of the theme instead of ending it.

Now that I had a main theme and a set of instruments to play it on, I wrote the side theme and the development section, a transposed variation on the side theme and a coda. I am acutely aware that as of Rev1, the thing does occasionally come across a bit like separately written sections artificially glued together. Also, a lot of MIDI dynamics are still TODO. I might attempt to improve on these matters in upcoming revision(s).

[ThomC]

Hey everyone!

Here's my track for this challenge. This time, I went for a short cinematic track in the spirit of the movie companies intros. The chord progression inspired me to go in that direction very naturally (hence the name). It's kind of a tribute to some of the great childhood memories I have of going to the cinema with my family. I hope you'll enjoy it!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WOoXT8 ... rive_link

Instruments Used

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- Audio Imperia Nucleus
- Musio Cinewinds
- Spitfire Audio Albion Neo
- Spitfire Audio Cinematic Frozen Strings

Plugins Used

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- Cubase Stock EQ
- Ik Multimedia T-Racks Dyna Mu
- Liquid Sonics Seventh Heaven Professional
- UAD Pultec EQ

[Mister Fox]

It is the 25th March 2025, 0:25 UTC+1/CET - this month's Songwriting Competition has official ended


STATISTICS:

• If I didn't miscount, we have 14 submissions this month (04 entries more than last month, and also 01 entry more than March 2024)
• We have 0 submissions after the deadline (as of 25-MAR-2025 00:20 UTC+1/CET)
• We have 0 submission that have been pushed to "Bonus Entries"
• We have 1 submission that has been withdrawn mid game (therefore it can't count to the overall participation - one additional entry has been withdrawn mid Feedback and Voting time-frame)
• The "staff balancing vote" add-on rule does not apply (special game mechanics do apply)
• "Sole Winners Podium" rule (equal or less than eight participants results in a single winner) does not apply (3-position Winners Podium)

How do we go from there?

Over the course of the next (hopefully) 24-48 hours (usually up to 6-12 hours maximum after the game has ended), I'll gather all links into one post and hot-link to that from the first post of the thread. Please, no more changes to your entries, but please do check your links that these entries are accessible and downloadable, not to mention documented. We then perform with the final feedback and "public vote" system.


We have 13 official / still active participants. We are adapting the overhauled vote mechanic, as talked about in the following news blog:

Songwriting Competition - game mechanic changes: Voting Process (October 2022 Update)
(Info: I am aware that the Rule Book has not been properly updated yet. Time constraints, apologies for the inconvenience)


Summarized:

!

Bonus Info

Participants can (and must) vote for their Top 5 entries (tiered mechanic). You're furthermore asked to please reflect on your experience this month (2-3 paragraphs max), what you have learned this month, what you would like to do different in the future, etc. (personal growth) You are also asked to give feedback to at least five (number: 5) entries (tiered mechanic) -- things that stood out to you, providing some final thoughts and constructive feedback for possible improvements. This adds to the learning experience of our community. It is recommended that these entries are outside of your personal "top entry" voting. Have the chance to get additional bonus points if you decide to invest the time to provide more constructive feedback than the requested minimum. It must be more than just "nice production, please keep up the good work" however. This is to boost more interaction and can balance out your overall points on the score sheet. (get 1 point if you give constructive feedback to 02 to 03 more participants, get 2 points if you give helpful feedback for everyone, bonus entries not counting) The "Voting Process" mechanic is mandatory for all participants, and the only criteria to drop out of the game by not partaking. Please don't just collect feedback, and not give back to the community. The overall "Bonus Point" mechanic still applies. Please update your posts with proper production documentation, most notably regarding whom you have collaborated with (as in: proper credits -- not doing so will result in a -2pt deduction on the score sheet at the end of the game). Please also make your entries downloadable, or provide an additional download link if not existing already. You got until the voting period has ended. (please: no changes to the arrangement anymore) Please cast your vote (not the feedback) in collective form through the "spoiler text" bbcode (button on the WYSIWYG editor that features the orange triangle with an exclamation mark in it). Please use the forum username of the participant to make it easier during the score collection to address what vote belongs to whom. And please, only have one post as final feedback and vote. Thank you.

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⚠	Moderation Message from Mister Fox
	For transparency: The staff (Mister Fox) will not give feedback to all entries and/or cast a vote this month. (unless there is a tie that can not be broken otherwise)

Feedback from non-participants and/or collaborators is highly encouraged (voting not needed!). The same goes for entries after the deadline, or those that sadly do not count for the current running game (even if you've exceeded the deadline, why not post your entry regardless?). Musicians and Engineers are always after constructive criticism. This is what this forum is about.





Have some general feedback? Please provide that here:
Songwriting Competition - General Gossip Thread, or on Discord.



Please give me a moment to collect all entries.
Please make sure your files are accessible, and please have an eye on this thread!




EDIT: 25-MAR-2025 00:25 - initial post
EDIT: 26-MAR-2025 20:00 - update on withdrawn entries

[Mister Fox]

Let us kick off the VOTING PROCESS, which will end on Tuesday, 01-APR-2025 23:59 UTC+2/CEST latest.


There is a GLOBAL COUNTDOWN to check for deadlines.
Just follow this link: Global Countdown (on homepage)


Here is the collection of productions from all participants (in hope that I didn't forget anyone). As usual, if you click on the small upwards-arrow right beside the quoted name, you can jump to the original post and read up on the documentation for this production.


.

"250305"

WAV: Dropbox playback and download

"Five in the Chamber"

WAV: Direct download

"I Offer You A Chord"

WAV: Google Drive playback and download

"Sixteen"

"Progression

WAV: Dropbox playback and download

"En Route Sur San Jose"



WAV: Direct download (entry at lower volume)
FLAC: Direct download (normalized link)

"Acords Copiats"

"I rise"



WAV: MyCloud download

"What The Funk"

WAV: Google Drive playback and download

"The Offer"

WAV: Dropbox playback and download

"Recipe 3"

WAV: Google Drive playback and download

"Ashes Of Time"

WAV: Google Drive playback and download
MP3: Google Drive playback and download

"Another Night At The Movies"

WAV: Google Drive playback and download

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WITHDRAWN (not participating - feel free to give feedback, but you sadly can not vote for these entries)


<no withdrawn entries>
.



BONUS ENTRIES (submitted after the deadline / outside of game scope - feel free to give feedback, but you sadly can not vote for these entries)


<no bonus entries>
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GAME MECHANIC SUMMARY:

► Show Spoiler

Please consult this news blog post regarding an overhaul to the voting mechanic. To make it simple for me for counting the votes - please use the forum usernames in your listing, not the song titles. Thank you!

Please also consult the previous post that features a summary for this month's mechanic (see "Bonus Info" in the red colored box).

New to the game and don't know how to give feedback efficiently? Check in with previous Songwriting Competitions.
.


This month's SWC participants giving feedback to each other is mandatory, it is the only criteria to drop out of the game by not partaking. Please also do not just collect feedback, and give nothing in return. The concept of the Songwriting Competition is interaction and "learning by doing". If you have collaborated with somebody, then only the one doing the main entry needs to give feedback and vote. Bonus feedback is always welcome. However, please be open minded, objective and constructive.


INFORMATION: If you have submitted your entry in multiple file formats, the statistic sheet (posted alongside the results) will focus on the uncompressed material first (WAV), then FLAC, then MP3. The higher the quality (e.g. lossless format), the less possible loss on bonus points for "Loudness Specs" due to offsets introduced by a used CODEC.

Good luck to all participants!




If you have an idea for a future Songwriting Competition, please post about this in the theme/genre request page or on Discord.


Post updated: 25-MAR-2025 00:59 UTC+1/CET -- initial post
Post updated: 26-MAR-2025 22:20 UTC+1/CET -- re-instating entry by Soni2Music until I get a response from the user. Else it will be moved to "Bonus Entries"

[EatMe]

Here is my personal opinion on the rest of the entries and the re-submitted one by juhu.
I will post my votes soon.

ThomC: An excellent, movieworth, crafted piece.
I can not really hear much of the original chord scheme provided.
The arrangement, mixing and composition in this is excellent.
Iis it even a song? Or is it an intro to a very exciting movie?
Imagination is sparkling from this song. Very good work.


Blang: Very well made into something like a song.
I can't hear all the original chords from the chord scheme provided.
You did however create a good song from a part of the chords.
Well done on the instrumentation, arrangement, drums and composition.
Compliments on how harmonious everything sounds. Very well done.


MellowBrowne: Beautiful instrumental hip-hop.
A very good take, albeit with not all of the original chords provided.
This is a very well made harmonious composition.
I feel that some more accenting an be added to the (hihat?) drums, to give even more swing.
The production is excellent, and would be suitable for raps on top.


juhu (take 3): Very well done on bettering the song.
The notes in the lead sound much more, very, related to each in your 3rd version.
The composition sounds much better than the first version that I gave comment on,
and has no longer the "robotic" composition sound from the first version,
and became a good work of art. So, my first comment does no longer stand.
The mix of all elements is on-point.
A pity that there are no drums and cymbals to enhance the excitement at some moments.


VCA-089: A very complete, 80's like song.
Too bad you have modified so much of the original chords, I can't really recognize a scheme like the original.
The instrumentation, drums and mixing are very decent.
The whole song is a polished and complete whole. Well done.


Chasey24: A good arrangement.
In this one I also can not hear all the chords from the original chord scheme provided.
Still, the arrangement, drums and songwriting are good.
The guitar solo also sounds on-point and in-key, although it is sounding through-out almost the whole song,
the guitar solo does not function as answer to a main theme, like a lead-out or solo on a smaller part (near the end).
The whole song is quite a polished whole. Well done.


EsteveCorbera: Quite an exciting work with all these sound effects.
The mix of all elements stands out in this song.
The (303-like) solo in the middle sounds a bit unrelated to the rest of the music.
The song was not too harmonious, not too bad though.
(It is very difficult to make something beautiful with the provided chord scheme..)


Strange: Pretty decent songwriter work, but not like the provided scheme.
I can not hear much of the original provided chord scheme, sounds rather like a F G Am Am.
The mixing is on point, I'm not sure about the vocals performance, sounds a bit unpracticed.
Overall not too bad, pretty decent work.

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Good luck to all participants!

[Strange]

Here is my personal opinion on the rest of the entries and the re-submitted one by juhu.
I will post my votes soon.


Strange: Pretty decent songwriter work, but not like the provided scheme.
I can not hear much of the original provided chord scheme, sounds rather like a F G Am Am.
The mixing is on point, I'm not sure about the vocals performance, sounds a bit unpracticed.
Overall not too bad, pretty decent work.

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Good luck to all participants!

Thank you for your feedback. BUT you can literally hear the original chord progression the whole song. Only two variations in length in the intro an the outro and the second verse repeats the first 8 bars.

[juhu]

Hello,

I hereby provide my mandatory 3 items:

1) The TOP 5 votes, ordered from highest to lowest:

► Show Spoiler

1. Marc Fey "Progression"
2. efemgie "I Offer You A Chord"
3. Blang "Recipe 3"
4. Mellow Browne "What The Funk"
5. Strange "I rise"

2) The feedback to fellow musicians:

► Show Spoiler

NOTE: I apologise to those whose entries didn't resonate with me genre-wise, as I couldn't provide too much in terms of meaningful feedback in those cases - please do not take this harshly as it's just a matter of taste!

• alphageeks "250305"
  I immediately imagined how well this track would fit as background music for a TV documentary about skydiving! Or wingsuit gliding! Probably because of the cheerful arpeggiator effects I reckon. Occasional tasteful detuning effects also seal the scenery for me - definitely above or near the clouds, optionally mountainous!

• efemgie "I Offer You A Chord"
  Totally nails the genre it is going for, plus it sounds like a polished commercial release to my ears! There are no transitions that feel jarring, and no sections that feel out of place or dragging - the form keeps flowing smoothly all the time!

• APi_ZZ "Sixteen"
  I do like the creative soundscapes formed by such a variety of timbres, however, my beef with this composition is the occasional jarring voice leading decisions that take such sudden unresolved jumps that it breaks the immersion for me. Granted, voice leading isn’t an easy task to begin with, and some other genres are definitely less sensitive in that regard. This particular genre however happens to be extremely sensitive.

• Marc Fey "Progression"
  Reminds me of the French ambient duo Air from the 2000’s - what else needs to be said? Sounds great! If I really push myself to pick on something then I’d say that the intro could have been shorter, perhaps half its current duration. Other than that - it’s excellent! Someone on this forum already mentioned that the drum programming is top notch, which it is!

• EatMe "En Route Sur San Jose"
  The genre just doesn’t connect with me musically, this must be a personal taste thing I guess. Perhaps it’s the lack of a melody? I mean, sometimes a track can work without a melody but then it needs some other form of ear-candy I guess.

• EsteveCorbera "Acords Copiats"
  Everything from 2:00 to 3:46 works great! The rest of it feels totally unnecessary, at least to my taste - I would have dropped the dead weight and kept the excellent material at 2:00 to 3:46. The short section at 2:00 - 2:10 would have worked well as a concise yet curiously imagination-provoking intro!

• Soni2Music "The Sirens Whistle"
  There’s nothing musically wrong here but again this must be one of those genres that doesn’t speak to me personally. If I analyze it technically then everything is technically “correct”, for lack of a better term, and yet I’m not connecting emotionally.

• Strange "I rise"
  Kudos for taking the time and effort to record actual vocals! The Verses and the Bridge have the exact right ratio of notes vs. spaces and this makes those sections groove very well indeed I think. If you now guess that I’m going to pick somewhat on Pre-Choruses and Choruses, then you are of course not wrong! You see, in those busier sections you’ve tried so hard to make each instrument groove even harder that you’ve overdone it and there are now simply too many notes and not enough space going on rhythmically once you put all those instruments together, and the overall groove suffers as a result. What’s funny is that I often make the same mistake myself and yet somehow I feel totally unashamed to point it out to others when I hear other people do it. One more thing - the Snare disappears into the mix a bit compared to the Kick which pops out more, so I would have tried to make the Snare pop out about as much as the Kick does in order to balance out those two elements. But hey - the lyrics and the vocals are good and the overcooked sections can be fixed some day later if you ever decide to make an actual commercial release!

• Mellow Browne "What The Funk"
  Mostly true to its genre, except for one jarring chord at 1:00 that breaks character for my ear, probably because it’s too clean being just a triad? Perhaps a denser chord with some extra note(s) added would have made it fit the style better? Interestingly, the clean triad at 1:12 works well without breaking character! So yeah, just one of those “feel” things not easily explicable by technical harmony theory alone. Other than that - a solid composition and a good mix, too!

• Chasey24 "The Offer"
  Another track that has nothing wrong with it musically or technically but yet again it’s a genre that doesn’t connect with me personally. Perhaps the shortest reasoning I can give is that it doesn’t evoke emotions in me.

• Blang "Recipe 3"
  Now we have a second entry reminiscent of the French ambient duo Air, which is great! This one sounds like a polished commercial release to boot! My only gripe is that the track ends too soon, I would have loved for it to be a longer form.

• VCA-089 "Ashes Of Time"
  Aah, the 80’s making a comeback! As for the sections that do have a melody or other kind of ear-candy - those sections work very well indeed, whereas remaining sections that do not have any melody or ear-candy can quickly “drop the ball” and start coming across like the mouse-drawn-MIDI chord progression exercises that they are. Maybe I’m being too harsh here, as the better sections are really, really good. Then again, if some parts are really, really good then the threshold for “dropping the ball” becomes thinner and thinner, just the way it is. Nevertheless, a bunch of great material here and kudos for the sound design on those psychedelic drones in the background!

• ThomC "Another Night At The Movies"
  Getting some serious jurassic-park-kind of vibes here! I wish the track would be a longer and more-developed-out form though. Right now it feels as an intro to something and I would have loved to listen to that something as well. On the bright side - excellent use of the full range of available orchestral dynamics!

3) The personal reflection:

► Show Spoiler

The most surprising thing I’ve learnt participating in this challenge was how one thing might lead to another thing and so it sometimes can be worth it to step outside one’s own comfort zone and try things one hasn’t tried before - you see, I somewhat hesitantly played the MIDI rendition of the piece to a professional classically trained musician, not expecting much more than “Not excessively awful.” for a reply. Instead, the reply was an unexpected request for the musical score of the piece so that rehearsals could be planned. Not 100% guaranteed yet, but a chance nonetheless.

I guess I knew it even before I started going in the orchestral direction that MIDI strings are really, really hard in terms of making those sound anything resembling natural. So I made the composition aspect my primary task, with sounds and mixing aspects secondary and tertiary. After all, there is now a non-zero chance the piece might get performed by real musicians on real instruments some day and if that happens I might see to it that a live performance gets recorded, making the MIDI version obsolete.

In my feedback section I point out how ThomC’s orchestral track "Another Night At The Movies" has succeeded to utilize the full range of available orchestral playing dynamics, and so I should therefore also point out that this is something I struggled myself with and wasn’t able to achieve to the extent I would have liked with MIDI, perhaps because I used somewhat generic stock stringed instrument samples, or perhaps because I simply didn’t trial-and-error hard enough.

Another pain point to reflect and seek guidance on going forward is my tendency to build forms by gluing somewhat-disparate sections together in a way that makes the transitions feel not-seamless-enough. If anyone knows a good technique or two in regards to fixing that particular tendency I would appreciate the tips for sure!