I Finally Completed the Intro for my Film/Video Game Soundtrack! It's Awesome!

You can understand it was made on a computer, especially from the strings and percussion (and some woodwind, but they are not as prominent in the music).

Also, film music is so much more than writing down a few chords and orchestrating them neatly, or having a few sections, making them different but with similar material etc etc.

Furthermore, by saying you just copy-pasted the thread you basically tell us us that you weren't interested in putting much work to present your piece of music, thus you just did it for more or less promotion of the piece. It's not the kind of feedback we give that you're after, I believe. The only thing you want to learn is "how can I make this better" instead of "how can I be better". As the chinese proverb says "Give someone a fish, and you've helped him once. Teach him how to fish, and you've helped him for a lifetime".


Lastly, could you elaborate on that good musical education you mentioned in your post? It will help us know more as to how we can help you learn more.

No, I really want to become better. I just completed working on that piece when making this thread, I was tired, haven't eaten all day (that made be a bit angry), and in a hurry.

Yes, I figured a person with good musical education can see it was made on a computer, but a someone without it cannot.

OK, now a bit about my musical education. I started learning piano in 1st grade, but moved to a musical gymnasium only when in 4th. In the second half of the 7th grade I started learning composition but stopped in the 9th. In 10th grade I went to a musical lyceum and started learning composition again. I am still doing so now, in 12th grade. Next year I'll go to the music academy as a composer.

Of course I don't write film music for the composition lesson, I write modernist/avantgarde things. Right now I'm writing one for an ensemble of maybe about 10 instruments.

"give a man a fish and you feed him for a day;
teach a man to fish and you lose him and his buddies every weekend for the rest of the summer"

Ok, on to the music.
It's clichéd.
It DOES sound like music for a TV show, something like Stargate or one of those.. but then that's not a compliment from me. I don't care for the Stargate TV music.
The major problem I see with it is that it's just too patchy. One theme, Another theme. Another theme. No transitions, no morphing of one material into another. It's pretty at first blush, but boring in the long run.


And oops, I almost forgot, this thread has been moved to the appropriate subforum category.

I love 1:04-1:45, that bit is awesome.

Hey there Maxx,

I will go easy on you as I figure you are excited about your work and believe its "awesome" etc. I dont want to crush your spirits because you are talented and this is solid work.

But, I think you need to focus more of seeking the "song within" instead of doing an awesome piece.

The music is cliched, any composer anywhere could have done this piece. It has no identity and nothing special or remarkable about it.

It sounds good at first, but as I listened to it again, I got a lot of flash and no substance, just kinda expected in every way.

I would look at composers like Danny Elfman and Joe Hisaishi and even Phillip Glass.

Composers known for their unique approach to the medium and see how they have made the music their own while still being unique to the vision of the base material.

But you are off to a good start.

TheHarrowing is right. It kinda lacks unique substance. I would check out some of those composers, especially Joe Hisaishi. I LOVE his composing, even if the movies aren't always that great...

Thanks for the comment and the suggestions, I'll make sure to check out the composers you recommended. Also I will remake this piece, after a few days.

No problem man, glad I could help.

If you have a moment, check out my recent piece. Be interested to hear your comments.

-Harrow

I think the intro sucks but after that its pretty nice. I don't know what it is but I guess thats suppose to be snare? IMO its completely ruining the intro.

The rest of the stuff might be "cliche" as some have said but thats besides the point. If you created it yourself without "copying" then I think its nice and does have its good moments. It might not have much structure but I don't think that is needed in program like music.

I'm curious as to what you used to create the sounds. It might not be a real orchestra but it is close(much much closer than "midi" music). Is it VSL? I'm interested in composing for instruments other than piano but I can't stand "midi" sounds(which IMO include just about ever sound library except VSL and maybe some newer ones I'm unaware).

I think you definitely have potential but ultimately your going to have to distinguish yourself from the rest. It looks to be a good start though.

If you fix the intro I think its a pretty good piece. You might also try to insert some more thematic material but I do feel like theres a "journey" going on. Since its only 2 mins its not so important but if you plan on making it longer you'll probably want to definitely structure it some.

In any case, please elucidate more on what you used to get the sounds maybe even the process. I know VSL used to be the best but I haven't messed with that in a long time because at the time it wasn't all that easy and my computer sucked.

Thanks,
Jon

Originally Posted by JonSlaughter

I think the intro sucks but after that its pretty nice. I don't know what it is but I guess thats suppose to be snare? IMO its completely ruining the intro.

The rest of the stuff might be "cliche" as some have said but thats besides the point. If you created it yourself without "copying" then I think its nice and does have its good moments. It might not have much structure but I don't think that is needed in program like music.

I'm curious as to what you used to create the sounds. It might not be a real orchestra but it is close(much much closer than "midi" music). Is it VSL? I'm interested in composing for instruments other than piano but I can't stand "midi" sounds(which IMO include just about ever sound library except VSL and maybe some newer ones I'm unaware).

I think you definitely have potential but ultimately your going to have to distinguish yourself from the rest. It looks to be a good start though.

If you fix the intro I think its a pretty good piece. You might also try to insert some more thematic material but I do feel like theres a "journey" going on. Since its only 2 mins its not so important but if you plan on making it longer you'll probably want to definitely structure it some.

In any case, please elucidate more on what you used to get the sounds maybe even the process. I know VSL used to be the best but I haven't messed with that in a long time because at the time it wasn't all that easy and my computer sucked.

Thanks,
Jon

Thanks, I use VST instruments. The sounds are from East & West Quantum Leaps Symphonic Orchestra Silver Edition. I want the Platinum Edition but that's like $2000 ($1000 for students) and weights 138GB.

Originally Posted by TheHarrowing

No problem man, glad I could help.

If you have a moment, check out my recent piece. Be interested to hear your comments.

-Harrow

Will do.

By the way, I am soon going to try increasing my virtual orchestra skills. I will download some orchestral piece, the audio file and the score, I choose Beethoven's 5th Symphony, 1st Movement, and I will try to emulate it using only virtual instruments. I'll try to make it sound as close to the original as possible.