Beyond the Stars & Across The Galaxy

Trying to convey the sense of space... or the lack there of...Ambience is the correct term.Song number 5 out of 8 of LMMS Project.Becoming much more confident with using LMMS. Started recently playing with some of the FX features. -There are just way too many features in this program to play with all at the same time-Feedback always appreciated.Enjoy.[P.S, this song was made for Xavier Sunter. Dedicated to everyone who is no longer with me, beyond the stars, across the galaxy, and in a different place.

Beyond the Stars & Across The Galaxy

The sounds are a bit too flaky to me. They sound very digital and processed. The intro rhythm is to chaotic for me. I like the bass that comes in though and it's melody and rhythm are nice. For some reason though the whole piece sounds very processed and it's spectrum seems to be relatively dry. Maybe adding some filler might help(at least for people like me).

For example, before the bass comes in you have the swoosh like sound. But it has a very anti-climatic sound. The same happens with the chimes that come in a little later. When you normally hear these things they have a much larger and full sound and do not cut out so abruptly. The chimes should continue to chime and shouldn't sound like they are being cut off. I'm not sure if you intentionally did that or if you used some preset or what. I'm not saying they should continue for a long time but they shouldn't sound like someone basically muted them.

I imagine that if you got the fatter sounds it would sound better. The first bass that comes in is the only thing that has a fat sound then it gets thing then gets fat(when you take off the LP filter).

Try using several instruments on the same melody to get a really huge sound(but not too much so you don't destroy the balance). Have counter melodies and arpeggios going on(your doing that to some degree but I would add more).

And for heavens sake master thing damn thing! <img src="http://network.youngcomposers.com/elgg/ipb/public/style_emoticons/default/wink.gif" alt=";)" /> If you want it spacey and full get more reverb, delay, stereo expander, and multi-band compressor(not too much but just enough to balance the spectrum).

So, What I suggestion is that you simply continue to work on it. Right now you have a dirty rock(or dull gem) that may be a diamond if you polish it enough. Of course it's totally up to you. I'm just saying what I would like to hear in it that I think would make it more interesting(at least to me). It just doesn't hold my interest with the sparse orchestration

Overall it is decent though but needs to work make it cool(there is nothing that draws me in and makes me want to keep listening). There are a few moments where things seem like they might get better but they don't. In a sense you simply do not build up enough tension. You almost start doing this about 3:00m but far too late and doesn't go far enough. There are moments where it seems like something different might happen but it doesn't or a new section appears but doesn't release any tension since none was created.

Thank you very much!

All this advice is very much appreciated!

I am reworking some things right now and taking all that you said into account.

I didn't want a really huge sound but I'll try that and observe the results.

Have always been struggling with making pieces interesting -definitely one of my weak points. An unacceptable weak point no doubt.-

Don't quite understand what you mean by fat sounds but I'll figure it out soon enough.

Jon has really nailed the problems on the head. The elements in the mix sound disconnected. I don't know that you need much more thickness, but this is crying for some general wash reverb. Just one the entire output to tie it all nicely together. Still, appropriately spacey and you're improving with LMMS, so this is progress! It's not the easiest stuff to pick up, but keep at it and you'll only improve. :happy:

@Wendell: Everyone struggles. Practice makes perfect. Mainly it is a lot of tricks involved but you gotta listen to your ear(I struggle with this a lot too). If you hear something wrong then there is something wrong... simple as that. Then you have to think about what is wrong then figure out how to make it right(which is usually not hard once you know what exactly is wrong).

Basically the main issue is the sounds are weak and not very realistic. You can have the greatest melodies and arrangements but if the sounds suck then the piece will suck.

The sounds have to breath and have life or the piece will be dead. If the sound doesn't strike you as cool then it probably isn't and will hurt the overall sound. If you can't that the sounds feel/sound weak then either you have a bad ear, are not listening to the sounds/too involved with the composition process and need to take a step back, or they are fine.

Now, it sounds like you are using synthesized sounds. They sound "fake" and lifeless. By fattening them up I mean making them sound more real and exciting. You can do this several ways. If it is an instrument then doubling, filtering/modulating/etc, harmonizing, adding counter melodies, etc... they all can fatten up the sound.

http://forum.youngcomposers.com/t25255/sakura-sanctuary/page__pid__343008__st__0entry343008

Play the original then play the one I did(download it from media fire). All I did there was fix the sound(his piano sounded bad or strange) by using sampled instruments(closes thing I can get to the real thing) and doubling the melodies and adding some strings underneath. This gave it a more full sound(not necessarily something you want if you just want a piano version) and more things were involved.

The theme, now instead of just the piano also includes a harp, a synth harp, a flute. The there are strings, and a horn and bassoon that double the strings(but slightly).

It was relatively simple since I just created some strings underneath then doubled stuff.

All I did was take what I considered a bad sounding recording and fixed it up by changing the sounds(but same notes) and I think it sounds better. He would also get a very good sound if he played on a piano alone but had a professional setup.

Anyways, it's really up to you as you have to develop your own style and tricks. The main thing is that if you hear something bad, and you have the time, fix it.

If your not sure what is wrong then listen and try to figure it out... if you still need help then ask people and see what they say.

But if you are completely happy(for all practical purposes) with it then don't mess with it. For example, I'm not completely happy with my rendition of Sakura Sanctuary but for practical purposes(not my song, just for demonstration, other things to do, etc) it was good enough.

If your not using samples then you might want to try to get some mix them in or replace the instruments with them.

Anyways, Main thing is you are fully satisfied with your sound and if so then just ignore everything I have said ;)

Version 2 of Beyond The Stars. Hopefully it is an improvement. http://www.box.net/shared/imx2i7fngl

@ JonS.

Hopefully I incorporated what you said into this version.