Just One Step Away (Orchestral Film Music) - Feedback Please For Demo

Hi everyone,

Was working on a piece of music called 'Just One Step Away' about 6 months ago; made it, wasn't entirely happy, never got finished off. Thought of returning to it to try and add to it and rectify parts etc. Just wanted to post a demo of it to see what you think of it and if it would be worth continuing with it. I'm quite critical of my work and I never know if it's good or bad. It's only other people's views that will help me.

It's not the final song, just a piece of the end. Middle of this sample is very empty I understand. The sound could maybe do with remixing and I think there could be some chord problems somewhere, but not sure. I've checked all the instruments and detected no unusual notes/ chords so I don't understand it. Maybe something to do with reverb on one of the instruments.

Made with Fruity Loops Studio 5.

Enjoy. Please tell me what you think. I'd really appreciate it.

Thank you.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/5/25/35832/Just%20One%20Step%20Away%20Demo.mp3

The technical side of it seems fine.

But to be honest, I really despise "Conan the Barbarian" style music. So perhaps you should wait for someone who likes the style to come along and say their piece.

The notes sound fine. Maybe the problems you mention have to do with the waveform/SFX settings of FL? Have you tried using different software?

Maybe the problems you mention have to do with the waveform/SFX settings of FL?

The samples are soundfonts (.sf2). The only things that I don't think have been added are the FX like reverb to get that really deep feel to the notes. My other stuff sound as flat as a pancake because there are no distance levels between the samples.

Have you tried using different software?

Other users have produced with FL and FL is perfectly capable for my needs. It's just down to knowledge really. Other software will be the same. I'm really finding this a struggle now because I'm not accepting anything unless it's good, otherwise there's not much point doing this. I've been trying to listen to professional songs and hear the different instrumental layers, but it's really hard to produce my own.

The technical side of it seems fine.

Thanks. Just need to know if you have any suggestions to make it sound professional. I think the main thing is I haven't got a clue where to start. I've only got this section that needs work.

I probably will leave it to be honest and work on something else. If that turns out good then, I'll have a look at continuing this.

Cheers Guys.

Other users have produced with FL and FL is perfectly capable for my needs. It's just down to knowledge really. Other software will be the same.

Let's see...I listened to it again. :huh: I feel that the reason for your displeasure has to do with the program. For me, FL is useful only for loops and not composing in such a style. The different samples used by FL tend to produce a muddy result, when you want something with layers of harmony. If I chose to compose such a piece, I would never use FL. Did you compose this music with standard music notation? Because FL doesn't have such a feature, I think.

Hm, enough with my opinions, let's get to possible solutions;

1) Try a different, more professional software, like Reason, or GPO both of which are much more suitable for this kind of music than FL, I believe.

2) Find some real players (good luck). Your music isn't just some numbers, it needs to have spirit and passion in it. Try to obtain some good samples from real players and combine them with the samples. See what you can get.

3) Experiment with the piece. Maybe some instruments can be removed or softened. Maybe you could change the samples.

4) Look at the notes and see whether some registers are being unintentionally overburdened with unisons. Check for unwanted parallels.

That's all I can think of, right now. If I can come up with anything else, I'll post again. :) Good luck, man!

Hehe I guess that's why they call it Fruity Loops :). That's the thing, my songs never have looped sections, that's why I never need to use the playlist. I create the whole song structure in one pattern. This is mainly because it's supposed be aimed at an orchestral piece with no loops.

I will have a look at some different software, to see if it's any different.

By the way, the thing about what I said about wrong chords somewhere, well it seems to have disappeared lol. Another strange thing is that I've just played it back in windows media player and it sounds slower than it did the other night. Maybe it's due to my bad cold though.

Thanks very much for your advice :huh:! I was on the verge of giving up altogether.

By the way, the thing about what I said about wrong chords somewhere, well it seems to have disappeared lol. Another strange thing is that I've just played it back in windows media player and it sounds slower than it did the other night. Maybe it's due to my bad cold though.

Thanks very much for your advice :huh:! I was on the verge of giving up altogether.

As Beethoven (I think) might have said, "tomorrow's always another day".

You are welcome, man, I will be happy to know that you have realized your composition! :)