11-02-2014, 03:35 PM
hey don!
don't be hard on yourself, I think it sounds good! fortunately, this tune was very well programmed with very good samples and doesn't need very much processing so the improvements I have in mind will be very easy for you, considering you've done quite well.
my humble suggestions:
The french horn in the beginning I think should be bigger and more triumphant... I used a delay insert and parallel reverb to accomplish this, but you're a very experienced and talented engineer, so I have a feeling you' could come up with something even slicker.
The unfortunate thing about sequencing samples is that they were recorded out of context, so I think a bit of transient processing would be a good idea... some of the legatos are a little TOO legato and some of the sharp, staccato instruments don't hit hard enough for me... so maybe a decreased sustain for slightly less legato instruments where you find it helpful, and a sharper attack and quicker release on the staccato for a more pronounced effect?
the raw woodwind sample that goes with the violins in the intro wasn't as balanced as it could have been between the flutes and the oboe, so the oboe tends to get lost... but I'm not sure I hear the woodwinds at all, so that could have been intentional and it sounds good as it is. If you want a little more oboe, the flutes and oboe are active in different ranges so a mild boost on the woodwind sample and a complimentary cut would do the trick, if you wish.
around 38 seconds in, something weird is going on... I can't really tell what happened but it throws the balance off for a second or two.
did you delete the piano that accompanies the xylophone? I can't hear it at all. That's a perfectly valid decision because the piano sample has a different character than the rest, so it takes a lot of work and the more work you put into it, you'll get diminishing returns. I had to mess with it quite a bit, and looking back I'm not very happy with the way it sounds, so I may do the same or replace it with a different sample in a revision.
your finale is much better than mine. you mentioned you may have overdone it but the emotional payoff is great. I'll definitely enhance that in a revision.
just suggestions based on my interpretation.. there are a couple earlier threads that are fantastic and polished, if you want to mess with it any more. it sounds very good to me except for the minor hiccup around 38. the emotion is quite enhanced by your balance and the stereo image it quite realistic. since most of the tracks are stereo, I just narrowed the few of them that were too wide for me and left the rest alone.. however you've worked it, though, I can imagine myself in a concert hall, especially with how I feel the low brass instruments hitting me in the chest.
if I don't catch your revised version, drop me a line so I can hear!
don't be hard on yourself, I think it sounds good! fortunately, this tune was very well programmed with very good samples and doesn't need very much processing so the improvements I have in mind will be very easy for you, considering you've done quite well.
my humble suggestions:
The french horn in the beginning I think should be bigger and more triumphant... I used a delay insert and parallel reverb to accomplish this, but you're a very experienced and talented engineer, so I have a feeling you' could come up with something even slicker.
The unfortunate thing about sequencing samples is that they were recorded out of context, so I think a bit of transient processing would be a good idea... some of the legatos are a little TOO legato and some of the sharp, staccato instruments don't hit hard enough for me... so maybe a decreased sustain for slightly less legato instruments where you find it helpful, and a sharper attack and quicker release on the staccato for a more pronounced effect?
the raw woodwind sample that goes with the violins in the intro wasn't as balanced as it could have been between the flutes and the oboe, so the oboe tends to get lost... but I'm not sure I hear the woodwinds at all, so that could have been intentional and it sounds good as it is. If you want a little more oboe, the flutes and oboe are active in different ranges so a mild boost on the woodwind sample and a complimentary cut would do the trick, if you wish.
around 38 seconds in, something weird is going on... I can't really tell what happened but it throws the balance off for a second or two.
did you delete the piano that accompanies the xylophone? I can't hear it at all. That's a perfectly valid decision because the piano sample has a different character than the rest, so it takes a lot of work and the more work you put into it, you'll get diminishing returns. I had to mess with it quite a bit, and looking back I'm not very happy with the way it sounds, so I may do the same or replace it with a different sample in a revision.
your finale is much better than mine. you mentioned you may have overdone it but the emotional payoff is great. I'll definitely enhance that in a revision.
just suggestions based on my interpretation.. there are a couple earlier threads that are fantastic and polished, if you want to mess with it any more. it sounds very good to me except for the minor hiccup around 38. the emotion is quite enhanced by your balance and the stereo image it quite realistic. since most of the tracks are stereo, I just narrowed the few of them that were too wide for me and left the rest alone.. however you've worked it, though, I can imagine myself in a concert hall, especially with how I feel the low brass instruments hitting me in the chest.
if I don't catch your revised version, drop me a line so I can hear!
I'm grateful for comments and suggestions. Thank you for listening!