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Post by Narotiza on Jun 9, 2016 5:10:19 GMT
I composed a song for Thrive!  Not sure where else I should post it... |
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Post by Rowdy on Jun 9, 2016 5:21:26 GMT
Narotiza This is great! I actually really hope this gets in, since it's right up the alley of what I'd expect to hear while playing Thrive when it comes out. Instead of in this thread though, I think it deserves more recognition, so try posting it in The Game forum.
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Post by serialkiller🌴 on Jun 9, 2016 10:55:29 GMT
I composed a song for Thrive! Not sure where else I should post it... Great work |
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Post by StealthStyleL on Jun 9, 2016 11:44:02 GMT
Good job! I like it. Simple yet beautiful, just like early multicellular organism.
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Post by Oliveriver on Jun 9, 2016 16:13:53 GMT
I moved it here so it can be discussed on its own.
It's nice, but there are a few things which could easily make it a lot better in my opinion:
1. Vary velocities. I'm not sure but it sounds like most notes for each instrument have the same velocity (volume). Simply making some notes louder and others quieter within a single phrase can make a huge difference. It's probably a long shot, but do you have a MIDI keyboard to record from? If you do, that's the best way to do it - the velocities you instinctively give the notes should make them sound a lot more natural. You don't even have to know how to play piano. Just make sure you quantise notes after you record them.
2. Vary rhythms. You've done this well in some places (particularly the bass, I really quite like it), but the plucked string/synth instrument suffers because all notes are exactly the same length. It makes it sound boring and amateurish. Static rhythms certainly have their place, but I'd he hesitant about using them for a lead line like that (it works when backing up the bells, for instance). The notes and scales themselves work well.
3. Add reverb. Unless I'm mistaken it doesn't sound like you've added any manual reverb to any instruments. If I am, it means you've been far too subtle with it. Something atmospheric like this should be awash with reverb and echoes (though not so much that it starts disguising the actual sounds). Does LMMS have inserts or plugins somewhere? If it does, there should be at least one reverb type plugin. Add that to the instruments (especially the plucked instrument and synth pads, they're unnervingly dry right now) and mess around with it until you find a setting which sounds good.
4. Experiment with texture and structural variation. The melodies and scales are great, but they do get quite repetitive. Changing rhythms around should help, but the best way to do it is just to not repeat them too much. I know this is background music so it doesn't matter too much, but that's no excuse for lack of variation. Try new melodies, adding and removing instruments (already some of that in here, nice job) and big changes in texture involving lots of instruments (think breakdowns and buildups).
I'd like to point out these are all mistakes I made in my early themes, so you're on the right track. Keep composing and don't be discouraged by any criticism.
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Post by Narotiza on Jun 9, 2016 22:28:49 GMT
Thanks! I'll upload the new version with the suggested changes later.
Any more tips on texture and variation? I feel like that's where I'll probably mess up somehow.
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Post by Narotiza on Jun 15, 2016 1:31:03 GMT
It is a Multicellular Editor theme, so it doesn't need to be super complex, right? I'll still add some variation of course. I'll post it later.  |
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Post by Oliveriver on Jun 15, 2016 16:06:44 GMT
Oops, I was going to reply in answer to your question but forgot.
Variation isn't really something you mess up, it's just something you need to gain experience with. There are plenty of ways to do it - make minor modifications to a melody, add another instrument layer, change to a different chord sequence, or if you're going for something more drastic, change up the texture completely - but it's all about knowing when is a good time to diverge from the initial motifs. For now, keep the thought of variation in your mind, and ask yourself every once in a while if you've just repeated the same thing over and over or if there's something more interesting you could do.
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Post by Narotiza on Jul 1, 2016 1:11:21 GMT
I tried to keep all of that in mind. How does it sound?
EDIT: I think I should tone down the reverb. The volume gets really loud at times and it really bugs me.
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Post by Oliveriver on Jul 1, 2016 17:15:45 GMT
You've got some pretty nasty clipping (distortion due to the volume exceeding the maximum) in some places. I don't think the reverb level is main the problem - in general the instruments all feel far too loud, especially for something that's meant to be relaxing.
I like what you've done with the rhythms. I love the way they work together in the section from 1:24 to 1:48, but I'm still not entirely sold on a few of them when on their own. Not too much of a problem though.
Other than that, great to see you're adding some variation, and the xylophone(?) counter-melody at 1:48 works really well. The second half still drags a little though, I'd like to see this second motif returned to and built upon. Right now all your instruments appear in four-bar blocks which is the main problem with your structure (don't worry, that's exactly how I started). Try to stop thinking of it in blocks of four bars. Maybe add a few instruments that cross between these blocks, although at this stage it might be quite difficult to grasp.
Overall, nice work!
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Post by Narotiza on Jul 1, 2016 19:24:22 GMT
Thank you. I think one of my problems was just copying+pasting blocks over and over again, which didn't always make the instruments work together. I'll try and work on that  My next one will probably be more simple - it is for Multicellular after all - but not repetitive, like v1. |
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Post by Narotiza on Jul 8, 2016 0:24:43 GMT
Changed the structure a bit, added some back-and-forth panning, tried to fix the volume, and some other stuff. I think this will be the last one of these for a while.
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Not sure where else I should post it...
