Music Feedback Thread

[carfie 21]

Thanks for the kind words!
Just released my 2nd album that comes with a small game created with RPGVX-Ace!
You can find it here: http://carf.bandcamp.com/album/carf-pixel-me-square-album-and-game

I work mainly with FL-Studio with a bunch of great vst's that gives me the power

to re-create that oldschool sound . 
 

@jonnie19 The piece sounds really interesting! It is HARD to create bluenote lines like that! I know from experience. I also really love how you handled the drum, it feels really jazzy thanks to the right amount of velocity!

[Jonnie91 1,149]

@Carf

 

I love Pixel me Square...I just pure love it! I don't get why I have such difficulty with making 8bit tracks feel complete and whole, they always feel like there is something missing! You don't have this problem at all...they all sound beautiful! . Might I ask what VST's you use? 

 

So I have a new WIP demo I'd really like as much feedback on as possible, if I get enough feedback on it to help shape it I will release it for free (doesn't even have to be positive, i'd much prefer constructive feedback) 

[M4uesviecr 29]

I've got something of a jazzier piece I'd quite like to get some feedback on, I've not done Jazz since college so would be lovely to know what you guys think of this: 

 

https://soundcloud.com/jonnie91/coffee-with-cream

 

Thanks for your feedback

 

Woot! Had to check this out since I wub me some jazz!

 

Fantastic work on the drums and the swing element - spot on!

 

My only comment would be on the glocks (light, round instruments). I enjoy the more off-kilter timing, since it sounds more improvised, but there are times where they lose the swing groove, and it throws the vibe off (in my opinion).

 

Also, the mixing. Is everything panned to the center? If you gave each instrument some space (panning, depth), it would make this tune sound even fuller!

 

Otherwise, fantastic work!

 

Sidenote:

Listened to Akal's Soul from the Spirit Timer OST.

Freakin'. Sick.

Edited June 20, 2014 by M4uesviecr

[Exias 7]

This is a cold themed dungeon bgm I'm in the middle of working on. It currently has no percussion (that's the next step), but this is the general idea of the song.

 

https://soundcloud.com/dj-exias/snowfall

[Jonnie91 1,149]

This is a cold themed dungeon bgm I'm in the middle of working on. It currently has no percussion (that's the next step), but this is the general idea of the song.

 

https://soundcloud.com/dj-exias/snowfall

Please give feedback to others work before posting your own!

[Exias 7]

Take me Away is beautiful and I had a hard time finding anything constructive to say about it, but there are two things I notice. Parts of the song seem harsher than others, mainly where the vocaloid (if that's what she is) starts. The other is the volume of the song seems stagnant, some slight crescendos could really add some flare to this piece. =)

[Kaimen 22]

This is a cold themed dungeon bgm I'm in the middle of working on. It currently has no percussion (that's the next step), but this is the general idea of the song.

 

https://soundcloud.com/dj-exias/snowfall

Hmmm... this song definitely feels cold. I approve of your use of a sort of leitmotif through the song. There are only two things that bother me though. Firstly, there are some background noises at the very beginning of the song (the first ten seconds). Could just be my speakers or headphones, but I re-listened to that part a few times over and the noises were still there. 

And then there's the ending portion of the song. I was a little irritated by the three fadeouts at the end because I listened to the song with closed eyes (a habit of mine) and thought the song was over at the first fadeout. It just got a little too quiet, that's all. 

In my eyes, or ears rather, a fitting theme for a cold area. I don't think it even needs percussion, to be honest. I think it works perfectly without them.

 

Alright, and now to one of my pieces: 

For the most part, I am a "remaker" of classic video game music. However, I've been casually composing some original tunes on my own for quite some time now and this one here, "Nightmare" is my personal favorite out of the songs I've composed so far. Personally, I think my songs are still too repetitive and lacking in memorability, but I'll let the feeback up to you guys.

[Jonnie91 1,149]

@King Madness: 

Very simplistic, but still really catchy, I certainly enjoyed it  

 

@Exias: 

I also can hear, some subtle sounds in the first 10 seconds, but I think that might just be the reverb! It suits the theme perfectly. I love it. I also agree with King Madness, I do NOT think percussion would suit this piece in any way shape or form. I feel that the guitar has enough of a percussive strike to it. It doesn't need any more. 

 

The crescendo was a perfect ending in my opinion. 

 

I'd love some feedback on this battle track I recently wrote: 

 

Using some new samples, which I recently upgraded  

 

Also, whilst I'm here, I'd love to get some feedback on this rather creepy piece as well: 

[carfie 21]

Locked in battle. Interesting start of the track, good use of orchestral instruments for sure. It feels more like an intro then an actual ongoing battle but that could of course depend on the situation.

Obsession: Well the intro really does make me feel uncomfortable! It's really haunting and really sets an atmosphere! Very good use of orchestral instruments again! 

Got a fresh track to share with you guys. Better prepare for a ruff Boss-Battle!

 

[MasterTaffer 23]

@carfie That was a really good 8-bit track, I wish I was that talented. >_> Great job. This isn't really related to your music, but I think you should remove the central rug in your little studio. Everything blends so well, yet that rug looks out of place because of how cartoonish it looks in contrast with everything else in the room.

 

Here is an ambient track I made today for a game I'm developing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLQ-Q-OZdnQ&list=UU8aNGmXiNXqGBsrnF-1kSLQ

[Jonnie91 1,149]

@Master Taffer: 

 

A great piece of music, but felt like it was slightly missing something, I can't put my finger on what, but for me personally it could do with some subtle background ambience, something like a choir (if you're going for a darker/mysterious feeling) or if you're going for a lighter feeling just a twinkling pad on the lower octaves of the piece will fill it out a bit more. Other than that, it's a great piece  

 

I just finished a new track with the Adagietto strings from 8dio (some beautiful strings, expensive, but god damn beautiful) and I'd love some feedback on the piece: 

 

[+ EraYachi 180]

Locked in battle. Interesting start of the track, good use of orchestral instruments for sure. It feels more like an intro then an actual ongoing battle but that could of course depend on the situation.

Obsession: Well the intro really does make me feel uncomfortable! It's really haunting and really sets an atmosphere! Very good use of orchestral instruments again! 

 

 

 

This just blew my socks off. I mean I can't 'even'. I was so into it, my heart was fluttering. xD I love old 8-bit tunes, and this was just flat out, raw epic. What program is it that you use? 

 

 

I just finished a new track with the Adagietto strings from 8dio (some beautiful strings, expensive, but god damn beautiful) and I'd love some feedback on the piece: 

 

 

Jonnie, for the last time, stop making beautiful tracks and filling us all with a sense of musical inadequacy. *whacks with newspaper roll* Stop it! 

Seriously, though, this is a very dreamy and easy-listening kind of track. I know I loved it. Perfectly titled, too, it would definitely fit a fantasy woodland setting in any game. The only critique I have is the balance of the instruments' volume. The flute/piccolo that plays the melody is so overpowering compared to the accompaniment, with headphones on especially. Before 0.54, it's pretty alright, but it seems to get louder, and starts to drown everything else out, giving it an 'interrupting' sorta feel. Is there some kind of human playback setting on that causes this? I remember vaguely from my music phase, with Finale's Garritan instruments and playback, the longer a note played with human playback enabled, the louder it got.

[Kaimen 22]

I just finished a new track with the Adagietto strings from 8dio (some beautiful strings, expensive, but god damn beautiful) and I'd love some feedback on the piece: 

 

 

... Them strings, man... No really, I love the build-up of the strings throughout the song and the flute in the second half. I really had the feeling of being surrounded by trees, light flickering through their leaves. The only thing I found is that the flute is a little too "strong" for my taste. But that's just me. I'm more of a "the flute must sound smooth and light" kinda guy. The melody does the "fantasy" justice, though. That's the kind of song I want to hear in an Elder Scrolls game or the like.

 

Alright, now one of mine...

 

 

This particular song is supposed to be a boss battle theme against an evil machine that's decided to wipe out humanity. Pretty cliché, I know, but I come up with titles and settings after I've composed a song. The thing is that I'm usually not very good at intense type of songs, i.e. battle theme. This is the first battle theme I ever finished and uploaded and thus I'm very eager to get some feedback on it.

[KainLightsworn 63]

@Jonnie91- Holy. Crap. I absolutely love that woods theme of yours. The flute line is really pretty and entrancing. I loved the use of the pizzicato strings in the background for atmospheric effect, bringing to mind the light streaming through the trees and the soft falling of the occasional leaf. 

@King Madness- seems like a pretty darn good battle theme to me! I love the super ominous beginning, which then kicks into high gear with the addition of percussion and guitar. Ahhh, such techy goodness. I can easily see this playing in the background during some epic battle occurring with our beaten-back heroes rising up against a powerful mech that's running out of control!
 
---
 
For my own part, I apologize in advance, but what I drop here is effectively a playlist of all the tracks I currently have done for my current game project, Ad Lucem. Just for a bit of information: the game's pretty standard 16-bit era JRPG fare, quasi-midieval setting, religion that has certain elements of Western mainstream religion in it, elves and humans and dragons and fighting to save the world from the forces of evil and darkness, etc etc. Except it's sort of a loving satire of those very tropes, sticking in some ways to the archetypal narrative while subverting it in others. I'm trying to avoid severely spoiler-bombing the story before I get a decent amount of progress on the game, but all the same, context is helpful. I realize it's a fair bit of music. Sorry 'bout that. But better drop it in one post than spam the forum for 12, says I. Each of the songs has its own little blurb about it, so I won't ramble about each individually. ^^"

 

https://soundcloud.com/kainalexander/sets/ad-lucem-music <-hotlinked because I can't seem to code the blasted embedding.

Edited December 14, 2014 by KainLightsworn

[MasterTaffer 23]

@Kainlightsword
I like your track, it reminds me of the Halo theme, was that an inspiration? My only problem with it is at about the halfway point an instrument (can't tell which it is) starts playing that I don't think should be kept on sustain and almost makes it sound like the audio is glitching out. I would suggest fixing that part of the song up.

I'm preparing to start composing for my current game project and have done a few side compositions to gain more experience. One is a dark, almost Eastern track I made for a friend's game, the other is a track inspired by Dark Souls.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGx-1xns2ok

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57OLVm9noBI

Edited January 2, 2015 by MasterTaffer

[Kaimen 22]

@MasterTaffer
Hmm... "Scala Heights" is very atmospheric and it fits with the image in the video. I imagine some kind of ruined and haunted city of an ancient civilization. And although it's very simplistic it manages to draw me in and makes me see a place where this song is played.
Now, "Sunlight Warriors"... okay, I admit, I really, really love choir. But, what this song is lacking in my opinion is a proper part you get hooked on. For "Scala Heights" it was the percussion and that guitar-like instrument. However, "Sunlight Warriors" does not really have that. I'm done with the song, like it, but can't hum or whistle anything, if you get what I mean. Might just be me though. I can, however, imagine the song playing in a scene where a knight makes his way off to a new adventure in sunrise. Or maybe making his way up a mountain where he gets greeted by bright sunlight. 
 
-----
 
Okay, so this is my take on something happy and upbeat. Basically, it's a simple village theme. I'm not that good at writing happy songs though and this was admittedly kinda hard to make for me. XD

https://soundcloud.com/king-madness/peaceful-village-original-tune

[jameslovestf 10]

King Madness, your piece is quite nice. I think something I might suggest, though, is that you put your flute an octave or two higher, that way things are less mushed together on the bass end. It would also make it a lot more pronounced and whimsical. :3

Here are the few pieces I've managed to do on Famitracker - I'm keeping it simple with effects and similar, but please tell me what you think!

Edited February 6, 2015 by jameslovestf

[MasterTaffer 23]

@Jameslovestf

I thought your track could use some volume adjustment on the main instrument, it seems a bit loud. Otherwise I thought it was great, it has plenty of variance and is pretty catchy. It would definately fit a battle, assuming your game is 8-bit.

Here are a couple of experimental piano tracks I made for my game in development. I'm considering changing up the main instrument on both tracks because I need them to sound a bit darker than they are, but for now I'm keeping things as they are. Enjoy!

https://soundcloud.com/master-taffer-1/kings-field-v-ost-moonlight-temple

https://soundcloud.com/master-taffer-1/kings-field-v-ost-royal-cemetery

Edited February 10, 2015 by MasterTaffer

[Kaimen 22]

@MasterTaffer

Hmm... seems like your first track broke or disappeared... I remember liking it though. But I can't say much about it I'm afraid.

However, I can say something about "Royal Cemetery": I'll be honest with you, I love pipe organs so that's an instant win with me. The combination of organ, choir and strings makes for a dark and heavy sound. But the song doesn't feel like "cemetery" to me, more like "ancient cathedral" or, if you want to keep the "royal", "royal crypt". I imagine something built of stone, something huge and menacing. Maybe adding some heights in the choir'll do the trick; your song's a little too much on the deep side to really fit a cemetery in my opinion. But it has the scary feel to it. 

 

-----

 

And now for my song. I have been pretty busy writing music lately and this one's my latest composition. For the first time I tried a battle theme without my typical synth instruments. Let me hear how it turned out. 

Edited February 19, 2015 by King Madness

[MasterTaffer 23]

@King Madness

That track is actually for an underground cemetery, not an outdoor one - sorry if that wasn't clear. I'm actually changing it up a bit because the church organ sounds kind of abrasive in-game, probably going to use a drawbar organ instead. So don't be surprised if it sounds a little different should you check on it again.

I actually took the other track down because I was going to upload a revised version, but decided it needed more work at the last minute. I'll try to get it back up soon, sorry about the bad timing.

Thanks for the feedback!

Edited February 19, 2015 by MasterTaffer

[DJBailey 19]

@jameslovesrtf

 

Going through your tracks, I especially liked We Are All We Have Tonight. The interaction between the different waveforms make some really interesting effects.  I like writing counterpoint in 8-bit 'cause sometimes you'll get some really interesting sounds just out of a couple of pulse wave intervals.

 

@MasterTaffer

 

I like the ambiance of the track, and all the parralel intervals.  I especially love how the repeated motifs (like at 0:15) give the illusion of church bells tolling. Very creepy. I feel like the mix (possibly because of the orchestration as well) is a little muddy in places, especially at 0:35 when you have the choir, bass, and cello going all at once. You could maybe try either playing with your levels, or moving a parts up an octave so that their not clustered all in the same region. That also might help with listener fatigue. I love the transition at 1:24, the thinning of the parts, and the use of a higher register is very refreshing!  Good stuff.

 

@King Madness

 

Love the boss theme!  High energy, rhythmic, interesting progressions and modulations, and it sits really well in the background being interesting without being distracting. The rising arpeggio in the glock is a great flourish! I think you could bring up the drum levels a little bit though, especially the snare. I think that would give it even more energy.  (as an aside, I also wanted to say that "Taking an Effort for the Future" rocks my socks!)

 

 

Here's a track I wrote with a snowy wilderness aesthetic in mind.  I still need to add another section so that it loops back around, but here's what I have so far. 

 

 

All the best!  

[Kaimen 22]

Here's a track I wrote with a snowy wilderness aesthetic in mind.  I still need to add another section so that it loops back around, but here's what I have so far.

 

 

Definitely sounds snowy. You know why? I had to put on a blanket because I started to freeze.

No seriously though, it is a fitting song for a wintery area. It has the harp, the strings and the glockenspiel to back them up. The strings act as a nice counterpart to the high harp and glockenspiel. All in all it captures the frosty feeling quite well. What I did, actually, was play the song while playing Skyrim - it gave the game a whole new feel. The only thing I find that's missing is a tambourine - THE instrument when it comes to winter songs since the invention of Santa Clause. Especially near the end (around 1:04-ish) when the deep strings set in, a tambourine would be a nice addition.

 

Alright, now mine. And... surprise it's a battle theme again! I really seem to be loving those. XD

As I've already said in my post in my music collection forum, it doesn't use any synth instruments (except for the bass), which is something I want to do more often. Let me know if it turned out as well as my previous song I posted here. I must say, personally, I like it, but I fear that it might be a little repetitive...

 

[eatorl 16]

Alright, now mine. And... surprise it's a battle theme again! I really seem to be loving those. XD

As I've already said in my post in my music collection forum, it doesn't use any synth instruments (except for the bass), which is something I want to do more often. Let me know if it turned out as well as my previous song I posted here. I must say, personally, I like it, but I fear that it might be a little repetitive...

 

 

*The following information is an opinion based on personal music experience and a small amount of "academic" references

 

I do think is repetitive. From the drums base and then the strings motive (the sixteenths) to the general form of the piece. You could extend your theme variation/bridge at 0:24 and build a second theme from it, with a different motive so you can create a more contrasting (and resolutive) feeling when returning to the main theme. I like the orchestral usage and the mood of fast-paced-action-epic-combat of the piece but I believe it can be a very frustrating battle if the music is so repetitive. As this is a place for constructive criticism I believe I can tell you more info. that I think could be valuable:

 

-I recommend doing theme variations or motive variations to construct a kind of climax in the music so if the player just began the battle he would listen to a normal battle music and then an increase of adrenaline through some other musical elements. It is always optional for sure.

-You already alternate the sixteenths motive in your instruments and even the tone of it but I think it can be a little more interesting, try doubling the instruments or place the motive in another part of your theme as you do it in your small bridge (0:24 and 1:06, etc.)

 

In Summary:

 

The Bad

This piece in particular sounds like a loop of 35 or 37 seconds repeated 4 times

 

The Good

You achieved a very accurate music style for a combat scene in a video game and sounds very RPGMaker-ish

 

The Nice

It is great you went out of your "arrangement comfort zone" and gave a try to orchestral instruments instead of synths. The strings phrases by themselves are very nice (l liked them <3)

 

 

Now, here is a little music. Is the last thing I composed and made it "video game oriented" but not so much. I can see it as a "Town Music" or "Intro Music".

What do you think? 

 

Edited April 9, 2015 by eatorl

[geluf 38]

 

@jameslovesrtf

 

Going through your tracks, I especially liked We Are All We Have Tonight. The interaction between the different waveforms make some really interesting effects.  I like writing counterpoint in 8-bit 'cause sometimes you'll get some really interesting sounds just out of a couple of pulse wave intervals.

 

@MasterTaffer

 

I like the ambiance of the track, and all the parralel intervals.  I especially love how the repeated motifs (like at 0:15) give the illusion of church bells tolling. Very creepy. I feel like the mix (possibly because of the orchestration as well) is a little muddy in places, especially at 0:35 when you have the choir, bass, and cello going all at once. You could maybe try either playing with your levels, or moving a parts up an octave so that their not clustered all in the same region. That also might help with listener fatigue. I love the transition at 1:24, the thinning of the parts, and the use of a higher register is very refreshing!  Good stuff.

 

@King Madness

 

Love the boss theme!  High energy, rhythmic, interesting progressions and modulations, and it sits really well in the background being interesting without being distracting. The rising arpeggio in the glock is a great flourish! I think you could bring up the drum levels a little bit though, especially the snare. I think that would give it even more energy.  (as an aside, I also wanted to say that "Taking an Effort for the Future" rocks my socks!)

 

 

Here's a track I wrote with a snowy wilderness aesthetic in mind.  I still need to add another section so that it loops back around, but here's what I have so far. 

 

 

All the best!  

 

 

Love this track.  You've nailed the atmosphere of a winterscape.  Definitely could see this in-game in my head.

 

The only minor quibble I'd say is around the 43 second mark.  The strings just sort of stop, which makes for an awkward transition into the next segment.  You might think about putting in a decrescendo there to have them sort of taper out into nothing, leaving you with a sense of falling action into the next, quieter section.  Alternatively, a little reverb might help create a more "ethereal" feel and echo to help that section maintain momentum.

 

Anyway, just a small thing.  It's a great track!

 

*****

 

Just got finished working on a new track for a game dev team.  It's a non-commercial project, so I can share it here.  I envision it as a sort of battle theme for a tactical RPG, but there are other things it could be used for.

 

[Saeryen 299]

I'd love to share music here - but I don't want people to steal it and claim it as their own...