I'm getting pretty close to the final mixdown phase on this, but I really, really would like to know what I could do to improve this piece's melodic and arrangement aspects. Any feedback relating to those things would be greatly appreciated.

https://clyp.it/ifcysavq is the link, if you're interested.

-Annie

If it's static, try changing up the way you arrange the structure of your piece. For example, try making a climax instead of just a drop.

If it's robotic, don't quantize or write your midi with a less precise snapping option.

If it's boring, you probably need to work on your melodic hooks. This skill comes with time.

Hope this helps.

-Annie

Nah, thinking isn't counterproductive.

There's not much thinking involved in improvising. There are little tricks to make your improv sound less "formless", and that requires thinking. And practice. Lots of practice.

Having an understanding of what you're doing is important. Once you're a master of your craft, thinking won't be much of an issue. Everything will be more likely to fall into place seamlessly. If you're not a master though, it's less likely that you just do everything without thinking. I, for example, would be able to go so much farther with understanding and experience, and right now I just can't lay out everything in the playlist without problems. But if I didn't do any thinking at all, my music would be much worse than it already is. I have to think at some point in the process.

Just doing it without thinking is more suitable for improvisation and the very proficient. Don't try not to think when you're composing or you'll likely trip up. Just don't overdo it.

Well, maybe that answers your question. I hope I didn't completely misunderstand it. (cough)

-Annie

Quote from: AnnieTP on June 01, 2016, 11:56:12 am

Quote from: Mussar on May 31, 2016, 08:15:32 pm

How about a little optimism, huh? Let's assume we can accomplish one minute worth of music a week, instead of trying to negotiate down to something we might think is easier. The point is to challenge ourselves. No need to be so negative about the outcome before we even started!

It's one hour of music a day, for seven days.

I was trying to be realistic. What I was suggesting was it's very ambitious and may not take off. I was not saying "don't do it" I was suggesting doing it less often.
I did say I had no problem doing it weekly, but only slowing it down if you can't keep up doing it on a weekly basis.


-Annie

Deadlines don't wait for any one.

I get that it's suppose to be fun, but the pressure is real if you expect to do this as a living.

Other wise it's just a fun little thing that you can set aside some time for, over a week or as many times as you want to do it.

It's a bit of training for some of the more serious, and not so serious i'd say. Take it how you want, but things get real if you do this for tha mula.

Of course. I never really thought about it that way (I'm not sure if anyone thought about it that way), but yes. However, this is just training, and my main point was that if we couldn't keep it up weekly, we could lengthen the deadlines. And we're not doing it for the moneys so nobody would be fired or something like that, just because the project was finished late.

Anyway, I think it's pointless discussing it since even I didn't hate the idea of doing it weekly, and we're starting on Sunday anyway.

-Annie

How about a little optimism, huh? Let's assume we can accomplish one minute worth of music a week, instead of trying to negotiate down to something we might think is easier. The point is to challenge ourselves. No need to be so negative about the outcome before we even started!

It's one hour of music a day, for seven days.

I was trying to be realistic. What I was suggesting was it's very ambitious and may not take off. I was not saying "don't do it" I was suggesting doing it less often.
I did say I had no problem doing it weekly, but only slowing it down if you can't keep up doing it on a weekly basis.

and thank you!

No problem. By the way, you may add my name to the list.

-Annie

I like how you gradually brought all the elements in, then made a climax and had everything fade out into silence. Although, I think the pad that came in at 1:07 should also have faded in gradually, introducing the climax. I do like the mellow pluck that played in the later half of the song too. Good job.

Since you got feedback on this song, I recommend giving feedback to at least 3 others who haven't gotten any yet if you haven't given any already.

-Annie

Well, hey. You didn't say anything about the song, do you want feedback on just anything about it?

The song in general is a bit too low on the volume. The kick is weak, the drums are good but not very interesting, and the song doesn't seem to have a (noticeable) sub bass. And then the song just ends. Composition-wise it's not bad, but...it's just a little boring.

Oh, and make sure you give some feedback to some artists who haven't already.

-Annie