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#595784 05/05/20 03:08 AM
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Hi Forum friends,
My last couple of songs on the forum have been blues or jazz numbers.
This one, RAPTURE, is a love song featuring flute, strings and piano, as well as guitar, bass and drums.
Rapture
The only RealTrack is the drum track: RealDrums-NashvillePop16.
I would be grateful if you have a listen (or two), and feel free to provide any feedback on the song, the arrangement or production.
I hope everyone is well.
Cheers,
Mike

Last edited by mkg50 (Mike G); 05/05/20 03:10 AM.

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Beautiful song, nicely done.
The volume fades on the strings are a little too extreme. It’s a common tool to bring a little more realistic dynamics to the digital strings sound. I use it all the time. To my taste (and there may be others that disagree with me) this is just a tad extreme. Also, I would add just a little more reverb tails to the strings to help blend in the dynamics, Not so much that it buries the real timbre of the strings, but enough to give it that real concert hall, or sound stage “live” feel.

I enjoyed this one.

Steve


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Very pretty song Mike!! Rapture is a perfect name!! Really well done! Take care. Greg

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Excellent song. I do agree with Steve about the strings. I also think they are a tad loud when compared to the flute.

But this is still one fantastic song that needs just a little polish. Great work here.


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Originally Posted By: Steve Young
Beautiful song, nicely done.
The volume fades on the strings are a little too extreme. It’s a common tool to bring a little more realistic dynamics to the digital strings sound. I use it all the time. To my taste (and there may be others that disagree with me) this is just a tad extreme. Also, I would add just a little more reverb tails to the strings to help blend in the dynamics, Not so much that it buries the real timbre of the strings, but enough to give it that real concert hall, or sound stage “live” feel.

I enjoyed this one.

Steve
Thanks Steve. This is precisely the honest feedback I was hoping for.
I, too, was not totally happy with the swelling on the strings' sustained notes but I couldn't find a way to change it. I read on the Kontakt forum site that that's just the way it is, and the only option is to spend more money and buy a better strings instrument.
I haven't given up though and am working through a few options.
If anyone has any suggestions please let me know.
As always Steve, thanks for your valued input.
Cheers,
Mike


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I think the previous comments articulate the overall impression quite well.

A little work with the balance will bring a lot of polish to this song. Overall it's very beautiful, with a lot of potential.


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Mike,
Interesting tune. Very suitable for kids show. Rich arrangement, yet listens well.
I was trying to come up with meaningful suggestion and looked above. I could not of said it better than Steve. Fades on strings are a bit aggressive. I listened as whole, then couple of separate parts... I see that it might be tricky to maintain a single instruments, especially on articulation parts around 2:40. Perhaps using 2 separate string instruments would help? Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

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Originally Posted By: MarioD
Excellent song. I do agree with Steve about the strings. I also think they are a tad loud when compared to the flute.

But this is still one fantastic song that needs just a little polish. Great work here.

Thanks for listening Mario. Following helpful comments from you and others, I have reworked the strings (they are now quieter and have less unnecessary swelling on sustained notes).
The link to the song (in my original post) is the same but I have replaced the track with the new mix.
Thanks again,
Mike


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Is melodic string part mean t to lean left - (the flute does that also) ?
The string, generally are loud and they blur a bit when those fast descending runs happen.
Perhaps shorten the delay and lengthen the reverb.
I'm not in the room with you so am, really, only guessing. The final note of the piece end abruptly tooo.
As a composition and arrangement - NICE ONE Mike.


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Nice job, I enjoyed it. As someone who has wasted too many hours trying to get the sounds I want out of Kontakt, you did pretty well, much better than I can do. Stick with it, you got skillz and you'll get there.


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Originally Posted By: Greg Johnson
Very pretty song Mike!! Rapture is a perfect name!! Really well done! Take care. Greg
Thanks Greg. I agonised over the name for a long time so your comments are very well received.
Cheers,
Mike
PS I'm working my way to listening to everyone's recent songs but the coronavirus seems to have prompted so many new submissions to listen to. Stay well.


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Rapture is the perfect title. This is a very interesting and dynamic tune. Wonderful writing, and I agree a better mix will bring this to the higher level it deserves. The strings may be a bit overwhelming at times, but everything still comes through. Well done, Mike.


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Originally Posted By: VideoTrack
I think the previous comments articulate the overall impression quite well.

A little work with the balance will bring a lot of polish to this song. Overall it's very beautiful, with a lot of potential.
Thanks for your encouragement VideoTrack. Working with strings is quite frustrating but I will keep at it.
Cheers,
Mike


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Hi, Mike !

WOW ! What a beautiful piece
of music you´ve created !
Absolutely instant classic !
I´m out of words for this
masterpiece !

Congrats Mike !

Stay safe !

Cheers
Dani

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Nice. It creates a very relaxing atmosphere. I like it.


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Beautiful piece! Nice composition, nice arrangement.

Sounds great to me, Mike, well done!

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Sounds good to me - some very nice multi instrument playing as well.

Pretty piece.

Peter

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Lovely, and enjoyed on a lovely day in the forest we
are so fortunate to live in.

Great arrangement and the strings and flute create a
very atmospheric piece. Quite cinematic also.

Well done!

J&B


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rayc #596992 05/11/20 06:54 PM
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Originally Posted By: rayc
Is melodic string part mean t to lean left - (the flute does that also) ?
The string, generally are loud and they blur a bit when those fast descending runs happen.
Perhaps shorten the delay and lengthen the reverb.
I'm not in the room with you so am, really, only guessing. The final note of the piece end abruptly tooo.
As a composition and arrangement - NICE ONE Mike.

Hi Ray,
Thanks for your usual honest and forthright appraisal. It is much appreciated.
Re the strings and flute leaning to the left, the panning for both instruments was set at zero, but when I look at the audio tracks I can see that, in places, the left channel is slightly stronger!?! I have attempted to ameliorate this in a remix (see below).
Re the strings being a bit loud, I have edited this to soften the passage.
Re the final note ending too abruptly, I have fixed this.
If you are interested, I have uploaded the remix with these changes (plus others) to SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/user-952388172/rapture-remix
The original version/link is still up:
https://soundcloud.com/user-952388172/rapture
Thanks again Ray,
Mike

Last edited by mkg50 (Mike G); 05/11/20 08:01 PM.

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Originally Posted By: Rustyspoon#
Mike,
Interesting tune. Very suitable for kids show. Rich arrangement, yet listens well.
I was trying to come up with meaningful suggestion and looked above. I could not of said it better than Steve. Fades on strings are a bit aggressive. I listened as whole, then couple of separate parts... I see that it might be tricky to maintain a single instruments, especially on articulation parts around 2:40. Perhaps using 2 separate string instruments would help? Thank you for sharing.

Misha.

Thanks for listening Misha. I've adjusted the strings a bit, and remixed the song, after a few forum comments. You can have a listen here: https://soundcloud.com/user-952388172/rapture-remix
Cheers,
Mike


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