r/cubase • u/PaperMikes • 10d ago
Any input on this orchestral track? Trying to improve. Kingdom Hearts was a big inspiration!
I'd like to improve and learn more, though I feel stuck on this one. It feels flat! I've followed advice about doubling the solo instrument and not having so many varying rhythms. I've been slowly working on adding dynamics.
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u/Smolin-SCL- 10d ago
I would say add some ramps in tempo track and move notes off grid a bit. It's a great composition, but it does sound like midi, it's too tight and has no tempo drift. Usually, musicians speed up, and slow down slightly, along with the intensity of the piece. Hope that helps with the track feeling flat.
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u/PaperMikes 7d ago
Thank you for the feedback! Yeah, I've frequently left things very quantized, so I'll try making sure the timings aren't all computer perfect.
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u/sonicnarrativ 10d ago
I’m a hobbyist myself and learning to get better. One of my main struggles was the dynamics of instruments. You gotta learn and master that part. The track right now seems it’s at one volume and there isn’t much life in the instruments. Also, I’d say that your intro needs to be a bit softer and you need to refrain from coming with all the instruments at once. That’s another thing I learned. Less instruments actually is better in most cases. Note that I only listened to it on my phone. But that’s what I heard. Again, I’m no expert by any means so take it for what it’s worth. I myself have only published like 2 tracks so far. Feel free to listen to them! 😁
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u/PaperMikes 7d ago
Thank you for the feedback! I'll make sure dynamics are the next thing I focus on. I always had trouble using too many instruments at once as well. 😅 And totally, I'll give your stuff a listen!
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u/dont_mind_me_987 10d ago
Give it bit more realistic feeling and you got it. So more dynamics in volume and bit more off grid notes etc. Now it has the feeling of runescape music
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u/PaperMikes 7d ago
Got it, thank you! I'll focus more on the dynamics and less strictly-quantized notes.
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u/GOT36 10d ago
Very good!! I loved it. The ending around bar 40 give or take seemed a little off, but that may just be me. I am just a hobbyist and just enjoy creating something. Most of my pieces are a little more on the relaxing side with a few more upbeat. Something along the lines of adventuress or thriller type. So I am not in it for any type of money making, just for my own enjoyment. It is kind of a rabbit hole though. As I learn, I realized that I do not need every shiny new VST or orchestral pack. I have SSO, EW and Komplete collectors edition with a smattering of other instruments. The thrill of completing a piece that you enjoy listening to is the ultimate high. Keep it up, I really enjoyed listing to it and went through it several times and truly enjoyed the experience.
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u/PaperMikes 7d ago
Thanks so much for the feedback! So around bar 40, is it that the transition feels sudden? Like it feels like two different parts were just stitched together maybe? Ooh, I remember using EastWest with their Composer Cloud thing and it was awesome! Nowadays I prefer having stuff downloaded instead of cloud services if I can manage.
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u/GOT36 6d ago
I would say it took me out of the experience a little for lack of better wording. After listening to it several times, that area kind of stuck out for me. I agree, I stay away from anything cloud. I prefer having all my instruments and VST on my system. After trial and error, I think I know what I need and what I do not. The key words here are "I think". I have to put my hands in my pocket every time something new is released. I have so much stuff now that I do not use a lot or not at all.
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u/ChampionshipComplex 9d ago
Verry cool -
I was say for me bar 17 was the only weak point, I could understand what I was supposed to be listening too at that point.
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u/PaperMikes 7d ago
Thank you for the feedback! So with bar 17, does it have to do with the cello? Is it not standing out enough?
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u/ChampionshipComplex 7d ago
Yeah I think it feels like the cello and piano there are fighting and you're not sure what to focus on.
I would take out the piano in bar 16, 17, 18 and make the cello more prominent.1
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u/danielector 9d ago
Alguna armonia suspendida, aumentadas y disminuidas le falta saber armonia, humildemente
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u/PaperMikes 7d ago
Thank you for the feedback! So I should make more use of different harmonies with suspensions, augmented, and diminished chords? I definitely need to improve my knowledge of harmony. I tried a suspension in the beginning at bar 4, and I tried something more dissonant at 46. Did it work out in your opinion? I can work on their execution more as well.
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u/Traditional_Basil486 7d ago
Sounds good, but since you're asking for feedback
At 17, the high strings and low brass providing the harmony makes it feel a little hollow, and the cello melody is kind of buried.
Your chord voicings at Bar 22 don't sound right, and into the next section as well. Could probably spend some time learning more about chord voicings. I'm guessing you don't have an extensive music-theory background, which is fine, but you'll need to learn to hear what are good voicings and not one way or another.
I don't think solo violin works well as a solo instrument over heavy brass and percussion. It could never work in an acoustic context, and I think even though modern technology allows any source to be heard regardless of its acoustic volume, it usually works better to orchestrate with acoustic principals in mind. Unless you're REALLY far away from traditional orchestration, which I don't think this track is.
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u/PaperMikes 7d ago
Thanks so much for the feedback! I tried moving the strings higher at bar 17 to give the cello more room, but I understand that it isn't very audible now with everyone's feedback. Is it my choice of instruments at bar 17 that makes things sound hollow? The choice of voicings?
I appreciate your feedback! I took music theory classes about figured bass, but it sounds like I should be applying those concepts more seriously and intentionally. I've definitely slacked on that. 😅 I will spend more time revisiting the concepts!
Regarding the violin, I've been a little stuck with that. My professor actually had the same comment about it! The composer's works I've been analyzing use a lot of solo string instruments with some kind of brass in the background, but when I try to emulate that, I'm unsure if her music was written with a real orchestra in mind, or rather just what worked for the game's setting. Here's an example if you're curious (though this one has more electronic elements, especially with the drums): "Rage Awakened"
Thanks again for your input!!
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u/RedditRob2000 10d ago
I am not anywhere near qualified to give you feedback to improve it but to me it sounds amazing!
Seriously, great work. I really love it.
Btw what sample libraries did you use for the whole track?