Need your opinion please. T.V. show soundtrack related

[Joeytpg]

I was asked to write the soundtrack to a T.V. show. It's a social theme show where they talk random daily stuff and different interesting topics. Nothing too heavy. The producer wants a popish tune, upbeat and catchy.

This is the main melody I wrote, I still need to work on the drum fills as well as add a few other instruments such horns and maybe keys. This soundtrack must be short, (no more than 1:30 minutes) and it'll be use for the intro when the show starts and when it goes to commercials.

let me know what you think please.

The solo was totally improvised, as you can tell but I left it there to get an idea how it would sound in the mix.

Gear used:

Macbook
Metric Halo ULN-2 interface
SM57
Guitar: John Mayer Strat, and Epiphone Lucille for the solo only
Amps: Duesentrieb Little Joe for the clean guitars, diezel Einstein for the solo and distorted guitar.
EZDrummer
Logic.

that's it guys, please let me know how you like it and what I could do to improve it.

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7391067

 

[Audioholic]

kewl

below are some of my thoughts, take what you want from them....

i would simplify any guitar solo, keep it so as if needed, you could hear VO over top, right now the guitar work is getting pretty busy as the song progreses imo and needs to be cleaner, specially the solo, too much freestyle going on imo. need to add some other elements that will compliment, not steal the show but that will brighten it up and give more popish element, try to stick to maybe some modern sounding synths or what not, not sure what type of TV show it is, knowing that will probally help make more of specific ideas to try out. Generally when I hear a producer say popish, upbeat and catchy, I would go a little brighter and bouncy. Your track started out brighter, then went into some darker type of sounds and jammin.

These are just my thoughts, take what you want from them my friend. Just as a reference, Here is something that I did for a project that asked for similiar stuff, bright, poppy, catchy, upbeat. You may or may not like this and not saying its better at all, but I tried to incorporate that popish, bouncy talk show type of sound, and use some synthy sounds to fill it out just a tad. I have dealt with producers and ad guys for a long time, and sometimes its just a matter of interpreting what they exactly mean you know. Keep us posted!

example link of my talk show upbeat popish track, definetally upbeat friendsish, probally a little too peppy, but sometimes this positive is what people mean when they say upbeat, popish, catchy etc etc.

 

[Joeytpg]

hey man, thank you very much, of course it helps me. If you got any more ideas let me know please.

I really dig your tune and I can really pick up the "catchy, happy" characteristics

btw, I really dig your mix, any tips regarding mixing, eq and what not?

I'm struggling with "cleaness" right now.... as in the mix sounds "dirty". The pres on the MEtric Halo are top notch so, I don't really think is the recordings, but I'll re-record again tomorrow with more volume to "cook" the amp up more so the guitar signal comes out more balanced and clean.

But care to give me tips on mixing-eqing to get that polish sound you got going on?

 

[Audioholic]

less distortion usually equals a cleaner sound. I often double track, and usually use less distortion then I would think, and surprisingly, depending on how you play, it can still come across as gritty if you want it to. So back off some of the drive, your opening guitars are cleanish, but then you went into something with too much drive imo, and it gave it a harder grungier sound. I would use a different sound, less drive. Double track your rythm if you can. Leads are ok, but I can tell you when I worked as a post engineer, I usually always used the underscore track, that is usually minus any serious lead, it just got in the way and made me have to turn it down. So leads are ok, but try to keep them easily blending into the melody unless a scorching lead is asked for.

When in doubt, keep it simple! Having 3 or 4 guitars all doing something different is gonna get cluttery fast. Maybe have just one or 2 guitar ideas going at once, from thier description, they are wanting something memorable rather then just a good backround track. That is always hard for me, but perhaps coming up with a catchy little hook that you repeat for a little, and then go into a chorus type of part on your song.

For my mixes, I like to incorporate electronic sounding drums and little blips here and there, as well as acoustic drums, really helps to brighten things up and fill it out without taking too much space. Overall I use post EQ and multiband compression and such to give it a polished sound, been doing this for awhile so I guess there are just somethings that I have tried to incorporate to get that polished sound. I think the main difference in sound is that I used less distortion overall on my lead type of sound, and tried to play around the melody which helped it fit into a pocket so to speak, trying to create a memorable phrasing, not sure I nailed it. But like I said, i would simplify your guitar work, got a little to busy trying to jam rather then creating a memorable idea.

thanks for posting!

 

[Joeytpg]

no, once again, thank you. after a while the ear gets tired and of course, the artistic ego is in play so sometimes we do too much when it's not needed like in my case now but it's good to have critics because it keeps everything in perspective and under control.

Now, care to share some tips on "mastering" I know mastering is aVERY difficult/complex process and with a home studio is very hard to "successfuly" master a track, I'm well aware of all that, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to improve your final recording. So far tend to play with some EQing in the final mix, I bounce a stereo mix and EQ that a little bit to give it a "fuller" sound and to brighten it up or mellow it down depending on what I want to achieve with the final mix.

Care to share some "mastering" tips for my final mix?


I'll post a more elaborate mix during the week, this mix what a "jamming" version just to get a feel of the song and see if the melody fits the show. I sent it to the producers as a VERY rough demo, and see if I get a 'yes' on the melody. Don't wanna waste too much time recording/mixing if the producer's not happy with the tune right?

 

[jcj]

Maybe a bit more major vibe......not so dark?

 

[Audioholic]

no, once again, thank you. after a while the ear gets tired and of course, the artistic ego is in play so sometimes we do too much when it's not needed like in my case now but it's good to have critics because it keeps everything in perspective and under control.

Now, care to share some tips on "mastering" I know mastering is aVERY difficult/complex process and with a home studio is very hard to "successfuly" master a track, I'm well aware of all that, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to improve your final recording. So far tend to play with some EQing in the final mix, I bounce a stereo mix and EQ that a little bit to give it a "fuller" sound and to brighten it up or mellow it down depending on what I want to achieve with the final mix.

Care to share some "mastering" tips for my final mix?


I'll post a more elaborate mix during the week, this mix what a "jamming" version just to get a feel of the song and see if the melody fits the show. I sent it to the producers as a VERY rough demo, and see if I get a 'yes' on the melody. Don't wanna waste too much time recording/mixing if the producer's not happy with the tune right?

as far as the master, I typically use a multiband comressor, which is good to even out the sound a little bit, and brighten it up, beyond that I add another eq, on a general basis, boost around 10k and 5k a little to add some high end, or whatever the track needs. I eq my tracks individually so it sounds good before I add anything on the master. not to bright, not dark either. I typically use a limiter on the master, I don't smash the crap out of it, but enough to get some leveling and volume.


one more thing, typically producers can't hear past a demo or rough track. Meaning usually they don't understand the process a whole lot, and sometimes sending them a rough cut or halfway finished track isn't always a good idea. I have learned to try to send them a very good and finished product when i can, unless a general idea is requested first. like i said, some people just don't understand if you say something is rough, they will think its the final product nor understand how to communicate what to change other then thinking they don't like it as its not finished so to speak.

 

[nbarts]

I haven't read what other posters said, so I apologize if I'm a repetition.

1st - the idea is great, you did a great job.

But..

IMO...

I used to work on a TV station FWIW...

You need to redo the track.

1 you need longer intro with just bass drums & funky guitars, your instruments biuld up too fast one after another. For a TV soundtrack that's disturbing.
2 your guitars are too heavy, go for a lighter sound, especially for all the rhythm parts, Solo sound is not bad at all, but could be lighter.
3 your solo is wanking too much, go for a very simple solo, don't shred
4 if you wave WAHs & different weird stuff like that, this is the place to use them

My 2c

 

[Joeytpg]

no, once again, thank you. after a while the ear gets tired and of course, the artistic ego is in play so sometimes we do too much when it's not needed like in my case now but it's good to have critics because it keeps everything in perspective and under control.

Now, care to share some tips on "mastering" I know mastering is aVERY difficult/complex process and with a home studio is very hard to "successfuly" master a track, I'm well aware of all that, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do to improve your final recording. So far tend to play with some EQing in the final mix, I bounce a stereo mix and EQ that a little bit to give it a "fuller" sound and to brighten it up or mellow it down depending on what I want to achieve with the final mix.

Care to share some "mastering" tips for my final mix?


I'll post a more elaborate mix during the week, this mix what a "jamming" version just to get a feel of the song and see if the melody fits the show. I sent it to the producers as a VERY rough demo, and see if I get a 'yes' on the melody. Don't wanna waste too much time recording/mixing if the producer's not happy with the tune right?

as far as the master, I typically use a multiband comressor, which is good to even out the sound a little bit, and brighten it up, beyond that I add another eq, on a general basis, boost around 10k and 5k a little to add some high end, or whatever the track needs. I eq my tracks individually so it sounds good before I add anything on the master. not to bright, not dark either. I typically use a limiter on the master, I don't smash the crap out of it, but enough to get some leveling and volume.


one more thing, typically producers can't hear past a demo or rough track. Meaning usually they don't understand the process a whole lot, and sometimes sending them a rough cut or halfway finished track isn't always a good idea. I have learned to try to send them a very good and finished product when i can, unless a general idea is requested first. like i said, some people just don't understand if you say something is rough, they will think its the final product nor understand how to communicate what to change other then thinking they don't like it as its not finished so to speak.

thanks once again. You're totally right when it comes to sending rough demos, in this particular case, I've worked with this producer before so we understand the working method, but you're totally right and I'll keep it in mind for future works

thank you again man, I'll post again once it's finished so you can give me your opinion again.

 

[Szar]

I could see this song being used. I dig it. But yeah, simplify the solo.

 

[Joeytpg]

I haven't read what other posters said, so I apologize if I'm a repetition.

1st - the idea is great, you did a great job.

But..

IMO...

I used to work on a TV station FWIW...

You need to redo the track.

1 you need longer intro with just bass drums & funky guitars, your instruments biuld up too fast one after another. For a TV soundtrack that's disturbing.
2 your guitars are too heavy, go for a lighter sound, especially for all the rhythm parts, Solo sound is not bad at all, but could be lighter.
3 your solo is wanking too much, go for a very simple solo, don't shred
4 if you wave WAHs & different weird stuff like that, this is the place to use them

My 2c

Thanks a lot dude, you're totally right about thw wah.... I can hear it in there now that you mention it

 

[Joeytpg]

I could see this song being used. I dig it. But yeah, simplify the solo.

thank you my friend, will do.

sometimes our fingers have a mind of its own and start wanking all over the place