[BGM]Rush to Escape

[Arcanum]

Whew, I haven't been around here in a while... Anyway, I just recently have gotten into composing, and just today, I whipped this up. I'm not quite sure whether to call it finished yet (which is why I put it here rather than in the download manager), but either way, finished or no, I'd like some constructive crits. Take a listen:
Rush to Escape
It could also be used for battle music I suppose, hence the file name.

 

[Scribblette]

Good for early steps. It's a bit messy in places. If you listen carefully you can hear where the piano plays several chords that conflict at the same time, and I don't quite think that's intended.

Something I always missed out on in my first compositions was to remember a melody line of sorts - it can fade out, it can repeat, but a melody line really helps hold things together.

Another problem I faced was that because I'd be listening to the same few bars over and over again as I edited my composition, I'd have less repetition than I should've - because I'd already heard certain bars so much, I thought I needed to move on. You may have the same problem there - the piece could be stretched out to two or three minutes, and you could explore different variations within it, then go back into the main theme - etc.

Then again I'm not a composer nowadays, so you'd be better off listening to someone who knows how to advise you more clearly. It's pretty good as an early venture into composition, and I can see potential.

Oh, and make sure you keep backups of all your music. I used to be big on composing then lost everything when my dad formatted the hard disc, and because of the massive head trauma that caused (I was REALLY big on composing ^_^) I've never been able to touch composition since. But hopefully the advice was a little helpful.

 

[RavenTDA]

Needs bass.

 

[Arcanum]

@Scribblette: That was definitely helpful, because it sounds like you're a pretty experienced composer, or at least you once were. I just fixed the little issue with the clashing notes, and I've been working on fleshing the peice out and sticking to a theme. Thanks for the help.

@Raven: That's pretty constructive right there... eh, not so much. It already has a bass part too. I suppose I could make it louder or make it be lower by an octave if that's what you're talking about.

 

[Zoom]

The tempo of this piece is very nice-- stopping and starting like an XTC song during their punk days, and almost as fast as them too.

I would have to agree that the song could use some bass with greater presence (either in volume or lower pitch), but I don't think it's absolutely necessary as the franticness of the activity depicted (Rush to Escape) sort of creates the need for that which is, if not shrill, then of higher pitch.

The major problem I see with this piece is that it won't work for an "Escape" theme since when you choose to escape, you only need a couple seconds of music/FX before the screen switches back to the map. Also I seem to remember it requires file conversion to OGG if so. But obviously this song will work well with any other frantic themes.

 

[Arcanum]

Well, Zoom, what I meant by escape is that this theme could work for when your party is escaping some area that's about to explode or something along those lines. And I do agree about the bass part. I've already cranked the volume on it, and to me it sounds fine, but I suppose once I upload an updated version you guys can decide on whether it's good enough.

 

[Scribblette]

actually, good pointing out the bass there, folk.. *listens for it* I can't hear the bass at all, really, as anything distinct. It's either too high so indistinguishable as bass, or not loud enough at all.

Remember that the bass line can always follow the melody line, especially when the melody cuts out for a bit. Bass isn't always required of course, but it's worth checking out what it adds if it's more noticeable.

Let us know when you've hopped up an updated ersion.

 

[Kest]

Can't say I am all that fond of MIDIs anymore, but this had a few catchy parts to it.