My Music

[NunoAle]

Hey guys, give a suggestion please! Ways to improve, things you like, things you dislike!

http://www.box.net/shared/q4qj13t0ko

I'm sorry, those can't be used. If somebody (by some strange reasons :P) finds me a good composer, PM me :P

Thanks for the opinion!

EDIT: Link Fixed.

By the way, sorry about the quality, it's only MIDI.

 

[John McEvan]

Best music I ever heard. You're nº 1 composer around! Por acaso não é nada de especial mas é só para dar gozo a estes gajos.

 

[NunoAle]

lol, can anyone tell me how to improove?

 

[RoelfMik]

Great music. I listened to all of them. What software do you use to make these mid's? What's your musical background? Interested in making some .mid's together?

Avanbel - has a nice peacefull atmoshpere.

Captain Barson - the drum really adds something extra. I do think the note you hit in the melody at 1:02 to be a bit weird, but that could very well be the because it's a .mid.

Shaelins Theme - interesting harmonies. I would perhaps have added some soft strings in the background.

Strolling The Woods - has, like Avanbel, a really nice calm atmosphere. I really like the mood the arpeggios played by the ?harp? give.

Battle Theme - Nice and active melodies. The harmony the strings play at 0:30 are not the best choice I think.

Decision - Interesting string arrangement, tonal choices and again a really nice harp playing along. It does feel a bit empty for a moment, at 1:38, when the other instruments fall away. In those first seconds the melody seems a bit lost. Great and interesting song.

Here We Go - Nice mood and harmonies. Could become a great song!

Hope you find this comment helpfull! I posted some of my songs on the forum as wel: http://rmxp.org/forums/index.php?topic=49100.0

 

[moog]

You sent me some of your stuff (Gonna send you another PM soon) but like I said for someone without much innate musical talent your stuff is good man.

Hope to hear more in the future!

 

[NunoAle]

Wow, thanks alot guys!

Your comments were better then I expected, and that gave me alot of hope towards this!  :thumb:

Great music. I listened to all of them. What software do you use to make these mid's? What's your musical background? Interested in making some .mid's together?

Thanks! I used Guitar Pro 5 to make them all. My music background is 1 year and a half of learning how to play guitar, but almost no teory whatsoever. Doing some mid's together would be a great experience, I've listened to your songs!  :thumb:

You sent me some of your stuff (Gonna send you another PM soon) but like I said for someone without much innate musical talent your stuff is good man.

Hope to hear more in the future!

Thanks man, that gives me hope! :thumb:

 

[ev149]

I loved it!  Here We Go sounds like it could become a reeeaally great song  :grin: , wouldn't have chosen that title though  :down:.  I give it a 9.9/10 :thumb:

 

[NunoAle]

Thanks man!  :thumb: I'll be evolving it later.

Here We Go is actually a softer version of a song I have, used for an Epic Battle. ^^

 

[tai]

Alright, my turn to give these a crit =D. I know you've got some changes ready to be made but I'll tell you what I think of the posted version, and re-evaluate if any edits are posted.

I'm writing these as I listen to each song:

Anvabel
This is the name of a town, right? Its nice and peaceful, not too happy and not too sad. The Choir Oohs sound bad on my card - I think something more pizzicato or pan flute would fit the historic feel of the music. The repeat point is a bit sudden, I think it would sound more natural to give it a bar of rest. I really like the phrase with the almost-dissonant piano wholetone chord. (1:18, 2:54)

Captain Barson
ahhh.. I can hear the trumpet switching samples, you should definitely render these to MP3 when you finish composition. Snare is a bit loud, and very repetive. Should add some rolls and dynamic changes here and there to give variety. Listen to the percussion in the SeeD song from FFVIII if you want some reference to some interesting snare-bass backgrounds.

Shaelin's Theme
I find it audially distracting having the melody any the background playing in the same octave when they have a similar sound (impact-string) There's one really strange note at 0:18 in the background piano that really sticks out and gets repeated throughout. Nice harmony with the lead guitar. And melody. I imagine this character to have quite a dark past, but is finally starting to understand some parts of the world which caused him to lead the path he has lead the past years.
1:17 - what the heck was that sudden pitch drop?
1:22 - same thing, but it was a rise.
1:33 - oh, i guess they're intentional. The suddenness of it makes it sound out of place, though.
I'm tempted to put choir aah chords the second repeat through, at a high pitch but quiet.
If you actually know where these songs are going to be used, it'd be nice to get a bit of background.

Strolling the Woods
Again, the ooh sounds bad on my card. I really like the arp harp and the occasional chord. Add more stacatto and less volume on the string touches.
This sounds pretty sombre and slightly morbid for a 'stroll', I'd have to say that something really important to the plot is hidden in these woods that the protagonist has to find.
Nice bridge at 2:25. Fits in well and adds a bit of variance to the peice.

Battle Theme
This doesn't have the 'intense action' battle feel, nor does it have the 'epic medieval' feel. It might work well if the story takes place in a modern setting, though. Nice drum line, though.

Decision
I didn't like the addition of the cymbals at 1:20. It was really nice the way it was. Strange bending on the guitar a few times (twice i think). Maybe it's my card, I don't know...
If you're going to use percussion I think you should stay away from the standard kit for this peice. Maybe look for field drums or traditional instruments.

Here We Go
Wow. this piece, however incomplete, totally lives up to its title. I look forward to hearing the rest of this one. I can really feel the 'takeoff' moment at 0:14. Maybe try a cresc. bass roll instead of just eighths and see how that works.

Battle Theme 3
Mm, this battle theme suits my taste a lot more than the first one. (is there no battle theme 2?)
I question the use of a wind instrument as the main voice - I think distorted guitar would be nice for this, though, how suiting that is for the story is another question.

I hope you find these criticisms as helpful as much as I enjoyed listening to your compositions. cheers!

 

[NunoAle]

Tai: Thank you! Your critics have been one of the most helpful ever, along with what Moogle told in (through PM). I'll answer right now =P

The original songs of Avanbel and Strolling The Woods did not have the "oohs" as a lead instrument. My problem here is what you actually talked about for Captain Barson - the MP3 needs to be rended. The guy I'm working with wanted them to sound alike and he wanted the most soft sound I could find for a lead. As I'm using Guitar Pro 5, you can't actually use the RSE when you export to MIDI, and I'm still trying to find out how to use VST, so, the most soft instrument I could find was the "oohs".

I'm aware of some of the problems you defined (like the sudden loop in Avanbel) and some other are new to me, and I'm very grateful you have found them, it will let me correct some things.

Are you sure 06 Battle Theme and Battle Theme 3 weren't the same? And yes, a Battle Theme 2 exists, it had that name because I had to get exactly what the guy I'm working for wanted. It sounds nice in the game, he wanted it to have a beat like FFXIII's Battle Theme, so I left Battle Theme 2 and Battle Theme 3 (originally Battle Theme 1) behind.

http://www.box.net/shared/0s68osh40o

Here are the earlier Battle Themes, they have only some seconds of lenght, I never got to finish them.

Tai, along with Eve, you are the second person who really appreciated "Here We Go". This is the link to "Here We Go"'s first version, that was never intended for that kind of feeling, I just transformed it (it probably has alot of things that don't sound so nice, it was one of my first RPG songs).

http://www.box.net/shared/584duil4cc

Now, for some things that aren't Tai related :P (directly)... Here are some of my first songs, I'd like you guys to listen aswell.

http://www.box.net/shared/80ie0m0gs8

bleh - I have no idea on what this could be used! Not finished though.

boss battle - This is actually more of a Battle Theme, but, it was my first.

Cutscene Battle - First version of Here We Go.

Musica do Pombo - Translated to english, Pigeon's Song. It tells the story of a boy who dreamnt he could fly. In the beggining, its him trying to fly, through the middle he achieves the goal of flying, but then he starts realizing something is wrong, starts getting worried, and in the end, falls from the sky (this song was made on request).

New Track - New Track is not finished, and is not RPG related. That would probably be my kind of music if I actually achieved the goal of becoming a musician. The percursions are even worser then the ones I do now, I'm sorry for that!

Strange - You can also call it Shaelin's Theme. The other is a premath, this one (not finished) is the start of the original. It would (supposingly) be bigger, more orchestrated and so on.

Thanks for listening guys!

 

[tai]

That's very strange that I said the second battle theme sounds better (when it's the same). I think it has to do with the order I listened to the music in. Compared to Strolling in the Woods, the battle theme feels like it follows a completely different style. However, It matches much better with Here We Go, which is why I guess I said it sounds better.

...though I don't know why I didn't realize it was the same song. well, it was like 3AM when I listened...

I'll write up some short thoughts on the additional (older) songs you posted. Not going to fully critic them, since I'm kind of hungry.

Cutscene Battle
ahaha, i was expecting something big at 0:34. I don't see how this evolved into Here we Go other than the cresc at 1:16 =P

bleh
sounds like it might go well in a unique shop.

boss battle
i like this. it has an alternative style that reminds me of The Man With the Machine Gun. i really like this. =D now give it a funky electric bass line (yes i'm all about my bass lines in battle music)

New Track
Yeah. I can't really see this being used in an RPG =P

Strange
I don't find anything strange about this. I like the phasing chords in the backgorund.

Musica do Pombo
Music designed to a specific story is always fun to listen to. Nice switch to minor. Sounds like something to accompany a CG.

you keep posting, and i'll keep listening

 

[eharper256]

Well, suddenly theres alot of interesting music on resources. I'll refrain from making 'musical' comments since my actual musical knowledge is on the same level as a deaf badger.

I liked Strolling in the Woods and Captain Barson the most. Both are highly characterful themes. The latter is a fantastic example of an actual character theme. I can almost see this honorable, dutiful soldier with a handlebar mustache.

Bleh sounds like the start of something that wouldn't be amiss in good old Simcity 2000; especially in the map editor. I can just hear "Reticulating Splines" being said perfectly to it.

Boss Battle is, as you say, not really a boss fight music. But to continue your retro association, I think it would go great in a 80's shoot-em-level like in, say, UN Squadron.

 

[DaithioDell]

Quite good, for a young'un.

As you said, you've not taken any music theory. I'd reccomend it highly if you really wish to compose seriously. With a bit of schoolin', your music will become much more organic and feel like a whole rather than a bunch of parts.

I'll expand on the volume level statements of before: that is, without a doubt, the easiest way to vastly improve your pieces. I haven't used Guitar Pro in some time, but I recall it not being a particularly powerful or capable composer. Try and find an old version of Cubase (or Logic or MOTU (Mark Of The Unicorn) if you have a Mac): they are very simple to learn and massively powerful once mastered. Get a MIDI keyboard, if you don't have one. I picked up my first for $20, so none of these 'oh it's so expensive' excuses.  :wink:

Every piece seems to have the same pace, as well, which certainly doesn't help. Add to that, they are quite simple, with little melodic development, for the most part. When you DO advance your pieces, it works quite well, but again, the progressions are simple and get old quite quickly. The violin sound is terrible, just have to get that out there. Again, a fault of Guitar Pro, I'm sure.

I know it seems like I'm being mean, certainly not my intention. Tough love and all. It really is a good effort, I think it could use a bit more work before being spectacular. You show tons of promise.

 

[NunoAle]

Actually, I loved your comment! And I understand what you're trying to say... I use Guitar Pro, because, since I play guitar, I know what "numbers" I need to insert in the tab, in order to compose easly, and it just has the iomage of a guitar, and that defenetly makes it much easier.

I've heard of Cubbase, but never used it. How can it improve my songings?

 

[Twirly]

Can I use the midis you made for my new game?
(It has a peaceful atmosphere your music is perfect for this! :thumb

 

[NunoAle]

I'm sorry, you cannot!

They are already being used!

 

[Twirly]

Oh, ok...

 

[Use-t1337dude]

You are actually pretty good at this,
most of these are pretty well written.

The Atmospheric ones have a nicely played out melody, on some they stray a little.
But you get back on track.

Anyways, to my matter of buisness.

Would you like me to Re-Orchestrate and Make these into High Quality MP3?

 

[NunoAle]

I would actually love that, yes!