Sports TV theme

[richiebee]

Getting ready to make a submission. I have a short list of clean ups, but what do you think?

More interested in opinions on orchestration than final audio quality since its possible that if it was a winner, it'd get played by real musicians, though I would like to show it in a decent light as is.

Hear anything weird or out of place?


Rich

[archiegood]

Richie, I've always loved your stuff. I've listened to this three times, I'm sure I'll listen again as soon as I send this. Will there be a voice-over? Will there be singing? Why 1:22? I would have a better reference point if I knew the ultimate destination.

My initial reaction is that this is not as "crisp" as some of your other stuff. But, I understand if you are getting something in under the gun.

I think my problem would be if there is no voice-over, etc, there is no catchy melody. That's why I ask the questions above.

[MetalDave]

I am trying to picture Like football or hockey or something being played while this is playing. It is a great tune but I feel like I am seeing like Starsky and Hutch or something. Some kind of cop show. I think for sports it needs some electrifying stuff. Maybe a heavy guitar sound and harder drums. This is just one mans opinion, Take it or leave it. Good composition though.

[fHumble fHingaz]

Mix sounds really good to me...I can envision it being played over the opening credits of a sports sequence...It definitely has a "retro" feel about it, though - I don't know weather that's good or bad for the purpose...Just curious, how long does it take you to put something like this together? It sounds pretty complex - Can you give us some details about what instrumentation you used?

[richiebee]

Thanks for the honesty... I guess I need to work on the hook. It's been a struggle!

So here's the background. Canada has the longest running sports show in the world - Hockey Night In Canada. The theme music has been the same since it started. This year CBC (the TV station) decided to ditch the music and hold an open competition (open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents only... sorry!) to come up with a new one. No limitations on instrumentation - can be vocal or not. No length specs though they have to be able to create a 30 second cut from it. You can enter as many as you like. I already entered one and although I think stylistically it was okay, it had no hook at all. I started this one with a definite instrumentaion in mind (modern rock big band!). I had a tune for it, but it just didn't drive enough. It needs to be energetic. So, this is what I came up with. It has more a sense of motion, but yeah, I agree, not a memorable hook. I'll keep on working on it. When I'm done this one, I want to submit a dance/electronica one, so I kind of wanted to knock this one on the head.
Chances of winning are slim to none, I'm sure one of the big Canadian bands will come up with the winner, but its all good practice nonetheless. The winner gets $100,000 cash plus half the royalties. The other half of the royalties goes to Canadian Junior Hockey League.

Instrumentation was pretty much standard big band. Four trumpets, five saxes (which I know sound really bad!), four trombones, piano, guitar, bass, drums (and tambourine).
Brass is Wallander Instruments
Saxes are Garritan Jazz & Big Band
Piano is NI Akoustic Piano
Guitars are RealStrat through GuitarRig3
Bass is Scarbee Red Bass through GuitarRig3
Drums are Superior Custom & Vintage
Tambourine is Garritan Jazz & Big Band

I'm currently recording my own tambourine sample library (and bodrhan), but it won't be ready to use on this project.

This track came together over about 3 nights (2-3 hours a night), but to be honest, most of that time was wasted trying to come up with a decent tune. The framework was done in the first night.

I'm not confident about mix - I'm using these borrowed KRK Rokit 6's. I thought they sounded good for the money, but not so sure now.

[Ken Bennett]

That's pretty good. Explosive start and good movement for sure. I think it's melodic enough.

The arrangement is nice, but you're right about the shortcomings of the sax tone.

The drum part is really engaging, but I wanted to hear a more well defined kick.

The section where the guitar comes in could go one of two ways. As background for a voice over it's fine, but as a standalone I'd like to hear more of a burning lead style part. Either way I think the guitar should be more prominent in that section.

The main shortcoming in the performance for me was the ending. Several instruments released at different times. A stop that's just as clean as the start would be cool.

I'm not confident about the mix either. I'm listening in my shop through Altec Lansing computer speaker system with the subwoofer turned down a notch. The monitors in my studio are no better. I also listened through headphones that are designed for DJ work, so they are very loud and a little too midrangey. I always mix into a spectrum analyzer (free vst plugin) to verify what I'm hearing with my eyes.

Good luck with the contest,
KB

[richiebee]

Originally Posted by MetalDave

I am trying to picture Like football or hockey or something being played while this is playing. It is a great tune but I feel like I am seeing like Starsky and Hutch or something. Some kind of cop show. I think for sports it needs some electrifying stuff. Maybe a heavy guitar sound and harder drums. This is just one mans opinion, Take it or leave it. Good composition though.

Thanks Dave. Yeah, cop shows is all I watched when I grew up and I find it hard to break the mold! I definitely think you're onto something though - I think I might make saxes into background instruments (since they sound so bad), and bring a guitar in to lead all the way through.... with a new killer hook. If I can come up with one!

I'm not really under the gun with this. I have about a month til closing date I think, but I wanted to get another one done, and I won't have a whole lot of free time in the second half of July and into August, so I'd like to get it done ASAP.

[MetalDave]

I would truly like to see you win this thing Good luck.

[richiebee]

Originally Posted by Ken Bennett

The main shortcoming in the performance for me was the ending. Several instruments released at different times. A stop that's just as clean as the start would be cool.

Absolutely. This and the sax tone were on my short list of things to fix. In my world (I play real big band stuff regularly), only the lead trumpet is allowed to carry on when everyone else has cut off the last note. I don't even know why that's acceptable, but listen to any good, exciting big band music in the last 40 years and thats the case.

Thanks for the comments.

[Necromancer]

There's plenty of melody from :36 - :50, try to expand on that a little.
The first 7 seconds are stellar too.

Overall sound quality is great, well balanced and bright.