Couple of WIP songs from last week or so

[Axkoa]

First one is an "Orchestral Black Metal" song...Pretty happy with how it is so far especially with the percussion for the orchestrations, my first foray into this kind of orchestrations. I changed the guitar up a bit and made it a bit more apparent in the mix than the current mix. No clue how to continue with it...I sorta want to get a microphone and record some vocals over it, but I can't sing AT all...

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/axkoa/orchestral-black-metal-wip-v1[/soundcloud]

Next song is a "Dark Electronic" song I started making yesterday. I'm actually incredibly pleased with how it turned out, I feel like it suits me better than the other electronic songs that I've written before. It feels like it could be a good Progressive Metal song as well. Not sure how to continue with this one either, thoughts?

[soundcloud]https://soundcloud.com/axkoa/dark-electronic-wip[/soundcloud]

 

[Cagey]

Let me just say this about that: the only people who don't make mistakes are those who don't do anything at all.

 

[stratamania]

I liked the first one. It needs some theme development, new theme, instrumentation and recapitulation of the original theme. To be honest it sounds more cinematic than metal, which is not a bad thing.

Check out some of Hans Zimmers film work, here is one example.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/hDH-X6-RUbk
[/youtube]

And nothing to do with scores, or recording but I saw this next video review and it reminded me of something you did in one of your earlier threads.

[youtube]https://youtu.be/_w77sn2KGiU
[/youtube]

 

[Axkoa]

Thanks Cagey for the motivation, I doubt I would've done anything if you guys on the forum wouldn't have been so helpful and friendly.

And yes Stratamania, one thing I find I need to work on more is exactly that, the themes and everything. I want to start leaning more scales and theory to help with all that, but I have a MIDI keyboard which I like to use to figure out chords/patterns/lead stuff which helps make my newer music sound less robotic.

For your second point, that project is sorta on hold for a sec, I'm focusing more on University for the moment so I haven't gotten around to redesigning the board, but I bought a soldering iron for my birthday a few months back and so as soon as I'm free from uni work that's what I'll be doing...

 

[stratamania]

Your Uni work is probably the most important at the moment. Still good to have a hobby :icon_thumright:

 

[Cagey]

I have a keyboard here, no synth, just a MIDI controller (similar to this), that I hook up every once in a while just for grins (don't really need a synth these days, what with all the fantastic samplers and what-have-you available for the computer). Anyway, as you know, there are tons of fantastic samples out there to make noise with. My problem is I spend a lotta time messing around with pads because they sound so good, and never get around to putting any detail on the canvas so there's no message or story or lesson or anything communicated, just a "mood" or "environment". So, I get to thinking "Moods are a dime a dozen. Or less." Then I put the thing away.

Well, not really. I live by myself. I don't put things away. Might need them in a minute :laughing7:

Anyway, I'm no composer, but I think I'd be better off trying to tell a story first, then coloring it up with pads later to flesh it out and create an environment for it. Otherwise, it's just a lotta boring notes floating around. Doesn't matter how good it sounds - good sound is drop-dead easy these days - the message is the thing. Gotta have some substance. Something to remember. For example, Joe Satriani is a highly skilled guitar player, but that's not what makes his music great. Teenage girls can play his stuff. Even I  have been know to cover a tune or two of his. But, what makes his work great is the melody, the "message". Somebody says "Satch Boogie" or "Surfing With the Alien" and the tune comes to mind immediately.

That's what you want.

 

[ThePhilosopher]

I preferred the second track to the first, but I've been in a darkwave mood lately. I could definitely see how that track could go into the AAL/Periphery direction. Flesh some things out, try incorporating guitar (or don't) and let the fun of dense mixing begin.  :rock-on: