Kaiyoti

Yes, I can be very hardheaded, only when I'm misjudged. And in this case, you're not very receptive to my responses. I know that being resilient towards critiques can be distasteful, but so far I've only said nothing but the truth, and they weren't all negating your feedback. What would you have me say to your original review? I don't deny that I find writing quiet music difficult and that I hate doing it. But if a chef hears from a food critic, "You don't cook burgers because you're avoiding the challenge that cooking burgers are fairly difficult", how would that make the chef feel? It comes off very insulting when it's irrelevant. I'm sure there are people that beg to differ on the notion of the fact that writing quiet music is hardest for media. And I felt challenged toward that statement, almost as if that generalization was meant just for me. Making ambient music with the lack of sounds to use IS the reason why I find it difficult, which is why when I write, I have the urge to add more and more. But surely, that does no go for everyone. You could've said "Writing quiet music for media can be the hardest to write..." which would be true in my case. There's a reason why I'm stubborn... It usually comes down to the fact that whether people's constructive critiques are genuinely supplied to improve others, or just comments masked as a message to say "you're not as good as you think you are". While you may be telling me that it's good to do some quiet and dynamic tracks... your choice of words on the other hand led me to believe that it was the latter type of review. I'm a very big fan of TJB :)... and I see what you mean from TSFH. I remember reading a quote from somewhere... Jokes aside (or maybe there's some truth in that.), I've seen the stats and numbers. It's very appealing, and I guess that's why there are so many trying in this business. But a steady full-time job is probably still "safer" in my opinion.

I'm sorry you felt challenged with my response, had never meant for that... :( Feel free to critique what's there, instead of what's not. Yes, as a demo reel and people probably expected more than what I have here. "Action texture sprinkled with thematic elements here and there" doesn't really say much. It's not all action, and there are quieter/slow/dramatic tunes in there as well. And I explain that my personal interest is the rhythmic heavy type of music. I'm not suggesting that I'm not interested in work, instead I'm saying that if I want to get involved, I want it to be relevant. So far that stands true. Picky, but I'm not desperate. If I want to become a full-time musician, I'd rather not be that person a media director can grab for any of their project. But instead, when they're in need of a certain tune that involves thick sound, they're reminded of me. I've seen a lot of people's web portfolios divided up into categories like Action, Suspense, Drama, Comedy, Electronica, etc... I can understand that gives listeners the message "Yes, I can do all this!". That's fine, if they're comfortable with it, it's beneficial to them. But I'm not .. and I'm not really up for comedy or suspense, or whichever other categories there are. I just show what I do better. "You are demonstrating in your reel that you avoid opportunities to challenge yourself, that you are not interested in your own creative growth, and that you're not really interested in demonstrating anything to begin with--this is all verified by your need to excuse your reel." I think this is a worthy discussion, please don't take this as a debate / war, I can probably learn something here about reels as well. You can be right about that statement, but put yourself in the shoes of a media person who's looking for music as opposed to someone who's acknowledged in music. The reel should show "what this person can" as oppose to "what this person can't". What if I had never said "I had trouble writing quiet music". Be honest, can you really tell that I hate writing quiet music and that I'm avoiding it? Maybe I just decided to show more rhythmic music than quiet ones, or maybe it was just random, or maybe I just happen to have more action music in 2008? Pretty huge leap of an assumption wouldn't you say? You weren't exactly telling me what you heard, you were telling me what you didn't hear. So I guess, your idea of a demo reel is to show the wide amounts of skills you can perform. Correct? My own interpretation is like a job resume. I know how to do tech support, I've done support work before, but I DON'T want to do support work. So what do I do? I leave it out. I worked as a camp guide teaching elementary kids English one summer in Asia, they nearly drove me insane, I don't want to do it again, I leave it out. The "experience" section of your resume is usually titled "Relevant Experience", not "All Experiences". I want to do R&D work, I want to join software development, I've done those before, I add it to my resume. Maybe I'm not understanding the purpose of demo reels correctly but that's my idea of reels. I didn't post my reel here for work, I never posted demos to get work, and I'd hardly think this is a good place for that. I'll still be adding few more to the reel until end of 2008, then I'll put it up on my site for good. I guess I just posted here since it's 3 years ago around this time from this place I started this whole shebang. I'm willing to accept any comment here, and thanks for your comments. But please note that as a critic, you should be able to accept rejections to critiques made since you're valuable suggestions may not always apply (with the exception of Simon Cowell or Gordon Ramsay, but they're technically judges). I've only tried to explain why I don't do quiet music, which pretty much agrees with "if this is all you ever want to write your whole life". I don't suppose your wrote that as a sarcastic remark? You've inferred that it's because I avoid challenges, not quite true. I explain that I'm not allergic to them, I've done them, and I don't enjoy them. If I have to, I'll do it... But given the lack of time I have, I'd rather be doing something I enjoy.

I said I had trouble, I never said I never tried. There are a few quiet/ambient type music in the demo. There are a few more in my library, I'd just prefer not demoing them because it's not really my choice of style. Not that I find it difficult, but rather that I tend to have this itch to add more when I write quiet music. There are more thematic material in this reel than "action texture". And I'm not a composer, a musician is the more appropriate terminology because I write music for fun. That means I write what I like... and slow boring music isn't one of them. I for one don't think that it's imperative (even for composers) to be able to write various styles. Why get yourself involved in project for music that you don't even enjoy writing? If I do that, I wouldn't be making music for fun, I'd be wasting time. I already have a daytime job, which takes up about 11 hours total include commuting, so I have little time to make music... can't be bothered to ruin my precious personal time. :P I've been told that people enjoy my music for it's distinct thick/dense nature. Which is what I aim for. So it works out :)

@ SaXoPhoNe-AlT It's a demo reel, selected extracts of various works from me. @ Maxx I only like bombastic music ;), I've always had trouble writing quiet music

I've decided to do a demo reel because I first started producing music 3 years ago around this time. This place was also the first community I joined after I started making tunes. Made 'random' music on and off until a year later I got involved in a project so I started learning the production techniques a little deeper. I'm still currently in that project since undergrad and work isn't exactly doing justice, plus, music making is just a hobby. Wasn't until late last year I started going into synth-heavy and custom sample heavy tracks. The demo reel contains selected tracks only from 2008. I like to think that the most change in my music is the production style so the most recent ones are more suitable for demo. Kaiyoti Demo Reel 2008 Enjoy...

That is the most misleading explanation possible. While your description is vague and possibly misinterpreted in your very own words, but I think MidTown already has an idea of what software he's after. I like to put my 2 cents to Midtown's quest for sample library. If there's one advice I'd give to people starting out with sampling, I'd say that don't restrict yourself to that "new to samples" notion. The world of sampling is more than just sample playback. Yes, starting out, you would choose to use very inspiring libraries. But the thing I notice is that for most people, they don't ever switch to the "none-beginner" practices and tools. If you're really into making music FROM THE COMPUTER (as I would imagine from your film scoring aspirations), sampling is a good knowledge to know. If I'm not mistaken logic comes with exs24 sampler, play around with that. There are still a few libraries out there sold in this format. It's an irony that most people worry about quality of sound so much that they'd spend hundreds of dollars on libraries and avoid learning the solid techniques behind making good results. We're all looking for quick and easy preset solutions, and it's really hard to snap out of that mode. Good library doesn't always mean good results. My suggestion ;), up to you if you want to take it.

Sequencing and mixing techniques aren't usually written in books, if they are, they're only fundamental guidance that'll lead you to the right direction. It takes professionals years to really learn, experiment and master this skill.

QcCowboy, you have no idea how bad piracy is today do you? :P Iceman, I don't want to start off on the wrong foot with you here, but if you pirated something, you're better off not asking any questions, at all. I'm not saying no or yes to piracy, but if you do, a smart tip is to not talk about it, ever. Copyright laws are getting stronger and stronger, so you need to watch your back.

"Downloaded"... Last I checked, this forum does not support piracy. The Stradivari to my knowledge has been discontinued, I may be wrong.

Thanks, it's not just Synth1, although mostly synth1 since I have the most patches built for it. I also used Oatmeal, FM4, Oxe, Minimogue... mostly the "good" free bread and butter synths. I've muted the Gigastudio sampler channels leaving only the synths... Ambience 01c Some of the percussion (and it's reversed samples) are technically synthed which can't be heard in this version, but I sampled it because they're composed of 4~5 patches and I didn't want to have to load all that just to use them. The only samples I used for this track are the strings, glass harmonica, bass kicks, and piano. This track is derived from a track I did over a year ago. So is this track, all part of the same project.

Thanks for the critique, I figured it couldn't hurt to use both in the project. The second one doesn't grab too much of your attention, which is why it'd fit more as a background music. The first one had been suggested for more populated areas in the game.

Guess I was wrong about the production, not that it's bad, just that I thought you recorded the guitar and voice yourself. Fooled me though. Good job.

I also made a piece after watching the Dark Knight... with the exception that mine follows the style of Zimmer and Howard. Mine is more than just being inspired and influenced. It's somewhere in the incidental forums if you're up for it, "Joker, Gotham Menace". Back to your piece... pretty nice overall, a little messy in certain areas. Some of the strings and brass don't quite run well together. But I really really enjoy your production of your electronic sounds, not so much on the orchestral parts. Also, is that your voice? You need to decrease the amount of reverb on that voice, it doesn't quite fit with the rest of the instruments with the amount of reverb. I get less of a feeling from that "creepy minds" as the name of this track suggests, but more of something dark like Sin City or Max Payne. Like I said before, kudos to you for the excellent work with the electronic sounds. Since you seem to be very proud (which you should be) of your vsti use, let me be the one to ask what plugins you used.

My first shot at ambient, minimalistic music. I usually prefer making music with a lot of things going on at once. But a change is sometimes good, and hopefully this one is too. Two versions... version A is the original, then I just stripped it down to make it more "pure ambient" to make version B. Nevertheless, I prefer version A myself. Features a slew of brand new synth patches made by yours truly. Ambience 01a Ambience 01b Enjoy... Kaiyoti

Late for comment on your overall music... I enjoy most of your music, especially from the reel. With regards to the earlier notion about being a generic composer, I don't think you are generic at all Andy. The only reason is because your reel demonstrates a multitude of music genres which leads people to think you being pretty generic. It would probably help if you had reels in each of their own categories (orchestral, chamber, jazz, rock). Call to adventures sounds very "adventurous" for the lack of better word. Hopefully you don't take this the wrong way, but it reminds me of Powell's score on Horton Hears a Who (except that last part), I'm assuming this was influenced from it. Only in terms of the orchestration, not the theme. Which I might add that you did a fantastic job. But the celestias part and the theme (which was somewhat similar) gave it away.