Halloween Soundtrack OSAM October-Stephen

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 1:06 pm

A good friend asked me to write a sound track for her halloween costume judging "prance", she calls it.
Where the costumed guests all form a line, and "prance" around so the judges can determine the winners.

So I decided to use this for my October OSAM entry since it took what little time I had dedicated for writing.

This is 100% M3.
I found the bass I wanted, rummaged through the bass GEs, found a pattern I liked, then 3 drum tracks, all with different kits, and GEs, then played the instruments over that.
The result is here; http://soundclick.com/share?songid=6945224

Diego · Post by **Diego** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 2:41 pm

OMG, that's really Stephen?!
This M3 let you grow up so fast...
It's very very good sounding!
And, best of all, it's new to hear this kind of tunes for you (maybe it's new just for me, but I'm happy do discover new sides of your music skills!)
I'm really loving a lot the change you did at 2'21'' with these panning strings, this chord progression...very very interesting!

Just a quick note...
At 00'26''/00'27'' I ear something strange...it should be a D over an E on the bass...That's nothing wrong with that, but maybe the D is played a little too low on the keyb, so it seems to hurt with the B...maybe I'm wrong about that of course!
Around 1'04 and 1'05'' the groove is not flowing right to my ears...is there something wrong with my player, maybe...please try to check, as the same happened around 2'02''

Sorry if I wrote so much..
COmpliments, as always great tunes from you!

DrWho · Post by **DrWho** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 3:30 pm

Wow! - strong sound right off the bat - had to back of da volume

Nice full sound - very strong rhythm track - lots of presence.

I could see this as being a good track to prance around in costume. Is the picture of someone in costume on soundclick the person you wrote the tune for?

Diego is correct- there is timing glitch @ 1:04. It is smaller @ 2:02.

I must admit though I was expecting to hear your guitar in there but its real good to hear you branch out! Nice arrangement.

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 5:57 pm

there is timing glitch @ 1:04. It is smaller @ 2:02.

Thanks for noticing that, I had terminal ear fatigue by the time I finished this,

so I'll blame that!

I'll check it out, and fix it.
I appreciate the positive comments, thank you both.
Regards,

georgeinar · Post by **georgeinar** » Sat Oct 04, 2008 11:14 pm

Well, Stephen, now it's my turn to be jealous. I haven't had the nerve to delve this deeply into the ge's and soundtracks, you go dude! I think this comes together very well. Sort of runway music for spooky models. It has just the right touch of minors that should suit the mood just fine. I have been having trouble with timing issues when recording wav files from sequences and I'm wondering if you're running into the same thing here. I'm just referring to whatever the guys here are saying about a couple spots. I've noticed that some of my wavs come out with a skip here and there as if I've made a quantize mistake, but when I go back to the sequence it sounds perfect. The only way I've gotten around this is to record at a lower level and zero, which is the default. At minus 2 or 3 it seems to stay truer to the midi. Hm. Not good. Anyway, I think you've done quite a tune here, considering the learning curve. But your personality has come thru here and that's the most important thing.

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Sun Oct 05, 2008 1:03 pm

Hi George,
Since I've been working with KARMA GEs for about 5 years now, it's become quite fun....time consuming, but really a fun way to create sometimes, that'll take me out of the "box''.
I would not have come up with that bass line, or drum pattern myself, most likely, so I had some help from the GEs, and that's the closest I get to a collaborator these days.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Regards,

chordial · Post by **chordial** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 12:29 am

Great track Stephen,
I like the driving bass, and I can imagine a thriller type dance to accompany this.
Very apt

JonSolo · Post by **JonSolo** » Wed Oct 08, 2008 2:57 am

I am just sitting here with this big grin on my face.

Man...I thought it was me trying to impress you with some guitar playing...

Stephen this is so cool. Part of that coolness comes from the song: good driving bass, nice percussive elements, great sounds, and chord changes that keep the song evolving.

The other part of the coolness is that you did this totally naked!!! Before anyone gets the idea that I peeked in on you, I mean NO GUITAR!

I love the guitar as much as anyone here, but to see a real guitarist, such as yourself, walk away from your axe and deliver a piece of music like this is fantastic!

ALTHOUGH...I could still hear you shredding on top of this one day.

Jon

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:05 pm

Great track Stephen,
I like the driving bass, and I can imagine a thriller type dance to accompany this.
Very apt

Not sure about the meaning of "apt", but I'm glad you like the bass.
Thanks.

I am just sitting here with this big grin on my face.

Man...I thought it was me trying to impress you with some guitar playing...

Stephen this is so cool. Part of that coolness comes from the song: good driving bass, nice percussive elements, great sounds, and chord changes that keep the song evolving.

The other part of the coolness is that you did this totally naked!!! Before anyone gets the idea that I peeked in on you, I mean NO GUITAR!

I love the guitar as much as anyone here, but to see a real guitarist, such as yourself, walk away from your axe and deliver a piece of music like this is fantastic!

ALTHOUGH...I could still hear you shredding on top of this one day.

Jon

Nice comments from you Jon, and I really appreciate them.

Having done a lot of soundtrack work, this style comes easily to me, especially with KARMA lending a helping hand, and I am so pressed for time lately that the hours needed to really come up with something totally original, are just not available, hence, some more soundtrack.

I really do need to dust off the guitar though. The Strat is at the Luthier being set up again, the neck went flat on me, and it started to buzz down on the lower frets, so maybe when I get it back I'll see how it sounds on a new tune.

ronbo27 · Post by **ronbo27** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:16 pm

Never cease to amaze me Stephen! How I wish I had your technique for this whole process.....you have the knack for taking your diverse creative energies and presenting them in a professional fashion so as to be pleasing to the ears each time out...yeah, and this time, no guitar! I`m diggin` it!
CHEERS!
Ron

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:12 am

ronbo27 wrote:Never cease to amaze me Stephen! How I wish I had your technique for this whole process.....you have the knack for taking your diverse creative energies and presenting them in a professional fashion so as to be pleasing to the ears each time out...yeah, and this time, no guitar! I`m diggin` it!
CHEERS!
Ron

Thank you my friend, you've made my morning with your kind words, and I appreciate it very much.
Regards,

ellll · Post by **ellll** » Sat Nov 01, 2008 1:13 pm

Well,

What does one add to everything?

Little to say other than the MOOD is SPUN out in an exciting way indeed....This just fits with the season for me....

The progression is in fact pretty standard, but one would NEVER... really notice, from the melodic content you use... It is REPETITIVE in ways that make it almost hypnotic..., yet Full of a great variety !!!!!

Great piano as well!!! Just great!!!

Thanks for putting this one up...It's a keeper!!! John (ellll)

Dee · Post by **Dee** » Tue Nov 04, 2008 11:22 am

Hi Stephen

Right from the start I was envious of that lovely growly bass line, and the way everything sits just right in the mix. I also liked the way the chords moved over a fixed bass note, and then those panning effects made me think "ah! must remember to play with pan in my next song"

Regards from
Dee

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 5:41 pm

Hey John,
Thanks, especially for noticing the piano, I love the sound of that one.

Hi Dee,
Panning is definitely important, I'm glad you liked this.
Thanks.
Regards,