Newcomer with orchestral songs

[Shivendra]

Hey guys,

I discovered FL-studio a few months ago and started messing around with it. I've also taken up composing my own music. I don't really have a musical background so I'm in a bit of a learning curve. It still takes me a lot of time to get the music into FL-studio the way I'm hearing it in my head. And having inspiration can be hard sometimes Still, I enjoy it and I really want to learn how to use FL-Studio and make better sounding music.

My inspiration mostly comes from games and movie soundtracks.

I have first versions of 2 songs that I'd really like your opinion on. They're called "Longing For Home" and "A Place To Be". You can listen to them here:

http://soundcloud.com/shivendra

Any constructive critisism and tips (stuff like volume, tempo, instruments, humanization, composition...anything!) are welcome.

[mickomoo]

Hey, we're in a similar kinda boat... I picked up a DAW a few months ago and started composing, I have a relatively weak musical background, but I'm no stranger to it. I have to say though by simply composing my ear has gotten much better in a short amount of time. Likewise, my inspiration comes from movie and game soundtracks as well.

I really love both tracks, they're really nice! I know I'm a beginner myself, but I honestly I can't tell that you are, everything sounds mixed well and the instruments maintain their distinctiveness (something I have real trouble with). Not only that but all the instruments and parts go together nicely, lol you've had to have some exposure to music before.

I might suggest that for some of your lead instruments (mostly the string playing the melody in the second song, a place to be) you could try editing the velocity on certain notes to make the melody more distinct in certian parts, but it's not something that's really a problem. Well anyway this is all as far as I can tell, someone who's more experienced might have much more to say obviously. I do look forward to hearing more stuff from you!

[Shivendra]

I really love both tracks, they're really nice! I know I'm a beginner myself, but I honestly I can't tell that you are, everything sounds mixed well and the instruments maintain their distinctiveness (something I have real trouble with). Not only that but all the instruments and parts go together nicely, lol you've had to have some exposure to music before.

Thanks for your compliments, very nice to hear you like them mickomoo. I listen to orchestral music and game music a lot. For movie soundtracks Hans Zimmer is my biggest hero and for game music it's Jeremy Soule. Actually when I was 12 my brother was playing the keyboard and I was watching him a lot. He told me I have an ear for music. I sometimes tried to play but I suck at it! I knew how the notes should sound, but I always made a lot of mistakes pressing the wrong keys and I can't really play with 2 hands at the same time haha. Then I did nothing with music a long time up until now (except listen to it ). Nice thing with FL-Studio is that I can just click in those blocks in the sequencer by ear. Not necessary to know music theory or to be proficient with an instrument...except a mouse maybe

I might suggest that for some of your lead instruments (mostly the string playing the melody in the second song, a place to be) you could try editing the velocity on certain notes to make the melody more distinct in certian parts, but it's not something that's really a problem. Well anyway this is all as far as I can tell, someone who's more experienced might have much more to say obviously.

Yeah I think the strings playing the supporting chords are too loud and the lead gets pushed to the back. I need to work on tuning volumes. I'm also not doing anything with panning, maybe that could make a difference too.

I've been working on a new song, just working on a good ending for it. Hope to have it ready next week

[mickomoo]

Thanks for your compliments, very nice to hear you like them mickomoo. I listen to orchestral music and game music a lot. For movie soundtracks Hans Zimmer is my biggest hero and for game music it's Jeremy Soule. Actually when I was 12 my brother was playing the keyboard and I was watching him a lot. He told me I have an ear for music. I sometimes tried to play but I suck at it! I knew how the notes should sound, but I always made a lot of mistakes pressing the wrong keys and I can't really play with 2 hands at the same time haha. Then I did nothing with music a long time up until now (except listen to it ). Nice thing with FL-Studio is that I can just click in those blocks in the sequencer by ear. Not necessary to know music theory or to be proficient with an instrument...except a mouse maybe

Yeah, I kinda kinda relate to that. Though I kind do have a music background, I went to a private elementary school where they forced us to study basic theory for 4 years and play a recorder. I took piano lessons for about 3 years awhile back, well, while in elementary school. I just never took any of it seriously, I kinda regret that lol, Because I didn't take piano lessons seriously. I barely know how to play with two hands, it wasn't till recently I started to make some mild improvement in that area. Nothing beats playing a piano though lol, it has to be my favorite instrument... regardless of how much I hated waking up on saturday mornings as a kid for lessons.

A lot of people use FL, I could never get use to it, lol... that was about 2 years ago when I started simply looking at DAW interfaces, it wasn't until about half a year ago that I started writing music. I use mixcraft and some other random resources, my dad has pro tools so when I go home maybe I'll use that too. I play everything by hand on a controller, just for fun, though my rhythm was quite off in the beginning I'm getting better at it. I too was inspired to write by video game/orchestral music, specifically Japanese composers I guess cus I played a lot of rpgs growing up but now I'm expanding my tastes.

Yeah I think the strings playing the supporting chords are too loud and the lead gets pushed to the back. I need to work on tuning volumes. I'm also not doing anything with panning, maybe that could make a difference too.

Yeah, it was just a minor suggestion, nothing really glaring to me. Your volumes are pretty toned well together, well especially when compared to my work lol. It's something that I really have problems with lol. But I for the most part love the blending of your instruments. I didn't really think highly of FL until recently, I met a lot of artists who used it fairly recently and you've pretty much sealed the deal lol.

[Shivendra]

Yeah, I kinda kinda relate to that. Though I kind do have a music background, I went to a private elementary school where they forced us to study basic theory for 4 years and play a recorder. I took piano lessons for about 3 years awhile back, well, while in elementary school. I just never took any of it seriously, I kinda regret that lol, Because I didn't take piano lessons seriously. I barely know how to play with two hands, it wasn't till recently I started to make some mild improvement in that area. Nothing beats playing a piano though lol, it has to be my favorite instrument... regardless of how much I hated waking up on saturday mornings as a kid for lessons.

Ohh, getting forced to do anything always makes u hate it, for me at least. And when you grow up you realize you actually kind of like it, if it's by free choice, and it's a real shame.

Besides FL-Studio I also had a look at Reason. But Reason felt a bit difficult for me. I think FL-Studio has a more slick, user-friendly interface. And maybe FL is a bit easier to get started and make music with. At least,I could also find some decent tutorials on Youtube that really got me started easily.

I finished my third song, called "Ascended From Darkness". Listen to it here:

http://soundcloud.com/shivendra/shivendra-ascending-from

[mickomoo]

Ohh, getting forced to do anything always makes u hate it, for me at least. And when you grow up you realize you actually kind of like it, if it's by free choice, and it's a real shame.

I think that's beyond true with anyone, for the most part anyways. We all grow to learn and like things at different rates. I kinda was spiteful when taking lessons and didn't see any practical use for playing an instrument, I wish I could kick my younger self in the arse >_>

Besides FL-Studio I also had a look at Reason. But Reason felt a bit difficult for me. I think FL-Studio has a more slick, user-friendly interface. And maybe FL is a bit easier to get started and make music with. At least,I could also find some decent tutorials on Youtube that really got me started easily.

I finished my third song, called "Ascended From Darkness". Listen to it here:

http://soundcloud.com/shivendra/shivendra-ascending-from

FL definitely has the more user/beginner friendly interface, most people I know just plugged and played. I took a look at FL before I technically knew I was going to write music and just ran away, idk why, extremely silly in hindsight. I settled on using mixcraft, which is kinda limited, but it works for what I'm trying to do, I'm just trying to have fun and experiment before I become serious about playing. Actually one thing I love about mc is that I can use 3rd party daws, it's not extremely limited. I'm thinking I'll use it for the midi, and mix in another program. Also It literally has a plug and play interface... but I bet my dad is going to force me to start using pro-tools when I get home for summer... either that or my best friend'll force me to use another daw lol.

The music btw is again amazing. I actually like this one best of all. Again no critiques from me, lol, I actually should seek feedback from you. I actually did notice a change in the strings from the last song though, the 2nd I think. I sounds like you changed the velocities, they don't don't sound as stiff if I'm hearing correctly.