My First Live Recording — Need Feedback

Hi.

I hope everyone is doing well. This is the first time in my life to record something live with a 50-piece orchestra. Seeing and hearing my composition brought to life is an indescribable feeling.

Speaking of "indescribable feeling", I'm sure Disney fans get it, I was heavily inspired by the work of Alan Menken. I wish @Mike Verta would do a class about this legendary composer who scored 8 Oscars. I'm glad everyone who listened to my composition told me that it's very Disney-like which is what I intended.

I hope one day I could score something for Disney

 

Thank you, @Benjamin Goldman

I really appreciate your comment as you're the first one to comment here. You just made my day brighter with your compliment.

I must say I'm a huge fan of Alan Menken just like you. It's sad that I don't see anyone talking about him in Facebook groups, forums or any social media talking about music. Let's just appreciate the fact that he's the only living being to score 8 Oscars. You are right about his rhythmic work. I prayed that my melody could be easy to remember and people can recognize it if they hear it in the future. You know, for someone like me who never had any musical training or education, I didn't expect this day to come. The day where I get to record my own live performance. I thank God for that!

I promise that I will get better with time and you could expect another live performance from me in January. I hope so.

Until then, keep on composing!

 

Thanks!

 

Thank you so much, Mr. @Michael Antrum !

I'll be dropping a video review in my channel. Be sure to subscribe. It will answer all your questions.

Regarding the orchestration, I'm not a good transcriber. I hired someone who can transcribe and orchestrate my composition. By that time, I already made a piano sketch of the piece and an orchestrated mockup. But as you know, every composer needs an orchestrator to guide him. There has been some changes made to the score by the orchestrater. For example, at 45 seconds, instead of making normal brass chords, he added movements to the horns to accompany my string movement. It's funny that he relied too much on my mockup orchestration to make some final decisions. For example, I choose to add triangles, I choose to have a Harp playing with the brass at 20 seconds. Even the Harp at 54 wasn't even in the original score. I added it later using midi sample along with the midi choir.

A lot of versions of the orchestration were introduced to me and got rejected. I wanted to add more stuff here and there. Even after recording, I still modified the harp part like I told you.

So as you can see it was a great collaboration and I had a big part in the orchestration process. I hope that answered your question

 

"I did feel like around :53 things started to feel a bit muddy"
You mean when I added the extra notes for the Harp to accompany the melody, things got muddy? It was a decision made after printing the score and recording it. I felt like it "must" be there. I cam almost hear it. I should add it. I didn't know they're ruining the melody?

"The melody didn't get a chance to really develop"
I couldn't agree more. The melody deserve more than 1.2 minutes to let it sink inside the human brain. I tried so hard to introduce different variations of the melody from joyful woodwinds, tender brass to soaring strings and epic choir ending. I think it didn't create the "goosebumps" I was hoping for some listeners I guess.

 

No, man. Of course I will take them. Otherwise, why did I posted this in the first place, right?
Listen...
The recording is not the best in the world. Everything was on budget. I mean, what do you expect from a $200 session? I contacted a professional string shared session and they asked me I need 12 minutes to record this and I only got 7 from the other guys. My mixer went through hell to fix this. He had to survive the mic bleeding, the bad acoustic, the poor performance and the bad mics. I'm just really happy I came with something to be proud of.

Again, I'm taking your advice and everybody's. I thank you all who commented here from the bottom of my heart. <3

 

Then be sure to check out my review soon, Mr. @Paul T McGraw

 

So 12 minutes from the strings and 7 minutes from the brass. For $200. Did that include the orchestration ?

Short answer: No.
The orchestration was done by my friend, Vladimir Tubic: https://www.upwork.com/fl/vladimirtubic
As for the session time, I've asked a different company who do professional shared sessions for string orchestra each month about this piece. They told me we need 12 minutes to record it. They have the finest Bulgarian string players.
From the company I paid, they offer 7 minutes total session time for the entire orchestra!
The score was mixed by Julian: https://www.upwork.com/fl/julianvirag

Be proud. You got one under belt. To many more

I am proud!
And another one with the same guys coming January. I'm hoping it would be around 2.5-3 minutes. Let's hope they can do better.

 

Um, no. They’re offering only 14 minutes, so…

 

I understand, so I could take advantage of the session time. But I really want to create something long. I have so many ideas and I don't won't to do them injustice by not having enough time to develop the melody.

 

Once you make the leap to be a hired person people are going to look for flaws. That's their duty.

Couldn't agree more!

The spot at :53 would get you fired in a second

Omg! What was it with this part? The orchestration, mixing or the midi Harp???