paul h Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 I hate recording live instruments, I just do. So pretty much all the music I produce is just programmed into Reason. I tend to have mixed results, some things I'm very happy with, some things not so much. However I have always missed a certain degree of "feel". So, I decided to do some piano based tracks. I was going for that slightly eerie, slightly out of time down tempo thing that seems to work equally as well in a horror movie or a car advert! I guess my real inspiration would be the "Rachel playing the piano/unicorn" scene in Bladerunner. The reason I went for that style is that I have absolutely no keyboard or piano ability. Whatsover. Therefore I think I might just about get away with it. The problem is this. It's very difficult for me to tell if it sounds "child like" on purpose, or it just sounds like a rubbish piano player. Here is the link to my Audiomicro page. The new piano tracks are "Confessions", "Colder", "Dulce Muertos" and "Curious". [url="https://www.audiomicro.com/artist/paulharckham"]https://www.audiomicro.com/artist/paulharckham[/url] Thanks. Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eight Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 [quote name='paul h' post='432199' date='Mar 12 2009, 10:04 AM']It's very difficult for me to tell if it sounds "child like" on purpose, or it just sounds like a rubbish piano player.[/quote] Neither really. Listened to Colder, Duce Muertos and Curious. I liked the atmosphere (particularly on Colder) but with regard to the piano, I don't really know what to say. There's not enough substance in the piano parts to comment on as you're only really using the instrument for chord progressions, I didn't hear much of a melodic/lead role in there which is where it'd be particularly noticeable if it was child like, rubbish or genius. Heard a few little right-hand piano fills which, with the exception of the 1 note in Colder (appeared occassionally and personally I found a little irritating), didn't have enough about them to actually judge. I don't want to sound too negative or apathetic, just thought I'd offer my perspective on the piano. Also, I don't think spooky is as easy as you might think - guys like Elfman make it sound so simple but I used to bash my head against a brick wall trying to get similar results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted March 12, 2009 Author Share Posted March 12, 2009 Thanks for the comments...much appreciated. To be honest, a lack of substance is not actually a bad thing for these pieces. They need firmly to fall into that "aural wallpaper" category! It's all about the atmosphere. As long as they are not overtly rubbish I am happy. Especially considering the amount of time they are taking to do. And I agree about spooky being harder than it would first seem. I scored a short horror film once and after using a few chromatic scales and dissonant chords I ran out of ideas! That's why I tend not to compose to order any more. I'm not very good at it. I would rather just record whatever that pops into my head, and hope someone somewhere has a use for it. Thanks again for the input. Paul. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eight Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 [quote name='paul h' post='432410' date='Mar 12 2009, 01:51 PM']To be honest, a lack of substance is not actually a bad thing for these pieces. They need firmly to fall into that "aural wallpaper" category! It's all about the atmosphere.[/quote] Yeah definitely. And the atmosphere I liked. By lack of substance I only mean that I couldn't really hope to judge your piano ability on the basis of the parts in those tracks. I didn't mean it in a bad way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul h Posted March 12, 2009 Author Share Posted March 12, 2009 Understood completely mate. But that pretty much is my piano ability! LOL. I can find my way around a keyboard just from programming but I have no idea what fingers to put where. I have trouble doing more than one finger bass parts. And I have no idea what chords I used in any of those pieces. I just plonk my hands down until it makes a nice noise! I have to admit enjoying it immensely. It's so nice to be able to achieve the required sound so easily. You gotta love Reason! P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eight Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 [quote name='paul h' post='432460' date='Mar 12 2009, 02:32 PM']And I have no idea what chords I used in any of those pieces. I just plonk my hands down until it makes a nice noise![/quote] Ok you get extra points for that. I wouldn't have realised you didn't have any idea what you were playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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