Wagtunes Production Music

[wagtunes]

Playlist As Current

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... c-playlist

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TRACK INDEX

Mysterious Places - Page 4
Realm Of Mystery - Page 6
Haunted House - Page 8
Pet Cemetery - Page 10
Lost In The Jungle - Page 10
The Holy Spirit - Page 12
Closer Encounter - Page 13
The Journey - Page 13
Unknown Territory - Page 13
Paradise Lost - Page 13
Comedy Spy Theme - Page 14
Mystery TV Theme - Page 16
Murder Mystery Theme - Page 16
Drunkin Swing Intro - Page 17
The Sexy Adventurer Theme - Page 17
The Odd Ducks Theme - Page 18
Gumshoe For Hire - Page 19
Desperate Husbands Theme - Page 20
Breaking Out Theme - Page 20
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I finally overcame my paralysis and wrote my first track.

Here was my thought process going into this and actually executing it.

First of all, I cleared my mind of everything. I didn't listen to any music beforehand. I didn't want to be influenced by anything. I also didn't want to allow my safe biases influence what I wrote. IOW, I tried to get away from my norm.

I then opened up my DAW and let my mind wander, trying to hear sounds, textures, whatever, in my head. I then opened up a plugin and looked for something similar to what I was hearing in my head as a foundation. You'll hear it plays through almost the whole track.

I then played it back and went through the process again, thinking what I could build onto it. And I kept doing this for layer after layer.

I didn't concern myself too much with production as far as processing, but I did keep an eye on my SPAN to make sure nothing was terribly out of whack. No harsh frequencies or serious mud.

As I'm going through the process, I asked myself what I could imagine this being played under and named it accordingly. I think the title alone (which I was told by somebody in the business is critical to success) will at least get people to check it out.

Anyway, this is what I ultimately came up with. Please feel free to be completely honest. I personally have no idea how good, bad or indifferent this is as I have no frame of reference and this is my first track. But I will say this. The track is no attempt to be any kind of copy of anyone or any genre. It is totally me and how my brain worked to get here. If you think it's just plain horrible, say so. If you can maybe give an idea why, that would help.

This is very important to me, so please. Be as brutal as you need to be. Hopefully, with each suggestion, I can improve over time. And maybe I won't improve. As somebody said in another thread, maybe I'm never going to be any good at doing this. But at least I'm going to try.

Thank you for listening and your support.

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... -mysteries

[drumity]

Why another production thread ?
Isn´t there already one with way too many WASAUCHIMMER ?

(( D ))

[telecode]

I listened to it. What's your goal with this track? What do you want to do with it? Turn it into a song with vocals? Develop it into some kind of soundtrack theme? When I listen to it, I can't tell where it's going. It doesn't quite have a song structure and seems to have too much effects to be a soundtrack type track.

Just my 2 cents.

[donkey tugger]

Think that works quite well. I could well imagine it as background music for one of these documentaries - say, "Did ancient aliens visit the Earth in ancient times?" or some other such nutneckery. You get my drift....

Nothing sounded too out of place or too loud etc, and it seemed to be suitably dark and mysterious to me. Good attempt I'd say. Let's see what some of the people with more experience in the field say though.

[wagtunes]

I listened to it. What's your goal with this track? What do you want to do with it? Turn it into a song with vocals? Develop it into some kind of soundtrack theme? When I listen to it, I can't tell where it's going. It doesn't quite have a song structure and seems to have too much effects to be a soundtrack type track.

Just my 2 cents.

I visualized it as an underscore for a documentary on ancient civilizations. It was meant to be as far removed from a song as possible.

So when you say too much FX, you mean the track is too dense? If so, what do you suggest that I remove? What doesn't work for you?

[wagtunes]

Think that works quite well. I could well imagine it as background music for one of these documentaries - say, "Did ancient aliens visit the Earth in ancient times?" or some other such nutneckery. You get my drift....

Nothing sounded too out of place or too loud etc, and it seemed to be suitably dark and mysterious to me. Good attempt I'd say. Let's see what some of the people with more experience in the field say though.

That's what I was going for but Telecode seems to think there's too much going on. Personally, I can't tell as I really have no frame of reference. It may or may not be too dense. No clue.

[donkey tugger]

Think that works quite well. I could well imagine it as background music for one of these documentaries - say, "Did ancient aliens visit the Earth in ancient times?" or some other such nutneckery. You get my drift....

Nothing sounded too out of place or too loud etc, and it seemed to be suitably dark and mysterious to me. Good attempt I'd say. Let's see what some of the people with more experience in the field say though.

That's what I was going for but Telecode seems to think there's too much going on. Personally, I can't tell as I really have no frame of reference. It may or may not be too dense. No clue.

Don't a lot of these companies want a few different versions anyhow though - e.g a full more 'busy' version, and then others with less elements? I suppose then you'd compose the 'full' version (as in this case) and do mixes of the others from that.

[wagtunes]

Think that works quite well. I could well imagine it as background music for one of these documentaries - say, "Did ancient aliens visit the Earth in ancient times?" or some other such nutneckery. You get my drift....

Nothing sounded too out of place or too loud etc, and it seemed to be suitably dark and mysterious to me. Good attempt I'd say. Let's see what some of the people with more experience in the field say though.

That's what I was going for but Telecode seems to think there's too much going on. Personally, I can't tell as I really have no frame of reference. It may or may not be too dense. No clue.

Don't a lot of these companies want a few different versions anyhow though - e.g a full more 'busy' version, and then others with less elements? I suppose then you'd compose the 'full' version (as in this case) and do mixes of the others from that.

Sure. I can absolutely strip out some of the more "dressy" FX and just leave the melodic elements as an alternate version.

[telecode]

I listened to it. What's your goal with this track? What do you want to do with it? Turn it into a song with vocals? Develop it into some kind of soundtrack theme? When I listen to it, I can't tell where it's going. It doesn't quite have a song structure and seems to have too much effects to be a soundtrack type track.

Just my 2 cents.

I visualized it as an underscore for a documentary on ancient civilizations. It was meant to be as far removed from a song as possible.

So when you say too much FX, you mean the track is too dense? If so, what do you suggest that I remove? What doesn't work for you?

A documentary is going to have a narrative. Your track needs to support that narrative. Your track is going to be very low in the mix for the listener to hear the complexity as they will be focusing on the narrative of the documentary and the narrator of the documentary who will be guiding the viewer in their journey whilst they are experiencing the narrative of the documentary.

Somewhere in there , most probably you will need to leave space in order to be able to add cues that sync with image. For example, if the documentary is about ancient civilizations, and a part about Egypt appears , your score will need.to have space for you to put something in there that has element of middle eastern music so the image is absorbed by the viewer better. If your layer it with synths, you gonna have a hard time finding a place to throw in hand drums e.t.c..

But to answer your post, yes, I think I can see the track working much better as a score to a doc than a bed.track to a song..

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

As a track in it's own right it's one of the more interesting things I've heard from you. However, as underscoring it could do with being stripped back. I think what Telecode is alluding to is the spot fx e.g the lashes, riser-type effects. Under-scoring is there to underpin, and you'd be looking to avoid anything that pulls too much focus. Of course, any director wanting to use the music could just ask you to submit an edit with certain things removed.

As to the idea of not listening to anything else. I get not wanting to be influenced, but there's no need to re-invent the wheel. Striking out with your own style might be the only way you are motivated to do it, but there's probably some merit in checking as many of the boxes as will at least get you a foot in the door. Personally, I think it's a good idea to learn from those who have had success. But maybe not.

[Karma_tba]

I finally overcame my paralysis and wrote my first track.

Here was my thought process going into this and actually executing it.

First of all, I cleared my mind of everything. I didn't listen to any music beforehand. I didn't want to be influenced by anything. I also didn't want to allow my safe biases influence what I wrote. IOW, I tried to get away from my norm.

I then opened up my DAW and let my mind wander, trying to hear sounds, textures, whatever, in my head. I then opened up a plugin and looked for something similar to what I was hearing in my head as a foundation. You'll hear it plays through almost the whole track.

I then played it back and went through the process again, thinking what I could build onto it. And I kept doing this for layer after layer.

I didn't concern myself too much with production as far as processing, but I did keep an eye on my SPAN to make sure nothing was terribly out of whack. No harsh frequencies or serious mud.

As I'm going through the process, I asked myself what I could imagine this being played under and named it accordingly. I think the title alone (which I was told by somebody in the business is critical to success) will at least get people to check it out.

Anyway, this is what I ultimately came up with. Please feel free to be completely honest. I personally have no idea how good, bad or indifferent this is as I have no frame of reference and this is my first track. But I will say this. The track is no attempt to be any kind of copy of anyone or any genre. It is totally me and how my brain worked to get here. If you think it's just plain horrible, say so. If you can maybe give an idea why, that would help.

This is very important to me, so please. Be as brutal as you need to be. Hopefully, with each suggestion, I can improve over time. And maybe I won't improve. As somebody said in another thread, maybe I'm never going to be any good at doing this. But at least I'm going to try.

Thank you for listening and your support.

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... -mysteries

TOOO LOUD!!! TOOO DRAMATIC! Think background...the narration and visuals are the focus NOT the BACKGROUND music. You're trying to be the center of attention...that's not the role of library music. You are trying to be cinematic...if you're want to go that route you should be composing to video and the specific action taking place. Maybe you should spend some time watching public television. Personally I don't think production music is for you. You want to be the star...not be relegated to your name buried in the credits or given no credit at all.

[wagtunes]

I listened to it. What's your goal with this track? What do you want to do with it? Turn it into a song with vocals? Develop it into some kind of soundtrack theme? When I listen to it, I can't tell where it's going. It doesn't quite have a song structure and seems to have too much effects to be a soundtrack type track.

Just my 2 cents.

I visualized it as an underscore for a documentary on ancient civilizations. It was meant to be as far removed from a song as possible.

So when you say too much FX, you mean the track is too dense? If so, what do you suggest that I remove? What doesn't work for you?

A documentary is going to have a narrative. Your track needs to support that narrative. Your track is going to be very low in the mix for the listener to hear the complexity as they will be focusing on the narrative of the documentary and the narrator of the documentary who will be guiding the viewer in their journey whilst they are experiencing the narrative of the documentary.

Somewhere in there , most probably you will need to leave space in order to be able to add cues that sync with image. For example, if the documentary is about ancient civilizations, and a part about Egypt appears , your score will need.to have space for you to put something in there that has element of middle eastern music so the image is absorbed by the viewer better. If your layer it with synths, you gonna have a hard time finding a place to throw in hand drums e.t.c..

But to answer your post, yes, I think I can see the track working much better as a score to a doc than a bed.track to a song..

What you're talking about, as far as specific cues for a specific documentary, those are custom tracks which are ridiculously expensive. This is for library music. These are tracks that are more "generic" and thus don't cost much.

Now, whether or not my track is generic enough to be usable, that's something the hosting site with all the tracks there will determine and then whether or not they even accept my track.

I'm assuming then that what you're saying is that for a generic track, that needs to work for multiple uses, it's too dense and thus will not be accepted.

Correct?

[wagtunes]

I finally overcame my paralysis and wrote my first track.

Here was my thought process going into this and actually executing it.

First of all, I cleared my mind of everything. I didn't listen to any music beforehand. I didn't want to be influenced by anything. I also didn't want to allow my safe biases influence what I wrote. IOW, I tried to get away from my norm.

I then opened up my DAW and let my mind wander, trying to hear sounds, textures, whatever, in my head. I then opened up a plugin and looked for something similar to what I was hearing in my head as a foundation. You'll hear it plays through almost the whole track.

I then played it back and went through the process again, thinking what I could build onto it. And I kept doing this for layer after layer.

I didn't concern myself too much with production as far as processing, but I did keep an eye on my SPAN to make sure nothing was terribly out of whack. No harsh frequencies or serious mud.

As I'm going through the process, I asked myself what I could imagine this being played under and named it accordingly. I think the title alone (which I was told by somebody in the business is critical to success) will at least get people to check it out.

Anyway, this is what I ultimately came up with. Please feel free to be completely honest. I personally have no idea how good, bad or indifferent this is as I have no frame of reference and this is my first track. But I will say this. The track is no attempt to be any kind of copy of anyone or any genre. It is totally me and how my brain worked to get here. If you think it's just plain horrible, say so. If you can maybe give an idea why, that would help.

This is very important to me, so please. Be as brutal as you need to be. Hopefully, with each suggestion, I can improve over time. And maybe I won't improve. As somebody said in another thread, maybe I'm never going to be any good at doing this. But at least I'm going to try.

Thank you for listening and your support.

https://soundcloud.com/steven-wagenheim ... -mysteries

TOOO LOUD!!! TOOO DRAMATIC! Think background...the narration and visuals are the focus NOT the BACKGROUND music. You're trying to be the center of attention...that's not the role of library music. You are trying to be cinematic...if you're want to go that route you should be composing to video and the specific action taking place. Maybe you should spend some time watching public television. Personally I don't think production music is for you. You want to be the star...not be relegated to your name buried in the credits or given no credit at all.

Actually, given some of the careers some of the top library music producers have, in spite of them being unknown, I'd be perfectly happy to be an unknown but get a nice little paycheck once in a while.

But basically what you're saying, in regard to the track, is that there is too much going on and will detract from whatever voiceover is on top of it.

Correct?

[Music Bird]

I think this is cool that you’re getting into production music. I hope to hear an extremely wide variety of genres, because with this kind of music, you can do all sorts of genres outside your natural comfort zone, which is good for learning new music genres.

[wagtunes]

I think this is cool that you’re getting into production music. I hope to hear an extremely wide variety of genres, because with this kind of music, you can do all sorts of genres outside your natural comfort zone, which is good for learning new music genres.

Thanks. Do you have any comments, suggestions, etc., on the track itself?