KVR Audio

ChameleonMusic · Post by **ChameleonMusic** » Mon Mar 09, 2026 12:13 am

jcub wrote: Wed Mar 04, 2026 5:02 pm Very engaging with great use of sounds and virtual orchestra. I like how the vibes and woodwinds contrast with the strings. The pizzicato part that leads to the woodwind and brass counterpoint is a nice interlude as well leading up to the choir section. This could be a soundtrack for a movie about Napolean.

Thanks for checking it out jcub - much appreciated.

aaron aardvark · Post by **aaron aardvark** » Fri Mar 20, 2026 4:25 pm

ChameleonMusic,
Thank you for the review! Now listening to your Pirate King song. I was expecting Johnny Depp to show up at any moment (that's a compliment). Assuming you did it with software: it sounds very realistic to me, and excellent in every way! Last month I was in Dominica (where they filmed part of some Pirates of the Caribbean movies).

ChameleonMusic · Post by **ChameleonMusic** » Fri Mar 27, 2026 6:07 pm

aaron aardvark wrote: Fri Mar 20, 2026 4:25 pm ChameleonMusic,
Thank you for the review! Now listening to your Pirate King song. I was expecting Johnny Depp to show up at any moment (that's a compliment). Assuming you did it with software: it sounds very realistic to me, and excellent in every way! Last month I was in Dominica (where they filmed part of some Pirates of the Caribbean movies).

Thanks Aaron - the listen and feedback is always appreciated.

Yeah, it was 95% orchestral libraries in Kontakt...with just a few little live instrument lines in there!

Bansaw · Post by **Bansaw** » Sat Apr 11, 2026 1:24 am

Liked it! Some really good tuned percussion. Sometimes it felt like there were different ideas stuck together, but maybe a visual (a video) would help explain what scene the music is depicting. I'm a sucker for a timpani roll, but if I'm not mistaken I couldn't make one out.
Anyway, top quality as we've come to expect from you.

ChameleonMusic · Post by **ChameleonMusic** » Sat Apr 11, 2026 8:31 pm

Bansaw wrote: Sat Apr 11, 2026 1:24 am Liked it! Some really good tuned percussion. Sometimes it felt like there were different ideas stuck together, but maybe a visual (a video) would help explain what scene the music is depicting. I'm a sucker for a timpani roll, but if I'm not mistaken I couldn't make one out.
Anyway, top quality as we've come to expect from you.

Hi Ian,
Thought this post had disappeared...you must've searched through the pages to find it!

Glad you liked it; as always the listen / feedback is very much appreciated.

''Sometimes it felt like there were different ideas stuck together''

There are certainly some quite discrete sections in this one without a doubt...fair point!

There is a musical motif weaving its way throughout the whole piece in various shapes and forms for continuity, but I can appreciate how that might not come across on a quick listen (which is what most listens will be, of course)!

''maybe a visual (a video) would help explain what scene the music is depicting''

I think that's probably 100% true, but I've always made a conscious decision with all my tracks to release them initially without video - simply to let the listener decide for themselves based on the music alone! I think I just like to see what my musical creations spark in the minds of the listeners.

''I'm a sucker for a timpani roll, but if I'm not mistaken I couldn't make one out.''

I do use them quite a lot in orchestral pieces, but went more for cymbal rolls in this one...can't remember why now!

For you deep drum aficionados, there is quite a bit of rhythmic rise and fall on the concert bass drum in this one!

Thanks again,
Mark

thedeadsoul · Post by **thedeadsoul** » Sun Apr 19, 2026 3:08 am

Wow, great work! I have always been struggling to use brass sounds, this sounds perfect. I really need to train more

great song!

Best,
Adi

ChameleonMusic · Post by **ChameleonMusic** » Mon Apr 20, 2026 6:02 pm

thedeadsoul wrote: Sun Apr 19, 2026 3:08 am Wow, great work! I have always been struggling to use brass sounds, this sounds perfect. I really need to train more great song!

Best,
Adi

Thanks, Adi - the listen and feedback is appreciated!

Brass programming - I have a big advantage...I was a professional trumpet player for many years!

Basic idea is to vary the articulations as appropriate and then add lots of ongoing continuous controller messages to create micro-imperfections in terms of attack, pitch drift, volume, frequency etc etc...each of those individual brass tracks has between 3 and 8 lanes of automation / controller messages!

Hipster Bales · Post by **Hipster Bales** » Tue Apr 21, 2026 8:01 am

Good track Mark, your track reminds me of Pirates of the Caribbean. Good use of orchestral libraries.

ChameleonMusic · Post by **ChameleonMusic** » Wed Apr 22, 2026 8:58 am

Hipster Bales wrote: Tue Apr 21, 2026 8:01 am Good track Mark, your track reminds me of Pirates of the Caribbean. Good use of orchestral libraries.

You can compare me to Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer any time!

markkuja · Post by **markkuja** » Wed Apr 22, 2026 10:14 am

great music with the cinematic mood. I liked the composition and dynamic arrangement and mix. Sounds good.

sandandpaint · Post by **sandandpaint** » Wed Apr 22, 2026 10:23 am

great writing - I really like the way you develop the theme and especially how you keep the theme right up front without too much going around or beneath it,but still keep it interesting. That's real pro composing I think.

ChameleonMusic · Post by **ChameleonMusic** » Sun Apr 26, 2026 4:24 pm

markkuja wrote: Wed Apr 22, 2026 10:14 am great music with the cinematic mood. I liked the composition and dynamic arrangement and mix. Sounds good.

Hi markkuja, thanks for the listen - much appreciated!

ChameleonMusic · Post by **ChameleonMusic** » Sun Apr 26, 2026 4:28 pm

sandandpaint wrote: Wed Apr 22, 2026 10:23 am great writing - I really like the way you develop the theme and especially how you keep the theme right up front without too much going around or beneath it,but still keep it interesting. That's real pro composing I think.

Thanks for having a listen!

Yes, the main theme (originally composed at the piano) dominates this one (including the middle section where it appears in a new shape and key).

I took the rhythmic elements from it as well and used them peppered all over the underlying, accompanying parts to add a bit of additional musical cohesion!

Hipster Bales · Post by **Hipster Bales** » Sun Apr 26, 2026 4:29 pm

sandandpaint wrote: Wed Apr 22, 2026 10:23 am great writing - I really like the way you develop the theme and especially how you keep the theme right up front without too much going around or beneath it,but still keep it interesting. That's real pro composing I think.

Mark has been doing it since about 1974 (I'm editing my original comment, as I guess slightly wrong), so his pro approach is something to learn from

(I've learnt from him multiple times)

ChameleonMusic · Post by **ChameleonMusic** » Sun Apr 26, 2026 4:39 pm

Hipster Bales wrote: Sun Apr 26, 2026 4:29 pm
sandandpaint wrote: Wed Apr 22, 2026 10:23 am great writing - I really like the way you develop the theme and especially how you keep the theme right up front without too much going around or beneath it,but still keep it interesting. That's real pro composing I think.
Mark has been doing it since about 1975-1976 (so 35 years longer than I've been alive), so his pro approach is something to learn from

That's right, I'm ancient! Thanks for the reminder

Not sure where you got 1975 - 1976 from, dude, but for the record...

My first recorded composition was in 1974 ( I still have a copy on cassette tape).

And, also for the record, it was a bit rubbish!

Last Adventure for a Pirate King?