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Marbled Reflections's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Listenability | #35 | 3.000 | 3.000 |
| Composition | #38 | 2.938 | 2.938 |
| Vibe/Atmosphere | #40 | 3.250 | 3.250 |
| Overall | #41 | 3.038 | 3.038 |
| Correlation to Theme | #41 | 3.062 | 3.062 |
| Execution | #42 | 2.938 | 2.938 |
Ranked from 16 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Description
I had a lot of fun creating this piece of music based on the beautiful Lake Biwa artwork.
I started writing before reading the extra constraints. I'm terrible on theory anyway so it's in the mode of "not sure". I was also too deep in to the track to change course by the time I noticed. I checked with my son and the track is probably in the key of Bb Major, switching to Gb from time to time. I used a temple drum which is in a more unusual key.
The music is mainly structured around the piano which I played using Native Instruments Noire. Next I added a Cello and Violins (Also using NI Kontakt). Finally added the temple drum, recorded on a close mic mid/side to emphasise the stereo image.
Then noticed the special constraints, did a face palm and added a drone using UAD's Opal synth!
This is my first jam!
Link to Streaming Service
https://soundcloud.com/ibug/marbled-reflections
DAW Screenshot - Demonstrate that this is your own work
https://img.itch.zone/aW1hZ2UvNTAwNTY0Mi8yOTk2NzE5OS5wbmc=/original/BEdTDY.png
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Comments
Love the harmony and melody! Great work here. Those changing notes are a bit jarring but they work out. Great instruments. Perhaps I should pick up the Noire Piano haha. Though not really ambient, it is very good.
The melody and harmony here is nice, and this is a very unique composition that I adore. Major props and kudos for having so it be so distinct.
However, the synth at the end threw me off, it sounds way too distorted to fit it in with the rest of the mix.
Either add a lowpass filter, or use another synth. A square wave with a lowpass filter could be a good option. The synth you used is the kind of synth sound you use in rock and metal chiptune music, not in ambient music.
I really enjoyed this one overall though, once again great job.
Thanks for listening! I really like the synth since it adds so much contrast. I did a bit more work on the master though (it went a bit bad) and I'll post an improved version based on the feedback once the marking phase is complete. The synth is already sounding a lot less hot on my improved mix. Thanks for the feedback!
Very interesting approach, I liked it very much!
Especially the piano melody at the beginning.
But there is one thing: around 0:50, the piano sounds a little bit out of tune with the violin.
You could work a little bit on the mixing side, like using more reverb on the violin.
Also, try to make the instruments sound more full and natural. Don't be afraid to use layering; for example, using two different plugins on some instruments helps a lot.
Overall, it's a very interesting track!
Very sweet piano piece and strings, super emotional playing, Noire is a great pluging, the synth at 3:45 caught me off guard completely it seems out of place but I liked it maybe add a touch of reverb on it would be cool, I don't know if the little dissonance on your piano playing was just happy accidents or you messing up a little bit but it adds a little something to the more standard chords, Also your track is mainly in C Dorian most of the time.
The dissonance/accidentals on the piano were intentional - I thought it sounded more organic in interesting when it wasn't too perfect. I'm also not the worlds best piano player!
I really liked this one from a compositional point of view, it's really lovely.
I feel the other intruments don't blend that well with the piano. I think it's a mix/master thing.
Good work overall.
Thanks! I think my master went bad! I'll leave it until after the feedback phase and then fix it up.
The piano and violin parts are nicely written; you have a good ear for melody. To push this toward an ambient, lake theme, I'd suggest pulling the instruments back with more reverb, softening the loud synth near the end, and adding textural layers (water, wind, animals).
Great work. I hope you continue joining more music jams!
The mixing is a bit harsh, a little over compressed on the piano end and it doesn't quite seem like the piano and violin are in sync entire. It's not a bad track at all but it's also far from ambient and is seemingly just four minutes of the same melodies with a random saw wave hit at the end.
Not bad at all though, just could have used a lot more work in the mixing side of things.
Thanks for the feedback - I just double checked and I think the problem is in the master. I'll get a better mix up once the marking period is complete. I mixed the track down quiet and then overcompensated on the master. doh!
Very nice & peaceful. I like it!
Congrats on submitting to your first jam! Very pretty piano/violin, and I thought the temple drum was a great addition. I did notice a couple spots where it felt a little discordant between voices and I would of loved to hear the synth drone lighter in the mix. Overall I understood what you were going for and there's some excellent ideas presented. Great Job!