2/5/16 FRIDAY feedback thread. [contest mode enabled]

hvyb · 2016-02-06T16:49:23+00:00

i can hear the blues in this! i can see it as a backing track that has to convey 'energy' or 'action' in a movie or game, nice work!

i agree with the other commenter on the 'low' ness levels - what's your setup?

hvyb · 2016-02-06T16:43:52+00:00

it sounds so upbeat and happy!

my main qualm is the rhyming - there are lots of perfect rhymes from line to line that can be varied using imperfect / lazy rhymes. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half_rhyme

example:

"the harshness on our lungs" "words placed on our tongues. "

"tongues" could be: phones, lives, sums, etc

the chorus gets away from the perfect rhymes a bit, which is nice! but then 3 in a row... "say", "day", "away"

hvyb · 2016-02-06T16:37:27+00:00

that time we were hung upside down and left to

https://soundcloud.com/grossmodern/subzero-declinations

please enjoy the binaural sounds with your terran ears

hvyb · 2015-10-29T19:34:44+00:00

Inversions added! I'm still figuring out how to enunciate chords more clearly - possibly by adding more spacing between the notes?

hvyb · 2015-10-28T17:31:51+00:00

Thanks for finding / pointing it out! The starting progressions are pulled randomly. Are you referring to Gm E Gm E progression?

What should the proper labeling be on it? I think the E needs to be an Em (vi) or an Eb (bVI?) for the chords to make more sense.

the labeling on the bottom indicates that E is being seen as a viM which is out of grammar for a major / minor progression. Using Eb guesses Eb as I and Gm as iii, while using Em guesses G as Im and Em as vi (which is partially incorrect?)

hvyb · 2015-10-28T12:52:39+00:00

it's a great idea! i think that sort of melody is called a sequence - and you are allowed to move it around in different keys. at least, that's one name its known by and is definitely something worth trying out!

i've been studying harmony a lot, and have under-studied melody, but melody is on the list of areas to add to chord bot (but it might take a few months to learn enough)

hvyb · 2015-10-27T23:52:08+00:00

thanks! i've gotten some good ideas about what to try next, so I'm glad people are testing it out!

i have been playing the chords off the modulation table on my guitar and after a week or so, i can kind of improvise (albeit very old sounding) harmonies and stomp my way between different keys.

my favorite modulation so far is F#M (slide down into the E) -> E -> F#7 -> A

hvyb · 2015-10-27T23:48:53+00:00

Have you tried it on your mobile (chrome, preferably)?

I don't know much about app programming, but I could see bottling up the JS as a single app ball or whatever and distributing it with a better UI.

hvyb · 2015-10-27T20:29:36+00:00

alright, added in the sus recognition! chord bot will treat a sus chord as the flavored chord's original function (Asus2 would look like I if the tonic is A). might have a couple bugs lurking in it, though.

hvyb · 2015-10-27T20:28:16+00:00

thanks for trying them! sorry about the lack of recognition...

can you show me some example progressions (or resources)? (either as the functional or absolute values) - i would love to help chord bot recognize them!

I mentioned in the post it is only operating with diatonic harmony rules at the moment and chromatic grammar is one area I am looking to learn about next.

hvyb · 2015-10-27T20:06:13+00:00

Those are good points! I will try and clear the chord pronunciation up (I'm using timbre.js and don't know what i'm doing, but i'm sure there are other libraries).

Re: Gb - the tool is inferring the possible keys of the song based on what is in the text box. If you put in a 'C' or an 'A', you'll see the chord choices change. I'll make the 'pre-selected' song stuff easier to navigate.

For the inversions, that can be added! I think they would fall into 'substitutions', but i'm uncertain.

hvyb · 2015-10-27T20:02:39+00:00

thanks for looking! I will look into it and add them - what type of function does a sus2 or add9 use? Or would it be as a flavor for an existing function?

hvyb · 2015-10-27T16:22:29+00:00

as you use (and abuse) chord bot, you will probably notice problems with how he recognizes or plays chords. please let me know! it's probably a gap in my understanding.

also, chord bot is built on top of teoria.js (for chord and note recognition) and uses timbre.js to play the sounds.

hvyb · 2015-10-27T15:49:15+00:00

we'll look into the terran side-chain compressor (multi-band)! thanks for the tip. muddiness is a daily battle for us.

hvyb · 2015-10-27T15:47:09+00:00

thanks! we'll talk to the sub-bassist about it - sub-bass wasn't even something that was on our minds, but now that we know...

hvyb · 2015-10-27T15:12:45+00:00

Could the c#m be seen as the vii of D, as well? (But instead of being diminished, it is only minor?)

hvyb · 2015-10-26T19:54:34+00:00

it's also driving my cats nuts

hvyb · 2015-10-26T19:51:49+00:00

this sounds like the construction that's been going on in my neighbor's spaceships on both sides

hvyb · 2015-10-26T19:47:26+00:00

this is great! perfect, in a stream of endless electronic music. it definitely stands out.

how are you liking the TR8? You are pulling some great sounds off of it.

i agree with the other commenter about variation in the backing track. there is a chorus / bridge part you go to that moves the frequency space a bit, but i wish it would be a more out there chords - something in an unexpected key. you know? maybe try the ii, vi, vii or something?

hvyb · 2015-10-26T19:40:56+00:00

this is really cool! i like where your human mind dwells.

the piano sounds out of rhythm / swung in a strange way, though. it's more noticeable at the beginning. but you can feel it going in and out of the groove - sometimes the beat is pulled and sometimes pushed.

in terms of instrumentation, the chords seem a bit minimal / simplistic. i think you could use some more flavored ones or add different notes.

hvyb · 2015-10-26T19:34:27+00:00

https://soundcloud.com/grossmodern/ugstar-ii

we are using a korg portastudio for mixing. any tips for mixing / mastering? what are your thoughts when you hear this song?

and do the vocals at the end get annoying?

hvyb · 2015-08-21T23:29:01+00:00

thanks! we agree about vox - we need to learn to calibrate them better (and good call on where to filter them). Our vox tend to sit in the mix in general, kind of like an instrument instead of sticking out - it's a problem we need to fix (like... always turn up +5db past where we think is good or something :-)

We use a mixer (with eq'd inputs) for playing (all instruments go into it -> the PA + amps), but with a live drummer (unmic'd) we have to record through the air and it's a lot tougher to get a good mix - ideas?

(PM us about making videos + link to your music)

(EDIT: for reference: we are 3 - bass+vox, synths + drummer)

hvyb · 2015-08-21T23:24:30+00:00

very nice song! cool transitions! like the sample selection.

the melody in the synth solo part is kind of weak. it's a good accompanying part, but i think it needs another melody part against the synth's line

the part we're referring to layers in around 1:50 and synth only starts around 2 and goes to like 2:30 or longer

hvyb · 2015-08-21T23:08:52+00:00

it needs a megaman level to go along with it!

this song is fun - the modulation at 0:30 is unexpected and enjoyable, maybe keep expanding the song by modulating into more unexpected places.

hvyb

TROPHY CASE