I’ve been meaning to start creating music for stock libraries and uploaded my first track to AudioJungle. It got rejected, which is a lesson in itself. I have some experience writing/recording/mixing and would like to have an idea of where I’m lacking from you fine folks on these forums.
This is the soundcloud link to the track I uploaded:
I wanted to go in blind with what I thought would be a well recorded and well mixed pop/video game track to see where I need to improve. The rejection email didn’t give me too many hints as to what I needed to work on, except that I would not be able to re-upload this track for review.
Is it the arrangement? The mix? Both? I genuinely want to get better so I welcome any feedback, I have tough skin.
Hi @WhaleSong_Audio, a few things that stuck out to me with your track. Try to have one solid, core melodic idea that runs through the entire piece of music. I think with kid friendly music simple is always better - less notes and easier to remember melodies or hooks are always better IMO! There were a few contrasting moving melodies in your track that could be simplified.
It’s probably a good idea to scope out which genres you want to write in and experiment creating using the genre’s conventions. Have a listen to some best sellers and see what makes them so appealing to a buyer. The thing I’ve learned about producing stock music is that you’re not aiming to be creative, you’re aiming to serve the buyer of your track with the most utility as possible. That means well defined and easy to chop sections, alternative edits (60 seconds, loop, sting etc). How would you use the track if you were a buyer?
Keep persevering and submitting your tracks - good luck!
Thanks @singhstudio. I appreciate your feedback too. I think that is one of the harder concepts for me coming from a creative expressionist mindset for music and moving to a tailored product mindset for stock music. I hear the melody issues as well in my track, I need to focus on the less is more concept.
As far as scoping out the best sellers for learning purposes; do you find it’s better to look at overall top sales or recent sellers when tailoring your new tracks? As in, have customer tastes changed?
Last question. I’ve been getting the impression that mixing practices for stock music includes compressing the heck out of everything; more so than even a standard pop track on the radio. Some of that I think is the “politeness” of the content. I don’t think this is bad, just want to get a feel for what people expect from my tracks.
@WhaleSong_Audio, I think a little of both. Tastes will definitely change over time and what is currently commercially viable. I think some of the better selling tracks continue to sell because they’re safe, reliable and have larger visibility due to the way AudioJungle’s system works. Best bet is to write as much as you can in as wide a scope as you’re able to and spread your eggs into multiple baskets. Stock music is a real numbers game I think!
In terms of compression, the loudness war is definitely a thing that I’ve noticed in stock music. I think if you can take a mix-to-master approach, then a little bit of limiting and master bus compression isn’t a bad thing, as long as it’s not at the expense of musicality or dynamics! Most video editors will boost volumes in post production anyway!
@singhstudio Very much helpful. I was actually more talking about the individual instrument compression level; but you’re right about the loudness. I listen to some tracks and then reference my own and i’m thinking Wow that’s very crispy! But i’m a newcomer so I’m trying to learn as much as I can.
As far as spreading your eggs into multiple baskets, do you work in different genres even if they’re not your normal forte ? I’ve read on some forums and youtube that just focusing on your normal genre is best, but I like composing all different types of music so I’d like to branch out.