So here goes another effort in trying to make my music worth something. It got hard rejected. It was said to improve on engineering and composition, Now I’ve already noticed that the composition in this track is quite amateurish (Although I’d be gratefull if you comment on that topic as well) But what’s up with engineering? Please, guys, let me know…
To my ears I think you need to turn off all effects - preset program effects and start off with a dry sound. Then add reverb to provide the space. At the moment it sounds like it was recorded in a room next to the room you mixed in. I am sorry to sound harsh and horrible but sounds with their own preset effects sound okay in isolation but for a multitrack mix can result in a poor finish.
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I can’t wrap my mind around that)) don’t understand. So the problem lies in the reverb that’s it?
Turn off the reverb first of all and listen to your track.
The strings sound so horrible, can you hear what they sound like? Have you sat down and listened to your track and then listened to another track wiht strings? I get what sound you’re going for but it’s a long way off. Here’s a reference point for how the strings should be sounding, which is light and breezy and pleasant on the ear. I refer to this track because it has staccato/spiccato strings too and is a Christmassy style:
You need to:
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Get better string samples, a high quality library like Spitfire Audio’s Chamber Strings https://www.spitfireaudio.com/shop/a-z/spitfire-chamber-strings/ or Cinematic Studio Strings http://www.cinematicstudioseries.com/strings.html
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You need to pay a lot of attention to the velocity of your midi notes, you need to only have the high velocities (ie the hard hitting of the keyboard) at extreme climax moments; your track has unnecessary intensity in the aggressive violin attacks
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You need to EQ your strings to make them sound better
Which string library did you use? It’s possible you have a good library but you made it sound bad by adding unnecessary top end bite to the EQ and using the wrong velocities. OR you have a really shit sample library which can’t be made to sound good. If you were to get a good library like the ones I mentioned, I would suggest you don’t mess with the EQ or panning or room sound, just trust that the product sounds great out of the box. Then concentrate on the midi data, and bring out the best character for your notes.
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Thank you for such a profound reply. Indeed, I’ve compared your staccato to mine, and mine sounds harsh and monotonous in some parts compared to yours, when yours sound really soft and pleasant to ears. But I did configure the velocities, and I didn’t boost, on the opossite I’ve lowered a couple db at parts to free the room for chords. Is it because I don’t know how the staccato solo should soud like? Because to my ears it sounds, I don’t know… great… )) But I suspect that in reality it sounds unrealistic (the staccato part). Three questions, sir: 1) How did you treat your 4 second staccato part, and made it sound so soft. Did you cut in the EQ? Around which frequencies? any effects? 2) Which libraries did you use in making that track of yours? not just the string part, but all of it…? and 3) Does my staccato part sound unrealistic and fake, is that what you mean? Thank you… I hope I don’t take much of your time…
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Likely the low quality string samples you’re using as well as the lack of any low end. Great work on the melodies!
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Thanks for the reply, here’s a response to your questions:
- I don’t do anything to EQ or compress the strings, they sound exactly how they would straight out of Kontakt
- I used Spitfire Chamber Strings
- Yes your string part sounds unrealistic and fake, but also very grating and aggressive
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Thank you very much 
I’m glad it hasn’t gone unnoticed. But how essential is the low end in orchestral music? What does it stand for? What if it was planned to be like that? (without any low end)
You don’t compress them? But what if you have a few strings parts, and you have to glue them together?
P.S How can I repay for your kind replies, guys? Should I comment on you tracks? Or how does it work around here?
hehehe you don’t have to repay me with anything! But thanks for the kind thoughts, and the kind comment.
Regarding glueing the parts together, I do have a compressor/limiter on the master bus, but honestly I don’t think orchestral instruments need compression to glue them together.
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BlueSky has already summed up the issues very well. Too mirror, and add to what he’s saying, here are some thoughts I have after listening:
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The staccato strings are too loud, and the velocity (intensity) of the samples seems to be at the highest possible level, which makes them sound extremely harsh, loud and out of place with the rest of the track. You will almost never need to use maximum velocity, unless you’re making an extremely dynamic and intense piece. I would use a velocity of 80-100 (about 2/3rds full note volume) maximum here, and additionally, bring down the volume as they’re too loud. I don’t think you’d need to upgrade your library just yet - see how they sound at lower volumes first. You might find the quality is still there. I would say no compression is required on any of the string parts.
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As gballx mentioned, I would dial down the reverb.
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The composition is good, but certain parts such as the piano sound a little slack, like you’ve filled in every 8th beat with a basic arpeggio using notes from the chord without thinking about how that would actually sound within the context of the rest of the track. The rest sounds fine for a stock music track.
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The track sounds very mid heavy. I would apply some gentle EQ to the entire track and cut some of the 400-1500Hz areas.
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Try adding a bass instrument to fill out the track. Maybe you can introduce a double bass later on.
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Thank you, Sir! But do you mean that I shouldn’t have used the arpeggio at all, or I should’ve made it transform into a different note structure and maybe timbre. And does this arpeggio of mine can be considered as actual chords at all (with playing just one note at a time, no double notes)?
I think an arpeggio would be fine, especially given the piano functions as a background instrument, but maybe you could rearrange some of the notes into a more interesting tune. Currently it doesn’t blend as well with the string melody as it could. Just keep experimenting with different patterns and maybe even add some more depth in the rhythm (rather than just a stream of 8th notes). No change in timbre needed. We’re just talking about composition here
An arpeggio is a form of chord, but the notes are played separately in some sort of simple sequence. You could also call an arpeggio a “broken chord”. So yes the notes in an arpeggio can be considered a type of chord.
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Thank you. It’s a blessing to have your help, guys.