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Discovery - Synlyfe's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Overall | #55 | 3.998 | 3.998 |
| Composition | #57 | 4.062 | 4.062 |
| Impression | #60 | 3.991 | 3.991 |
| Correlation to theme | #69 | 4.018 | 4.018 |
| Creativity | #85 | 3.929 | 3.929 |
| Quality | #96 | 3.991 | 3.991 |
Ranked from 113 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Judge feedback
Judge feedback is anonymous.
- I'm sorry to hear about your ear injury! Here's hoping that you're recovering well and are going to keep making music. This submission has a lot of promise and some quite interesting textural blending that I think is very effective. The use of sharkuhachi flute I think works in its brief appearance, adding a new, breathy layer to the soundscape that fills it out. In that moment, I really found that everything you had been building to kind of snapped together, which was lovely to hear. I'm sure due to the nature of your shortened preparation time, the track as a whole feels a bit disconnected from itself in that it doesn't seem to quite build toward a target, even as the textures that I do hear are very nicely put together. Structurally I think it just needs more of a sense of direction, where the listener can know that they are being taken on a journey-- told a story-- that's clear and concise. Even though in games we know our music is going to get sliced up and recombined in implementation, having a clear journey from the get go makes a huge difference. Given that you had such a short time to prepare I think the result here is admirable!
Description
Genre: Ambient, electronic.
Purpose: Theme; could function as a title, credits or a lore-driven level theme.
More info available below in "How does it fit the theme"
DAW: FL Studio 21 + Native Instruments, Heavyocity, Serum and stock plugins.
I wanted the track to be driven primarily by piano and strings and then use woodwinds and synths to buff out the composition. Composed in a minor key, but not inherently spending too much time on the defining minor notes - tried to strike a balance between sombre tones and a subtle but progressive hope.
Link to DAW overview on YT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyBn1Zm4Nik
Can be streamed via Audiomack, link below.
Message from the artist
Was super pumped to join this jam but unfortunately sustained an ear injury the night before it kicked off. After a couple of much needed quiet days, I finally got a chance to start on my submission approximately a day before the jam was ending.
There's very little post-work done, and there are a couple of instances of clipping that I missed upon exporting. All in all I'm decently happy with the composition but I would have liked to have taken it much further and developed the concepts within a lot more. I feel as though the chord progressions in particular are lacking, as is a general sense of substance.
Theme
How does it fit the theme?
I wanted to focus more on the spirit the child is speaking to and what it represents, so I opted for a minor key and left some of the child-like visuals, emotion and expression to the instrumentation.
I used short, delay and reverb soaked synths in Massive to represent the bubbles and wrote primarily for piano, strings and woodwind to set the tone; slightly sombre but with hope on the horizon. Marred happiness and fond memories are two keywords I kept in mind while scoring.
Ultimately the child is speaking to a spirit of a (presumed) loved one, manifesting amidst the bubbles and chalk drawings of fish. I let some reverb tails ring out a little longer and soak the ambience to really sell the water and sea creature vibe as best I could. Playful synths to represent bubbles and the occasional use of a shakuhachi flute to pay due respect to the culture.
Link(s) of the submission on streaming services
https://audiomack.com/synlyfe/song/discovery
Number of tracks1
Genre
Soundtrack use permission
Any non-commercial project
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Comments
Love the groove!😎
What a lush ambient pièce, contemplative and almost hypnotic! The production is also so crispy and definite, I love it. The integration of ethnic elements like the shakuhachi is executed so well.
Nice work on the drums, and it was interesting to read the thoughts that went into picking these instruments. It was chill and atmospheric, especially in the last minute. Loved the addition of the shakuhachi. Very cool!
First of all thanks for rating my track it means a lot.
I am amazed at how you managed to create such a Piece in the duration of 1 day. It's only 1 track but the variation inside it definetly makes up for it. I personally often struggle to bring variation into my Tracks, so I find it amazing to listen to the smooth transitions and the changing chords/indtruments all while the Piano and strings remain as a constant in the background, while builduing their own motives.
Overall very nice peace and I'm hoping to listen to another contribution next year, with your ears in top shape hopefully!:D
Beautiful! The arrangement here is fantastic! From the first moment it had me completely hooked.
I think you captured the theme here very well, and for such a short time, this is very impressive!
Great submission, and I hope you're feeling better!
Thank you very much for checking it out and taking the time to write a comment! Appreciate the kind words. :)
Ear's all better now, thankfully. Ready for the next jam!
Wow, for one day, this is incredibly impressive. Bravo!
This has an awesome variety of instrumentation. Love the 808ish bass that comes in during the middle, and the arps too. A lot of great little touches throughout the track. The piano writing was on point as well.
Great work on this!
This was so chill im just doing homework with this and popping off
Very cute and chill atmosphere!! Especially loved the percussion and the flute, great job!!
This is a great track! I love how it changes and evolves over time, keeping things fresh and interesting. I really started vibing when the kick drum came in!
Wow, great work for only one day! Interesting instruments, ear candies and vibe! Strong submission!
Fascinating beat. I loved how it worked with the lead instruments. Thumbs up!
Hi Synlyfe!
SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!
This is the first work I listen of a different kind of ambient style because of the use of acoustic instruments. So I'm very impress. I love how smooth they can be if they're treat it in a very carefully manner and you've done this really, REALLY WELL.
I also love the aesthetic choices you've made with the strings arrangement and with events like the flute effect (overblowing) in just the right places.
The overall sound is so on point and very cohesive as well.
You've done an amazing job in such a short amount of time!
Wonderful work!!!!
(Following you on Itch, wishing to know more about your music)
Thank you very much for taking the time to check it out and comment! Appreciate the compliments, and I'm glad you liked the track! Hopefully next jam I'll have a little more time to work a little more. 😄
Great textures, catchy rhythm, great composition, this has it all! I love the occasional shakuhachi for some extra flavor. Love the combination of the synths and that groovy bass with the strings. Great work!
Very nice atmosphere. I like it!
Really nice choice of instruments and the structure of the track is well thought, Nice submission!
Amazing composition! I love how you’ve melded both electronic and orchestral influence so seamlessly together! The chip-tune drums are a very tasteful addition! So much substance - and in only a day?! Hats off to you! Fantastic work!
Appreciate the commendation! Thank you for checking it out, I'm glad you dug it! :)
Really Enjoyed it! Nice work with the strings and the progression! The second part when the "chiptuned" drums kicks in with the drop just made the whole song better.
This song keeps evolving and showing its many beautiful facettes. It sounds and feels like a cool breeze shouting over the sea spouting up silt and fine drips of water on a hot day. And I can't get enouth of it. A very calming motive with need sound flourishes and a sparce but stong instrumentation. Stunning work! I am pretty stoked what's to come next of you.
Really appreciate you taking the time to check this out and leave a comment. I'm glad it resonated with you and that you found it enjoyable! We'll see what the future holds. :)
Definitely a strong case of quality over quantity! It's a single track, but it's an absolute BANGER. Loved the arrangement on this and you hit me in the feels with this one. Great job!
Appreciate you checking it out and leaving feedback. Hopefully I'll have a little more time to do more in the next jam! Best of luck. :)
Really cool and stylish-sounding track. Good work!
Thank you very much for checking it out and leaving a comment!