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Frozen Waste's itch.io pageResults
| Criteria | Rank | Score* | Raw Score |
| Listenability | #7 | 3.684 | 3.684 |
| Correlation to Theme | #12 | 3.684 | 3.684 |
| Composing Quality | #12 | 3.579 | 3.579 |
| Sense of Atmosphere | #13 | 3.789 | 3.789 |
| Overall | #14 | 3.509 | 3.509 |
| Execution | #18 | 3.368 | 3.368 |
| Overall Uniqueness/Creativity | #25 | 2.947 | 2.947 |
Ranked from 19 ratings. Score is adjusted from raw score by the median number of ratings per game in the jam.
Link to Streaming Service (YouTube Recommended)
https://youtu.be/hk58iW-nGxo
Description
I didn't get much time to work on this, but overall I'm satisfied with what I did.
My goal was to make a track that could play as the player explores an abandoned frozen land, a place he once knew and loved when it was still alived years ago.
Description of Setup (Optional but recommended)
Daw: Studio One 6
Plugin : Frozen Strings from spitfire audio
Noir from Native Instrument
True Strike from Project Sam
Stock plugin from Studio One (Reverb, delay...)
Cinematic Studio Solo Strings.
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Comments
Really enjoyed the piano and the texturing, really nice orchestral with good atmosphere!
Great submission! Take care :3
Thank you :)
First thoughts
-Well composed, but a little dry.
Best setup I've found so far for getting clear reverb:
Multiple reverbs, each on their own track. Each instrument track has two sends - one to each reverb, sent from a delay plugin on the 3/4 channel (there are videos on how to do this that are DAW specific, just look up using sends).
The delay is to simulate physical reality - nearer things you hear very fast, and then the sound has to leave the source and bounce back to your ears. Things far away are closer to the source of echoes (generally, sort of), so they can have less of a delay. Far away is a delay of like 2-20 ms, near is a delay of like 20-70 ms. It's all done by ear and perception for me, which is what counts the most anyways.
Great work, I liked the composition.
Thanks for the detailed commentary.
I must admit I'm surprised you feel it's lacking reverb. Except for the solo cello almost everything goes through a delay and a reverb. I also turned off the close mic on all the tracks to get a more "ambient" sound.
However, I didn't take the time to calculate the delay to make it realistic, it's something I easily forget.
Good atmosphere on it. I found it conventional but take me as a grain of salt because I'm known as a rebel troublemaker in these parts. I think having the 'pawing' piano accompaniment to the pads was the right idea. The calmness of an uninhabited or sparsely populated waste was correctly evoked.
Nicely done
Gave you an itch follow, if you like the thing(s) on my page(s), consider doing the same.
Cheers!
--D
main website:
https://exedexes1.com/
Thanks for the commentary, I'm glad you think it works.
No problem finding the track conventional, it's not a revolutionary piece and I'm not pretending it is :)
I gave a follow back ;)
Highly atmospheric and right on brief, nice gentle mix and beautiful writing. The tempo is spot on and the slow nostalgic harmony coupled with the meandering melodic line evoke the abandonment and sense of memory that you describe. Towards the end I felt it would benefit from some variation in the tempo, some push-pull, to maintain interest and ensure you don't lose the emotional impact.
Of course this is a jam, but with more time I wonder if you might move beyond conventional instrumentation and augment the sound world a bit? The distant percussion is cool but perhaps creatively processing some custom sounds and blending them with the breathy strings would add to the immersion in an icy landscape, and give it more of a unique character? I also found I was hoping for a little more interest in the stereo - perhaps spreading the percussion detail wider or even a very subtle shimmering tremolo or something, to lift it a little out of the classic orchestral palette.
Don't let these suggestions detract form that it isn't a really great track, fabulous work I enjoyed listening.
Thanks for the detailed review.
I agree the end of the track could be improved and adding another part to bring diversity would definitely help.
About creating my own sounds, you're completely right. I thought about it when I was composing, but the issue is I don't really know how to proceed (for now).
I was a bit frustrated because I was limited by the samples from my libraries and I felt they sounded too similar. I did transform them but still they are recognizable.
No worries about your suggestions, on the contrary, the point of participating in these jams is to practice and get feedback, so thanks again :)
You've got a nice blend of the instrumental and ambient textures, well done!
Thanks !
It’s quite a little beauty you got there.
Sometimes the key to that is just in something simple and elegant. Can’t really say much else there other than I really enjoyed it. Also, the rumbling noises and light percussions in the background were a nice touch, like ice braking of and falling into the water.
Thank you !
Nice minimalist vibes here. It rides a line between ambience and non-traditional compositions that I think works really well. Structured orchestral elements with nice nuanced reverbs and atmosphere layered in a lovely way with some nice textured precussions.
Good work.
Thanks !
Very smooth and sweet. I like it! Great job with the ambiance feel and sound! And good use of those instruments!
Thank you !
Sweet minimalist piece, nice simple orchestration, works well for ambiance, good job :)
Thanks :)
Really immersive track ! Great sound design, and I love the desolate / defeated mood. The stones sound helps picturing the ice blocks and irregular terrain, overall I really feel like I'm wandering in an ice desert when I listen to this. Very meditative.
If I can add something, I'd say the composition's a bit janky at times, lacks a sense of momentum. Chord progression often feel unresolved and the track stays still while it could tell a story with the base you set.
I said "Aww man !" to myself when it was the end, feels like it ends too soon. The track could really use some progression !
Overall great track, love the ideas but I think you could think more about what story the track tells.
Cheers from a fellow french speaking composer !
Hey, merci beaucoup !
That's exactly the kind of mood and picture I wanted to create, I'm glad it works for you.
I had very limited time to work during the jam. I decided to focus on the sound design and the mood rather than the composition itself. I have much less experience in it and I thought it was a good time to learn a thing or two. I agree there's some lack of momentum, it's something I would have worked out better with more time.
And...yes, I get your feeling at the end, I also feel it ends too soon. The track could clearly benefit from another part and a bit more variety. Maybe I'll continue working on it when I got more time.