I really like this feedback thank you a ton!
I fully agree with the stock plugin issue. I was using the BBC discovery packs and unfortunately they didnt seem to work too well this time around considering the massive headache they caused me with completely changing their sound after rendering out to audio. This jam taught me I really enjoy what strings and horns do but I will need to spend some time finding more quality plugins for them.
And I really appreciate how you interpreted the theme elements in the songs. I very much was adding the xylophones/triangles/sparkly high end bits with the intention of portraying the children, as I felt it was really important to represent all different kinds of people in this fictional town. It really made me tear up a bit when you said you could see the effort that went into the theme because I really battled with this issue for the entire week and when I finally submitted I thought to myself: 'Man I should have just made stardew valley music like I was told'.
It means a ton that the music was enjoyed at all and the thought process was appreciated. There were a lot of first for me in this composition and I feel a little braver now.
Thank you!