Music from Night Blaze (afan a.k.a [BC]afGun)

[afan 12]

Just humbly posting my work for pony fandom. From Russia with magic of love and sorry for my English

 

Music writed in Instrumental\Score genre with elements of epic. All tracks available for free dowload.

 

Becouse of postings after feedback, i've added the playlist with MLP tributes here (check the link under first playlist track "when friendship goes tragic"):

 

 

 

===

 

 

1. Power of Harmony

First track on CuBase after moving from GP5. Instrumental, experimental.

 

 

2. Defenders of the Better World

Logical continuation and completion of the previous track. Instrumental, epic

 

 

3. Hearts Strong as Horses

At the request of students, I've expanded the latter part of the previous track to a full melody. Today - the freshest. Surprisingly, active listening

For a cover version for voice (without the lead guitar as a substitute vocals) look in my profile on Soundcloud.

 

 

For more track see my stream on Soundcloud

 

Thanks for listening

 

P.S. Somehow, the last track does not want to be shown as an insert media. Sorry

Last track test as a other post.

 

 

Strage... now working.

 

Sorry again.

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Edited February 18, 2016 by afan

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

Power of Harmony: It's a good track, but it wasn't as intense as I thought it would be. Towards the end, when you built up, you needed some sharp brass and power chords from the guitar instead of simple solo notes. Also, that distorted guitar sounds a bit dry. Try dialing in a bit of chorus and some reverb to bring in that bright epic sound you were looking for. In the begining, it was a little too soft. Maybe some low strings would work. In that one section with the brass, it sounded a little too awkward. Maybe some low droning brass would work there until the rythmic drums come in. All in all, it's a good start, but it could use some polishing. 

 

6/10

 

Defenders of the Better World: This one was also good, but that guitar is just too dry. It needs some chorus, flanger or reverb to bring that bright sound. In the beginning part, some chugging 16th low strings would've worked to give that epic build up. I just feel that this piece isn't at the level it should be, and the same goes for the first. Something is missing. It needs bright stacked chords to give it that feeling of power and more crash cymbals. Try experimenting with intensity levels so that you can get the best out of your peice. 

 

5.5/10

 

Hearts Strong as Horses

 

Again, that intensity level needs to be a bit higher. Plus, a distorted, flanged lead would work better than a clean flanged lead. It would give the piece more power. Also, some chugging 16th low strings would work here too. Intensity is what these pieces are lacking. They just don't have that power I'm looking for. The drums on here could use some work. Maybe an alternating 8th note pattern with the reverb on the snare would fit perfect with this piece. 

 

5/10

 

Don't be discouraged by these reviews. I'm a musician and I've been playing for 15 years. 

 

@@afan, 

[afan 12]

Fast enough... Thanks for comment, but let me translate what you said first and my answer... for proper feedback

 

 

Ok...

 

 

===

About Power of Harmony:

it was writed like OST. Yes, it was not intence in first parts, as planned.

Guitar power chords were not planned, especially becouse that was first track in CuBase where is no guitar-chrod-logic editors. The whole track was writed during the learning the new program as experimental. Reverberation set as default. Chorus... was not good enough.

 

 

About DBW:

Wow... Here, the guitars was exactly as i preferred to use. Dry or not - that is the matter of taste.

Chrods - were tried. But results didn't satisfy me.

About cymbals... hm... may be. Agreed.  But the main emphasis was placed on the drums.

 

 

About HSH:

Didn't understand more than a half of what you said even with a dictionary, sorry...

 

 

Don't be discouraged by these reviews. I'm a musician and I've been playing for 15 years. 

Well... I'm just a composer with music and choral education. Not a soundman. I learn all by myself, but to understand all of this at once for me is unreal. I'm not even talking about the proper realization of sound processing and post-processing

 

@@C. Thunder Dash, 

Edited June 4, 2014 by afan

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

@@afan,

 

Hey, I can tutor you in some theory if you'd like. It will most certainly benefit you. We can do it through personal messaging here on this site.  

[afan 12]

@@C. Thunder Dash

 No problem, but you will need more patience becouse of my shortness of understanding, espetially the not-Russian terminology

Edited June 4, 2014 by afan

[afan 12]

Another one ready. As Usual: Instrumental\Score genre with elements of epic.

 

 

[afan 12]

Another tribute ready.

 

Instrumental\Score

 

[afan 12]

Some lunar verssion for CMC Theme

 

 

[afan 12]

Tribute-march request, based on Parasprites Polka and one the older tributes. 

Two versions: full instrumental and for military brass orchestra (yup, seriously...)

 

 

 

-brass-orchestra-version

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

Ok...that guitar...it just seems very fuzzy and it kinda bothers me. Add some depth to it because I think you've got to much mid and high-end to it. I'd suggest using low-end open power chords or octaves with the 5th in the middle to give it that bright open sound. The guitar should really be both melodic and harmonic. Harmonic in that intro part, and it should also have it's own solo. 

 

In terms of chords, it sounded like you limited your to the i and the VII at the start, but noticed you expanded upon that and had more chords. Kudos to you on that. 

[afan 12]

Ok...that guitar...it just seems very fuzzy

Ammm... It's not a bug, it a feature ©, actually...

 

I did not plan to make guitars too loud and expressive here as other people usually do. Especially solos (which are actually also playing chords (power and\or full) in some parts). They are - ordinary instruments, like everything else, icluding brasses and the others. Not always leading. But only sometimes. It's orchestral and instrumental music. Beyond the typical categories and performance of electric guitars and enything else (Did you noticed that there is distorted piano? it was used earlier too. As well as amped and overdriven string.)

 

I'd suggest using low-end open power chords or octaves with the 5th in the middle to give it that bright open sound.

Already tried it. Then it was too bright and loud and consequently forced to be very quiet while mixing. Becouse it was drowned out other sounds, especially brasses on theese octaves.  

 

it should also have it's own solo. 

It already has. 2 backing solos: one on high, and second on low.

All the guitars have own solo parts actually. But in intro they are only the bacground or secondary. Becouse it's not the gutars leading part, but the trumpets, fanfares and french horns (+ piccolo as the end of intro). In this track, there are no complete guitars leading parts at all.

 

The guitar should really be both melodic and harmonic. Harmonic in that intro part

Intro consists of dinamic chords where (in beginnig of phrases) С (fanfare phrases + background lower solo) and D (background) notes are playing both. 

Chords on any guitar making dissonance to non-melodic. Especially bright guitars. Spent two days and used every known power and other chords in order to avoid it but with very small result. So i've used own fantasy.

 

 

 

In terms of chords, it sounded like you limited your to the i and the VII at the start, but noticed you expanded upon that and had more chords. Kudos to you on that. 

 

Thanks for feedback and especially for help

Edited January 14, 2016 by afan

[afan 12]

Second experimental track, based on learning of  drums.

 

Actually not specially tribute, but... pony world also have the kind dragons

 

Anyway, here the two variations: drums action and full instrumental (yeah, in the best traditions of Epic Score or X-Ray Dog producing).

Full instrumenal - underscoring music (opening, introducing, transitions or traliler music)

Drums Action - actual action music.

 

 

-drums-action

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

Ok

 

Probably one of the biggest rules of scoring is that you should not give almost every instrument the melody line. That's a big no-no. This problem appeared in the beginning. 

 

Your brass has a cut in between notes. You may want to slur some of your notes in the brass line in order to remove this issue. 

 

In terms of your chord structure, you really just stayed within the tonic key of F major. I didn't even hear a V. This really put a damper on the potential of this piece because it became very repetative. I suggest you experiment with some of these suggestions:

 

I-I-vi-IV-V-I-I(1st inversion)-ii-V-I

 

I-I(1st inversion)-ii-vi-I(1st inversion)-V-I-ii-I(2nd inversion)-iv-V-I

 

For the middle sections, you can work with interchangeables like this:

 

IV-ii-IV-I(1st inversion)-iii-III⁷-vi-VI-ii-IV-V

 

 

Also, some harmonic choirs would go perfect with this piece. This piece lacked the depth it needed. Add some low strings and low choirs to give it that low depth to beef it up. 

 

Also, that guitar close to the end wasn't really necessary. 

 

I liked your percussion work on this piece though. 

 

All in all, it's a good piece, but it could use quite a bit of work. 

[afan 12]

Probably one of the biggest rules of scoring is that you should not give almost every instrument the melody line. 

Rules of what scoring? The real soundtracks or score-albums for separate release?

Score can have any instrument and any style you want to make the atmosphere. And sometimes the music is not just something playing in the background - there is ambiences for it. And trailer music, transitions and openings - vivid examples for it.

 

Your brass has a cut in between notes.  You may want to slur some of your notes in the brass line in order to remove this issue. 

What exactly brasses? Some of them are background. Or about piccolo?

Okay, that solo have the pauses sometimes, so I don't uderstand what exactly you mean.  

 

Your brass has a cut in between notes. 

Yes. Becouse this work is about drums. Melody was an optional. Anyway the other musicians already said that tonic used perfectly for short varying melody. So i can only say that is the matter of taste. Really.

My opinion is more simple:  I've created what I've created. It could be better, but also could be worse. So I'm moving forward. The times of 10-times-reworkings are gone. May be some day in the future. Especially, if I will use the motive on next scoring workings. Especially if the works will be on tracks longer than three minutes. So I saved the idea anyway, thanks

 

Also, that guitar close to the end wasn't really necessary. 

Ok. Now it is really matter of taste.

Edited January 31, 2016 by afan

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

 

 

Rules of what scoring? The real soundtracks or score-albums for separate release? Score can have any instrument and any style you want to make the atmosphere. And sometimes the music is not just something playing in the background - there is ambiences for it. And trailer music, transitions and openings - vivid examples for it.

 

I'm classically trained and studied this. By having many instruments with the same melody but in a different octave in certain cases, you're creating parallel octaves, which is a no-no in classical terms.  

[afan 12]

C. Thunder Dash, on 31 Jan 2016 - 9:31 PM, said:

 

I'm classically trained and studied this. By having many instruments with the same melody but in a different octave in certain cases, you're creating parallel octaves, which is a no-no in classical terms.

And I'm studied classical choral chapel and what?

Actually not all instruments have the EXACTLY same melody in certain octaves. And they actually using the effects of frequency overlap and resonance in order to create a sound palette. The other instruments using much different melodies and transition enough to create perception of chaotic effects without emphasizing the main. Or you need actual score material to see that?

And even if it would be so - I work outside the usual standards and templates.

Like

, him,

or them,

,

and finally

.

All of them are the score bands and composers and even the whole orchestras, as you can see.

 

if still don't believe that, ok.

 

Here almost 50 instrument voices were used. About 10-15 of them are the guitars. Overwhelming majority have completely different scores.

 

 

Or here - almost completely guitars. 2009 year work (and final rework from ages of inifnite reworkings). Also each have completely different scores.

 

 

So, may be in classic it's a "big no-no", but i never said that i prefer the classic terms. At least not alsways and anywhere. But it really soesn't mean that I can't do it for some other reasons, except as part of the idea.

Edited February 1, 2016 by afan

[pinkiepiebabe 87]

I like the minimalist aspects and the instrument choices. Really well done, some balance issues, but very minor.

[afan 12]

@@pinkiepiebabe, thanks.

Balance... yeah, still have a problems with it, I know.

[pinkiepiebabe 87]

Its hard! Honestly though, the important things are there. Vibrant? Check. Original? Hell yeah. Inspired? Yup. This can't be faked or simply fixed with some tutorials, this is all you and coming from your artistic self. Nice job

[afan 12]

@pinkiepiebabe, just trying my best and to developing skills. Sometimes, making something that people liking

Anyway, glad that you liked, thanks for feedback

[afan 12]

A little remake for track from the older fandom.

 

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

A little remake for track from the older fandom.

 

 

Ok. 

 

This was perhaps my favorite song out of Pokemon Mystery Dungeon. I like the retro aspect you put to it, but it would've been nice if you varied your percussion a little more. Also, the flute and strings are an important aspect of the original. I felt they were a little drowned out in your remix. 

 

All in all good remix, but it could use some tweaks here and there. 

[afan 12]

 

 

it would've been nice if you varied your percussion a little more

Yeah. I could. But it did not sound as it should.So this minimalism - is forced. Not the first time I was confronted with the fact that not all the diversity is in harmony with the overall sound. As not every fantasy. :-\

 

 

 

 Also, the flute and strings are an important aspect of the original.  I felt they were a little drowned out in your remix. 

 

Strange. To my ears, so they are almost on the verge of overlapping the accompaniment. Especially when switching between audio quality and sound modes. Anyway, I will try to take into account in future tribute of the main theme.

 

Thanks.

[afan 12]

A time ago, someone wanted to fragment "Come Little Chilfren", used in the "Hard way to get the cutiemark" composition, has turned into a full track mix in the same style.

Well, my hooves finally made it.

 

[Courageous Thunder Dash 7,824]

A time ago, someone wanted to fragment "Come Little Chilfren", used in the "Hard way to get the cutiemark" composition, has turned into a full track mix in the same style.

Well, my hooves finally made it.

 

Love that build-up you got running there. Would be nice if you had a solo violin over that bright choir and orchestra towards the end.