Topic by DEZ

  • Avatar
  • DEZ
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 18-06-2022
  • Posts: 554

Topic: To Embark Upon One's Greatest Spark

I've left the Clique to congratulate themselves to concentrate on using PianoTeq as a tool to craft a better draft, create and debate the art that is Modartt...


Here's an initial song idea...

https://forum.modartt.com/uploads.php?f...20Turn.mp3


====================================================

It has a tune, accompaniment and some drums. I will revisit it over the coming days / weeks and try to craft it into something worth listening to; hopefully???

WORDS:
(1) I'm gonna turn my life around, I'm gonna make you really proud;
I'll get right to it.
(2) Please help him do it! He's gonna turn his life around.

(1) I'm gonna change my thought process, I'm gonna try for real success;
I'll get right to it.
(2) Please help him do it! He's gonna change his thought process.

???

Reply by DEZ

  • Avatar
  • DEZ
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 18-06-2022
  • Posts: 554

Re: To Embark Upon One's Greatest Spark

Stage II


What's changed

- Better articulation offered by soloist; still hate the phrase 'to it', I'll sleep on it !
- Thicker choir, placed further back in the mix with added harmony
- PianoTeq dynamics tweaked
- Drum first appearance changed; got rid of the wooden sticks Bossa Nova rhythm ... didn't quite fit !


https://forum.modartt.com/uploads.php?f...rn%202.mp3

Reply by DEZ

  • Avatar
  • DEZ
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 18-06-2022
  • Posts: 554

Re: To Embark Upon One's Greatest Spark

Musings...


Verse
=====
I'm gonna turn my life around;
I'm gonna make you really proud.
I'll get right to it!
CHOIR [Please help him do it; he's gonna turn his life around!]

I'm gonna change my thought process;
I'm gonna try for real success
I'll get right to it!
CHOIR [Please help him do it; he's gonna change his thought process!]

I'm gonna strive to do what's right;
I'm gonna face my greatest fight
I'll get right to it!
CHOIR [Please help him do it; he's gonna strive to do what's right!]

Chorus
======
As time will surely flow;
I have so far to go!
I'll fight 'gainst every blow;
Let me, forever grow!


FRENCH IDEAS
============
Elle va changer toute sa vie;
J'en suis fier de ma belle fille !
Mais c'est à coup sûr !

Reply by budo

  • Avatar
  • budo
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 30-11-2016
  • Posts: 1,341

Re: To Embark Upon One's Greatest Spark

very fun start ... interested to see where it goes!

@youtube
@facebook

Reply by carmelo.paolucci

  • Avatar
  • carmelo.paolucci
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 21-08-2024
  • Posts: 192

Re: To Embark Upon One's Greatest Spark

DEZ wrote:

Stage II


What's changed

- Better articulation offered by soloist; still hate the phrase 'to it', I'll sleep on it !
- Thicker choir, placed further back in the mix with added harmony
- PianoTeq dynamics tweaked
- Drum first appearance changed; got rid of the wooden sticks Bossa Nova rhythm ... didn't quite fit !


https://forum.modartt.com/uploads.php?f...rn%202.mp3

.
Really nice and funny piece. I've really enjoyed it

Reply by DEZ

  • Avatar
  • DEZ
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 18-06-2022
  • Posts: 554

Re: To Embark Upon One's Greatest Spark

I don't know why this was moved over here - it's not another little ditty by DEZ

It was going to be an exploration of how inspiring PianoTeq could be in crafting a song / piece I was going to share much about how I construction melody / harmony to achieve something that might be worth listening to, but as it is - it's here as a "recording featuring ... !"

I'm now struggling to find the energy or inspiration to continue the journey....


Here's the above musing put into place as an idea...

https://forum.modartt.com/uploads.php?f...rn%203.mp3


The Chorus is in the relative minor - but I've changed the key to major!

Reply by DEZ

  • Avatar
  • DEZ
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 18-06-2022
  • Posts: 554

Re: To Embark Upon One's Greatest Spark

Stage IV


What's changed
- Improved articulation on 'to it' - still don't like it, but no matter how I try to sing it to myself I'll leave it for now...
- Added more to the piano to lead into the various key changes a little smoother
- Added more voices to the choir in parts ... still a work in progress
- Started using REVERB as a musical effect rather than just a 'place mat'
- Re-examined the drums and overall balance


https://forum.modartt.com/uploads.php?f...rn%204.mp3

Reply by DEZ

  • Avatar
  • DEZ
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 18-06-2022
  • Posts: 554

Re: To Embark Upon One's Greatest Spark

Stage V


This is it for now...

What's new
- Retiming of "I'm gonna ..." to make it much tighter - no divas in this studio, Vocaloid does what is requested !
- Guiro on Drums removed, HP and LP filters engaged to balance percussive elements
- Beginning 2 bars of Piano before each phrase made louder
- Saturation added to final mix and reverb adjusted accordingly
- Forgot to add on Stage IV - chorus tempo cut to add contrast.

I did think about extending the chorus - but I think there's a limit to how much DEZ people want to hear. Maybe I'll revisit and find that I totally disagree with myself on edits / harmony / melody / choice of instrumentation / etcetera


Here it is in its Fifth iteration

https://forum.modartt.com/uploads.php?f...rn%205.mp3

Enjoy!

Reply by DEZ

  • Avatar
  • DEZ
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 18-06-2022
  • Posts: 554

Re: To Embark Upon One's Greatest Spark

So how did I...

us[e] PianoTeq as a tool to craft a better draft

PianoTeq was used to
- craft the inital tune - sometimes words come first and others the tune, this time they both appeared at the same time in my mind
- draft the harmonic progression and try out various musical genres - would a choral be suitable, a disco, a ballad or something with a Latin feel as was the final choice
- what vocal harmony should be added

Once I had decided on the basic sketch I shared the following steps with you above...

Reply by Pianoteqenthusiast

  • Avatar
  • Pianoteqenthusiast
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 25-10-2013
  • Posts: 3,806

Re: To Embark Upon One's Greatest Spark

DEZ wrote:

So how did I...

us[e] PianoTeq as a tool to craft a better draft

PianoTeq was used to
- craft the inital tune - sometimes words come first and others the tune, this time they both appeared at the same time in my mind
- draft the harmonic progression and try out various musical genres - would a choral be suitable, a disco, a ballad or something with a Latin feel as was the final choice
- what vocal harmony should be added

Once I had decided on the basic sketch I shared the following steps with you above...

Bravo DEZ! You have worked incredibly hard on the project and now you can see a good result. I like very much the short section in the middle where the choir and the soloist sing together - it sounds amazing. Of course the Fifth iteration is very good. If I search and think, if there is something I would try to improve, it would perhaps be to change the reverb in the piano. It sounds a little separated from the vocals as the vocals have their own different reverb, if possible try a similar reverb on the piano and maybe it would blend, sound together, even better. But, this is just a thought. You've done a great job with this one and the journey/project. Congratulations DEZ!

Best wishes,

Stig

Last edited by Pianoteqenthusiast (17-02-2025 22:32)

Reply by DEZ

  • Avatar
  • DEZ
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 18-06-2022
  • Posts: 554

Re: To Embark Upon One's Greatest Spark

budo wrote:

very fun start ... interested to see where it goes!

Well, it didn't go very far... Hope you enjoyed the short journey ???

Reply by DEZ

  • Avatar
  • DEZ
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 18-06-2022
  • Posts: 554

Re: To Embark Upon One's Greatest Spark

carmelo.paolucci wrote:

Really nice and funny piece. I've really enjoyed it

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. Don't know what's funny about it though?

Reply by DEZ

  • Avatar
  • DEZ
  • Member
  • Offline
  • Registered: 18-06-2022
  • Posts: 554

Re: To Embark Upon One's Greatest Spark

Pianoteqenthusiast wrote:

[...] if there is something I would try to improve, it would perhaps be to change the reverb in the piano.

Thanks for the suggestion, glad you found parts of the adventure interesting.