Dan made the changes to the whispering that I had requested to make them sound more random and realistic. I confirmed to him that this was the final draft for the flashback music!
https://soundcloud.com/user-600796940/flashback-scene-without-limiter
Powder Paint Scene
We confirmed the powder paint music up until 00:57 as I felt it combined the strength and ethereal aspects perfectly; however the music I asked him to layer over the music after that was difficult to agree on. He changed the bells to a high pitched organ and kept everything else the same; however I didn't feel the organ gave the desired strength as it sounded almost child-like and tacky. The track is below: https://www.dropbox.com/s/
I sent him some examples of tracks I liked the beats to so he could create something similar to layer over the section from 00:57-01:18. I said I would then like the layered music from 00:42-00:55 and 00:57-01:18 to be combined to create the last section from 01:22-01:53, so the music builds and becomes more complex near the end. I sent him the three tracks below so he could emulate or combine the drum noises:
- The background music from 00:18-00:24: https://www.youtu
- The background beats that almost sound like clapping in this 00:28-00:37: https://www.
- I really like the beats that come in at 00:12, it sounds like drums: https://www.youtube.
I had hoped this would be the last draft of music so I could send it all to Tony to create the combined final track. However when he sent the draft back it didn't sound anywhere near as upbeat and strong as the previous drafts. I was confused where he got the very slow, elongated notes as I couldn't hear them in the examples I sent to him; these beats made the second half sound more calming, when I wanted him to take inspiration from the strong drum beats in the examples to make it sound more powerful. I asked him to make it sound stronger to reflect She's new found confidence and suggested he made the original drum beats sound louder.
The track he sent is below:
https://soundcloud.com/user-600796940/powder-paint-dance-scene-v2
When he sent me the next draft I was confused as the section I had asked him to change sounded exactly the same as the draft before. I could hear that he changed the last section slightly, but it still didn't sound like the examples I had sent him. I sent him just the third example from above as I thought it was the most clear and said I wanted him to include the strong drum beats in the next draft.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/r0t5
When he sent me the draft back it still sounded relaxing and not as strong as the first section. This really confused me as clearly there was something being lost in translation as I felt I hadn't sent him anything with calming notes in it. I felt like I was being as clear as possible so was confused how he was misreading me to this extent. I emphasised in this next email that I wanted it to sound stronger and more dominant, and I asked him to change the soft beats to possibly a stronger instrument.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/
He sent me a couple more drafts; however I felt we were going round in circles and I started to feel embarrassed that I was sending the music back and asking for adjustments because I didn't feel like it was getting any closer to want I wanted. I knew Dan was only doing this as a favour so I didn't want him to feel I was taking advantage of him by constantly asking for changes. I was so confused why we weren't understanding each other, so I wrote him a clear email and asked my family to read it to make sure they understood what I meant, and they did. I kept suggesting he called me as I thought it would be easier to communicate; however he ignored all my suggestions. I had originally said Sunday was his final deadline; however I extended it to Tuesday because Tony said I couldn't start mixing it all together before Wednesday and I wanted it to be perfect. The email I wrote to him is shown below:
_________________________________________________________________________________
Hi Dan,
Thanks for sending these so quickly! I've been speaking to Tony and he said he now can't start until Wednesday so we have more flexibility.
I love the way the music sounds strong at the beginning; however I feel the extended beats that are introduced at 00:57, that happen every 4 counts, take away from that strength to give it a more calming sound. Maybe these could be taken out to reflect the model's new found confidence and feeling of inner strength? I'm struggling to think what to replace them with, but maybe a deeper drum noise or stronger clap sound? But basically I would like the section from 00:57-01:17 to sound like the section 00:10-00:25 but with more strong beats added over the top to make it sound different, to reflect her sharp, powerful movements.
I liked how, with the bells, you added the bells at 00:57 and then for the section that starts at 01:22 you combined the two previous sections to build the sound at the end. So could you please combine the layered sounds from 00:25 and 00:57 together so the music sounds more complex at the end (01:21-01:53).
The beginning part is so perfect that I want to match it with the end, sorry if I'm being so picky! Please call me on 07939 004693 if you think it would be easier.
Thanks so much,
Becky
After sending this email he sent me drafts through that were getting much closer to what I wanted. I learned to be as honest as possible by telling him exactly what I wanted in the track and what I wanted removed because before I would say I liked it but 'it needs to be stronger, with more powerful beats'; however this is not specific enough. I knew he was doing it as a favour so I didn't want to take advantage of him or be rude to him; however I decided I had to be more specific with my requests, otherwise it would take much longer. Below is the draft I chose as my final track!
https://soundcloud.com/user-600796940/powder-paint-dance-break-without-limiter
We agreed to add silences in the track to make it feel more abstract and so I could choreograph dramatic moves or stills to them. He added fast clicking to the track and removed the elongated chords (middle section) to make it sound more energetic and stronger, rather than calming. I was concerned the music would sound repetitive, but he made the beats and claps play on a variety of notes, making it sound more random and unstructured to reflect her new carefree out look. I will send all my sound effects and these tracks to my other music guy, Tony, so he can combine them to create my finished track.
I am so grateful that I was able to collaborate with Dan on this project because he didn't stop mixing up tracks until he knew I was completely happy with it. We had to work some late nights to work round his job, which I appreciate him doing, to make sure we stuck to our time schedule. I found it frustrating at times where I thought I was being extremely clear about what I wanted and he didn't understand, but I think that is something that comes along with collaborations as they don't always have the same vision or understanding as you do. I would definitely collaborate with him again as he is reliable, hard working and has a genuine passion for what he does.
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