The Smiley Smile Message Board

Hello, I'm under 20 and still deciding what I want to do in life and over the past year I've been going back and forth between interests, but recently I've come back to Pro Tools and audio in general. I had an idea for a project and decided to finish it to see where I'm at and hopefully get some advice. The idea was to try and make themes using music and sound effects that are based on different subjects. As I went, each one got a little further away from it's original subject matter, but I am comfortable saying that each one is at least inspired by Trains, Planes, and Boats. It was all recorded in Pro Tools, I play all the instruments besides the clip of "12th Street Rag" on the one titled "Boats", some of the sound effects I did myself, and the other ones I found online. If you don't have time to listen and respond to each one of them, I would hope you make sure to listen to "Boats"; that is the one that came the closest to what I wanted, in terms of a combination of music and sound effects. Please tell me what you think! This board has always been very nice, but I need a bit of the truth. I appreciate any feedback and I hope for a few responses.


Boats - https://soundcloud.com/user-609363677/boats (https://soundcloud.com/user-609363677/boats)
Instruments

• Ukulele
• Synth Clavinet
• Synth Strings

Home Made Sound Effects

• General Drink Sounds (ice water, pouring and sipping)
• Squeaky Chair/Hammock
• Blowing Bubbles in Water
• New Years Ratchet Noisemaker

Trains - https://soundcloud.com/user-609363677/trains-short-version (https://soundcloud.com/user-609363677/trains-short-version)
Instruments

• Piano
• Synth Vibraphone
• Synth Trumpets
• Acoustic Guitar
• Organ

Home Made Sound Effects

• Wrenches
• Inflating Concertina

Airplanes - https://soundcloud.com/user-609363677/airplanes-short-version (https://soundcloud.com/user-609363677/airplanes-short-version)
Instruments

• Organs
• Piano
• Synth Strings
• Synth Clavinet
• Various Polysynths
• Acoustic Guitar
• Autoharp
• Synth Trumpets
• Shaker

Home Made Sound Effects

• Windchimes
• Some of the wind sound

I'm just starting out and I'm looking for all the feedback I can get, particularly about mixing. If you have something to say about the volume, panning or EQ on these, I'd love to hear it. Also, I know I'm not a very talented musician so whenever you think something sounds really bad let me know. Another thing I make important to myself is staying on tempo... if you notice anything offbeat say something please, so I can spare further embarrassment.

Thank you, Thank you

joe, just listened to Boats and it sounds great. I'm a pretty amateur mixer myself, but quality-wise the fidelity and edits sounded good in headphones. Your recorded effects sound good too. This is all good practice for soundtrack type work, which these days is really composition and sound design in one. Nicely done and keep going!

Thanks! I really liked "I'm In a Band"

Mr. hink, I've got questions - why concertina is listed in the "Home Made Sound Effects"? In the "Instruments", I see "Strings" & "Trumpets", then later "Synthesizers". Isn't the former 2 "synths"? This is small idea & because of that it can't be real string orchestra, is it right to say?

As is - good idea, I see it going towards "Means of travel", you should add "Bus" & "Car". Maybe record invisibly some bus chat, grumbling if passenger doesn't want to pay, lacks money. With a car, there is noise of key-turning, smashing door, beep etc. Good luck.

Thank you for the feedback. I used the concertina to sound like a steam train chugging along, I never used it to play notes, so I'll just call it a sound effect. You're right, the trumpets and strings are synthesized, so I'll change the original post. I considered doing one about cars, but decided to leave it as a trilogy. If I choose to continue with this theme, cars will be next. Thanks again

"Trains" really grabbed me. It has a great "Steamboat/Smile" feel to it. Keep up the good work!

Can't help you on the mixing front, I'm afraid----everything sounds well-mixed to my cloth ears.  ;D 

That's a great compliment. Thank you! I was definitely trying to do these in the Smile style.

Exactly. I'm qualified enough to say that there isn't anything wrong with fidelity or sound/mixing quality. It isn't muddy, nor too loud. So I wasn't sure what to criticize it for. so I said nothing originally. I simply echo john & orange22.

Thanks, that explains. Do you usually work alone? There are musicians in this site who may want to work with you - what about e-collab? would you like to 'join forces'?

jakeg1235 put drums on an instrumental track I did about a month ago. I don't have much musical ability to contribute but I do have instruments. Acoustic Guitar, Keyboards, Ukulele, Concertina, Autoharp and a Tambourine... If anybody needed those instruments, I could try to help them out. 

I listened first, then read the comments.  I played the "SS.Net" track that's on your SoundCloud as well.  I'm with john k.  "Trains" is the best one.

On a side note, I got a chuckle by your user name - User 609363677.  Reminded me of the German guy on the Strain.  :p

Keep working at it.

-Will

Thank you very much. After taking these to a few professionals and having to listen to it with them, it became apparent that there is too much repeating in the music and that these should all be cut down.  So hopefully I'll have them all cut down and updated to be under 2 minutes within a week. Thank you everybody for helping me out.

- User 609363677

joehink,  Love your avatar.  Who is that in the photo with Brian?  Post a bigger version.  Don't think I've seen that one before.  And welcome to the forum.  -Will

I have the file but not an internet link. Is there a way to upload a file? It looks like '77/'78 Brian and Al.

via tinypic. Follow instructions there. & yes, it's certainly Al.

(http://oi63.tinypic.com/2dlj4sj.jpg)

Thanks joehink!  Sure I've never seen this one before.  Will work at finding the date.

My first Halloween treat of the day.  -Will

What are you doing this Halloween Will?

Having my usual Saturday listening party.  The kids and candy part is almost over, they have to stop by 7pm in my area.  Been watching College football all day.  My Arkansas Razorbacks are winning big time right now.  We had a big lasagna dinner with Bloody Marys earlier.  Now the strong stuff is coming out.  It's been a magical day so far.  Will soon be better.  This is one of my very favorite holidays.

Hope you, and everybody, are enjoying yourselves...

-Will

I think it's a neat picture too. I just updated the three. Trains and Boats are largely the same... made "Trains" shorter by a few seconds and made it so the Ukulele on "Boats" wasn't as loud as it was. I cut over a minute out of "Airplanes", I think it helped a lot. Listen if you'd like. Thank you all for your feedback.