Composer, percussionist, artist, self-backing choir.
Half of Two Meeps
Third of Rakoczy
Quarter of Those Fucking Snowflakes
For commission or session work inquiries, HMU at mail@troisnyx.co.uk
Age 33, she/they
Choir Director
Lancashire, UK
Joined on 6/26/11
Phonometrologist
I don’t necessarily agree that once a piece is done, it’s better to leave it just as is. I guess it’s very circumstantial to what he means. If you’re the perfectionist type where you’re always tweaking it and never sharing it, then he is right. You don’t want to have too many unfinished projects because you’re not satisfied. But as long as you have a time that you know you will be submitting something, then why cut yourself off? Sometimes a composition can reveal something new to you over time. I cannot hear everything from the beginning of a piece, and my own initial vision could limit me. But that’s just the composition side of it. For mixing and mastering, one must have patience and breaks in between so a piece isn’t over done with too much make-up per say. The whole process takes a lot of time to be done well. As a general rule, I tend to listen subjectively, tweak in moderation, and shape over an extended period of time. Having multiple ears always help.
So you can understand what I mean when I say, how does one really know when a piece is done? If you’re unsatisfied, usually that could be a hint that it isn’t. Mind you, you’re not going to feel like it’s perfect at the end (unless you’re oblivious and that has its place), but I think one should and can tell when you reached the max within a piece.
Troisnyx
I will admit to being a bit of a perfectionist. While I don't doubt Oceans Wide has its mixing issues (as do a lot of my pieces at this point in time), people seem to be divided on what could actually remedy the mixing issues. Seán stayed with me towards the end to listen and search out any parts where the vocals were being drowned out by the instrumental, which had a good mix in and of itself, but balancing the instrumental with the vocals was tricky. And the way I saw it, it never seemed to be a task that would end. All day, pretty much, he saw me twiddling with volume envelopes, and knowing my disposition, he told me that I'd do this to eternity if I had the chance. XD Uh, yeah, we both agree that when that's happening, especially to a perfectionist, it's time to actually stop.
I wholeheartedly understand you, because each piece is going to have its own mix -- frankly, at this point in time, I'd love to understand how to balance a female voice with an instrumental. My voice is strong at the mids, and too much in the way of mids is going to give people listener's fatigue...