Month: January 2022

Broadjam Artist: Jeff Ashbaker
Song: Have A Good Time

Reviewer: SKY HIGH MUSIC LABS

Positive Comments: Love the song…..

Constructive Comments: The voice is great but it so hot that the band sounds weak and too far in the background

Broadjam Artist: Uncle Spider & The Electric Dirt Clods
Song: Emperor of China / Soundtrack

Reviewer: Vi: 00110110

Positive Comments: This is a tough one to review as a composer that works with live performers and actual orchestras. I know the limitations of our self expression is often limited by our tools. I feel like you’re here because you love music and want to do well. In constructive comments I will recommend some software to do just this.

Constructive Comments: East/West sounds has a cloud service that will give you access to tools at one point considered industry standard. Perhaps the cheapest option to get up to par quickly. Native Instruments Komplete bundle is the current standard. For about 1k Usd it’ll load you up with toolsets currently used in many mainstream libraries for Universal, Learning Channel, etc. Another good option is Output Sounds for more mainstream sounds that fall under cinematic. For the absolute best in live replication you have two choices. Sonokinetic which deals in live phrases written with triads… the second would be a group called Orchestral Tools. Their Ark collection, Berlin collection, and general store have a lot of lifelike and wonderfully presented instruments. Otherwise, the mix here needs work, the expression info in your midi sequences could be finessed, and the humanity in the performances could be better represented with bpm changes, pauses, and more peeks and valleys. Hope it is useful, stick to it, Rome wasn’t built overnight. Vi

Broadjam Artist: Marilyn Hall
Song: Loco Beat-EDM

Reviewer: Vi: 00110110

Positive Comments: Good builds and transitions, got the arrangement aspects down, fairly commercial sound as well.

Constructive Comments: Needs a lead or some sexy vocals. Really wanted a modern bass that made me grab my chair arms with anticipation. Try Substance from Output sounds or Massive 1 or 2 from NI. Great start. Vi

Broadjam Artist: SRJ
Song: Elevate Me

Reviewer: Vi: 00110110

Positive Comments: Ideal for an 80s throwback or a retro narrative.

Constructive Comments: Lotta things can be done to improve this track while staying in the 80s genre. Risers, use em. Take a cymbal hit, reverse it, and throw it on the end of every 8th or 16th bar. Experiment with things not a percussion when you make risers too, try synths, home recordings, mechanical noises. Next? Filters, use em. You can give synth melodies and sequences motion by throwing a filter over them and riding it like a wave. Add some resonance and tweak frequencies for interesting and robust flavours in your synth play or even drums. Speaking of drums, when you’ve got a clean bare bones sound like this, percussive escalations referred to as “tops loops” will go far to fill in builds and choruses alike. Next… Pause, learn to pause. If it’s going into a film, a trailer, or anything of the sort you need to start and stop your arrangement to give your listeners a chance to reflect. Try breaking for a bar every 16 bars, use a riser, let the reverb shine along side a sub drop. Hope it’s useful. Vi

Broadjam Artist: James Ripp
Song: Meadow Dance

Reviewer: MGB

Positive Comments: Very chilling and smooth piece that would really sound great in the right scene in a movie or TV show.

Constructive Comments: Pretty piece.

Broadjam Artist: Hartmut Oberdieck
Song: soul food

Reviewer: Marc S. Pate

Positive Comments: Its a very nice little tune, well recorded but, it needs vocals.

Constructive Comments: Tasty guitar but, I kept thinking the vocals are getting ready to start. It’s a very well done rhythm guitar song that would make a great backing track for vocal, at least from where I sit, You guys are very good, let the girl belt it out.

Broadjam Artist: MGB
Song: Heart Attack

Reviewer: Marc S. Pate

Positive Comments: I like the intro and the instrumentation. You guys are obviously pros! Nice harmonies.

Constructive Comments: Would have liked to hear more dynamics. Used to play with an excellent keyboard player who’s motto was, “the lower the lows, the higher the highs”. I guess it stuck with me.

Broadjam Artist: Kate Carpenter
Song: The Sluggard Song

Reviewer: John Ludwig

Positive Comments: very fun and carnival-like feel, bounciness keeps your attention, overall nice balance to the mix

Constructive Comments: I well know Broadjam categories are often a challenge to fit into, but the overall arrangement and vocal is more of a novelty feel that perhaps shouldn’t land in a gospel category vocal seems a bit jarring on the end lines – perhaps smooth out a bit

Broadjam Artist: Uncle Spider & The Electric Dirt Clods
Song: Porcupine Alley / Heavy Metal

Reviewer: George Michael John

Positive Comments: Interesting chord progressions.

Constructive Comments: Seemed a bit long to me. Guitar tone is kinda masked by the heavy fx. Everything is panned dead center so spreading things out might help with the clarity.

Broadjam Artist: Warren Hein
Song: Can You Hear Me (longer vocal mix)

Reviewer: PHIL MITTEN STORYTELLER

Positive Comments: Love this one ! Reminded me of something The Mammas and Pappas would have done .Great lyrics , great job overall .

Constructive Comments: The organ didn’t do it for me , but I guess it did for you !