Cheez
Moderator
I know I've been keeping quiet about new pieces for a while (in fact for a few years!!!). In a discussion in another thread on mixing, Kongwee asked me to put a larger mixed version for discussion. I didn't want to as I was preparing for my pieces to be released in an album. But I thought, well, might as well just show one piece - just to let people know that there are new pieces I've written. Some of you may know that I'm more inclined towards orchestral and acoustic pieces. Well, this is one of the "ballad-type" - just to show that I don't just write orchestral pieces! Piece not perfect, but passable for PC (or Mac
)listening.
I performed this piece live about a month ago (not in Singapore). After the performance, a few people asked, "Where can we download it?" Well, you still can't download it, but you can listen to it!
http://soundcloud.com/symphonia/changes
Background of the piece:
Before I married my wife-to-be, I liked 99% of her. But there's that 1%...which I thought I would change her after I married her! Years passed, and that 1% remained unchanged. It was later I realized that the person that really needed changing, is me.
This piece was written for our 10th year wedding anniversary. The title "Changes" describes the background why this piece was written.
Notes for musically-focused listeners:
The piece "Changes" changes key 12 times throughout, hence playing with the word associated with the title. Starting key: Eb major. Modulations between Eb major, F# major and Bb major. Ending finally with Bb major. With so many key changes, the trick is to make the changes smooth and flowing without being distracting. Two major motif in it that interchanges.
Instruments: Piano (main instrument), Violins (1 and 2), cellos, E Bass, E Guitar, Tenor Sax, Drums, and various percussion instruments (including wind chimes, cymbals, frog eggs shakers).
Notes for mixing/sound engineering-focussed listeners:
I'm not an expert in mixing or mastering. This track wasn't mastered, just mixed. 11 audio tracks. Mixing done in 48kHz, 32bit. Final audio export dithered down to 44.1kHz, 24bit.
Various EQ, compression and tube saturation added to various instruments via Sonar X1's built-in ProChannel. Other plugins include Guitar Rig 3, Cakewalk/Voxengo Perfect Space Convolution Reverb, SPL TwinTube, NuGen Stereoizer 3, and Cakewalk PX64 Percussion Strip
Notes for the technical-focussed listeners:
Sequenced using Yamaha S90 keyboard. All done with a notebook (no desktop) - Vaio Z56 C2D 2.8GHz, 6GB RAM, external USB 2.0 HD, Echo Indigo djx express card, M-audio 1x1 midi interface.
DAW: Sonar X1a. Softsamplers: Kontakt 3.5 and Superior Drummer 2. Sample libraries: KHSO, Akoustic Piano, MM-bass, Sample Modelling's T Sax, samples from various other smaller libraries, SD2 NY Avatar kit (with settings from Allen Morgan).

I performed this piece live about a month ago (not in Singapore). After the performance, a few people asked, "Where can we download it?" Well, you still can't download it, but you can listen to it!
http://soundcloud.com/symphonia/changes
Background of the piece:
Before I married my wife-to-be, I liked 99% of her. But there's that 1%...which I thought I would change her after I married her! Years passed, and that 1% remained unchanged. It was later I realized that the person that really needed changing, is me.
This piece was written for our 10th year wedding anniversary. The title "Changes" describes the background why this piece was written.
Notes for musically-focused listeners:
The piece "Changes" changes key 12 times throughout, hence playing with the word associated with the title. Starting key: Eb major. Modulations between Eb major, F# major and Bb major. Ending finally with Bb major. With so many key changes, the trick is to make the changes smooth and flowing without being distracting. Two major motif in it that interchanges.
Instruments: Piano (main instrument), Violins (1 and 2), cellos, E Bass, E Guitar, Tenor Sax, Drums, and various percussion instruments (including wind chimes, cymbals, frog eggs shakers).
Notes for mixing/sound engineering-focussed listeners:
I'm not an expert in mixing or mastering. This track wasn't mastered, just mixed. 11 audio tracks. Mixing done in 48kHz, 32bit. Final audio export dithered down to 44.1kHz, 24bit.
Various EQ, compression and tube saturation added to various instruments via Sonar X1's built-in ProChannel. Other plugins include Guitar Rig 3, Cakewalk/Voxengo Perfect Space Convolution Reverb, SPL TwinTube, NuGen Stereoizer 3, and Cakewalk PX64 Percussion Strip
Notes for the technical-focussed listeners:
Sequenced using Yamaha S90 keyboard. All done with a notebook (no desktop) - Vaio Z56 C2D 2.8GHz, 6GB RAM, external USB 2.0 HD, Echo Indigo djx express card, M-audio 1x1 midi interface.
DAW: Sonar X1a. Softsamplers: Kontakt 3.5 and Superior Drummer 2. Sample libraries: KHSO, Akoustic Piano, MM-bass, Sample Modelling's T Sax, samples from various other smaller libraries, SD2 NY Avatar kit (with settings from Allen Morgan).
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