Although you could absolutely build this up, do a larger arrangement, etc -- and could make something fantastic out of that as well -- this stands on its own to me. It feels complete despite its starkness (or perhaps because of it). Sometimes a piano is all you need!

Splendid composition and excellent performance.

Although you could absolutely build this up, do a larger arrangement, etc -- and could make something fantastic out of that as well -- this stands on its own to me. It feels complete despite its starkness (or perhaps because of it). Sometimes a piano is all you need! Splendid composition and excellent performance.

This is delicate and a little somber, but also pretty and soothing.  I think the minimalistic approach works here.  A few string sounds at some of the bigger moments could be really nice, but I don't think they're strictly necessary. 

This is delicate and a little somber, but also pretty and soothing. I think the minimalistic approach works here. A few string sounds at some of the bigger moments could be really nice, but I don't think they're strictly necessary.

DANG this is so good

lol u and Tone Matrix and y'alls piano noodles

yeah, i could hear a string section for the second pass of the "verse" but this is a strong effort on its own

DANG this is so good lol u and Tone Matrix and y'alls piano noodles :) [quote=Cosmic Cairns]A few string sounds at some of the bigger moments could be really nice, but I don't think they're strictly necessary. [/quote] yeah, i could hear a string section for the second pass of the "verse" but this is a strong effort on its own

A beautiful and peaceful piano piece.  Especially enjoy those lil moments where the piano take a hopeful turn (:49, 1:34)  Strong chords with the melody that evoke nostalgia.  Excellent note to end on too.  Bravo!

A beautiful and peaceful piano piece. Especially enjoy those lil moments where the piano take a hopeful turn (:49, 1:34) Strong chords with the melody that evoke nostalgia. Excellent note to end on too. Bravo!

i mean, i am not mad at this one little bit. i would just say tread lightly if you make any changes.
lovely work, my Friend

i mean, i am not mad at this one little bit. i would just say tread lightly if you make any changes. lovely work, my Friend

Agreed with the others. This is nice as is. If you want me to nitpick though, I can point out a few things you should feel free to ignore as they are entirely subjective.

First and the only major thing would be that somewhere along the way you introduced pretty heavy compression on the piano sound there. Either it's already baked in or the master compressor/maximizer does that. But I would dial it way back. It sounds a bit aggressive with just solo piano. This kind of sound gels well with full band mixes, and "compressed CP70" is actually a cherished vintage sound.

-12 LUFS on a solo piano piece is too loud. If you rip actual solo piano music, you'll discover it's rarely louder than -20 LUFS and essentially never louder than -17 LUFS. So my own solo piano piece this year went for -17 LUFS. Additionally, go for true peak of -1 dBTP, because certain outputs like phone speakers or some Bluetooth headphones will equalize some frequencies up and with solo piano that will resonate and distort unpleasantly. Leave that headroom.

As for your playing, going for more extreme dynamic differences is what makes the piano the powerful instrument it is. That bit at 1:55 was exactly what the doctor ordered. Could be played even softer, or maybe it was but the master compression flattened it?

But as I said, this is nitpicking. A really nice heartfelt piano piece you got there. You should learn to play it, and voila, now you have your own repertoire to perform when social opportunity arises!

Agreed with the others. This is nice as is. If you want me to nitpick though, I can point out a few things you should feel free to ignore as they are entirely subjective. First and the only major thing would be that somewhere along the way you introduced pretty heavy compression on the piano sound there. Either it's already baked in or the master compressor/maximizer does that. But I would dial it way back. It sounds a bit aggressive with just solo piano. This kind of sound gels well with full band mixes, and "compressed CP70" is actually a cherished vintage sound. -12 LUFS on a solo piano piece is too loud. If you rip actual solo piano music, you'll discover it's rarely louder than -20 LUFS and essentially never louder than -17 LUFS. So my own solo piano piece this year went for -17 LUFS. Additionally, go for true peak of -1 dBTP, because certain outputs like phone speakers or some Bluetooth headphones will equalize some frequencies up and with solo piano that will resonate and distort unpleasantly. Leave that headroom. As for your playing, going for more extreme dynamic differences is what makes the piano the powerful instrument it is. That bit at 1:55 was exactly what the doctor ordered. Could be played even softer, or maybe it was but the master compression flattened it? But as I said, this is nitpicking. A really nice heartfelt piano piece you got there. You should learn to play it, and voila, now you have your own repertoire to perform when social opportunity arises!

some really nice melodies and harmony it's very pretty

i think u could sure transform these different sections into bigger pieces with fuller instrumentation if you felt inspired to, but they're lovely as a piano piece as is

some really nice melodies and harmony it's very pretty :) i think u could sure transform these different sections into bigger pieces with fuller instrumentation if you felt inspired to, but they're lovely as a piano piece as is <3

For a sketch this is really well developed.

It tells a real story and takes you on a journey.

For a sketch this is really well developed. It tells a real story and takes you on a journey.

This is excessively lovely. Nice playing, and an excellent composition. Like Cosmic Cairns and Orange Drink mentioned, I wouldn't say no to a string accompaniment in the second half, but I think it's strong enough as-is.

This is excessively lovely. Nice playing, and an excellent composition. Like Cosmic Cairns and Orange Drink mentioned, I wouldn't say no to a string accompaniment in the second half, but I think it's strong enough as-is.

Beautiful piece, and challenging to execute on  a single take while noodling so congratulations there too!

I would echo RPLKTR on saturation and LUFS though I don't know how this was mastered or how hot the signal is coming out of the Nord.

Otherwise - as a piece I think this shines as solo piano, and thus demands a little more expressiveness in terms of dynamics and tempo aka a little more quiet and loud moments and a little less metronome. There are definitely parts of the composition I could imagine having quiet, slower moments of anticipation to really add some drama.

But on the technical side to that - you will need to then watch your compression in processing and loudness to make sure that doesn't just flatten all your dynamics work all over again. This can be a challenging kind of recording to work with and preserve its delicacy.

Really beautiful. More noodles please.

Beautiful piece, and challenging to execute on a single take while noodling so congratulations there too! I would echo RPLKTR on saturation and LUFS though I don't know how this was mastered or how hot the signal is coming out of the Nord. Otherwise - as a piece I think this shines as solo piano, and thus demands a little more expressiveness in terms of dynamics and tempo aka a little more quiet and loud moments and a little less metronome. There are definitely parts of the composition I could imagine having quiet, slower moments of anticipation to really add some drama. But on the technical side to that - you will need to then watch your compression in processing and loudness to make sure that doesn't just flatten all your dynamics work all over again. This can be a challenging kind of recording to work with and preserve its delicacy. Really beautiful. More noodles please.

Melodically, I love what’s happening in the melancholic parts, such as the first 45 seconds, and also being revisited later on. Gave me goosebumps!
I agree with some of the other comments that I think this could stand on its own, and also that the mix could have more dynamics and less overall volume.
Sound-wise, I don’t know how to describe it in technical terms but the piano has a somewhat hollow sound to me, as if the strings were in fact rather rigid and hollow? Not sure how to describe it properly. This is an interesting effect and I would see it e. g. in combination with synths, like VNV Nation do it on some of their quieter tracks, but standalone it feels somewhat like the sound is lacking some body/fullness.
But that’s only a a nit! It’s a beautiful track that can stand on its own, both in composition and performance.

Melodically, I love what’s happening in the melancholic parts, such as the first 45 seconds, and also being revisited later on. Gave me goosebumps! I agree with some of the other comments that I think this could stand on its own, and also that the mix could have more dynamics and less overall volume. Sound-wise, I don’t know how to describe it in technical terms but the piano has a somewhat hollow sound to me, as if the strings were in fact rather rigid and hollow? Not sure how to describe it properly. This is an interesting effect and I would see it e. g. in combination with synths, like VNV Nation do it on some of their quieter tracks, but standalone it feels somewhat like the sound is lacking some body/fullness. But that’s only a a nit! It’s a beautiful track that can stand on its own, both in composition and performance.

yeah, lovely playing and composition. Enjoyed. It goes places, evokes. Really good feedback above. I'll +1 to all of it, lol. Maybe true though from my skims. Going back to sketches of even full songs is always interesting. Amazing how we hear things differently even hours later. I'm a fan of revisiting, even if it's hard sometimes. 

yeah, lovely playing and composition. Enjoyed. It goes places, evokes. Really good feedback above. I'll +1 to all of it, lol. Maybe true though from my skims. Going back to sketches of even full songs is always interesting. Amazing how we hear things differently even hours later. I'm a fan of revisiting, even if it's hard sometimes.

this is so beautiful - sounds great through my laptop speakers

[img]https://media0.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExczU5ODdkZDNmNHQ2c3ptMTN1bmN0NTgwM2tjNW1la2hrcjRwNHhidyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/tyttpGMQJEZTD5LitTW/giphy.gif[/img] this is so beautiful - sounds great through my laptop speakers <3

Agree with everyone else - this is beautiful! Also I think it could easily function completely fine with just piano. The only thing I'd do (if anything) is just maybe some light strings or synth pads underneath, but that's really only if you feel like you have to add something. I think it's awesome as is!

Agree with everyone else - this is beautiful! Also I think it could easily function completely fine with just piano. The only thing I'd do (if anything) is just maybe some light strings or synth pads underneath, but that's really only if you feel like you have to add something. I think it's awesome as is!

I’m glad the starkness worked for you. I was worried it might feel a bit too naked, so I appreciate the kind words.

Listening back I can definitely hear those strings in my head. If I do a full production later on, that’s probably the first thing I’ll try adding. Glad you enjoyed the vibe.

Ha, yeah... love a noodle. I think you're right about that second pass benefiting from a little extra lift. Thanks for the note.

I'm really glad those specific bits stood out to you, I kinda can't play a minor piece without a little major key change, and using the Royal Road progression to move back and forth, feels a little cheap, but I mean it's common for a reason right? (୨୧•͈ᴗ•͈)◞

Noted... I mean, it might just be that I will never be able to play it again (because I didn't get any midi for it)... so it might just have to be what it is forever (>▽<)

Thank you so much for the deep dive and the close listening. A lot of the compression is actually baked-in via the "dynamic compressor" on the Nord Grand 2, so it was a bit of a permanent fixture for this recording. If I revisit this, I'll definitely try it with more headroom and dynamics... though I'm honestly not sure my actual playing skill would survive the lack of compression to hide behind! ╮(╯_╰)╭ Thanks for the tips on LUFS too, that's really helpful.

Thanks! I'm glad it works for you as it is. It definitely feels like a seed that could grow into something bigger if I can find the time to really dig in.

I'm glad you felt a story in there. For a quick sketch like this, that means a lot.

Yeah, the consensus definitely seems to be "add strings" for the next version! I'm glad you enjoyed the composition despite the lack of layers.

I really appreciate the technical ear on this. Like you mentioned, preserving that delicacy is tough. A lot of the compression is actually baked in via the Nord's dynamic compressor, which definitely flattened things out more than I realized in the moment. If I do a "real" take later on, I'll try to lean into the quiet moments more... though I may require midi to actually get it there... ┐(￣ヘ￣)┌ More noodles coming soon.

I'm glad it gave you goosebumps! That "hollow" sound is probably a mix of the specific Nord's reverb, and the EQing done in the mix... there was a lot of "pedal noise" from the patch, and when I EQed it down, I might have lost some body.  Good catch though, I'll have to play around with the settings to see if I can get it to feel more full next time.

It's so true... your ears are totally different just a few hours later. I'm a fan of the revisit too, so we'll see where this one goes once I have more than a couple hours to give it.

Oh man, that gif nails the title... I had Kintsugi in mind when I named it... but I kind of love the growing ice crystal thought too...

...also I'm glad it's holding up on laptop speakers... shockingly difficult with solo piano 

Thanks! Oh... gentle pads could be nice... maybe a really mellow CS-80 patch... I'll definitely keep them in mind if I decide it needs that extra layer.

[quote=jasonmauer]Although you could absolutely build this up, do a larger arrangement, etc -- and could make something fantastic out of that as well -- this stands on its own to me. It feels complete despite its starkness (or perhaps because of it). Sometimes a piano is all you need! Splendid composition and excellent performance.[/quote] I’m glad the starkness worked for you. I was worried it might feel a bit too naked, so I appreciate the kind words. [quote=Cosmic Cairns]This is delicate and a little somber, but also pretty and soothing. I think the minimalistic approach works here. A few string sounds at some of the bigger moments could be really nice, but I don't think they're strictly necessary. [/quote] Listening back I can definitely hear those strings in my head. If I do a full production later on, that’s probably the first thing I’ll try adding. Glad you enjoyed the vibe. [quote=orangedrink]DANG this is so good lol u and Tone Matrix and y'alls piano noodles :)... yeah, i could hear a string section for the second pass of the "verse" but this is a strong effort on its own [/quote] Ha, yeah... love a noodle. I think you're right about that second pass benefiting from a little extra lift. Thanks for the note. :) [quote=Tone Matrix]A beautiful and peaceful piano piece. Especially enjoy those lil moments where the piano take a hopeful turn (:49, 1:34) Strong chords with the melody that evoke nostalgia. Excellent note to end on too. Bravo![/quote] I'm really glad those specific bits stood out to you, I kinda can't play a minor piece without a little major key change, and using the Royal Road progression to move back and forth, feels a little cheap, but I mean it's common for a reason right? (୨୧•͈ᴗ•͈)◞ [quote=jwh]i mean, i am not mad at this one little bit. i would just say tread lightly if you make any changes. lovely work, my Friend[/quote] Noted... I mean, it might just be that I will never be able to play it again (because I didn't get any midi for it)... so it might just have to be what it is forever (>▽<) [quote=RPLKTR]Agreed with the others. This is nice as is. If you want me to nitpick though, I can point out a few things you should feel free to ignore as they are entirely subjective. First and the only major thing would be that somewhere along the way you introduced pretty heavy compression on the piano sound there. Either it's already baked in or the master compressor/maximizer does that. But I would dial it way back. It sounds a bit aggressive with just solo piano. This kind of sound gels well with full band mixes, and "compressed CP70" is actually a cherished vintage sound. -12 LUFS on a solo piano piece is too loud. If you rip actual solo piano music, you'll discover it's rarely louder than -20 LUFS and essentially never louder than -17 LUFS. So my own solo piano piece this year went for -17 LUFS. Additionally, go for true peak of -1 dBTP, because certain outputs like phone speakers or some Bluetooth headphones will equalize some frequencies up and with solo piano that will resonate and distort unpleasantly. Leave that headroom. As for your playing, going for more extreme dynamic differences is what makes the piano the powerful instrument it is. That bit at 1:55 was exactly what the doctor ordered. Could be played even softer, or maybe it was but the master compression flattened it? But as I said, this is nitpicking. A really nice heartfelt piano piece you got there. You should learn to play it, and voila, now you have your own repertoire to perform when social opportunity arises![/quote] Thank you so much for the deep dive and the close listening. A lot of the compression is actually baked-in via the "dynamic compressor" on the Nord Grand 2, so it was a bit of a permanent fixture for this recording. If I revisit this, I'll definitely try it with more headroom and dynamics... though I'm honestly not sure my actual playing skill would survive the lack of compression to hide behind! ╮(╯_╰)╭ Thanks for the tips on LUFS too, that's really helpful. [quote=MaisieMarra]some really nice melodies and harmony it's very pretty :) i think u could sure transform these different sections into bigger pieces with fuller instrumentation if you felt inspired to, but they're lovely as a piano piece as is <3[/quote] Thanks! I'm glad it works for you as it is. It definitely feels like a seed that could grow into something bigger if I can find the time to really dig in. <3 [quote=NickLong]For a sketch this is really well developed. It tells a real story and takes you on a journey. [/quote] I'm glad you felt a story in there. For a quick sketch like this, that means a lot. [quote=MRDRCAT]This is excessively lovely. Nice playing, and an excellent composition. Like Cosmic Cairns and Orange Drink mentioned, I wouldn't say no to a string accompaniment in the second half, but I think it's strong enough as-is.[/quote] Yeah, the consensus definitely seems to be "add strings" for the next version! I'm glad you enjoyed the composition despite the lack of layers. [quote=neon liminal]Beautiful piece, and challenging to execute on a single take while noodling so congratulations there too! I would echo RPLKTR on saturation and LUFS though I don't know how this was mastered or how hot the signal is coming out of the Nord. Otherwise - as a piece I think this shines as solo piano, and thus demands a little more expressiveness in terms of dynamics and tempo aka a little more quiet and loud moments and a little less metronome. There are definitely parts of the composition I could imagine having quiet, slower moments of anticipation to really add some drama. But on the technical side to that - you will need to then watch your compression in processing and loudness to make sure that doesn't just flatten all your dynamics work all over again. This can be a challenging kind of recording to work with and preserve its delicacy. Really beautiful. More noodles please.[/quote] I really appreciate the technical ear on this. Like you mentioned, preserving that delicacy is tough. A lot of the compression is actually baked in via the Nord's dynamic compressor, which definitely flattened things out more than I realized in the moment. If I do a "real" take later on, I'll try to lean into the quiet moments more... though I may require midi to actually get it there... ┐(￣ヘ￣)┌ More noodles coming soon. [quote=Xjs]Melodically, I love what’s happening in the melancholic parts, such as the first 45 seconds, and also being revisited later on. Gave me goosebumps! I agree with some of the other comments that I think this could stand on its own, and also that the mix could have more dynamics and less overall volume. Sound-wise, I don’t know how to describe it in technical terms but the piano has a somewhat hollow sound to me, as if the strings were in fact rather rigid and hollow? Not sure how to describe it properly. This is an interesting effect and I would see it e. g. in combination with synths, like VNV Nation do it on some of their quieter tracks, but standalone it feels somewhat like the sound is lacking some body/fullness. But that’s only a a nit! It’s a beautiful track that can stand on its own, both in composition and performance. [/quote] I'm glad it gave you goosebumps! That "hollow" sound is probably a mix of the specific Nord's reverb, and the EQing done in the mix... there was a lot of "pedal noise" from the patch, and when I EQed it down, I might have lost some body. Good catch though, I'll have to play around with the settings to see if I can get it to feel more full next time. [quote=miraclemiles]yeah, lovely playing and composition. Enjoyed. It goes places, evokes. Really good feedback above. I'll +1 to all of it, lol. Maybe true though from my skims. Going back to sketches of even full songs is always interesting. Amazing how we hear things differently even hours later. I'm a fan of revisiting, even if it's hard sometimes. [/quote] It's so true... your ears are totally different just a few hours later. I'm a fan of the revisit too, so we'll see where this one goes once I have more than a couple hours to give it. [quote=emily]<3 this is so beautiful - sounds great through my laptop speakers <3[/quote] Oh man, that gif nails the title... I had Kintsugi in mind when I named it... but I kind of love the growing ice crystal thought too... ...also I'm glad it's holding up on laptop speakers... shockingly difficult with solo piano <3 [quote=dadboy]Agree with everyone else - this is beautiful! Also I think it could easily function completely fine with just piano. The only thing I'd do (if anything) is just maybe some light strings or synth pads underneath, but that's really only if you feel like you have to add something. I think it's awesome as is![/quote] Thanks! Oh... gentle pads could be nice... maybe a really mellow CS-80 patch... I'll definitely keep them in mind if I decide it needs that extra layer.

I hear ya with the other projects which is why I'm only catching up on some listening before my weeks get even more hectic.  Two shows coming up are festival performances so can't complain.

This is a nice piano piece with some interesting shifts in there so I think you've done well!

I hear ya with the other projects which is why I'm only catching up on some listening before my weeks get even more hectic. Two shows coming up are festival performances so can't complain. This is a nice piano piece with some interesting shifts in there so I think you've done well!

For a sketch this sounds great. Really enjoyed it. Awesome that you're getting into some cool artistic project!

For a sketch this sounds great. Really enjoyed it. Awesome that you're getting into some cool artistic project!

man this is *also* really beautiful and moving

I really love the piano, super emotional and intently performed (is this you playing live?)

superb storytelling

man this is *also* really beautiful and moving ;) I really love the piano, super emotional and intently performed (is this you playing live?) superb storytelling

This is very pretty. There's more incomplete works out there with more effort put in than this.
- Raioh

This is very pretty. There's more incomplete works out there with more effort put in than this. - Raioh