PDF and MP3 (Take 2!)

[Kevin]

Be sure of your vote!

[Kevin]

soundcloud.com/king2b/bucolics-for-oboe-and-piano-entry

soundcloud.com/king2b/deepening-sorrow-sos-copy-entry-1

soundcloud.com/king2b/march-in-the-old-stlye-entry

soundcloud.com/king2b/nocturne-oboe-1entry-1

soundcloud.com/king2b/nocturne-for-oboe

soundcloud.com/king2b/interlude-for-oboe-and-piano

soundcloud.com/king2b/oboe-sonata-entry-1

soundcloud.com/king2b/pastorale-for-oboe-and-piano2-entry-1

soundcloud.com/king2b/scherzo-fur-oboe-und-klavier-version-10-entry-1

soundcloud.com/king2b/the-tortoise-and-the-hare-1

[Kevin]

Bucolics, for Oboe and Piano entry - Full S....pdf (116.21 KB)

Deepening Sorrow SOS Copy entry - Full Score.pdf (96.44 KB)

Interlude for Oboe and Piano - Full Score.pdf (51.57 KB)

[Kevin]

March in the old stlye entry - Full Score.pdf (91.15 KB)

Nocturne (oboe) -1entry - Full Score.pdf (74.14 KB)

Nocturne for oboe - .pdf (78.08 KB)

[Kevin]

Oboe Sonata entry - Full Score.pdf (201.37 KB)

pastorale for oboe and piano2 entry - Full ....pdf (144.52 KB)

The Tortoise and the Hare - Full Score.pdf (110.58 KB)

[Kevin]

Scherzo für Oboe und Klavier Version 1.0 e....pdf (216.79 KB)

[Joseph]

I think maybe the playback on the "scherzo" was better before, the piano quite overpowers the oboe throughout most of the piece . . . also, did I miss a list on soundcloud? I did like being able to cycle through them without hesitation.

same problem seems to occur in the Pastorale, this piano overpowers the oboe quite a bit . . .

sadly this seems to be an issue with the sonate also . . .  are all of the sound files balanced this way?  The piano is so much louder than it needs to be making it difficult to form an opinion regarding the oboe.  I'll wait before trying any others.

[Kevin]

I just created sound files directly from the scores submitted. It would be very time consuming to actually spend time balancing everyone's piece!!

[ceg]

Can I make the practical suggestion that people listen to the pieces and follow the scores at the same time - what we see on the page will influence what we hear, I am sure, and we can form our own opinions about balance (which typically live performers would instinctively sort out anyway).

When listening to the playback during composition, I became aware that the piano's "f" wasn't the same as the oboe's "f", and tended to mark the piano part down half a notch from the oboe part to compensate. It was particularly noticeable when the piano was playing full chords - it goes against the grain to mark the piano "mf" when the oboe is blowing their heart out "ff" though! Eventually, I used the mixing desk to alter the balance but I'm not sure whether this applies to all playbacks of the piece or just on my computer (and it was fairly crude)

[Deleted]

I am unable to open the first 2 pdfs that are posted; the rest were no problem. Let me know if the problem is somehow just at my end ... or, if not. Thanks.

[Joseph]

May 6, 2014 18:38:27 GMT Kevin said:

I just created sound files directly from the scores submitted. It would be very time consuming to actually spend time balancing everyone's piece!!

I'm sure that is true.  Why wouldn't you just do as we had done in the past?  Let the composers provide their own recordings!  I understand you want a level playing field for the sake of fairness but using NP isn't really working out as it is.  I'd already done as Charles suggested, read the scores while the music played.  It doesn't really make up for the fidelity.  If I may make a suggestion, if you have the humanize plugin from The Music Transcriber you can use it to very quickly remove all controller 7 and 11 messages.  Then if you set the volumes in the mixer to 95 for each instrument its a good starting place to let NP do its thing.  Personally I think the piano in NP needs some work.  I have yet to truly be happy with it anytime I've used it (disclaimer, I've only had NP for about a month so take my biases with a grain of salt) so far.  As Arne has pointed out, no expressions of any kind should be used to allow NP to run uninhibited.



If the scores are in nothing newer than 6.2 and if the entrants agree I would be happy to help you rerun the files.  As they stand now they do no justice to all of the hard work everyone has put into this competition.  I', not being critical, just offering to help.  Joseph

[Kevin]

The playbacks are all sibelius7 apart from one.

[Kevin]

May 6, 2014 22:21:57 GMT @annegoodwin said:

I am unable to open the first 2 pdfs that are posted; the rest were no problem. Let me know if the problem is somehow just at my end ... or, if not. Thanks.

Everything is okay with those files at this end Anne.

[Deleted]

The piano is a bit more forte than what we have written...but I am sure that we can use our imagination to filter out some of it... and, of course, the scores...!

[Kevin]

There seems to be a lot of emphasis being placed on the sound files. Can I just clarify what I have done.

When I receive your scores I only remove any identification marks on the ones posted here. I have the originals with names on in a folder.

I then create a wav file without making any changes to the set up that came with the file. I then compress it to MP3 and then post it.

I was hoping that any settings would have been made by the creator and these would have come with the down load of the score.

I am just aiming for something that can assist the listener rather than sway a decision.

[Deleted]

Oops! Spoke to soon...a couple of pieces have exactly the opposite problem...piano much less than what the composer must have wanted...oh well!

[Deleted]

Dear Kevin...we are just talking...I will be the first to say that you have done a great job in putting this whole thing together...and you are right...the playback is just to help us through the score which is the real "text"
best regards

[Deleted]

Sibelius, of course is a notation program. The playback function is just a little added extra. I can't speak for anyone else, but in my ancient Sibelius 5 with no sounds except the Kontakt Player 2 that came with it, I always have to jiggle with the balance to get a decent sound for an mp3.

With a solo instrument or voice (which most of my recent efforts have been), it's usually just a matter of strengthening the solo part vis a vis the piano. For a bigger ensemble it's more complicated, and for a convincing orchestral sound it's an absolute nightmare. I have never understood (a) why the individual voices can't be more realistically balanced against each other to start with or (b) how the balance keeps changing with every new file I open so I have to re-jiggle each time. But I've got used to it now. . .

However if everyone else has been starting off with a different set-up, with or without jiggling it to get it right in their own system, then I suppose it's only to be expected that every piece won't work equally well when they're all processed through the same system.

Kedar's right, in some of these pieces the piano comes out too loud & drowns the oboe, and in others it's the other way round. He's also right in saying that Kevin has done a really good job in putting the competition together, and I think all our thanks are due to Kevin for the work he's put in.

... Tony ...

[adrianallan]

May 7, 2014 14:37:02 GMT @kedar said:

Dear Kevin...we are just talking...I will be the first to say that you have done a great job in putting this whole thing together...and you are right...the playback is just to help us through the score which is the real "text"
best regards

Yes, it is quite a task to organise all the files.

I think when listening and following the scores, we need to imagine what the piano would sound like if it were toned down. The problem is more acute with scores where the piano part uses very full chords. Full chords can be played pianissimo, but the computetr can think 7 notes equals 7 times as loud, or somethng along those lines.

So thanks agan Kevin.

I have a suggestion...next time could we all trust ourselves to enter a score that only uses sibelius sounds. Even then, there is an issue that Sib 6 are better than 5 sounds, but at least we would be happier with the balance.

[John Biggs]

I agree with Joseph. Submit your own audio. ok some sounds will be better than others. I have Sib 5 sibelius essentials. But I know for sure that what ever translation it goes through whether note performer or sib 7 - the playback through my set up is balanced and more pleasing to the ear - well mine anyway. There is never going to be a level playing field - but I think what's happpening at the minute is a step backwards.

[Deleted]

Hmmm...looks like I'm going to have to do something that I've put off for a whole year...buying Sibelius! Finale is fine, but I guess it'd be better if I was on the same page as everyone else on SOS...

[steve]

I'll have to listen some more tomorrow. Every time I hear one of these pieces I like it the best... Until the next piece starts... Tomorrow I'll have to make a decision.

[John Biggs]

Just voted - there are some fantastic entries here. I'm intrigued to find out who wrote the one I voted for. It's really neat!

[adrianallan]

I agree with John. This is the strongest collection of music that we have had so far for a competition.

It would be really helpful if as many people as possible could submit a small critique on each piece. I will plan to do this.

[Kevin]

That is okay but can you hold on until the competition is closed before publishing?

[Kevin]

Just an update on the members votes.

We have had just eight votes so far. I am hoping that the judges votes will be in before the end of the month so please try to get your votes in by then!

[Deleted]

Is it only members who vote Kevin? Or participants in the competition? Would you clarify? If guests are allowed to vote, then we should be promoting this elsewhere perhaps?

[Kevin]

Members only Anne. Opening it up to guests as well can cause problems with spam etc.

[ceg]

I have to agree with John and Adrian and Steve - lots of good quality out there, hard to choose which one is "best". To my ears and eyes, quite a few would be worthy a worthy winner - with such a large field and only one vote each, some potential winners may get no members votes.

Well done to all that entered, obviously people put in a lot of hard work (or perhaps were just inspired - I know John said that he didn't spend much time on his ) I've enjoyed listening and reading to them.

[Kevin]

Ten votes in and it is close at the top!

Also some good news. Forton Music have expressed an interest in publishing the winner of the competition. They are a specialist company dealing with woodwind.

Now we just need the votes!