Mock Up Mistakes (Post #4)

Weird orchestration:

Just because it's synth doesn't give you license to throw out all the orchestration rules. It is outside of the scope of this blog to talk about orchestration but suffice it to say that improper orchestration is a great way to make your stuff sound synthy (and crappy).

I also hear a lot of two things: over-orchestrated and under-orchestrated - the first is somewhat more acceptable - but it boils down to this - if you aren't going to have it played live (and I mean by a full orchestra replacing your synth) - there is really no need to put every double known to mankind in there - just because you have the RAM for it, it will end up sounding like a pipe organ - not to mention there is an increased likely hood you will not balance the timbres properly. Under-orchestration just sounds lazy (unfortunately for us lazy people) - put some counter lines in there - some additional harmonic content provided by a unique color - something to spice things up (unless of course you need it to be bland for whatever reason).