RNT Programmer Notes
RNT Programmer Notes
Opening - use mod wheel more sparingly at ends of phrases, rather than leaving on for
extended phrases. could be used more often, earlier in song, at any point where a chord
extends.
One Song - guitar and drums could use more reverb. The notion of it being this haunting
memory.
Light Candle - opening patch can be softer. Drums could use reverb. The passing B-flat in the
left hand isn’t cutting through. Wayne: maybe more chorus on patch? Could sound richer.
Pre-Today - when brass and church organ play together, something is really sour... on the C
major scale.
Today - more orch hit patch from K2 at top of song - define the theme when it’s in the clear
from vocals.
Tango - during the part that’s just piano/drums, drums were a bit hot.
Vibra slap.
Out Tonight - high E on string patch is a bit piercing. Overall, strings a bit hot.
Another Day - There’s only us - strings too loud, more legato. When it plays the melody. sounds
too behind beat. Synth for the first time we hear ‘There’s only us’ - could use more bass
(Wayne: are you sending to subs?), and volume.
m114 - more piano - Josh said he’d bump, but I’d love to hear the keys lay in more
Will I - strings could be more reverby. Watch cut off at end, don’t take pedal to 0 or strings will
suddenly cut. allow a bit of natural release.
I’ll Cover You - m100 - keys2 - can it be a bit mushier? more pedal? especially when there’s
that triplet-feel phrase.
Christmas Bells - m72 - brass sounds bad when certain notes hold and others don’t.
I Should Tell You - does Rhodes have a bit too much clack at transient
Seasons - m37 - organ should come down after few bars of solo - make room for voice
Organ - after big gliss near end - can you do more of a fade out
Take Me - guitar muted plucks, could use reverb. Guitar seems a bit loud. Piano should be
forefront.
m93 - I’m craving some kind of fill, gliss, great opportunity for organ
Without U - I don’t love that synth snare hit, it feels out of place in a moody acoustic song. In
general, drums could be softer.
Contact
Song should feel more like a slow burn - slowly reaching a climax.
Goodbye Love - m190 - can K1 sustain pedal through longer phrases, so that high E rings
longer.
MARCH 27 (DRESS 1) KEYS NOTES
#3 RENT
Mark - SCreenplays
#7 GLORY
#8 LIGHT CANDLE
K1 - top of song - we need to confirm your level. Perhaps 4, then 3 for ‘would you light my’,
then back to 4 for that initial pattern.
K1 - length/release of notes could be more consistent throughout. I think it should feel like a
looped groove that is almost robotic in consistency throughout.
#10
Wayne brought down K1 bridge patch volume - just a bit too loud
Benny & Angel - you’ll see boyS - sounds like boy. They need a voiced S (ie. Z)
#12A TANGO
K1 in general feels a bit too strong throughout in terms of attack and weight on notes. Could be
a bit more flirty.
m56 - K1 could relax dynamic a notch (not volume, but attack/velocity), then back once that
section is done.
#16 WILL I
#17
m37 - K1 - can you crescendo into this, it’s a bit too intense at the top
m127 - K2 bring up volume for this OHH section, then down at m141
#19 COVER U
K1 + K2 - be mindful that you are doubling eachother for a lot of this tune, so especially when
things get high, (ie. that triplet G A B countermelody), you can afford to be gentle.
#20 WE’RE OK
m51 - K1 maybe pull back for high octave and then crescendo to end?
K2 - m181 sounds great, trumpet is really helpful for keeping cast in time with passing notes
K1 - m236 can you ease up a bit on LH? RH is great. Low strings are beefy and sound great for
most of song except this little section since it’s so exposed. Strings are somewhat touch
sensitive.
#23
Maureen - to the stage - make sure finish the word before ‘to Uta’ soloist
m375 - K2 gliss can be fatter ie. - cover more keys w/palm of hand
m420 - cutoff seemed wrong, like some band members cut out too soong
#24 SEASON A
#28 -
m96 K2 volume could be a half # louder, fade out should be slower, smooth
#30
m102 onwards feels like keys (either K1 or K2, or both) should have more adlibs to support the
blues/rock climax that’s occuring here. Vocalists are going wild, but band doesn’t reflect this.
#31 SEASONS B
#32 WITHOUT U
m110 K2 - more expressive (can get bigger in between vocal phrases, drop @ m124.)
#34 CONTACT
#36 HALLOWEEN
K1 strings were a bit erratic at top. I think I’ve solved this w/programming, but we’ll want a
specific volume for here.
m188 K1 Strings sounded erratic... is that a programming issue? Let me know if you hear
anything funny.
K1 ease up on LH a bit when playing w/bass, could use bit more repedaling so rhythm is
clearer.
#40 FINALE A
m178 pull back volume a full # - there’s nobody else but strings.
K1 str were too loud - Wayne to adjust (could have been a programming issue), but also
confirm Volume level on score.
#42 FINALE B
#3 RENT
Benny’s high solo near the end (‘Draw a line’) and the following solos were hard to hear.
I think band (or sound) needs to compensate for the drop in volume when it goes from
ensemble sized vocals to solo.
#4 XMAS BELLS 1
#5 U OK HONEY
#7 ONE SONG
K2 pad is still too loud, bring down (confirm w/Josh)
I think the K2 is being held too long at end of song - it’s all I hear, and sounds like the
player forgot to cut off.
#8 CANDLE
Wayne, talk to Franklin about attack via velocity. Main pattern should be played with
more attack. First chord of main groove should be a consistent short length.
‘Would you like my candle’ sections work with the softer attack, but gradually returning
to stronger attack by end of section.
#10 TODAY 4 U A
Wayne - program the harp to have long release to mimic sustain pedal
#10A TODAY 4 U B
Angel rushes her percussion bits
#13 SUPPORT
K1 - sometimes your ictus is below the screen for vocal conducting.
#16 WILL I
K1 - we could use a diminuendo leading into the cut off, otherwise feels a bit abrupt.
#18 SANTA FE
#19 COVER U
Beautiful!
#20 WE’RE OK
Organ was great. Perhaps crescendo in m57 to end? Button could be more staccato
as organ is really powerful in that range.
K1+K2 mm97 this 8th note pattern felt a bit inconsistent in terms of the same
articulation.
K1 m237 - perhaps fade out on final repeat? this vamp/transition sounds a bit unclear
of what’s happening, but I’m not sure why.
K1 m267 - beautiful strings throughout. can you dim. at mm358? level @ mm359 is
great. mm374 - crescendo
K2 - mm376 - let’s confirm levels. I think you should be maybe v3-4, so you have room
to cresendo in m404. I’ll boost the overall level of the organ to compensate for this, as I
want to hear more organ in the last section.
#24 SEASONS A
Wayne - check K2 organ level on audio recording
#28 HNY B
I struggled to understand the section where Benny is revealing his relations with Mimi.
#31 SEASON B
Overall, I wanted a bit more organ.
#32 WITHOUT U
Great levels, great playing.
#34 CONTACT
I wish lighting was a bit more active during the second half of this when Angel is solo
on stage. The music is so active, it seems at odds with lighting and Angel’s state of
being.
#36 HALLOWEEN
Wayne - adjust K1 string split so open G in violin is more blended. DONE
#37
K1 - transition from #36 was better. Spoke with Josh, we’re wondering if you can you
take even more time with cresendo’ing through those first four bars, so the crescendo
is more subtle.
#38
Button - would love that final 16th to be stronger, particular from drums
#40 FINALE A
K2 - mm84 - dim. more on this note.
Franklin - I told Eric to bring down mm132 since he was so prominent, but now it feels
like this section doesn’t support the drama onstage. Band feels a bit thin.
K2 - mm132 - I take back my note. I think you should be stronger, and perhaps give us
some pedal / dynamic movement to support the drama.
K1 - the strings started off too loud - can you make sure to flutter before? There are
moments where the strings need more shaping - ie. we’re sitting on a chord with no
movement for too long and it starts to sound too static.
#42 FINALE B
K2 - strings at top could be softer, especially the high octaves. mm14 onward was
good.
EXIT MUSIC
Keys were pretty hot compared to rest of band.
#3 RENT
K1 anytime it’s that aug4 dissonant chord, we could pull back the volume. The material
that’s consonant is good.
#7 ONE SONG
#8 CANDLE
When we hit the first chorus, it feels like the band drops in intensity. I was asked to
bring down the K2 throughout this section. It feels kind of lacklustre since we lose the
guitar from the verses. If the intensity/nasality of the farfisa patch is what bothers us,
do we consider switching to organ, as per the original production?
K1 - Wayne will bring down main patch levels by -3dB. Patch during bridge is good.
K1 - could you give us a bit of a fortepiano cresc on the last few bars? Towards the
end, I start to grow weary of the strings at a fixed dynamic for too long.
#16 WILL I
Soloist says ‘digniTy’ with a strong T... doesn’t feel like a New Yorker’s vernacular.
K1 - strings bump up in level was better than before. I believe Josh has pulled them
down a bit in the house to split the difference.
K1 - m37 strings should be softer. Drop by at least 1 number. Wayne will balance
strings so the low strings aren’t so strong.
K2 - levels were great, except for the section where Mark is saying the opposite of war
(m416). It might be nice to lower volume for a few bars, crescendo into m420. Give me
some more dynamic movement throughout.
#24 SEASONS A
K2 organ is a bit loud at soloist entrance. Level afterwards when chorus enters was
good.
#28 HNY B
K1 organ @ m43 (under Maureen ‘are you okay?’ is a bit loud. I think Josh made an
adjustment, but let’s keep an eye on this level.
Wayne will adjust K1 organ to be a bit less bright so it doesn’t compete with Maureen
vocals.
the ‘guess I’m leaving’ line at the end is hard to understand, they’re rarely in sync
#32 WITHOUT U
#34 CONTACT
#36 HALLOWEEN
K1 - strings are nice tone but too much volume. Wayne will adjust.
#38
#40 FINALE A
K1 strings should be much softer. Keep pedal leves, Wayne dropped this by -6dB.
Can guitar grow louder over the course of Mimi’s death? I kind of want my ears to
bleed at the brutal irony of this moment... dude is in pain. I feel like the K1 is doing too
much of the heavy-lifting in this section.
#42 FINALE B