quote:

Originally posted by theterran As for the kick, it's just about the way I want it I think. I've tried it on the 10" 500W sub, and it hits nicely. Will still look into the 808's sound though, might be useful for future projects, so thanks for the tip there!

If you turn it up enough on the right playback system anything can sound bassy. The kick is definitely way too click-y. On my reference headphones I don't start getting bass until the highs become almost painfully loud and sharp. But then again, that's how a lot of professional trance is produced... doesn't mean it's necessarily worth emulating though...

You could also add a subby bassline to play along with the main bassline.

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Originally posted by theterran Nah, just happy getting constructive feedback, and stopping by. My friends usually just say "it's good." and leave it at that. Something definitely needed to be there to compliment the main harmony though. I'm not the biggest fan of vocals...and nothing really fit like that clean trance-piano. That melody pretty much poured out...(like crown-royale on a bad day) It's an odd concept going with an older sound, I guess...It's like...I spend alot of time listening to newer music, and I get tired of it, so I just want to make more of the older stuff I started out with, if that makes sense? And I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel with the older sounds, just polish 'em up a bit. I guess, another factor is, I'm not really making music in hopes of it being popular or making it big, I just like doing it, It's fun, and challenging...From both a musical, and technical standpoint. So I guess I don't really have to worry about what everyone wants to hear, and just make what I feel like making... As for the kick, it's just about the way I want it I think. I've tried it on the 10" 500W sub, and it hits nicely. Will still look into the 808's sound though, might be useful for future projects, so thanks for the tip there! Just need to finish baking this musical cake, and then put some frosting and sprinkles on it. Might post it up one more time once it's done if anyone's interested in hearing the final result. Appreciate the listen / response, evo.

welcome mate...agree so much with that middle paragraph, took me a long time to get to that state of mind

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Thanks for the feedback guys.

This is the other track on the EP I am sending out

Very Blondie Heart Of Glass baseline done on Roland JDXA

Having so much fun making music I like for once. Not trying to follow fashion, not even A/Bing as it often makes me get lost on what I was originally intending


https://soundcloud.com/butlerrichard/first-contact

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quote:

Originally posted by Woony If you turn it up enough on the right playback system anything can sound bassy. The kick is definitely way too click-y. On my reference headphones I don't start getting bass until the highs become almost painfully loud and sharp. But then again, that's how a lot of professional trance is produced... doesn't mean it's necessarily worth emulating though... You could also add a subby bassline to play along with the main bassline.

Have heard this before...I try to use my hi-fi responsibly as a reference knowing this. I understand this is also the reason most producers are warned against using a sub with their monitoring setup...Where they hear a fairly balanced mix, but the mixdown ends up being weak in the lows on other systems because the sub is overcompensating.

Same reason I wouldn't ever trust my DT880's with bass, even though they're one of the more bassier reference cans out there...The mixes will do the opposite, and come out boomy and bloated.

I believe professionally mixed trance is done that way for the aforementioned reasons. By mixing your low-end a bit light, you can get more mid-range. The big ass system will pump out more than enough bass, where no sacrifice needs to be made to mid-range or dynamics in the mix itself. Not saying I'm doing this for that reason...I simply don't have the gear to accurately monitor in the 20-150hz region.

It really is a crap-shoot with the low-end in my case though, and getting some proper low-end monitoring, so I don't have to play bass / sub-bass lawn darts, is definitely high on my priority list.

I'll have a go at a separate mix and see if I can't get something a little more headphone / earbud friendly, since that's what most people usually use to listen with at their computers or on the go.

Thanks for the feedback though, I appreciate it, and will keep it in mind.

Last edited by theterran on Dec-12-2017 at 19:32

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Originally posted by theterran Still mainly arranging. Roughed out the rest of the breakdown / re-intro / build / theme 2.0 -> End. Build will need work, saving transitions for later. 2nd theme section seems maybe a little short...Might either extend with more melody or repeat the first melody again without the piano with the full layered backing. Will work on seating the piano in a little bit better, probably play with volume / reverb until it sits in nicely with good sound-space. Did a little bit of work on the kick. Using 2 spliced kicks now, tried to keep the fluffier upper mids, and compliment with a thicker thuddier base layer... Bass seems ok with a bit of tweaking in the 50hz range where the A# note resides. I poured through over 100 basses, and 50 or so some odd bass presets, and I can't find anything I like as much. Will have to do for now, short of making my own, which I might just end up doing. Did a little bit of work on the clap as well, brought the eq. up in the 2Khz region a bit and opened up the middle-end with a touch more verb. Brought it's gain up in the mix about 3-4 db. Seems like it's pretty much there, just need to do the intro, work on builds / transitioning and work on the nuance-y fine details.

What is your bass setup man and what octave are you have your pad/s on - sounds like your pad and bass are in conflict a bit - you will have to find a way for your low end (bass line) to punch through your production.

Darek

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quote:

Originally posted by TranceLover007 What is your bass setup man and what octave are you have your pad/s on - sounds like your pad and bass are in conflict a bit - you will have to find a way for your low end (bass line) to punch through your production. Darek

Yeah...Above wall of text in a nutshell -> I have inadequate bass monitoring, in both gear and room.

Pads reside on 3rd and 4th octaves.

Bass resides on 3rd and 4th octaves.

Subtly sidechain bass to pad perhaps?

quote:

Originally posted by theterran Yeah...Above wall of text in a nutshell -> I have inadequate bass monitoring, in both gear and room. Pads reside on 3rd and 4th octaves. Bass resides on 3rd and 4th octaves. Subtly sidechain bass to pad perhaps?

Yeah, so now we know what is creating this low end problem and at this point the best way of finding good solution to it is to go back to basic.

Run your drums and bass together and see if you have to EQ them to some degree to find nice balance, then add your pad/s to this equation and see what kind of overlapping (specifically in low end) you have.

Lets start with that.

Darek

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Last edited by TranceLover007 on Dec-12-2017 at 22:53

I have similar dilemma in my latest WIP as I was going for smooth and chillout production but with some punch and dynamic effect - still working on it and my do some more cleaning and adjusting (EQ/frequency speaking) - this is only an initial preview lol

Darek

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quote:

Originally posted by TranceLover007 I have similar dilemma in my latest WIP as I was going for smooth and chillout production but with some punch and dynamic effect - still working on it and my do some more cleaning and adjusting (EQ/frequency speaking) - this is only an initial preview lol Darek

So the drums in the intro sound bit naff, but once the synths come in they sound good.

Very positive optimistic vibe in the melodies and sound choices.

BUTtttttt - that vocal snippet that begins at 0.51 is dreadful, sounds like Donald Duck!!

Overall a great vibe

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quote:

Originally posted by theterran Have heard this before...I try to use my hi-fi responsibly as a reference knowing this. I understand this is also the reason most producers are warned against using a sub with their monitoring setup...Where they hear a fairly balanced mix, but the mixdown ends up being weak in the lows on other systems because the sub is overcompensating. Same reason I wouldn't ever trust my DT880's with bass, even though they're one of the more bassier reference cans out there...The mixes will do the opposite, and come out boomy and bloated. I believe professionally mixed trance is done that way for the aforementioned reasons. By mixing your low-end a bit light, you can get more mid-range. The big ass system will pump out more than enough bass, where no sacrifice needs to be made to mid-range or dynamics in the mix itself. Not saying I'm doing this for that reason...I simply don't have the gear to accurately monitor in the 20-150hz region. It really is a crap-shoot with the low-end in my case though, and getting some proper low-end monitoring, so I don't have to play bass / sub-bass lawn darts, is definitely high on my priority list. I'll have a go at a separate mix and see if I can't get something a little more headphone / earbud friendly, since that's what most people usually use to listen with at their computers or on the go. Thanks for the feedback though, I appreciate it, and will keep it in mind.

I really enjoy your track a lot, the dark melodies are excellent.
I'm no expert but the bass sounds pretty good, but the kik for me is too whoopy as I said before so it's tacking a lot space, but that's just a personal thing perhaps.

I read what you said about a static loop getting you more in the zone on the floor, I agree, but just vary the hats a bit here n there I think.

Very nice track tho

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quote:

Originally posted by Richard Butler So the drums in the intro sound bit naff, but once the synths come in they sound good. Very positive optimistic vibe in the melodies and sound choices. BUTtttttt - that vocal snippet that begins at 0.51 is dreadful, sounds like Donald Duck!! Overall a great vibe

Thanks brother for your respond - this vocal snippet is actually a electric guitar with flanger and chorus on it lol so it is really funny that (and you are right about it) sounds like vocal chops lol.

Intro will be work on as it is still too early to focus my attention on it.

Cheers Richard

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