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Originally posted by SystematicX1 I personally enjoy every piece of music that crosses this thread that people post.

See, that must be because you joined after I first posted up this gem.

Still hold onto this thing for, well...everything in relation to this discussion...borders on un-listenable tbfh. But, I don't remember anyone on here being shitty about it. "Good idea! Bad mix...get you some monitors kid!"

And so I did...and probably posted up a bunch of other pretty bad mixes on my way to now...Giving zero shits about anything other than practicing and getting better. To me, the absolute worst, is getting no reply at all. (Have since cleaned that mix up to a reasonable listening level though, and that made me happy!)

So, I think it's great, to have someone nitpick a kick, a clap, the bass or even the arrangement...Based on the above.

Would also agree, that there's no such thing as perfection...aside from Tipper's Jettison Mind Hatch and Forward Escape albums of course.

Last edited by theterran on Feb-12-2024 at 06:28

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Originally posted by szm yea well look at you now, better than all of us :3 keep up the good work mate.

LOL dood...I just choked there. Seriously, that is my point precisely. I do not care if I ever were to make it or able to make a living as a musician,artist,producer....whatever. I couldn't do it. With that said. Affirmation from my peers? Means everything to me because I know the true caliber of everyone here. And trust me..some names unmentionable here...lmao have even told me "Man...didn't get past 2 seconds. Couldn't listen to it" on my early days. I think we have all been there.
I appreciate you szm and your contributions. I think we all do
Now, speaking of terrible mixes, I see MR TA below is trying to outduel me on the worst mix

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Phil

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Originally posted by theterran See, that must be because you joined after I first posted up this gem. TheTA � Blue Twilight [original] Still hold onto this thing for, well...everything in relation to this discussion...borders on un-listenable tbfh. But, I don't remember anyone on here being shitty about it. "Good idea! Bad mix...get you some monitors kid!" And so I did...and probably posted up a bunch of other pretty bad mixes on my way to now...Giving zero shits about anything other than practicing and getting better. To me, the absolute worst, is getting no reply at all. (Have since cleaned that mix up to a reasonable listening level though, and that made me happy!) So, I think it's great, to have someone nitpick a kick, a clap, the bass or even the arrangement...Based on the above. Would also agree, that there's no such thing as perfection...aside from Tipper's Jettison Mind Hatch and Forward Escape albums of course.

Awww damn. I "thought" I was hearing something you wrote about bad mixes and mis read it. Cause I got a doozy still hanging around....ready? Protect your ears at all cost rofl
No actually, I have always wanted to go back in and re do my worst pieces. Unfortunately, for me it means going in and stripping it to bare bones. I was so dumb back then...I wouldn't know what to do with it

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Phil

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Originally posted by SystematicX1 Awww damn. I "thought" I was hearing something you wrote about bad mixes and mis read it. Cause I got a doozy still hanging around....ready? Protect your ears at all cost rofl No actually, I have always wanted to go back in and re do my worst pieces. Unfortunately, for me it means going in and stripping it to bare bones. I was so dumb back then...I wouldn't know what to do with it SystematicX1 � TriTonal - Colors (SystematicX1 Remix

uwotm8? Your worst mix, sounds better than most of the mixes I'd deem "ok". Surely my worst mix is way, way worse than your worst mix...

That's it...my ears must surely be broken. I give up. :P

But yes you're right. That's exactly what you gotta do...It's tedious, and you really gotta love the tune to commit to it. For the couple times I've done it, you literally strip everything out, remix to the kick, and then go from there. Can either mix from start to finish, or pick the densest spot and mix there.

But I mean...it takes less time than coming up with and arranging a new idea :shrug:.

The tune I posted in-particular has been an interesting benchmark, as I've actually done this process a few times with it...this would be last years final attempt

Even updated some of the instrumentation! And it's kinda interesting listening back through the different attempts to see what changes occurred.

Thankfully, I'm finally good with it now...I personally consider it done, finally...after nearly a decade of fucking around with it. Could surely fiddle with the low-end some more after revamping my setup and acquiring 2000W of sub-woofer in a decent/dead room where I can hear the difference...but I think it's fine now.

Last edited by theterran on Feb-12-2024 at 07:36

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Originally posted by SystematicX1 Awww damn. I "thought" I was hearing something you wrote about bad mixes and mis read it. Cause I got a doozy still hanging around....ready? Protect your ears at all cost rofl No actually, I have always wanted to go back in and re do my worst pieces. Unfortunately, for me it means going in and stripping it to bare bones. I was so dumb back then...I wouldn't know what to do with it SystematicX1 � TriTonal - Colors (SystematicX1 Remix

Good stuff, super clean. I might have a few remarks if you really want me to. But overall this is a really good track. Solid mixdown, sound selection. Very enjoyable!

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Storyteller Website | Storyteller @ Facebook | Storyteller @ Beatport | Storyteller @ Soundcloud | Stephen J. Kroos - Europa (Storyteller Remix)
Anthony Mea - Get It On (Storyteller Remix)

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If less is more think about how much more more would be. -Frasier

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Originally posted by Storyteller Good stuff, super clean. I might have a few remarks if you really want me to. But overall this is a really good track. Solid mixdown, sound selection. Very enjoyable!

Ok...I guess that example failed miserably as it was completely opposite than what I expected. To me, that mix is /was a train wreck and that was 9 years ago

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Phil

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Here's a fun little tune I've been working on a little while...Think I might have posted it once before?

Got the mix pretty much to my liking...but I am dead stuck on arrangement...Simply no clue what to do after the melody ends, with nothing springing to mind.

Much sad, for as uplifting as this tune's trying to be.

Oh and yeah, that initial arp is supposed to border on the annoying side a little until everything kicks in. Maybe a subconscious nod to Tiesto's suburban train perhaps...

Last edited by theterran on Feb-16-2024 at 04:12

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Originally posted by theterran Here's a fun little tune I've been working on a little while...Think I might have posted it once before? Got the mix pretty much to my liking...but I am dead stuck on arrangement...Simply no clue what to do after the melody ends, with nothing springing to mind. Much sad, for as uplifting as this tune's trying to be. Oh and yeah, that initial arp is supposed to border on the annoying side a little until everything kicks in. Maybe a subconscious nod to Tiesto's suburban train perhaps... TheTA � Galaxies [WiP]

Ok...going to be a little defined and critical because this track deserves it.

First off The Arp....So the first introduction to this Arp is nice. I like the delay and unsure if that is a cutoff filter or notch/auto filter but it is fine, actually dig the distorted feel. Suggestion, EQ it and give it some mids. It needs some body now. I wouldn't cross into sub level but just something to give it some depth. Also, one good way of bringing that in is automation on like a 3 band basic EQ. Start the automation High and automate the mids in. Same technique can be utilized with the delay to that Arp. Delay>Feedback>Automate dots at 0 & 35 (or whatever you want it to be)
I am only mentioning this because this also ties in with your composition.
See, If you use automation on multiple parts at once, you can blend and extend the pattern you are creating without it getting old and stale (in & Out, Overlapping, All parts at the same time. Depends on your creative). However in this case it is the opposite. I feel sorta rushed and then I feel stale,then rushed and then stale. So, one of my rule of thumbs now are 8-10 second intervals max before introducing something new until, the chorus. I break everything up into sections and try to follow the one minute mark for Intro.

In this case you have a Kick that starts on the 15 second mark. Suggestion: Using the same technique above using automation Auto Filter>Automation>115hz>19.9kHz and extend your kick out a little while giving it time to build up. This Kick desperately needs some bottom end. And, you (yep,once again) could implore the same EQ Filter automation and build that from a flat kick until a break and then BOOM!EQ3>Gain Low>-35.0dB>Automate>)0dB (or your desired)

Moving to your first real movement around the 30 second mark. Again, with the intention of building , it is my preference to actually try to stay away from any kind of cymbal work in an Intro. My reasoning is based on being a percussionist. Cymbals are the primary accompaniment, they add swing and the add body to that swing and can easily be built upon. Introducing them to soon takes away from the tension you should be trying to achieve in a build and eventually a drop.

47 seconds. Love it...

00:01:00 - Bass line needs sub. At least an Octave lower to get that boom. Wouldn't hurt to throw on some Compression and sidechain that to your Kick to get that pulse rolling. Plus, it will bring out that Kick a LOT more

00:01:13-15 - Uh yea! Emphasize that break, big time!

00:01:31 - "The Pads are coming! The Pads are coming!" Suggestions. Take those chords. Take your lead note ( G? ) and place another note an octave below your already lowest note in every chord. This will build also to your bottom end.
I like the tonality. I believe it may be a tad bit to loud. I would also , yet again like to see more build. Those automation techniques work just as good on pads,especially the auto filter

Dig the break at your two minute mark. Suggestion : I would began starting at this point that you use this area to build yet another tension part and drop. You can achieve this by extending that first note (that G ) and nothing else fading it out or at least to a much lower volume in order to bring in the Lead you actually start with at 00:02:45. It would be a great introduction to what is coming up and you could add like a rolling snare behind it with some sweeps and a riser leading straight into your full swing pattern and lead appearing again.
Lead suggestion : A few notes were odd note signatures,might want to check that.

Man...this has a TON of potential and you are right there, I totally see where you are with it and where it can go. This can't be left undone. Please finish and post updates,very seriously want to see it's development

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Phil

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Originally posted by SystematicX1 Ok...going to be a little defined and critical because this track deserves it.

That's good. Really do appreciate you taking the time to do so. There's a couple things here and there I'd probably want to inquire further upon...but it might come across as defensive or what-have you, so I shall [try desperately] to refrain. (Though, I'd be up for further discussion in a PM, or something...if you'd entertain such a thing)

Again, big thanks...for listening and taking the time to write out your thoughts in detail. I quite like this tune, and it seems kinda unique to me. I really want to see it reach completion.

Despite what I said...I *am* rather curious about the low-end part...Shall be interesting to see if/how anyone else chimes in on this...

And, since this is also rather fun and interesting...for any 4 bar phrase, the kick only lands on the bass once...after it releases.

This is what the side-chain compressor looks like for about 8 measures / ~29 bars [should you pedantically count the kicks] (Sidechain is there...btw...). The little blips are just the high-pass delay echos off the bass.



A neat little syncopation trick...to avoid the typical pump-action side-chain. Also adds more swing by softening beat 2 kick, and accentuating beat 3 kick, which is what I want.

Last edited by theterran on Feb-16-2024 at 21:39

@ TT - galaxies.

my ears are fried from trying to mix a wall of sound but my take.

I can maybe hear what system wants, maybe a tucking a little more sub in there but honestly I think for this style of music I think a warmy midbass centric bass works, based on what I recall hearing in the past. I suppose u can try tucking in a sub and see how your kick bounces off it. I find lower toms sidechained also can give a sense of low end bounce. im not sure u even want bounce tho idk.


reminds me of some of tom cloud's 15 year old work for some reason, I know some of his basses go a tiny bit deeper than this one but not by much from what I can hear, he also uses more sidechain to get a pump drive going but again not sure if u want it or need it.

sounds good to me bro idk.

not really a track just another slab of sounds tried mixing together, trying to get the juices going. its clippin a bit, no limiter. mix might be poor idk.