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Is my Track too compressed or is my mixing off ?
I would appreciate it if someone could tell me whats wrong with my sound as both my tracks seems a little off ....almost too compressed or too muddy maybe from the reverb...if you got a minute could you throw me your thoughts ? ...thanks guys 
I only listened to the first track for now. Everything sounded fine until the kick came in. I think the kick is just too dull. Like it's had a lot of the top end EQ'd out of it and what's left is a flappy mush that you've had to turn up louder to compensate.
thanx for that....good to have second ears.
You have some exquisite sounds in there! Really good stuff but both tracks fall apart when it comes to the way the kick and percussion are mixed. On Blue Sunlight especially the kick is clashing a lot with the bass sounds. It's a bit better in Shimmering Fire but the volume levels aren't right and perhaps you need to try some different samples. That snare/clap sticks out a lot for example.
I would solo your kick and basslines. Get those sounding really good together, making good use of EQ and (sidechain) compression.
Then bring in your percussion over that and adjust your levels so they sit just right.
Those sounds together have to feel really solid as they are the backbone of your track.
I recommend using great reference tracks to get a feel for what correct levels.
Also make sure you filter out excess low end in sounds other than your basses and kick.
If you can fix these problems I think you'll have some pretty solid tunes
sidechain attack and release are wrong.
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| You have some exquisite sounds in there! Really good stuff but both tracks fall apart when it comes to the way the kick and percussion are mixed. On Blue Sunlight especially the kick is clashing a lot with the bass sounds. It's a bit better in Shimmering Fire but the volume levels aren't right and perhaps you need to try some different samples. That snare/clap sticks out a lot for example. I would solo your kick and basslines. Get those sounding really good together, making good use of EQ and (sidechain) compression. Then bring in your percussion over that and adjust your levels so they sit just right. Those sounds together have to feel really solid as they are the backbone of your track. I recommend using great reference tracks to get a feel for what correct levels. Also make sure you filter out excess low end in sounds other than your basses and kick. If you can fix these problems I think you'll have some pretty solid tunes |
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| Originally posted by nickfever +1 After you get your drums mixed, have you tried bussing them to one track, bringing it all the way down, then slowly bring up the volume of the drums until they fit in the mix? HTH, Nick |
i like the tracks really cool complex harmonies. I would try carving the kick drums eq a bit more....i mean get rid of some of that thud....because it's stealing all the sonic space....keep the 30-50 hz thud....but notch away everything above that....but keep some top end too...try sidechaining every element of your track, and more compression....more multiband compression on the master track....and at that stage....knock the mids.....400-500 hz range back a bit.......thhgat freq range is almost always muddy and unpleaasant
Do you compress both your drum buss, and your master buss? Usually 300-500hz is muddy as inversoundzzz said.
Do you have reverb on your kick? I often EQ out low end on reverbs.
Do you have a tool to measure your average RMS output?
I really like the tracks too!
I might go with less compression. Most people over compress (myself included). It's also harder to try and fix. You can always compress a track a little more if need be.
thanks for the replies...awesome feedback thank you....so i cleaned up the kick and bass and adjusted the sidechain timimg on the first track ....next ill do the the second....Uplifting Trance is definitely the hardest genre to get right I find...the excess reverb and delays really provide a challenge for mixing .....thanx again.
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| Originally posted by Seven Doxian thanks for the replies...awesome feedback thank you....so i cleaned up the kick and bass and adjusted the sidechain timimg on the first track ....next ill do the the second....Uplifting Trance is definitely the hardest genre to get right I find...the excess reverb and delays really provide a challenge for mixing .....thanx again. |
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| Originally posted by Seven Doxian thanks for the replies...awesome feedback thank you....so i cleaned up the kick and bass and adjusted the sidechain timimg on the first track ....next ill do the the second....Uplifting Trance is definitely the hardest genre to get right I find...the excess reverb and delays really provide a challenge for mixing .....thanx again. |
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| Originally posted by inversoundzzz definitely sounds better now, good work. |
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| Originally posted by PaULiN0 You can always make a buss channel send all your tracks to one delay. |
Yeah its all bunch of alchemian wizardry.
Nice track
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| Originally posted by kaboom75 Nice track |
I've still never sent any of my tracks for master.. but theoretically if I I got to a point when I couldn't do anything better to my track.. then I'd consider sending it.. I hear they put better tops on synths.. besides having your track sound consistent on any PA its played on..
The kick sounds totally separate from the track and far too dominant I think.
Sure the kick in EDM is prominent but should still be an integrated well mannered part of the whole piece and well balanced with the bass. Always hard work getting this critical part to work as I know only too well.
Maybe some folk like a really stand out kick like this though?
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| Originally posted by Richard Butler The kick sounds totally separate from the track and far too dominant I think. Sure the kick in EDM is prominent but should still be like a part of a well mannered part of the whole piece and well balanced with the bass. Always hard work getting this critical part to work as I know only too well. Maybe some folk like a really stand out kick like this though? |
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| Originally posted by Mr.Mystery It really is quite loud, and compared to that the bass is almost nonexistent. When the main part hits, the drive is completely gone because all you can hear is the beat and lead. |
for ya...
yeah the kick was a little too loud.... my ears became numb after going too long with the mixing....i think my kick sound a little less dominant here
thanks again for your help
Honestly if you aren't sure, stop compressing. If you want to fix your kick, compression isn't the way. Get a new kick.
Regarding your bass line, with higher bpm I would try and stick the simply kick bass kick bass. Example https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=El4T2YRQ4J4.
The best advice I could give you is find the sounds that sound how you want, make cuts on the low and high and to free up your mix (don't boost everything to try and make it better). Mix by getting the volume close, and simply go up by half a db until it sits right.
I just got to the magician, much better kick.
This is my best so far. I only link to it so you can decide if you think my mix is clean and maybe take a bit of my advice.
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/84769784/Driven.mp3
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| Originally posted by Seven Doxian yeah the kick was a little too loud.... my ears became numb after going too long with the mixing....i think my kick sound a little less dominant here thanks again for your help |
Also just relistened to Shimmering Fire. You've got some chops, dude/ette. (Maybe a better title though... 
)
Steve can you post your WIPs in the WIP thread along with the rest of us grubby mere mortals and maybe even consider returning some feedback to others, lol!
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