Hi guys!

I'm giving a free track I made in 2008, september.
It has an old school feel, lots of saws and arps.
If you like this genre, check the link below:

Track name: Anthony_Aquino_-_Lost_universe
Genre: uplifting

Link:
[[ LINK REMOVED ]]


Any feedback is welcome.

Cheers!

Anthony Aquino.

___________________
Soundcloud: Anthony Aquino
Twitter

Alright - just a word of warning: I'm not too cheery about this tune. If I didn't think you could use the critique and if I absolutely hated the idea of the song, I wouldn't even bother critiquing it.

To be honest - It's not quite a song, yet. It's a loop which sounds like some parts have been muted/un-muted (lather, rinse, repeat) and their volumes/filters adjusted to give it a sense of motion, but it's not a song. There are a TON of ideas you have that ought to be expanded on. There are some conceptions about music production that I think you would do well to abandon, out-right.

It's a foundation for a decent track but the beginning just goes on too long without either depth or the right kinds of variation. You have some good ideas about making subtle changes throughout the track, but the changes aren't sweeping enough and the over-all repetition isn't very satisfying.

I like the break, with dropping all but one of the parts and the subsequent switch-up between two of them, but after the beginning, once the track restarts, it just sounds like more of the same, slightly louder with a more complex arpeggio tacked on. The snare attack build is a cliche'.

I don't particularly like that low-pitched hi-hat that's occurring with the snare and the timing on it is irritatingly out-of-sync.

The mix has almost no depth to it - it's just there - very flat and didn't make a lot of use of sonic space.

I like the ideas you have for layering, but don't like how they're mostly static, throughout the song.

You're right. It sounds very old-school. Very, very old-school.

There is a lot of potential, for this song, but about 90% of it is yet to be realized.

What it says about you, as a producer, is that you're at a turning point where you need to up your game if you want to achieve anything beyond a simple 8 bar pattern. You've demonstrated technical ability with rhythm, melody, and layering, but it's time to push past that to the next level and create something more than a musical loop.

quote:

Originally posted by EddieZilker Alright - just a word of warning: I'm not too cheery about this tune. If I didn't think you could use the critique and if I absolutely hated the idea of the song, I wouldn't even bother critiquing it. To be honest - It's not quite a song, yet. It's a loop which sounds like some parts have been muted/un-muted (lather, rinse, repeat) and their volumes/filters adjusted to give it a sense of motion, but it's not a song. There are a TON of ideas you have that ought to be expanded on. There are some conceptions about music production that I think you would do well to abandon, out-right. It's a foundation for a decent track but the beginning just goes on too long without either depth or the right kinds of variation. You have some good ideas about making subtle changes throughout the track, but the changes aren't sweeping enough and the over-all repetition isn't very satisfying. I like the break, with dropping all but one of the parts and the subsequent switch-up between two of them, but after the beginning, once the track restarts, it just sounds like more of the same, slightly louder with a more complex arpeggio tacked on. The snare attack build is a cliche'. I don't particularly like that low-pitched hi-hat that's occurring with the snare and the timing on it is irritatingly out-of-sync. The mix has almost no depth to it - it's just there - very flat and didn't make a lot of use of sonic space. I like the ideas you have for layering, but don't like how they're mostly static, throughout the song. You're right. It sounds very old-school. Very, very old-school. There is a lot of potential, for this song, but about 90% of it is yet to be realized. What it says about you, as a producer, is that you're at a turning point where you need to up your game if you want to achieve anything beyond a simple 8 bar pattern. You've demonstrated technical ability with rhythm, melody, and layering, but it's time to push past that to the next level and create something more than a musical loop.

Man, that is one of the deepest feedbacks I ever had!! Thanks a lot!

After reading it, I feel like somebody discovered all my secrets...


I will always remember this post. I just can't promise you that I will produce a hit in my next tracks, but I will try follow your ideas, seems like you are very picky with music, and thats is great, I do too, but I'm yet learning more about production to make "great things" happen in my music, this is the reason I like feedbacks like yours.

In trance music most of the transitions between elements are made with filtering in/out and sweeps, so I stick more with these, but I'm searching others ideas for transitions between elements, and I'm a bit stuck there, without ideas...
If you have artists recommendations about this, it would be interesting.

(I checked your blog and I will soon get your album, I got the free tracks available too, Delay of the chime is excellent, Adrenochrome is very good, I dont have much musical experience in this genre but I really liked it.)

My sincere thanks,
Anthony.

___________________
Soundcloud: Anthony Aquino
Twitter

quote:

Originally posted by PlasticSoul Man, that is one of the deepest feedbacks I ever had!! Thanks a lot! After reading it, I feel like somebody discovered all my secrets... I will always remember this post. I just can't promise you that I will produce a hit in my next tracks, but I will try follow your ideas, seems like you are very picky with music, and thats is great, I do too, but I'm yet learning more about production to make "great things" happen in my music, this is the reason I like feedbacks like yours. In trance music most of the transitions between elements are made with filtering in/out and sweeps, so I stick more with these, but I'm searching others ideas for transitions between elements, and I'm a bit stuck there, without ideas... If you have artists recommendations about this, it would be interesting. (I checked your blog and I will soon get your album, I got the free tracks available too, Delay of the chime is excellent, Adrenochrome is very good, I dont have much musical experience in this genre but I really liked it.) My sincere thanks, Anthony.

Sweet! You took it like I'd hoped you would. The truth is that I would not know those secrets, had I not been there, myself. The bottom line is that you're one of those people I would warn others not to underestimate.

As picky as I am, I'm still learning, too. Don't give that up.

The list is on my blog - artists I would check out - and that list needs desperate updating. If you scroll down the blog, you'll see the list of influences. Not all of them are trance/EDM artists. Matt Darey, Paul Van Dyke, BT, Orbital, The Orb, Paul Oakenfold, and Art of Trance are some of the artists that I would suggest listening to in order to get a better understanding of the style you're trying to gain mastery on. The bottom line is that you should expand your search past the EDM genre and listen to as much music as you can - but I suspect you already knew that.

Those on my list are just the artists who've made it. A lot of the producers, who post on this board, deserve your attention. They have mine.