Just thought I'd get some general advice from you guys in terms of my production style

Here's an unfinished track I've been working on:

http://soundcloud.com/kysora/story-3

I haven't done any mastering yet but the mixdown is probably the best I've done so far. I usually get a few negative comments about the actual production of my tracks, which I'm trying to fix. I figure mid-production would be the best time to try and do that, and I also figure this would be the best place to look for that advice.

Thanks, and sorry if these threads are getting to be an annoyance, but I'd appreciate the feedback.

Also, lol brick waveform

i've put some stuff on your cloud to give you tips.....


my advice is pick the right sounds to start with too much of the same sound will fight for the same space and sound awfull.

hope this helps you out.

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Thanks a ton for the advice so far, guys, I appreciate it

I will say first, its not bad at all.

I'm not really hearing the muddiness, its there but to me its barely noticeable (maybe I'm going def).

My problems with it aren't really mix related. (which is rare really)

Its more musical. You don't really have any sort of intro lead that builds anticipation. You have a bunch of pads, and a tiny little lead that cant barely be heard.

Even though I know thats your intro lead, it doesnt work as an intro lead. The melody imo just sucks. Switch the notes up and make the actual melody better, try to make it drive better with the track also.

And then yes RAISE the melody. I can't tell you how cause I don't know what you're already doing. But you def should have room to just up the gain, its sounds wayy to low. Remember it will actually sound worse unless you change the melody itself first.

And the bass is another issue I have.
Can you try dropping it completely 1 octave? Its not deep enough and its competing with other synths because of that. You can equalize it but I still think you should try dropping it entirely 1 octave. Then after that the rest would be mixing it right so theres proper tension/release happening.

The hats are nice, but they are also very standard, almost too standard. Try layering hats one by one, hi pass them, and play with the velocities.

Thats how I get most my percussions done. They're all standard 16th note hits that hit EVERY 16th note, yet the groove comes from the velocity changes. It creates a sort of artificial delay thats just might tigher sounding then actually using a delay imo.

When the velocity on one hat raises, drop another, play with different grooves and slowly layer being congruent to the orignal groove. Remember the first hat sets the groove, and every hat after must be somewhat "loyal" to the original groove, or you kill it completely.

Just for an idea on the percussions. Buts its really not bad at all imo. Pretty decent work compared to some other stuff I hear on these forums lol

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Sequencers: FL Studio 9XXL & Reason 3.
Main Synth Bass GTs - Pro-53, V-Station, Sytrus, Subtractor, Trilian, Blue, Sylenth & Z3ta.
Main Synth Lead/Pad GTs - Z3ta, Sytrus, Sylenth, Vangard, Albino & Nexus.
Main FXs GTs - Waves Plugins, Soundtoys, Volcano, FL Native FX.
Hardware - Truths, Echo Audiofire, Virus Snow, & Novation Xio Midi-Synth.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Robby Rox Even though I know thats your intro lead, it doesnt work as an intro lead. The melody imo just sucks. Switch the notes up and make the actual melody better, try to make it drive better with the track also.

The melody that "sucks", are you still talking about the intro lead or the one that comes in later?

I see what you mean about the intro pad, saying the main melody sucks is kind of harsh though, sorry you don't like it.

Thanks for the percussion advice, I haven't gotten too far into the track, usually I add more than the rudimentary percussion later on. Usually I like writing extra percussion to fit the song rather than the other way around, I should have mentioned that, but I'll keep that in mind.

quote:

Originally posted by Kysora The melody that "sucks", are you still talking about the intro lead or the one that comes in later? I see what you mean about the intro pad, saying the main melody sucks is kind of harsh though, sorry you don't like it. Thanks for the percussion advice, I haven't gotten too far into the track, usually I add more than the rudimentary percussion later on. Usually I like writing extra percussion to fit the song rather than the other way around, I should have mentioned that, but I'll keep that in mind.

No I'm sorry I should have explained the context in which I meant it.

When I say it "sucked" I mean in COMPARISON to the other elements in the track. The lead isn't doing the rest of the track justice, so thats what I mean by "sucking", it only sucks cause you did noticeably better on other parts.

Objectively speaking it doesnt suck by itself, but when you surround it with better sounds, it creates the illusion that it sucks. And even if it DID suck, I don't think thats harsh.

Do you not think you can make a better intro melody? You can always improve a melody, and because theres more room to improve THAT specific melody, rather then other elements/melodies, I just said it "sucked".

And honestly, I know you put time and emotions into the track like anyone, but its a good idea to be as critical as you can on your own work. Everytime I come here I have 1 thing almost about every sound in my track that I don't like. So when someone else says they dont like it, its expected. If I said your melody was awesome, or said it was "so so" you may not feel the need to change it.
If I say it "sucks", that means I'm pretty confident other people arent gonna like it either, the melody itself does sound rather unengaging, so "suck" was just the first word to come to my mind.

Dont be offended though

___________________
Sequencers: FL Studio 9XXL & Reason 3.
Main Synth Bass GTs - Pro-53, V-Station, Sytrus, Subtractor, Trilian, Blue, Sylenth & Z3ta.
Main Synth Lead/Pad GTs - Z3ta, Sytrus, Sylenth, Vangard, Albino & Nexus.
Main FXs GTs - Waves Plugins, Soundtoys, Volcano, FL Native FX.
Hardware - Truths, Echo Audiofire, Virus Snow, & Novation Xio Midi-Synth.

I'm not offended, I probably should have explained too, by "harsh" I meant saying a melody sucks with very little explanation why wasn't very helpful. Ironic that I failed to explain that, I understand though, thanks for the explanation.

The melody that comes in at 1:16 is okay though, yes? That only applies to the plucked rhythmic thing in the intro?

why does it sound all phased out and wishy washy?

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quote:

Originally posted by meriter Your primary focus should be making good music. That's all. No one gives a shit how you do it. And the people that do are fags.

Er, I don't know.. there's not a single phaser effect in the song and I have no clue what "wishy washy" applies to musically.

I think I took care of some of the muddiness with the advice you guys gave me, I'll see if I can change up the intro lead and make it more interesting until the main lead comes in.. I'll post a new sample tomorrow, hopefully I'm on the right track.

Well phasing doesnt only happen with applied phasers.

It can also happen when something is spread too wide in stereo.

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:::OUT NOW!:::
Garrido & Skehan ft. Erin - Waiting For You (Nightshift Remix)
Elvin Ong - Motion (Nightshift Remix)
Tidal Forces - Machine Blue (Nightshift Remix)

quote:

Originally posted by meriter Your primary focus should be making good music. That's all. No one gives a shit how you do it. And the people that do are fags.

Its workable, but whats with the BPM? Don't like the lead, its cheesy as. The pads bass and kick are good and workable, as is most of the percussion. I think you have one hat in there which is a bit too splashy. I'd try and tame down the percussion so its a bit clearer. it just sounds cluttered. More shakers, and other types of percussion, as it is it sounds a bit cliched. I think you need to find some sort of really interesting element to take it over the edge.

Oh also, sidechain and analogue.

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