Sup guys.

I really would love some feedback on this considering the amount of work I've put in it so far. (I'm not gonna say =()

I've pretty much gone through it with a fine toothed comb back and forth between speakers and headphones to try and work out the mixing issues. I still think the 2nd main synth comes out a bit too much, but I can adjust the cutoff down just a skosh. (Thanks to Eddie for recommending the frequency analyzer <3)

It lacks a melody among a few other things,(like being finished) and one hasn't come to me yet...In truth I'm patiently waiting on a favor from a friend for some professional vocals and decided to hold off making anymore decisions until I either got them or was forced put in a melody of my own...(Probably a piano melody or something)

...Dare I ask...do you guys think this track's even worth putting vocals on?

I also mixed in a way to make the best of what's already there, meaning I wouldn't slap vocals right down on top of this without remixing / ducking.

Anyhoo...I've left the 320 kbps version up for download.

http://soundcloud.com/theterranastronaut/track2

Track2 by TheTerranAstronaut

Last edited by theterran on Apr-12-2010 at 07:09

I really like the break down and how you build it back up after that.

Not too sure about adding vocals to it...

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To me this sounds flat.Cant hear much Reverb or other things that might bring out the elements of the tune.Reading you post, I feel that you are concentrating on to much technical stuff.Rather than if it sounds good.

Musically it sounds fine , no vocals are needed at all.

I suspect that if you forget worrying how it looks on analysers and what not and let your ears do the work, it could work out better.

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Bring on my soundcloud ya!

I like the musical ideas in this track a lot and I agree that it could do without vocals, although I typically prefer songs with vox so I'd love to hear what you come up with. I agree with the earlier comment about the mix sounding a little flat - cleaning up some of the low mids and bringing out some of the upper-mids/lower-highs could give it a little more presence and air. The ending felt a little abrupt to me as well, but maybe just because I wasn't expecting it. Overall a very cool track - nice work!

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I'm not sure why it sounds flat. It's pretty bumpin' on all of the systems I've played it on. (I've got some dj/club access now)

-Edit- I only see 1 download..Try downloading the track and listening again man. Soundcloud does a nice job of trashing the sound,. Seriously, download it and listen to it as an .mp3 and those meds-highs shouldn't be as messed up.

The song is not done, i just ended it in a nice spot for now, and plan on coming back. I think if there aren't vocals i'll toss in a vox/piano. That freq. analyzer did do a nice job of cleaning alot of stuff up. (I'm an engineer, so I love the technical stuff) Gonna take a step back, and attack it again with some fresh ears, it used to be only a 30 second blurb .

Thanks for the feedback, keep it comin'.

Last edited by theterran on Apr-03-2010 at 22:58

It definitely did sound flat after hearing it with fresh ears again. I've started work on remixing some bits here and there, and trying to go about a piano/vox melody combo. Should turn out well...

In the mean time...I accidentally this whole track from the hours of midnight to 4 A.M. 2 nights in a row. It's unmastered, but I'm quite happy with the mix. (It hits -1 dB at one point, but I'm not too bothered so long as it stays below 0)

Have a listen if you've got the time ^^. Feedback is also very welcome. (And thanks to Eddie for the seekrit feedback <3)

Stageline by TheTerranAstronaut

Last edited by theterran on Apr-08-2010 at 11:12

Listening to Track2.

I'd also agree that the mix sounds slightly muddy, as though you were mixing on hifi equipment. The frequncies that are there are well balance bit it lacks a bit of clarity in the bottom end and the crisp top end seems absent altogether.

Saying that the arps and synth lines are fantastic. I'm a complete sucker for that kind of sound (no shit I here some of you cry!) and you've done it very well. I think a little reverb tweaking could take this up to the next level a bit too, although if you're not hearing the top end properly it's not worth playing with.

Nice bubbly track


edit - nevermind. The download version IS much clearer. I've never seen a track get so trashed by Soundcloud!

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I don't know if you can place a vocal anywhere in this song. It's not needed anyways. on track 1. too hands in the air for my taste.

track 2:

I think white noise filter sweeps and/or snare rolls to carry onto the next phrase will help this song out. I feel empty when the song transitions from one phrase to the next. Good synth leads--too bubbly for my taste but fit the song perfectly. I'm not liking the timbre in the percussions in the song--but that's just me.

quote:

Originally posted by -FSP- I don't know if you can place a vocal anywhere in this song. It's not needed anyways. on track 1. too hands in the air for my taste. track 2: I think white noise filter sweeps and/or snare rolls to carry onto the next phrase will help this song out. I feel empty when the song transitions from one phrase to the next. Good synth leads--too bubbly for my taste but fit the song perfectly. I'm not liking the timbre in the percussions in the song--but that's just me.

lol'd. I just now realized that I'm going to have to come up with a name for "Track2" otherwise I'm going to be confused as hell.

Cheers for the feedback, I'll give it a look. I think the rest of the mix for Stageline will be cleaned up with a good master, so I'll probably not be messing with it too much.

Could you give times where these transitions are located if you wouldn't mind? I actually tried to employ a few different cue/transition techniques for the track as a whole, so what you're thinking of may interfere what I already have in place. (Some are subtractive, some are additive with hats, the middle part is a full on build)

I was very light on builds and transition work, as it's not my forte, and I'm still a huge fan of subtlety.

quote:

Originally posted by theterran lol'd. I just now realized that I'm going to have to come up with a name for "Track2" otherwise I'm going to be confused as hell. Cheers for the feedback, I'll give it a look. I think the rest of the mix for Stageline will be cleaned up with a good master, so I'll probably not be messing with it too much. Could you give times where these transitions are located if you wouldn't mind? I actually tried to employ a few different cue/transition techniques for the track as a whole, so what you're thinking of may interfere what I already have in place. (Some are subtractive, some are additive with hats, the middle part is a full on build) I was very light on builds and transition work, as it's not my forte, and I'm still a huge fan of subtlety.

you are right. after a second listen, a snare roll or noise filter sweep might be too rough sounding for the song.

but i do think that the song will benefit from a crash cymbal every now and then.

Hmm, nothing is really grabbing my attention here. The sounds are very basic and played out.

Some of the transitions are quite abrupt, like the one at 1.37. Filter the drums and bass out so it runs smoothing.

At 2.20, when the whole thing filters, it sound quite out of place . The idea itself is pretty cool, but I just don't think it works in this case.

Perhaps try adding some pad to fill the background! There is one synth that I quite like and it would sound a lot better with some reinforcements.

quote:

Originally posted by Owsey2008 Hmm, nothing is really grabbing my attention here. The sounds are very basic and played out. Some of the transitions are quite abrupt, like the one at 1.37. Filter the drums and bass out so it runs smoothing. At 2.20, when the whole thing filters, it sound quite out of place . The idea itself is pretty cool, but I just don't think it works in this case. Perhaps try adding some pad to fill the background! There is one synth that I quite like and it would sound a lot better with some reinforcements.

kewl thanks for the advice. I'm ADD and know others that dig the quirky rough transitions that keep it interesting. It's just part of my style I'll have to refine, but it stays.

The filter is there on purpose, and sometimes things don't really have to sound in place, especially with effects like that. However, now that I'm learning to DJ, I'm going to automate in a fashion similar to that of turning a knob, rather than complete on/off. or maybe mix it up. I also use the Filter in the beginning and end to link it. (I can't remember which version this is, but the mastered one filters in, filters randomly, and filters out)

Yes the sounds are a little basic, but it has to be to make use of mixing all of the sounds together into 1 big interesting sound. Listen to alot of other tunes and you'll hear the same thing. Alot of my trance buddies also say there's a catchy-ness factor, and they can't help but sing the tune after the song is done. I didn't really have standing out as my number 1 priority as well. I'm not trying to sell to record labels, just learnin' to make tunes. Once I buy Cubase 5, learn it and set everything up, I'll work towards the "wow factor".

I think a pad might be too much as well. Instead I might mess with the high stabby sound and smooth it out for the chillout sections to provide that angelic overtoneness.