So im working on this new track, it doesnt sound too pleasing at the moment, but im not sure where the problem area is.

So if you could kindly test this on your system and tell me how it sounds, and where improvement should be made that would be great.

The vocals are a bit off, but the rest should be pretty much on.

Here is the link for the sample.

http://www.subtleinc.net/computer_technology.mp3

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Why doesnt it sound pleasing to you?

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Sounds to me like the highs could be mixed louder. Doesn't have all that much "sizzle" to my ears. Otherwise sounds nice, though.

OK, I'm listening to it on Focal Twin 6's in a treated room.

Overall its sounds OK, but here are my comments:

That kick drum is really treble-y, lots of click and sounds too loud on my system. The whole track is very tipped toward the low end, making it sound a bit out of balance. I dont think that is sounds uncontrolled necessarily, but the bass and kick are overpowering everything. I agree with JBJ that it sounds like it needs more high, more "sizzle" as he put it. This may help mitigate the overall frequency imbalance somewhat, but I still think the kick and bass need to be turned down.

The speech gets buried when the saw pad is playing at the beginning, you may want to boost a bit on that speech or cut the saw pad in order to get the speech to stick out a bit more. I can hear someone speaking but its unintelligible. Its a male voice, so low-cutting it may help. The saw pad could stand some more EQ to tame it a bit as saw pads tend to take over everything if not properly treated.

quote:

Originally posted by evo8 Why doesnt it sound pleasing to you?

Im in the finishing stages but something tells me its not there yet.

quote:

Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles Sounds to me like the highs could be mixed louder. Doesn't have all that much "sizzle" to my ears. Otherwise sounds nice, though.

Thanks, will look into that.

quote:

Originally posted by Eric J OK, I'm listening to it on Focal Twin 6's in a treated room. Overall its sounds OK, but here are my comments: That kick drum is really treble-y, lots of click and sounds too loud on my system. The whole track is very tipped toward the low end, making it sound a bit out of balance. I dont think that is sounds uncontrolled necessarily, but the bass and kick are overpowering everything. I agree with JBJ that it sounds like it needs more high, more "sizzle" as he put it. This may help mitigate the overall frequency imbalance somewhat, but I still think the kick and bass need to be turned down. The speech gets buried when the saw pad is playing at the beginning, you may want to boost a bit on that speech or cut the saw pad in order to get the speech to stick out a bit more. I can hear someone speaking but its unintelligible. Its a male voice, so low-cutting it may help. The saw pad could stand some more EQ to tame it a bit as saw pads tend to take over everything if not properly treated.

I will work on what you suggest here, that saw thing together with the kick is taking a lot of space for sure, thanks.

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I listened on AKG K240mkIIs, and my opinion pretty much matches the consensus. :P

Try killing all the levels then bringing them in, ending on the elements you want to be most prevalent, or the elements you want sitting on top of the mix.
For example, I start with the kick, then bring in percussion, then bass, then not-bass synths.

Hopefully that makes sense

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Hmmmmmm....I actually disagree with some of the observations here.

I would say definitely do not make the highs louder until you have thinned them out.

The mix is sounding a little muddy at the moment. You percs are conflicting with what is either a speech sample or a laser type sound in the higher frequencies...that is the problem really, there is almost a white noise there, it is difficult to determine what is going on. I would pull all the faders down, make the kick and the bass the loudest elements, maybe sidechain the bass with the kick (not so that you can hear it pump, but just to give room for the kick to come through) and start again. Remove everything on that saw pad below about 200hz or so, in fact, do that on everything (but listen to it first!!) except the kick and bass.

I think the problem is nearer the upper-mid to top end - too much going on there.

Definitely do not make the top end louder IMO.

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quote:

Originally posted by ReclusNdangrmnt I listened on AKG K240mkIIs, and my opinion pretty much matches the consensus. :P Try killing all the levels then bringing them in, ending on the elements you want to be most prevalent, or the elements you want sitting on top of the mix. For example, I start with the kick, then bring in percussion, then bass, then not-bass synths. Hopefully that makes sense

Yeah this works

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Originally posted by Avatar One Remove everything on that saw pad below about 200hz or so, in fact, do that on everything (but listen to it first!!) except the kick and bass.

This was exactly it, the phat bassy saw mid bass thing, i rolled a little more at exactly 200 hz and the whole mix is sounding a lot better now. Just a tiny roll off made all the difference.

Problem solved, thanks for the input.

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took a listen

highs sound good on my system
The kick doesn't sound over-compressed given the track style.

It sounds great.

as always it sounds good to me, but the synths are drowning a bit. id raise the level on some of the pads and synths and also give them some more highs maybe. or you could lower your drums abit, all of them, leaving some space in there.

quote:

Originally posted by Subtle Im in the finishing stages but something tells me its not there yet.

I thought it sounded pretty good really, wouldnt change too much about it but it seems youve found some stuff now anyway

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yeah to be fair the mixdown was ok a tad muddy,it sounds like you started at the botttom so im gussin thats why you filled out the lower part of the mix.

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