I just listened to snippets of each song and I can already tell you Track 2 has the best groove. I haven't voted yet, and I will probably listen to them more thoroughly.

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quote:

Originally posted by dj_alfi change your avatar for fucks sake.

rather cool how he brings a slight electro edge with the vocals combined with the rolling oldschool cosmic gate bass-line. Really surprised by some the talent. I just wished more than one person chose something else than option A but atleast this makes it more competitive.

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Got my vote - #1 is the perfect arrangement, tone, melody and sound selection - simply the best for my taste.

Cheers.

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1. Sounds well engineered. The general energy is pretty bland. There's actually a nice little groove going on at the end, but it didn't poke its nose early enough.

2. Best groove out of all of them. Disappointing finish. The vocal bit carries a lot of the groove, and when it wasn't there when the last main part dropped it was disappointing. I liked the intro. The tune felt kind of short, but I see that as a good thing.

3. Sampled vocal from another track at the beginning?

4. There's this off note that throws off the whole groove.I am not enthralled by the uber break. OMG WTF the timing is all off during the break. I assumed it was going to lock in for an artistic effect, but no....

5. Not bad. Sounds like Bond meets progressive house. The problem with straddling with dance vs non-dance music is that it doesn't really excel at one or the other, plus it sounds cliched. When I heard those strings, it sounded pleasant. But it weakens the groove.

6. Sounds really cliched and average.

Track 2 is still the best. It doesn't have the best engineering, that would go to track 1. But, what it lacks in engineering it makes up for in groove.

TRACK 2 GETS MY VOTE

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quote:

Originally posted by dj_alfi change your avatar for fucks sake.

Honestly the all sound pretty bland (flat) to me. All tracks have a particular sound to them in a way that nothing stands out in the mix. I kind of knew that would happen.

1. Try to make the hats a bit less apparent and perhaps put some more middle and low end percussion in there. It's all kicks, synths and hiss now. After the 3 min mark the change is refreshing and after that less hats too making it sound a bit more well defined in terms of the layers used. Overall enjoyable.

2. Interesting intro, especially due to the dynamics. I'm not sure these are introducted by you or mister Brad. As the beat kicks in the drive is apparent and me likes. Sound design wise your mix seems to be more balanced than the others. Some elements pop out and it sounds layered and pretty well defined. You actually left some space between certain elements making it stand out from the bunch. It could use a bit more of high end sounds though as a finishing touch.

3. I like the start. Really dry and oldschool progressive feel to it. Makes me feel like it's 2000 all over again. Unfortunately the elements added later on don't really sparkle, kind of the same thing as track #1 really. Everything is pretty balanced but nothing really stands out or cuts through the mix making it pretty bland. In the end the track is just too long to keep me focused on it.

4. Are you kidding me? 10 minutes and just 90 seconds of a break. Absolutely crushed by limiting? Strange rythmic patterns. I'm sorry but I seem incapable of enjoying this. The intro is fairly rough (sound-wise) and could almost go through as the older type of hardstyle. Then the pads come in which is ok. It sometimes feels off though. Then we enter the break which is ok. After that.... The buildup takes too long and the synth feels way off the beat. No good.

5. Interesting start. Weak kick, try to make it punch through the mix more. I like how you've been playing with the elements in your mix. It feels a bit too crowded and bland for me but groovy and techy as well which is a plus. Nice variations going on. It would be nice if you left more space in the mix for certain elements so things would stand out and your break would have a similar amplitude to the rest of the song. I like the groovy/atmospheric/orchestral/epic thing you want for.

6. Feels like this is a bit lower in volume than the others. Starts like a typical ASOT track but not entirely up to par. Again more space for several elements would have been nice so they can punch through the mix and make it sound layered instead of a merged layer of sound. The break is way too long for me. After the break it just rolls along.

Technically I think #2 stands out. Most balanced mix by far
Creatively I'd say #5, the part after the break is awesome with it's orchestral feel.
The track that in general is most up my alley would be #1 though.

Not an easy job this. Good luck.

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If less is more think about how much more more would be. -Frasier

i would choose between 2 and 5(honorable mention to 1), ill give these all a proper listen soon. they're all near the same level i'd say(except for 4, which was very harsh), just giving my opinion. i really like the intro of 5, but after 4minutes in, i get lost in the mix. 6 isnt bad to my ears, i really like the chord progression you supplied for this contest, nice one. good luck to the mystery producers.

Last edited by MSZ on Nov-09-2010 at 07:57

Hmm... some talent behind some of these.

To be honest I think they're all a bit generic, but 2 sounds pretty cool. Its sort of half way between Super8 and Tab - 5 and perasma - Swing to Harmony (did I just date myself??). Its a little bit derivative, but not neccesarily in a bad way.

1 and 6 were both a bit generic but proficient. Not much to say on them.

Number 3, and 4 were just a bit annoying I thought. Didn't like them at all, especially 4, which just sounded really unpolished. 3 had some potential, but I don't think it was capitalised on, too many different sounds, many of which were just annoying, and too many canned effects.

5 sounded a bit like a hybrid track. Definately liked the way the original theme was messed around with here, although I wasn't a huge fan of the bass pattern in the beginning. Also, the mix is slightly out. Still some pretty amazing work though, I'm jealous of this guy's talents. This one and 2 were both really good.

Its amazing how well integrated the theme is in some of these tracks anyway. To be honest I really think a few of them deserve a release. Especially 2 and 5. 1 and 6 were of a good standard, but were just a touch generic perhaps.

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mine is 4, and now i realise how weak is it compared to the rest, the problem is i tryed to master it myself without having any idea and sounds over compressed, over limited and sound wise is the worst by far. I was about not to sending it because of this, is too loud and hurts badly, don't like the build up myself...

I guess i will remove the master and fix some things, but why do you think breakdown is off? I think the reverb i added at the end killed all the bassline and percussions but breakdown is the best part imo, possibly the only part worthy of the track although i like the first minutes.

Gotta change some things for the future, soon i will present here a better version, i think the sound is crowded still, there are so many layers at the same time but the final mixdown without master sounds better imo, just thought everybody would present a mastered version, but looking at the soundwave is clear that everything is over compressed.

Ironically i'm happy you told the track is crap, i suspected it but now i know :P

awesome contest brad, some great talent here <3

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quote:

Originally posted by Rodri Santos mine is 4, and now i realise how weak is it compared to the rest, the problem is i tryed to master it myself without having any idea and sounds over compressed, over limited and sound wise is the worst by far. I was about not to sending it because of this, is too loud and hurts badly, don't like the build up myself... I guess i will remove the master and fix some things, but why do you think breakdown is off? I think the reverb i added at the end killed all the bassline and percussions but breakdown is the best part imo, possibly the only part worthy of the track although i like the first minutes. Gotta change some things for the future, soon i will present here a better version, i think the sound is crowded still, there are so many layers at the same time but the final mixdown without master sounds better imo, just thought everybody would present a mastered version, but looking at the soundwave is clear that everything is over compressed. Ironically i'm happy you told the track is crap, i suspected it but now i know :P

mastering is the least of your worries.