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Opinions on a new track of mine - Opacity
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| kitphillips |
Hey can you guys give me some opinions on this track?
http://soundcloud.com/kit-phillips (its the one called opacity)
The mix is a bit unusual, I automated the reverb a lot on the main cello. So I don't know if its unusual or just plain bad. Would appreciate comments...
I didn't want to make a big epic trance track, more of a deep tech house track with some trancey elements, but I wonder if it sounds a bit too minimal? |
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| Eric J |
These are just my opinions, so take it with a grain of salt.
I don't like the bass sound. there is no bottom end. Its kind of blah, and leaves the track feeling like there is no foundation. I think it might sound good if it was layered with something a bit more full or deep, but it sounds too thin to be a bass, its more like a mid bass.
Snare is too bottom heavy. Something more snappy might sound good. Even pitching up the sample might do it. Definitely dont like the snare.
Drums don't have enough subtle movement to them, kind of bland and too straight forward. Sounds very quantized. There isn't enough groove or drive. I don't mean trance type drive, but that tech house type drive. Changing the bass pattern a bit might actually help with this, but I think the drums need more as well.
That bell-y type percussion just sounds out of place.
Is there reverb on the percussion? Sounds like it needs a bit of short verb to give space.
Cello sounds good, I like the melody.
I think if you worked on this a bit more, you might have something. iI dont think you need any more major parts, but some small elements might help. i think if you fixed the above mentioned parts, it might fill out the track a bit more. Its a good start. |
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| kitphillips |
Thats some good advice mate, thanks a lot:)
I do agree about the bass, I like the progression but not sure about its place in the mix. Would you replace it completely or just add something else underneath it to fatten it? I'd say that this is why its sounding a bit hollow to me...
I'll work on the verb on the percussion a bit more, what do you mean by subtle movement though? I sort of know what you mean, but not sure how to add it. I've already got a 16th swing set up to 45%, does it need more do you think?
Something strange is going on with that bell sound too. I'll check it out... |
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| Tarpex |
Kick & Bass sound like from some track in early 90's, which isn't necessarily good, kick needs to be punchier and bass more enveloping the low end.
Some sidechaining wouldn't hurt this track. I'm talking about pads especially.
Got nothing else to add to Eric J's post :) |
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| Subtle |
Ok, lets take out the lupe :thepirate
First thing i notice is the kick, it feels a bit flat. (although not hugely important to the track)
I dont like the sound of the bass, it seems to lack some warmth to it.
The cello string you have there is very nice.. i like the sound of it, the strings also are nice i think.
Im not pleased with the drums they seems to just be there without presenting much rhythm to the track.
Overall i like the cello and strings as mentioned, effects seems nice too, but bass and rhythm definitely needs more work. |
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| kitphillips |
Yeah, listening to the kick outside of my headphones does make me think it could use some work. For some reason I seem to be hopeless at percussion generally:(
Glad everyone likes the general idea though... |
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| Waza |
what everyone else is saying basically, where did you get the sound for the cello very nice.
Drop that snare at the break it just ruins it. |
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| Owsey2008 |
The kick sounds rather weak, drowned if you will. It could do with more snap. I like some of your perc hits, but the hat pattern sounds quite dry. Your snare should have more presence in the mix imo.
The cello is nice indeed. I like the overall melody of this track, but i'm not feeling enough synthwork throughout. You have quite a nice foundation. Don't let this one go to waste, keep working on it! |
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| Eric J |
| quote: | Originally posted by kitphillips
Thats some good advice mate, thanks a lot:)
I do agree about the bass, I like the progression but not sure about its place in the mix. Would you replace it completely or just add something else underneath it to fatten it? I'd say that this is why its sounding a bit hollow to me...
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You may want to investigate changing both the pattern and the patch. Sometimes a little subtle delay on the higher frequencies of the bass can help, but you'll need a delay plugin with a filter option (like Logic Tape Delay). If you are going to have a simple bass and simple drums, they have to sound really good.
| quote: | Originally posted by kitphillips
I'll work on the verb on the percussion a bit more, what do you mean by subtle movement though? I sort of know what you mean, but not sure how to add it. I've already got a 16th swing set up to 45%, does it need more do you think?
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Swing may not be the answer. I think you need more supporting tracks for your drums. If you listen to a lot of tech house there are a few drum parts that are in the forefront, but a lot of subtle groove going on in the background. A track may sound like it only has a kick, one hat and a snare, but in reality there are 4 or 5 other tracks in the background providing support, usually tambourines, shakers or other percussion or sequence elements.
Another tip is with these elements, it can help to vary the velocities and sometimes use subtle delays to give the lines a little groove. Everything needs to fit together properly with the bass, in order to have a good foundation. |
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| kitphillips |
| Yeah ok I'll look into getting some quieter percussion in the background maybe... |
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| kitphillips |
| quote: | Originally posted by Owsey2008
The kick sounds rather weak, drowned if you will. It could do with more snap. I like some of your perc hits, but the hat pattern sounds quite dry. Your snare should have more presence in the mix imo.
The cello is nice indeed. I like the overall melody of this track, but i'm not feeling enough synthwork throughout. You have quite a nice foundation. Don't let this one go to waste, keep working on it! |
its from kontakt actually...
So I made some of the changes people suggested. Changed the snare and kick, made them both more snappy/cutting. Also added some more background percussion and changed the bass to make it a bit funkier.
Sound any better now?
http://www.sendspace.com/file/fry739
(Sorry, was trying to use soundclick, but its been broken for me for 2 days now, can't be stuffed with it any more.) |
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| Richard Butler |
Firstly your mix is nice n clear so well done as that's a very important area.
The bass is very basic, and would'nt hold it's own at all against professional stuff. I could go on for a hundred pages on this, but really you need to propely listen to professional tracks and unpick whats going on to give you some tips. This is probably the hardest thing to learn - listening properly to what professionals do.
The orchestral pics are very dry and uninteresting.
The drums and percs are like I was making nwhen I started out, so I think I know where you're at. Essentially you ned to go thru a big learning curve - drums need way more imagination and treatment - the sounds your'e using are like basic presets from 1988. Ittook me years to realise this, and I'm still not there.
So good effort, but a long long way to go yet.
My number one tip would be this;
Learn to make the perfect drums vefore doing anything else, then learn how to do bass. IF SOMEONE TOLD ME THIS YEARS AGO IT WOULD HAVE SAVED ME TONS OF TIME.
The worst thing you can do is try and make entire tracks, until you really pin down the basics.
Hope that's ok mate. |
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