This was my first track ever produced on FL Studio 8. (It says Track1 on soundcloud)
The first version was a good attempt imo, but failed to deliver after listening back on it. So a re-edit was definitely in order. (I spent 3 months on the first production)
I then spent 3 more months going back...tearing out everything in the mixer, all of my automations and even some instruments that I really didn't like. Drumkit was fixed and some stuff was added. Wind and storm effects improved (I simply opened my windows on rainy days to listen :D) I also experimented with some split channel gating on the light synth in the middle, with seperate, subtle patterns on each, finally switching to mono on the hit.
I pray that the sub-bomb hits correctly on higher end systems, as all I have to work with is a 120W sub + Monitors and DT770 pro's when it gets late :).
I think the updated version tells the story I wanted to tell better, of a very windy and stormy night that opens up into something beautiful.
Comments/Criticism/Feedback welcome. I've only been producing for about 6 months so have at it :D.
(Oh and enjoy! :))
-Edited track below and now available for download (the 320 is superior) :D-
Nearly right away I noticed a big improvement from your first tune I heard here. Well done.
I love that lead at 1.40. It fits the mood perfectly. However, I do think the beats are too prominent at this stage. Personally, I'd like to hear increased emphasis and clarity on the lovely synths and atmosphere.
Great stuff melodically. Well done, man.
EddieZilker
Really like this one. Outstanding job on it, sir.
theterran
Thanks guys!
And yeah Owsey, I think you're 100% correct. I softened the drumkit about -0.5 to -1.0 db, tidied up the placement and it fell right into place. Cheers for the help m8. :)
tatsama
nice track mate,, the melody is nice..nice mood to it.good work.
tehlord
I think it's a great bit of work for the stated 6 months production experience. There are big holes in the mixing to my ears, but that's to be expected and not important at all at this stage.
What stood out for me was the skilled progression and structure of the track, which is arguably harder to learn that cold, hard, fact mixing technique.
Nice work indeed.
linkmage
Very potential creator here.
Write me your details via PM as I think I can help you go UP.
cryophonik
Wow, musically this is pretty awesome! The melody after the breakdown is very nice. Now, I do have a few issues with the track, but overall you did a great job on this from a musical standpoint, which to me is the biggest challenge (and the most important IMO). The mix sounds good, but I agree with some of the points already mentioned, so no sense in belaboring them.
The breakdown doesn't work for me. To me, it feels sorta like "I have no idea what to put here, but I guess trance tracks need a breakdown, so here's something..." I think the reason it feels that way to me is because the intro is so stellar that it set the bar pretty high and left me expecting/wanting something of that nature in the breakdown as well - it's full of nice little melodic bits that build nicely into the track and are detailed and nuanced, whereas the breakdown just sorta hangs there for a while, not really offering the release that you usually get from an uplifting trance track.
The second issue that I have with the track is that the arrangement seems unbalanced to me - I want to hear more of the meat of the track (i.e., the parts before the breakdown and the outro). It seems to me like, as soon as it gets going, it gets cut off by the breakdown and the end of the track. I think that's also part of the reason that I don't care for the breakdown - the hook doesn't build enough tension to warrant the breakdown. IDK, maybe it's just me.
I hope these are helpful and don't come across as too harsh. As I mentioned, this is a great track and if you hadn't mentioned how long you've been producing, I probably would have assumed a few years at least, based on the quality of the track!
theterran
@ tatsama : Thank you!
@ Tehlord : If there is an easy way for you to describe what the holes are, I'm all ears. As I've said, I'm still learning, and I don't mind trying out advice on a track. I can always simply not save if I don't like the outcome. I think the other thing is that I have not invested in a good set of Studio monitors, and I do not have a soundroom/studio. I have a set of Beyer DT770 pros...but my stereo + Sub are logitechs. I'll be saving for a set of Mackie Bi-amps and furnishing part of my basement into a studio...so that should help.
@ linkmage : What details would you like? I'm always welcome to help where I can get it :)
@ cryophonik : You're correct. I...really don't know how I would approach constructing a good breakdown in EDM. I tried a simple highpass/lowpass breakdown. And it was just that...simple. There was another comment on a different track where someone said that the breakdown was "meh" as well, so it's a weakness that I have to overcome. (My arranging/Sound effects/Transitioning are my self proclaimed weaknesses atm, where beats/harmonies/melodies/sound selection are stronger)
I try to listen to professional breakdowns from Tiesto, Deadmau5, Robert Miles etc to gather ideas...but I would feel bad simply copying...
Your post was not harsh at all btw.
Thank you alot for the feedback! And I'll be adding a seperate corrected drumkit levels at the very least. I'm also not after bumps, so if you'd like to respond, PM's are absolutely fine with me. (And I think soundcloud is having issues with 2 of them being uploaded...will sort it)
sako487
I love hearing early projects of people, sounds so weird. But this one is amazing dude, great melody, great uplifting feel. Percs COULD be worked on, but hey, its your first project
great work man
tehlord
quote:
Originally posted by theterran
@ Tehlord : If there is an easy way for you to describe what the holes are, I'm all ears. As I've said, I'm still learning, and I don't mind trying out advice on a track. I can always simply not save if I don't like the outcome. I think the other thing is that I have not invested in a good set of Studio monitors, and I do not have a soundroom/studio. I have a set of Beyer DT770 pros...but my stereo + Sub are logitechs. I'll be saving for a set of Mackie Bi-amps and furnishing part of my basement into a studio...so that should help.
I think you've probably hit the nail on the head here.
I'm really talking about the spread of frequencies in the track, which is very difficult to achieve without proper monitoring. At the moment it sounds like it's being played through a small hifi in a big room, and almost all of that is down to individual track EQ I feel.
It's still better than most of my stuff after 6 months practise though! ;)
You'll probably find your mixes will transform overnight with some proper monitoring. Mine did!
