This is my first personal track, that is completed. I can't say whether it's trance or what, it seems genreless to me for it's genre-defining problems.
Can someone give feedbak, please? Would be greatly appriciated :)
rapt0r
bump?
EddieZilker
This is actually quite good. My advice is not to worry about the genre although I'm not very good with being able to define the genre of my own music. Maybe someone has some insight I'm not considering but I'm not quite sure it matters.
rapt0r
quote:
Originally posted by EddieZilker
This is actually quite good. My advice is not to worry about the genre although I'm not very good with being able to define the genre of my own music. Maybe someone has some insight I'm not considering but I'm not quite sure it matters.
Thanks for your reply! Is there anything that seems wrong in track? Like some instruments would requre Tighter EQ, compression, right leveling (for example, pikes), better stereo image (everything seems too split to me, like bases on right, highs on left.)? These are doubts i have about my track. Well, "Track seems not interesting enough" one i didn't mention, but this comes naturally, when you put track side for a while.
EddieZilker
quote:
Originally posted by rapt0r
Thanks for your reply! Is there anything that seems wrong in track? Like some instruments would requre Tighter EQ, compression, right leveling (for example, pikes), better stereo image (everything seems too split to me, like bases on right, highs on left.)? These are doubts i have about my track. Well, "Track seems not interesting enough" one i didn't mention, but this comes naturally, when you put track side for a while.
Honestly, sounds great to me but I'm not really blasting it, either. Everything seems to have a place. Everything is clear. Any adjustments you make, now (from my perspective), are only going to refine the aesthetic you're going for rather than correct for any glaring flaw. I actually really like the stereo image. At first, it seems imbalanced towards the left but that fosters a creative tension that's relieved when you have complimentary elements coming in on the right.
Hopefully, you'll get some other replies and maybe someone with better ears can give you some ideas but I'd listen to anyone (their soundcloud) who gives you advice, as far as corrections, before you make any adjustments. It might help you gain some perspective by listening to some of the other contributions, here, too.
Anakratis
This production really reminds me of something Evol Waves would do. The idea and near-miss execution is splendid, but you do have some elements to work on here. For one, the entry is quite bland and could use more textures or background effects along with that soft bass playing. Also the timing of the percs in the intro seem slightly off-timing to me. Not sure what it is, either swing or something else, but the timing on one of the hits is just barely barely delayed. Next up, the crash going into the tune at 0:29 is too loud and ear-piercing. Actually, I flinched and took off my headphones first time I heard it. As Eddie had stated, the imaging is quite odd. I'd like to say I like the way things are pushed towards the left, but I'm not a fan of it. Try working on the pan. I'm also not hearing any deep bass whatsoever. At first I thought it was just my open AKG cans, and swapped for my overly-bassy in-ear headphones, but to no avail. This track REALLY REALLY needs a bass. Something like a classic Deadmau5 "sidechained-1/8-deep-bass-pluck" would be absolutely perfect!
Now, on to the positives. The groove is simply outstanding. I don't think I've heard this good of a bouncy groove and construction of tension for a long while. Beautiful. At first, I was going to say that some of your synth sound selections are a little weird, but then the progression began to open up, which was when I realized that they fit perfectly to the style of the tune. It's something I would play on Halloween, or a scary fantasy scene, and the title of track, "Wicked Beautiful Fantasies", says it all. Awesome choice of sounds there. The sequencing work is fantastic as well. Everything is there where it should be, and where it is expected.
Overall, you got yourself a splendid production. Just a few things to work on, including that damn bass, and you've hit the gold.
EDIT:
If this is your first production, I'm quite stunned. Very very nice work.
rapt0r
quote:
Originally posted by Anakratis
This production really reminds me of something Evol Waves would do. The idea and near-miss execution is splendid, but you do have some elements to work on here. For one, the entry is quite bland and could use more textures or background effects along with that soft bass playing. Also the timing of the percs in the intro seem slightly off-timing to me. Not sure what it is, either swing or something else, but the timing on one of the hits is just barely barely delayed. Next up, the crash going into the tune at 0:29 is too loud and ear-piercing. Actually, I flinched and took off my headphones first time I heard it. As Eddie had stated, the imaging is quite odd. I'd like to say I like the way things are pushed towards the left, but I'm not a fan of it. Try working on the pan. I'm also not hearing any deep bass whatsoever. At first I thought it was just my open AKG cans, and swapped for my overly-bassy in-ear headphones, but to no avail. This track REALLY REALLY needs a bass. Something like a classic Deadmau5 "sidechained-1/8-deep-bass-pluck" would be absolutely perfect!
Now, on to the positives. The groove is simply outstanding. I don't think I've heard this good of a bouncy groove and construction of tension for a long while. Beautiful. At first, I was going to say that some of your synth sound selections are a little weird, but then the progression began to open up, which was when I realized that they fit perfectly to the style of the tune. It's something I would play on Halloween, or a scary fantasy scene, and the title of track, "Wicked Beautiful Fantasies", says it all. Awesome choice of sounds there. The sequencing work is fantastic as well. Everything is there where it should be, and where it is expected.
Overall, you got yourself a splendid production. Just a few things to work on, including that damn bass, and you've hit the gold.
EDIT:
If this is your first production, I'm quite stunned. Very very nice work.
Thanks for the reply, much appriciated!
First of all, sorry for lame english, if it appears.
About intro - yes, I was wondering if anyone would mention it. It seems off to me since it doesn't give a slightest clue about character of the track.
About Offtimed percs - yes, thanks, noticed it. I remember that in early stages I just pushed them of time a little bit instead of EQing because there were other instruments that used that freqiencies exacly in the same time (which are not in end mix)
About imaging - yes, it seems odd to me too, but I had an idea with it. When i was mixing it, I remember asking myself "what if I just switch off my taste in imaging and do a clean mix just for mix sake and make adjustments in imaging after mixdown using some multiband imaging tool (Izotope's or something).
Crash - it's nasty. Purely nasty.
About Bass - Bass as such is just one of pads from Nexus, just on a Lowpass. I don't know why i did this, but mellow bass seemed great for beggining for me. I understand what you mean here by the lack of bass. And actually, I think, the bass also needs a little "life" or "change" during the progression, for it to play along with character to the song? What do you thing about it?
Yes, this is my first finished production. I have to say, that I have done a remix of Above & Beyonds "Thing Called Love" and I can't say it's near to be perfect, but I must say, that I've just gathered a lot of expirience by doing it, in terms of mixing and also in production itself. Before I started to seriously attend to production, I had a scrambles, loops, unfinished tracks that I just abandoned in some time since I had other things to do.
By the way, just to spam with new reply, anyone else here this "you hear things differently when you put your mix aside for time" ?
EddieZilker
quote:
Originally posted by Anakratis
As Eddie had stated, the imaging is quite odd. I'd like to say I like the way things are pushed towards the left, but I'm not a fan of it.
I've actually had some time to think about this tune and, given that it's a little earlier in the day than 10:30 pm in an apartment complex, could turn the volume up a little to hear a lot of what Anakratis is speaking to. What I want to elaborate on, without taking away from what Anakratis has said, is the left side panning that becomes more balanced when the chord stabs come in on the right; and that there is something about the correction of that imbalance which is desirable. The problem is that this effect - the correction of the imbalance - can only be achieved if things are imbalanced to begin with.
While I think this could be finessed for a more desirable result, there is a way in which it affects the listening that is quite pleasing once all the parts fill the void on the right. What I believe happens, while the parts are still voided, is that a sense of anticipation is created. The listener wants the problem to be fixed. Eventually, it is. That is something I think you should work toward preserving.
That said, the fact that the imbalance occurs for such a long time may not be conducive to the effect I'm trying to speak to. If you start the elements that are currently on the left, in the center, and then automate them toward their current position, while slowly introducing elements to the right, you could essentially achieve the same result the listener experiences (a sort of relief that everything is fitting in) without so much of the prolonged, initial imbalance.
It could almost be done incrementally, pushing and pulling; prodding the expectations of the listener in a way that is subtle but still powerful. Work to create small imbalances that the listener may not necessarily consciously notice but still register enough to create anticipation. Perhaps, in its current state, it's a little overwhelming. That's why I'm suggesting small, incremental changes rather than a lop-sided approach that is corrected, later on. This is kind of a complex idea to attempt to put into words so I hope it's understood.
And your English is better than a lot of native English speakers so don't worry about that. :)
rapt0r
quote:
Originally posted by EddieZilker
I've actually had some time to think about this tune and, given that it's a little earlier in the day than 10:30 pm in an apartment complex, could turn the volume up a little to hear a lot of what Anakratis is speaking to. What I want to elaborate on, without taking away from what Anakratis has said, is the left side panning that becomes more balanced when the chord stabs come in on the right; and that there is something about the correction of that imbalance which is desirable. The problem is that this effect - the correction of the imbalance - can only be achieved if things are imbalanced to begin with.
While I think this could be finessed for a more desirable result, there is a way in which it affects the listening that is quite pleasing once all the parts fill the void on the right. What I believe happens, while the parts are still voided, is that a sense of anticipation is created. The listener wants the problem to be fixed. Eventually, it is. That is something I think you should work toward preserving.
That said, the fact that the imbalance occurs for such a long time may not be conducive to the effect I'm trying to speak to. If you start the elements that are currently on the left, in the center, and then automate them toward their current position, while slowly introducing elements to the right, you could essentially achieve the same result the listener experiences (a sort of relief that everything is fitting in) without so much of the prolonged, initial imbalance.
It could almost be done incrementally, pushing and pulling; prodding the expectations of the listener in a way that is subtle but still powerful. Work to create small imbalances that the listener may not necessarily consciously notice but still register enough to create anticipation. Perhaps, in its current state, it's a little overwhelming. That's why I'm suggesting small, incremental changes rather than a lop-sided approach that is corrected, later on. This is kind of a complex idea to attempt to put into words so I hope it's understood.
And your English is better than a lot of native English speakers so don't worry about that. :)
As I understood from what you said, that this incomplete image and lack of something on the right side motivate listener to listen further to be satisfied WHEN it is fixed (when the stabchords come in)? Honestly, I don't know at the moment what to do with image. At early stages of mixing, I thought that i just make a very clean mix whatever it takes without minding output differences between L & R channels and after mixdown I just put it through some multiband stereo imager and automate it. It still feels right for me to leave pikes more on the left after intro. What if I make intro balanced, then make a sudden left chanel domination (pikes)(however, not so drastic as it is now) which gradually is fixed by introducing instruments on the right side and slowly panning pikes towards the centre (without reaching centre) and the same with right side (pitched bells & fantasy pikes). This is the idea you were trying to put in words?
So far, I fixed intro, since it was, kind of, uninteresting. Also i did backup of the project and gone beserk by wiping out almost all of the drums and replacing them with more interesting and tension building during the progress. I will update this, since it would be mean to start a new topic on this.
Anakratis
quote:
Originally posted by rapt0r
I will update this, since it would be mean to start a new topic on this.
Please do update :)
I'm very interested in hearing the second edit!
TranceLover007
Eddie mention it -->
quote:
Originally posted by EddieZilker
....... I actually really like the stereo image. At first, it seems imbalanced towards the left but that fosters a creative tension that's relieved when you have complimentary elements coming in on the right.
And Anakratis mention it -->
quote:
Originally posted by Anakratis
..... the imaging is quite odd. I'd like to say I like the way things are pushed towards the left, but I'm not a fan of it.......
It is first what srtiks me in your production and was hard to ignore it lol - sorry man.
Now as far as the structure - it maybe only me but for now you are missing some important low freq and some sound you are using sounded really piercing and very sharp :( - but melody is definitely something to develop farther ;) - kind of cool work but need to be tweak or rework to some extend - good luck man.
Cheers,
Darek
TranceLover007
quote:
Originally posted by rapt0r
..... What if I make intro balanced, then make a sudden left chanel domination (pikes)(however, not so drastic as it is now) which gradually is fixed by introducing instruments on the right side and slowly panning pikes towards the centre (without reaching centre) and the same with right side (pitched bells & fantasy pikes). This is the idea you were trying to put in words?
Sound interesting enough to try it - not bad at all and please keep us inform ;)
