Help me graduate from high school! Critique: Somebody That I Used to Know Remix

[nicktheloafer]

Hey Guys,

I'm new here but have lurked around for years. Have learned tons of tricks mainly on the recording live instruments side of things, but at my high school (as seniors) we spend the month of May doing a totally immersive project. I'm spending 8 hours a day with a friend composing and producing EDM--Mainly electrohouse and progressive house. I want these songs to sound as professional as possible, so I've decided I'd ask for all of your help for the next four weeks. I'll post in-progress songs here and if you dig them and see how they could be better, could you let me know?

So here's song number one: Somebody That I Used to Know (Remix)


http://soundcloud.com/nicholas-deveau/s ... ow/s-nOZ8W

[polyslax]

That sounds pretty good on the cans to me. How was it done? What raw material was provided to start and what is original? I don't really dabble in the genre so can't offer any specific tips, but I enjoyed the listen.

[nicktheloafer]

The only bit of the original was the vocal track--the rest was my made by me, but I stole a couple riffs from the original song and played them through different synths so that the track didnt just feel like a mashup of the somebody that I used to know acapella and another tune. Glad it sounded good! More feedback is welcome

[ntom]

Strictly opinion based, and probably not the most positive of words but I do hope you can take this to benefit from it:
Entirely it all feels rather uninspired. The synth melodies are kind of bland, and near the end things felt like they were clashing in the synths (but then again, I am not listening on my monitors, but usually my common speakers do a fair bit of justice) and there seemed to be some pumping on the vocals. I know a lot of pop music is all about sidechain, but please keep vocals a virgin to this horrible habit. It doesn't sound good, in fact it was bothering my ears a lot.

I should note the intro sounded good. The "Hot Buttered Popcorn" synth was refreshingly different, and the synth that fades it reminds me of "I'm Blue".

[nicktheloafer]

No that's exactly what I'm looking for. The way this project is set up is that my friend has a better ear for melody so he's composing more of the riffs you hear, and I (as a drummer) work on a lot of the rhythm. I'm also finding/creating the sounds and doing all the mixing. I'll talk to my friend about some more interesting melodic ideas and see what comes of it but in the meantime I'll work on the mixing aspects. Thanks for the tip about the sidechained vocals--they do sound kind of stupid now that you mention it.

[Emerald Tablet]

Hi! First and foremost thanks for being and making music.
As far as any of my constructively meant critique goes:

Mixing / Post production wise there is not a lot of work to be done.
Thats jargon for you nailed it.
However, production wise some extra harmonics or riff changes would improve this.
I would like to hear a version without the singers
It could be that your teachers will tell you not much is left
if you take away the singers.

But who am i. Ive made tons of monotonous tracks
All the best,

Remmie

[ntom]

But who am i. Ive made tons of monotonous tracks
All the best,

Remmie

And sang for one of the coolest tracks ever! (...imo)