I just got into production last year, and only since July have I had my first setup, so I'm very new to all of this. I decided to make a track, a very simple one, with only 8 components. So here is the first draft of that track. It is EQ'd only, and the midi sequencing will be changing a great deal in the coming month(s). Any and all criticism is open, as long as its constructive. I'm mostly using this as a way to see where I "am" in terms of my production ability. I will post all new versions in this thread, so if you care enough, check back for updates. So here it is, 8 Track.
http://soundcloud.com/djshire/8-track-first-draft
My first track
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- Banned
- 2033 posts since 19 Jun, 2011 from a world of Black Thunder chocs
The tune starts off with the synth bleeps and the very nice sound of the minimal reverb drums (and it reminded me a little of Aphex Twin Ambient Works).
Perhaps the opening synth bleeps could be lower in volume, as they are slightly too loud for the drums, imo.
The rhythmic bleeps at 0.47 work well.
However, the synth arp which suddenly comes in at 1.00 is way too loud compared to the previous reverbed drum level.
Perhaps this synth sequence could be faded in or introduced in cheeky snippets before opening up the song later on with the whole sequence?
The synth sequence is okay for a few bars, but by 2.10 onwards the track is not going anywhere - where is the movement?
Panning / FX / Filtering will add some excitement to the proceedings, as would a change in riff.
So would drum elements inter-playing more with the synth riff.
Even then, the song may need something else (a new element) to keep listener attention.
Given the lack of changes and the length of the track, it's a relief at 5.47 when the main synth line suddenly stops again, and the nicely reverbed drums are heard once more.
The individual elements are nicely EQ-ed, and I especially like your use of reverb. It certainly has a 1990s era acid feel about it.
Your use of EQ and reverb is excellent considering how new you are to music production.
However, at the moment this song does not have enough contrast, movement or wow factor, particularly given the length of the track.
The nice drums also get swamped by the synth line for the entire mid-section.
Because of the lack of change, rather than it being a hypnotising acid synth hook, at approx 2.10 the synth sequence instead becomes boring and you're left wishing something else was happening.
Sorry to be harsh, but hopefully this is also fair.
Finally, I'd advise changing from SoundCloud to a different site like SoundClick or Official.FM (which I'm on), because of SoundCloud's well-documented problems of occasionally mangling certain audio files while leaving others undamaged.
To the best of my knowledge, SoundCloud staff are yet to fix this issue (though I may be wrong).
Perhaps the opening synth bleeps could be lower in volume, as they are slightly too loud for the drums, imo.
The rhythmic bleeps at 0.47 work well.
However, the synth arp which suddenly comes in at 1.00 is way too loud compared to the previous reverbed drum level.
Perhaps this synth sequence could be faded in or introduced in cheeky snippets before opening up the song later on with the whole sequence?
The synth sequence is okay for a few bars, but by 2.10 onwards the track is not going anywhere - where is the movement?
Panning / FX / Filtering will add some excitement to the proceedings, as would a change in riff.
So would drum elements inter-playing more with the synth riff.
Even then, the song may need something else (a new element) to keep listener attention.
Given the lack of changes and the length of the track, it's a relief at 5.47 when the main synth line suddenly stops again, and the nicely reverbed drums are heard once more.
The individual elements are nicely EQ-ed, and I especially like your use of reverb. It certainly has a 1990s era acid feel about it.
Your use of EQ and reverb is excellent considering how new you are to music production.
However, at the moment this song does not have enough contrast, movement or wow factor, particularly given the length of the track.
The nice drums also get swamped by the synth line for the entire mid-section.
Because of the lack of change, rather than it being a hypnotising acid synth hook, at approx 2.10 the synth sequence instead becomes boring and you're left wishing something else was happening.
Sorry to be harsh, but hopefully this is also fair.
Finally, I'd advise changing from SoundCloud to a different site like SoundClick or Official.FM (which I'm on), because of SoundCloud's well-documented problems of occasionally mangling certain audio files while leaving others undamaged.
To the best of my knowledge, SoundCloud staff are yet to fix this issue (though I may be wrong).
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 621 posts since 11 Jun, 2011 from Detroit
Update! Lots of changes
http://soundcloud.com/djshire/8-track-unmastered
http://soundcloud.com/djshire/8-track-unmastered
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 621 posts since 11 Jun, 2011 from Detroit
And....done!
http://soundcloud.com/djshire/8-track-original-mix
http://soundcloud.com/djshire/8-track-original-mix
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- KVRAF
- 1596 posts since 19 May, 2011 from North Carolina
That's certainly original! Nice experimental stuff. 
Two things I'd do:
1) Shorten the track, or modulate some things (filters, etc.) to add some more motion.
2) Move the "kick" to the center. You can, make it mono and still keep the verb stereo or panned, but center-bass is pretty much a hard and fast rule (rules are made to be broken of course, but for this one IMHO you need a good reason).
Just my two cents. Good luck!
Two things I'd do:
1) Shorten the track, or modulate some things (filters, etc.) to add some more motion.
2) Move the "kick" to the center. You can, make it mono and still keep the verb stereo or panned, but center-bass is pretty much a hard and fast rule (rules are made to be broken of course, but for this one IMHO you need a good reason).
Just my two cents. Good luck!
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 621 posts since 11 Jun, 2011 from Detroit
You're right, I forgot that!JD Gaffe wrote:You could say thanks to Doug's informative and long post
Thanks Doug, your critique really helped make the track much better!
I'll take that into consideration....for future tracks. This one is done. I just wanted to learn Logic and use its instruments and effects.JoeCat wrote:That's certainly original! Nice experimental stuff.
Two things I'd do:
1) Shorten the track, or modulate some things (filters, etc.) to add some more motion.
2) Move the "kick" to the center. You can, make it mono and still keep the verb stereo or panned, but center-bass is pretty much a hard and fast rule (rules are made to be broken of course, but for this one IMHO you need a good reason).
Just my two cents. Good luck!
I will be working on a remix next, and then making another full track.