So I've been doing this project for a few days (that's why I was struggeling with the melody), I came up with this melody and these chords, it's really simple, it's just in C major at the moment, but I could change the key at any point.

Anyways.. I'm finding myself really wanting something busy in the drop, like this:

http://soundcloud.com/maisondragen/spencer-hill-mimoza-let-o ut-da-freak-maison-dragen-remix-preview

the DROP at 1min 16seconds is really huge, I mean there's ALOT going on, it feels really busy. How do I achieve this? I have alot going on already, but it feels kind of flat now in my drop..

I have: kick, whitenoise, melody, chords, arpeggio, ride, downlifter, bass and impact right now in the drop.

The bass is in 16th notes so it's REALLY repetitive and should be giving a driving feel.

Same with the arpeggio since it's very fast and in 16ths notes aswell.

The ride gives a driving feel aswell since it's on each beat. The chords are in 16ths notes aswell so it's really fast and repetitive.

That's what I have in my mix, but I'd like to know the secret behind Maison & Dragens drops (http://soundcloud.com/maisondragen/spencer-hill-mimoza-let- out-da-freak-maison-dragen-remix-preview check out the soundcloud), I've noticed it's a big trend they are taking and using this on every single track almost.

Tips and tricks and suggestion would be so much appreciated. I'm stuck!

Also note that the buildup and the mix is not finished at all. Nothing is applied, no reverbs etc, everything is dry (if not applied directly in the synth that is). I haven't done any automations such as filters etc on the buildup etc. Nothing is EQ'ed etc.

Here it is:

http://www62.zippyshare.com/v/1343687/file.html

The "drop" is at 1min 18 seconds.

I've tried to layer the lead with other leads but it didn't do much.

I really need to get this going and feeling huge and driving.

Lastly, I want to ask what you think about the melody? good enough?

Thanks!

I'm just a beginner myself, but here are my 2¢:

I don't think their drop is busy, they only have like some layered leads, a bass and a kick. I think it's more about the mixing, mastering and sound design.
Your drop sound kinda dull and lacks high end. Maison & Dragen's track is mastered and is therefore much louder in volume which I think tricks our ears in to thinking it sounds better etc.

Post a finished song, i.e mixed and mastered, then it will be easier to tell what's wrong.

thanks mate!

For sure, it is mastered, and that does alot. But still, I don't think it's only the high-end leads they have in their mix, I think it's something behind all of that, underneath it.. that makes it even more driving.. Maybe I'm wrong?

I've noticed that I'm REALLY bad of keeping track of my frequencies. How do I know when I've filled up the whole spectrum of frequencies? I guess that's one of the major keys. Having something in the low-end, the mid and the high, so the whole spectrum of frequencies is filled with stuff.

I've also noticed that I'm always using the same leads and sounds. Always these "supersaw" type of sounds. How do I get a drop to be big WITHOUT using them? (that's why I didn't use it here), you see where I'm going? and as I listen through Maison & Dragen's tracks. I hear they are using something different other than supersaws.

I really need help with this, since this is where I fail most of the time, gets tired and stop working on the track.

Also, I've always wondered, about sound design.. all those small little details for each individual sound.. but in the end you just layer alot of stuff anyway? So what's the point in making each sound so detailed and nice as possible? I'm kind of confused here. I think this is where I really have to get better. Eventhough I might like a sound, it might not fit to the other sounds. What I do now is that I layer 4-5 sounds together + a bass to fill the spectrum and make it sound "busy".

I need suggestions here, I still want it to be clean and not too muddy and destroying the sounds I've done, by layering other sounds..

EDIT; here, I added alot of highfrequencies and now it sounds like this.. sure it sounds better, but it sounds like a big mess, here it is:



http://www8.zippyshare.com/v/60037944/file.html

It's definitely about frequency space. The example song builds up, but if you notice, the bass starts dropping out about 4 bars before the drop. Put a very light high pass on a return track (or even the master to practice hear the difference) and then automate it up ever so slightly. Have the highs build up with it so it's not noticeable, and during the last bar (typically when the drum roll starts) toss a 0 res lowpass on and drift it down about 10% of the frequency range. Then, you'll have the "drop" which, in the example song, kicks out everything high and low (you're left with a mid range radio-like sample), and then have the bass and highs kick in full force after the drop.

Thank you for the answer!

But putting a 10% lowpass, isn't that going to make the overall song except for the drop sounding pretty dull?

Speed it up. Slow it down.
But for the love of god and all that is holy, do not do a Truck Driver's Gear Change.

http://www.gearchange.org/

You might think yourself clever now. But you will hate yourself in the morning.


Check out this list for a list of culprits:
http://www.gearchange.org/browse_by_artist.html

Even the Flaming Lips are in there, so it happens to the best of us.
Just make sure it does not happen to YOU!

Dear Lord!

Hey, how did you make the lead synth, searching for that type of sound for a while

I hear nothing wrong here.

oh and about your drop.. the kick is too loud and taking up too much space in the drop compared to the rest of the mix making the white noise seem too soft and you need another sound under it that is pitching upward slowly.

that is, you need a sine/saw/whatever you choose that pitches upward
and
a highpass filter on the percussion that is cutting the low-end in roughly the same time

so one is going up and the other is going out sonically

Sounds like there's a highpass filter in the example track - I think it's affecting a lot of the song elements but not all. It seems all the kids these days are using the rising highpass to make the drop bigger - maybe it'll become the next Truck Driver's Gear Change?

The lowpass being "off" or at "0" means you have a (mostly) open signal. Turning it up "10%" means going from about 0hz -> 200hz. It would just pull out some of the bottom of the track.

I tried to do a quick remake of their song but failed imo. I never get the damn tapestop effects right, sounds so stupid. However, maybe it can help you in some way: http://www19.zippyshare.com/v/3808957/file.html

I didn't try to recreate the sounds, only the melody, and I didn't mix much.

Well, ask me if you have any questions.

Vitamin D nailed it. Exactly what I was going to say. The two elements you are missing compared to the track you posted are something that rises in pitch and highpass filtering. The sound that rises in pitch creates tension that wants to get resolved, and the highpass makes everything sound really big when the beat drops back in. Your clip has neither of these elements and they make a huge difference.

Hey puusti! What DAW are you working in? Mind sending me the project file? sounds excellent! Good job on this one!