Hey all!

First of all, thanks for the nice feedback I got from you last time! Now, i'm here with something a bit different.
It's under progress and I would love some feedback on it!

As I mentioned earlier, the track differs drom my previous productions (Progressive House) and I dont really know in what genre it belongs to but like techno-ish (?)

Anyway, here it is!

Have a good day guys!


http://soundcloud.com/aleric/seriously-though-original-mix
Last edited by aceada on Wed May 16, 2012 10:57 am; edited 1 time in total

Anyone?

Yes I had a listen on my way home.

First of all, sublime mixing. Really good sound.

As far as the composition goes, its good. It reminds me a lot of something I would have heard on Seb Fontaines Prototype 3 mix. That was my favourate mix composition since the time it came out will I found Guy J's 1000 words. Thats probably almost 10 years.

I don't think its something that draws a lot of attention to itself so at first listen it may not grab someones attention, but it's one of those tracks that works perfectly on a mix compilation, a little later in the mix when it gets deeper.

About the mix. There is one problem in my opinion that is not a matter of taste. The main melody that starts the track. I think the decay is a little too tight or the resonance a tad too high. Not because of how it sounds in and of itself, but because I think it sounds out of tune once more melodic parts come in.

In other words here is what I think is happening. The notes are in harmony with the rest of the track however the synthesizer output is not because the resonant frequency coming from the filter is too dominant and or out of tune. This is always how short decays and higher resonance settings sound. This is particularly acute on the lowest note of your melody.

Back to the mixing itself, it's as good or almost as good as any pro release I've heard imo and, even better, it does not sound like "generic" mixing. It's as though all the elements are really nicely fused together, apart from the chords/pad-sounds that come in at 1:02. They stick out just a little.

Maybe there are a tad too wide. It feels to me that have too much space. This is just a minor criticism and if listen to it with that in mind you might feel the same way or you might not.

There is a slight pumping effect I can hear from the compressor on the overall mix. I tend not to like it this prominent and would track to back it off a little. This is my personal taste of course, but I think it can make the track sounds a little distance and inconsistent as little parts here and there seem to dip slightly in volume.

At the break at 1:48 it would have been nice to have some kind of drum section echo heavily, filtered as it decays. I think the the drum sounds coming back in at 2:01 is too early. I would have liked the composition to have gotten a little more subconscious so to speak, a little more lost in time if you know what I am trying to say. An example is increased delays or more subdued upper frequencies just for a few bars, like you are falling asleep for a few moments before the it all takes off again.

In general I would have liked something a little more hypnotic going on. Maybe a small part of the track could drop the kick and bring in some more varied hi-hat pattern which morphs for a few bars by filtering or bit-crushing slightly, with a nice natural space reverb.

I am not sure exactly how to describe that, but my favourates for this dreamy feel are Sasha's Involver and Guy J's 1000 words. Anyone into house should have a listen imo.

Overall its good a good subdued feeling, nothing over the top and I like it. As good as most pro releases as I said. The criticisms I gave are sort of finer points. Everything else is really well done so much so that I've nothing to criticize. It is all intended to be constructive of course as I could not mix like this myself.

I'd love to know how you get such a nice consistent wideness. I've been wondering about trying out the Nugen audio stereoizer. And what reverb are you using if you don't mind me asking?

Regards

Sami

Wow! Thanks for the constructive feedback! Really nice of you to take your time and analyze the track:)
I'm gonna sit down and look into what direction i want the track to go in terms of arrangement and instruments.
As for wideness and reverb, I use the stock one provided with logic and Space Designer for reverb mostly, also by logic.


Again, thanks a bunch for the feedback! Right now im contemplating if its good enough to sign to a prominent techno/progressive house label, for exmple "Pryda Friends" or "Mouseville"


If changes mentioned in your post would be made and some more "clean" elements where to be added, do you think id have a fair chance?


Regards,


Aleric

Hi Aleric

I always judge things in this way: Does this track sound like something I'd hear on a mix cd?

In your case with this track, Its possible but I think it would need more interesting development.

I will try to put it this way, have you ever seen a movie that was made very well and looks good, but you just don't care about the characters? There is something formulaic, manufactured, predictable about it all. Worst of all, there is now real character development, you never get under their skin, feel what they feel and think their thoughts.

Take for example Involver, I know I mentioned it before, but there is so much to connect with, expressions, pictures, movement, things I've rarely or never quite heard before. It sends tingles up my spine. Its has formed such a strong emotional tie with me.

It's like therapy, like when you have a good friend and you have trouble even trying to explain your problems to and he somehow understands exactly what your feeling and succinctly expresses it for you. Then you suddenly light up because he has given form to something you could not quite grasp before. Music is therapy for me at least.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FjyIUuGG20
Listen to it at 44 minutes in. It's like a fragmented dream. Anyway, thats just one moment, the whole CD gives me the same feeling. I strongly recommend you get this album and listen to it for months on end because each time you listen to it (if you really listen) you will discover something new.

Not saying you gotta sound like Sasha, but I am saying anyone who makes any style can probably learn something from this album. Its just sublime.

Now having said all that, I've never managed a label so I don't know if they would sign you. But I know this, if I did and I heard music that really touched me, I'd be extremely anxious to get it under my label because little of what I hear does.

I will say you have the mixing skills to make a pro/signable track. If you came to me and I had a label I would be interested but I would give you this lecture and watch with interest to see what you did. In short, come out of your shell a little and really connect with me through your music.

All said with best intentions and no, I am not yet there myself and there are no "gurus". Not everyone is out to achieve the same goals. These are just my opinions.

Regards

Sami

Haha, i totally understand you! I will get back to you when I feel it's done! You really helped a bunch, now i know what parts are lacking and what parts i should just leave.

Thanks a bunch,


Aleric