KVR Audio

2NDMOUSE · Post by **2NDMOUSE** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 3:45 pm

Here's the latest track from me.
The chord sequence is thanks to a free vst called Cynthia ( an emulation of the old suitcase synth...the ems synthi a )
Just randomly opened up a vst to layer a lead over the top and stumbled upon Mr Tramp , which is also an emulation of something in a suitcase .
Recorded the rhodes in live , which is something im doing a lot more of ( I used to laboriously programme every note , every beat ) , and I left it unquantized because I think theres more soul , more warmth , more humanity.

Its not really a verse-bridge-chorus type track. I'd say its more like a meditation on one particular theme , playing with nuance , and emphasizing with embellishment.
More akin to the sketches that BOC would do.

Gonna probably experiment more with that 70s kinda dirty daydream suitcase electric piano sound , but here is the latest .....

Thanks for listening =)

https://soundcloud.com/2ndmouse/lightworks

artificial · Post by **artificial** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 4:16 pm

i really like this song!

i especially like the contrast between the dreamy piano and the well programmed beat! and btw, nice chord progression - gonna have to check out cynthia!

2NDMOUSE · Post by **2NDMOUSE** » Fri Jun 14, 2013 8:43 pm

Thanks Artificial =)
This is the link to the Cynthia VST ( im in no way afiliated )

http://ninecows.dk/cynthia/

seismic1 · Post by **seismic1** » Sat Jun 15, 2013 1:32 pm

It's still got the identifiable 2NDMOUSE sound. I would have known that the track was one of yours from the melody/chords/beats even if I had heard it blind. It has a nice "loose" feel with that piano. This was very pleasant Saturday afternoon listening.

Good work

Frantz · Post by **Frantz** » Sat Jun 15, 2013 3:14 pm

I think the chords and Rhodes sound fantastic but the drums and bass spoil the delicate mood. The drums are busy for my tastes and I don't like that buzzy bass sound. I am probably in the minority on this.

2NDMOUSE · Post by **2NDMOUSE** » Sat Jun 15, 2013 9:55 pm

seismic1 wrote:It's still got the identifiable 2NDMOUSE sound. I would have known that the track was one of yours from the melody/chords/beats even if I had heard it blind. It has a nice "loose" feel with that piano. This was very pleasant Saturday afternoon listening.

Good work

Thanks a lot Seismic.
Im amazed that you could identify my stuff so easily.
My uncle is an artist and we had a long conversation about 'mannerisms' one day , and how we struggle to escape our own production methods and , do it like someone else would do it , and try to NOT sound like ourselves , but even in my most un-2ndMOUSE'ly moments , you can still tell. Genuinely surprised and pleased. Thanks fella =)

2NDMOUSE · Post by **2NDMOUSE** » Sun Jun 16, 2013 5:18 pm

Frantz wrote:I think the chords and Rhodes sound fantastic but the drums and bass spoil the delicate mood. The drums are busy for my tastes and I don't like that buzzy bass sound. I am probably in the minority on this.

Thanks Frantz. I'm glad you know me well enough to know I'm cool with critique. Opinions are so much better than indifference and apathy , so thank you. Much appreciated =)

wavephonic · Post by **wavephonic** » Sun Jun 16, 2013 5:45 pm

I've heard much of your stuff over the years and liked the vast majority, great technique and thought. I enjoyed the ep lead and ambiance behind it, a nice progression of chording. the drums were a bit sudden but I still think they work, but I thought maybe a bit further into the mix to keep the groove but letting more of the atmosphere shine through on top.

polyslax · Post by **polyslax** » Sun Jun 16, 2013 6:22 pm

I too am a big fan of contrasts, and you do this well, elsewhere and in this track. I'm somewhat in agreement with Frantz... thought some of the fizz/buzz could be toned down. Otherwise, top stuff as always!

2NDMOUSE · Post by **2NDMOUSE** » Mon Jun 17, 2013 4:01 pm

wavephonic wrote:I've heard much of your stuff over the years and liked the vast majority, great technique and thought. I enjoyed the ep lead and ambiance behind it, a nice progression of chording. the drums were a bit sudden but I still think they work, but I thought maybe a bit further into the mix to keep the groove but letting more of the atmosphere shine through on top.

Thanks Wave =)
Its great to hear the music others make , but rarely are they 100% satisfied , technically , and one of the reasons I keep making tracks is because I strive for the perfect combination of all the elements. I see a lot of holes in my production , so I appreciate it when others don't.
I hear ya re: sudden beats. These things aren't always apparent when its been looping for hours and you get used to the sound balance , and the ears are less perceptive. I'll try n get another look at it and fix it up a bit.
Thanks again !

2NDMOUSE · Post by **2NDMOUSE** » Wed Jun 19, 2013 11:23 am

polyslax wrote:I too am a big fan of contrasts, and you do this well, elsewhere and in this track. I'm somewhat in agreement with Frantz... thought some of the fizz/buzz could be toned down. Otherwise, top stuff as always!

Cheers Poly.
Planning to listen to yours and some other peoples tracks later......looking forward to it.
Do you think the bass is too loud , or is it just the buzzin character of the bass that doesn't appeal ? I was thinkin it suited the mix and helped it stand out from the other bass elements , but very glad of other viewpoints to get a more rounded picture =)

seismic1 · Post by **seismic1** » Thu Jun 20, 2013 12:25 am

I bet everybody has a slightly different opinion on this

I liked the bass, I thought the HF on the percs gave the track a sound that was very lively, but masked (maybe through distraction) some of the subtlety of what was going on in the lower frequency ranges. This is probably just a personal preference. I'll play it again on the main system on Saturday, and see whether I feel the same.

core · Post by **core** » Thu Jun 20, 2013 7:00 am

lovely listen, enjoyed the tune lots

2NDMOUSE · Post by **2NDMOUSE** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 10:54 am

seismic1 wrote:I bet everybody has a slightly different opinion on this

I liked the bass, I thought the HF on the percs gave the track a sound that was very lively, but masked (maybe through distraction) some of the subtlety of what was going on in the lower frequency ranges. This is probably just a personal preference. I'll play it again on the main system on Saturday, and see whether I feel the same.

I havent quite mastered sidechaining yet so I usually have things ducking that I dont want to duck and I usually have a limiter on the master to make up some gain and glue it all together a bit , but still things gets a bit lost in there , especially in a higher tempo track cos everything is closer together with less space to breathe. Its definitely a balancing act and choices become much more judicial over time. Id love to see what someone like bob katz would do with one of my mixes though....he'd probably be dismayed at my signal chains =p

2NDMOUSE · Post by **2NDMOUSE** » Sat Jun 22, 2013 8:41 pm

core wrote:lovely listen, enjoyed the tune lots

Thanks a lot Ronnie , and much respect fella =) Rekkerd.org is a great site !

2ndMOUSE -- "Lightworks" ( dreamy rhodes + idm beats)