synth rock instrumental: “Beats Along the Nile”

[Shane Sanders]

http://shanesanders.com/wp-content/uplo ... e-Nile.mp3

Crits welcome!

[Benedict]

Nicely written, melodies, counters, sounds etc.

The only thing I would Q is that it feels very forward/forced/driven all the time which pushes me away. I would prefer a more breathing result. I feel that is simply mix/master. However, I know that is the popular thing so not making it all LOUD all the time might be unwise (for anyone not like me).

[Shane Sanders]

Those are good points. I mix for people with average gear at their disposal. I tried to make my bridge feel like a different experience, but I get what you're saying. Thanks for the honesty and listen!

[Benedict]

70s music was mixed for am radio and a 2" paper cone but would expand when on a Marantz and more so on real Audiophile gear. The modern idea that we have to mix badly because people have bad playback is flawed seeing it now only plays half of the game and misses the reason for music - people and their feelings.

70s music worked so well because it had dynamics and depth. Your composition has those. The mix undoes that. Ok, so some people can only hear one-dimensionally but are those people likely to be your fan? Personally, I keep my work more deep & rich as I know that "people like me" are more likely to like what I do. EDM people will only ever tell me how I did the mix wrong because they can only hear EDM and assume anything else is failed-EDM. The same has happened in Metal and Rock.

So my advice would be not to mix for gear but to mix for the most likely audience. Seeing your piece is closer to Smooth Jazz Fusion, an EDM mix may well be undoing the very things they want from you.

[redmaggott]

Shane, loved this piece. Really enjoyed it.
The first sixteen seconds took me back 32 years. I had to share this. Back in the day, I played a game on the Amiga 1200 called The Addams Family. I thoguth of it immediately and it put a huge smile on my face. I hope you don't mind me making this conection, but it really did take me back.
And he wears a fez in the game (Nile connection, well Egypt).

xxhttps://youtu.be/JYaNUbTuOLE?feature=shared&t=68

I can't seem to link it without displaying the video, so I added xx as I don't want to display the YT video in your thread. It's there if you want to have a peek.

Then the synth kicks in at 18s. That sounds great. Really nice.
The vocal cominig in at 2.06 is really nice and then back to that lead.
Sounds lovely.
I hope you don't mind that reference to the game. Can't help it. Ahh.. memories.

And thank you very much for the kind words about Someone To Confide In.

Merry Christmas.

[Frantz]

This is great stuff -- nice melody with a varied arrangement throughout.

A minor complaint is that the lead is a bit screechy and trebly. I would prefer a more mellow sound that sits a bit back in the mix.

I agree with Benedict, it is mastered a bit loud. According to LoudnessPenalty.com, Spotify would turn it down by 3 dB. This style of music doesn't need that kind of loudness.

[Shane Sanders]

Shane, loved this piece. Really enjoyed it.
The first sixteen seconds took me back 32 years. I had to share this. Back in the day, I played a game on the Amiga 1200 called The Addams Family. I thoguth of it immediately and it put a huge smile on my face. I hope you don't mind me making this conection, but it really did take me back.
And he wears a fez in the game (Nile connection, well Egypt).

xxhttps://youtu.be/JYaNUbTuOLE?feature=shared&t=68

I can't seem to link it without displaying the video, so I added xx as I don't want to display the YT video in your thread. It's there if you want to have a peek.

Then the synth kicks in at 18s. That sounds great. Really nice.
The vocal cominig in at 2.06 is really nice and then back to that lead.
Sounds lovely.
I hope you don't mind that reference to the game. Can't help it. Ahh.. memories.

And thank you very much for the kind words about Someone To Confide In.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas!

That's great that this reminded you of old game music. I often consciously think about that kind of thing because those tracks really have to survive on the merit of the notes instead of the sound design (while still sounding cool and nostalgic to my ears). I totally get the connection.

[Shane Sanders]

This is great stuff -- nice melody with a varied arrangement throughout.

A minor complaint is that the lead is a bit screechy and trebly. I would prefer a more mellow sound that sits a bit back in the mix.

I agree with Benedict, it is mastered a bit loud. According to LoudnessPenalty.com, Spotify would turn it down by 3 dB. This style of music doesn't need that kind of loudness.

Thank you! I'll go back and work on the mix and see if I can get a more relaxed situation happening.

[Shane Sanders]

70s music was mixed for am radio and a 2" paper cone but would expand when on a Marantz and more so on real Audiophile gear. The modern idea that we have to mix badly because people have bad playback is flawed seeing it now only plays half of the game and misses the reason for music - people and their feelings.

70s music worked so well because it had dynamics and depth. Your composition has those. The mix undoes that. Ok, so some people can only hear one-dimensionally but are those people likely to be your fan? Personally, I keep my work more deep & rich as I know that "people like me" are more likely to like what I do. EDM people will only ever tell me how I did the mix wrong because they can only hear EDM and assume anything else is failed-EDM. The same has happened in Metal and Rock.

So my advice would be not to mix for gear but to mix for the most likely audience. Seeing your piece is closer to Smooth Jazz Fusion, an EDM mix may well be undoing the very things they want from you.

I hear you! Thanks for the honesty.

[Genetic_Junk]

Very nice piece! The arrangement gives the listener a clear focal point. Quick but sensible transitions. Not sure about the interlude starting at 1:54. I would have liked to hear something a bit slower with less energy building tension.

I think the mix is pretty good with respect to clarity and separation of the elements. But it could have more dynamic range.

[seismic1]

It's a nice piece of synthwave that seems to have elements that would not be out of place on JMJ and Larry Fast '80s albums. The composition and arrangement works really well. The mix is well done, with no apparent clashing frequencies. I agree that the LUFS levels could come down by approx. 3dB.

Good work

[Shane Sanders]

Very nice piece! The arrangement gives the listener a clear focal point. Quick but sensible transitions. Not sure about the interlude starting at 1:54. I would have liked to hear something a bit slower with less energy building tension.

I think the mix is pretty good with respect to clarity and separation of the elements. But it could have more dynamic range.

Thanks for listening! Yes, apparently I need to mix with less gusto! haha

[Shane Sanders]

It's a nice piece of synthwave that seems to have elements that would not be out of place on JMJ and Larry Fast '80s albums. The composition and arrangement works really well. The mix is well done, with no apparent clashing frequencies. I agree that the LUFS levels could come down by approx. 3dB.

Good work

That's high praise that I don't deserve! Thank you.

[Bansaw]

Love it. Unique sound palette, very good production.
That saw lead sound did get annoying after a while, and I found myself hoping the lovely soft saw pluck arp would come back, or some other sound. Some great rhythmic moments. Overall, great job.

[Shane Sanders]

Love it. Unique sound palette, very good production.
That saw lead sound did get annoying after a while, and I found myself hoping the lovely soft saw pluck arp would come back, or some other sound. Some great rhythmic moments. Overall, great job.

Very kind! Yeah, perhaps I need to delve deeper into lead sounds. I tend toward ones that cut through the usual wash of other things! haha