Here's a new song that I've been working on over the past few days.
I've worked super hard on it so I would appreciate any comments on the track.
Thanks
Hipster Bales - Stride (Melodic Progressive House/Trance)
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- KVRian
- 613 posts since 14 Jan, 2026 from United Kingdom
Hey guys!
Here's a new song that I've been working on over the past few days.
I've worked super hard on it so I would appreciate any comments on the track.
Thanks
Here's a new song that I've been working on over the past few days.
I've worked super hard on it so I would appreciate any comments on the track.
Thanks
Last edited by Hipster Bales on Mon Jun 29, 2026 11:14 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 613 posts since 14 Jan, 2026 from United Kingdom
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ChameleonMusic ChameleonMusic https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=430348 - KVRAF
- 1925 posts since 23 Nov, 2018 from Birmingham, UK
Enjoyed it...There are some seriously good little melodic hooks in there that catch the ear, but the mix just didn't quite work for me...
1) Pumping / side chain compression? Around the kick entries seems a little bit over dome to my ear...yes, it pushes the kick forward, but it also slightly drains the energy away from other parts.
2) I always listen for an 'overall groove' to the music (how all the various layers sync rhythmically)...this doesn't quite gel 100% here for me...I don't know why, but my guess is the use of delay which might just need pulling back or tweaking in terms of its timing?
3) Soundstage was all a little bit too forward at times in the track....maybe needs a few layers pulled back in the mix for a little more depth / variety? Height of the mix-wise - maybe a little but too much power towards the top half of the freq spectrum?
All just opinion and also small points, anyway...not major concerns.
1) Pumping / side chain compression? Around the kick entries seems a little bit over dome to my ear...yes, it pushes the kick forward, but it also slightly drains the energy away from other parts.
2) I always listen for an 'overall groove' to the music (how all the various layers sync rhythmically)...this doesn't quite gel 100% here for me...I don't know why, but my guess is the use of delay which might just need pulling back or tweaking in terms of its timing?
3) Soundstage was all a little bit too forward at times in the track....maybe needs a few layers pulled back in the mix for a little more depth / variety? Height of the mix-wise - maybe a little but too much power towards the top half of the freq spectrum?
All just opinion and also small points, anyway...not major concerns.
Mark Taylor, Chameleon Music - Professional composition and sound design for all media since 1994.
https://www.chameleonmusic.co.uk/
https://www.chameleonmusic.co.uk/
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 613 posts since 14 Jan, 2026 from United Kingdom
ThanksChameleonMusic wrote: Tue Mar 03, 2026 3:10 pm Enjoyed it...There are some seriously good little melodic hooks in there that catch the ear, but the mix just didn't quite work for me...
1) Pumping / side chain compression? Around the kick entries seems a little bit over dome to my ear...yes, it pushes the kick forward, but it also slightly drains the energy away from other parts.
2) I always listen for an 'overall groove' to the music (how all the various layers sync rhythmically)...this doesn't quite gel 100% here for me...I don't know why, but my guess is the use of delay which might just need pulling back or tweaking in terms of its timing?
3) Soundstage was all a little bit too forward at times in the track....maybe needs a few layers pulled back in the mix for a little more depth / variety? Height of the mix-wise - maybe a little but too much power towards the top half of the freq spectrum?
All just opinion and also small points, anyway...not major concerns.
. I'll take note of some of those comments on my next song. I mean, the sidechain was kind of intentional, but I'll lower it down slightly on my next one. I quite like the use of delay, it's a stylistic choice, but I'll experiment with it a little more. -
- KVRAF
- 23165 posts since 8 Oct, 2014
FWIW, for me personally, this is totally over the top and I love it. But then again, I love things that are totally over the top. I absolutely understand the comments above and on a tech level I have to agree. But screw it all. I think the whole thing kicks ass so that's all I care about.
Great job!
Great job!
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 613 posts since 14 Jan, 2026 from United Kingdom
Thanks Wag. It's nice to start getting comments again after about 2 weeks lol.wagtunes wrote: Tue Mar 03, 2026 6:07 pm FWIW, for me personally, this is totally over the top and I love it. But then again, I love things that are totally over the top. I absolutely understand the comments above and on a tech level I have to agree. But screw it all. I think the whole thing kicks ass so that's all I care about.
Great job!
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ChameleonMusic ChameleonMusic https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=430348
- KVRAF
- 1925 posts since 23 Nov, 2018 from Birmingham, UK
And the truth is...that's all that matters at the end!wagtunes wrote: Tue Mar 03, 2026 6:07 pm FWIW, for me personally, this is totally over the top and I love it. But then again, I love things that are totally over the top. I absolutely understand the comments above and on a tech level I have to agree. But screw it all. I think the whole thing kicks ass so that's all I care about.
Great job!
A lot of great tracks out there that could have their mixes improved significantly, but it doesn't always matter that much...the musical content is ALWAYS much more important!
Mark Taylor, Chameleon Music - Professional composition and sound design for all media since 1994.
https://www.chameleonmusic.co.uk/
https://www.chameleonmusic.co.uk/
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 613 posts since 14 Jan, 2026 from United Kingdom
I agree with that as well. I've heard certain technical difficulties on some Bag Raiders songs. but their music is still musically greatChameleonMusic wrote: Tue Mar 03, 2026 11:44 pmAnd the truth is...that's all that matters at the end!wagtunes wrote: Tue Mar 03, 2026 6:07 pm FWIW, for me personally, this is totally over the top and I love it. But then again, I love things that are totally over the top. I absolutely understand the comments above and on a tech level I have to agree. But screw it all. I think the whole thing kicks ass so that's all I care about.
Great job!
A lot of great tracks out there that could have their mixes improved significantly, but it doesn't always matter that much...the musical content is ALWAYS much more important!
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- KVRAF
- 3394 posts since 19 Mar, 2008 from germany
"Stride": A beautiful, promising start with a synth arpeggio. Then the kick
drum kicks in – dominating the groove. The subsequent break initially
takes some energy out of the mix until the kick drum starts up again.
There might be a few minor things that could be improved, but the overall
feeling is very nice: melodic, powerful, driving, and pleasant to listen to.
I like it a lot.
drum kicks in – dominating the groove. The subsequent break initially
takes some energy out of the mix until the kick drum starts up again.
There might be a few minor things that could be improved, but the overall
feeling is very nice: melodic, powerful, driving, and pleasant to listen to.
I like it a lot.
free mp3s + info: andy-enroe.de songs + weird stuff: enroe.de
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- KVRAF
- 14323 posts since 20 Nov, 2003 from Lost and Spaced
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- KVRian
- Topic Starter
- 613 posts since 14 Jan, 2026 from United Kingdom
Thanks mate!
Melodic is my middle nameenroe wrote: Thu Mar 05, 2026 6:17 pm "Stride": A beautiful, promising start with a synth arpeggio. Then the kick
drum kicks in – dominating the groove. The subsequent break initially
takes some energy out of the mix until the kick drum starts up again.
There might be a few minor things that could be improved, but the overall
feeling is very nice: melodic, powerful, driving, and pleasant to listen to.
I like it a lot.
