Please give feedback on my attempted deep house instrumental track + mix

[concave]

Hey everyone,

This is basically my first finished house production and mix, and more of a self-learning project than a product of pure inspiration. I'm really hoping for some feedback, on mixing, sound design, arrangement, whatever.

https://soundcloud.com/janmartingebert/ ... ouse-music

Thanks!!

[Benedict]

I think it is alwasy really hard when working to a specific sub-genre, esp if it doesn't come naturally to you. The increasingly narrow rule-expectations tend to make people shout at all you did wrong in their fear-i-verse then what was interesting.

House has changed so much from where it started. You seem to be mining closer to the source with elements of a more '90s Acid Jazz.

The issue I have overall is that it feels rigid, lacking groove as such. It is, as you note, a technical workout more than funkin' & groovin'. That, to me, makes it a bit broken.

However, it is hard to fault any of the core parts, ideas, approaches etc. And that was your real Q so if your Q is if you hit all the formula tropes for Acid Jazz, bar that groove thing, I would say yes. Nothing leaps out at me as being problematic or at all not fitting. Other than the lack of depth from echoes etc that is common in all 'modern' music. BTW I like the overall levels as they feel comfortable (rather than overloud, but I bet others tell you that you should be 500 dB louder :sigh:).

[concave]

Thank you very much for your reply! I was really hoping that it grooves heavily haha
I think a bit more reverb/delay might be worth a try, no? I noticed that using drum bus compression ever so slightly messes with the previously dialed in reverb in weird ways, but maybe I should rather try to mix the reverb "into" the compressor (as I heard someone say a long time ago).

[legendCNCD]

I feel it is a bit too static overall. The fx's and vocal licks would maybe help and making it a big more "hectic" later on. Sounds quite ok.

For the drum bus compression, maybe you could just route reverbs and delays away from the compression bus? Or as you said, just mix into it.

[concave]

Thanks for the input!

[Benedict]

Thank you very much for your reply! I was really hoping that it grooves heavily haha
I think a bit more reverb/delay might be worth a try, no? I noticed that using drum bus compression ever so slightly messes with the previously dialed in reverb in weird ways, but maybe I should rather try to mix the reverb "into" the compressor (as I heard someone say a long time ago).

You probably started to hear what you wanted over what is on-tape. Easy to do, esp when working out of your normal space. To be very fair, it sounds more organic today than yesterday. First listens are not always what we feel over time. I think other methods could be employed though.

As for reverb and delay, I am not sure without being inside the mix. I noted echo might help with depth, but again, hard to make a firm call without being inside the mix, which I could do if you are open to someone else in your mix and the public exposure that comes with it.

I am a massive fan of compressing the Rhythm bus (Drums + Bass) to make them groove better. Find the attack time (slower) and then the Release (faster) so it emphasizes the groove with not-quite pumping. NOT the same as ducking (side-chaining) as the playing & timing drives the dynamic, not the BPM lines. I do the same process again on the Masters - this is the Glue Compression thing. Only a dB or so at each, and while it cannot make a 303 into Mick Karn, it does help when you get it right.

It is common in Rock at the Ry Bus to have a reverb on the drums from the Drum Room that is moved with the compression - a good thing. I remove all FX Sends from the Drums & Bass Channels and move them to the Ry Bus, or the reverb delaminates, seeing what the reverb hears is not what the listener hears.

[Uncle E]

Great bass! To me, the other elements are too clean and need to be low passed. You might want to post a reference track for us to compare against.