Xenos - Left Hook (Hard Techno). Please critique. Suggestions/tips appreciated. UPDATED.

[Xenos]

Hi guys

I'm currently working on a hardtechno tune and would like your input. This tune is influenced by such artists as Chris Liebing, Micheal Burkat, Lars Klein, etc. How am I doing so far? Any tips or suggestions for improvement? I've been out of the game for the last 8 years and my past tunes were all pure crap, but I'd really like to get back into that old hobby again when time permits. Thanks .

- All the loops and percussion in this tune were created from scratch, BTW. I didn't use any pre-made samples.

[Xenos]

hehe 73 views, no comments?

[manducator]

I read the names Chris Liebing and Richie Hawtin and I had to listen to this.

Nice funky (oldskool, in a good way) techno. I would buy stuff like this. I think there's an unintented glitch @ 2:37?

Maybe it should change something about the high frequency, making it a bit more 'crisp', or clear. But that could just be me, addicted to too much clarity...

Strange to read that an ace preset builder (I own several of your products) writes about has own music as 'pure crap', lol.

[Xenos]

I read the names Chris Liebing and Richie Hawtin and I had to listen to this.

Nice funky (oldskool, in a good way) techno. I would buy stuff like this. I think there's an unintented glitch @ 2:37?

Maybe it should change something about the high frequency, making it a bit more 'crisp', or clear. But that could just be me, addicted to too much clarity...

Strange to read that an ace preset builder (I own several of your products) writes about has own music as 'pure crap', lol.

Thanks a lot for the input . Having another pair of ears listen to the tune really helps a LOT. Ah yes...that glitch was on YouTube's end. I took your advice and did some slight EQ adjustment on the master channel, then the video was re-upped, so hopefully it now sounds better.

About the "crap" comment...trust me, bro - my songs back in the day were horrible lol. Over the years, I've found what I'm good at (rhythm/percussion, sound design, automation) and those things lend themselves well to pure, mechanical Techno and Noise/Atonal Ambient) , but also realized I suck at melodies/harmonies (needed for basicly _e-v-e-r-y_ other musical style out there hahaha).

[manducator]

Over the years, I've found what I'm good at (rhythm/percussion, sound design, automation) and those things lend themselves well to pure, mechanical Techno and Noise/Atonal Ambient) , but also realized I suck at melodies/harmonies (needed for basicly _e-v-e-r-y_ other musical style out there hahaha).

Funny to read that. I like many styles of music but the harder side of techno (early Jeff Mills, Dave Clarke, Robert Hood, DJ Rush,...) was my first love, together with minimal stuff (Plastikman, amongst others).

I got more into the harmonie stuff and for me it's hard to make this 'mechanical' techno. The more I know about music theory, the more I drift away from techno but I don't want to...

Hihats sound better now.

[Xenos]

Glad to hear the high-end sounds better . I got your PM by the way. I'll send you the stuff tomorrow. By the way...do you have FL Studio by any chance? I can send you the FL project file and maybe you could discover some techno tricks. Getting that "Chis Liebing" sound is actually pretty simple and fun as hell to do.

[manducator]

Unfortunately I don't have FL studio. I'm a reaper user. Looking forward to the mix.

[izonin]

This deep, verby stuff was the shit back in the 90's. You can't expect huge sells now. People are into clean, polished mixes.

[manducator]

This deep, verby stuff was the shit back in the 90's. You can't expect huge sells now. People are into clean, polished mixes.

I can only speak for myself and I'm not the OP, but I make the music I like because I enjoy it, not because it's a hype at this moment.

I even refuse to ask money for my music, it will always be free.

[tetsuneko]

Hi,
my 2 cents (please don't take personally)
I think it sounds a bit too "polite" for my taste. Would be even better with some more rock 'n roll to it (more saturation or different kind of compression). But I feel you could make this one work pretty well.

[tehlord]

I think as a tune it works fine, and to a certain extent the dark gritty mix is part of its vibe. I do think that it would benefit from being a little bit cleaner though, it sounds like you're not high passing anything and therefore leaving a lot of mud in the mix.

I agree that the fascination for uber polished mixes isn't what this track is about, but a little more crispiness in the top end and some better definition to the bottom end wouldn't hurt I don't think.

[satYatunes]

I agree that the fascination for uber polished mixes isn't what this track is about, but a little more crispiness in the top end and some better definition to the bottom end wouldn't hurt I don't think.

+1

If you want to keep the same mood (in fact you should) just work on the low-ends a little bit. I love that beat.

[lshaker]

Glad to hear the high-end sounds better . I got your PM by the way. I'll send you the stuff tomorrow. By the way...do you have FL Studio by any chance? I can send you the FL project file and maybe you could discover some techno tricks. Getting that "Chis Liebing" sound is actually pretty simple and fun as hell to do.

This is great! I really like this old school hard techno sound that not that many people do anymore, like early drumcode tunes, adam beyer, marco carola etc. It was sad when they all went minimal!

I don't have FL Studio but I would love to hear any tricks on getting that "Chris Liebing" sound:)

[djgroovy]

I think as a tune it works fine, and to a certain extent the dark gritty mix is part of its vibe. I do think that it would benefit from being a little bit cleaner though, it sounds like you're not high passing anything and therefore leaving a lot of mud in the mix.

I agree that the fascination for uber polished mixes isn't what this track is about, but a little more crispiness in the top end and some better definition to the bottom end wouldn't hurt I don't think.

+1

Agree with tehlord entirely, though you did capture Chris Liebing's vibe pretty well!