Amethyst - Hipster Bales

[Hipster Bales]

Hey guys!

Here's a song that I have been working on over the past 2 weeks.

It's more of a trance tune than any of my last tracks, and I bumped up the tempo and made it less repetitive (I hope).

The mixing is slightly different as well.



Any comments and opinions are accepted (seriously this time, I'm not gonna do what I did at Ruby).

Thanks!

[Hipster Bales]

Anybody?

[Ciderwell]

Anybody?

I wouldn't sweat it, dude. It's the Easter break and bank holiday Monday. Everyone is either off out for the day or busy with their tunes.
At the moment I'm trying to get a good guitar mic recording with a dbx 286s pre amp, as the direct input was way too soft. Just been checking out KVR for some microphone info. This might take a while!

[Hipster Bales]

Anybody?

I wouldn't sweat it, dude. It's the Easter break and bank holiday Monday. Everyone is either off out for the day or busy with their tunes.
At the moment I'm trying to get a good guitar mic recording with a dbx 286s pre amp, as the direct input was way too soft. Just been checking out KVR for some microphone info. This might take a while!

[Hipster Bales]

Anyways Amethyst is on YouTube if you want to watch it there

[Hipster Bales]

Hey guys!

Here's a song that I have been working on over the past 2 weeks.

It's more of a trance tune than any of my last tracks, and I bumped up the tempo and made it less repetitive (I hope).

The mixing is slightly different as well.

https://soundcloud.com/hipster-bales/amethyst

Any comments and opinions are accepted (seriously this time, I'm not gonna do what I did at Ruby).

Thanks!

Anyone?

[Zeisner]

Listen to plenty of good music, learn music theory and audio production and practice, practice, practice.

[Hipster Bales]

Listen to plenty of good music, learn music theory and audio production and practice, practice, practice.

I already do all of that (I've known music theory for years now, longer than production). Thanks though

[Hipster Bales]

Listen to plenty of good music, learn music theory and audio production and practice, practice, practice.

Just curious, what genre of music do you make? (What I made is dance music)

[Samiver]

The track ideas work quite well for me and the melody ideas give it a positive vibe which i did not find repetitive. I kinda missed some sort of hi hats in places as imo the track had more energy when you had the percussive elements in (open hats).

feedback wise i would work on the mix a bit as at times the melodic elements felt a bit lost behind the very present kick and snare. if it were me i would see if i could get a better balance with these elements.

enjoyable listen

[Hipster Bales]

The track ideas work quite well for me and the melody ideas give it a positive vibe which i did not find repetitive. I kinda missed some sort of hi hats in places as imo the track had more energy when you had the percussive elements in (open hats).

feedback wise i would work on the mix a bit as at times the melodic elements felt a bit lost behind the very present kick and snare. if it were me i would see if i could get a better balance with these elements.

enjoyable listen

Thanks a bunch.

[ChameleonMusic]

Had a couple of listens…

Important Point…

OVERALL:
It’s an enjoyable listen because…

1) (As I said before) you have a definite knack for creating strong, hooky melodic riffs / patterns…and that’s something that many never achieve.
2) Some good textures and timbres in there as well.
3) You’ve improved on your use of repetition – better structured (although still a bit rough and ready in some ways).

STRUCTURE:
Note: someone on your last track commented about there being ‘’nothing wrong with repetition in music’’

I’d go further – ‘’repetition is central to both the macro and microstructures within just about any piece of music in any genre’’

but…

The use of that repetition must be managed very carefully indeed:

1) When to repeat the same / when to repeat with variation of some sort / when to move to something different / contrasting…
2) Creating repetition that’s engaging and cohesive – tweaking the dynamics, the texture, the timbres, subtle rhythmic changes, developing the main melody shape, automating effects such as delay and reverb over time etc etc

One Simple Example:
In Trance (although not a necessary component) it’s quite normal to change key at some point in the track - shifts the emotional intensity and brings in some contrast and variety.

1) Going to the relative minor key (obviously with new underlying harmonies) in the breakdown is sometimes used to help bring the intensity down alongside other textural modifications.
2) Or in the breakdown, (if you prefer to stay in the same key) you can tweak / change the harmonies more simply with a new chord sequence.


MIX:
Very listenable overall.

It just lacks a bit of attention to detail / nuance / fine control at times…

1) Kick + drums in general dominate the melodic content at times…they’re too prominent…yes, they need to add that needed energy and drive, but the melody also has to shine!

2) 3D Mix – something I mentioned to you last time around and is core to creating a strong soundstage in most genres…your mix is a touch flat with maybe too much upfront and in the listeners’ face?

3D Mix is all about considering HEIGHT, WIDTH and DEPTH of the soundstage.

Various ways of doing this…

These articles cover the topic in slightly different ways with a different angle / focus each time:

https://www.izotope.com/en/learn/what-i ... =1&afsrc=1

https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques ... h-your-mix

https://www.masteringthemix.com/blogs/l ... in-the-mix

https://www.waves.com/adding-depth-to-a-mix



Time to shut up!

[Hipster Bales]

Had a couple of listens…

Important Point…

OVERALL:
It’s an enjoyable listen because…

1) (As I said before) you have a definite knack for creating strong, hooky melodic riffs / patterns…and that’s something that many never achieve.
2) Some good textures and timbres in there as well.
3) You’ve improved on your use of repetition – better structured (although still a bit rough and ready in some ways).

STRUCTURE:
Note: someone on your last track commented about there being ‘’nothing wrong with repetition in music’’

I’d go further – ‘’repetition is central to both the macro and microstructures within just about any piece of music in any genre’’

but…

The use of that repetition must be managed very carefully indeed:

1) When to repeat the same / when to repeat with variation of some sort / when to move to something different / contrasting…
2) Creating repetition that’s engaging and cohesive – tweaking the dynamics, the texture, the timbres, subtle rhythmic changes, developing the main melody shape, automating effects such as delay and reverb over time etc etc

One Simple Example:
In Trance (although not a necessary component) it’s quite normal to change key at some point in the track - shifts the emotional intensity and brings in some contrast and variety.

1) Going to the relative minor key (obviously with new underlying harmonies) in the breakdown is sometimes used to help bring the intensity down alongside other textural modifications.
2) Or in the breakdown, (if you prefer to stay in the same key) you can tweak / change the harmonies more simply with a new chord sequence.


MIX:
Very listenable overall.

It just lacks a bit of attention to detail / nuance / fine control at times…

1) Kick + drums in general dominate the melodic content at times…they’re too prominent…yes, they need to add that needed energy and drive, but the melody also has to shine!

2) 3D Mix – something I mentioned to you last time around and is core to creating a strong soundstage in most genres…your mix is a touch flat with maybe too much upfront and in the listeners’ face?

3D Mix is all about considering HEIGHT, WIDTH and DEPTH of the soundstage.

Various ways of doing this…

These articles cover the topic in slightly different ways with a different angle / focus each time:

https://www.izotope.com/en/learn/what-i ... =1&afsrc=1

https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques ... h-your-mix

https://www.masteringthemix.com/blogs/l ... in-the-mix

https://www.waves.com/adding-depth-to-a-mix



Time to shut up!

I've read those articles. Thanks a bunch, A 3D Mix is important, so I'll take that into consideration.

[Hipster Bales]

I just want to say thank you to everyone for the very useful feedback and comments. Highly appreciated and can help me become a better producer.

[ChameleonMusic]

Listen to plenty of good music, learn music theory and audio production and practice, practice, practice.