Constructive Criticism

[Bl4ck3n3D]

I would have posted this in the mixes/production forum but it seems to be that there's so many mixes posted there that individual tracks get swept under the rug and it's hard to garner any kind of serious feedback so I've turned to the Music Production forum instead where I'm sure there's some avid producers willing to give their 2 cents on this new track I finished the other day.

It's kind of dark, almost creepy sounding. The mastering/levelling needs to be tweaked but the composition is arranged decently, in my opinion. I think there might be a little bit too much going on in the track, I'm not sure, that's why I hope some of you here can leave your input! I will do the same for yours if you have anything in need of a second listening.

[psyEDk]

first question - what style are you going for?

it started out sounding like some kinda industrial gothic track but the minimal progression started to make it feel more like well, minimal techno.

i'd focus on one of those two extremes.
if industrial, focus on bringing out the grit of the sounds, and consider speeding up the progressions. a lot. i'm talking cut 3 minutes of the track because it loops a lot.

if you're going for a more minimal techno vibe, concentrate on cutting the sound back.
i'm not talking removing elements, i mean drastic EQ on each sound so it occupies its own little space of the mix. also some gater / envelope work on them too so you don't get too many trails clashing together.

overall it's a nicely balanced groove but you're right, the mastering needs to be tweaked to give all the elements their own space in the mix.

[seitz]

first question - what style are you going for?

it started out sounding like some kinda industrial gothic track but the minimal progression started to make it feel more like well, minimal techno.

i'd focus on one of those two extremes.

i highly disagree with this statement...you should make what you like regardless of style


anyways...seems like you need work on your mixing down...eq/gain structure

wont talk about the writing cause i dont particularly follow this type of music

overall it's a nicely balanced groove but you're right, the mastering needs to be tweaked to give all the elements their own space in the mix.

mastering have nothing to do with it...mixing down...mastering doesnt make a track pop unless the mixdown is great


edit: listened to your soundcloud...love your shit...dont think im jumping on you just minor correction

[JasonBay]

overall it's a nicely balanced groove but you're right, the mastering needs to be tweaked to give all the elements their own space in the mix.

Are you talking about the mixdown or the mastering job? Two completely different things

[psyEDk]

i'm talking about whatever the hell you want to call the process of tweaking the elements of a song so they don't clash creating a horribly muddy mess.
multiband comp could help a lot actually.. that's mastering right?

you guys, lol. i offer constructive advice and all you do is pick me up on semantics.
just fuckin lol ..

[JasonBay]

i'm talking about whatever the hell you want to call the process of tweaking the elements of a song so they don't clash creating a horribly muddy mess.
multiband comp could help a lot actually.. that's mastering right?

you guys, lol. i offer constructive advice and all you do is pick me up on semantics.
just fuckin lol ..

That's the mixdown you're talking about then. It's not so much about about calling you out per se, just trying to make sure I know what you're talking about as you describing one process but calling it another name.

[DJ Jesse A]

It's a good track, but you have to give each element its own space. look at your arrangement and see where each hit is occurring (I am assuming you have midi clips) and see if you have any conflicting hits.

[Bl4ck3n3D]

Thanks PsyEDk, I'm still not quite sure what I'm aiming towards forming musically, that's why there's that pull between the two different genres. I'm trying to create my own unique sound but it seems I'm lacking in the fundamentals of any particular style.

I have very little knowledge and experience with mastering or the mix down, thanks for defining the two processes clearly for me. Do any of you have tips for performing a mix down of the tracks? I've listened to my latest track in headphones and it sounds like a mess with different elements clashing and I'm not sure how/where to start the process.

[seitz]

turn everything to - infinity ...n add each element so it fits right in the mix...a/b it with a track you like to get a reference...also low cut any frequency's you dont need and eq problem areas...panning can help as well

[drewspuppet]

Very nice vibe, I dig it