<WIP> This track is missing a lot. Help me figure out what?

[HAX]

Something similar to Dabrenn's topic, but mine's about house, I suppose.

http://soundcloud.com/starlex-1/unnamed-wannabe-deadmau5

First off, I know that this is a disgrace towards Deadmau5 and his style, but it's for learning purposes, so I'll be sticking with that excuse for now. It's far from done either. I plan on making the track atleast twice as long as it is now... And the melody might need some work here and there as well..

Anyway, let's get on topic. It needs to be more dynamic, so what should I add? A softer, arpeggiated version of the main synth? (And synth is the name for sounds made on a synthesizer, right?) What about something ambient and similar to the white noise I've alerady got going on somewhere in there? Something else than the lead that progresses like the main synth?

Also, what about the claps? Should I beef them up later in the track? They're about to drown, so I'm kinda expecting you to mention that. Maybe add some reversed reverb on the second clap?

All help would be greatly appreciated, and I'd absolutely love it if you guys could hint towards new techniques that would help me improve with my music


I should probably have managed to type it clearer, but what I want to get out of this thread is for you to mention techniques I don't know of. If there's something you guys feel is missing, it's probably because I don't know what, and I'll be grateful for eternity if said techniques are mentioned. Just mentioning them gives me the ability to search for them and eventually learn to use them.
Like how I just recently learned what percussion and sidechaining is

[GumsOfGabby]

Okay I personally believe this belongs in the Music forum, but whatever.

Firstly, if you're going to post a feedback thread, please have your ideas completed. Half completed melodies give us only half the picture and we're not going to give you a midi file to tell you what should come next. Finish your ideas before asking for help, then we can go from what you have.

Secondly, don't ask us for permission to use techniques you're thinking about using. If you want to know how they sound, listen to other tracks OR -better still - try them out YOURSELF. You should never ask if you should 'do this' or 'do that'. Try it out yourself, see what works and post THAT for feedback.

Thirdly, there is no super, secret, special technique that all da proz use to get their music sounding great. I know, what a shocker! All they do is the simple things and do them well. They are able to do this from experience and lots of it. Put the hours in and you'll make progress. You don't need to know any super special techniques to get better.

-

Your track: sounds pretty good at the moment, but the chord progression doesn't sound "right". It goes through too many moods at once and it's hard to pick where it begins and ends. Read this blog about cadences to help you out there

http://audio.tutsplus.com/tutorials/com ... -cadences/

Your kick is quite weak and has barely any high end - which makes it hard to hear when all the other sounds are playing. Fix it. The clap is cutting through the mix fine, it's just that all of your other instruments are too loud. Also, sidechain - HARDER!!! (make sure to sidechain "everything")

Also if you want your track to be more dynamic, it's not about how much more you put in, it's about how you use what you have. Obviously add whatever you deem necessary, but be smart about where you introduce them. When you want the energy to go up, chuck in heaps of patterns. When you want the track to settle, use less patterns, switch to a half-time rhythm, extend your notes, etc. Also filters, reverb and delay (long), sidechaining (without a kick playing over the top) and the big one - silence - can all help to make your track sound more dynamic.

Extra stuff:

- add stereo delay to your clap, maybe layer it and shift it a couple milliseconds back or forth until it sounds nice.
- try cutting some of the bass frequencies on the chords to make room for a low passed bass.
- in general, your track needs to be mixed down bettererer.
- needs more cymbals or perc.
- add in some harmonies and variations.
- reversed reverb is a creative choice, it's entirely up to you whether you want to use it or not.

Can't think of anything else at the moment. I'll add stuff later if I think of it.

In all seriousness, your track sounds very nice. I'm really liking the synth used for the chords, but not so much the progression. Keep it up!

[HAX]

Thirdly, there is no super, secret, special technique that all da proz use to get their music sounding great. I know, what a shocker! All they do is the simple things and do them well. They are able to do this from experience and lots of it. Put the hours in and you'll make progress. You don't need to know any super special techniques to get better.

Sorry if you got me wrong, but I'm not asking for 'The' tehcnique, I'm asking for possibilities that I don't know of. You mentioned something about cutting the lower frequensies, which I'll look into, and thank you for that! This is the kind of stuff I didn't know of that might help me progress.

And yes, I know the melody is off at times, and I'll fix that later, but for now I'll be sticking with what can make the song less plain (which has been the feedback I've gotten from some people).

Also, you mentioned that I need to mix it better. Can you point me to a tutorial you know of/think is good?

[GumsOfGabby]

Also, you mentioned that I need to mix it better. Can you point me to a tutorial you know of/think is good?

Certainly



Just a word of caution though, watching one tutorial isn't going to give you a hugely improved mix. You need to practice and practice the principles used to achieve a decent balance between your sounds ie EQ, compression, reverb, etc.

Have fun!

[Lavender_Harmony]

Moved.

Overall what you have is a good melody so far.The chord synth needs compression and reverb, it's far too dry and static, compression would give it that 'stabby' quality, as would a little sharper filter envelope alongside the compression, and the reverb would emphasize this.

You also need to find some punchier samples. Zenheiser have a pretty cheap collection of decent electro drum samples which should suit you. For this kind of house, you'll want to have the snare on the beat, but have the clap offset so it sounds just before, like in the second demo here (From the other thread, hah)

https://dl.dropbox.com/u/543014/weak%20 ... arison.mp3

But what should you add? Well, a lead melody over the top would help, also layering drums, adding in a tambourine for the chorus section maybe, some other effects, just keep doing what you're doing, revise what I mentioned above.

[HAX]

Moved.

Overall what you have is a good melody so far.The chord synth needs compression and reverb, it's far too dry and static, compression would give it that 'stabby' quality, as would a little sharper filter envelope alongside the compression, and the reverb would emphasize this.

You also need to find some punchier samples. Zenheiser have a pretty cheap collection of decent electro drum samples which should suit you. For this kind of house, you'll want to have the snare on the beat, but have the clap offset so it sounds just before, like in the second demo here (From the other thread, hah)

I'll definitely look into this

Also, thanks for moving the thread. Was unsure where to post it as I'm most likely going to discard it alter on; I'm mainly after knowledge for the whole genre, and not for this one specific track