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what is wrong with my productions?
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Slynth
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
30
Posts :
51
Posted : Feb 24, 2014 07:47:49
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Hello everyone!
I need some opinions, suggestions, tips and tricks and all you can 
I think i have some big errors in my productions, and i need some help of all of us.
Here is an example of a track of mine
http://www68.zippyshare.com/v/55096177/file.html
All you can comment will be a very good help |
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Slynth
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
30
Posts :
51
Posted : Feb 24, 2014 08:03
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NEBULOsity
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
26
Posts :
78
Posted : Feb 24, 2014 08:19
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Well your bassline needs a little bit more on my opinion but its not the worst I have heard, for example I like it more than mine. Next your mix is muddy you use 1 loop and couple of others effects too much long. Maybe some automation can bring your flow to life. You have a lot of possibilities to do that and in this forum is many material useful for this purpose only thing you have to do is read some topics and try on your own then you find what works for you. I personally like using EQ, filter, distortion, reverb or delay automation. Just play the loop, tweak some parameters and record what you like. And last thing you mix everything close to the center in stereo image. Try put some element on the sides and main lead in the midle or viceversa you can also move sounds around with special plugins or with automation its matter of taste. I prefer music that sounds like you are in the forest a lot of noises from different direction, different distance and echo but not overcrowded.
Good Luck!
 https://soundcloud.com/nebulosity |
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gridshift
Started Topics :
2
Posts :
4
Posted : Feb 24, 2014 10:16
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Wrong is a strong word, however imho your pieces could use more variation n phrasing and your instruments could evolve a lil more.
totally agree with nebulosity that automation/panning/reverb could step up your game.
The best method to improve production though is conscious practice..
keep producing, dont delete older material, learn from mistakes..
I notice that i tend to pay greater attention to detail with each track i produce, as the techniques i have used previously tend to evolve further..
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PsyTriYe
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
10
Posts :
126
Posted : Feb 24, 2014 18:29
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yeh they say well this and well that.. il add that for some one that says there new to production and want lessons etc etc, i think those tracks are good considering those facts.. youl go along way m8 if this is the case.
correct about the stereo image, but all this gunna come in time, cant learn what its all about in one hit...
well muscly anyways.... lol |
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UnderTow
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
1448
Posted : Feb 24, 2014 22:01
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I only listened to the first link and I won't comment on the musical aspects, that you need to figure out by yourself.
What is wrong with your production? No Bass! And everything else is too low in level. You seem to be compensating the lack of real subs in your kick/bass by increase the level. That just gives you a thin kick/bass in front of everything else. It should be nice and fat and sitting below everything else.
Start by lowering or even removing the hi-pass filter on your kick/bass then drop the kick/bass by 4 dB or so and everything else will sound much better.
Then take it from there.
UnderTow |
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Colin OOOD
Moderator
Started Topics :
95
Posts :
5380
Posted : Feb 26, 2014 02:46
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UnderTow
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
1448
Posted : Feb 26, 2014 02:47
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Hi Colin. |
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knocz
Moderator
Started Topics :
40
Posts :
1151
Posted : Feb 26, 2014 02:52
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+1 with UnderTow,
Your sub bass is missing, taking a lot of the impact out. Maybe you are producing and mixing on a system with waaay too much subs bass (like using a sub woofer..), and you are compensating by lowering your track out.
More on the bass, if you leave more space in between the little bass notes, and make sure you never have a kick wave overlapping a bass (unless that bass note has a lower volume), it will have a bigger effect, as first the levels will be more constant, and second you'll have the k b b b k b b b triggering on the user, instead of a constant vibration -> music is more about the silence in between the notes 
Also, you mix seems off. And there are many more techniques and tricks you can use in to make the sounds blend together better, and form out an overall picture.
For example you could use a more cohesive sense of space, by setting up a send with a reverb or two and a delay or three, and then sending your tracks into these same send channels. Like this, you will have some effect units that take the tracks sounds and systematically plays them in time and space constant manners -> aka they will all be in the same place. Remember than you can also automate these sends, so in one case leadA goes like 10% to Send1 and leadB goes to Send2 20% and leadC is dry; then up ahead leadA goes dry while leadB goes to both sends, and another leadD comes in 100% wet in Send2.
I like to listen to the background noises of Hallucinogen, and try to think of them as these effect units, and there is always sound coming from then. The sound is from your track, but it's just there to fill in the space om the background. Doesn't have to be clear, doesn't have to be definitive, but it can go a long way
Again, you kick+bass mix buss can better mixed, I really recommend learning exactly what a compressor does't to an audio signal, and how the threshold, ratio, attack and release fit into the equation; then think on how you can balance out the "power" or your kick and bass, by using a single compressor.
Then, as said the balance between your kick+bass, and the rest of the tune, is off. It's really a couple DBs off, making it all fall apart. No matter how good the sounds are, if they aren't mixed in a way that makes them sound good, they can be terrible. As an example, Queen launched stems for their track "Don't stop me now", that has such a grooving and leading bass (the guitar only actually plays the tiny solo over the whole tune), but if you solo the bass it sounds weak, out of time, thin, and just wrong; however in the whole context of the track it's just amazing. Food for thought..
Even if you just look at the waveform of your track, when the kick+bass is silenced and the rest is laying, there basically is almost no movement at all of the wave! Again, maybe your system also spits out a ton of highs, maybe not, but you can look for these little signals to try and see what's going on -> some times meaning using the mute and solo to find the culprit.
Musically wise, yeah it's got some interesting stuff, but I'd expect a lot more, and during the intro's nothing happens -> more sounds in on it would be great, else wise what would you expect the ppl on the dance floor to do? Listen to a dry kick+bass for 50 seconds and keep on dancing to it? I believe it's your job to give them food for though while conducting their journey into whatever you want to call it
So, keep on going, make more! :::)
Super Banana Sauce http://www.soundcloud.com/knocz |
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Slynth
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
30
Posts :
51
Posted : Feb 26, 2014 18:33
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Thank's to all. I'm very greatfull for all of your help.
Someone can explain me a simple question?
In mixing kick+bass if i put them in solo, the master volume have to be in the -4db? |
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UnderTow
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
1448
Posted : Feb 26, 2014 19:32
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Quote:
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On 2014-02-26 18:33, Slynth wrote:
Thank's to all. I'm very greatfull for all of your help.
Someone can explain me a simple question?
In mixing kick+bass if i put them in solo, the master volume have to be in the -4db?
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There are no set rules. It has to be low enough that the mix doesn't clip when everything is playing. Other than that it doesn't really matter too much. I just checked the track I am working on now and the kick+bass peak at -13 dB FS but I can guarantee you that my final mix is significantly louder and fuller than your mix.
Just mix things so that it sounds right and worry about the absolute levels in mastering.
UnderTow
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knocz
Moderator
Started Topics :
40
Posts :
1151
Posted : Feb 26, 2014 19:40
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Quote:
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On 2014-02-26 18:33, Slynth wrote:
In mixing kick+bass if i put them in solo, the master volume have to be in the -4db?
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Definitely not! The correct answer is: nothing has to be anything!
Now, there are some guidelines, but that all they are: lines to guide you, not solid rules you have to follow.
Personally, I like having my kick+bass below -10db, sometimes just touching -10db - and then I mix everything else relative to this value. The important things are the relative values between the sounds, and the amount of headroom you have (how many DBs you have from the maximum peak until 0db). Then, in the mastering process the mastering eng. will boost your track "volume" to make it coherent with a bunch of standards, but if the tune actually goes over (or even close to) 0db there's not much he can do, and as he boosts everything, the relative ratio between the sounds will remain the same (without counting multi-band compressors..).
Many mastering engineers like a lot of head room, so it's best to keep it stable and high (say, -8db?). If you think it's too low, then crank up your sound system volume But as long as everything is under 0db, it'll be fine, but if you see something is making it peak then you need to lower the volumes even more.
Super Banana Sauce http://www.soundcloud.com/knocz |
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Slynth
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
30
Posts :
51
Posted : Mar 2, 2014 02:47
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I think im boring to you, but im with other question. You move master volume fader? or master fader is allways at 0?
If i put kick at -10db for example. My track will be with a very low volume.
I read at the forum, that some people uses limiters in master. this is a good option? |
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UnderTow
Started Topics :
9
Posts :
1448
Posted : Mar 2, 2014 03:21
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No you are not boring. Helping each other out is exactly what this forum is about.
Yes, master fader at 0. As for the level, mix your track so that it sounds good without worrying about the level (as long as it doesn't clip the output) and then export it. Load it into a new empty project and use a limiter and other mastering tools to increase the level.
UnderTow |
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Slynth
IsraTrance Junior Member
Started Topics :
30
Posts :
51
Posted : Mar 2, 2014 03:46
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Quote:
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On 2014-03-02 03:21, UnderTow wrote:
No you are not boring. Helping each other out is exactly what this forum is about.
Yes, master fader at 0. As for the level, mix your track so that it sounds good without worrying about the level (as long as it doesn't clip the output) and then export it. Load it into a new empty project and use a limiter and other mastering tools to increase the level.
UnderTow
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thanks you very much to tou and to all other members for the knowledge sharing.
all your shares will be very useful:D |
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