If you got a minute:

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stray411

stray411

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I've completed my first song since finding this site and trying out all the different suggestions, tips and tricks I've drawn from here. I feel like I've really come a long way as a producer/engineer and I have nothing but thanks for the help and support I've gotten here.

I've included a link to my mp3 site below. Please take a listen to "This Is Life", it's the second song listed. This is more or less a hip-hop song so if you're not into that type of music you don't have to listen but I'm really just looking for critiquing on the mix and the production as opposed to the song and the lyrics. Any type of feedback would be greatly appreciated.

www.mp3.com/PerpetualProductio

Stray
 
Not my genre, but this pretty much rocks man. Good positive stuff! Only thing, it didn't have nearly the bass I would expect. I can't stand a ton of "dub" bass, but a little more here would have been good to me. Good mix though.
Very nice job!
 
wow! nice song. i really liked it. great mix.

i only noticed one thing. your pitch isn't real steady in some of the singing parts. the slide up at 1:32 for example. i think it might sound cool to add a female voice in those parts also. not sure if that is an option for you or not.

thanks for posting. cool song.
 
Clean recording and good production from where I'm sitting. The only thing I would say that the music track does seem a little thin.
Other then that this is good. Oh wait on another listen, that snare seems to be a little too much sometimes.

cheers
 
Like SLuiCe said, more bass.. this type of tune needs more bass..

Think of the cars drivin' by with the boomin' systems!


sam
 
Ditto the above comments; very tight performance! Sounds like some talented vocalists/rappers. Surprised by the lack of samples/scratching. Almost sounds old school -- or Will Smith-like. Good stuff.

The keyboard/synth pad thing seems a little dry/cold. That particular sound (piano synth) might work better somewhere other than right in the center like it is. There's an unsettling feeling that the mids are somehow messed up a little bit -- it may be just that, the piano synth (not the arpeggiated piano; the rhythm chord piano sound). This may be a crazy idea... but some type of repeating delay could work on that sound... with the original track panned to one side and the delay on the other (just a crazy idea! :)) Something to try, anyway.

Fairly tight mix. It's about 95% there! :)


Chad
 
Wow, thanks for the immediate feedback. I was expecting to see replys this quickly.

The point made about the bass being a little too light is right on. I have a version with the bass a bit heavier but in my playback systems it always seemed to distort in some areas. I'm still trying to get used to compression, how and when to use it. A few producers I talked to swear by compressing the kick and bass together on every track but I've also been told to use compression sparingly when dealing with keyboards and sound modules. I'm still trying things out to find out what works best for me. BTW, the kick and bass were not compressed on this song.

Right on about the singing parts as well. My partner and I are not, nor do we claim to be, singers. We are rappers but not singers. The hook and bridge sections were supposed to be done by a local female vocalist but that ended up falling apart. I wanted to submit this song for a spot in a flick so we just did the vocals ourselves. Before any money is spent in duplication that problem will be hammered out.

Fed, when you say thin I'm assuming this is in reference to being bass light? Otherwise what do you mean by that? I hear ya on the snare part. I liked it down, my partner liked it up so we met half way. I am starting to get used to it but I agree it can stand to be a bit lower.

Participant, thanks for your comments. I appreciate you breaking down the instrumentation and telling me precisely what you think needs changing. I agree with what you're saying in regards to the panning of the pad and I'd like to try the delay idea you're talking about. Sounds like it could make things interesting.

Overall, these comments are like gold to me. I'm at work right now, but when I get back to the studio I'm going to be trying some of these changes and see what I can come up with. If any of you are interested I will be posting a revised mix within the next week, I'll post here when it's done.

Much appreciated.

Stray
 
Well hell! I guess I'm gonna have to sign up at MP3.com. There's starting to be so many posted there. I'll do it tonight and give it a listen then.
 
Stray, I'm listening as I write this. I think this could be really powerful with a strong SNAO from that snare. Maybe if the bass and kick drum were panned together it would brighten that up to. This really isn't my genre but I enjoy all music. I think the vocals were excellent in this and wouldn't change that at all. Just more "power" from the percussion and bass.
 
Hey Stray.
Nice sound, but like the others more bass. Drive that sound. ;)
It's not my kind of music, but I have come to appreciate it. I like it.
 
The low end has been covered.

I send you compliments on the challenge. You've done a pretty damn good job on making different vocal timbre's and delivery's sit in the mix almost equal. I think the lower voice (the first one to come in AFTER the intro) had some conflicts but, they were minimal at worst. Nice mixing on that acount.

Sorry for the opinion but, I thought the redundancy of "pleasant, happy piano and synth sounds" could be offset by a little bit of meat in the mix. Perhaps a pumping bass will fill the need. I'm not thinking anything mean or distorted, just something with more balls and statement. And used sparingly for umph and emphasis. I can't offer an example (I swear it is in my head but, no instrument comes to mind).


Very cool tune. I liked the flow and the mix was solid in most regards.


Theron.
 
Most of the critiques have already been posted.

Good sounding mix,clean and powerfull.
Nice writing and mixing job.

Good stuff.

Best to you,
Pete
 
I really appreciate the continued feedback here. It's great to hear what I believe to be sincere and honest reviews. I play something for people around here and all they have are glowing reviews, I have a hard time accepting that. This type of feedback is much more useful and educational and again it is truly appreciated.

As I said before, I'm going to try to work on the bass issue and a few other things mentioned here. If any of you are interested I'll be posting a new version within a weeks time.

Thanks for all the support

Stray
 
The bass issue:

Hey again everybody. Over the past couple of days I've really broken down "In This Life", hightlighting the pros and cons I see as compared to the reviews I've received. I keep coming upon the same stumbling block, the bass issue.

I guess the genre this song falls into would be considered hip-hop/rap, but I don't consider my music to be anywhere near that of a Ja Rule, Master P or Ludacris for example. Hip-hop/rap convenetionally consists of very heavy bass lines and pretty stale (IMHO) topic matter; money, cash and hoes. I know in this industry you really don't have a choice to not be listed by genre but I will try my hardest to distinguish myself from the rest of the pack.

That being the case I'm wondering what you guys think about me leaving the bass the way it is. I mean do you think the bass is actually lacking for the song or is it lacking because it is a hip-hop song? Any input here would be helpful as I'm really trying to come up with a different sound.

Thanks in advance,

Sam
 
Re: The bass issue:

stray411 said:
That being the case I'm wondering what you guys think about me leaving the bass the way it is. I mean do you think the bass is actually lacking for the song or is it lacking because it is a hip-hop song? Any input here would be helpful as I'm really trying to come up with a different sound.
Click to expand...

This is a great question IMHO. that's why I didn't recomend the bass thing in my post. I figured from the overall qulity of the production you knew what you were trying to do so I thought it was intentional to live the pumping bass out.

And yes the thinnes was probably from the lack of bass content which by the way it seems you changed now or did you?

It sounds different now... hm... did you change it??? it wasn't clear form your post whether you did or not?

anyway I think you did and it sounds terriffic not thin at all now.
I notice better blend of the track and the voice

I realy like that begining part the reverb has realy tastefull theater feel to it.

cheers
 
Fed, it actually is the same mix, I'm in the process of re-working it but haven't uploaded as of yet. I appreciate your comment here as I'm really unsure of how people will view the lack of bass. Hopefully, the market I plan on attracting will have the same view as you and I.

Once again, the feedback is much appreciated.

Sam
 
This was a bit of a suprise, the keys, piano sound and the use of syncopation work great and the basic shape holds well I thought your could do more with that piano lead stretch the harmonic content in the lead a little. It does work without thumping bass because there is enough of a hook in the drum and keys to drive it. The only song I can remember for a while in a hip hop kind of style without bass was the Blackstreet No digity where they sampled Bill Withers. That whole thing had an acoustic vibe about it and whereas I think differet is good I think on this tune bass would work well and IMO probably better with than without
 
Ok, I think I had EQ on on my winamp.. i dunno

it doesn't sound as thin today ... :confused: go figure...
 
Thanks for the continued replys here, much appreciated.

Matt, thanks for the listen and comments. I have to agree with you on the bass issue, it does need a little more and I'll be making that change very shortly. Thanks for the input though.

Fed, so when you say it know longer sounds thin are you listening with or without EQ? Let me know on that.

Thanks again

Sam
 
ok

i know you said you didn't want "feeble" ear's on this one. but i have to comment:p

i liked this tune. the rap style bring's me back to old school stuff, like something you would hear on the breakin soundtrack, or beatstreet. not the music, but the rapper's voice and delivery.

very cool!

peace

rick
 
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