What does this need?

[tommytime555]

I'm pretty new to mixing so please go easy on me! ッ -- I decided to try a box drum instead of a real drum kit and I'm semi-assuming that is my issue here but I'm having a hard time deciding what is missing on the last part of this song. I can't decide if it's mids? Maybe it needs more highs? It's just not melding together or punching like I want it to.. Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

T

 

[Eric V]

I think it's the fact it is a hand drum so it just doesn't have much punch compared to acoustic drums as an example. And may I ask, why did you decide on a hand drum? Just to try something different? That is commendable. I'd say crank up some bass and treble. but that's just my opinion. Interesting music, it's catchy. Is is part of a larger piece?

 

[PorterhouseMusic]

Is it just me? Or is the timing off considerably on some of those hand drum hits? I'm tapping to quarter beats and some of those sound off. Way off. Tambourine sounds generally in time in comparison.

And whatever that low percussion is - kick drum? - sounds a little boomy. Like you could roll off that really low information.

Other than that - I like it - you're on to something here. Interesting vibe. Keep going!

 

[tommytime555]

I think it's the fact it is a hand drum so it just doesn't have much punch compared to acoustic drums as an example. And may I ask, why did you decide on a hand drum? Just to try something different? That is commendable. I'd say crank up some bass and treble. but that's just my opinion. Interesting music, it's catchy. Is is part of a larger piece?

Hey, thank you! Honestly, I have a nice electric drum kit sitting here but melding those in is way more difficult to me so I decided to go with the box drum. Yes, it's a full song, and this is the end of it.. I have the rest of the mix pretty dialed in (imo), but I'm happy to share the final once I iron out the ending.. Thank you!

 

[tommytime555]

Is it just me? Or is the timing off considerably on some of those hand drum hits? I'm tapping to quarter beats and some of those sound off. Way off. Tambourine sounds generally in time in comparison.

And whatever that low percussion is - kick drum? - sounds a little boomy. Like you could roll off that really low information.

Other than that - I like it - you're on to something here. Interesting vibe. Keep going!

You might be right here. I actually need to re-cut the box drum since the bass/snare hits are kinda sporadic as well as off time here & there. This started out as a quick 'get it out of my head and nothing more' project but I figured I'd take it a few steps further and make it sound decent. I'll adjust the boomy sound accordingly, appreciate the suggestion! ッ

 

[DM60]

Hey, thank you! Honestly, I have a nice electric drum kit sitting here but melding those in is way more difficult to me so I decided to go with the box drum. Yes, it's a full song, and this is the end of it.. I have the rest of the mix pretty dialed in (imo), but I'm happy to share the final once I iron out the ending.. Thank you!

If you have a daw, and MIDI in, record your drums to DAW, get them the way you like them, either get a drum VSTi or use your drum kits sound by routing the sound outputs back to the DAW, (You can arm and hit record, play), it is pretty automatic. Then once you have it sounding the way you want, you will have your take.

Sounds complex, but worth learning how to do. You can have the beats you want and get it in sync. Really worth getting good at it, especially if you can get "your" beats in your song. You can even get out of the box grooves, then add to them on a different track to still make it custom.

 

[Slouching Raymond]

The track is interesting, and pretty musical.
Ever tried Congas? There's a lot you can get out of them. In another section you can still have a full drum kit.