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no-ma-designs

2 Audio Reviews w/ Response

All 6 Reviews

Okay, so I can't really find any fault with the compositional aspects of the song; it's quite an interesting mix of trance and dance you've got here. So I'll just concentrate on the more sound-oriented parts that could help. The first thing I have to say is you should mix the track a little more. It sounds a little like your levels are overriding each other a little, particularly when that high distorted noise synth transition comes in (0:30, 0:57, 2:08, etc.). Try turning off any compressors or limiters you might have in the mastering chain, moving your individual track volumes to a maximum of about -3 DB, seeing if it clips anywhere, and adjusting the individual levels accordingly to get the sound you want. I think your bass might be just a wee bit loud, personally, but it's your call.

Trying to play a little to your style here, try low-passing all your tonal instruments aside from the bass at 100-400 Hz, depending on what frequencies you want to emphasize. Low-passing the bass at 40-60 Hz can help to bring out the kick, too. High-passing the tonals from around 5 kHz to 15 kHz can open up space for your hi-hats, cymbals and high effects, too. Most importantly, you'll be able to hear the high and low ranges at lower volumes, which'll decrease your pre-production RMS (so you can make it LOUDAH!). The bass can be hi-passed from 1 kHz to 10 kHz depending on your sound preferences. Side-chaining some, most, or all of the sounds to the kick in varying degrees might also give the tune a bit more danceability. EQing down some of your extreme hi- and low-end range (say, beneath 60 Hz and above 15 kHz), as well as the mid-range (maybe 300-1,000 Hz), in the master might also help to get everything nice 'n peachy.

Finally, there's a fairly wide stereo field, but you might be able to hear everything a little better if you narrow down the individual drum and tonal track widths and pan your melody slightly harder to the side (usually make an exception for the atmospheric effects and pads, though). I'd narrow down the kick (without narrowing the kick reverb too much) especially. Just make sure that very, very center of the mix is reserved for your low and very-low-mid range kick, bass, and snare. Some mid-side processing might also help to get those high frequencies outside so you can lower their volume a bit.

Oh, and double-finally, (totes not trying to patronize, just making a disclaimer of sorts) take any of your own preferences over mine or anyone else's if they end up contradicting each other.

Peace and love,

No.Ma.D.

GershBeats responds:

This is the hugest and most helpful review of anything I've ever seen. You're obviously well-aquainted with mixing techniques so I'll probably give myself a few hours at some point, make a copy of this song, and try to implement everything you said here. Thanks so much this is critique at its finest!

Also I'll be sure to check some of your stuff.

This track immediately brought back memories from the days of Gameboy soundtracks for me, which made me feel more than a little nostalgic. I was thinking that you might want to EQ the bass to get just a little less attack and a little more of the low-mid range, but then again, you made this pretty lo-fi, so I understand how that fits in with your production choices. This doesn't really strike my area of "expertise" (if you can call it that) in terms of production, but I like it, so I can at least tell you that you're doing something right! There's a lot of good employment of counterpoint and different voices that works to the benefit of the piece as a whole. One thing I'd like to see more of is more structural variety. You had two main themes and sections you played off of, and I'd like to see where a different melodic variation and chord pattern could take you. Still, I like this a lot, and I can definitely hear the JRPG vibe coming through clean and clear.

LyingPink responds:

Hey, thanks for the feedback. I wanted to leave a little high end in the bass -- I thought it gave the individual notes a bit more definition. Listening back though, I see what you mean: I'll see what it sounds like if I cut it down a little -- having some mid-high end on the bass was a conscious production choice, but having too much wasn't!
lijkDICKJUSTICE (below) said the same thing about adding more variety -- I'm starting to spot a pattern, here! I'll try to be a little more adventurous in the structure next time I submit.
Glad I succeeded with the JRPG vibe. Thanks again for the review!

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