WORKS-IN-PROGRESS for February, 2011

[MexicanKangaroo]

@Debaser Cheers for the feedback . The bass is nothing more than a sine + slightly detuned saw. The sawtooth makes the slippery/gritty sound, kind of like the bass in One by Excision and Liquid Stranger (there's is much better though....). I passed it through a bandpass through an autofilter with some modulation so I could pick out the frequency I wanted, and chuck a sub beneath it...

As common courtesy goes, I took a listen to your track. <3. That snare really cuts through the mix, especially the intro, big ups. Just wondering how you got the snare to sound like that/the sample's origin?
Btw, the track's really well mixed atm, really feeling it.

@MonkeyBusiness I think someones probably already mentioned, but it sounds more like a jam session or something, or a mix. Lots of different tempos. I know where you're coming from though mate, I've played piano for 10/11 years now and I've only just got into producing a few months ago. I'm assuming you're already probably musically 'aware', so I suggest you should have a day, no recording or track making, and make sounds. Make basses. Pads. Find samples, read on fm synthesis, get a whole list of channels. Come back the next day and pick the best ones, and save as presets. Do this every few weeks or so, and you get a good collection of presets which you can build on to perfection. It really helps with making future tracks, from personal experience. Musical ability is just as important as sound production imo.

@Olux I think i've already commented on your track, I'm just curious in how you got that high frequency sound at 1:05? Once again, big ups on the track, really professional.

Found this track in my project folder. I'd really like to continue this, but I'd really like some opinions from others on what is good... and bad.
Soundcloud

[kikaruu]

@MexicanKangaroo: The taps in the intro seem a little too wide, and don't really fit with the main section. That said, From :55 onwards sounds the most complete, and reintroduces those taps, so it's all good. Seems like there could be another layer of something (not sure what) in there someplace. I encourage you to keep it up.

@AltFire: I dig from the second minute; it feels like it gained a level at that point. Your kick seems a little long to me, which is fine because I can't hear/feel any bass, sub or otherwise. Soundwise, production is top notch. What's your method of creating that wet echo?

[ideate]

Hey thanks for all the positive feedback guys! I actually kept the long ending so DJ's could mix it easily when playing it out live, I agree that it draws out too long when it's played by itself.

[Debaser1]

@MexicanKangaroo - Cheers boss, Ive wanted to make bess sounds like that for ages.
And the snare is just 2 or 3 standard reason patched in redrum, but one of them is detuned a long way to make it proper bassy. Then slap some hall reverb on but make it dry. EQ, compress, viola!

I've made some changes then. Really worked hard on mixing the individual components better for a crisper sound, and it's slightly longer. Interesting to see how you lot think I should finish this one:
Soundcloud

Big up!

[nibzdub]

@ debaser, tune is sick man! I'm using reason 5 so it's nice to see other people getting a sick sound out of it. I think reason is so under rated!! what snare samples you using btw?

[Debaser1]

Cheers boss. Theyre from a sample pack that I got off a user on here called Mannyyyyy. I'm sure if you PM'd him he'd be very willing to link you to where to get them. Best set of snares I've ever had, and over a hundred too!

[DubMikey]

I am working a new tune.
I haven't been putting much effort into it yet.
Listen to it and let me hear what you think of the tune and the idea.

Soundcloud

[Psythe]

@debaser very sick man only this was the song cut out at about a min in then came back in should patch that up and then well its a banger i use reason 4 aswell peep my track man.
@DubMIkey you could be on to something here man just beef up that wobble bass with alot of eq and reso make that bass stand out
@ideate man this is good you musta have been on production for some time now your track could fall into the circus records cuts good job bro.

This is a track im workin on with more of an Excision Datsik feel will clean up the samples and add the ending just throw me some feedback most apreciative.
Soundcloud

[Alt Fire]

@AltFire: I dig from the second minute; it feels like it gained a level at that point. Your kick seems a little long to me, which is fine because I can't hear/feel any bass, sub or otherwise. Soundwise, production is top notch. What's your method of creating that wet echo?

Thank you for the good words. Did keep the kick a bit long on purpose but will take another look at it. All of the echos are done with Digital Delay line in Reason 5. The vocals with echos are set around 470ms and just over half feedback.

All feed back is very welcome. Still very green at this. This track has been renamed to "Eats It's Young".

Soundcloud

[DubMikey]

@debaser very sick man only this was the song cut out at about a min in then came back in should patch that up and then well its a banger i use reason 4 aswell peep my track man.
@DubMIkey you could be on to something here man just beef up that wobble bass with alot of eq and reso make that bass stand out
@ideate man this is good you musta have been on production for some time now your track could fall into the circus records cuts good job bro.

This is a track im workin on with more of an Excision Datsik feel will clean up the samples and add the ending just throw me some feedback most apreciative.
Soundcloud

@Psythe: Love the tunes. Imo you should make it more wild, not at the beginning though, cuz it sounds awesome just the way it is. Peace.

[eldoogle]

So here's the most recent rendition of my song. I worked on thicker (not really fatter but more low frequencies and layering) snares and more high melody like suggested.
Soundcloud

Thanks everyone for feedback, I'll start listening to previous posts.

@ Fbac - I don't listen to trance but this track is good, definitely not bad. "Im thinking its abit disjointed and doesnt flow very stop starty in a bad way", it's like this because nothing is happening at all. At 1:31 for instance, and yes hats might help. 1:49 is a really cool sound, super awesome. I think one problem is the wob isn't shiny enough, theres no sheen or glimmer to it.

@ nibzdub - Love the rhythm. Maybe the lead isn't loud enough. You sound like you know what your doing.

@ Psythe - Sounds like you made the main sounds and then chopped part of Mechano by Datsik and slotted that in there. Other than that it's promising but I'd say it needs more work put in the actual sound design.

@ DubMikey - Good for your second week of producing. I messed around for a year or two before hunkering down and buying Ableton, so you are in a fine place right now. What are you using for a DAW?

@ kikaruu - Not much of a melody, but I see it's aggressive and experimental as you typed. Do like the sample of the girl talking.

[Fbac]

@Debaser: Made it alot fatter nicely done, the vocal at 1:50 i couldnt hear properly (altho this may be your intention) , all in all sounding good, diffrent sounds on the edits are cool . no idea how you should finish it tho.
@Mexican kangeroo, liked the intro noises especially when u edit at 0:13 - 015 , ,, didnt like the noises at the bit before the drop, bass layer seemed abit farty didnt like,, at 0:54 really like that rewind delay thing, then the hi synth string things there cool , kick seemed fine , snare could do with more smakcy layers,, didnt like some white noise stuff in threre,, New bass and everything getting beefed up and should sound good (all just 1 randoms opinion)
@psythe: aint lisened to much datsik/exercision, but liking this track, like the skittering percussion and the sounds, the lead didnt seem very solid.THe synth at 1:00 sounds pretty centerd and solid tho. sounding good

--My tracks are buried within here somewhere

[Krispies]

@psythe really nice, big sounds. good work.
@debaser1 solid track, don't really know what I would add to it haha good job
@alt fire you might want to consider removing some of the high frequencies from the kick and maybe add some variation to the beat, cool ending though and cool song in general

Here's my newest work in progress, I took the vocals from the demo song on FL Studio "Just Hold On" and tried to do a little remix of it and here's what I've got so far:

Soundcloud

[Astral]

@eldoogle: Percussion and bass feel a bit hollow, try and get some depth across the bands.

@Krispies: Same as eldoogle, wobbles fine, but the percussion feels a bit hollow, sometimes its not even a case of more frequency range but simply a touch of verb or bussing everything together to get a tighter punch. Could also try sidechaining it through.



Something in the works from me, trying to move away from the jump up styles and trying something different. A remix of Benga it was.

Soundcloud

[DubMikey]

On my 2nd week of producing dubstep/music in general.

Tell me what you think of the tunes and idea!
Soundcloud

@Krispies - I really like that tune! Most def something you should finish!

[kikaruu]

@Alt Fire: Thanks for replying! And as the kicks were built that way on purpose, I rescind my previous comment; it's more of a personal choice, really.

@Astral: Love how the groove is set up immediately. Suddenly, strong bass! Excellent, mate. Like how clean the bass hits are, and when paired with those upper register hits, it just sounds... right. Nicely done. I think that a bit of variation is in order, though. Just enough to make the section from 1:51 sound a bit different. I mean, vamping is one thing, but progression is another, you know?

@Krispies: That's a foot tapper for sure. I like the soft, subtle filtering going on the bass. And then, in your face. I think you could do with chopping up those vox, though. Sort of like "Youth Blood", in the sense that it's the same samples, but spread out over the song/used sparingly. As it is, though? Lovely. Keep it going.

@eldoogle: Working on snares? So far, so good, but I encourage you to keep layering, wit deeper hits, to get that punch in. Better yet, layer sounds from across the map. For example, use a crumpling bag sample for the top end, pitch up a kick drum for the meat, and layer three different snare samples at low volume under it all. Then, route through a transient shaper for more snap, EQ to taste, the distort mildly. Can't really go wrong if you keep at it, you know? It's just a matter of getting a thought in your head, then replicating it with any and everything. As far as kick, get a bit of punch on that, too. It won't be a real kick, frequency-wise. BUT, it will resonate in your chest, like you've been, you know, kicked. You got that, you're solid. (A pretty sweet example of both are the samples on Bar 9's Triple Drop EP. Heck, a lot of his drums are similar anyway, so pick a random song and you're go. But not Smoke Stack. That's mine , and the snare there doesn't sound like what you're going for anyway.)

Sorry for the essay!



Aaaaaaand I've been pushing more dark, aggressive/experimental stuff lately. Like this, Science Fiction:

Soundcloud

It's actually done at this point, but -- I'd like feedback, please.


EDIT: @DubMikey: A little repetitive, mate. Ever heard Benga's "26 Basslines"? I'm not saying that you need to imitate it, but make it all varied, you know? Give some weight to stuff, yeah? Oh, and get a sub layered under that! What would be really killer is sub + infra + normal bass, then hi-passed at 16-20Hz to kill the mud. Pure sine waves. Then, you've got an oppressive, wobbly sub at any octave, really. Also, those samples? I suggest spacing them out, so they have more meaning. Like, I never make promises, unless I can actually keep them. That way, I am always a man of my word. That might be a failed illustration, but the point is that less = more -- dig?

[eldoogle]

Thanks for the feedback. Essays are great, the more the better imo.

[Nacklewicket]

kikaruu- that main bass is unbearable for me to listen to, its just too much and too consistent

eldoogle - ur tune makes me think of games like commander keen and bio menace. cool

dubmikey - ur tune is just a long wobble.. sounds "good" though for only having produced for 2 weeks but i cant really understand why u would want feedback that early.. i mean.. technicaly it sounded good for having produced for so short time but the idea for the tune was the worst

[Voodeedoo]

@Krispies - I think the percussion isn't present/hard enough to do the track justice, but great wobbles.

@eldoogle - I feel the drums and synths can use some tweaking.

@Psythe - some interesting ideas, it has a good bassy feel to it. keep it up

this is something i began several days back; am still working on the kicks/other instruments
Soundcloud

[ideate]

@debaser very sick man only this was the song cut out at about a min in then came back in should patch that up and then well its a banger i use reason 4 aswell peep my track man.
@DubMIkey you could be on to something here man just beef up that wobble bass with alot of eq and reso make that bass stand out
@ideate man this is good you musta have been on production for some time now your track could fall into the circus records cuts good job bro.

This is a track im workin on with more of an Excision Datsik feel will clean up the samples and add the ending just throw me some feedback most apreciative.
Soundcloud

Hey thanks alot man I actually sent my tracks to Circus Records after I read your message so I've got you to thank if it goes anywhere I'm so keen to get a track or 2 on Beatport, if anyone can offer any advice I'd so appreciate it.