WIP Thread - GIVE FEEDBACK TO OTHERS BEFORE POSTING!!!

[audiowaves]

yes it's dbglue glitch. haven't used it for ages. I normally cut and slice everything by myself... but I'm still happy with the result this time.
I don't think that more low end helps my drop getting kick ass . it's more little adds, a thick bass sound, some midrange and a good arrangment I started this project 24 hours ago and the most time-comsuming part was the intro build-up. the drop arrangement is what I'm going to do next.
@smor3s
I'm really bad at giving feedback as soon as it comes to pure bass sounds. I'm even bad at just creating bass sounds or layer them. It takes me ages to find the right sound I am looking for and that also fits into my songs. Most of the time it's tweaking knobs for hours and experimenting alot - getting frustrated starting over, watching a seamless tutorial seeing him turning knobs in harmor - want to do the same... fuck I don't have harmor

So..I'll give it a try,
- the whitenoise at 0:15 is too obvious. try to blend it, open the cutoff and close it again, so the whitenoise doesn't come out of nowhere + I think you can highpass it a little bit more.
your drop is missing something - little adds/glitches, pads, something to make it sound fuller. I also would say that your bass sound is too loud and it's fighting with your kick. give your bass a little notch somewhere around 80-120hz, just test what works best for your kick. if it's not enough then you could consider to sidechain your bass to your kick. hope this might help you...

[mthrfnk]

@SMOR3S: The intro sounds okay, try and make your sweeps less obvious and blend them in more. The vocal at the drop seems slightly too loud. As for the bass, I'm not sure about it, it's a little boomy and really drowns your kick - don't sacrifice "loudness" drums for the bass. Also the long repetitive patterns can be a bit aggressive on the ear since there is a lot of actual bass vs mids/highs. I'd add some pitch bends at the end of each burst, maybe up and down alternately, to try and liven it up and prevent it becoming fatigueing. As for the drums I'd go for K/S/K/S rather than K/K/K/K.

@manudiao: The glitching on the drums at the intro is slightly offputting, maybe remove the stutters or tone them down. The vocals and build are great, the little mini build before the drop is really nice. Not too sure on the bass at the drop though - seems very basic and muddy. Definitely could use some work. Arrangement and other synth work sounds nice though.

@D00FY: Intro is quite cool, I don't like the vocals personalyl but obviously they are part of the original track. The drop is a bit unexpected, perhaps try to build into it more. The "growl" sounds very flat, try and get some movement in it especially in the stereo field. Definitely need to work on your mix, the basses and synths cover the drums a lot and the individual bass shots vary in volume a lot. Some good ideas, just needs working down on the mix/EQ'ing.


I made me some Knife Party inspired drumstep at the little choke and mini drop I'm planning triplet drums but it's gonna take a while to rechop the synths around them, then at the proper 2nd drop I might go full dnb for a bar or two. Any other ideas?

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[audiowaves]

@mthrfnk
a read alot of your input in the reese bass thread and it was very helpful. again I love the midrange bass in your song. So you resample all your synths and chop them for the second drop? or do you chop in general?

Before I postet my WIP, I spent most of the time creating the build up and intro. the drop was really just a rough arrangment. Now after a couple of hours I'm quite happy with it. But I don't think I'm done yet. I reuploaded it, so you (and all the others) can see the development \o/
(I haven't seen your comment on the glitch pattern before I reuploaded it. I'll definetly have a look at it.) Thanks for your input

Old one:
Soundcloud

new version:
Soundcloud
still not perfect, but better. need to recheck my volumefaders for the dropsection

[mthrfnk]

@mthrfnk
a read alot of your input in the reese bass thread and it was very helpful. again I love the midrange bass in your song. So you resample all your synths and chop them for the second drop? or do you chop in general?

I'm glad it helped
Thanks, I resample a lot. Although in that track I've been lazy and not resampled anything because I wanted to get a lot of ideas down fast, although I still have 4 paramters automating on the midrange simultaneously
I might actually try some resmapling on it though.

I normally work in midi until I have sounds I like, then I'l bounce and maybe chop & rearrange some stuff, currently the track I posted is all in midi. The source is one instance of z3ta with a fair amount of FX on (trying to remember: initial EQ to cut the sub, fancy EQ boosting/cutting, WOW filter, a flanger, 2x distortion units, EQ/Exciter/Comp from iZotope Alloy) - this then gets sent to a channel which deals with sidechaining the kick and snare both EQ and volume wise, it also gets sent to another channel where i cut all the low/mids and add some more excitation and stereo width to get a crispy wide top end, both of these go to a nice reverb send channel too. I also have 3 white noise channels modulating with the midrange, 2 high pitched "bright noise" in the left and right channels and one "brown noise" midrange in mono. The sub is from analog pack of samples in Kontakt that mimics the midrange notes. Finally I have an instance of Massive in which lead sound that "opens up" by using a filter as each midrange note plays - you can't really tell when listening but if it is removed you can tell. So basically I've made a bit of an overall complex chain which I could have killed off by resampling the FX in

Before I postet my WIP, I spent most of the time creating the build up and intro. the drop was really just a rough arrangment. Now after a couple of hours I'm quite happy with it. But I don't think I'm done yet. I reuploaded it, so you (and all the others) can see the development \o/
(I haven't seen your comment on the glitch pattern before I reuploaded it. I'll definetly have a look at it.) Thanks for your input

Old one:
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new version:
Soundcloud
still not perfect, but better. need to recheck my volumefaders for the dropsection

It's sounding nice, basses sound much nicer. Really liking some of the reesey/phasey wubs. Drums coming through nicely too. Can't really think of any tips for you aside from maybe trying to push the top end of your midranges more to get a more crisp top end.

[SMOR3S]

@manudiao: Marry me @__@, and I will also do your dishes for life if you teach me your ways of music..

@mthrfnk: Wow dude, this track is fucking dope! I had to critique you, cause your level of production is just far more superior compared to mine.. Also what sample did u use @ 0:42, the whoop whoop sound, you should send that to me <3 :3

Here is another track I am working on for my EP:

Still need to add intro synth, reese bass, sub, risers, white noise, and fx sounds.... This is just a basic idea of how I am going with it.... (I did this track for the DSF sample pack comp, but I am remaking it with actual samples.)

Soundcloud

[mthrfnk]

Pretty much any YouTube tutorial related to Alvin RIsk/xKore/Knife Party woops or lazer sounds will get you there

[SMOR3S]

Pretty much any YouTube tutorial related to Alvin RIsk/xKore/Knife Party woops or lazer sounds will get you there

Okay cool, thanks.. I made my track link embedded, I forgot to do that lol.. Hope you didn't over look it...

[audiowaves]

@mthrfnk
oh man if I read about all that resampling techniques and frequencie splittings I feel like a newbie. I mean... I tried it ofen but it rather made it sound worse then better.
the only thing I'll do often is cutting the sub out of my midrange basses and create a different instance for it. curiously, I didn't do that in my posted WIP and I really can't hear a difference. (but every instance of massive has a sinewave in it -it's just not in a seperate instance and not eq splitted)
My normal workflow is 2 instances of massive on a single track - eq mid/top > 120Hz and eq low < 120Hz. But I'm very careful with my fx chains outside of massive.

@Smor3s I'm really willing to help but I often struggle to find the right words. It's always a lot easier to speak and write in your native language + I often don't even know how I would explain things in my mother tongue, so how am I supposed to do that in english
I've learned everything from this forum, youtube (god bless youtube - it makes things sometimes so much easier if you don't have anyone around you who has any knowledge about synths) and a lot of trial and error. more error then trial. listen to a lot of music, try to recreate the music you like/ you find interesting: check when the basses and synths are changing (it's often not just a single midiclip- automated like there's no tomorrow- but a pattern that consists of a couple of sounds that are playing one after another) and so on... analyze them as good as you can.

[SMOR3S]

Working on a new track for my EP....
Let me know what you all think...

Soundcloud

[mthrfnk]

Working on a new track for my EP....
Let me know what you all think...

Soundcloud

Sounds nice, I like the drums - are they hand placed or loops? Overall I'd say you probably need a saw based lead/midrange bass pumping underneath the drums. Some musical frills on a piano or bells throughout might be nice too. Mix seems okay atm though

Updated my WIP, still haven't managed to do the triplet/dnb section so the drops are the same atm:
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[Filthor]

I've given my feedback, so here's my track

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[SMOR3S]

Updated my WIP, still haven't managed to do the triplet/dnb section so the drops are the same atm:
Soundcloud

@mthrfnk: I decided to actually take advantage of the DnB loops "Maniac Agenda" gave out in there Halo 4 sample pack... I found it cheating to just straight use them, which seemed generic, so I did as normal, pop them in a live drum rack instance, and sample out to midi... (This is irrelevant some what, but I do play shows, and I have a few coming up next year, but I really want to do a chill ambient vibe, for my next EP, and that's the emotion I am feeling, which honestly is the right way to go about it, despite if your fans agree with your genre, cause there are fans for every genre... My main concern is club friendly vibes from ambient dnb/ambient music in general.. I doubt they will I doubt they will hardstyle dance to it, let alone roll up a fat blunt and start smokin, so idk if it's the type of music to play at a club environment... I am really trying to think of an artist, that is ambient, that does play live here in the US, idk any, since I am still new to the DnB production scene, but it's huge in the UK, aye?..

Now feedback for you :3 Right when the drop hits, I expected some crazy brostep stuff, but you kept it really maintained, and still intense, with the slow moving, progression/variation.. Those whoop noises really grasp onto me, and in between each bass sound, it really builds character... You should try doing a second drop, that's different... I am not one for doing drop changes, for second drops, but you could do maybe a slower DnB type style, but idk if that would throw some people off to much or not.. I am partial to it, so I guess it's just preference.. Off the start though I noticed a really awesome similarity, from the main pluck, saw synth, to Mario Paint, which is awesome :3 It has a really 8bit, gamey vibe, and I do also feel you should add more noises, like backing noises, like they do in DnB... Ones that aren't really noticeable, but still apparent, cause they fill the gaps well...

I have been working more on my mixes, by thinking of a shoe box, and what frequencies fit in it, and which ones I still need.. Like if I have frequencies 200Hz +, then obviously I need some low end, like 100Hz or lower...

Here is a NEW NEW updated WIP of my "Sky" track... I added Violin, re-adjusted some EQ'ing, re-adjusted compression/sidechain settings, re-made the drum rack + splashed some reverb on it...

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[SMOR3S]

I was working on a new track for my EP this morning.. I am struggling with a reese, since I don't normally make them, but just the sub, and pad sounds good imo.. I still have a lot to work on obviously, but this is just a basic rough draft thus far..

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[1stfiest]

@smor3s I am not huge on the latest track TIme, your track Sky however is really nice. Reminds me of a band called plastic operator, I would go check them out ^^. I think the only bit about your sound in general, is the snare drum doesn't suit your tracks to well. It would suit a roller or headbanger, but for these liquid sounds, something a bit higher with less of an attack would go nicely i think.

@Filthor Hehe i like the 8bit poly synth in the intro. I also think the filtered kick sweep at the beginning sounds awesome. Your bass/mid lead sounds a bit flat, could use some small plate reverb to push it back in the mix and give it some depth. Also layer it with some sub/sine wave for some real power.

@mthrfnk Just sounds like Skrillex, not huge on this.

Here is my WIP. Something chilled, ambient and kushy.

Soundcloud

[SaveMidnight]

1st fiest - That opening synth is a little cheesy. Or maybe underdone. Its gets a lot cleaner after it drops, though which is a good thing.
Some of your Chordal Movements are a little awkward, but that may have been on purpose. It has a nice chilled out vibe which does it some good, but I feel that it doesn't really go anywhere. I understand that that is such a nothing statement but that's how I feel after this listen. I think it relies too much on that main piano and it could do with some movement from the other instruments.

smor3s - (time) The synths and fluttering pads are good in the intro, but they go on for a while longer than I thought they would, and begin to get overly repetitive without anything else coming into the mix. When the drums finally arrive to the party they're good, but the drum pattern doesn't have much movement here. The sub is on point, and the bass riff going is nice. As far as reeses are concerned; Saw OSC -12.03oct + Sin OSC -24.06 + LPF w/LFO on Cutoff and Slower LFO on Resonance = Success. Or at least the base.

Filthor - The arp lead is nice, but a little repetitive. Maybe vary the Arp Rate? or if you wrote that, consider messing with the rhythm to allow it to breathe more? Just suggestions. However, your mid-range bass patch is weak; it's far to thin to do the job you want it to do. I second the idea of layering a sub underneath for depth and a little warmth.

mthrfnk - Someone said this had a skrillex vibe, but the only thing I noticed was the vocals and the laser synths. But it's not fair to claim that something sounds like an artist just because is has similar qualities. This isn't my favorite track of yours, but this one works out pretty well. The vocal before the second drop is a little off, like it delays the drop in a weird way. If that was on purpose cool, but I'm just letting you know. Good vibe, and the track has a solid rhythmic foundation (like your tracks do). What I have to say next depends on what you want to do with the song. You can either blow it up at the drop (bro-out) or you can slide into the change (no drum lead in). I think you should give both a try to see what you end up with.


No WIP from me today, just take a look at my Sig track if you get a chance. I'm through with it, but I'm always interested to hear what people think about my work.
I'll probably have something in the DnB department in the next couple of days for ya'll to check out. Later!

[Darj]

@1stfiest : Very interesting tune, this detuned pad is really nice, and the keys are amazing. There's just a little weakness on that. Your drums could be more present in the mix. I think some a bit of distortion on your hats could help. Serious tune mate.

@SMOR3S : There's something wrong with your snare on that. I think the size of the reverb is way too big. Most dnb tunes have a strong and short snare. a bit more compression could help too. The overall of the track isn't bad, but it gets boring. Variation, progression on drums / synths and breaks will be your friends !

@mthrfnk : Not my cup of tea, but there's a lot of good ideas in that. Like that hi pass on the whole tune. I think it miss just a little bit of punch, and your kicks sounds really straight beat. I'd add a few kicks with low velocity, it gives a lot of power to a tune Good job anyway.

I'd like to give more feedback, but this post looks a bit messy. Seriously, rules are simple, give 3 pieces of feedback when you post a tune, even if it's a re-post after a rework.

Here's mine, I haven't uploaded WIP for a while, this one should be released anyway :p. I'll try to give feedback here more often when i have time !

Soundcloud

[SaveMidnight]

I'd like to give more feedback, but this post looks a bit messy. Seriously, rules are simple, give 3 pieces of feedback when you post a tune, even if it's a re-post after a rework.

I hope this wasn't directed at me.
It's one thing to post something without giving feedback but I hope I'm not getting flamed because I gave feedback w/o posting a WIP.

[travis_baker]

firstfeist: cool man, the pad is nice, not a fan of the piano but thats just an opinion, mix is fine!

houstin weather: ok mate u have a nice tune at this point. its melodic and ur sounds all work together. but mate u really need to watch your levels and learn to mix the sounds together so u can hear everything. may i suggest reading the mixing mastering thread.

darj: tune is mad, drums are sick. i think the sub is a little loud. and the mix could use a little cleaning around the lower mids. other than that this is a tune big up!

http://soundcloud.com/travisb9/de-piano
been i while since i posted here. this is mostly done but could something else thanks all!

[SMOR3S]

@1stfiest: I think you should delay the time between, when the intro ends, and when the drop starts, I think it starts to soon, or sounds off time... The overall track really feels chill... Has a good jazzy, hip hop vibe, I could see some vocals... The variation is nice, and the sub/kick hits hard... Snare is nice and poppy too!

Darj: The transition from intro to drop was good.. It slammed really hard, which is nice.. Is that a panned snare, or shaker? + the toms roll was prime.. At first I didn't think so, but after listening again, it was good.. Just felt off time at first... I love really dark, chill, ambient stuff, and this suited me well... Really made my headphones boom, and the low end response is generally crap on these, so you win

Here is an update to my track.. I added more variation to my drums, and made the pattern a bit better + added R/L snare pans at the end of every eighth bar.... Do you think the second drop is to long, or I should add a break in between some where?

Thanks, glad you guys are helping :3

Soundcloud

[niteshift]

Darj: thats hot shit! Loving the dark vibe and the perc

travis baker: nice chilled out vibes, mix sound crisp , could of done with some more fo the sax.

SMOR3S: kool tune not really my thing but nice and chilled out i felt like you could of took the melody out for a few bars and let the bass breath or a few bars with the melody constantly playing the song becomes to repetitive.

My lastes WIP that ive started on today still a bit ruff : https://soundcloud.com/niteshifts/nightshift-searching