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Would love some Mix Feedback – Hold Me In Your Arms
Hi all – First – Thanks Dana for this whole community, and your openness to share your hard-earned knowledge 🙂 This is an original piece, and i’m planning on pitching it for sync opportunities. The reference track is Massive Attack’s “Angel”. Things i’d like to know would be: Is the mix clean? Is it dynamic? Can you hear all parts? Is there good energy? does it build properly? (Anything else that may come to mind to improve the track as well). Thanks so much, Stuart
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25 Replies
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Awesome work, @smoothygroove! I just gave a quick listen on my laptop (MBP) speakers and it’s definitely dynamic and love all the sync/editor-friendly builds, breakdowns, fills, and transitions 🤘. I’ll listen for real on the big speakers Sun eve or Mon when back in the studio, but until then wanted to say wudup(!) and thanks so much for sharing — looking forward to what others here have to add, too.
One thing I can offer, even on the laptop speakers — arrangement/production-wise — is at the very last chorus section after the big snare fill I was hoping that big fat 80’s-ish snare sample u used for the fill/transition would stay in through to the end of the song! I was wanting that final chorus to be a real “kitchen sink” of an arrangement, incorporating all the fabulous elements you developed throughout the piece for a real maximalist badass-imalist ending section. Could be fun! But either way, great work, man!!
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Yo! Listening now on real speakers. Here are a couple quick thoughts:
- can be louder overall – try a lookahead limiter on the master bus, like the Fabfilter Pro-L2
- the tamb-snare sound (like at 1:06) that alternates with the side-stick feels like it could be tucked in
- the ripping electric guitar is awesome(!) but around 1:45 it might dominate the rhythm section balance a bit too much. It’s fun that it’s that loud, but maybe if it remains that loud you could turn up the whole band behind it as well for that section. Or just tuck it in a bit to fit in with the drums/bass more. When the guitar comes back around 2:49 it feels more balanced in the mix w the rhythm section – so maybe try making 1:45 sound more like 2:49?
- In general, regarding the elec guitar level and everything else in this style of track, I would let the drums RULE throughout the song. Like … I never want the power and low end of the drum kit (esp the kick and bass) to get overshadowed by the rest of the mix, cause that’s what keeps the head bobbin’ and the listener hypnotized by the badass Massive Attack-style groove you’ve got here 😎
- This is gonna be awesome and I can totally imagine this sync’ed to a “suiting up for battle” style montage where the badass female spy/assassin/double-agent/heroine (characterized by your singer) is gearing up to covertly “eliminate” the handsome villain at the black-tie gala. Haha.
Awesome work, Stuart!!
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Thanks so much for the amazing & concise feedback Dana 🙂 This is why I have other people listen (and that it’s like, version 18!). Also, a shout out to my homies @shimmerisland @Nate & @roy-matz for their awesome feedback, helping to get it to this point 🙏. I’ll make these changes this week and give it another listen. Thanks for listening twice😁 you definitely deserve extra credit. Appreciate it
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💜 Haha – my pleasure man! I totally get it! And what a great, supportive crew to bounce things off of 🙌
And, as with any mix ideas/comments — those from me, at any rate — feel free to use what ya like and ditch the rest!
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🙌
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Hey Stuart! Congrats on such a badass song! It has such an awesome vibe and I love all of the cool production stuff you added into it. Super awesome!!! I’m mostly just a newbee when it comes to mixing/mastering so I’d defer to the other peoples comments, however one thing I noticed was that it wasn’t as loud as another track that I had just listened to, so maybe just simply making the mix louder overall might make it more competitive against other tracks that are competing for the sync?
Again, really excellent stuff! Can’t wait to hear more of your music!
Best Wishes,
Jesse
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Thanks so much for listening & your positive comments!. Yeah, that was one of Dana’s notes 😄, so i’ll definitely be doing that, along with some other changes.
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Stuart,
New member in the group so I’m just getting my first listen to your piece. Without question its my favorite piece of music I’ve heard here. Moody, dark, powerful, dynamic, emotionally powerful, and mesmerizing. It’s got a float-y feel but simultaneously so solidly grounded in a groove. Love it.
PT
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I LOVE the fact that these “older”/past forum discussions can be enjoyed by folks “newer” to the community! — for production/mixing ideas, witty/constructive banter, and best of all awesome music! And heck yeah, @smoothygroove, such a baddass, dark n’ vibey jam. Was a treat to hear it again! ⚡️ Hit us w/ your updated mix if ur so inclined!
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You calling Stuart and I “old?”
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Haha never! Only “forum discussions” become old 😉
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@detective Thank you so much for your words – you described exactly what I was going for. I really appreciate it, and they gave me the warm fuzzies 🙂
I took Dana’s notes to heart, and made the changes based on his recommendations, so here’s the final Version.
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It’s even more muscular now.
Are you familiar with the band Sneeky Little Devil on YouTube? Dude is an excellent audio orator (on Kush After Hours You Tube also) and sly with his music production. You might draw something from him too.
PT
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This new version “SLAPS” as the kids say!! Badass, @smoothygroove!! Much more “muscular” indeed, to steal Paul’s descriptive word. Punchy, deep, aggressive, dynamic, and vibe-y AF — nice work!! 💪
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Thanks Dana!
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This SLAPS Stuart! Love where you took this piece. This should be proliferating the sync space
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Thanks Nate 😊
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Sounds totally burning, Stuart!!! Wow! Really great work 🔥🔥🔥
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Thank you Jesse! 🙏
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Stuart,
There’s some nice trickery going on that I want to borrow, if I may. Early in the piece the snare drum almost has two voices. It’s extremely catchy and propulsive. On the two it has a dry as hell tambo or small cymbal playing with it, except not simultaneously. It’s sitting so deep on the backside that it reminds me of Levon Helm. I can’t quite count it as the “and” after 2. What’s the magic of that timing?
PT
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Hi Paul – Sorry for the delay – Still getting over the flu, and have been out of pocket.
I think you’re referring to the drums around 1:08. I’ve got two tracks going: A snare side stick with verb from a Battery kit, and 2 drums from Maschine “Bleu Tails Kit”. The Maschine hits have the variation, with the Tamb hit. Not too much trickery!
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Hope you’re feeling better, Stuart!
So cool of you to share this screenshot and audio files for a peek under the hood of your production!! ⚡️🙌
I too use Maschine a ton for drums – so many awesome sounds, ready to use, w/ swagger and vibe built in. @detective, be sure to check that out if you’re looking for great kits and one shots! (and, well, it does a lot more than that too, but that’s what I primarily use it for these days).
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“Out of pocket?” That’s Gen Z talk. Not groovy.
Thank you for posting the isolated tracks. I think I can tell why the timing of the snare / tambo catches my ear. The pre-delay on the snare verb seems to blossom on the second part of the tambo hit and it just stretches out the pocket. Love it!
PT
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And…!
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Hahaha – awesome sticker! I’m not so “new” myself in my 45 years 😵💫😂. Cannot wait to listen to this new version of the song!
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