hi,
wanted to start by saying that i love this site. i’m working in pro tools, not ableton, but the videos are still very helpful in explaining the various techniques used in creating these sounds. so far sonic academy is the best investment i’ve made in my edm production career.
[url=http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27269911/lights-zalex-7-5-11mixb.mp3]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27269911/lights-zalex-7-5-11mixb.mp3[/url]
this is an early mix of a remix of lights by ellie goulding. this is my first attempt at edm.
i have a long list of minor changes but i would really appreciate general feedback on the song and arrangement, especially the patches and the overall feel. listening to it on my studio speakers sounds great, but on smaller, worse ones it doesn’t sound as good as other music does. i also feel like it’s lacking that professional “sparkle” if you will…
also, you will probably notice that the vocal quality is terrible. the only acapella i could find is the diy that’s floating around the internet. is there a correct way to get studio acapellas? i have no problem paying for it. i feel like the audio quality is bringing down the track quality 
advice on both points is much appreciated.
alex
It sounds like you have way to much compression going on… not sure if its on the master channel or various sidechaining.
What synth are you using… it sounds a bit basic… or that the sounds arnt modern enough…
there are a few sounds in the lower registers that sound off… i think its the chords in the break… they sound too low. myabe you could transpose them up an octave.
Theres a few things to look at… post up another version if you updated it!
[quote]phil johnston (05/07/2011)[hr]It sounds like you have way to much compression going on… not sure if its on the master channel or various sidechaining.
What synth are you using… it sounds a bit basic… or that the sounds arnt modern enough…
there are a few sounds in the lower registers that sound off… i think its the chords in the break… they sound too low. myabe you could transpose them up an octave.
Theres a few things to look at… post up another version if you updated it![/quote]
thanks for the reply and advice.
i definitely have compression going on in a sidechain but not the master. i will lower that.
for synth sounds i’m using xpand2 which is a pro tools stock plugin that really sucks. vst wrapped sylenth crashes PT every time which is super annoying. i also have massive, absynth and sampletank. i will play around with sounds on those.
i will also transpose those chords to a higher octave. is that how i should be thinking in general, like balancing the range of sounds equally? i hadn’t considered the chords’ pitch too much in the overall mix but i see why i should’ve i think.
will definitely post another version when i’ve made some edits.
phil you were 100% correct. i thought about what you said about the track sounding compressed and wasn’t entirely sure where specifically you meant it. then i went back into my session and realized that i had a mastering plugin on that was wrecking stuff. i took it off and good lord.
below is the next mix, revised with your suggestions and mine. i still don’t love the kick, there’s too much reverb in a bunch of spots, but i believe on the whole that the track is a lot better. it’s still not got that fullness i’m seeking - probably something that will come with subsequent mixes, and the patch for the big hits is still just mediocre.
would very much appreciate thoughts.
thanks!
[url=http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27269911/Lights%20Zalex%20Remix%207-13-11%20Mix%20A.mp3]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27269911/Lights%20Zalex%20Remix%207-13-11%20Mix%20A.mp3[/url]
Hey dude.
Not my cup of tea usually, but it’s very impressive for a first attempt on EDM. The break is especially well composed. The melody is well thought out… It’s ultra cheesy, but works.
I think it needs a little re-fining in terms of the mixdown, I think the main synth is a little loud and stabby… I’m not sure but it sounds like you’re trying to go for that ‘main room’ sound? Try taking it down a notch and adding some big reverb and filter it a little… This will also give you an extra ‘weapon’ to play with as you could automate the filter and let some of the higher freq’s through towards the end of the phrase.
I think a sub bass behind the hole thing might help gel it together too, seems a little ‘airy’ at the moment.
The second mix you posted is much clearer as well. Good job there!
I really like the vox work too, good work!
Theres also what sounds like reverb on the kick… i only do this on very rare occasions… mainly only break/big beat stuff and always a using a tight low pass filtered plate.
thanks adam! yeah i’m having serious issues with patches/sound quality. i am looking for that main room kinda feel and it’s just not working. i’m not happy with any of the sounds i’m getting. plans for today include watching the synthesis tutorial and rewatching the main room house tutorial.
i listened to some of the songs on your soundcloud adam and i really liked them. the sounds are so crisp and full…it sounds so professional. and i think it’s really that holding me back. i have so many song ideas in my head but the results are flawed because the execution is poor. idk what it’s gonna take for me to figure it out but i’m getting really frustrated. private lessons lol idk?
thanks for the suggestions, i’ll throw on some reverb like you said and play around awhile and see if i can’t make myself a little more pleased with the situation. 
Haha you are bootleging the same track i have bootleged jus a few days ago. Im waiting on its mastering atm.
Take a listen to it lemme know what you think 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5Hiwmib3vY
Ha! I’m still pretty amateur really! But anything I’ve learned I’ve learned from Sonic Academy… It also helps to have decent monitors, and just a decent ear for what sounds right and wrong… I’m afraid my talent stops there, as I’m fairly poor at writing melodies or creating particular sounds I’m looking for. But every track is an improvement! MY biggest suggestion to learning how to produce is to keep moving on. Finish a track, even if you don’t like it, and move onto the next one… You learn something new in every track.
great advice adam, i find that the same rule applies to a lot of things in life.
as an update, i’m pretty sure i’m going to abandon pro tools for edm stuff. i forced myself to use ableton for 12 hours this weekend and i was much more pleased with the sounds i was getting. this is a different song with a nice john mayer sample lol
not the most beautiful of songs or arrangements but that giant block that was stopping me from getting the patches and tones i wanted to has been lifted.
check it: [url=http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27269911/believe4.mp3]http://dl.dropbox.com/u/27269911/believe4.mp3[/url]
also for some reason my lights remix didn’t have any swing to it. i didn’t realize how huge that was until i worked with groove templates in ableton.
thanks for the help guys