Hello! So I’ve got a few things on the go, but I feel like some encouragement and criticism could keep me on the right path! This thing is a way off finished, but how’s it sounding? I feel like my hearing is shot! Structurally, it’s a tad repetitive (I’m workin on it!), but how does it sound overall? Does it sound thin or overcompressed? Any suggestions on what I could do? Anything is welcome! Thanks! 
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[url]https://soundcloud.com/denisdelong/dyk-wip-with-vocals[/url]br
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I’m doing most of the work in Reason 7 and the vocal bits were processed in Live
Hi mate,br
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Great to see a fellow Reason user!br
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Here’s my feedback:br
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This is well on the way to becoming a great track. The bass end of the track is pretty much perfect, which is the main thing nailed. br
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The kick and the rest of the synths are also spot on. They sound great.br
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But some of the other parts need some improvement, as follows:br
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Some off the drums are overcompressed. Like the snare/clap, it’s lost it’s snap and transient. It might also be because you’ve selected a sample thats not really right for the track. Either change the sample or ease back on the compression.br
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The Hats aren’t right for the track. That first skippy hat that comes in really needs to have lots of presense and air in the higher frequencies, but it’s pretty dull and lifeless. Again try using a different sample, if you want some tips with getting the right kind of pattern and feel of the hat loop then let me know. you need something that really drives the track along at that point. br
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Filter the vocal up and down with resonance to create more interest and variation. It does get a little repititious like you said, but filtering will sort this out.br
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I’m not a fan of the noise gated thing that you bring in after a bit, think the pattern it plays is nice, but you need a better sound.br
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Put more delay on your chord stab - the sound itself is perfect for the track, but needs move movement and size and delay will do this. Also filter it up and down throughout the track to add movement and interest.br
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High pass filter everything up just before the drop and automate reverbs and delays to make everything huge, then the drop will be perfect!!!
G’day! Thanks for the reply!br
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I will definitely take a closer look at the snare. I layered 2 together, so maybe some is happening there? Listening back, they do sound dull. br
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Drums are the hardest thing ever! Well, for me, so I’ll take any tips you can give. I’m never totally happy. I was happy about adding some variation though, but if you think it can be better, let’s go for it!br
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The vocal bits need some work for sure. I’m gonna try some resonance filtering and see how it fares. br
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Also… you knockin my noise gated thing!? The nerve! Haha, seriously though, you’re right. I made that thing myself and though I love filtered noise, I always want to do more with it and ultimately the stuff I try just winds up sounding like, well… like I threw a bunch of effects on it. XDbr
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Completely agree with delay on the stab. Been meaning to also!br
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Again, thanks for all the help!
[quote]delo (07/09/2013)[hr]G’day! Thanks for the reply!br
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I will definitely take a closer look at the snare. I layered 2 together, so maybe some is happening there? Listening back, they do sound dull. br
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Drums are the hardest thing ever! Well, for me, so I’ll take any tips you can give. I’m never totally happy. I was happy about adding some variation though, but if you think it can be better, let’s go for it!br
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The vocal bits need some work for sure. I’m gonna try some resonance filtering and see how it fares. br
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Also… you knockin my noise gated thing!? The nerve! Haha, seriously though, you’re right. I made that thing myself and though I love filtered noise, I always want to do more with it and ultimately the stuff I try just winds up sounding like, well… like I threw a bunch of effects on it. XDbr
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Completely agree with delay on the stab. Been meaning to also!br
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Again, thanks for all the help![/quote]br
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I would try and find a single snare/clap that works really well in the track without any additional processing. I’m a big believer in keeping things as simple as possible, especially while you are still learning, and there are enough great samples out there to find one that fits right into your track without complex layering etc.br
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For the hats, try and create some stereo width by delaying one of the stereo channels, and then vary the velocity of your hits and map velocity to volume, and possibly filter cutoff as well. This create some variation and gives the hats more movement. You might also have to cut the low end and boost the high end slightly to make the hats a little brighter to fit better in the mix - depends on the sample used though. Also, add some swing to the hats, to improve the groove.br
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With regards to the filtered noise, from what i remember, it sounded okay, but the standard of production is so great these days that all your parts have to sound better than ok! So i would try adding some more stereo width to your sound you made, put an auto filter on it to give it some movement and variation, maybe add some distortion and things like saturation and/or overdrive to get a more interesting and aggressive sound, maybe stick and autopan on the part as well to move it from left and right. This will also make it easier to mix, and because it doesn’t spend much time anywhere near the centre of the stereo field, the part will then seem louder and clearer in the mix, which will give it more impact and presense.br
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If you want anymore help with anything i’ve mentioned, just let me know mate. br
With regards to the drums, if you use the right samples, you should be able to get them sounding pretty loud and punchy without any compression. If you can’t, then you’re not using samples that fit together well enough.br
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Then once you have something that sounds good without compression, once you add a bit of compression after then it’s going to sound REALLY good.br
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But it’s all about the right choice of samples mate.
Oh and for your hats, your going to have to put some hits on the 16th notes of the grid that really picks up on the swing that you’ve applied to the track. This is what will really make the hi-hat loop you program in really start to groove and drive the track along.
Nice groove and my feet were tapping so all good!br
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I could go into more detail but I think David’s pretty much covered ALL bases! ;)br
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Looking forward to hearing the revised version
Thanks muchly!