X Mi Ft Ashesndreams - Toddlove

16th Jun 2020 16:57 - 6 years ago
Description : I have been exploring making all different genres of music outside of my comfort zone. This track I am tackling a "jazzy" feel. I used an Acapella from Ashesndreams, although I don't know what the lyrics are, so it may very well be a song about peanut butter, ha. :) EDIT: I have replaced the original upload with a more "gentle" compression/volume and new horn section as per suggestions. Thank you!

Let me know what you think/can be improved. Thank you!

Comments (13)

If you have time take a listen and give toddlove some feedback.

kingmt77
kingmt77 12th Aug 2022 06:03 - 4 years ago
This is an dry, full old school delight. Great work here.
Ashesndreams
Ashesndreams 24th Jun 2020 19:26 - 6 years ago
Hey, nice mix, i liked it
toddlove
toddlove replied 25th Jun 2020 - 6 years ago
Awesome, glad you liked it! Thank you for posting your acapella, you have a great voice!
xstokes
xstokes 17th Jun 2020 22:49 - 6 years ago
wow, todd — i am so glad i got to hear the before and after versions of this track. this treatment is really seriously a different experience, much more expressive. it’s checking out interactions like tween you and wayne and hearing the results that make looperman priceless. and the revised brass is totally on point. great work, man!
toddlove
toddlove replied 18th Jun 2020 - 6 years ago
Thanks for checking back in! So glad you liked the revisions and thanks for your comment originally! Also happy you found the dialog helpful as well. I think Looperman can be an awesome community with people like Wayne around. I plan on paying it back someday when I'm able to help someone else who at that point is less knowledgeable and can use a few pointers. Until then I can offer just my opinions. :)
theHumps
theHumps 17th Jun 2020 19:51 - 6 years ago
I did notice the waveform had changed and so did the mix, it really opened up, don't you think? The bass has it's place, the gits on the left and right don't interfere with the vox anymore.....I could go on and on.

That's what I hear but what do you think?

Compression on individual tracks or if you group them/send to aux buss will affect how it sounds when adjusting the master compression as well. Finding that balance is what makes this so hard. I think you are doing great!

Wayne
toddlove
toddlove replied 17th Jun 2020 - 6 years ago
Thanks for having another listen, you're awesome! *Looperman Gold Star for you today* :) Yes, I can now hear the difference, and it highlights the fact that I need to train my ears a lot more! I can now hear things sitting in different places more instead of everything just being the same loudness so to speak. This was a humbling yet much needed lesson for me to learn and I know I will continue to struggle with. Sometimes I feel like throwing my hands up and calling it quits, but for now I will keep at it. Thank you again for your help and encouragement!
theHumps
theHumps 17th Jun 2020 17:40 - 6 years ago
Well the first thing i notice about a song is the waveform, if it looks like a big solid square mass than usually it will be too loud and over compressed. I will have to lower the volume on my gear to hear it without blowing my ears out. Not only is it usually too loud but all the instruments begin to get the same loudness in the mix and you lose the sense of depth in the song. The guitar is no longer playing a low key guitar strum in the background but now is as loud as the singing in the mix.

I have learned that if you watch the volume meter on the last device in your processing chain on your master channel, it can help you get clearer mixes and more depth. Most volume meters will show two things, 1) a peak level, in Ableton it is a lighter green and 2) average peak level which is the darker green part showing volume output. If you try to keep the peak level spiking at -1.50dB and the average level between -12 and -8dB then you not only get clear mixes but it also translates the best across different platforms like spotify, apple music, looperman.... when you upload them.

The bass usually dictates, in my songs, the average level. If i can get a clear bass sound between -12 and -8db, and i can fit the drums, gits and vocals neatly in there without going over those limits i set, then i have found that my mixes sound the best, clearest and loud. Now i am not the greatest mixer but i am improving over the years and have seen the same thing over and over, look at the waveform, it tells you a lot about what is happening in the mix.

Hope this helps, it's very complicated to describe in a few sentences.

Wayne
toddlove
toddlove replied 17th Jun 2020 - 6 years ago
DUDE! THANK YOU SO much for taking the time to come back and explain in greater detail for me. This is greatly appreciated and that alone makes this little community so valuable!

Ok, so I have gone back to the drawing board a little on this. I backed off some of the compression in both the mix and the master. I also did a little automation with the faders on the bass and one of the guitars. I know the original version I posted, the waveform was indeed blocky and now I see that the new version isn't nearly as much. I'm wondering if you gave this a listen again would you hear a difference at all. Maybe I didn't go far enough or went too far, I don't know. I have so much still to learn it feels overwhelming. :)
Thank you again for helping me out!!!
xstokes
xstokes 17th Jun 2020 17:16 - 6 years ago
v cool arrangement for the vox, i like the gtrs a lot. the trumpet didn’t quite gel for me, tho — it was the only element that seemed kinda canned, everything else had a nice loose vibe.
toddlove
toddlove replied 17th Jun 2020 - 6 years ago
Thank you for your feedback! It's funny, I didn't think the horns were sitting either when I first put them in and then I think I sort of ignored it and then they became "normal". Shows to trust your first instinct and act on it right away. I have uploaded a newer version now with a different kind of horn. Not 100% sure but I think they might be better, Thanks again!
Micky
Micky 17th Jun 2020 10:53 - 6 years ago
This guitar work makes me happy, I would play it the same way. Beautiful piece of music, cool tempo and rhythm, a vibe of peace, summer ... a fav! Very good work!!!
Regards,
Michael
toddlove
toddlove replied 17th Jun 2020 - 6 years ago
Thanks Doc! Glad you enjoyed it enough to favorite it, that always makes me happy. Thanks for taking the time to listen and comment, I appreciate it.
CINCOCENT
CINCOCENT 17th Jun 2020 04:23 - 6 years ago
This comment is hidden.
TheFemiFactor
TheFemiFactor 16th Jun 2020 23:02 - 6 years ago
Dope track, it sounds sultry to me even though I have no idea what she's saying. Maybe that says more about me tho.
But to say even more about me, I doubt anything she's actually saying would be as interesting as peanut butter.

Dope track tho.
toddlove
toddlove replied 17th Jun 2020 - 6 years ago
Thanks so much man! Maybe a peanut butter track is in your future?! :)
theHumps
theHumps 16th Jun 2020 22:13 - 6 years ago
Cool idea. I like the vocals, i have no idea what she is singing about but the feel of the singing works well with the music. I would cut the compression or limiter a bit to give the instruments a little more breathing room in the mix, they are all at the same level and competing a bit, compression will do that. I do like the idea, ending was cool too.

Wayne
toddlove
toddlove replied 16th Jun 2020 - 6 years ago
Hi Wayne. Thanks for taking the time to listen and comment, I appreciate it. I'm still pretty new at this so if you could clarify just a tad that would be helpful. Do you feel like there is too much compression in the mixing process, the mastering process, or both, or it doesn't matter, overall there is too much? And just to not confuse myself, it's not a matter of turning some faders down on certain instruments? Thanks again!
djphildrummin
djphildrummin 16th Jun 2020 18:49 - 6 years ago
DOPE!!! I LIKE IT!!!
toddlove
toddlove replied 16th Jun 2020 - 6 years ago
Glad you liked it! Thanks for commenting/listening.
JCJMusic
JCJMusic 16th Jun 2020 18:48 - 6 years ago
wow//such a smooth track
toddlove
toddlove replied 16th Jun 2020 - 6 years ago
Thank you very much!
2nick8
2nick8 16th Jun 2020 18:21 - 6 years ago
This comment is hidden.

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