Breathing In The Light - Juankar

Thank you so much!

I'm glad you liked it.

This is the first version I published; later I uploaded the mastered version following the advice of the great masters we have here. We keep learning.

Best regards, Juan Carlos

Thank you so much for your comment.
We're working on it, learning little by little.
Best regards.

Thank you so much for your time. The idea of creating two drum tracks came to me because I saw a video explaining how to combine two different kick drums to achieve a more open sound. And since I still don't know how to make sounds more or less stereo, I thought I'd try it out. As you say, it's probably not the best approach due to the resources used, but it's an experiment; I'm learning. I still have a lot to learn about mixing and especially mastering, because I've never done it before. And the best part, as you say, is learning. It's something I regret, never having had the time to learn all this, because unfortunately, time waits for no one, and I won't have the time to learn everything I'd like. But we'll keep trying.

Best regards, and thank you very much for your comments.

Juan Carlos

Thank you so much, I'm glad you liked it. But there's still a lot of room for improvement.

Best regards

Thank you so much for your kind words; they encourage me to keep learning. All of this is a learning experience. I made the first two songs using Odarka's voice, which I think is incredible and inspired me to create the music. But now I wanted to try it without relying on someone else's lyrics. I wanted to express what was on my mind, and that's why I turned to Suno. Suno is a real headache, but it was the only option I had. The other option is a plugin I've seen that's very good for creating voices, but it's a paid plugin. Right now, all I want is to learn to pass the time and distract myself in the few free moments I have, so I'm doing everything without investing in expensive tools. What I create is just for my own enjoyment, my closest friends, and you all, who are a bit like my new little family, haha.

I'd like to take this opportunity to say that if anyone wants to use their own voice instead of using artificial intelligence, it would be a great honor for me to send them the MIDI file along with the free plugins I've used, so they can change it.

All the best.

Thank you for your comment and for taking the time to listen. I was happy to see that you even downloaded it. It means a lot to me to see that people like what I'm doing enough to download it.

Best regards.

I use Reaper. I create each track with the different instruments and adjust their volumes as I go. In this case, for example, the drums have no effects. What I did was create two identical percussion tracks with different sounds for kick, hi-hat, snare, etc. - very similar but distinct - and I tilted one track more towards the right channel and the other towards the left. This way, I had a more open percussion sound.

The vocals are completely untouched, just as the AI generated them with a slight reverb.

And the rest of the tracks - bass, violins, synths, etc. - only have their volume and panning adjusted, nothing else. Since using equalizers, reverb, delay, etc. was too complex for me, I found a VST called "Neutron 5 Elements by Izotope" which seemed simpler. By simply indicating the type of instrument playing on the track, it presets some parameters, making it easy to open up the stereo effect, apply dynamics, and so on. But I've realized that's not the solution. If I want it to sound good, I have to use specific effects for each element. This track hasn't been mastered at all. When it sounded good to me, I just rendered it to WAV and MP3, and that was it.

To learn how to master, I've downloaded Limited Z as a limiter, Youlean Loudness Meter to adjust the LUFS, and I'm undecided between two spectrum analyzers (Spectrum Analyzer and FreqAnalyst by Blue Cat). I'm also planning to use TDR Nova for equalization.

Seriously, don't waste your time with me. If I can't understand things by watching YouTube videos, I'm certainly not going to understand them this way, haha. Just your intention alone makes me feel like I'm on cloud nine, that artists like you dedicate your time to amateurs like me.

Thank you so much, Chris, really. I'll learn little by little. Besides, I take care of many very old animals (between 10 and 15 years old) that take up almost all my time. Each day I have a little time to see what's been uploaded here (I've become addicted to listening to all of you) and then watch YouTube videos to learn.

Best regards, Juan Carlos

Hi Chris.

Thank you so much for your interest, I'm flattered.
The vocals are nothing special; I used AI because if I sang them myself, I know people would have nightmares for weeks, haha. With the help of ChatGPT, I adapted the lyrics I had in mind into English (I don't speak English) to make them sound good using different words.
Once I had the lyrics, I went to Suno.
I told the AI: "An a cappella female voice for a chill house track. The chord progression is B-Ebm-Db-G#m, tempo 120 BPM, each chord lasts 8 bars. A soft, ethereal, and sweet female voice with a warm and emotive tone. The performance is intimate and expressive, with whispered textures and clear pronunciation. Avoid excessive vibrato or an aggressive performance. Maintain a soft, calm, and hypnotic tone."

I also explained the song's structure to him and how he should interpret each part of it.
After several attempts, we came up with something I liked.

Thank you so much for your comment; it encourages me to keep trying. Right now I'm a bit stuck because for these first three songs I only worried about adjusting volumes and trying out some effects I'd downloaded. But thanks to the great advice I've received here, I've realized I have a lot to learn about mixing and especially mastering, which I've never done before. I've spent a couple of weeks watching videos about which plugins I need and how to use them, and honestly... I'm still confused; it's too complex for me.

Cheers

Thank you for your comment; it encourages me to keep dedicating time to learning. I make very simple music, but it helps me put what I'm learning into practice and have some fun at the same time. Best regards.

Thank you so much for your advice.
The vocals on the first two songs are by Odarka, whose voice I found spectacular. I created this vocal using AI because I wanted to express in the lyrics what I had in mind and adapt it to the chords I had already partially created. I find each process very complicated. Too many parameters and adjustments in the plugins. Many times I can't tell if it sounds better or worse when I change something; perhaps at my age my ear is no longer able to distinguish certain things. I started watching tutorials after Christmas, and in March I finished my first song, which I published here. In the next few days, I'll upload a new, very simple one, which I'm using to put into practice the advice you give me in the community about effects, panning, and things like that. And above all, to see what mastering is like, since I've never done it before. I'll wait for the community's advice on what I'm doing wrong.

I'm glad you liked it, and thank you for your comments.

All the best.

Thank you so much for taking the time to explain it to me. I'll keep your advice in mind as soon as I think of something new to create. I have an acapella of MansasWorld's "Before I Go" that sounds good for doing something different. I'll try your suggestions with it.

Best regards.

Thank you so much for your advice; anything that helps me learn is welcome. After reading Manuela's post, I searched on YouTube and understood that mixing is the adjustment of volume, panning, and effects (reverb, delay, etc.) that I apply while the song is still separated into tracks. And that mastering is the equalization and compression done once the track is exported to WAV. I've realized I've never mastered any of my songs; I thought that once exported to WAV, it was finished. I've tried compression with the TDR Kotelnikov VST, which is highly recommended, but I can't seem to notice any improvement no matter how many adjustments I make. I have no idea how to use it yet.

Thank you so much for your help; I'll keep trying. Best regards.

Thank you so much for your comment! Words like that mean a lot to me, especially coming from a professional like yourself. Thank you.

Thank you so much for your comment, it really encourages me to keep learning. But these are just tests while I learn chords, how to use Reaper and VSTs. Mixing, mastering, EQing, effectsthat's what I don't quite understand; it's really difficult for me.

Thank you so much for your comment. I'm just learning how to use Reaper, and I used the free VSTs I mentioned in the description.

Thank you so much. Your comment encourages me and gives me the strength to keep learning. Best regards

I'm glad you liked it. That's what we're all about, even though we're a bit older now, still learning. It's never too late.

Thank you for your kind comment. It's just practice while I'm learning. Best regards.

Thank you so much. I'm glad you liked it. My voice is nothing special; it's AI-generated, unlike yours, which is real. I create the voice with the tempo and chords I choose, and that way I practice creating everything else myself.

Thank you so much. The credit for the voice goes to the AI, hahaha

Thank you so much. This encourages me to keep learning.

Thank you so much for your comment, it made my day. I appreciate your offer, but I'm just learning and not at your level. However, you're free to download it and do whatever you like with the theme. Best regards.

Thanks, all the credit for the voice goes to artificial intelligence, hahaha. I just specified what kind of voice I wanted, the tempo, the chords in each measure, and which phrases I wanted to be more intense or calmer. All to adapt it to the music I was making.

Thank you so much.