ManuelaB

Hello,
as Anthony already mentioned, when you choose Odarka as the vocalist for your song, youve usually made the right decision. She fits wonderfully into your track as well - really beautiful. And the rhythm is great!
I do have a few small notes, though:
in some parts the mix is very close to clipping, and theres a slight distortion noticeable
around 1:58 something in the harmony doesnt quite match you can clearly hear a shifted vocal tone
between 1:03 and 1:07 there are a few clicks; maybe the loops werent cut cleanly?
Still, its a great song, and with a bit more work on the mix and master, it can become an excellent one.

Warm greetings,
Manuela

P.S. I'm really looking forward to the version where Micky plays the new bass line. I think you two will harmonize beautifully you're both outstanding musicians and understand each other perfectly. And if that doesn't translate quite so well into English, I'm sure Micky will still take it as a compliment. Smile

Hi Chris,*

You know I really like this song, even though it gives me a bit of a doomsday feeling. I also like that this version is almost a minute longer than the one I knew before; it really enhances the piece. The new passages create an even clearer and more intense atmosphere than the previous version.

And you have a wonderful voice (I just have to keep saying that!!! smiles*). Best regards, take care of your ears, smiles, kisses, Manuela

Hello Anthony,
of course I read everything people write to me just not always in the right order
I did read your message, but only after I had already posted my comment here.
So yes a tiny bit embarrassing on my side!

Warm greetings,
Manuela

Hmm, what that Australian guy wrote sounds strangely familiar to me! smile

Hi Richard, it's been a while since I was here. I love your calm, understated compositions and your voice, too. You've done an outstanding job once again.
Warm regards and have a lovely Sunday, Manuela

Hi Anthony, is your YouTube link no longer working? Best regards, Manuela

Well, how about a cup of tea now? (Smiles)
A wonderful, humorous song with some very interesting musical details.
After all, you have the teasomething you can truly identify with.
If I wanted to write a song about the "typical German character," I don't think Id be able to find such a simple and apt metaphor so I suppose Id better just leave it at that. (Smiles)

A charming song with just the right dash of self-irony. Great work!

Warm regards and a wonderful weekendhopefully over a good cup of tea,
Manuela

Helloas someone else has already mentioned: the more time you spend with this song, the more captivating it becomes. It is a wonderful and very interesting piece, truly unforgettable. It has a slightly improvised quality to it, and I really like that.

Warm regards, Manuela

Hi,

I don't think your friends are just being nice. Musically, technically, and structurally, your track is good.
Butand I think this is what Gizmo meant tooit's just a framework. A foundation. A solid and promising one.
To turn this foundation into a house, you need a few more floors.
This includes a singer who rises above the static base and adds a flexible, vibrant layersomeone who tells a story, an interesting and captivating story worth hearing.
And every house needs people to bring it to life: catchy melodies, ad-libs, backing vocalselements that support the singer at crucial moments.
A bridge would also be important, a passage that leads us from the basic structure to a climax, a kind of finale.

So keep building your house. It's worth it.

Best regards,
Manuela

Hi Frans,
This isn't just an experiment you made with this song, you really nailed it. It's perfect.
The track is incredibly catchy and, for me, it's the ultimate party song. I'm even downloading it right now.
Great song, superb sound, fantastic work.
Hearing Paul with such a rich sound is a real treat. Wonderfully done. Best regards,

Manuela

Hi Glenn,
as you know, I really appreciate your work! For me, and not just for me, you're a true guitar virtuoso. In my opinion, you're one of the greatest musicians here at Looperman.
With this song, you've once again demonstrated your skill: a brilliant, deeply emotional composition that radiates so much heart and soul. Wonderful!

Warm regards,
Manuela

Hello,
this is good, really good! Great drive and a very strong build up. The mix and master are top notch as well.
Warm regards,
Manuela

Hi Robin,
I also think this song is really great. I don't know why you call it "Fate," but the "1" after it suggests there will be a second song in this style. I'm really looking forward to that.
The almost trance-like repetition of the main melody immediately conjured up an image of a painful journey, of being swept away. Somehow unsettling and sad.
A beautiful song, I like it very much.

Warm regards,
Manuela

"As always, far from perfect, but incredibly entertaining!"

I completely agree with the second part of your sentence, which I'm quoting here. The first part, however, I don't *smiles*.
For me, you're one of the truly great sound designers and mixing specialists on SoundCloud. Even seasoned professionals can still learn a lot from you. Your constant experimentation is always fascinating. And your unwavering loyalty to those three chords has something wonderfully unique about it.
Daniela's voice over it, simply perfect.
You've orchestrated the whole thing so harmoniously that "Strange" feels very distinct. *smiles
A fantastic achievement.

Warm regards,
Manuela

Hi Chris,
A very interesting, atmospheric, and thoughtful piece. It immediately reminded me of my travels through Asia and vividly brought the wonderful Hindu and Buddhist world back to life. Your track gave me a truly lovely feeling.
Since the mixing and mastering are perfect, I assume your ears are feeling better now.
Take care while surfing!
I'll email you next week. Unfortunately, I won't be able to this weekend, as I need some peace and quiet.
Warm regards to the other side of the world, Manuela

Hi Paul,

There you are again, unmistakably you, and in truly impressive quality. It's clear how much you've improved your technical equipment. The sound is excellent, and your voice has become noticeably more stable and powerful with the new recording technique.
It's a great song, structurally as well. The only small detail I noticed is the somewhat abrupt volume jump between the intro and the instrumental entrance. Of course, there *should* be a clear contrast, since the intro is meant to be something special, but personally, the difference is a bit too extreme for me. I would increase the overall volume of the intro slightly, but still keep it below the main part. That's just my personal impression, though.
As I said, a great song, and it's lovely to see you again.
Warm regards and have a wonderful Sunday, Manuela

Hi, it's me again (smiles). I think you've found a really excellent approach to music production. It's so important to stand by what you create. It's not about pleasing as many people as possible, what really matters is creating something authentic. Of course, that's not always easy when you work as a studio musician like Angelica and I. We depend on commissions and, naturally, have to deliver what the client envisions. But even in this industry, I've turned down projects more than once.

I really appreciate your attitude.

And yes, of course I know "V." He's been with me for many years and supports me with his vast experience, especially mentally. I've probably had my most intense conversations here with him, Mark, and you. I hope to see him again soon.

I spent a few days touring with Olaf's Big Band, another little musical love story. I uploaded one or two of those songs here back then. Maybe I'll do that again if Olaf agrees.

What I really wanted to say is: I move between very different musical worlds from folk to rock and blues to jazz. Many people don't know that and still associate me with the "naive little singer."

So, with a sweet girl's smile (smiles), I wish you a wonderful weekend. Manuela

Hello Steven,
many others have already pointed out the outstanding drums and bass and I agree. What stands out to me in addition is your creativity in choosing and combining instruments. In the past (a long time ago, smile) you had that too, but the overall tone felt darker. Now your sound seems brighter, friendlier, more relaxed - and I find that incredibly positive.
As Mark already said: youre at the beginning of something new. Im genuinely curious and excited to see where this path will take you.

Great work - excellent soundstage, very good mix and master.

Warm greetings,
Manuela, the chick smile

https://soundcloud.com/truesisterband/back-to-you

Hello Anthony,
weve now made the song public. Please have another look at the accompanying text to see if everything is okay for you.
Kind regards,
Manuela

Hi Mark,
I'm not even sure if it makes sense to write you a few lines here, because I'm afraid I'll just be repeating myself. But honestly, I just have to say it again: This is another fantastic piece of work.
Your clear structures and your unique way of arranging the instruments so that you can almost see the musicians in front of you simply incredible. Truly impressive. It's a real listening experience, and you've mastered the challenge you set for yourself with flying colors.
Warm regards, Manuela

Hey Fani,
Im really glad you demilitarised the song, that genuinely made me laugh.
And I love that you say you just made a typical pop song, but come on dont sell yourself short. Its not one of those generic radio pop tracks that all sound the same. Its a song in your own unmistakable style, and thats exactly what makes it special. Its a musical piece of you, not something that could be swapped out with any other pop tune.
Thats one of the things I really appreciate about you. You walk your own path, and it shows.
The song is really good, and I hope you sent the link to Silver as well.
One tiny thing though: the mix is very bright. It lives mostly in the mid and high frequencies. Was that on purpose?

Warm hugs,
Manuela

Hi Juankar,

I'm so glad to hear that you joined this community because of the fantastic Odarka - a musician I greatly admire, but even more so, a wonderful person. And now that you're here, you're already a valued member of this small group.

As others have mentioned before, this song is very well arranged and thought out - it really lacks nothing. You wrote that you're still having some difficulties with mixing and mastering and want to learn more. But you've already done a great job with this track.

I can't give you any general advice, because every song and every instrument needs to be considered individually. But just like with composing, you'll develop your own style in the technical aspects over time.

Years ago, a brilliant sound engineer - who was also my musical mentor during my vocal training - gave me some advice that I've never forgotten. He said, "Mixing is the stage. You have to use it to its fullest." Just as every musician has their place on a real stage, every instrument has its place on the soundstage. Each one must be audible and locatable for the listener. It's crucial to decide which instrument should dominate at any given moment.

Be careful with effects - they can easily cause everything to become too muddy and the sound muddy. Left and right create the width of the soundstage; reverb and echo create the depth. In this sense, music is three-dimensional.

If mixing determines the placement of instruments in the listening space, then mastering is like stage lighting. It's even referred to as a sound image. And again: be careful with mastering effects - less is often more.

Another helpful tip: mix and master in several sessions. Give your ears a break. And when you think you're finally finished, put the song aside and don't listen to it for a few days. You'll often notice things afterward that you missed during the process.

If you have any specific questions, please feel free to contact us. We're happy to help if we can. There are some very competent technicians in this community one of them is TheFrenz. I think he can give you a lot of valuable advice.

Best regards, Manuela

Hi Anthony, we're so happy you uploaded our song here. Believe me, without your wonderful composition "The Land of My People" - which captivated me from the very first listen - this song would never have come about. Thank you so much for your outstanding work and the fantastic collaboration, which we all, involved in the production, truly appreciated at every stage.

The last three months of working on the song have brought us so much joy and excitement. We're currently working on a short video to give the track a visual dimension. I think we'll have it finished by the end of June or the beginning of July.

Thanks again. Best regards, Manuela

Hello my friend,
I think you've created a truly wonderful and magnificent piece here, and we're grateful to be a part of it. I never imagined hearing my voice in such a musical context, but I'm honestly surprised at how well it works. It shows once again how many unexpected things are possible in music.
We're currently on tour again, which means we've had the opportunity to hear this song together with the whole band. And everyone agrees: you've masterfully achieved this delicate balance between my vocals and your musical style. Truly great work.

Warmest regards from
Manuela, Angelica, Gaby, Peter, Ben, Paul, and Ulli