EricMilligan

OK, Paul. Another project headed in the right direction for sure. You have clearly mastered the "plumping" sound for good dance music, something I have yet to figure out. I actually know how to do it using side-chain compression, in theory, but am too damn lazy to actually attempt it in my tracks. Someplace, I have a plugin that is supposed to do it automatically. A couple of comments: You have a really interesting bass sound that comes in right at the end of the track, around 4:30 or so. I think that needs to be featured more prominently in the track a much earlier. Generally, I'd work on the mix to get the various sounds more distinct, using EQ and panning to separate them. Right now, it's a "wall of sound", which is OK for some things, but I think this track could be improved by more clarity in the various components. Also, and I've heard this in several of your tracks, unless I'm mistaken and am hearing the rhythm "off", you have the clap sound sounding on the "1" of each bar. In other tracks, a similar sound I think was on the 1 and 3. Generally, I think the kick sound should be on the 1, 2, 3, and 4 for this kind of EDM and the clap, or equivalent should be on the 2 and 4. I know I broke that rule on my most recent track, Berlin 1935, but it's not common. Finally, on this track, I really don't hear a kick in the mix at all. So, it doesn't quite have the 4 on the floor feel to really drive it as a dance track. The kick might be there someplace in the mix, but I couldn't hear it. Needs to be brought up, perhaps with some compression to really give it more punch in the overall sound. I did like the key changes. That's kind of unusual and makes the track more interesting. I know you done that in other tracks as well. I'd give some thought to how to design transitions for them, so your a signalling a change and the listener has a chance to adjust to the new sound environment. I suspect, but don't really know, that key changes in dance tracks could pose a problem for DJs. Their software indexes tracks by a whole bunch of attributes, including BPM and definitely key. Don't know if their software will indicate if the ending key differs from the opening key of a track. This could be significant to a DJ when cueing up the next track I would think.

Eric

Hi, Paul: Nice background instrumental. Again, more variation which is essential to keep up interest, although I do realize that in tracks meant for club play, things can go on much longer to lock in the groove for dancers/listeners. I do agree with Anthony's comments about the tuning of the vocal from Splice. It's clearly not in the same key as your instrumental backing. Tuning it down from A minor to G minor should have worked, but it doesn't sit right, at last to my ears. I'm lousy at figuring out the key of music just from listening to it. I have some software plugins that can do that for me more reliably. Maybe the Splice loop was mis-labelled?

Hi, Paul. So, Project 2 is definitely an improvement over Project 1. It has more variation, both in the drum and the synth parts. Also has a melody line, which is great. I did like your Project 1, but decided to comment on both here. I like the combination of synth sounds you used on Project 1. I definitely could come up with a melody line for it. It needs more variation in the arrangement, but is a good bed for a finished dance track. Am going to take a listen to some of your other projects. From the first two, at least, I see a progression in your production.

Hi, Richard. First, you have written a very inspiring lyric. Is a joyous message and the melody you crafted delivers that with even more power and emotion. I very much enjoyed listening to the song. I do try to provide some suggestions on tracks where I have thoughts about how they might be made even better. I only do this where I really like what I've heard, so I hope you will receive this in the spirit in which it is given. I think the balance in the mix between the instrumental backing and the vocals could be modified a little bit to bring up the instruments a bit more. The vocals clearly need to be dominant in the mix, but the instrumental "bed" backing them I think needs to be elevated just a wee bit. There are also some interesting background vocal parts that really add something special and I'd lift them up a bit more in the mix when they occur. That said, it is a very fine song.

I agree totally with all the other comments on your track! I really enjoyed listening to it. One sure sign that I connect with an instrumental track is that I immediately start coming up with lead melodies (i.e, for vocals) in my head while I'm listening to it. That happened with your track. You have labelled it as a hip hop beat. I think it has much broader potential application to other genres as well. Very well done!

Hey, DanMed. I really enjoyed this track. I haven't been on LM for quite a while. Is nice to hear such good stuff being posted. Your entire production was really good. I appreciated the deep rich bass foundation that you got. Vocal was excellent. You clearly know how to make a good dance track. I'm still working on figuring that out. :)

Greetings from Ottawa
Eric

Really well done! Very catchy. Great instrumental backing. Lots of variation in the arrangement. Vocals were excellent. I thought the mix was very good. I have no suggestions for adjustment or improvement. I just really enjoyed listening to the track.

Regards from Ottawa

Eric

Hi, Jkingz! I really enjoyed this track. Very tastefully done. Excellent vocal performance. I particularly liked the guitar solo, which fit the song really well. Nice phrasing. I felt the mix might have benefited from a bit of fine-tuning, but overall it was really nice to listen to something acoustic and a good original vocal.

Regards from Ottawa,

Eric

Anthony: I see no problem in taking a loop (or multiple loops) that have been identified as a particular genre, and using them to create a track in an entirely different genre. I would think the loops' authors would be quite pleased by the creativity and the expanded potential of the music they created. That said, in my experience, I have been a bit concerned about the reaction from authors of acapellas, if I take liberties with them in my tracks. It's not only a question of what genre they get used in, but also modifications through processing of the vocals, editing to modify phrasing, etc. That can be tricky, although I don't think I've ever had any push-back from the authors of acapellas I have used.

So, I think you re-purposed this guitar look from Safino, really well in this track. I would be inclined to tag the track is "chill", not cinematic, but ultimately the genre is really not that significant I think.

Regards from Ottawa,

Eric

Hi,Dimestop. I really enjoyed this track, and the very pointed message you were delivering.

Read the lyrics from beginning to end. I particularly liked the following: "the story for you lot, join in or sod-off". Pithy, and to the point. I also read all the comments and your responses.

I must admit I wasn't consciously aware of the imbalance you are highlighting with this track, although I guess I probably did realize it was how things are. Just accepted it as "normal". You opened my eyes to the issue.

Also, was not aware that LM members' work was being downloaded, modified, and monetized - with no attribution. That's theft, pure and simple. I'm pretty sure it hasn't happened to any of my tracks (not of interest to anybody for that purpose), but definitely not fair to LM members who have had that happen.

Anyway, this is a very worthy message and a track definitely worth listening to.

Regards from Ottawa,

Eric

Well, just had to say that I really enjoyed listening to this really nice track. Very nice groove. Loved the chord changes. I figure that's fingers, not pick-work. Very tasteful. I'm tempted to ask if you'd be willing to lay down something on one of my tracks. I don't play guitar anymore and, frankly, was never at your level. You and I share the same love of soul and RnB. Definitely my favourite genre. Same influences. :)

Regards from Ottawa,

Eric

Hi, Mindhiest. Listened to your most recent track (impressive) and decided to check out anything else you had uploaded to LM.

This is definitely one of the best pieces of music I've heard here - ever. Really well done. Composition/arrangement is very thoughtful and maintains the listener's interest throughout. Excellent mix.

I am impressed. Seems that you upload tracks relatively infrequently to LM. So far, from what I've heard, this is definitely a commitment to quality over quantity. And I think that's great.

Regards from Ottawa,

Eric

Oli, I can decide what part of this track I like the most: the fantastic instrumental backing (worthy of being all on its own without a vocal) or the spoken word vocal, which sounded amazing! Oh wait! I don't have to choose! They just work so well together, it transcends each part. :)

Loved the track. Very evocative. It immediately reminded me of Robbie Robertson's "Somewhere Down the Crazy River". Same languid feel. Great lyrics. Mix was right on the money.

If you've got more stuff like this salted away someplace, definitely bring it on!

Regards from Ottawa,

Eric

Hi, Nick. This song is really good. Your vocal was excellent. I've never attempted to make a Reggae track, probably would fail miserably, but you did a great job on this one. I'm inclined to search out your acapella for it and see where it takes me. Very nice work!

Regards from Ottawa,

Eric

Hi, Ed. It's a rainy Saturday night in Ottawa. Pretty quiet. This track was exactly what I needed. Great RnB feel. You really nailed it. I like all kinds of genres, but RnB is for sure my favourite. Very tasty guitar work. Wasn't aware of SkiMidi's vocals. Definitely will check him out as you suggested. Like you, I've been on LM only sporadically but have resolved to visit more often and when I find a track like this one, I'm really happy I did.

Regards from Ottawa,

Eric

Well, Steve. Your tracks continue to astound me. First of all, a pristine mix. Actually, that's not astounding at all for you, but so nice to hear. You are right. Need decent headphones to really appreciate the nuances I think. Second of all, you continue to forge ahead, exploring/creating innovative compositions. (I seem to be heading backwards, retreating into older comfort zones.)

Like Angel Eyes, I particularly enjoyed the part starting around 3:53. But, frankly, the entire track was engaging and masterfully executed. As usual.

Eric

Hi, Dean! So, I know I've said this previously in comments on other tracks here on LM, Trance is my favourite EDM genre. It was a treat to hear this track from you. Totally enjoyed it. I suck at making Trance. You clearly have figured out how to do it right.

I have read about the EQ issue on the kick. Frankly, I'd like to hear it come through even more, but at some point balancing the sounds in a mix comes down to a matter of taste, which is inherently subjective I think. The suggestion that perhaps you should find another kick sample was interesting. At Point Blank, our instructor told us that if we had to do a lot of EQing on a kick, we had the wrong sound to begin with. (Advice that I rarely follow, but probably has merit.) Synth work was excellent and I really admired how you got the bass pumping. I still can't do that properly.

Again, is a great track and well worth the 6 weeks effort.

Regards from Ottawa,

Eric

I usually don't listen to a lot of hip hop, but your comment about cincocent helping you figure out what you are best at got me intrigued. This is a really cool track! I think the vocal you added works fantastically with the backing track you did. Backing sounds "rich" and the mix is really nicely balanced. I'm feeling in a mellow mood this evening and this track fit right in perfectly.

Nicely done!

Eric

It's getting on in the evening here. Saturday night andI am feeling mellow, winding down and found this track, Danke. So, mellow. Great vibe. Sax, bass, and Rhodes worked great. Nice clean mix. Hit the spot!

Eric

I am pretty much blown away by this track, Mark. Amazingly good work. The drums were outstanding. Actually, that's a serious understatement. I was a drummer once upon a time, but never at that level. That's a great example of percussion not just keeping time, but intricately weaving part of the tapestry. Don't hear that at all I think in EDM, and pretty rarely in pop, at least in my opinion. Let me also comment on the sax part. Doing a convincing sax using any VST is, in my experience, really really difficult. I find it impossible and have given up trying. You nailed it! And finally, the bass part was on the same level as the drums. You clearly have spent some time mastering the more advanced features of Trillian, creating a pass part that, frankly, didn't sound at all like it was coming from a virtual instrument. It sounded like it was played live by a skilled bass player.

Just totally impressive.

Eric

Thank-you so much for making and posting this, Doudei! It was...lovely. A real treat. You played it beautifully. I always wanted to be able to play this composition, one of my very favourites, but never got the chance. Now, of course, I could not even manage the right hand part alone. Listening to it here on LM, for some reason, I am paying much more attention to how Debussy varied the voicing of the chordal sequence, mostly played in the left hand, in parts where the melody line was basically the same. I also think maybe actual chords, not just voicings of the same chords, were varied somewhat as well. It is a composition that you can just get lost in as a listener, but also explore and analyze from a composition perspective as well.

Again, well done!

Regards from Ottawa,

Eric

Thanks for the info on the instruments, ZM. I'm on a Mac so can't use Sytrus or Directwave, but I do have equivalents in my arsenal. The key information you gave me, however, is that the bass sound I've been searching for is actually an 808 sound. I'm totally useless at discerning different EDM genres and, frankly, recognizing an 808 or 909 or whatever when I hear it. So, it was more helpful than you can imagine to learn from you that I should be focusing on searching for the 808 sound I want. I definitely can do that now, so thank-you for the guidance on that.

I was reflecting on this exchange with you last night and it occurred to me that we really could use a specialized forum area here on LM where members could ask for advice on how to do various things. I decided yesterday to experiment with side-chain compression on a sustained bass note (1 full bar), ducking the bass (triggered by the initial quarter note kick). I know how to do do this, at least I thought I did, but regardless of which compressor I use, I get a "click" sound from the bass at the outset of each "duck". I don't know what I'm doing wrong and there's no place to get advice on that from LM members who know more than I do. We need the LM forums back I think.

Eric

Hi, ZM:

This track has such a dreamy, laid-back flow to it. Works really well. I liked the lo-fi treatment and the mix sounded great. Very well-balanced and different sounds/instruments were nicely distinct in the spectrum.

I would really like to know how/what you used to produce the bass sound. It's pretty much exactly what I've been trying to create myself, but haven't found the right VST or patch yet. Very smooth. Was perfect for the track.

Regards from Ottawa,

Eric

Hi, VN:

Definitely turned out to be catchy! :) I guess it is kind of lofi, but for me it's got an 80's synth pop feel to it - and I'm becoming more and more immersed in exploring that era and genre. I know that melodies have become far more complex in current releases, but there's also something to be said for simpler melody lines that are memorable and singable.

Anyway, obviously I really liked this track. Is that you on the spoken word vocal? Great voice. I'd love to find a way to use something like that on one of my tracks.

My only quibble with the track, and I do hesitate to say this given your background in audio, is that I think the various sounds/instruments blend together too much. I think perhaps it's the amount of reverb on the synth pads, or maybe just the level of the pads in the mix. I'd also like to hear the bass part more distinctly in the mix. But, that's all because it's got that 80's feel to it for me and that's the kind of mix they would have done for a track like this I think.

That said, well done. Very well done!

Regards from Ottawa,

Eric

Hi, Dean. I really like trance and definitely enjoyed this track. Trance is my favourite EDM genre for sure.

I did feel, however, that the mix needs some refinement. I think the high frequency content was too prominent and there seemed to be a general background fill of what sounded like white noise to me. I don't know if that really was a purposeful use of noise or if it was reverb tails from other instruments in the mix.

Also, I really thought the level of the bass needed to be significantly louder in the mix. That would help with the overall balance of the track I think.

I did like the overall composition and melody lines. Vocal part was very good and sat well in the mix.

Regards from Ottawa,

Eric