EricMilligan

Now that's a soulful track! Great melody line. There were flashes of Diana and a bit of the Shirelles coming through for me.

I agree that the mix needs some refinement and I think I'd adjust the EQ (maybe a couple of different EQs) and and some judicious reverb on your lead vocal.

Didn't sound like the lead vocal part was doubled. I'd definitely experiment with layering two or three takes on the lead vox to thicken it up even more.

The harmony in the chorus parts was really nice. And the very high vocal lines you did in those sections was pretty much perfect.

This is the kind of music I love. And you do it really well, Patricia. Thank-you.

Eric

Michel:

I really enjoyed this track, from beginning to the very nicely done ending! I assume you played all the instruments on the backing track, based on what you mentioned in your profile here on LM.

Since you are a pro, I'm very hesitant to offer and substantive comments on the mix, but I'm going to give you my reaction anyway.

First, the instrumental backing was great. Really well done and balance in the mix was excellent.

Second, I wondered why you had set the volume of the lead vocal so low in the mix, but I saw from a comment you made (above) that there were issues in the vocal track you were given, so you did that on purpose. I thought the vocalist was really interesting (really nice character in her voice, especially when she didn't push it). But, there were clearly a lot of pitch issues throughout. Some precision work with Autotune or (my preference) Melodyne would have helped fix some of those problems. But, that takes a lot of work (at least it does for me because I'm not very proficient with those programs) and costs more $. I'd say that you definitely made the right decision not to set the vocal higher in the mix, given what you had to work with.

But, that said, it was a really engaging track and it kept my interest from start to finish.

Eric

Hi, Patricia!

This was just beautiful. Really nice melody and I loved the harmony parts that you wove in. The variation in the vocal delivery was nicely done. ( I really like it when you sing softly and intimately.) Just plain enjoyable. Ronabo's backing track sounded great. I've liked his stuff here for years and he has definitely progressed as a producer. This track is a really good example of that.

Eric

OK, Steve! This is a great track. I loved the contrast from section to section. You are getting more and more inventive.

As I was listening to it I felt like it definitely could be a song performed live by a progressive rock group. Great energy.

Guitar parts were really, really good. Drums just drove the track, especially in the section beginning around 2:40.

Very nice work, my friend!

Eric

A very interesting track, Emilyn. Your intimate vocal delivery is very nice. The arrangement is definitely unique and fits the track really well. I agree that it has a bit of a Billie Eilish sense to it - not so much because it sounds like her stuff, but because it IS unique-sounding. Not the same old, same old. That tells me you are defintely headed in the right direction with your compositions (i.e., developing your own "voice" and your own style).

Eric

Damn! I just accidentally switched pages and lost my entire comment on your track. So, here goes again. I'm not big on trap, basically because I'm hopeless at making this kind of music. But this sounded pretty good to me! Mix was good and the parts nicely separated. Nice work.

I'm glad that you decided to post the track here on Looperman. You are far more likely to get get constructive feedback from LM members than from listeners on Soundcloud.

I agree with Steve (Crucethus), that the kick is probably the weakest part of the track. ValveDriver's advice on layering kicks is excellent. I am not sure if the kick was purposely made to sound gritty, or if it is clipping. I think it should be toned down in the mix.

I'd be inclined to route each kick track to an aux channel and put a compressor on the aux. Alternatively, you might experiment with putting compressors on each kick track and seeing how different attacks and compression ratios affect the combined sound. I do know that some producers use multiple (different) compressors on certain tracks in the mix, producing subtle differences that I can't hear, but that apparently can make a real difference in the overall mix. Worth a bit of time to just try different things and see what works best.

Eric

So, Centrist. I was very impressed with this track. Would really be interested in hearing more about how you produced it.

I definitely think it would fit in a soundtrack for some kind of epic scene, probably the movement of a big army assembling for a major battle or something. The track is probably twice as long as would be required for use in that way, but on its own it was impressive and definitely kept my interest.

You clearly have a good sense of how to make this kind of music, although I see from your profile that you have wide-ranging tastes and interests. You seem to have a good understanding of how to construct an arrangement that actually has movement and builds interest. I'm hearing interesting progressions in strings and brass. The heavy drums work really well to keep the momentum going and you synced them up nicely with parts played by other instruments.

Not a simple composition. All in all, this was a very impressive piece of music.

So, Holoz, I'm assuming that you are doing the vocals.

I listened to some of your other tracks on SC (I very rarely do that as a matter of principle) and the vocals there were the same voice and very good. You obviously have a good sense of how to make this kind of track. Melody lines, phrasing, and rhythms are very contemporary. (I'm hopeless at writing this kind of track, although I'd like to be able to do it!).

My constructive comment is that I think the track needs refinement, tightening, and probably shortened. And, probably more work on the backing arrangement so that it maintains interest and momentum with variation as the track progresses. I subscribe to the theory that something new should be threaded in every 4 bars. I routinely violate that rule in my tracks, but I'm inherently lazy! :)

Anyway, I'm impressed. Nice work!

I'm not sure about Davie Bowie or Ric Ocasek. I think I heard the ghost of Lou Reed on this track. I really liked the sound. Vocals worked perfectly in the track. Great "attitude" in the vocal delivery. If you ever would consider a collab, I have unfinished tracks that were meant for a voice like yours.

Eric

Vocals were very good. I recognize this is still a rough mix, so here are my comments. I think there's too much overlapping high frequency info (instruments, bell-like sounds, etc.) in the mix competing with the vocals which generally fall within the same frequency range. I'd be experimenting with EQing each track to give each sound its own place in the spectrum as much as possible, leaving the vocals (which are really nice) more space to stand out. The bass was nice, but I thought it should be tightened up. This might take judicious use of EQ and compression. It does fill out the bottom end of the mix, but I think it muddies the overall sound too much. Not sure what processing you used on the vocals. Sounds like might have a parallel track of vocoder treatment in some parts. I liked that. Adds variety and interest. I would bring the level of that up in the mix where it occurs. Anyway, its a very nice track.

I really enjoyed this track. You all nailed it for sure! You must be doing something right if you can lure Joe out of retirement! :)

Eric

OK. That was great! A very professional track. Vocals and guitar work were just excellent. I don't know who Kenny and Dave are, but they are fine musicians. More of this stuff please! :)

Eric

Well, that was just beautiful! I usually try to provide substantive comments on tracks that I really like, but I really can't say anything more. I'm so glad I found this.

I think this will be my last listen for the evening. A great way to head off to bed. :)

Eric

I really enjoyed listening to this track, Bill. Very nice work. Guitar parts were very tasty. The vocal was excellent. Karina has really good delivery. I'd have liked her part to be just a bit more prominent in the mix, but that's a minor quibble. It would be interesting to hear her doubling the melody line with the lead guitar. I thought I was hearing that toward the end, but decided that I was not. But my sense was that her voice would blend really nicely with your guitar in unison.

I'm assuming you all work together as a band and that this wasn't a one-off collaboration. Sounded like you all knew exactly how to fit together to make a great track.

Eric

This is really fine composition. Orchestration is excellent as is the mix. Swirly atmospherics and the various instruments that weave in and out provide a very emotional setting for the vocal. Vocal is set really nicely in the mix. Not too prominent, but not buried either. I really liked the way the vocal faded out before the instrumental backing did at the end. Very nice touch.

I wasn't aware of the Oliver Patrice Weder VST from Spitfire Audio, but just checked it out. It looks like amazing value for only $29 US. Thanks for including info on the VSTs and samples you used. That was interesting/helpful info.

Anyway, very impressive work!

Eric

That was definitely fun, Todd! I have no idea about the genre, but you are right - it doesn't matter. Catchy! Percussion was great. Very good mix. All the sounds nicely separated. Nice work!

Eric

Definitely enjoyed listening to this track. Not sure who the vocalist was, but sounded really good in the production. You integrated it well in the mix. I'd have preferred that each of the instruments in the backing instrumental track be a bit more distinct in the mix, although that's a subjective matter. It did have a full, rich sound overall.

Hello from Ottawa!

OK. I assume, based on your profile, that you played all the parts. Great work! Loved the track and I admire the excellent musicianship. BUT, it was way too short! I wanted more! To me, it sounds like the first part of this should be an intro. Then, need a vocal part, and then the last part of the uploaded track should be the instrumental break for the middle 8.

I've said in past comments that for most of the purely instrument tracks that really connect with me, I almost immediately "hear" a vocal melody line and sometimes I get snippets of lyrics ( mostly just vowel sounds) that seem to fit. That's what happened with this track. Really enjoyed it.

So, I obviously missed this when you first uploaded it, but am really glad I found it today. A very tasty track for sure. Excellent mix. I don't get on Looperman as frequently as I did in the past. Seems that the quality of tracks has really improved, and this is great example of that. Nicely done! I actually don't have any suggestions for adjusting anything. I usually try to provide constructive feedback in my comments, but I think you nailed this one!

Just found this. Excellent track. Really enjoyed it. Mix was right on target. Everything clean and nicely separated in the sound spectrum. You did a great job integrating the vocal (which was really good) with the beat. I agree with other comments - radio ready for sure!

Eric

Just rediscovered this one, Lek. On reflection, I'd like to hear the lead vocal without the phaser/vocoder or whatever you applied as processing. The backing vocals are very nice. Instrumental backing track is excellent for the genre. I guess it is 80's sounding, but that's just fine with me. Enjoyed hearing this a second time. :)

Very much enjoyed this one as well, Lek. I can see this being performed live. I'd use the melody line as the hook that weaves in and out of the track, functioning as a chorus I'd write a vocal part for it, possibly just verses because the hook would work as the chorus section. To me, it's got a bit of a Depeche Mode feel to it. It's old school, but very tasty! :)

So, this track has a very menacing feel to it. Tension. Aggressive! I think it could definitely be used as part of a soundtrack. Dark, narrow, twisty streets. Innocent potential victim on foot, running almost blindly trying to evade whomever is chasing him/her. Something like that. This track very definitely evokes that kind of emotion, at least in me. That's the mark of good music, I think. Nicely done.

Hey, Lek. Saw your response to the forum post by Loopspringstein and decided to check out your stuff here on Looperman. This track definitely ranks among the most professional sounding tracks I've heard here.

I'm just working through some of your other tracks now, but my immediate reaction is that I'm astounded they have so few listens. I guess it is because you don't set them as "featured" so members aren't as likely to find them. That's a shame because this is really good work. Your mixes are excellent. Very clear and defined. Nice arrangements.

I prefer the "Electronic" tracks over the beat core, but that's purely a matter of taste, not a reflection of the production quality.

Anyway, just wanted to say, "really nice work!"

Eric

So, William:

A catchy pop song for sure.

I realize this is an older track. I think the backing track is far too busy and instruments and backing vocals aren't distinct in the mix. Your more recent tracks are more sparse, and much more effective. You leave plenty of room for the lead vocals.

I'd definitely work up a new arrangement for this one if intended for top 40. But, in my opinion the character of your voice is not really suited for this genre.

That said, there's a lot of country music that successfully incorporates aspects of pop (particularly lead guitar work), so it certainly might be possible to figure out a way to blend both genres for this song.