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rdm2711
Starting Member

 United Kingdom
13 posts Joined: Apr, 2013
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Posted - 2013/04/19 : 16:16:41
Hi all,
Many times have i been on this site though have never registered! But today i have as i need your advice.
Below is a link on Soundcloud to my new track. Currently work in process. I know in my self that its a good track but somehow, I feel its quality is shabby. What I mean is, all the sounds are squashed together. You know... instead of it sounding spacious and clear, it sounds like all the channels are overlaying each other! That's fine as I like it that way and have no means of changing it. But is it enjoyable to listen to... is it good? Well that's what I need to find out. So please spare some time and have a listen. Also, its not as loud as it should be! Is there any program I can use to boost the volume some without distorting it?
I apologies for rambling if I did, but any reply will be greatly appreciated.
https://soundcloud.com/redeem2711/rdm-higher-wip2 Thanks :)
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Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/redeem2711 I will always love Hardcore!
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wong
Advanced Member
    

 United Kingdom
2,991 posts Joined: Feb, 2006
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Posted - 2013/04/19 : 17:09:25
thats really good, but im not a producer so sorry i cant help lol.
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intensify the treatment
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Samination
Advanced Member
    

 Sweden
13,241 posts Joined: Jul, 2004
195 hardcore releases
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Posted - 2013/04/19 : 17:21:24
We actually got a Forum for productions n stuff. Some of the mods will probably move it there as soon as the see it :)
Personally, the track sounds good as it is. Definitly something I could mix.
Anyways, welcome as an active lurker to the forums then :)
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Samination, Swedish Hardcore DJ
Happy, UK Hardcore, Freeform, Makina and Gabber
http://samination.se/ ---------------------------------------------
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Edited by - Samination on 2013/04/19 17:22:03 |
rdm2711
Starting Member

 United Kingdom
13 posts Joined: Apr, 2013
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Posted - 2013/04/19 : 21:20:40
quote: Originally posted by wong:
thats really good, but im not a producer so sorry i cant help lol.
You may not be a producer, but you still answered my question just by saying it's good! Glad you like it. Thanks :)
__________________________________
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/redeem2711 I will always love Hardcore!
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rdm2711
Starting Member

 United Kingdom
13 posts Joined: Apr, 2013
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Posted - 2013/04/19 : 21:25:09
quote: Originally posted by Samination:
We actually got a Forum for productions n stuff. Some of the mods will probably move it there as soon as the see it :)
Personally, the track sounds good as it is. Definitly something I could mix.
Anyways, welcome as an active lurker to the forums then :)
Thanks man! That's all I needed to hear. And thanks for the welcome. If you ever want to mix any of my tracks, your more than welcome to. You know where they are. All free :)
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Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/redeem2711 I will always love Hardcore!
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Hard2Get
Advanced Member
    

 United Kingdom
12,837 posts Joined: Jun, 2001
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Posted - 2013/04/19 : 23:12:47
I'll go into further detail at some point. But for now, i think it's a good tune, and you should know i can't stand most Hardcore after 2005. The transition into the breakdown is nice and then especially the change in bass note at 1:01 (which recurs right at the end of the clip, minus the bassline), good stuff.
quote: Also, its not as loud as it should be! Is there any program I can use to boost the volume some without distorting it?
It's more than loud enough.
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eddiewould
Senior Member
   

 New Zealand
375 posts Joined: Jun, 2004
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Posted - 2013/04/19 : 23:55:30
I haven't listened to it, but to address your concerns:
* If the elements sound "squashed together", then you need to give them some space. There are two main ways to do that:
1) EQ them so that they're covering different frequency ranges (you probably don't want your strings fighting with your lead synth
2) Pan the clashing elements in the stereo spectrum. So maybe you'll pan your acid sounds 60% to the left speaker and pan your strings 60% to the right speaker.
Or just remove one of the elements. If something isn't working in a track, take it out and save it for a rainy day inspiration to use in a new track.
* To make your mix sound "louder" you probably want to apply some form of mastering. I'd say get the hang of EQing first though. But at these days in hardcore mastering generally involves at the very least some "light" compression - basically removing dynamic range so that the loud stuff becomes quieter and the quiet stuff becomes louder. Then you can boost the overall volume and it will sound "louder" - because the RMS level is higher.
Hope this helps
Eddie
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Got PLUR?
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Elliott
Advanced Member
    

 United Kingdom
1,147 posts Joined: May, 2012
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Posted - 2013/04/20 : 00:08:06
These headphones aren't great for hearing stuff but from what I did hear, I'd say that's actually a very well mixed track.
As for being louder, you probably don't need it any louder, you just think you do because you've heard too many crushed tunes. (Although again, maybe it is objectively quiet, I can't tell through these headphones)
Edit/disclaimer: I probably wouldn't listen to a thing I say, I couldn't mix my way out of a cardboard box (as much sense as that makes..) and I occasionally work on mixdowns using my mum's iPod earphones
**** it, I lied, it's drum & bass, whatcha gonna do?
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old soundcloud
i gave up producing
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Edited by - Elliott on 2013/04/20 00:49:04 |
Hard2Get
Advanced Member
    

 United Kingdom
12,837 posts Joined: Jun, 2001
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Posted - 2013/04/20 : 11:10:00
quote: As for being louder, you probably don't need it any louder, you just think you do because you've heard too many crushed tunes. (Although again, maybe it is objectively quiet, I can't tell through these headphones)
You don't need to them. You can see the wave itself (and hence how loud it is).
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Edited by - Hard2Get on 2013/04/20 11:10:24 |
brenergy
Junior Member
 

 Canada
105 posts Joined: Oct, 2011
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Posted - 2013/04/20 : 12:02:56
do you use FL Studio? if you do, I have one sound piece of advice (no pun intended): turn off Fruity Limiter. It could be what's squashing your track.
if you aren't using FL (or turned off the default limiter), then I'd work with EQ on each sound channel to both boost sound levels in a way that improves your sound and cut out frequencies that are clashing.
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B R E N H I L T O N... cuz dual-word alias are so "in" these days XD
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rdm2711
Starting Member

 United Kingdom
13 posts Joined: Apr, 2013
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Posted - 2013/04/20 : 12:36:40
quote: Originally posted by eddiewould:
1) EQ them so that they're covering different frequency ranges (you probably don't want your strings fighting with your lead synth
2) Pan the clashing elements in the stereo spectrum. So maybe you'll pan your acid sounds 60% to the left speaker and pan your strings 60% to the right speaker.
Or just remove one of the elements. If something isn't working in a track, take it out and save it for a rainy day inspiration to use in a new track.
That actually makes quite a lot of sense. I've already applied a lot of EQ already. Each channel has its own and I've played around a bit with each of them. But I never thought to pan any channels. That could work I guess. Thanks mate :)
__________________________________
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/redeem2711 I will always love Hardcore!
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rdm2711
Starting Member

 United Kingdom
13 posts Joined: Apr, 2013
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Posted - 2013/04/20 : 12:46:36
quote: Originally posted by Hard2Get:
I'll go into further detail at some point. But for now, i think it's a good tune, and you should know i can't stand most Hardcore after 2005. The transition into the breakdown is nice and then especially the change in bass note at 1:01 (which recurs right at the end of the clip, minus the bassline), good stuff.
quote: Also, its not as loud as it should be! Is there any program I can use to boost the volume some without distorting it?
It's more than loud enough.
Ah well you see... the little things make a big difference so I'm glad you noticed. I myself think that the new age in Hardcore is awesome but i could never produce all that tricky bassline stuff you hear these days. So I tend to stick to the melodic type. I could sit and work on a melody for hours :D
And if you think that the overall volume of the track is 'more than loud enough' then i will just leave it the way it is and not worry about it. I also know what you mean about the wave form. It is pretty similar in width than most tracks I see on Soundcloud. Thanks mate :)
__________________________________
Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/redeem2711 I will always love Hardcore!
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Edited by - rdm2711 on 2013/04/20 12:50:57 |
rdm2711
Starting Member

 United Kingdom
13 posts Joined: Apr, 2013
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Posted - 2013/04/20 : 13:11:44
quote: Originally posted by Elliott:
These headphones aren't great for hearing stuff but from what I did hear, I'd say that's actually a very well mixed track.
As for being louder, you probably don't need it any louder, you just think you do because you've heard too many crushed tunes. (Although again, maybe it is objectively quiet, I can't tell through these headphones)
Thanks mate I'm glad you think so. I've decided to leave the volume the way it is as I've been told by some one else as well that its fine.
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Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/redeem2711 I will always love Hardcore!
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rdm2711
Starting Member

 United Kingdom
13 posts Joined: Apr, 2013
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Posted - 2013/04/20 : 13:21:56
quote: Originally posted by brenergy:
do you use FL Studio? if you do, I have one sound piece of advice (no pun intended): turn off Fruity Limiter. It could be what's squashing your track.
if you aren't using FL (or turned off the default limiter), then I'd work with EQ on each sound channel to both boost sound levels in a way that improves your sound and cut out frequencies that are clashing.
Yes I use FL Studio 10. I am using the fruity limiter as without it the sounds distort quite badly. So this is a necessity. However I'm going to try and pan the different channels and see if that allows me to turn the limiter of without any distortion. I usually start building a track without fruity limiter and introduce it when things start getting rough. Thanks for the advice anyways :)
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Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/redeem2711 I will always love Hardcore!
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Hard2Get
Advanced Member
    

 United Kingdom
12,837 posts Joined: Jun, 2001
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Posted - 2013/04/20 : 13:44:31
If the sounds are distorted without the limiter then you need to turn down the volumes of every channel until it doesn't distort (or turn the master down, not as ideal). This is a serious problem (in the context of sound engineering, not musically) and the song will suffer if you need to correct it with limiting. All the limiter does to stop the distortion is to reduce the level anyway.
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Edited by - Hard2Get on 2013/04/20 13:44:53 |
brenergy
Junior Member
 

 Canada
105 posts Joined: Oct, 2011
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Posted - 2013/04/20 : 13:54:33
quote: Originally posted by rdm2711:
quote: Originally posted by brenergy:
do you use FL Studio? if you do, I have one sound piece of advice (no pun intended): turn off Fruity Limiter. It could be what's squashing your track.
if you aren't using FL (or turned off the default limiter), then I'd work with EQ on each sound channel to both boost sound levels in a way that improves your sound and cut out frequencies that are clashing.
Yes I use FL Studio 10. I am using the fruity limiter as without it the sounds distort quite badly. So this is a necessity. However I'm going to try and pan the different channels and see if that allows me to turn the limiter of without any distortion. I usually start building a track without fruity limiter and introduce it when things start getting rough. Thanks for the advice anyways :)
maybe you should bring down the volume on the master track instead of using the limiter. fruity limiter has a habit of dynamic-squashing and making the master track sound like a mess.
that or like hard2get said: reduce the volume(s) on the offending channel(s)
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B R E N H I L T O N... cuz dual-word alias are so "in" these days XD
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Edited by - brenergy on 2013/04/20 13:56:16 |