smallstonefan
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My first finished song!
Hi all, This is the first song I've ever completed that was 100% mine. I think it's a great representation of what's been in my head, and I'm super happy to be able to finally share it. I am so pumped and motivated to keep creating right now! :) https://soundcloud.com/jamesfoxall/ultraviolet
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ohgrant
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Re: My first finished song!
2015/08/27 22:38:53
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A real nice mix of organic and synthetic tones. I really enjoyed.
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synkrotron
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Re: My first finished song!
2015/08/28 09:21:31
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Hi James,
Sorry I'm late here haha! I listened earlier, as you know.
Great song by the way. Listening again now..........
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synkrotron
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Re: My first finished song!
2015/08/28 09:25:12
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Forgot to say... Love that lead bit... Screaming! 
http://www.synkrotron.co.uk/Intel Core™i7-3820QM Quad Core Mobile Processor 2.70GHz 8MB cache | Intel HM77 Express Chipset | 16GB SAMSUNG 1600MHz SODIMM DDR3 RAM | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675M - 2.0GB DDR5 Video RAM | 500GB Samsung 850 Pro SSD | 1TB Samsung 850 Pro SSD | Windows 10 Pro | Roland OCTA-CAPTURE | SONAR Platinum ∞ FFS| Too many VSTi's to list here | KRK KNS-8400 Headphones | Roland JP-8000 | Oberheim OB12 | Novation Nova | Gibson SG Special | PRS Studio
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smallstonefan
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Re: My first finished song!
2015/08/28 11:38:42
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ohgrant
A real nice mix of organic and synthetic tones. I really enjoyed.
I've struggled to describe my stuff - I think you did a very good job here and I plan to use this, thank you! :)
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smallstonefan
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Re: My first finished song!
2015/08/28 11:39:09
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synkrotron
Forgot to say... Love that lead bit... Screaming!
Thank you!!! :)
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daryl1968
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Re: My first finished song!
2015/08/28 12:09:36
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Very cool - James - keeps your attention right to the end.
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clintmartin
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Re: My first finished song!
2015/08/28 12:49:20
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Cool song!!! Many textures to listen to and enjoy. It almost has a middle eastern sound, and then it almost goes fusion, but it never really settles into a defined genre. I would call that a huge success! CUDOS my friend! Very fine piece of work.
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emeraldsoul
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Re: My first finished song!
2015/08/28 12:54:51
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I'd say pretty cool as well! Nice job. I will now publically confess to enjoying the Alan Parsons Project as a guilty pleasure. There it is, in black and white, for all to see! Your song is unique and you have your own thing (really excellent use of delays, and I like the many different compositional elements, plus I think you had some heavy tympani going towards the beginning) but I couldn't help having a little APP flashback!
As far as any crit, I noticed just a hint of a crackle as the big distorted power chords came on around :40 (might have been my headphones?) and I'd vote for just a little bit more volume or brightness from the upper end, like the ride cymbal in particular. Your piece seems weighted towards the low end elements a little, which might be your choice.
I like how you build it up, but periodically clear it out, if that makes sense.
Fun ride!
cheers,
-Tom
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BASSJOKER
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Re: My first finished song!
2015/08/28 13:25:25
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Walt Collins
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Re: My first finished song!
2015/08/28 15:36:23
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Definitely evokes some Pink Floyd with the rhythmic synths and echo-ey guitars. Very nicely done, well mixed and played! Smoothhhh.
Walt Collins - Downtempo & AmbientBandcamp: https://waltcollins.bandcamp.com (FREE downloads), SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/arcanor blog: "Seeking Enlightenment Through Electronic Music" - http://waltcollins.com/musicI use Ableton, NI, AAS, Arturia, Spectrasonics, Cakewalk, Akai, Yamaha, Fender, Sony, WavesWindows 10, Tannoy, KRK, dbx DriveRack
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bapu
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Re: My first finished song!
2015/08/29 12:45:20
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That is really trippy hippy dippy but in a post modern uber metrosexual way.
Bring the drums up and it's bound for glory.
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CreatingNoise
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Re: My first finished song!
2015/08/30 10:58:04
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James,
Very cool tune, congrats on your first finished song. Everything sounded well mixed on my system. Not sure exactly what you played and/or programmed as I am listening while doing some home office chores. But the bottom line is I like this and you did a great job. I got a total Pink Floyd vibe right off the bat but was pleased to hear you venture away and into other stuff that was not easily identifiable on the influences.....which to me means you have your own style. I like the foundation of it and how brought in different things. Nice work!
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smallstonefan
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Re: My first finished song!
2015/08/30 18:18:55
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Wow guys - thanks so much for listening and for the comments! daryl - thanks for saying so. This is a big deal for me - I hate when music is predictable after the first chorus and verse. I think that's why I can't get into modern pop even with a (semi) open mind. I like those surprises! :) clint - thank you! I'm not sure why my stuff evokes a middle-eastern vibe, but it seems to be there under the surface. Perhaps the Peter Gabriel influence poking thru! Tom - thanks for the thoughtful comments. I felt like the highs were too prominent in this - particularly after I ripped out the Slate VTM and Slate VCC. I'll have to give it another listen. I listen to Alan Parsons regularly (at least every three or four days), so I'm really glad you got that vibe. bassjoker - thanks for listening :) Walt - Any time someone mentions Pink Floyd in relation to my stuff it makes my day. Thanks man! Bapu - I'll give it another listen with them nudged up a tiny bit and see how it goes. Thanks for the input! Tony - thanks for the kind words. I played all the guitar parts and hacked out the keyboard parts like a monkey banging on pots and pans. Very grateful for midi editing tools! lol There's also some Stylus grooves and some EZ Drummer 2 in there. Some of the parts sound like synths, but they are actually guitar parts run through Tantra - so you never can tell for sure... ;) I certainly dug deep into my limited bag of tricks on this one. Guys, I've always avoided this part of the forum feeling I didn't belong here. You've all made me feel very welcome and I'm glad to be here. I'm enjoying the heck out of listening to your work, and I'm motivated to make more. thanks brothers!
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jimfogle
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Re: My first finished song!
2015/08/30 19:27:59
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Very nice. Lots of energy. Reminds me somewhat of Jan Hammer songs of the eighties.
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smallstonefan
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Re: My first finished song!
2015/09/02 09:47:55
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Thanks Jim - cool reference :)
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bitflipper
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Re: My first finished song!
2015/09/02 11:28:36
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Dynamic organic electronica! A vanishing category. Nice tonal textures and arrangement.
I hear some 200-400Hz mud in places. Not extreme, and just a little EQ on the bass will probably fix it.
Congratulations on finishing a song. I don't think I've ever finished a song, only got bored with it and moved on to something else.
 All else is in doubt, so this is the truth I cling to. My Stuff
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mesayre
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Re: My first finished song!
2015/09/02 12:15:20
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Really enjoyed this, James. Nice job. Thanks for sharing your debut!
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batsbrew
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Re: My first finished song!
2015/09/02 13:33:06
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emerald mentioned APP, i'd have to agree,
that's a good touchstone for this,
even tho this doesn't really sound like that.
LOL
nice atmospheric groove, i like the rhythm loop,
it sounds a bit synthetic,
but totally works for the rhythm element
it's all put together very well,
good recording as well.
this would make a good background track for an action shot,
maybe a alpine snowboarder ripping thru deep powder
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dcumpian
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Re: My first finished song!
2015/09/02 18:52:23
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Very cool tune! Caught my ear from the very beginning. Needs just a bit more driving power from the drums in some sections, but otherwise, I really like this!
Regards,
Dan
Mixing is all about control. My music: http://dancumpian.bandcamp.com/ or https://soundcloud.com/dcumpian Studiocat Advanced Studio DAW (Intel i5 3550 @ 3.7GHz, Z77 motherboard, 16GB Ram, lots of HDDs), Sonar Plat, Mackie 1604, PreSonus Audiobox 44VSL, ESI 4x4 Midi Interface, Ibanez Bass, Custom Fender Mexi-Strat, NI S88, Roland JV-2080 & MDB-1, Komplete, Omnisphere, Lots o' plugins.
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smallstonefan
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Re: My first finished song!
2015/09/04 15:37:40
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Thanks for the feedback guys! I am currently working on an updated mix to bring those drums UP UP UP and find that bit of mud. Loving the process and appreciating the feedback. :)
bit: Thanks man! I'm hunting down that mud right now...
mesayre: thanks for listening! :)
bats: Thanks for the comment! I've had a number of friends say it would fit a movie score as well - I find that an intriguing thought. I need to get the drums up, and with all of the references to one my my favorite bands - Alan Parsons Project - I think I'll pull some of them up for reference and see what I can learn.
dan: I agree about the drums and I'm on it, thanks! :)
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TW5011
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Re: My first finished song!
2015/09/04 17:12:15
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I like how the style changes regularly. I agree that so much music these days is too predictable. Keep experimenting...
Have you considered adding a little distortion to the drums? Might make them sound bigger without taking up too much headroom.
And congrats on finishing a song... it's difficult to do sometimes. Hopefully the mix will be completely finished soon. (Well, if you can finish a mix... what helps me is setting a deadline and then not touching it anymore. Otherwise there's always another small tweak to be made, but it eventually gets to the point that most people would never notice, and it keeps us from making more music.)
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