Helpful Reply'Lose Myself' - Chill-Step tune

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cwestmont
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2012/10/04 09:24:38 (permalink)

'Lose Myself' - Chill-Step tune

I've been working on this remix for an Indaba contest but have gotten to the point where I have lost perspective -- hoping to get a fresh listen from the forum here. In particular, the chord changes are different in the first and second chorus. Should I make them the same in both? If so, which do you prefer? I have a little over a week before the contest deadline, so any feedback would be much appreciated. https://soundcloud.com/mo...o/lose-myself-mm-remix

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tbosco
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Re:'Lose Myself' - Chill-Step tune 2012/10/04 09:49:17 (permalink) ☄ Helpful
Really fine mix you've got going here my friend!  I like the chord changes just the way you have 'em.  Your instumental track is nearly flawless in my little opinion.  One crit-  I would raise the volume of the percussive synth that comes in at about 2:20 a tad.  It's a very cool sound but is slightly buried for the first part of the phrase.

Now a little bigger crit on the vocal-  She has a great voice... so let us hear it!  On my monitors, she is slightly muffled (I can't understand her words), so I'd like to see you add some "air" (9k - 11k??) and bring her up in the mix just a bit.  I also think a little longer reverb with a little predelay would add drama to her lines and put her in the same space as your drums. Maybe even add a slight tempo delay to her vocal.

So that advice and 4 bucks will get ya a cup of coffee at Starbucks.  LOL  Good luck in the contest!!  Keep us posted.

Cheers!

Tony

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cwestmont
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Re:'Lose Myself' - Chill-Step tune 2012/10/04 09:55:58 (permalink)
  Thanks Tony -- very helpful. I love the detailed advice about mixing because I am flying blind/trial-and-error on this stuff. I will definitely apply your advice.

My music:
Hummingbird Cinema (vocal tracks, covers and remixes)
Mosaic Manifesto  (remixes and instrumentals)
"If you can solve your problem, then what is the need of worrying? If you cannot solve it, then what is the use of worrying?"- Shantideva

One can acquire everything in solitude - except character. -- Marie Henri Beyle

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tbosco
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Re:'Lose Myself' - Chill-Step tune 2012/10/04 10:00:05 (permalink)
I'm very new to the Forum and a low-rank amateur... but I love this stuff!  LOL  Let me know if you like the changes.

Cheers!

Tony

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Lynn
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Re:'Lose Myself' - Chill-Step tune 2012/10/04 10:03:06 (permalink) ☄ Helpful
Great song!  I agree with Tony on the technical details, but those are easy fixes.  The main thing is that this is a killer song, and I wish you all the luck in the world.

All the best,
Lynn

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SilverfoxUK
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Re:'Lose Myself' - Chill-Step tune 2012/10/04 10:39:21 (permalink) ☄ Helpful
Hi mate, good stuff! 

 In my opinion the 2nd chorus chords, musically, compliment the vocals better than the 1st. 

If I'm honest, and I will be because I think the tune and what you are on to here deserves it, I feel that chorus does not have enough impact. To me, it feels like the chorus wants to explode when it comes in, but it sounds a bit lack lustre and I think it is all to do with the bass and drums. 

These are the things, that I hear, could be improved: 

1. The bass is too dominating, I understand for this genre this is desirable, however, I think the drums need to be slamming. The drums sound like they are fighting the bass, and can almost not be heard. I really can't tell if there is a kick drum on the chorus, which proves my point. The drums and bass should be one unit, a beautiful duo of impact. At least bring the snare up in level, and fatten it (it sounds ok in verse). Maybe reduce level of bass slightly and work on drums. 

You could even try to automate the choruses so that they are slightly louder than the verses (old trick)

2. When the first chorus presents itself, there is hardly any build up, a snare roll, a bass level swell etc, could help its introduction. You have actually done this on the 2nd chorus (which I like) but have you considered, instead of having that sample go from high to low, reversing it so that it goes from low to high (such as you did at 2:40). Going up in pitch usually leads the ear to expect something bigger, rather than the other way around. 

3. Also feel that the timing sounds off in parts in the choruses. I would take a look and see if you can get it all locked down. A bit of natural swing can be good but when a few elements are slightly out, it can sound disorientating. For example, the 2nd and 3rd bass notes on the 2nd chorus sound slightly late (1:45) then the 4th note is early (1:47) I think if you could tighten it all up, it would have more impact. 

You know when I heard this tune I immediately thought of the Pendulum tune: Propane Nightmares @1:15 http://www.youtube.com/wa...6-Q&feature=fvwrel   two different tracks (although similar sounding synth, bass and drums), but you can hear how the instruments lock when that that drops @ 1:15 

Really like the vocals on your track, have you tried panning the high harmony vocals slightly? just an idea to gain some slight separation. 


OK, I'd better stop there, otherwise I'll be splitting this into 'Chapters' LOL


 And, it's only my opinion, take whatever is helpful to you from it. Good luck! 




post edited by SilverfoxUK - 2012/10/04 10:45:58

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cwestmont
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Re:'Lose Myself' - Chill-Step tune 2012/10/04 11:13:48 (permalink)
  Silverfox, that is all incredibly useful info. Exactly the kind of feedback I was looking for. I suspected the 2nd chorus was a better fit. Your other comments are also very very insightful -- i will do my best to implement them. Chapters of help like this would be perfectly fine by me!

My music:
Hummingbird Cinema (vocal tracks, covers and remixes)
Mosaic Manifesto  (remixes and instrumentals)
"If you can solve your problem, then what is the need of worrying? If you cannot solve it, then what is the use of worrying?"- Shantideva

One can acquire everything in solitude - except character. -- Marie Henri Beyle

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SilverfoxUK
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Re:'Lose Myself' - Chill-Step tune 2012/10/04 11:42:25 (permalink)
Pleased it was helpful. 

 Post up next version when finished. 

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cwestmont
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Re:'Lose Myself' - Chill-Step tune 2012/10/05 20:35:03 (permalink)
I've incorporated the super-helpful feedback already received into the track and reloaded it up onto SoundCloud again. The original link should still work, or here: http://soundcloud.com/mos...o/lose-myself-mm-remix I will submit to the contest in about a week so let me know of any other changes. Again, really appreciate the comments.

My music:
Hummingbird Cinema (vocal tracks, covers and remixes)
Mosaic Manifesto  (remixes and instrumentals)
"If you can solve your problem, then what is the need of worrying? If you cannot solve it, then what is the use of worrying?"- Shantideva

One can acquire everything in solitude - except character. -- Marie Henri Beyle

Windows 7
Intel Core i7-4770 3.4 GHz
8 GigaBytes DRAM
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dubdisciple
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Re:'Lose Myself' - Chill-Step tune 2012/10/06 05:06:58 (permalink)
I think it sounds great. Don't hear too many chillstep tunes here.
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SilverfoxUK
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Re:'Lose Myself' - Chill-Step tune 2012/10/08 04:41:46 (permalink) ☄ Helpful
Hi cwestmont, 

 Definitely an improvement. drums are more audible now.  To my ears though, the bass still seems to be slightly too dominant, it's like the bass is sucking the life slightly out of the drums and rest of track (except vocals) Unless this IS what you are trying to achieve sonically. I know from dub-step it is very bass intensive, but the drums are still normally punchy.  

(Edited) the 2nd chorus drums seem to cut through slightly better than first.    


 Another thing I noticed. I listened to the track on headphones and on my PC speakers at work. The PC speakers are good Bose ones, quite bass heavy for PC speakers, listening to your mix on them, bass is really quiet on some parts, especially on the first chorus.  I mention this because, the people that are listening to the track and voting on it may be listening to it on a similar set up. Its a really good idea to make sure your mixes sound good in every environment (or at least in a few different scenarios: Car, ipod phones, pc speakers)  I think that as this track uses mainly sub-bass, you could possibly add some higher bass frequencies so that the bass line can be heard on tinnier speakers/headphones. 

 Its for the same reason that a higher click, or beater sound is mixed with a low thud of a kick drum on tracks. So that the majority (80-90%?) of people, can hear the beat on the rubbish ipod headphones.  

I think the vocals could come down in level over the chorus a tad to try and round it all off. 

Really like your ideas and the overall feel of the track though, I think Lightyear should too ;)   


post edited by SilverfoxUK - 2012/10/08 04:59:08

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#11
tbosco
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Re:'Lose Myself' - Chill-Step tune 2012/10/08 08:29:14 (permalink) ☄ Helpful
Whoa!!!!!  SERIOUS improvement going on here my friend!   Unfortunately, I'm listening on laptop cans, so I can't really comment on the bass accurately yet, but Silverfox seems to have a handle on it.
I like this version MUCH better than my original listen.  I can hear every word she sings now and the synth parts seem more defined when they need to be.  I'll try to listen to low end later today.

Cheers!

Tony

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cwestmont
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Re:'Lose Myself' - Chill-Step tune 2012/10/08 10:52:03 (permalink)
Thanks guys. I definitely made use of your input. As far as the bass goes, I have found a dramatic difference comparing different speakers, especially typical PC speakers. At the end of the day, I am just going with what sounds best on my own headphones. Again, really appreciate the help and hope I can return the favor sometime. I am only a sporadic visitor to these forums but email me at cwestmont AT gmail DOT com if there is any specific project. Regards, cw

My music:
Hummingbird Cinema (vocal tracks, covers and remixes)
Mosaic Manifesto  (remixes and instrumentals)
"If you can solve your problem, then what is the need of worrying? If you cannot solve it, then what is the use of worrying?"- Shantideva

One can acquire everything in solitude - except character. -- Marie Henri Beyle

Windows 7
Intel Core i7-4770 3.4 GHz
8 GigaBytes DRAM
Sonar X3
Roland QuadCapture
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