Hi All
 
I have been reading the forum for a while but new to posting.  I have been messing around with Sonar X2 for a few months now and I have made a few…sketches…I hesitate to call them fully formed songs.  The main thing I am trying to do is learn a bit about mixing and sound production in general.
 
I have posted one of my “sketches” on Soundcloud at the following link:
 

 
I would really like some independent ears to have a listen to my efforts and provide me with some constructive criticism and advice on my efforts.  After my months of messing around on my own I feel I have reached the point where I need some informed help and opinion to help me move forward.  I am reading several books and following websites etc. as time allows however there is nothing to beat some good old honest opinion.
 
So..if anyone can spare a few minutes to have a listen to the link I would really, really appreciate some help and feedback.  I am not so much looking for comments on the artistic merit but more on the technical sound production ...although of course any and all comments are very much welcome!!
 
Thanks in advance
 
Peace…
 
Peterjung

OK… apologies...seems I don't have enough privileges yet to post a link on this site...never mind...the Soundcloud URL is as follows:
soundcloud.com/peterjung2/no-4-remix-2014-02-26-mp3

Link don't work to get to the song. It just states at Soundcloud you have no song public and the way it is written does not go anywhere just using the first part and your name - shows no song up and - "Sorry the page can not be found" is the message from Soundcloud when the entire link is entered.
 
 

spacealf
 
Thanks for the reply.  Hmm...was having some problems uploading to soundcloud.  Uploaded as public but something went wrong somewhere and it became private?...
 
anyway....hopefully should be ok now.  I still cannot post the actual link for now but a cut and the paste of the following into your browswer should work
 
soundcloud.com/peterjung2/no-4-remix-2014-02-26-mp3
 
thanks again

I believe that your song is here:
 
https://soundcloud.com/peterjung2/no-4-remix-2014-02-26-mp3
 
For a newbie attempt after having Sonar a few months this isn't bad. It's petty basic and like you say it is a "sketch" and needs to be fleshed out with some melodic objects - either solo instruments or a vocal. But is sounds like you had fun, so keep working with it. 

Ruben
 
Many thanks for your constructive input.  I certainly had fun...just wish I had more time!
 
EDIT - Ruben thanks for posting the actual link!

To be honest, I am not *hearing* the need for any help on the technical production.  It sounds good, but I'm not sure if it sounds how you *want* it to sound.  Artistically, I completely dig it.  You have filled up the space pretty good with different instruments and it's catchy. 
 
Technically, though, I'd have to know what sounds you wanted to sound "real" and which ones you liked sounded electronic or synth like.  I think you might be better served if you were more specific in the technical stuff you are wanting to know.  For instance, I could say the piano needs to be fuller, richer, like a better synth or something - but how do I know this isn't the exact piano sound you're looking for?  Maybe you want it thin and subdued, so the other sounds can fill that space? 
 
Anyways, I like the tune.  Wish it had some vocals, or something else that could play that lead over the piece because it's very cool.  You've done a great job capturing the mood, in my opinion. 

Wow…Voda La Void…many thanks for your comments!
 
I am very flattered by your words.
 
I guess what I was getting at was to really just have the chance for some more experienced and knowledgeable ears to have a listen and tell me if there was anything technical that was obviously “wrong” with the mix that I may not be hearing.  Apart from the basic level balance I tried some panning, and a bit of reverb.  I am just starting to look into how to use the Pro Channel so on this I have not used it at all.
 
The piano sound I had in mind was a sort of 70’s electric sound…. I was thinking of the type of piano sounds you can find on lots of the tracks on the Moon Safari album by aIR.
 
The piano sound is one of the Scarbee Pianets from the Vintage Keys library for Kontakt, the bass is also from this library.  The drums are from a Sonar standard library loop.  Horns from Session Horns and whacky noises from Evolve Mutations.  The guitars are all “real” some through Amplitube 3 and some through Guitar Rig.
 
I struggled for a long time to try and find a vocal melody that fits….still searching…. I hear a pretty French chanteuse’s voice in my head but can’t get a melody yet.
 
I would have a go at a vocal track myself …..but as I sing like a pig being strangled I am not likely to load that take online.  At the very least it would have to be drenched in vocoder…even then it would probably just sound like a pig being strangled … but through a vocoder…..
 
Thanks again and I really appreciate all you guys taking the time to listen and comment.

It's always hard to do synth horns in a convincing way, which is why I try to avoid them mostly.  Yours are no exception, unfortunately.  It's really obvious the horns were done on a keyboard.  There need to be little gaps between the notes for one thing, since real trumpet players have to articulate each note.  Maybe try putting your synth in "solo" performance mode, so you can't trigger 2 notes at once.  Or maybe add some separation between the individual midi notes in the piano roll.
 
I look forward to more from you!  This one is a bit long maybe, but I like the groove and layering.

For a sketch this is a good base, the general mix sound reasonable here.  As has been mentioned a need for little more ear candy to latch on to would help.  But as a background under a video this would work well.
 
Look forward to more from you.  25 posts is the magic number then you should be able to post links.