fader8 Posted April 5, 2008 Share Posted April 5, 2008 Every once in a while I get to do something fun for myself, just to fool around. Here's my first compositional diversion into the Trance genre. It's also my contribution towards winning the Loudness Wars, LOL. It's mixed a bit madly, and not too carefully I might add. Anyway it's all just for fun. A bit of a hybrid actually. Most of the sounds are designed in Logic, some Predator too. The lead synth riffs I played with Thor from Reason 4. http://www.fader8.com/Misc/Dads_Trance_f8.mp3 Lemme no if ya like it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sal Trinchillo Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 Every once in a while I get to do something fun for myself, just to fool around. Here's my first compositional diversion into the Trance genre. It's also my contribution towards winning the Loudness Wars, LOL. It's mixed a bit madly, and not too carefully I might add. Anyway it's all just for fun. A bit of a hybrid actually. Most of the sounds are designed in Logic, some Predator too. The lead synth riffs I played with Thor from Reason 4. http://www.fader8.com/Misc/Dads_Trance_f8.mp3 Lemme no if ya like it! Good stuff, Mr. Otto. Wow, you're not kidding about it being loud! How about some details on the mixing aspect? Mastering? Sal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkgross Posted April 6, 2008 Share Posted April 6, 2008 very cool. Mix wise...I'd get a much more agressive kick drum up front in the mix. I'd love to hear a nice big cracky snare in sections really nailing the 2 and 4 instead of the claps. love the Wakemanesqe square wave lead Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ski Posted April 7, 2008 Share Posted April 7, 2008 Hey Man! I had my volume up on 1 above "off" and it was loud. Holy crap! So there it is, you win the loudness war single-handedly. All you have to do now is figure out how you can make it audible with the volume totally muted and you'll have attained loudness war Nirvana. For the most part I'd say you're showing all the right instincts. Some of the sounds are close but not nearly edgy enough. Also, there are too many elements, and they're introduced too quickly. Part of the game is to have only a realtively few elements and introduce them much more slowly. Time and space. And some of your solo riffs are "too musical". OMG, it looks like I'm panning your effort, but really, I'm not... Like I said, I think your instincts are good and as a first-time effort I think you did great! Next time you come over, bring those tracks and we'll f*ck them up and make them nasty. The bitcrusher will become your best friend, as will some of the grungier aspects of synth programming. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fader8 Posted April 7, 2008 Author Share Posted April 7, 2008 How about some details on the mixing aspect? Mastering?l Hi Sal, thanks for listening. Mixing? Mastering? Sorry, but this isn't mixed at all really. In fact the only effect plug-ins here is a simple plate verb and a bit of delay. For making this mp3 though, I did try a new maximizing technique that I've been working on. I'm really trying to get a handle on Trance as a genre and trying my hand at composing within it. The more Trance music I listen to, the more confused I am about exactly what that is! I mean, it has a vibe and a distinct sound, but it's more from a sound design standpoint and less easy to describe in musical terms where it can be so similar to other dance styles. Mix wise...I'd get a much more agressive kick drum up front in the mix. I'd love to hear a nice big cracky snare in sections really nailing the 2 and 4 instead of the claps. Hey Dave, I'm on the fence about getting too heavy with a kick, only because I'm using that to build up the second half of the tune. So I kept it sparse in the first half. But I'm willing to concede that it might need a little more. I'm a bit at odds with how much 4-on-the-floor trance really needs. A snare is a good idea though. I had my volume up on 1 above "off" and it was loud. Holy crap! So there it is, you win the loudness war single-handedly. All you have to do now is figure out how you can make it audible with the volume totally muted and you'll have attained loudness war Nirvana. Ha ha! Yeah that's pretty hot, huh! I've been playing around with some new methods and having a little too much fun with it. It never clips though and it's rms value is nearly -12! It's a bit over the top in this respect. For the most part I'd say you're showing all the right instincts. Some of the sounds are close but not nearly edgy enough. Also, there are too many elements, and they're introduced too quickly. Part of the game is to have only a realtively few elements and introduce them much more slowly. Time and space. And some of your solo riffs are "too musical". OMG, it looks like I'm panning your effort, but really, I'm not... Like I said, I think your instincts are good and as a first-time effort I think you did great! No, that's what I want to hear. I see what you mean about introducing things more gradually. I'm always worried about the listener getting weary of a beat without going to a change, but the trick is finding that happy medium I suppose. Next time you come over, bring those tracks and we'll f*ck them up and make them nasty. The bitcrusher will become your best friend, as will some of the grungier aspects of synth programming. Now here's where there seems to be two schools of thought when it comes to Trance. Clean or grungy. Done well, I like both. In the vain that Trance is a form of "easy-listening-techno" I'm leaning toward the "clean" sound. But all doors are open. I think the next time I come to your place we'll have our hands full installing that Gulbransen, so let's not get too ambitious! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leahbasskitten Posted April 15, 2008 Share Posted April 15, 2008 after hearing i thought, i'd better read to make sure no one else what i was going to say. ski said everything i was going to say... get out of my head!! i really liked it, it fit my ADD-ness very well. it was incredibly busy, but i'm the same way, i came up with way too many cool riffs and i'm going to fit them in dammit! honestly, if you just expanded the song out, and introduced the instruments more slowly or less at at time it would take away from that busyness. and plus... you its too melodic for techno, d00d!!! sorry, ski tripped me up on that one. not sure if you would take this an insult, but i defiantly could see that bing in a video game.... or hear that, i should say. i don't think thats an insult, but i could see how someone would. i dug a lot of the instruments, but there were so many, i don't know where to begin. i think someone is going to be giving me a lesson on instrument creation.... maybe.... please? seriously if you dirty it up a little too, it would be pretty unstoppable. it was a little squeeky clean, i'm sure you can fix that o-so-easily Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fader8 Posted April 15, 2008 Author Share Posted April 15, 2008 ski said everything i was going to say... get out of my head!! Twistedly gifted minds think alike! its too melodic for techno, d00d!!! I know. I can't help that part. not sure if you would take this an insult, but i defiantly could see that bing in a video game.... Not an insult at all. Remember, I make my living in sound design and post-production. Composing is merely a hobby/distraction for me. So if I write anything at all that someone likes, I consider myself ahead. Also, it's kind of an intellectual exercise too, in that I like to study a genre a bit, then try my hand at it. I learn more that way. You can't be a good producer without knowing a lot about what makes music tick. So, this is likely the only trance tune I'll ever write. Maybe. i think someone is going to be giving me a lesson on instrument creation.... Yes Dear. Of course Dear. We live only to serve you, Dear. seriously if you dirty it up a little too, it would be pretty unstoppable. it was a little squeeky clean, i'm sure you can fix that o-so-easily I may revise this tune st some point, if I feel motivated to that is. But in a way it's served its purpose already. Thanks Leah, and everyone. I appreciate the feedback! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Nahmani Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 It's great! Hahaha... very cool. But .. yes I would definitely add much more kick to it. The synths are really loud, but as a result they totally cover the kick and the clap/snare. Both of those need to come up in my opinion. I also agree with all the comments Ski made! I mean, if you want to stay true to genre that is. Otherwise who cares, it's art! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Nahmani Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 Oops, just read now your comment about the track having served its purpose.... putting foot in mouth now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morerecords Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 Very nice! The elements never quite find that 'pocket' though...Here is some stuff, maybe it will provide influence for your next project JgBLAA7eCC0 XadNKJaDOBY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyFJIVP2tB0&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLQ0Szmz7iU&feature=related UVRPEDOVJzk Tft3_gqh_zY http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOAMQPIqTjs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fader8 Posted May 7, 2008 Author Share Posted May 7, 2008 Loved the animation in that one! Thanks MR, I know what you mean. If I try this again, I'll let things evolve more gradually, and keep it a bit more minimalistic too! Oops, just read now your comment about the track having served its purpose.... Hey, but thanks for your comments anyway! Not sure what genre I'll try next. Maybe some kind of devil music so I can get my name on that exclusive list of "Bands That Will Turn You Gay"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BCProject Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 [Hey - how about we tag the files we share? Artist, song, album, intended genre, art?] I'll reiterate - muddy buried kick, I don't care about the genre, to my ear the kick ain't happening. *love* the synths, the the zany washes of sound punctuated with nice searing leads. Love it. I love electronica, love most of the micro-sub-genres, some appeal more than others. One of my major complaints about 'trance' specifically is the paint-by-numbers approach usually taken by practitioners of the form, or rigid adherence to the arrangement norms. I understand why they're there - to allow a DJ to queue and blend a song into the flow etc etc. but this can make one song sound very much like the next or previous. So I'm all for tossing that aside and going with what feels 'right' - However, in my personal opinion, the elements in this piece could be re-arranged and incorporated into a greater whole. You've got some kick-ass things happening here that, if you chose to and it fit into what you're trying to do, would elevate this piece above the usual fare. As it stands - a really nice piece of music that could benefit from some work on the kick and low-end in general, imo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leahbasskitten Posted May 7, 2008 Share Posted May 7, 2008 Not sure what genre I'll try next. Maybe some kind of devil music so I can get my name on that exclusive list of "Bands That Will Turn You Gay"! backstreet boys? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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