Feedback wanted for track

[Primativ]

Just been working on this Afrobeta remix.

http://soundcloud.com/primativ/afrobetaremix/s-yGJXz old version scroll down for new version



Any comments? Only started it yesterday, just wondered on any comments about arrangement or levels? are the drums too loud? I've been working on headphones alot (funnily enough) today and I think maybe they are too loud?

[Simonator]

Ha. I'm sure your neighbours must be happier.

I can't crank it too loud neither... so bare that in mind.


Production seems good.

Build into the main break is great. I really like the simplicity of that break coming in... I think you maybe ought to leave it raw & understated as it is.
Break itself is cool. Nice work on those synths!!

Mix actually sounds pretty bloody good. Maybe up the bass a little.


Stylistically, this isn't really my cup of tea... I far prefer your earlier stuff which seemed more minimal/tech... this seems a bit retro, like a 2003 electrohouse banger... it's too full on for me.
I'm not into that vocal at all... but I appreciate this is a remix you are doing, so...

It does overally sound a bit brittle to me... the highs are a little too harsh & cutting, but again, this might be a taste thing. Personally, I'd be tempted to round off some highs & dull some transients.


Overall, a great start though. Impressive to say it's only a day's work. Bravo.

[Primativ]

Originally Posted by Simonator

Ha. I'm sure your neighbours must be happier.

I can't crank it too loud neither... so bare that in mind.

Thanks for the quick response.

Production seems good.

Build into the main break is great. I really like the simplicity of that break coming in... I think you maybe ought to leave it raw & understated as it is.
Break itself is cool. Nice work on those synths!!

Mix actually sounds pretty bloody good. Maybe up the bass a little.

Yep thought the bass was a bit low, I'll turn it up a notch and see how it goes.


Stylistically, this isn't really my cup of tea... I far prefer your earlier stuff which seemed more minimal/tech... this seems a bit retro, like a 2003 electrohouse banger... it's too full on for me.
I'm not into that vocal at all... but I appreciate this is a remix you are doing, so...

Yeah this is completely not my usual style so I completely understand, (I feel a bit dirty making it lol) but it just kind of came out. I'm tempted to do a minimal/tech remix of it and hardly use any vocals, I'll see how I feel when I finish this. I've been concious of not trying to overdo the vocals in this remix


It does overally sound a bit brittle to me... the highs are a little too harsh & cutting, but again, this might be a taste thing. Personally, I'd be tempted to round off some highs & dull some transients.

I'll try and round some off those highs off, do the drums sound ok to you?

Overall, a great start though. Impressive to say it's only a day's work. Bravo.

....

[Popbott]

I'm trying to listen here at work without turning it up too loud and all I hear is kick and snare. Doesn't seem to be the case with other tracks in my computer. I say turn them down and remix.

[Primativ]

Originally Posted by Popbott

I'm trying to listen here at work without turning it up too loud and all I hear is kick and snare. Doesn't seem to be the case with other tracks in my computer. I say turn them down and remix.

Yeah I get that a bit on my laptop when I turn it down. Definately too loud.

[Nev]

Ran the mix through my studio monitor setup: Yamaha hs50m + subwoofer, and then again in a pair of Mackies to make sure.

Mix sounds bit muddy, the drums sound too loud (specificaly the snare), don't know if you intended the snare to be so snappy and loud throughout the track. Sound is relative, so the drums sound so pronounced and loud, makes the rest of the song very low.

The snare is basically leading the beat, very popular approach in dirty dutch house and tribal 90's house but not so much in electro house. The snare should compliment the beat than lead it, when your song is heavily composed.

I'll try to explain a bit more:

In a thumping simplistic house track, such as dirty dutch house, the snare can lead a beat loudly because the track is so bare at times, generally speaking. And to compliment the harsh loud snare they will accompany it with an analog-style heavy kick in umph and bass, with a bare small attack in the mids. But with Electro the beat will be busy, the songs are usually heavily composed with vocals, over-used glitching and heavy-mid synths.

Over-use of filter-sweeping in sections tends to coincide with your running bass pattern.

At 4:00 I luv that synth intro into the next track, but it feels empty, almost no presence, its too sexy to be so quiet, lol. I'm going to guess soft-synth. And the drum roll leading into the beat only proves the drums in the track ARE too loud. Your instinct was correct sir.

It sucks because when we are producing we often miss the obvious because our ears become fatigued to the sound. Always use a reference track when you are going to work on a dance track for a LONG period of time, and take frequent breaks.

Both tracks are too repetitive, but you definitely have the basis of something nice, especially that second track, I'm really digging it. I would rock it in my ipod.

[Primativ]

Originally Posted by Nev

Ran the mix through my studio monitor setup: Yamaha hs50m + subwoofer, and then again in a pair of Mackies to make sure.

Mix sounds bit muddy, the drums sound too loud (specificaly the snare), don't know if you intended the snare to be so snappy and loud throughout the track. Sound is relative, so the drums sound so pronounced and loud, makes the rest of the song very low.

The snare is basically leading the beat, very popular approach in dirty dutch house and tribal 90's house but not so much in electro house. The snare should compliment the beat than lead it, when your song is heavily composed.

I'll try to explain a bit more:

In a thumping simplistic house track, such as dirty dutch house, the snare can lead a beat loudly because the track is so bare at times, generally speaking. And to compliment the harsh loud snare they will accompany it with an analog-style heavy kick in umph and bass, with a bare small attack in the mids. But with Electro the beat will be busy, the songs are usually heavily composed with vocals, over-used glitching and heavy-mid synths.

Over-use of filter-sweeping in sections tends to coincide with your running bass pattern.

At 4:00 I luv that synth intro into the next track, but it feels empty, almost no presence, its too sexy to be so quiet, lol. I'm going to guess soft-synth. And the drum roll leading into the beat only proves the drums in the track ARE too loud. Your instinct was correct sir.

It sucks because when we are producing we often miss the obvious because our ears become fatigued to the sound. Always use a reference track when you are going to work on a dance track for a LONG period of time, and take frequent breaks.

Both tracks are too repetitive, but you definitely have the basis of something nice, especially that second track, I'm really digging it. I would rock it in my ipod.

Thanks for the really helpful advice, I'll have another go at it tomorrow and see what we all think.

[Primativ]

Ok I've changed this remix quite a bit, closing date is Tuesday. Would be interested in opinions.

Track has changed quite substantially....for the better Much more of a Tech House vibe now ...

http://soundcloud.com/primativ/afrobetaremixfinal/s-IX2lR

[Tarkovsky]

Originally Posted by Primativ

Ok I've changed this remix quite a bit, closing date is Tuesday. Would be interested in opinions.

Track has changed quite substantially....for the better Much more of a Tech House vibe now ...

http://soundcloud.com/primativ/afrobetaremixfinal/s-IX2lR

I like this a lot more. Especially the bass at 2.40. Personally I think the intro should be a bit more subtle. Absolutely not a fan of any of the synth sounds - The light buzz that you're using for lead, and the pads.

You've got something quite funky and groovy that I would play, if it was minus a bit of the vocal. Also for me to play it, the breaks would have to change to something less trancy. Used at a few key times that vocal would work really well. Keep that really lovely marimba type baseline up in the mix. Maybe brighten it a tad. Stick with the groove.

Tech-house is originally a mixture of the sparseness of minimal techno and deep house style beats (except a bit more sparse). I think if you kept it a tad more minimal (you have the soulful beat) and understated this would be really rather good. No need to make this thing bang out with obvious leads and melodies when the rhythym and bass are pefect. I think THIS should be the lead aspects of your track. You've already gone somewhat in that direction I think if you went further you'd have some really rather good.

That's just my personal opinion. Hope it helps. It's good work none the less!

[Primativ]

Originally Posted by Tarkovsky

I like this a lot more. Especially the bass at 2.40. Personally I think the intro should be a bit more subtle. Absolutely not a fan of any of the synth sounds - The light buzz that you're using for lead, and the pads.

You've got something quite funky and groovy that I would play, if it was minus a bit of the vocal. Also for me to play it, the breaks would have to change to something less trancy. Used at a few key times that vocal would work really well. Keep that really lovely marimba type baseline up in the mix. Maybe brighten it a tad. Stick with the groove.

Tech-house is originally a mixture of the sparseness of minimal techno and deep house style beats (except a bit more sparse). I think if you kept it a tad more minimal (you have the soulful beat) and understated this would be really rather good. No need to make this thing bang out with obvious leads and melodies when the rhythym and bass are pefect. I think THIS should be the lead aspects of your track. You've already gone somewhat in that direction I think if you went further you'd have some really rather good.

That's just my personal opinion. Hope it helps. It's good work none the less!

Thanks for taking the time to listen and comment. I've taken on board what you said and agree cutting out more of the vocals and making it more minimal definately takes the track in a better direction.

I've tried to make the breaks less trancey, but I'm retaining them as i'm basically short on time as the deadline is today, plus I want to keep soemthing from the original in the remix and I think that synth stem is the best part....I like how the synth line works with the sparse vocals on the second bridge...and it breaks the minimalness up a bit.

Brightened up the marimba's a bit...

new edited version http://soundcloud.com/primativ/afrobeta-play_house-7



Anyone else?

[Monsieur_R]

Of all the versions, I preferred the original from 3:55 to the end the most. Very original that trance breakdown and buildup. Best of luck.

[Pier]

Originally Posted by Primativ

new edited version http://soundcloud.com/primativ/afrobeta-play_house-7

Anyone else?

I think you got a track there, I like it when you have the full loop going on, and also the breaks.

What I don't like is that 2:30 long intro with a very soft progression that really doesn't add much to the track IMO. 2:30 is long for an intro, but if it's almost the same loop over and over again it dilutes any tension there may be. I think it would work better if instead of slowly fading in the elements you made a more structured approach, and maybe add some dj-friendly elements to divide the different parts of the intro. Maybe add smaller breaks of 2 bars, some fx. Just an idea.

[Primativ]

Originally Posted by Pier

I think you got a track there, I like it when you have the full loop going on, and also the breaks.

What I don't like is that 2:30 long intro with a very soft progression that really doesn't add much to the track IMO. 2:30 is long for an intro, but if it's almost the same loop over and over again it dilutes any tension there may be. I think it would work better if instead of slowly fading in the elements you made a more structured approach, and maybe add some dj-friendly elements to divide the different parts of the intro. Maybe add smaller breaks of 2 bars, some fx. Just an idea.

Thanks, good suggestions I'll see what I can do with the intro, agree its a bit predictable.