How to take the final step (towards a professional sound)

[Barfunkel]

So, I've reached a point where I'm almost satisfied with most elements of the music I make. The kicks thump, the snares and claps smack, I can write chord progressions and melodies that I like (though that's not much of an achievement in minimal techno), synth sounds fill in the audio spectrum nicely.

And so on.

However, I'm not _really_ satisfied with anything. Everything sounds a bit, well, anemic compared to commercial releases. The melodies aren't quite there, drums don't have that professional oomph and so on.

I've been practicing and practicing but basically the last 50 tracks I've made have sounded more or less the same, there has been no progress. I refuse to believe that I have peaked and that it's impossible for me to get that professional sound because of my lack of talent.

So, how did YOU take that final step that took you to a professional/or at least satisfactory level? Was it a specific piece of gear? Music theory lessons (I've had none, it sounds like something that's only useful if you spend years and years studying it hard, just a bit of it is useless. Or am I wrong here?)? Reading a book on production/mixing/composing/whatever?

I know practice and hard work is the key, but it seems that I've reached a constant level and I can't get out it. I don't even know WHAT exactly should I practice, I just make tracks, there hasn't been a practice element in quite a while.

Buying tons of new gear could probably help (Api 2500 for drums maybe), but I'm broke and I have to make do with what I have. Kids today get professional sounding music with just a DAW, and I have a few nice HW synths to play with, I firmly believe that I can theoretically get a professional product out of what I have.

TLDR: I feel I've peaked but I'm not satisfied with the level I am at, what should I do?

[kdgh]

Keep having fun!

You might think your music sounds semi-pro, while others probably think : how the F did he do that?!!?

Your own music, most of the time, won't be magic. You constructed the skeleton, skin and even designes the bloodcels. So don't mind the problem too much. Others will hear the magic, cause they'll hear the track and not the construction.

The only advise i could say is : try some other genres. Just to see what sounds and construction they use ib that genre. It could give you some new insights and inspiration.

Stick to your thing and don't mind the pro sounding new kids. It's about your music.

[pointsource]

Get over it mate, it's all in your head.

We're never 100% satisfied with our music and will never be. Always start a new project, otherwise you'll be stuck forever in the same track.

[Stevil]

if you've hit a wall & are not content with your sound, back off for a bit. do some research. dig into what you have. maybe make some upgrades.

how is your recording & mixing enviornment? how is your signal path & monitors? read a book on mixing, there are a few threads full of suggestions. lookup the slipperman "distorted guitars from hell" thread, he starts out talking about guitars but ends up giving a solid overview of the fundamantals of mixing, which is universal to any style & instrument.

it's a neverending path, especially electronic music where new sounds & gear are the engines that keeps it relevant. keep looking for new ways to do what you do.

[kraku]

By listening to OPs SoundCloud channel I would give the following feedback:

Your kick is missing the transients and sounds really boomy. How to fix:
- either use compressor to add clear transients or add a short sample snippet at the beginning
- ease up on the sub bass!
- see if you could improve your monitoring (acoustics + monitors) so you'll hear clearly what's going on with your mixes

The hihats seem to be a bit too loud or too low in the mixes (depending on the track). How to fix:
- again check your listening environment + monitors

The general sound design seems to be quite good. I'd say you have monitoring problems. That's all.

[DSK]

Good sounding stuff Barfunkel.

Don't beat yourself about it. I know your stuff lacks the polish but you'd be amazed of what a good mastering unit can do for your mixes.

I recommend you try sending out a track to test this (it will cost you around 40 euros but it's worth the curiosity don't you think)?

ARTEFACTS MASTERING // Music Studio

The kids that get that polished sound from just a DAW are usually mixed and mastered by other places. Yet some have that gift.

[m.o]

Regarding music theory, I recently bought 'Music theory for dummies' and have done a first read through in my spare time the last week or so.
This is probably not the deepest or most thourough book, but for me it kinda 'connected some dots' in my head (but there's alot in it you can probably skip though)

My 2 cents

[UCTION]

Uh, professionals send their good mixes to turn into great masters. If you aren't doing this, then of course you're gonna sit there wondering.

DSK is right, try to get a track mastered by a pro, if you want a pro sound. Make sure your mix is good. Test on friends, not yourself.

Think I remember Kanye West (not sure who else I'm sure many others also) saying the sad thing about producing is that you'll never be able to hear your music from the audiences perspective. You'll never get to hear the final version for the first time, since you've heard it hundreds of times during constructions. Especially if you've got an amazing life changing track that inspires kids to produce and it gives them energy - you'll never see it the same way.

I guess all professions have their downsides, but that is seriously cruel.

[Barfunkel]

Originally Posted by kraku

- again check your listening environment + monitors

The general sound design seems to be quite good. I'd say you have monitoring problems. That's all.

I have a decent pair (Focal CMS65's), but absolutely no acoustic treatment whatsoever. As my "studio" is a corner of the living room, it's, for the time being impossible to do anything about it either, the girlfriend is not too happy about the idea.

Hopefully getting a better studio space in the future.

A decent pair of cans would not probably hurt either, all I got is a crappy DJ pair.

[aunshui]

We're never supposed to be satisfied with our art. That's why it's art

[sleestack]

yeah, mastering gets that finished sound. Just dont get it smashed like some loud car commercial

[Paul Greenway]

Originally Posted by Barfunkel

So, how did YOU take that final step that took you to a professional/or at least satisfactory level?

Started using third party mixing plugins some months ago and my music suddenly sounded way more appealing to me. That one high quality compressor i use does wonders. I guess everybody wants to shorten that "gap" between yours and professional/mainstream sounding music...and for me spending some money on quality mixing plugins definitely did the job. I'm not quite there yet but i can tell i feel more confident about my own sound now.

I'd say invest some money in your processing chain. If you already did that forget my post. However if you only used your DAW's stock plugins till now, i believe a superior third party plugin might just be what you need right now imo.

[kraku]

Originally Posted by DSK

I know your stuff lacks the polish but you'd be amazed of what a good mastering unit can do for your mixes.

I have to disagree:
Mastering isn't the answer for problems with the mix. If you do the sound design and mixing right, you don't need to do anything else in the mastering phase except limit the signal couple of dB's. You should always strive for that goal (not needing to do much in the mastering).

[Radiance]

Question for the OP: have you actually sat down and tried recreating certain aspects of those "commercial releases" ?

[bluegreengold]

but basically the last 50 tracks I've made have sounded more or less the same, there has been no progress.

Well you did say you were making minimal techno, right? <ducks> jk

Start using sounds, making stuctures, using your software/gear in ways that aren't 'safe.'