Where is the noise? What a Noobish headache

[Admiralgloom]

Hello all,

Glad to be part of the dubstep forums and not just a stalker, ha. I finally produced my first full dubstep song using Ableton Live. I am really just having a great time figuring out everything, even when it gets frustrating. The only thing I notice about my track is it lacks that "full sound". I can hear the drums, the bass and sub-bass, and all the synths and what-not's...But I just feel this empty space in the track. I hope I am getting this across right.

Thanks in advance!

[AxeD]

It probably needs some mixing/mastering. Tweak the levels of the different sounds a bit.

If that not works you could try layering stuff like your basslines or add some pads.

[Heartless]

You've pretty much answered your own question. You just produced your first full dubstep song.

It takes time. Keep making tracks and studying.

[ComfiStile]

I think everyone had this problem with their first song. Use pads to fill in the gaps. EQ your master channel to boost frequencies that may be lacking, but be subtle about it. Look at a visual EQ to see where the sound may have gaps, maybe add a synth or two to that frequency range. Reverbs and such can help, too. I like to add a verb to my master (VERY subtle [short decay time, all high end, low effect volume]). It helps gel the track together, though I got flamed like fuck after telling people here about it haha, but it works for me.

I still have that problem, though. It's all about practice.

[ChadDub]

Having something take up the Low-Mids, like 100-200hz range, will fill it up nicely. Just don't put it too loud, just loud enough that you can hear it, and it'll make a difference.

Also, it just takes time to learn the things you can do to make your tracks better. It'll come in time.

[rusto]

At the same time less can be more. Dont want to hide some awesome key elements with random shiz. You dont have to have something different happening across the spectrum.

[Teknicyde]

Sound cant travel in a vacuum.

Reverb, and atmospheric elements... if a tunes too empty no amount of mixing down or eqing will fix that, it needs an atmosphere.

Start your tracks with the subtle atmospheric elements first... build the room, then write your song in it sorta.

[jrisreal]

use a spectrum analyzer to find any empty spaces in the mix and fill it in with something...bassline, pads, leads, some bg fx or something

[Manic Harmonic]

The best advice I can can give is to just keep practicing, doing research, reading magazines, experimenting, lisening to new music (and not just dubstep!), collaborating with other people, etc. This stuff takes time. I've been producing for about 4 years and im just getting to the point where I can make a decent mix. Don't let that discourage you though, just keep learning and take in as much information as you can.

And lastly, go to the feedback thread, give 3 other people feedback, and post your track to get some input on it.

[blazinaidan]

Sound cant travel in a vacuum.

Reverb, and atmospheric elements... if a tunes too empty no amount of mixing down or eqing will fix that, it needs an atmosphere.

Start your tracks with the subtle atmospheric elements first... build the room, then write your song in it sorta.

One of the best pieces of advice I've seen on this site. I'm curious what you mean by "build a room", if you wouldn't mind elaborating. I know alot of rock bands used this technique in a more literal fashion by recording the song itself in some interesting setting. Very good thinking!

[Manic Harmonic]

Sound cant travel in a vacuum.

Reverb, and atmospheric elements... if a tunes too empty no amount of mixing down or eqing will fix that, it needs an atmosphere.

Start your tracks with the subtle atmospheric elements first... build the room, then write your song in it sorta.

One of the best pieces of advice I've seen on this site. I'm curious what you mean by "build a room", if you wouldn't mind elaborating. I know alot of rock bands used this technique in a more literal fashion by recording the song itself in some interesting setting. Very good thinking!

Im pretty sure he just meant that people aren't used to hearing things that don't sound like they were made in a room. Its impossible for a live instrument recorded with a microphone not to have any sort of reverberation or room tone, unless it's inside of a vacuum in which case you wouldn't hear it. With a daw, it's possible to have a sound without reverb. So for a song to sound natural to the ears, it's beneficial to metaphorically "build the room" that your instruments play in (pick a reverb). The cool thing about having a daw is that you can place the instruments in several different rooms, and keep the drums in a vacuum if you want... or send audio out of the vacuum into a room. Shit like that. Not things that were possible back in the day. A bit of a lengthy explanation, but yeah...

[wub]

Think of the your track as a 3D cube. The listener is sat in the middle. Fill the cube.

[Teknicyde]

I'm curious what you mean by "build a room", if you wouldn't mind elaborating. I know alot of rock bands used this technique in a more literal fashion by recording the song itself in some interesting setting. Very good thinking!

Its a bit of a weird concept I guess... Usually my tunes start out as bare, stripped back bits of boomy explosions, white noise sweeps, pads, ect... I make sort of an 'environment' or 'soundscape' before I even start writing anytihng 'musical' over-top of it. Kinda set the vibe first, then write the tune to fit... if thats making any sense? Im not talking like, reverb practices on actual instruments, but spend AGES making an ambient track that stays interesting and makes your spine chill a bit when you listen > then write a dubstep banger over it > now you have an IMMENSE dubstep tune vs. sound in a vacuum b.s.

[Manic Harmonic]

I'm curious what you mean by "build a room", if you wouldn't mind elaborating. I know alot of rock bands used this technique in a more literal fashion by recording the song itself in some interesting setting. Very good thinking!

Its a bit of a weird concept I guess... Usually my tunes start out as bare, stripped back bits of boomy explosions, white noise sweeps, pads, ect... I make sort of an 'environment' or 'soundscape' before I even start writing anytihng 'musical' over-top of it. Kinda set the vibe first, then write the tune to fit... if thats making any sense? Im not talking like, reverb practices on actual instruments, but spend AGES making an ambient track that stays interesting and makes your spine chill a bit when you listen > then write a dubstep banger over it > now you have an IMMENSE dubstep tune vs. sound in a vacuum b.s.

That's a really great idea. I'm going to have to try that.

[bassinine]

Double up your sub with a square wave one octave higher. Most of the time that emptiness is coming from the 200hz range, like Chad said. In dub step production, one is told often to cut their basses around here - which is great, UNLESS you don't fill that void with something else.

Listen to pop songs, that 200-300 hz range is always quite full.

[bassinine]

Oh, also double up your bass with some white noise, then throw some analog style distortion on there. bet you cash it doesn't sound empty anymore.