alpz - untitled (deep/dark/minimal) [feedback/free 320]

[alpz]

Finished version with rough mastering (limiter for volume and some slight EQ). Feedback would be awesome, particularly in reference to the mix and how it sounds on quality monitors/sound sysems (people with sick setups, this is your queue). 320 kbs download for those interested.
Track is in my signature.

[TerraRiddim]

Liking the vibes on this one, bass is good. The kick is getting swallowed up though, try different EQing or compression? Keep it up

[alpz]

Liking the vibes on this one, bass is good. The kick is getting swallowed up though, try different EQing or compression? Keep it up

Rad feedback, you're definitely right on the kick getting a bit swallowed. Thankfully that was an easy fix. :>

[alpz]

Bump for more feedbacks! More I can learn of my mistakes the happier I'll be. :>

[alpz]

Bump #2, made some slight changes since uploading.

-fixed snare volume (was peaking much higher than the rest)
-EQd and fixed rim rolls in second drop, much clearer now
-slight tweaks to compression to help mesh/bring out some of the quieter aspects
-slight EQ on the main mid range bass to clear a bit more of the kick punch in the mix

Would kill for some more feedback/criticisms, first track I am proud of - want to know what others think and if it's ACTUALLY produced as well as I believe. :>

[Sonika]

This is deep man, well done here. This guy really lurks in the low frequencies, so one fun thing to contrast it would be some high pitched synth stabs - short decay, short attack, maybe some delay/reverb, it really will add to the atmosphere. I can also sort of hear a clicking in the sub bass? There's some sort of crackling in the lower end that really takes way from the track - it would feel a lot cleaner without it. I like that vocal clip. Very dark, very deep. Nice!

[alpz]

Awesome feedback, just the stuff I was hoping to hear, thanks man. :>

Bass pops fixed - had release on the sub set to 0 so it cut off very suddenly, silly mistake, easy fix.
Will certainly ponder on your suggestion on synths, I concur that it could add to the overall atmosphere.

[alpz]

Bump with updated track - re-listen if you'd be so kind.

http://soundcloud.com/alpz/alpz-untitled-1

[twilight]

Really like the track. Commented on it on SC. Only feedback I can think of is the kicks are a little muddy. This is a problem for me as well its very hard to get a nice clean kick. Love the atmosphere and the track as a whole is great.

[Toby_Dwinger]

This is good, and worthy of a download

EDIT - don't spam your tune in other people's threads

[Toby_Dwinger]

This is good, and worthy of a download

EDIT - don't spam your tune in other people's threads

Please explain...

[alpz]

This is my own thread. =p I started it with the old version and then posted the updated version in it last night rather than making a new thread.

[lloydy]

Sounds good mate,i like the dark pad sound on the intro and the way you creep the dirty bass in was a nice touch.
I like the percussion and the drums,not a fan of that kik,for such a bass heavy track you need a bit of snap in the kik to bring it out in the mix and yours is getting a bit lost behind that huge sub.Maybe overlay a hat sample or something to bring out that sanp or just try a snappier kik,even just bring the sub down a touch.
I like the vibe,its dark and thats what dungeon is about.
All the sound design is really nice and a pretty good use of the stereo field,the mix sounds really balanced but the sub is just really booming,saying that its all about the sub so probably what is needed lol

[alpz]

Well there seems to be an agreement that the kick is being drowned a little bit, which is difficult for me to hear (on my headphones I can hear the kick pretty prominently through the whole thing). I'll have to go around and listen on some different systems to try and hear what you guys mean. >.< The sub itself shouldn't be causing any clashing, it's sitting around 35 hertz and the kick doesn't go below 50.

Thank you for the feedback, I'll report back when I get this tackled.

[lloydy]

Well there seems to be an agreement that the kick is being drowned a little bit, which is difficult for me to hear (on my headphones I can hear the kick pretty prominently through the whole thing). I'll have to go around and listen on some different systems to try and hear what you guys mean. >.< The sub itself shouldn't be causing any clashing, it's sitting around 35 hertz and the kick doesn't go below 50.

Thank you for the feedback, I'll report back when I get this tackled.

I'm saying the kik lacks snap,i'm pretty sure the snap is around 500hz and even up to 2-3k.If you add a little peak here to bring the snap out it can help the kik cut through a track.Must remember though the sample has to have the snap there in the first place and the kik you used in your track just sounds pretty weighty.See i always work like this,if i have a sub heavy track i will look for a snappy kik,if i have a subby kik in my track i will sidechain compress or transient shape my kik\sub so they fit or you could really just use timing between the 2 hits.
The way your sub is in your track it is just long notes and the sub does seem to drown the kik out,you can eq them apart for separation all you want but if one element is to loud it will drown others out no matter how much separation is going on.
I'm listening on a week old set of beyerdynamics dt 770's 80 ohm and they have a wicked low end response.
Next time i'm at my desk i will check on my monitors but i really believe you just have the sub up a touch to much which is the problem.
Saying that still a good track so its completely fixable.

[alpz]

Well there seems to be an agreement that the kick is being drowned a little bit, which is difficult for me to hear (on my headphones I can hear the kick pretty prominently through the whole thing). I'll have to go around and listen on some different systems to try and hear what you guys mean. >.< The sub itself shouldn't be causing any clashing, it's sitting around 35 hertz and the kick doesn't go below 50.

Thank you for the feedback, I'll report back when I get this tackled.

I'm saying the kik lacks snap,i'm pretty sure the snap is around 500hz and even up to 2-3k.If you add a little peak here to bring the snap out it can help the kik cut through a track.Must remember though the sample has to have the snap there in the first place and the kik you used in your track just sounds pretty weighty.See i always work like this,if i have a sub heavy track i will look for a snappy kik,if i have a subby kik in my track i will sidechain compress or transient shape my kik\sub so they fit or you could really just use timing between the 2 hits.
The way your sub is in your track it is just long notes and the sub does seem to drown the kik out,you can eq them apart for separation all you want but if one element is to loud it will drown others out no matter how much separation is going on.
I'm listening on a week old set of beyerdynamics dt 770's 80 ohm and they have a wicked low end response.
Next time i'm at my desk i will check on my monitors but i really believe you just have the sub up a touch to much which is the problem.
Saying that still a good track so its completely fixable.

Ahhh, ok I see what you mean now. Yeah the kick is EQd to get a weightier kick, so that shouldn't be so difficult to fix. I was thinking you meant the kick lacked 'umph' in general, which confused me. My apologies, again thanks for the insight. :>

P.S. Squashed that problem, sounds punchier, cuts through. Thanks for the tips, certainly helped.

[Sonika]

kicks need character in the high end to stand out in bass music. If you're cutting it off around 50, that's way too low - the sub should be residing around 50 hz. I'd cut the kick off around 70 to 80 hz, boost around 100 hz, and then think about boosting way higher in the spectrum too

[alpz]

kicks need character in the high end to stand out in bass music. If you're cutting it off around 50, that's way too low - the sub should be residing around 50 hz. I'd cut the kick off around 70 to 80 hz, boost around 100 hz, and then think about boosting way higher in the spectrum too

The kick's sub area peaks at 90 hertz with a boost around 110, the very end of it's trough where there are NO more sub frequencies is around 50 hertz. I didn't have another boost higher in the spectrum though, which I went back and added (sounds wayyyy punchier, good advice). Check it out in my sig, updated SC again.

Thanks for feedback all. :>

[Sonika]

Yeah that kick sounds wayyy nicer! But wait you said your sub isn't even reaching 50 hz? That's a bit low...

[alpz]

Yeah that kick sounds wayyy nicer! But wait you said your sub isn't even reaching 50 hz? That's a bit low...

Sub is looming around 35 hertz, monster in the dark if your system can handle it. I realize that most can't, and I am okay with that - I'm not about pandering to ipod headphones and laptop speakers.