My Tunes arn't sounding "Professional"

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AntidoteWasTaken
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My Tunes arn't sounding "Professional"

Post by AntidoteWasTaken » Sat Oct 20, 2012 9:55 pm

The title is pretty general, so let me get a little more in depth.

My latest track, simply called "border lands 2 dubstep" for lack of a better name - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzGXMvTljLs
is one of my favorites( so far, I'm working on a nice one ATM) However, I feel like its missing some sort of professional aspect, the sounds are decent and the I feel the arrangement is alright, but it seems like it its missing that sort of polished sound, where there is nice variety, it has a strong beat you can follow, and the sounds don't feel and sound stale. Any tips to maybe make things seems more defined? It may seem like a vague request but any tips would be good tips ;D

mthrfnk
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Re: My Tunes arn't sounding "Professional"

Post by mthrfnk » Sat Oct 20, 2012 10:11 pm

Make more. Learn More. Get better. Learn More. Make more. Get better.

Oh and be more original.
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AntidoteWasTaken
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Re: My Tunes arn't sounding "Professional"

Post by AntidoteWasTaken » Sat Oct 20, 2012 10:16 pm

Alright... :P

AntidoteWasTaken
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Re: My Tunes arn't sounding "Professional"

Post by AntidoteWasTaken » Sat Oct 20, 2012 10:16 pm

Alright... :P

AntidoteWasTaken
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Re: My Tunes arn't sounding "Professional"

Post by AntidoteWasTaken » Sat Oct 20, 2012 10:16 pm

Alright... :P

AntidoteWasTaken
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Re: My Tunes arn't sounding "Professional"

Post by AntidoteWasTaken » Sat Oct 20, 2012 10:17 pm

Damn lagged a bit there >.>

mthrfnk
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Re: My Tunes arn't sounding "Professional"

Post by mthrfnk » Sat Oct 20, 2012 10:22 pm

Honestly wasn't trying to sound like a dick but there's no quick route to getting better. One thing I have found is that I've dedicated myself to making a 5 song EP, and it's making me better every time I edit a track plus trying to get the tracks to gel together (as I want to segue them) is a challenge in itself. I'm determined not to start any new tracks until I've finished these 5, whether it takes me another month or year I'm certain I'll be even better by the end. :W:
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sssShawnnnn
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Re: My Tunes arn't sounding "Professional"

Post by sssShawnnnn » Sat Oct 20, 2012 10:25 pm

You're a looooong way from that "professional" sound to be honest. Sounds like it was exported straight out of FL Studio with no mixing/mastering done whatsoever. The way you fade transition from the drop to the melodic part at 2:22 is so broken, and those reverbs are really digital sounding. You should layer drum samples too; the kick and snare sound really thin. Just keep practicing, and you'll eventually get there. ;)

AntidoteWasTaken
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Re: My Tunes arn't sounding "Professional"

Post by AntidoteWasTaken » Sat Oct 20, 2012 11:05 pm

I may have been misleading with my post, I know I'm about one to three more years away form being "Professional". I was asking more on how I could improve production quality closer to the pros. AS for the drums, They are pretty juicy samples that i EQ'd together, I just have a hard time bringing them out so they stand out, I do some sidechaining but it doesn't always go as planned... :P as with every track I finish i always have big regrets about a week or so later. I think one of my big problems is I'm just so eager to produce awesome songs that I don't give the ones I'm already working on enough thought. Thanks for the tips, i'll post a WIP of my current track later, and maybe I could get some help there. Thanks ;D

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ehbes
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Re: My Tunes arn't sounding "Professional"

Post by ehbes » Sat Oct 20, 2012 11:13 pm

Read the moneyshot thread until it makes sense
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AntidoteWasTaken
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Re: My Tunes arn't sounding "Professional"

Post by AntidoteWasTaken » Sat Oct 20, 2012 11:26 pm

Moneyshot thread, here i come ;D

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bkwsk
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Re: My Tunes arn't sounding "Professional"

Post by bkwsk » Sat Oct 20, 2012 11:55 pm

ehbrums1 wrote:Read the moneyshot thread until it makes sense
That usually happens around page 23 or so :corndance: .

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ehbes
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Re: My Tunes arn't sounding "Professional"

Post by ehbes » Sat Oct 20, 2012 11:57 pm

bkwsk wrote:
ehbrums1 wrote:Read the moneyshot thread until it makes sense
That usually happens around page 23 or so :corndance: .
when i first read it i was using reason 4, which didn't have a true mixer...was the most confusing thing ever :lol:
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bkwsk
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Re: My Tunes arn't sounding "Professional"

Post by bkwsk » Sun Oct 21, 2012 12:01 am

Yep, I used Reason 4 for some time years ago. Never tried to come back after that :u: .


By the way: OP, the tune you linked sounds like a typical case of "Too Much Bass" (tm). For starters, the bass is drowning everything to hell. All the other stuff said about metallic reverbs et al. also holds true.
Last edited by bkwsk on Sun Oct 21, 2012 12:03 am, edited 1 time in total.

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MassAphekt
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Re: My Tunes arn't sounding "Professional"

Post by MassAphekt » Sun Oct 21, 2012 12:02 am

Get educated in the stereo field, study your favorite artist's tune with an eq that allows mono - L/R processing, understand what creates a clean stereo field and what instruments typically stay in mono, eqs that allow L/R processing are an advantage when sculpting all of your sounds together nicely. Layering and clever use of effects will help fill in your track more and start to sound more serious imo.
But yeah bro, it's not an overnight thing that's for sure, I like to think I'm just half way there towards something remotely professional sounding, shit is a taaaask my friend.
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ehbes
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Re: My Tunes arn't sounding "Professional"

Post by ehbes » Sun Oct 21, 2012 12:04 am

bkwsk wrote:Yep, I used Reason 4 for some time years ago. Never tried to come back after that :u: .
well i guess it had some good stuff if I've kept buying it :lol:
Paypal me $2 for a .wav of Midnight
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bkwsk
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Re: My Tunes arn't sounding "Professional"

Post by bkwsk » Sun Oct 21, 2012 12:04 am

MassAphekt wrote:something remotely professional sounding, shit is a taaaask my friend.
Indeed it is. I suppose we're lucky the process is so enjoyable, aren't we?

Then there's amateur producers who just want to copy sounds to be the next big thing trying to copy the last big thing... :a:

ehbrums1 wrote:
bkwsk wrote:Yep, I used Reason 4 for some time years ago. Never tried to come back after that :u: .
well i guess it had some good stuff if I've kept buying it :lol:
Definitely. The first guy I met who was into making music -we were like 15- also used Reason, and still does today. It must have something!

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ehbes
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Re: My Tunes arn't sounding "Professional"

Post by ehbes » Sun Oct 21, 2012 12:06 am

routing
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Eat Bass
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Re: My Tunes arn't sounding "Professional"

Post by Eat Bass » Sun Oct 21, 2012 12:11 am

look up parallel compression for drums. and the rest just get your mixdown and your eqing down. your sounds all need their own space. it just sounds a bit sloppy. i think that mix can be fixed right up. decent tune besides that tho man good job.

AntidoteWasTaken
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Re: My Tunes arn't sounding "Professional"

Post by AntidoteWasTaken » Sun Oct 21, 2012 12:59 am

Thanks for all the help guys, solid tips, excited to get working on them ;D

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