SleepyBuddah - Vivid

[SleepyBuddah]

Hey guys, it's been a while. Enjoyed a well earned summer vacation and I've been working on 3 projects all together in my new DAW. Which altogether is a big awesome ride for me. Especially since 2 of the projects are in cooperation with Lukas from EDMSoundware which has taken me in to a complete new direction of my musical journey.

But anyway, I wanted to share my first track in my new DAW with you. It's a euphoric and uplifting track. I hope you'll like it.

Vivid (V2)

 

[IXM]

Hey guys, it's been a while. Enjoyed a well earned summer vacation and I've been working on 3 projects all together in my new DAW. Which altogether is a big awesome ride for me. Especially since 2 of the projects are in cooperation with Lukas from EDMSoundware which has taken me in to a complete new direction of my musical journey.

But anyway, I wanted to share my first track in my new DAW with you. It's a euphoric and uplifting track. I hope you'll like it.

Vivid (V2)

Your melody is really catching my attention. It has something that sets it apart from others. It's like musical hooks that get stuck in my ear and linger, prompting the desire to keep listening. It harmonizes with the entire composition and adds a unique character to it. This might be challenging to achieve, but you've certainly managed to create a melody that resonates with listeners and leaves an impression.

 

[SleepyBuddah]

Your melody is really catching my attention. It has something that sets it apart from others. It's like musical hooks that get stuck in my ear and linger, prompting the desire to keep listening. It harmonizes with the entire composition and adds a unique character to it. This might be challenging to achieve, but you've certainly managed to create a melody that resonates with listeners and leaves an impression.

Wow, thank you for your kind words. I just liked the way everything sounded when it all came together. Also in the first version of the track the low end was pretty far away, so I tried and bring it more forward and giving the track more energy.
But anyway, I'm glad you liked it

 

[SleepyBuddah]

Hey guys, I've made some final changes in my track just to make it sound a bit fuller. I do think though the changes are subtle, I've succeeded.

Vivid (V3)

Final version of the track.

on.soundcloud.com

 

[Bobby Summa]

Hey guys, I've made some final changes in my track just to make it sound a bit fuller. I do think though the changes are subtle, I've succeeded.

Vivid (V3)

Final version of the track.

on.soundcloud.com

Definitely a solid creation. With some exiting energy from the melodies and sounds used.

One thing though. I don’t know if its eq or which audio interface you use. I can’t hear the frequency range in the sound that i feel ‘is’ actually there. I love all the sounds but it seems the output or something in the sound frequency spectrum is flat or compressed . Please don’t be offended. Im saying it because the track is so beautiful it would sound quite amazing with what ever audio feature i feel is missing. What format and settings is it recorded at. Mp3/wav etc. If its at a low level to not take up memory etc i would flippin love to hear it at high quality sound settings. Its a real beautiful track.

 

[SleepyBuddah]

Definitely a solid creation. With some exiting energy from the melodies and sounds used.

One thing though. I don’t know if its eq or which audio interface you use. I can’t hear the frequency range in the sound that i feel ‘is’ actually there. I love all the sounds but it seems the output or something in the sound frequency spectrum is flat or compressed . Please don’t be offended. Im saying it because the track is so beautiful it would sound quite amazing with what ever audio feature i feel is missing. What format and settings is it recorded at. Mp3/wav etc. If its at a low level to not take up memory etc i would flippin love to hear it at high quality sound settings. Its a real beautiful track.

First of all I really value your feedback, so no offence taken at all.
You did make me realize I have to step back from the track for a moment, since I have been over comparing the V2 and V3 of the track to much. Also I can't really get enough of listening to it because it's the best I did so far in terms of melody and sounds.

As for the mixing and processing goes.
I don't have any hardware at the moment so it would be something in the eq.
I can see however that some frequencies are sounding flat due to overcompressing because I have been using both a compressor and multiband (the stock ones in Ableton) as a glue compressor on the groups/busses. So I might overdid that a little.

As for the recording, I always make a wav. and I only did change the bit rate to 32 the rest are just standard settings.

So yeah that's it. Suggestions are much appreciated.

 

[SleepyBuddah]

Ofcourse I had to sit down and have a look at it.
Did a lot of editing but everything I did made the mix so much worse, so after an hour I just called it a day. So in terms of compression and eq there's not much going on.
The only thing I can imagine for now is to check the stereo image and see if everything is in order there.

 

[Bobby Summa]

Ok. One thing il say (and im no expert) with wav. Im told 24bit at 44.1 hz (or is it mhz) is a very good standard way to record. Apparently higher frequencies can thin it out or something.

My main feeling was with the bass. The kick on vivid if compared to tracks that get released needs a lot more oomph i would say, but something in the bass sounds too and some other frequencies.

I kind of got the feeling the overall patches/samples/sounds used a re decent but somewhere along the line something is happening that kinda squashes out the frequencies overall.

Incidentally. Im learning all the time. But a valuable thing is that nothing else but dedicated mastering software should be used on the main/master channel ( unless your doing huge ambient music and put a reverb there which i did on one of my two releases ( both releases have been ambient /atmospheric music) Although experimenting can do wonderful things the results can be limited so a tried and tested way is often the way to go until you know more. But hey, maybe you have been doing music for many years so may know all of this. Cheers

Edit. You know what. Sometimes i don’t eq. Often don’t use a compressor on sounds.

Maybe turn off all eq ( or reset to original settings if its part of a softsynh built in eq) and all compressions off ( might then need to alter volumes,) then mixdown at 44.1 and 24 bit. Do this saved in a new version
and see how it sounds.

 

[SleepyBuddah]

Ok. One thing il say (and im no expert) with wav. Im told 24bit at 44.1 hz (or is it mhz) is a very good standard way to record. Apparently higher frequencies can thin it out or something.

My main feeling was with the bass. The kick on vivid if compared to tracks that get released needs a lot more oomph i would say, but something in the bass sounds too and some other frequencies.

I kind of got the feeling the overall patches/samples/sounds used a re decent but somewhere along the line something is happening that kinda squashes out the frequencies overall.

Incidentally. Im learning all the time. But a valuable thing is that nothing else but dedicated mastering software should be used on the main/master channel ( unless your doing huge ambient music and put a reverb there which i did on one of my two releases ( both releases have been ambient /atmospheric music) Although experimenting can do wonderful things the results can be limited so a tried and tested way is often the way to go until you know more. But hey, maybe you have been doing music for many years so may know all of this. Cheers

Edit. You know what. Sometimes i don’t eq. Often don’t use a compressor on sounds.

Maybe turn off all eq ( or reset to original settings if its part of a softsynh built in eq) and all compressions off ( might then need to alter volumes,) then mixdown at 44.1 and 24 bit. Do this saved in a new version
and see how it sounds.

Wow, this really is some valuable feedback. Thank you so much.

It's true I've been playing with music for a while, but never as serious as the last 3 or 4 years. So I'm far from an expert myself.

And just like you I'm learning every day. Whether it's when I'm producing, listening, reading or watching. I also experiment a lot in between sessions, but 9 out of 10 times things don't work out as I want it to.

But based on what you are saying I realised a couple of things.
Before starting I had in mind to try and make a progressive track, but along the way created singing complete completely different.
So I'm starting to think that some of the sounds I've used just don't work together for the track it became what results in the messy frequencies. At least it's a wild guess and I guess I was so caught in the melody I made everything sounded great together.
But before I make those drastic changes I will definitely look in to reproces everything. So next session will be turning down every eq, compression and whatsoever and discover what the issue is.
I don't want to change the sounds of the melodies so I will try to match everything to that.

Also the mixdown will be 24bit and 44.1khz.

Thanks again for your feedback man, it means a lot

 

[Bobby Summa]

Wow, this really is some valuable feedback. Thank you so much.

It's true I've been playing with music for a while, but never as serious as the last 3 or 4 years. So I'm far from an expert myself.

And just like you I'm learning every day. Whether it's when I'm producing, listening, reading or watching. I also experiment a lot in between sessions, but 9 out of 10 times things don't work out as I want it to.

But based on what you are saying I realised a couple of things.
Before starting I had in mind to try and make a progressive track, but along the way created singing complete completely different.
So I'm starting to think that some of the sounds I've used just don't work together for the track it became what results in the messy frequencies. At least it's a wild guess and I guess I was so caught in the melody I made everything sounded great together.
But before I make those drastic changes I will definitely look in to reproces everything. So next session will be turning down every eq, compression and whatsoever and discover what the issue is.
I don't want to change the sounds of the melodies so I will try to match everything to that.

Also the mixdown will be 24bit and 44.1khz.

Thanks again for your feedback man, it means a lot

No worries dude. I personally think the sounds themselves won’t make a difference to the compressed or squashed feeling. Your sounds sound like good presets or sound designs to me so i don’t think if they came from presets or were then edited that they would make it have that effect. Im going to tag one of the guys here who releases really good trance of perhaps a similar style or sub category of trance to vivid.
He I know, knows a fair bit more than i do about eq, compression and mastering so i think he will be able to assist well. @LostLegend, if you have a moment man, check out the track Vivid v3 on this thread ( real nice track by new member sleepybuddah)and see what you think of the eq, stereo width, compression, mixdown & mastering. Either im going deaf or theres quite a bit of sounds getting squeezed of their frequencies, especially bass. - ive linked the final version below so you find it easier amongst the comments. I feel with not much work he will be releasing tracks soon. Also as im not brilliant with this aspect , check the arrangement/structure. Cheers man.

@Hensmon. @Archon One day in not to distant future with a bit of work, perhaps a possible release on [Trancefix Recordings] do you think?

 

[Bobby Summa]

Hey guys, I've made some final changes in my track just to make it sound a bit fuller. I do think though the changes are subtle, I've succeeded.

Vivid (V3)

Final version of the track.

on.soundcloud.com

Heres the final version @LostLegend

 

[SleepyBuddah]

No worries dude. I personally think the sounds themselves won’t make a difference to the compressed or squashed feeling. Your sounds sound like good presets or sound designs to me so i don’t think if they came from presets or were then edited that they would make it have that effect. Im going to tag one of the guys here who releases really good trance of perhaps a similar style or sub category of trance to vivid.
He I know, knows a fair bit more than i do about eq, compression and mastering so i think he will be able to assist well. @LostLegend, if you have a moment man, check out the track Vivid v3 on this thread ( real nice track by new member sleepybuddah)and see what you think of the eq, stereo width, compression, mixdown & mastering. Either im going deaf or theres quite a bit of sounds getting squeezed of their frequencies, especially bass. - ive linked the final version below so you find it easier amongst the comments. I feel with not much work he will be releasing tracks soon. Also as im not brilliant with this aspect , check the arrangement/structure. Cheers man.

@Hensmon. @Archon One day in not to distant future with a bit of work, perhaps a possible release on [Trancefix Recordings] do you think?

Thanks dude for this kind gesture, that really means a lot to me. I'm curious what they think.

I'm not that good in synthesis, but I'm learning and experiment a lot with it. So there majority of the sounds I use are presets which I try to tweak into something slightly different. So I've got pretty much to gain on sounddesign but getting there with small steps at a time.

 

[LostLegend]

The synth work and melodic stuff sounds good. Really like the arp that comes in from the start.
The main melody doesn't really grab me that much, but that's just my personal taste - overall melodically it's a solid track.

There's definitely something off with the mixdown though.
The high end percs sound way too loud and harsh and the low end kick and bass has no real depth and warmth to it, it has almost like a boxy sound to it.

It should be fixable though. There's the foundations of a solid track there if you can sort out the mixing issues.

So I recorded a bit of your track and loaded into my DAW so I can use the EQ/Spectrum ana to take a listen to it.
What are you using for the bassline? Is it just one synth sound or have you layered multiple?
The bass sound has good lower-mid range presence, but lacks any depth in the sub end. Even when I was isolating the sub frequencies, I could hear the thump of the kick but no real sub power from the bass sub 90hz.

The kick definitely sounds over-compressed as Bobby mentioned above. What effects (if any) do you have on the kick track?
I don't think the track itself is over-compressed as the waveform doesn't look squashed, but I am wondering if it is the effects/processing you have on the individual channels?

Also, do you use a reference track when mixing? and what DAW are you using?

 

[SleepyBuddah]

The synth work and melodic stuff sounds good. Really like the arp that comes in from the start.
The main melody doesn't really grab me that much, but that's just my personal taste - overall melodically it's a solid track.

There's definitely something off with the mixdown though.
The high end percs sound way too loud and harsh and the low end kick and bass has no real depth and warmth to it, it has almost like a boxy sound to it.

It should be fixable though. There's the foundations of a solid track there if you can sort out the mixing issues.

So I recorded a bit of your track and loaded into my DAW so I can use the EQ/Spectrum ana to take a listen to it.
What are you using for the bassline? Is it just one synth sound or have you layered multiple?
The bass sound has good lower-mid range presence, but lacks any depth in the sub end. Even when I was isolating the sub frequencies, I could hear the thump of the kick but no real sub power from the bass sub 90hz.

The kick definitely sounds over-compressed as Bobby mentioned above. What effects (if any) do you have on the kick track?
I don't think the track itself is over-compressed as the waveform doesn't look squashed, but I am wondering if it is the effects/processing you have on the individual channels.

Also, do you use a reference track when mixing? and what DAW are you using?

First of all I want to thank you for taking the time to listen to my track.

To start of with the DAW. I'm using Ableton 11 Suite for a liitle over a month now, so I'm in the getting familiar stage also at the moment (I used Cakewalk by Bandlab before)
I've used a reference track and I know it's better to have a good set of monitors but unfortunately I have to rely on my headphones only.

For the bassline I have 2 layers and both are from Hive 2.
The effects I have on the Kick track are EQ (ProQ 3), a multiband dynamics and compressor (both ableton stock). On the Sub track I have also ProQ3 and stockcompresor. I've also groupped the kicktrack with the Sub track.
On the group I only have a Glue compressor and Utilty.

But basically what you are saying (Bobby mentioned it earlier) is to turn of all the effects and start all over. Because I do start to realise I might have overdone it at some points.

 

[LostLegend]

First of all I want to thank you for taking the time to listen to my track.

To start of with the DAW. I'm using Ableton 11 Suite for a liitle over a month now, so I'm in the getting familiar stage also at the moment (I used Cakewalk by Bandlab before)
I've used a reference track and I know it's better to have a good set of monitors but unfortunately I have to rely on my headphones only.

For the bassline I have 2 layers and both are from Hive 2.
The effects I have on the Kick track are EQ (ProQ 3), a multiband dynamics and compressor (both ableton stock). On the Sub track I have also ProQ3 and stockcompresor. I've also groupped the kicktrack with the Sub track.
On the group I only have a Glue compressor and Utilty.

But basically what you are saying (Bobby mentioned it earlier) is to turn of all the effects and start all over. Because I do start to realise I might have overdone it at some points.

Multiband dynamics on a kick track sounds a little bit much to be honest especially with yet another compressor in the chain, unless you are 110% sure it needs it.
Most kicks from sample packs these days are heavily processed as standard.

 

[SleepyBuddah]

Multiband dynamics on a kick track sounds a little bit much to be honest especially with yet another compressor in the chain, unless you are 110% sure it needs it.
Most kicks from sample packs these days are heavily processed as standard.

I understand what you're saying here.

Thanks to you and Bobby I've got a pretty good idea which way I have to go now to make this track really work.

Already can't wait for the result.

Cheers

 

[SleepyBuddah]

Hey guys, I've practically overhauled the entire mix and did made some little changes. It definitely has a fuller sound and more depth I think. I've attached a private link to the new mix.

Vivid

Born as Michael "Maikel" Derogee in Leiden the Netherlands, making music under the name of "SleepyBuddah". A passion that formed in the 90's and grew ever since. Here I will share my work and even s

on.soundcloud.com

 

[IXM]

Hey guys, I've practically overhauled the entire mix and did made some little changes. It definitely has a fuller sound and more depth I think. I've attached a private link to the new mix.

Vivid

Born as Michael "Maikel" Derogee in Leiden the Netherlands, making music under the name of "SleepyBuddah". A passion that formed in the 90's and grew ever since. Here I will share my work and even s

on.soundcloud.com

It's noticeable that you've mastered the hi-hats, and the kick seems to have a bigger resonance. The bass sounds better for sure. Great job!

The whole thing sounds definitely better

 

[SleepyBuddah]

It's noticeable that you've mastered the hi-hats, and the kick seems to have a bigger resonance. The bass sounds better for sure. Great job!

The whole thing sounds definitely better

Thank you very much dude. I'm actually quite satisfied with the progress I've made.

I'm also quite curious what @LostLegend and @Bobby Summa think about it now.

 

[Bobby Summa]

That is definitely sounding better. Ive only given it a quick run through (bit late here and ive been working on another track) but to me theres loads more space in the track. Better frequencies. Good work

Will listen in more detail soon.