November Composition Competition - Added Twist

[discreet]

[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][size=4][color=#000000]My entry:[/color][/size][/font]
[size=4][b][url="http://soundcloud.com/mark-68-2/d-a-de-los-muertos"]Dia De Los Muertos[/url][/b][/size]
[size=5][font=verdana, geneva, sans-serif][color=#000000][/color][/font][/size]
[size=4][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][color=#000000]I hope you enjoy it.[/color][/font][/size]
[color=#ffffff].[/color]

Edited November 16, 2012 by discreet

[MiltyG565]

when is the closing date? next friday?

anyway, i did the euromillions earlier, so if i win, i'll just buy a full pro studio, and get jeeves to do all the boring parts for me. I'll just f***ing rock the house down!

actually, i would probably pay for some private medical treatment, and spend the rest on insuring my peugeot 106 (god, insurance is expensive!).

[Skol303]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1353076221' post='1871344']
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][size=4][color=#000000]My entry:[/color][/size][/font]
[size=4][b][url="http://soundcloud.com/mark-68-2/d-a-de-los-muertos"]Dia De Los Muertos[/url][/b][/size]

[size=4][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][color=#000000]I hope you enjoy it.[/color][/font][/size][/quote]

Day of the Dead… like it!

A nicely bangin' track that takes me back to good times spent on dancefloors during the early 90s. Well produced too - sounds great thru my cans and had our 18-month old dancing earlier when I blasted through the hi fi. Not the most scientific test of a mix, but he's normally a reliable barometer of a good tune

Really reminds me of the classic Shiva Shanti LP. I've got a copy in my record boxes somewhere, but here's a YouTube link so you know what I'm on about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FGurjolu5w&feature=related

[Skol303]

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1353093379' post='1871662']
when is the closing date? next friday?[/quote]

Yup. General consensus is that it's midnight on the 23rd. Late submissions are welcome but obviously have less opportunity to win votes, and you run the risk of turning into a pumpkin. Or something.

[Pinball]

Here's my entry. Hope you like it.

http://soundcloud.com/mole-music-1/love-rat

[discreet]

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1353114396' post='1871883']
Day of the Dead… like it!
Well produced too - sounds great thru my cans and had our 18-month old dancing earlier when I blasted it through the hi fi.[/quote]

Thank you, sir... it was mastered using PSP VintageWarmer2, and I'm very pleased with the sound of it.
[url="http://www.pspaudioware.com/plugins/dynamic_processors/psp_vintagewarmer2/"]http://www.pspaudiow...vintagewarmer2/[/url]

And toddlers certainly [i]are [/i]excellent judges of music... they have no preconceptions about genre, nor any emotional musical associations... the rot sets in during adolescence, then later in life you learn how to listen!
[color=#ffffff].[/color]

Edited November 17, 2012 by discreet

[MiltyG565]

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1353114514' post='1871886']
Yup. General consensus is that it's midnight on the 23rd. Late submissions are welcome but obviously have less opportunity to win votes, and you run the risk of turning into a pumpkin. Or something.
[/quote]

oh god, i hate pumpkins! CAN'T... BE... LATE! *falls asleep*

[MiltyG565]

[quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1353139403' post='1871925']
Here's my entry. Hope you like it.

[url="http://soundcloud.com/mole-music-1/love-rat"]http://soundcloud.co...usic-1/love-rat[/url]
[/quote]

I liked it good work!

[Stephen Houghton]

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1353148874' post='1872041']
I liked it good work!
[/quote]

Like it

[Stephen Houghton]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1353076221' post='1871344']
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][size=4][color=#000000]My entry:[/color][/size][/font]
[size=4][b][url="http://soundcloud.com/mark-68-2/d-a-de-los-muertos"]Dia De Los Muertos[/url][/b][/size]
[size=5][font=verdana, geneva, sans-serif][color=#000000][/color][/font][/size]
[size=4][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][color=#000000]I hope you enjoy it.[/color][/font][/size]
[color=#FFFFFF].[/color]
[/quote]

Great mix like it

[MiltyG565]

[quote name='Stephen Houghton' timestamp='1353159220' post='1872215']
Like it
[/quote]
No, i liked it when it was playing, now it isn't playing, i don't like it I would like it if it was playing again.

[krysh]

[quote name='Stephen Houghton' timestamp='1353159248' post='1872217']
Great mix like it
[/quote]
+1

[Skol303]

[quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1353139403' post='1871925']Here's my entry. Hope you like it.[url="http://soundcloud.com/mole-music-1/love-rat"] http://soundcloud.co...usic-1/love-rat[/url][/quote]

Interesting opener! [i]"Hey girls, keep your manholes covered"[/i]. Nice playing and groove throughout. It's got a kind of 70s feel that I really like. Cool backing vox too - you sing a great falsetto

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1353147904' post='1872021']Thank you, sir... it was mastered using PSP VintageWarmer2, and I'm very pleased with the sound of it.[url="http://www.pspaudioware.com/plugins/dynamic_processors/psp_vintagewarmer2/"] http://www.pspaudiow...vintagewarmer2/[/url][/quote]

Just checked out the link you gave. Looks like a very nice plug-in! I'm a big fan of analogue replicas. I use one of these a lot myself (luckily got it much cheaper than the normal asking price!): http://www.softube.com/fet_compressor.php

[Pinball]

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1353165423' post='1872309']
Interesting opener! [i]"Hey girls, keep your manholes covered"[/i]. Nice playing and groove throughout. It's got a kind of 70s feel that I really like. Cool backing vox too - you sing a great falsetto
[/quote]

haahaa yes thanks, It was fun to make.
I had to look it up as I thought a falsetto was a type of Italian tomato!

I practice with my cat like this every day.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqqQXbPIoeU[/media]

More seriously I was wondering why it sounded retro and two things came to mind:

1. The selection of Drum kit in EZ Drummer (in the past I often used electronic kits)
2. Because I use (often prefer) passive driven guitars rather than actives.

Also I'm no spring chicken myself and it is a retro style song. I like the result-which isn't always the case with my own stuff.

Note: the complement on playing are appreciated as I'm working hard on my playing.

Edited November 17, 2012 by Pinball

[Clarky]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1353076221' post='1871344']
[font=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][size=4][color=#000000]My entry:[/color][/size][/font]
[size=4][b][url="http://soundcloud.com/mark-68-2/d-a-de-los-muertos"]Dia De Los Muertos[/url][/b][/size]
[size=5][font=verdana, geneva, sans-serif][color=#000000][/color][/font][/size]
[size=4][font=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][color=#000000]I hope you enjoy it.[/color][/font][/size]
[color=#ffffff].[/color]
[/quote]

Hey Mark, that sounds great - I'm not so much of a fan of electronica but its very hypnotic. My only suggestion would be to lift the bass in the mix as I like the dubby line and its a little quiet to my ears. I think it would be more driving. Thats a very minor criticism though. Very good effort mate!

[discreet]

[quote name='Clarky' timestamp='1353172331' post='1872418']
...lift the bass in the mix as I like the dubby line and its a little quiet to my ears.[/quote]

Thanks Clarky - much appreciated, mate. I agree, but I'm not sure what the competition rules are about remixing tracks after they've been submitted? I'm quite sure someone will let me know soon enough, though.

[xgsjx]

As long as you submit your remix before the closing date, I don't see there being any probs. Last month I entered & then decided it needed something else, so re done it.

[xgsjx]

[quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1353171838' post='1872408']
haahaa yes thanks, It was fun to make.
I had to look it up as I thought a falsetto was a type of Italian tomato!

I practice with my cat like this every day.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqqQXbPIoeU[/media]

[/quote]



He keeps on going about how he's still connected. To what? The Moon?

[Skol303]

[quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1353171838' post='1872408']
haahaa yes thanks, It was fun to make... I was wondering why it sounded retro and two things came to mind:

1. The selection of Drum kit in EZ Drummer (in the past I often used electronic kits)
2. Because I use (often prefer) passive driven guitars rather than actives.[/quote]

No probs, happy to give some feedback! I used to review music [i]years[/i] ago (mainly electronic stuff) during a brief stint in journalism, so I genuinely enjoy listening to everyone's different compositions. I can't quite put my finger on where I got the 70s vibe from, but the passive driven sound might well have something to do with it. It really works anyway, whatever it is, so might be worth trying the same set up / plug-ins if you ever want the same sound in future.

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1353173398' post='1872434']As long as you submit your remix before the closing date, I don't see there being any probs. Last month I entered & then decided it needed something else, so re done it.[/quote]

Yeah that's how I understand it too. You can change and re-upload your mix any number of times in the run up to the deadline. Just bear in mind that if you do so after the voting starts, there's a chance it'll mess up the link to your track meaning people won't be able to hear it. But in the meantime it's all fair game!

[MiltyG565]

I'm giving up on this this month. I'll be better prepared for next month

[RockfordStone]

i might do some work on mine... think i can change some bits

[Skol303]

Nearly finished... it's been a monumental slog this month. Bit off more than I could really chew skills-wise (I've had to learn guitar for one thing!), but hopefully it's paid off - hard to tell as I'm too close to it. If it sucks then at least I've learnt loads of new things, so it's all good regardless.

Just working on a final mix. Unsure how loud to make it - some of the entries so far look like they've been squished for every ounce of volume, and the devil on my shoulder says do the same... while the angel on my other is pleading for me to preserve the dynamics and not squish it down to a flat sausage shape. I hate this last stage of making a track! Decisions, decisions...

Should have something uploaded tonight or failing that on Wednesday.

Edited November 19, 2012 by Skol303

[Pinball]

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1353327598' post='1873595']
Just working on a final mix. Unsure how loud to make it - some of the entries so far look like they've been squished for every ounce of volume, and the devil on my shoulder says do the same... while the angel on my other is pleading for me to preserve the dynamics and not squish it down to a flat sausage shape. I hate this last stage of making a track! Decisions, decisions...
[/quote]
Hmm that's interesting, I'm not entirely happy with my track because I seemed to loose some of the atmosphere when uploaded to itunes/soundloud-by that I mean stereo effects of the echoes and the balance between vocals don't stand out as well as they do in the masters. Any advice on that?

[Skol303]

[quote name='Pinball' timestamp='1353329492' post='1873636']
Hmm that's interesting, I'm not entirely happy with my track because I seemed to loose some of the atmosphere when uploaded to itunes/soundloud-by that I mean stereo effects of the echoes and the balance between vocals don't stand out as well as they do in the masters. Any advice on that?[/quote]

Good question. SoundCloud (and Bandcamp) uses 128kbps mp3 for streaming. No matter what sort of file you upload to it, when you hit 'play' the site automatically converts your uploaded track to 128kbps (although it lets you share/download tracks in their original format).

From what I've read on other forums, the best advice is to upload the highest quality file you can and make sure it's an uncompressed format like .wav. .aif, .flac, etc. An mp3 is a compressed file, so if you upload an mp3 to SoundCloud it will get compressed again when someone plays it - which reduces the sound quality quite a lot.

The best advice I can offer is to output your final mix at 24-bit resolution (if available). A high sample rate might also help - I normally use 48,000kHz but I've been experimenting with 96,000kHz and it seems to make a difference - or maybe I'm just kidding myself!? A 24 bit, 96,000kHz track lasting 3 minutes is roughly 100Mb in file size, as compared to a 5Mb or so mp3 equivalent. This gives a much better quality file for the SoundCloud converter to work with, so theoretically it should improve the final sound. At least that's what people far more knowledgeable than me seem to think...

As a golden rule: use 24-bit, use .wav format and keep your fingers crossed!

[Skol303]

PS: I've also read that it helps to leave some headroom in your mix - a few decibels before 0db peak output - when uploading to SoundCloud. Trouble is, this can make your mix seem quiet when compared to others. Not an issue when sharing your music generally, but it can be a factor when people are comparing your music to that of others, because the louder something sounds the 'better' we perceive it to be (this isn't just 'Spinal tap' logic... there's actually some science behind it!).

I normally opt for a compromise - I use tools like a compressor and/or maximizer to squish the dynamic range of my music (making it appear louder), but not so much that it loses all sense of dynamic range. If I end up with a flat sausage shape then it's usually a sign that I've gone too far - but it's all subjective and matters more to some types of music than others. This is where I'm at with my mix right now - deciding how much dynamic range to sacrifice for the sake of loudness.