Music Feedback

[Oz]

Hey all!

Here's a piece I've been working on. Any feedback (mixing advice, general pointers, opinions) is appreciated as I've "gone deaf" on this one.

Thanks!

http://www.lumaf.se/11048/road_to_idaho.ogg

[KingBingo]

Hey man real nice piece.  Got a real travelling sound, and bounces along nicely.  I like the slightly melancholic melody in the violin.  So much going on, too.  I only finally heard the wobbly organ that sits real low in the mix on the 3rd time through! 

Some ideas (they are but opinions, and no more valid than yours)

The violin gets a bit lost in the mix, and given that it's carrying the melody, I would pull it up slightly, especially in the middle, where most of it's action is.

The simple bendy guitar riff is cool, but it gets a little repetitive.  It's a nice introduction, and I don't think there's necessairly a problem having it throughout, but I would consider dropping it down in the mix for the middle part of the song (1:20ish).  Have it sit under the violin a bit more, then bring it back up again towards the end (around 2:18), when the violin melody has got a bit more sparse.

The only other thing may would be that if it was meant to be bg music for a game, it might be too much.  I'm having trouble hearing where it would fit in within a game other than as credit music or as the backing to a cutscene or something like that.  Obviously, I don't know what your intentions were, so I don't know if this is relevant.

It's good work, though.  You have a great feel. 

Can I ask about your process, software, instruments, etc?

Nice one,

KB

[Oz]

Thanks! Valuable feedback. You are right about the violin and the mix in general is a little messy. There is a lot going on at center point and too little in the higher frequencies. I'll see if I can de-clog the mix a little. The guitar can definitely be toned down after the intro - good idea!

And no, this is not meant to be game music. It's just a stand-alone tune.

Everything is manually sequenced in Reason 2.5 using various sample banks. Most samples are from a Reason Refill package called American Heartland. The melody and the guitar backing riff originated from an acoustic guitar jam session.

Thanks again!

[Gregjazz]

Yup, just get those instruments out of the center area. Used busses to handle the reverb so you can pan drastically (that way the dry signal is panned however you want, but the reverb is centered, filling things out and giving a wider mix)

Sounding good, Oz!

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

I really like this tune, Oz.  The only things I would say is that it starts off too suddenly for a standalone tune and the violin seems to ruin the 'road to idaho' mood set up initially.  This is just in my view, but the violin turns the tune from a kind of interesting travel tune into a Silent Hill-type song.  Maybe a banjo/fiddle or something more country in place of the violin would accomplish what you're after while keeping the mood?  Great stuff as usual!

[KingBingo]

Oooh, nice tip about panning dry instruments and centring the reverb.  Will have to remember that.

[Oz]

I really like this tune, Oz.  The only things I would say is that it starts off too suddenly for a standalone tune and the violin seems to ruin the 'road to idaho' mood set up initially.  This is just in my view, but the violin turns the tune from a kind of interesting travel tune into a Silent Hill-type song.  Maybe a banjo/fiddle or something more country in place of the violin would accomplish what you're after while keeping the mood?  Great stuff as usual!

That's funny ProgZmax, one of my friends also mentioned that the violin sounded like something out of Silent Hill! I personally don't make the connection, but obviously it's there.

[Moresco]

Freaking great song.  ^^ nicely put together.  Reason eh? I use FL, never ever had a chance to mess around in Reason...but if the songs turn out this nicely, maybe I shall have to get around to it.