Mix critiques & advices - reach your mixing goals!

Ruud Reiher

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Al Brown
Aug 15, 2024
Hello everyone. I just released a track on SoundCloud and of course I used the mixing and mastering techniques that i've learned on SoundGym to the best of my current abilities :). If you would like to listen please use the link below:

https://soundcloud.com/alb-282897700/be-mindful-not-mind-full?si=73c43e5a2b224565a66d66974505ccce&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

BR,
Al
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Matthias K.
Aug 17, 2024
Enjoyed it !:)

If you insisted on criticism I’d say the vocal sounds more polished than the instrumental. Great performance though !
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Al Brown
Aug 19, 2024
Thanks! Sure, What changes would you make to the instrumental?
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Dylan Neal
Aug 19, 2024
Hell yes! I love the instrumental and the vocals. Don't change a thing. Seriously, too much modern hip hop is overproduced. Hip hop sounds better when it ain't squeaky-clean perfect, that kills the vibe. This is polished just right.

My only complaint is that it needs to be longer... that groove is gold!
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Al Brown
Aug 20, 2024
Thanks Dylan! I hear you on the length thing. I intentionally create the music to not fit a format as an expression of art.

I like to approach Music as a painter would depict a scene. Sometimes the lens is wider, sometimes it more narrow. However I feel both are genuine and authentic

After I make the beat I’ll get on the Mic and will usually only use what comes out effortlessly within the next hour or so. If I feel that I’m meeting creative resistance, I think it’s the universes way of telling me that’s it. I like to capture the moment. The scene is captured.

I enjoy hearing that you wish it were longer because that means it leaves more to be desired. Maybe that’s some timing that could inspire someone else to take the baton and expand the “landscape”with a different lens.

Almost like a great poem or movie that ends abruptly. There’s another emotional component that tapped into.

Thank you again for taking the time to listen and provide your feedback. I truly enjoyed reading it .
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Ewoud van Duijn
Aug 20, 2024
Hey! Cool track man :), after first listen I dd probably make another version with a different balance between the instruments just to here what sounds better. You see painters often make a picture of their art and mirror it just to see if their brain makes anything pop out. A 'B' mix can do the same for music (Pull all the levels down and bring them back one by one in order of significance, so in this case Kick first, than Bass, Snare, Lead vocal, etc). But overall, great track!!
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Davey Streefkerk
Aug 20, 2024
great track man, musical wise it sounds really good. I feel some elements such as the kick and snare could have some more lows en more punch. and i feel between te bass synth could some other bass with fat low the make it a bit fuller. But everything is about taste mate:) Try using a reference track from a track that sounds a bit the same and compare it. (make sure you make both tracks same loudness) it will help you better understand how a professional sounding track needs to sound IN YOUR ROOM :)

😎
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Al Brown
Aug 20, 2024
Thanks for the feedback peeps!