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Yodamanjaro

188 Audio Reviews

106 w/ Responses

some easy things to improve...

From what I hear, you are still kinda getting used to FL Studio.

Things to improve on:

1) Get new samples, especially for your percussion. The ones from FL Studio are ok to begin with, but your skill level requires better quality samples. That, and everyone else on NG has heard these samples used in all other songs. There are plenty sites to get them from, I originally got some from VIP zone samples. Just google that and you'll be able to get some more to work with.

2) Along with samples comes VST plugins. These are more synthesizers and effects to use in your songs. Also, they are usually better quality than the ones that FL Studio gives you. Ones to get:

z3ta+
Nexus
V-Station (my fav)
Vanguard
Hypersonic

3) Put a little more time into one song. I will promise you that if you spent at least a few more hours into a song, it will most likely sound better. A lot better. lol Just take my word for it. That's someting easy to improve on.

Also, you might think: What can I improve on exactly and spend more time on?

a) Spend more time messing with the volumes of your sounds. This is called Equalization, EQ for short.

b) put more effects into the mixer to make your sounds more original. The more time you put into making it sound different, but yet better, the better your overall track.

I hope these suggestions will help you overall. This isn't some overnight tkinda thing, it takes a while. lol Believe me. I began making music almost a year ago, and you can hear the difference I made.

5/5 (just to help)
7/10

Derrick

p.s. PM me if you have any more questions dude. Also, could you take a look at my newest submission, The Way Home? It's a pretty sweet trance track. I think you might enjoy it :)

yeah....

I would turn down the effect of the effect of the voice, like the guy said in the review below me, but don't just turn it off or the effect itself down, do this in the mixer. Right beside the effect name in the mixer there is a knob that is turned all the way up by defualt. Turn that down to about halfway and you should be good.

Also, if you wnat to go the extra mile and master and EQ this track more, I would enjoy hearing the final version. No offense, but it shouldn't peak and it does certain parts. And dont' think it's my headphones...I've got Pioneer HDJ-1000s. I hear EVERYTHING. lol, not really, but that would be amazing if I did. But that's mostly my ears, not the headphones themselves.

Pretty good remix overall. But like I said above, master and EQ is the key to having a better track...but I'm sure you knew that. :) One doesn't just make this good mix and doesn't even know the importance of EQ and Mastering a track. If you need any tips or w/e, I could help you, but I doubt you do...

5/5
8/10

P.S. could you check out my latest song, The Way Home ? It's pretty good I think. My original trance track. Thanks!

Derrick

Dj-Final responds:

yea i just put this up here to see what could be done with it, you guys as the audience need to tell me what needs to be done, and thank you.
I'll be working on this song, and i will post the final version when it is finished.
I have to do something with the vocals, because in some parts of the song you can barely hear them and then in other parts its like loud as hell, the Echo will take 2 seconds to fix.
And yo if you want to PM me, i would greatly appreciate it,
Thx for the Review.
and i'll be sure to listen to your new track.

Different...

Hey, just to stop to give you my review.

Positives:

+ I like the feel of the song, definitely original.

+ Along with the origniality, I like the melody.

+ Nice length, I'm tired of hearing 2 minute songs on NG. lol

+ Great variation within your song, it was nice spread out.

Negative:

- I feel that some of the percussion could be EQed better (basically, turn down some of those hi hats and such) .

-- More effects could be done to your melody, in the form of a channel automation. Maybe a phaser would sound kinda cool. I don't know why, but this song reminds me of TimeSplitters (the game). *sigh* good ol' techno.

--- You could work a little more on this, and I could definitely see you being able to improve on this song a whole lot more, and it'd be on the lines of a record sign. Not kidding, I've heard my share of good and bad.

Overall:

Great flow, kept me bobbing my head. Keep it up.

5/5
9/10

Derrick

great!

All I would ask of you is to put this in dance. It really doesn't put off as a trance track to me. It has some of the elements, but your style is dance, and this song definitely shows it.

Great work man,

Derrick

F-777 responds:

You mean we arn't allowed to dance to Trance?! DAM I HATE TRANCE NOW!

Lol thanks for the review =).

ok...

First thing you need to do is go to a store and get Van Doren Java reeds, size 3. I would recommend to keep getting harder reeds, becuase that will improve your overall tone quality. I myself use either 3 or 3.5 VanDoren and VanDoren Java. They are a bit expensive, but it's the best kind of reed you can buy that's at most music stores.

As far as vibrato and bending notes, I think you're good on this song with that.

btw, what high note was that @ 2:33-2:34? Was that a high C? And i don't mean 2 ledger lines above the staff, I mean way up there. lol

As always, keep practicing.

Derrick

Super20SS responds:

Thanks for your review, Derrick.

As far as reeds go, I use what I use because they're consistent. I'm not a fan of VanDoren reeds because you're lucky to find a decent one in an entire box, and I really can't afford to have that much waste. Also, reed size is supposed to be in inverse proportion to the size of your mouthpiece. I use a Runyon Quantum 7 on alto, which is slightly on the bigger side, so putting a harder reed on it would be a bad idea. Also, I like my alto tone...it's edgy, and it serves me well when I do a pop or latin gig.

Yeah, the note in question was a concert C...altissimo A on alto. That's one thing I've always been proud of is my altissimo register. I know its one of those things that a lot of people work hard at, but its something that's kinda just come naturally. I listen to a lot of Michael Brecker (I'm mostly a tenor player), so I've just kinda come into using my altissimo through transcribing a lot of his stuff.

Thanks again for the review!

what/???

You don't have a teacher? Now that's impressive. How did you learn your altissimo? I'm currently trying to figure the best fingerings for it, and how to incorporate it into my solos. But then again, I usually don't play jazz in college, but I am in the jazz band.

Also, I just happen to give lessons myself. So, if you have any questions about stuff, feel free to PM me. I may not have all the answers, but I think I could hit up most of your questions. btw, I usually don't play the tenor, I just stick to the alto, so...yeah.

Keep practicing,
Derrick

Super20SS responds:

Hi Derrick.

Yeah, I don't have a teacher right now because my last teacher is always on tour, and it's also a money issue. As far as altissimo goes, I just kinda came into it. I transcribe a lot of Michael Brecker, Chris Potter, and Joshua Redman, so in playing their transcriptions, I kinda came into using altissimo more regularly. From what my last teacher told me, though there are some "standard" fingerings for altissimo register, many pros end up figuring out their own system up there...it's all just harmonics beyond a point, anyway, so its kinda like whatever works for you, you know?

Thanks for the offer of lessons, too, but SSM-NW has hooked me up with a pro in my area who's going to take me on as a mentor this month as soon as he gets back from Europe, so I'm good along those lines. Also, I'm not so much concerned with rudiments at this point, like emboucher and fingerings and stuff, more interested in becoming a more stylized improvisationalist...finding my own voice, and all, but I really appreciate the offer.

Thanks again for the review.

pretty good

I enjoy your altissimo.

I am curious though, what kind of saxophone you play? I myself have a Selmer Paris Series III.

Keep it up man. I'd like to hear more.

Derrick

hmmm

I like your take on it, but I really would rather have that delay that I have on my remix... ha ha.

No, but your remix is definitely nice, and a different take on the song, which I admire.

9/10
5/5

DJ Derrick

mybrobilo responds:

thank you very much!

????

...all I can say is, 1.5 months to do this????

wow. Please read everything you read in that other review and apply it to this song, but add a few things:

6) Don't use loops. It's sorta the n00bish thing to do. For some of the things, I'm not sure if those are loops, but some of them I know for sure that they are completely loops.

7) EQing is important to do to a track. This means you need to level your volumes and make sure that nothing peaks. I've got very nice headphones (Pioneer HDJ-1000) and I can pretty much tell when a track is peaking...

8) What kind of trance is this? I don't think there is a subgenre for this kind of....trance as you would call it. Please put it under techno next time. That's more accurate. To me, it's Industrial-Techno. A definite.

9) Also, the cut-off ending thing again. Please let it have resolution at the end. Not just a sudden cut off of sound. Sounds too choppy and glitchy. And that doesn't work with the style you've made.

10) In the beginning you change styles drastically. Please choose one only unless it's a gradual change, but the one I just heard was immediate and felt like a different song or a person who has ADHD...

well, it's a 5 on this one since you've got kicks and such in this. It was more of a song than the other song I reviewed, so there you go...

DJ-Bert responds:

dude you use too much loops im sorry if i was a little understative is that a waord? but if you keep soing the same thing for the melody its just well boring!

...huh?

Yeah. I agree with Dj Felix for once. You were a jerk to him, but I'm not holding that against you with this review.

Again, why is this under trance? It has NOTHING to do with the genre you picked. In fact, I don't see it as electronica at all. Also, listen to my things or just listen to a popular artist that makes trance. If you need examples, DJ Tiesto, ATB, Paul Van Dyk, and Armin Van Buuren are great DJs who produce good trance. Take notes of the things they do and then try it yourself. You may end up producing a great track.

For this track however:

Positive: I really don't see much, other than it's short, so it saves me from listening to 5 minutes worth of this panning noise. And I do mean that in a whole-hearted sense.

Negative: There are too many things that I could say, but I'll sum it up:

1) Put beats in. If you want trance, you need at least a kick, hi hat, and snare. Maybe a clap and wood blocks.

2) Get a melody. I really don't hear an overlying melody in this song. Please get one to produce a great trance track.

3) Don't use panning as much. A little is ok, or certain instruments it's ok. But don't do it for half the song, which in this case is <40 seconds...

4) Please get more trance-ish instruments in this song. If you want trance, then get a nice trance lead. I don't care if it's generic, it's better than the "I'm going to die" strings.

5) Get a better cut-off on the ending. It all of a sudden ends. People usually don't like that, and don't say "It's a style thing." People don't like to hear cut off and sliced music. It just doesn't flow into the ears, especially for a trance track.

Now, you can hear my stuff and hear what I do when I tell you this, and I will say that I'm not "amazing" or "NG's best" or whatever. I do what I can, and I'm pretty sure that if you try to fix those things, this song will sound completely different...

DJ-Bert responds:

sorry but im not editing this!

Check out Stories in Trance! (www.storiesintrance .com)

Derrick Meyer @Yodamanjaro

Age 35, Male

Programmer

MVNU

Cleveland, OH

Joined on 10/14/07

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