Old 09-12-2021, 08:06 PM   #1
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This song is in the style of early 80's synth pop and is in fact modelled on the style of a particular synth pop band from that era:

https://soundcloud.com/thewastersoft...86097c6f18d207
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Last edited by Time Waster; 10-16-2021 at 02:14 AM. Reason: File replaced with new version.
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Old 09-18-2021, 08:32 PM   #2
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This is what I wrote down when listening to this:

0:06 - Aha Enola Gay -influences here
0:28 - the vocalist is almost as bad as I am :-)
0:48 - nice
1:26 - this is the best part
2:14 - how about getting a female vocalist?
2:31 - this is still the best part
3:46 - good stuff

Overall production needs work, this is clearly like a "demo". But you have a good situation in the sense that you are trying to conform to a genre, and it is easy for you to do A/B comparisons with the original bands from that era when mixing.
The thing which I highlighted as the "best part", it was actually really good. I went back to it and listened to it again now. It is the kind of stuff that radio-hits are made of. The rest here is not yet on the same level.
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Old 09-19-2021, 06:51 PM   #3
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Thanks for the comments jopatius. I guess it wasn't difficult, but you picked it, I was listening to a bit of OMD before I wrote this. I learned that the early OMD songs often didn't have a chorus, but instead used a synth melody line where a chorus would go, so I was trying to emulate that. I agree that the vocals need a lot of work. Unfortunately, I've only got myself to work with, although if anyone cares to volunteer their services, I'm open to offers

I'll use your suggestion to AB the song with some of the songs from the period.
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Old 09-19-2021, 10:47 PM   #4
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Hey TW, cool track! I really like the concept of the track and the lyrics - it put a smile on my face. That tangy chord at the end of the verse is a nice little twist.

Apart from some pitch issues with the vocals, one thing I noticed was that the vocal seems too "big" for the track. It has a lot of low end in it, so by comparison the track itself comes off as small sounding, even if it isn't. The impression I get is that the singer is right in front of me and he sounds HUGE, whereas the band is tinkling away politely way off in the distance behind him.

Filtering some low end out of the vocals and giving them a more midrange focussed, compressed sound would help the band come forward somewhat and help everything mesh together better in general.

Nice work!
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Old 09-19-2021, 11:07 PM   #5
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Hi fHumble fHingaz, thanks for the suggestions, makes sense. I have been doing some remixing of this track since I posted it. I'll have to compare it now to the version I posted to make sure I'm going in the right direction.
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Old 09-21-2021, 08:02 AM   #6
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I have replaced the original file with a new version, hopefully inplementing the above suggestions. Thanks for the input and please let me know if it is an improvement. For comparison puposes, the original version has been moved to here - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Uk-...ew?usp=sharing
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Old 09-21-2021, 06:20 PM   #7
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I think it sounds great, you nailed the genre. If I had one criticism it would be the drums...would like something less electronic and more 80s-compressed like in this link: https://youtu.be/EPmTGFg06zA Obviously, it's subjective.
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Old 09-21-2021, 06:39 PM   #8
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Hi Funicello, thanks for the comment. I was actually going for the early 80's OMD sound, when they were still using a drum machine. I was avoiding the gated reverb snare sound, which was popular later in the decade. Food for thought though, I might do another version to compare.
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Old 09-22-2021, 06:44 AM   #9
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The original file has been updated again (now version 3). I replaced the kick, snare and hats with more realistic sounds and used gated reverb on the snare. While I was at it I also added some fills and rearranged the drum patterns in the middle section to make it more interesting and more dynamic. I think this sounds better than the previous version.

Version 2 has been moved here, for comparison - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kbu...ew?usp=sharing
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Old 09-22-2021, 07:34 AM   #10
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I think you could improve the voicing of that #4 chord
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Old 09-22-2021, 03:50 PM   #11
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Thanks Fergler, good point, I'll look at it more closely.
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Old 09-23-2021, 03:32 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Time Waster View Post
I was actually going for the early 80's OMD sound, when they were still using a drum machine. I was avoiding the gated reverb snare sound, which was popular later in the decade. Food for thought though, I might do another version to compare.
It was just a subjective comment on my part. I think your track sounds great as-is!
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Old 09-24-2021, 02:42 AM   #13
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I've updated the file again after Fergler's suggestion, 4th chord revised, plus a few other minor tweeks. For comparison puposes, version three has been moved here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MJE...ew?usp=sharing
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Old 09-24-2021, 06:33 PM   #14
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Hey TW, this is much improved on the original. Nicely done!
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Old 09-26-2021, 05:37 PM   #15
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Thanks to you fHumble fHingaz, jopatius, Funicello3 and Fergler for your suggestions. I'm quite pleased with the final result.
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