Hellow everyone!

First time here at the forum, long time fan of the site though. I would like to get some feedback for my latest release, with a couple of questions in mind.

1. Does an instrumental stand any chance against other popular genres/formats? I wrote this track while I was learning the modes hoping it would make things more interesting but I'm not sure...

2. And the big question, how does it sound? Of course its a modern track made entirely in a daw. I'm really satisfied with the result but there is always room for improvement. My biggest issue was the drums. EZDrummer not cutting it... Any suggestions for something more advanced??

Thanks in advance, cheers from Greece!

 

Sounds cool, but drums are still a little shy. Do you already have some sort of NY compression going on?

 

Last edited: Mar 24, 2021

Yes, my friend who mixed has added some i think, but there were already problems with the drums, they are already compressed from EZDrummer which isn't really helpful. Thats why im searching for another plugin to do the job.

 

BFD3

 

Thanks, I'll look it up!

 

https://www.fxpansion.com/products/bfd3/

I use it, when I use other stuff I often find my way back to BFD3. I've also been digging KVLT drums on the side but they are far too shitty for your type of metal lmao

Agreed that EZDrums is too processed.

 

Any thoughts on Superior Drummer?

 

Last edited: Mar 23, 2021

EZDrums (spelled easy drums) comes with pre processed sounds, so they should easier (hence the name) sound good and cut through a mix. If this doesn't work, you need something like Addictive Drums (ADD2), BFD3, or Superior Drummer (SD3). The pros and cons with these are, you can tweak them to taste but you also have to tweak them.

 

No sorry, there is also Addictive Drums as well. But I haven't really dove into any of those. Maybe I revert back to BFD3 out of comfort & habit or maybe I really just prefer it but I bet you someone here does have experience with SD.

 

Send me midi and di files, and i'll take care of it.

 

talking from an inexperienced point of view as my mixing skills are limited

why are u blaming the drums when you can lower the guitar and raise the overall volume so that all can be louder?

 

Having used MIDI since it began, I consider SD the most versatile and believable of the lot and use it the most.
After SD, it may occassionally be an NI Abbey Road kit in Kontakt.
I have used EZDrummer a few times specifically because it had the right sound to cut through a mix. But not your genre.
It also has some different MIDI features to SD2 at least, not sure about SD3.

 

Well, i dont really mind the mix as it is, i think it serves its purpose. But it was really difficult for my "sound friend" :P to control the never ending toms and OH, so I'm looking for a plug in with better samples.
Preferably i must use a real drummer but he isnt always available.

 

Well look @samsome has a point in bringing your guitar level down to where you can hear the drums, then raising the overall level afterwards. Otherwise smashing those toms with low resonances isn't going to do you any good at higher volumes if they are competing with something else too much.

But hey you know I get it, you're making metal. But mixes still have to be reasonable no matter what genre you make. I also make metal, just a very different kind. You need to be gain staging on every step you take within your mix. In metal noisy frequencies build up quick.

 

Last edited: Mar 23, 2021

That wouldn't solve the mix problem, right?

 

Just save as to make another version of the track then bring your guitars down to your drums then bring up your master fader and see if you truly lose any power in the guitars. If you do then look for different tom and high hat samples & see if those will fit without competing for frequency space.

 

Thanks guys, really helpful insights on drums!

Actually it can be really helpful, since we compress and gate on the input the drums become much easier to work with.

 

Well thats my conclusion, i will try SD3 and BFD3 for better samples next time.
The truth is that in part2 of this track which is a much more "open" classic rock mix EZD did the work, but not for this one...

 

Sick guitar skills. Amazing job!

 

You did an overall great job on your track, even if it isn't my style I can still recognize some talent when I see it.

The calm riffs sounded good as in the riffs themselves. But they felt out of place as in the way they are mixed. Maybe having an accompaniment there might help along with taking that filter off your guitar, but that's my own personal opinion. But those riffs fit in great into your over all theme of your track focusing on hard rock/metal.

Good on you on having a decent solo too, without having to go hard or let it drag on too long. It was just a nice & pleasant solo that also fit your over all theme while still sounding great. But some of the way you mixed the pieces in is a bit off in some parts to my ears.

I know as a guitarist you want to have your guitar be the loudest focal point of your track but in reality it's really thanks to the bassline. It's the bass that gives the guitar it's weight. The guitar in a metal mix in reality isn't as thick as you think it is. It's actually rather thin when it's soloed, so keep that in mind. All the parts make the over all mix, not just the guitar.