Would love some feedback on this liquid drum and bass track!

Discussion in 'Work in Process' started by rylanddnb, Sep 8, 2025 at 8:26 PM.

  1. rylanddnb

    rylanddnb Member

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    Hello! ive been working on this track for a while, getting to the point where its starting to sound cohesive mix wise! just wondering if its possible to have some feedback on it! specifically in regard to the mix.Before i start sending it to labels.

     
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  3. ArticStorm

    ArticStorm Moderator Staff Member

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    sound good to me.

    structure-wise i miss some breaks in the break, it just keeps going, might makes it a bit boring after the while?

    lovely vocal.
     
  4. Midge F

    Midge F Audiosexual

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    Could be a hit record, in my humble.

    I agree with @ArticStorm. Although the beat is a roller, it needs some more movement, little builds, backwards gongs, random percussion. Maybe dub out the vocals for a drop...

    I'd be delighted to produce something of this quality.
     
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  5. rylanddnb

    rylanddnb Member

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    I appriciate it that means alot! what did you mean dub out the vocals for a drop? like at the end of a 16? just a 2-4 bar breath before the beat comes back in?
     
  6. Midge F

    Midge F Audiosexual

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    Yeah, something like that.... just a two, or four bar corridor with no drums to build tension before the break
    comes in again. Maybe add some delay to the vocals during that, whatever sounds good to your ears!
     
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  7. Benno de Bruin

    Benno de Bruin Kapellmeister

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    Great track! Very musical, great vocals. Everything fits, even considering how many elements there are. Maybe some more space / buildup / dynamics in the arrangement. Maybe the vocals could be clearer in the break, and the bass somewhat more definition? But again, wow, great!
     
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  8. Synclavier

    Synclavier Audiosexual

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    Nice one, over all sounds good, I think a little bit more atmospheric elements would work here, love vocal but for a hit it's a bit too intensive straightaway from the beginning to the end, I think some building with gradual increase would be better or even shorten it, leave more instrumental parts.
    In short, I would work some more with the structure of the track and add deepness.
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2025 at 1:08 AM
  9. throbbing_tony

    throbbing_tony Noisemaker

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    Great work on this song! I like it a lot.

    One note:
    Some really harsh frequencies in the vocal section at 1:30. I found this unpleasant and distracting. I think the overall sound of the vocal in that section might benefit from being changed. I'd a/b a few alternate versions with different vocal character.
     
  10. Jim Bob

    Jim Bob Kapellmeister

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    Great tune! But try some spots with bass,vocal,keyboard and no drums. Let it settle a bit.
     
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  11. aymat

    aymat Audiosexual

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    Lovely tune! <3

    Same sentiment as @Midge F and @ArticStorm, I think overall you have a solid track, just needs a few tweaks to get it over the finish line.

    The arrangement is good but the overall energy doesn't feel balanced. That can be fixed adding and removing elements to control tension where it needs it. I'd consider adding some subtle swells and risers throughout. It could use some additional perc elements interspersed to add more interest and break up the repetitiveness of the drum loop. I'd also consider adjusting the bongo layer 1 or 2db less prominent in the mix. A more prominent 1/16 closed hat or shaker loop in the drop at 0:44 would add some additional movement. You could try to add an additional rolled off break as a top layer at the start of the bar at 1:06 to build even more tension,then removing all the drum/perc elements at the breakdown. I would also consider using a lp filter to roll off the highs and mids from the piano loop in the first 4 bars of the breakdown, just keeping the low mids before bringing it back in over another 4 bars before the drop again. A complimentary arp loop to add melodic interest could also help break up the repetitiveness of the piano loop.

    These are just suggestions so take them with a grain of salt. I think you have a really solid tune and I cant wait to hear the final version :wink:
     
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  12. ArticStorm

    ArticStorm Moderator Staff Member

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    aymat has nailed what i meant. the essence of the track is there, it just needs clever rearrangging to create an interesting flow, which you need to break from time to time, with syncopation? Now aymats suggestion are more detailed and he def knows what he is talking about!

    I know in dnb one feels very tempted to just throw in a break and call it a day. I know for example MSDOS has done that and he got it to work in a magically way.



    let me also give you some audio examples.

    Here is an example, which has ordinary break work, also the syncopation, its in incredible, mixed with lots of triplets.


    and another one, you can hear how to piano and the drum break interact
     
  13. villageidiot

    villageidiot Member

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    It's cool, the piano chords are kind of muted and stay in the background all the time, I was waiting at some point for them to become more upfront with brighter piano sound or brighter synth sound in addition. They're really cool chords, like them a lot. Though, it works like it is too, just something that I would have liked to hear :) Would also lift-off the track at some point in a way
     
  14. aymat

    aymat Audiosexual

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    These are great examples.

    I would also consider referencing producers with a similar vibe as your own. The North Quarter label has a very soulful liquid dnb roster.. guys like Lenzman, Satl, Redeyes, Submorphics... each have tracks with a similar rnb soul vibes that are great to study and pull arrangement ideas from:







     
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  15. justwannadownload

    justwannadownload Audiosexual

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    I don't like the highs, but that might be awful 128kbps format SC is using for streaming. Can't say shit about them due to it unfortunately, but there may be not enough highs.
    The vocals beg for a better recording. A really good performance written in some small storeroom on a phone or a pencil mic.
    Overall, modern DnB has way less mids amd mid-highs (a whole range from 250 to 5000 Hz), you have overabundance of these frequencies, especially high mids. Should fix it before the mix bus, because the dynamics is rather fine and the instrument balance is also good.
    Take a song by GLXY (they have plenty of stuff in this style) and use it as a reference/palette cleanser. You have what it takes to make it truly good, just gotta iron out certain nuances.
     
  16. rosebud

    rosebud Newbie

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    way too much vocal less is more check the master of liquid (marus intalex & s.t. files), it all about the drop, it really is
    this music is for big sound systems. arrange it properly strip back some of instruments drop the bass and let it rollout, your on to a winner. hope this helps wish you all the best.​
     
  17. villageidiot

    villageidiot Member

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    Maybe he is not making the track so much for dancefloors, but for listening on streaming services etc. More like a radio track if that makes sense. Now he didn't mention it though. But I think you don't need big drops if it's track more for listening rather than dancefloors. It seems to me this way because of vocals etc. Not to say it couldn't work on dancefloor in it's current form to some extent.
     
  18. clone

    clone Audiosexual

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    I like the vocal, but leaving so much of it there is a great way to highlight the fact you lifted a big long easily identifiable sample (which you may or may not be able to get clearance for). If you chop it up, edit, use small parts of it; then you have a lot more work ahead because it is carrying the track.
     
  19. PulseWave

    PulseWave Audiosexual

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    Hello Rylend, I've also listened to your other works on SoundCloud, you are a very talented musician who does a great job.
     
  20. rylanddnb

    rylanddnb Member

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    thank you thats so kind! youve made my day!
     
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