http://soundcloud.com/panskimusic/gold-skies-panski-dreamix-master/s-6MrKv

What do you like? What don't you like? What do you think can be added to make it better?

I like it how it is, and everyone else has too... except an A&R rep for a management firm that has reached out to me for representation. He said it's a good start, but feels like it could be better.


Any ideas?

 

Hello there. My head is killing me, but i'm going to try to help you:

On 00:32 when the intro drums stops and the vocals kicks in, this is my idea:

1. hi-pass on the piano notes starting around 300hz with some low resonance and easily rising till it reaches its full sound around 0:57. If you have both the notes and the chords on the same track you'll have to separate them so you can apply the high-pass filter just on the higher notes, because i think it would be better if you keep the chords untouched.

2. Add a long subtle saturated sine (sub) bass line starting on 0:32 at the same time with the pad/vocals and everything else. This is going to serve as an atmospheric bass line, but make sure its lowend is not louder than the upcoming kicks(1:20) because it will make them seem weaker. This bassline should end around 1:03 so you can keep the buildup clean before the chorus kicks in.(so it will retain the impact)

Well, maybe other users will come up with their ideas too. Have a nice day!

 

From the first second the reverb struck me a lot. It's a bit too much... It's also rather unstable. Not only does it draw the attention away from everything else, it's also "jumpy". The space is not coherent. For example, the hat is moving and the reverb washes the hat but also moves on its own. It's like listening to the reverb and the track separately.

Then, the mix as a whole is unstable. Kick goes louder and a bit lower (when you'd expect it to guide everything). I mean, I like it's not super-compressed but it doesn't really compliment the track either the way it's done. Drums (and bass) on the whole rather dry in the center and a wall of reverb of other instruments surrounding them. Everything else lost between reverb and dry (leaning towards the reverb).

Some minor frequency clashing with the piano and pad and some of the kick... (And the repetitive snare at the beginning and later, too washed in reverb)

The voice is lost somewhere between the reverb and the dry track. Also rather unstable (ups and downs).

Backing vocal is mono? Pan it. Use stereo enhancement if needed. More forward, less reverb.

Bass is also quite dry and a bit too forward. It dominates much of the track.

The little arp/delay thingie at the middle is almost lost.

Hats could use some panning.

4:31 (vocal) needs a bit better crossfading.

There are no highlights/hooks.

TL:DR More compression, less reverb, some EQing (the [mid-]highs are maybe too snappy/piercing at parts).

I think that's it. (My ears thanked me for the overall gain/volume though)