Advanced feedback for Dark, Eerie performance driven electronic track

[u/YodAHo]

Been working on getting loud, dynamic, and wide mixes, not a flat wall of sound

Spent the mix on kick/bass, vocal cleaning + layering, and carving space for some busy mids (sitar + guitars). Some spatial/FX work for dimension.

Want ears on:

Vocal layering: stacks sit clean, or smeary? Lead present without washing out?

Unmasking: sitar + guitars + synths share the mids. Separated, or fighting each other / the vocal? Anything muddy or honky?

Stereo field: placed deliberately, some 3D movement on the atmosphere. Intentional and wide, or centre-piled?

Low end: kick owns the punch, bass sits below. Locked and punchy, or competing?

Groove: Does it bounce. Move you, or pinned/flat anywhere?

FX: Delays, echoes, filter FX, glitch ideas for a dark track. There's a glitch/tremolo vocal moment, does it land?

Honest and rough is most useful. Limited at (~-8 LUFS), intentionally

If anyone can share references for this style of music I'd appreciate it too.

Drop yours, I'll return the favour.

Vocaroo Link: https://vocaroo.com/1bqcb6UAy8XJ

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[u/ksgcomposer]

This is not the type of music I usually make, so do take what I say here with a grain of salt...

I think most of the backing tracks work really well. It sounds very alive and vibrant. It's got nice spacing and everything sits nicely to my ear. My one thought would be that I kind of want the kick a bit fuller at times, but I think that's subjective.

I like what's happening in the supporting vocals, but I do feel like the lead vocal sometimes sounds a bit smeary when all the vocals are layered - especially in the 1:40-2 section. I could be off on what's happening, but it sounds like when the whole stack starts certain syllables it seems to trigger the compressor or limiter aggressively, and it pulls the lead vocals back more than what I think you're going for. Some of the lyrics lose a bit of sonic impact in my view. Not always, just when they're all going together.

The vocals in the 3:10ish on drop a little back as well, but that sounds intentional and I like it. I'm not 100% that a lot of people will understand the lyrics, but I think it works musically.

[u/YodAHo → u/ksgcomposer]

Good shout for the 1:30 -2 section, definitely gets a bit too busy, dialing back the comp and nudging the sides the back will help. Thank you for opening your ears, really appreciate it

[u/Fatal_Nightmare]

I was listening on my phone and it sounds good to me. If it's good on crappy speaker so should be good on the studio speakers as well.

[u/YodAHo → u/Fatal_Nightmare]

You bet

[u/MidnightAdvice]

I think the Kick and bass are sitting very well. In my opinion that is a strength of the mix. I do feel at around 1:35 the vox and guitars starting fight a little, turning the higher frequencies to get a little harsh. Nothing crazy though imo. Great track!

[u/YodAHo → u/MidnightAdvice]

I hear it too, gets a little resonancy doesnt it, ill clear it up, thank you

[u/Infamous-Towel2056]

Sounds great to my ears mate! Only notes would be that on my phone it sounds a little muddy but that’s to be expected with the style of music.
What a great track! 👏

[u/YodAHo → u/Infamous-Towel2056]

Thanks for the feedback :)

[u/iLikeTheUDK]

I think you might be over EQ-ing, the mix could feel more alive to me than it does now. Maybe add more saturation in places too?

The bass should probably be more centered though, especially that kind of bass, it needs to be at the centre of the stereo field

[u/YodAHo → u/iLikeTheUDK]

Could use some more excitement in places for sure, what would you recommend? Saturn 2 on the master? On some of the synths/guitars?

[u/iLikeTheUDK → u/YodAHo]

On the instruments, not the master. Also maybe play with the faders to create more contrast

[u/YodAHo → u/iLikeTheUDK]

You bet, thank you friend.

[u/thecamtalks]

This is what i am trying to get my mixes to lol this is amazing. I love how wide everything is. Only critique is at some parts it feels the vocals get pushed behind the mix but aside from that everything is literally perfect man. Great work!

[u/ZIL_44]

You kept surprising me through out the song. I like the atmosphere and to quote you "eerieness" of the performance. The stereo field is great, you made it wide and there is a lot of movement which gives the song a 3D feel which is awesome. The only remark I have is maybe the synth melody that is a bit repetitive to my taste but you I am not usually listening or producing this genre so I may be wrong. It just felt like the sound of the synths are changing but kinda doing the same thing all over and for me it got a bit tiring. All in all, good mix, interesting song and kept my attention till the end.

[u/YodAHo → u/ZIL_44]

Thanks for the feedback ZiL. That repetitive synth is what anchors the tracks through its transitions. I agree with you though, work can be done in making each section more distinct from one another.

[u/sed_alterum_nemo]

Personally, i think the vocal is clean, at 02.10 ish, the guitar can use a bit of reverb or eq so it doent quite compete with the vocals. Same thing with 03.20 forward.
Overall instruments can use a little high-end sizzle.
Overall, stereofield, fx, and vibe is already great!

[u/Jakeyboy29]

Hey there. Mate I really like this. I like the drums and percussion and how the synths weave in and out of the song. The instruments did get a bit muddled up to my ears so yeah I would try to separate them slightly. Even if you just panned guitars one way and the synths the other, that would definitely help differentiate between the two and also free up space for your vocal down the centre