References didn't match listing criteria?

[jhwk101]

This is a great piece. Not sure I agree with the feedback but hang onto it and submit it to a music library. I think it's definitely good enough for a placement.

[Cameloide]

I think you did a pretty good job. I like your song better than the reference track, although the production on the reference is a little fuller. I think you could still improve the production and mix a little bit, but you could find a home for this one.

[jbasscase]

I think you did a pretty good job. I like your song better than the reference track, although the production on the reference is a little fuller. I think you could still improve the production and mix a little bit, but you could find a home for this one.

Thanks for the feedback! Do you have any suggestions as to improving the production? I'm still new to all this, have been using Ozone for mastering. I have Neutron for mixing, but haven't been using that much, just stock stuff in Logic. If you have any helpful hints, please let me know!

[jbasscase]

This is a great piece. Not sure I agree with the feedback but hang onto it and submit it to a music library. I think it's definitely good enough for a placement.

Thank you! I did go ahead and make an alternate version of this one and submitted both, along with a new one, to a similar listing last weekend. Maybe it was a waste of money on my part but I'm just really curious to see if one them hit the mark.

[Cameloide]

Thanks for the feedback! Do you have any suggestions as to improving the production? I'm still new to all this, have been using Ozone for mastering. I have Neutron for mixing, but haven't been using that much, just stock stuff in Logic. If you have any helpful hints, please let me know!

Like I said, I think you did a pretty solid job, but improvements are always possible. I think your composition is really good and catchy. I assume you're using in the box sounds exclusively, and if so, the good news is you don't have to worry about engineering (which is an art that can take decades to master), but you have to be careful to not sound too "midi generated" or "quantized", by tweaking velocity for notes and/or by automating volume rides, or by not having doubled lines lined up exactly with each other, offsetting the timing of one a fuzz so it sounds less robotic.

There are a ton of different techniques you can learn that can help develop the "arc", of course knowing which, when and how to use them is harder than learning the actual techniques. Automation is a big one. You just have to mix a lot...compare to A-list references and try to figure out what separates your mix from theirs, and do it over and over again. And just keep developing your ear and your bag of production/mix ideas and absorb as much as you can from the greats through the internet/youtube etc. The devil's in the details. A lot of details. Read Mixerman's book "Zen and the Art of Mixing" or check out "Mix with the Masters" or Pensado's Place on youtube.

I use Ozone for mastering too, and Neutron is a great eq for mixing. I'd recommend using their Tonal Balance plugin too to help you stay within the industry standard mix parameters. You can get by with Logic plugins. It might not hurt to get Valhalla Vintage Verb...a lot of pros are using that these days. Anyways, just keep at it.

[Stubee]

On One of the Taxi TV episodes they mentioned to keep the instruments out of the 85-180 hz range for male voices and 165-255 hz range for female voices. So if keep the melody instruments above 300hz you shouldn't interfere with talking on scenes.