a bit o' mixin'/eq help if i may ask

[silvercord]

hi Friends!i was wishing for some eq mixing advice on a hip hop instrumentaltrack i made for this listing:HIP HOP INSTRUMENTALS IN ALL STYLES are wanted by a very successful Production Music Library who has placements with ABC, CBS, NBC, WB, Disney, Discovery, Lifetime, Fox, USA, etc. (to name just a few). They want songs that build and grow, with variation and movement. For their purposes, music that stays static too long won't suit their needs. In other words, a verse that repeats the same motive with the same dynamic every 4 bars won't be varied enough for them. You'll want to submit material that constantly shifts in terms of dynamics and melodic approach - perhaps a special edit of a full-length song would be appropriate. You can submit tracks that range between 1-4 minutes in length and be sure there are NO VOCALS on these tracks. They want material that sounds like it could be on the radio, but will only be interested in Instrumental versions for this listing. Broadcast quality is necessary, though excellent home recordings should be fine. Please submit 1-3 Instrumentals online or per CD. All submissions will be screened on a YES/NO BASIS - NO CRITIQUES FROM TAXI - and must be received no later than November 6, 2008. TAXI #Y081106HHas i am new to hiphoppyness,i'd love to hear any way i can make the mix better!it may be too late because the deadline has passed buti think there may be a gap between the deadline and when itsreviewed...(i hope, for mixin' sake;)the song is "down to the line" and it can be streamed here:www.taxi.com/silvercordthanks tons!peacegeoff

[devin]

Hello brother Geoff!Sorry dude...I can't move this into "hiphop" land...but it doesn't sound like it's totally there yet...I wish I knew why (but I'll be checking back to see what others have to say).You can always target other forum folk by sending a few PMs to those that you respect for this music type...that's always worked well for me. Hit the forwards section and send a few "hey, whaddaya think?" notes.

[aimusic]

Hey G,Awesome track bad, very musical... points I can make, the rhythm doesn't seem to be leading the track, those drums need to be banging up in front, maybe try alternating between verses and chorus by adding a CLAP to the chorus, but make the clap the TINIEST off beat, really miniscule amount. I really dig the track though - very cool bud!Take CareB

[wrdsnmuzik]

Hey there, G! (from another g)I hafta agree that this doesn't strike me as 'hip-hop', i.e., just having an active kick pattern don't make it so. It sounds more like a techno-ish or ambient-jazz piece, calls out for a gauzey female vocal rather than a rapper.that said, I like it. it's a high-quality piece, and I love some of the sounds-interplay, the distorto keys and the use of space. a better fit might be 'moody electronica'.

[geo]

Nov 10, 2008, 6:07am, devin wrote:Hello brother Geoff!Sorry dude...I can't move this into "hiphop" land...but it doesn't sound like it's totally there yet...I wish I knew why (but I'll be checking back to see what others have to say).You can always target other forum folk by sending a few PMs to those that you respect for this music type...that's always worked well for me. Hit the forwards section and send a few "hey, whaddaya think?" notes.I know why..... it's too good .... seriously.... it was explained once here as beat driven, hypnotic bass, simple melody.... what you have here is excellent.... more R&B..... thump your kick more..... maybe simplify the melody a bit..... less instruments?This sounds awesome, just off target a bit....Peace, Geo

[aimusic]

Nov 10, 2008, 8:11am, geo wrote:Nov 10, 2008, 6:07am, devin wrote:Hello brother Geoff!Sorry dude...I can't move this into "hiphop" land...but it doesn't sound like it's totally there yet...I wish I knew why (but I'll be checking back to see what others have to say).You can always target other forum folk by sending a few PMs to those that you respect for this music type...that's always worked well for me. Hit the forwards section and send a few "hey, whaddaya think?" notes.I know why..... it's too good .... seriously.... it was explained once here as beat driven, hypnotic bass, simple melody.... what you have here is excellent.... more R&B..... thump your kick more..... maybe simplify the melody a bit..... less instruments?This sounds awesome, just off target a bit....Peace, GeoTo be honest Geo, there's some awesome Hip-Hop beats/tracks out there... people are getting way more creative, infusing pop choruses into hip hop tracks ala Lupe Fiasco - Superstar... genius track!

[silvercord]

thanks all! i apperciate the advice! really.B! yeah ill do that..ill find a good clap sound to give it a lilflavor.its the hard part of hearing a hip hop tune without the actualvocal...i wonder if most hip hop/rap producers must have to start with something really simple beat-wise...then write the vocal lines, then fill the song with instruments around the vocals.hmm.since NO ONE should/want to hear me rap..thats the way i amdoing it...but pratice makes perfectthanks again for the advice Devin, B, Geo!, Wrdsnmuzic:)peacegeoff

[geo]

Nov 10, 2008, 8:17am, aimusic wrote:Nov 10, 2008, 8:11am, geo wrote:I know why..... it's too good .... seriously.... it was explained once here as beat driven, hypnotic bass, simple melody.... what you have here is excellent.... more R&B..... thump your kick more..... maybe simplify the melody a bit..... less instruments?This sounds awesome, just off target a bit....Peace, GeoTo be honest Geo, there's some awesome Hip-Hop beats/tracks out there... people are getting way more creative, infusing pop choruses into hip hop tracks ala Lupe Fiasco - Superstar... genius track!True, true... the infusion of pop chorus came outa dancehall/dub style reggae in Jamaica way back in the 70's .... some say those toasters were the inspiration for some of the first rappers.... You know what's funny..... I think it was you who wrote that basic overview I read a ways back .... It's not my area of expertise.... just didn't sound ....I dunno..."raw" enough for Hip Hop.... as I said a good track ... maybe with a little more kick in the mix it may fly.... Good luck, GeoffPeace, Geo

[ibanez468]

Just my .02 Geoff! I like it alot! COOL tune. Don't know if it qualifies as hip-hop though. It's a close call, and one that I can't make. Yeah, you could definitely use a "clap" in there. The screener that I am most familiar with on a coupla' submissions for that genre was "tough"! I thought I had it locked too. Boy, did s/he set me straight, and then told me who I should go "listen" to. Well, give it a shot & see what happens, but you should definitely throw some claps in there. I'd also suggest goin' back through the "Forward" section and checkin' out some hip-hop tunes that did make the cut, just ta' get a good idea. Good luck!I-468

[carlosgomez]

I liked it but I am not sure it is hip hop. Good production.