Feedback needed, first attempt at Electro Pop

[MoxieMagee]

First time using Peer to Peer forum too. Fairly new to using Pro Tools 12, Focusrite interface and engineering, mixing for that matter as well. This is for Listing U160825EP for Electro Pop. I have a lot of learning to do in getting the vocals to sound separated, as well as trying to capture some of those pop vocal effects I hear in them all. As to the genre, I would like to know if I'm close to the pitching mound or if I'm even in the balllpark? Any other feedback welcome. Song title, "Chase It" Moxie Mage

www.taximusic/MoxieMagee

http://www.taximusic.com/hosting/home.p ... MoxieMagee

[cassmcentee]

Sorry, that link doesn't work...

[MoxieMagee]

Sorry, that link doesn't work...

Just figured that out. It's such a pain in the *ss to be both old And newbie.

I changed the link which should work now.

[cassmcentee]

Got it Thank you!
Gave a brief listen... good ideas!
In my opinion this mix won't pass the "Broadcast" quality though...
I highly recommend that you take a song like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL1UzIK-flA
...and drop it into your project (or at least A/B compare) so that you have a good target to mix towards!
You'll instantly hear the difference...
Keep going!
Cass

[MoxieMagee]

Gracias. I should have prefaced I know it's not broadcast quality. I will keep your Rhianna reference. So, all I need is a few million buckeroos for a studio and personal engineer. LOL. I plan on spending time watching videos on Pro Tools, but feel I need to find a tutor to keep from wasting time.
But is song in electro pop field? Danceable?

[FredrikPark]

I think it isn't close to Broadcast quality right now, since we're talking pop / Electro pop.
Pop tracks are probably one of the most demanding genres for production value to cut it.
Perhaps Electro pop can be a bit less advanced than regular pop productions, but still...

Although I am new to licensing myself, that's what I read into the leads for pop tracks. Because they reference top chart pop songs like the one that Rob linked.

For the songwriting itself, I feel it's quite peppy with a good choice of tempo and general mood, but a bit too repetitive. Instrumental arrangement matters a whole lot too for pop songs, and I feel the song could benefit from more clearly defined instrumental elements. It all feels very blurry and quite messy right now.
I believe it's part arrangement, part mixing, part lack of good mastering. All three aspects are closely tied together for the best results, I've found in recent years.

Hope it was ok to write all this, I don't do a lot songwriting with lyrics myself, so maybe I shouldn't talk, but I have kept myself fairly updated throughout the decades of modern genres, I yap.

Looking forward to see your progress here on the forum though.
And do consider taking some retail courses in mixing.
I've focused the last 2-3 years on improving my production skills more than composing tracks, and I feel it helps a lot to remove unnecessary obstacles, but it also requires some investments. It still wouldn't be enough with buying courses, but you need additional hardware and software as well. Everything being carefully considered and wisely chosen.

Recently, I've been considering becoming a part of a network, where I'd offer mixing help and services, but that won't be put into action for a while. You're welcome to contact me further anyways, though.
Sometimes I'm way busy, sometimes I'm available for lengthy 1-1 convos... Won't know unless you give it a shot. Sry for a rambling post, but hope it helps a little bit.

[MoxieMagee]

Alrighty then. "Hot Mess" would have covered it, but then I wouldn't have learned anything. Appreciate the time you took. Yes, I plan on going full time learning ProTools basics. Hope to find a local tutor but will start in on more videos. Also spending a lot of time on the Forums to learn.

So in the future, if I see "broadcast quality" in the requirements, I will skip it for now. Oh, one thing I didn't fully understand: instrumental parts being too repetitive.

[FredrikPark]

I believe just about all leads requires broadcast quality.
For the instrumental elements, it was a feeling to begin with.
Both the song part repetitions and the drum rhythms and choice of drum sounds/samples.
But it also was due to the mixing not having clarity. It was very hard to distinct the details even if they were there. And I am listening with studio headphones with srs surround, so that is very rarely a problem for me when I listen to music through them.

You probably need a way better listening setup and a ton of A/B, referencing tracks along with listening to your own mixes. That's one extremely common advice, like a consensus in mixing education, I believe.