Concrete Island - Freeway

Post your work here - Ask for feedback or just show it off
The_G
Artificial Hazard
Posts: 1135
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2016 9:14 pm
Concrete Island - Freeway

Post by The_G »

This is the opener to my retro soundtrack album, which is more "techno-adjacent" than techno. (Also more "synthwave-adjacent" than synthwave.)

Unmastered, nothing on the master channel.

https://soundcloud.com/the-g-music/conc ... ip/s-5yqz4

Opnå
non reader
Posts: 88
Joined: Thu Jan 07, 2016 5:20 pm
Re: Concrete Island - Freeway

Post by Opnå »

You say you intend it to be an intro and it has that feel about it. I like all the noises. For me the melodic pads could be a little more enticing, a bit higher in the mix and sharper sounding. But i'm guessing this is a stylistic choice and you're avoiding sounding too much like the brash synthwave stuff or even to much like Vangelis / John Carpenter?

I think if I heard some of the other tracks (keen btw) then I'd probably be able to put the album opener into better context.

Over all don't think there's really much wrong with that though.

bioniceye
clueless
Posts: 458
Joined: Fri Aug 26, 2016 11:21 am
Re: Concrete Island - Freeway

Post by bioniceye »

great production techniques
in my opinion some of the synths could be a little more brighter or higher in the mix to create some more contrast
but i think i need to hear the other tracks to see if that will fit your ideas

The_G
Artificial Hazard
Posts: 1135
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2016 9:14 pm
Re: Concrete Island - Freeway

Post by The_G »

Thanks, guys. Appreciate the kind words and constructive feedback!

To explain a bit about the album, it's conceived of as the soundtrack to a (fictitious) road movie across abandoned highways after a cataclysmic event. The sound is a bit John Carpenter, a bit Survive and a bit techno, but mostly inspired by fiction and film rather than music.

And to answer the question about intent, keeping the synths sort of enmeshed in the bass was a conscious decision. But that's two votes for making the synths more prominent and clear in the mix, so I'll try it.

Opnå
non reader
Posts: 88
Joined: Thu Jan 07, 2016 5:20 pm
Re: Concrete Island - Freeway

Post by Opnå »

I almost mentioned S U R V I V E. Really like those guys.

Opnå
non reader
Posts: 88
Joined: Thu Jan 07, 2016 5:20 pm
Re: Concrete Island - Freeway

Post by Opnå »

I was just wondering btw. Have you ever seen the film "Radio ON" ? 70's british road film?

The_G
Artificial Hazard
Posts: 1135
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2016 9:14 pm
Re: Concrete Island - Freeway

Post by The_G »

Okay, pulled the synths up a bit and yes--it does sound better! Clearer but still textural in the way I was after.

No, never seen Radio On, but I found it on youtube:

youtu.be/L1URiPSDQMo

Looks awesome. I'm a big fan of road movies, esp the Wim Wenders ones (Alice in the Cities, Paris Texas, Kings of the Road).

Opnå
non reader
Posts: 88
Joined: Thu Jan 07, 2016 5:20 pm
Re: Concrete Island - Freeway

Post by Opnå »

The_G wrote:Okay, pulled the synths up a bit and yes--it does sound better! Clearer but still textural in the way I was after.
Good stuff.

As for the Film, hope you enjoy it. I think it manages to be strangly dystopian, despite being set in the real world.

I've not actually watched the Wenders films you mentioned so I will have to make an effort and check some of them out.

User avatar
jordanneke
subsekt
subsekt
Posts: 4166
Joined: Sat Nov 03, 2012 2:16 pm
Re: Concrete Island - Freeway

Post by jordanneke »

Ditto on the brightness. The pad could so with being a touch louder. along with the white noisy pattern.

Like it a lot.

PatrickHughes
Exampleless
Posts: 38
Joined: Tue Apr 25, 2017 2:51 am
Location: Rochester, New York
Re: Concrete Island - Freeway

Post by PatrickHughes »

Cool song, I wasn't into the panning at first but as it developed I got more into the kind of disorienting sound of it. It sounds good as an intro and I would totally be ready for this to kick off into a full blown track around the 2 minute mark.

The_G
Artificial Hazard
Posts: 1135
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2016 9:14 pm
Re: Concrete Island - Freeway

Post by The_G »

Thanks, guys. All the comments are much appreciated! I've pulled up/brightened the synths so they aren't quite so backgrounded--it's definitely a lot stronger now, though it still has the same textural feel.

User avatar
Prophän
Back Bling
Posts: 547
Joined: Fri Mar 31, 2017 11:14 am
Contact:
Re: Concrete Island - Freeway

Post by Prophän »

I really like the textural feel you just mentionned, and this track is very emotional for me, you get a feeling of danger that vanishes when the track is at its peak then slowly starts crawling back . very nice

User avatar
Mattias
subsekt
subsekt
Posts: 3413
Joined: Sat Feb 18, 2012 4:19 pm
Location: Sweden
Contact:
Re: Concrete Island - Freeway

Post by Mattias »

Good but it's too hard panned mate. It lives too much in only one of my speakers.
Music Page: http://www.facebook.com/Mattias.Fridell.Music
Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/fridell
Sample packs: http://mfsamples.bandcamp.com

Contention / 005

The_G
Artificial Hazard
Posts: 1135
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2016 9:14 pm
Re: Concrete Island - Freeway

Post by The_G »

It is? I didn't hard pan anything, and didn't sound that way to me. But maybe there's something in there that I can fix--just trying to figure out what. The bass is centered and mono'd under 200hz. The polysynth is centered but individual voices are panned (they should alternate left/right). Is that the one you are referring to? If so, I can fix that.

User avatar
TimBuys
happy bastard
Posts: 434
Joined: Tue Mar 08, 2016 8:19 pm
Re: Concrete Island - Freeway

Post by TimBuys »

Sounds sweet, definitely one of the best tracks I've heard by you. Keep it up :).

The_G
Artificial Hazard
Posts: 1135
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2016 9:14 pm
Re: Concrete Island - Freeway

Post by The_G »

I think I've fixed all the issues raised. Check it out and let me know what you think.

https://soundcloud.com/the-g-music/freeway/s-iLzIq

(And Mattias, I figured out what was wrong with the balancing. I had a phase setting on the filter that was pushing most information between 80-300hz to the right side. Should be fixed now.)

User avatar
Root
BANNED
Posts: 834
Joined: Sun Feb 26, 2017 9:17 pm
Contact:
Re: Concrete Island - Freeway

Post by Root »

Way better!!! That panning problem killed it before to me. Maybe, the strings could be a tick louder and/or brighter (open LPfilter), connecting more to that high pass percussion/tom whatever on top. Great atmosphere!
:geek:

paul-slacknoise
Face Hugger
Posts: 41
Joined: Fri Aug 22, 2014 4:47 pm
Location: Zürich
Re: Concrete Island - Freeway

Post by paul-slacknoise »

Great! Sound reminds me a bit of the mulholland drive opening. I like it a lot. would also be keen to listen to the album. cheers

matt1171
Interact. Don't Spam.
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Mar 19, 2016 2:55 pm
Re: Concrete Island - Freeway

Post by matt1171 »

Hey, sounds interesting and a good opener! I wasn't sure if you were looking for comments on it or not but a few things I noticed. I would look at the panning as the track sounds heavily panned to the right speaker. Just think the panning needs to be a bit more balanced i.e. the whole track shifted over to the left speaker a bit more. Also I think a bit more reverb automated in places could work, also a sine wave sub underneath to give an extra layer/dimension/depth to the track. Not too loud, just there to fill the track out a bit more. Obviously these are all creative opinions which you might not agree with but I do think the panning needs to be fixed.

Cheers

The_G
Artificial Hazard
Posts: 1135
Joined: Sun Feb 28, 2016 9:14 pm
Re: Concrete Island - Freeway

Post by The_G »

matt1171 wrote:Hey, sounds interesting and a good opener! I wasn't sure if you were looking for comments on it or not but a few things I noticed. I would look at the panning as the track sounds heavily panned to the right speaker. Just think the panning needs to be a bit more balanced i.e. the whole track shifted over to the left speaker a bit more. Also I think a bit more reverb automated in places could work, also a sine wave sub underneath to give an extra layer/dimension/depth to the track. Not too loud, just there to fill the track out a bit more. Obviously these are all creative opinions which you might not agree with but I do think the panning needs to be fixed.

Cheers
Thanks for the input and suggestions! On panning: already fixed, see my comment above (and new version).


Post Reply