...And a Cold Wind Blows - some kind of techno shit. Trip hop? - General

my first try making something entirely in LMMS. I'm really proud of it. Let me know how I can make it better, though. [MEDIA]http://soundcloud.com/sharkalarm/and-a-cold-wind-blows[/MEDIA]

criticism, anyone?

All the synths and samples are pretty bad, and the mix is too. It's like a clusterfuck after 0.54 The melody needs a little bit more thought put into it, I think, it feels a bit random and not really carefully put together.

May I suggest playing the piano stuff on a real piano? I actually enjoyed the melody.

Came expecting a remix of this: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiEiFARVicU[/media] Was pleasantly surprised.

Comments as I listen I used this chord progression before. The kick is really distracting. So is the snare. The lead piano sounds forced, stale, and unnatural. It's not sounding that bad, but it is jumbled especially in some spots. You got rid of the drums for no reason. At 2:10 that new part doesn't fit in the mix at all and is far too loud. The first rule of mixing is that there are no rules. The second rule is that the listener should never have to adjust the volume mid song. The second time you use the no drums cliche it works. I was about the write that the song didn't really take me anywhere, that the journey was fabricated, and then it sounded like the ended was going to provide some some progress, but it didn't. I like to think of music as a journey which is usually why I make plots for most of my songs, especially the instrumentals. This doesn't mean you can't end up in the same place, but you do want there to be some progression, otherwise it just feels like your staying still and making minor changes to your appearance. Here is the melody with drums, and not without. Here is the melody hiding behind a new sound. I could also liken it to making a painting, and then adding or taking away elements to try to make it more enjoyable. There are legitimate reasons to add parts and to take away parts, but if you don't create a reason it sounds forced. The main melody is pretty nice. Could use more variation, but it has the question and answer part down quite well.

[QUOTE=inebriaticxp;30936373]my first try making something entirely in LMMS. I'm really proud of it. Let me know how I can make it better, though. [MEDIA]http://soundcloud.com/sharkalarm/and-a-cold-wind-blows[/MEDIA][/QUOTE] Is that a glockenspiel in the beginning? It at least sounds like one, but it actually reminds me more of those keyboared samples. The piano doesn't sound to follow the chord progression of the rhythm you've been laying down, and overall it's just too in your face. Some mixing down, and maybe a touch of chorus to space it out a bit? The drums thrown into the mix makes it seem better, it needs some bass down low though to fill the gaps. The background synth that comes in at 0:41 could've joined in earlier I think. The cool parts begin at 0:58ish though, you could drop the piano there and have the electronic stuff do their work. It could mean you could throw it in now and then to mix it up too, like you do at 1:50. At the 2 minute mark it gets even better, I'm starting to think the piano sounds really bad now which is part sample, part that it's just too much in the front all of the time. Have it differ in volume, it's a small change that could make a huge difference. The ending I think goes on for too long, cut it in half and you'll be golden on that part.

Thanks, everyone. I'll try and pay attention to everything that was mentioned next time

Im pretty sure your limiter on your master is crying uncontrollably. You should take down everythings volume 10 dB to start with, then mix the whole song around the kick, without changing the volume of it. Then when you are mastering, add gain. Also, everything pepin said.