LMMS • Forums

So this: (original no longer available; see update post)

I think this is nice, but obviously needs some more mixing. I want to:

1. Make the leads distinctive, powerful, and bright
2. The kick is mostly OK I think
3. I'd say the snare needs to break through a little more
4. Not too sure about the basses, maybe I can play around with those to make them not overlap each other too much
5. AGRH THE CLIPPING I need to manage that, but limiters just make it sound horrible.

Any ideas? And of course, any feedback on the track itself gets a virtual cookie.

you already have a clear idea of what you feel is not ok, but i think you did fine here. I really cant hear serious clipping, but you can see / measure clips? Its ok to have some spikes, you just should not have any instrument constantly clipping, but spikes with a few clips is fine.
You can use SPAN (link in our DB) to count clippings, and locate the Hz region where it happens

So I did a bit of tweaking and here's an improved version: https://soundcloud.com/filiplamparski/neutron-stars-v2

I think I achieved many of my tasks in the OP. Fiddling with the sidechain compressor seems to have fixed the clip-like artifacts. The lead... well, I just made another track that contains only the high notes and bypasses the sidechain. It seems like a hack, but workable.

This sounds nice. It has a very uplifting feel to it.
Good use of synth sounds.

I like how the music slows down after the Aaaah! sound at 2:11 secs.
That is a very nice build up, from 2:33 secs to 2:54 secs.

The drums sound good, but should be a tiny tiney bit louder/harder.
But I know that mixing drums with synth sounds, isn't always that easy.

For a short track, it sounds good.
And I must admit, you're getting better at making music.