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Posted by: thefireball Mar 15 2012, 06:38 PM

Perhaps you remember this from another thread. I am so unsure of my song. Some parts I am not sure about. What do you think? I already had some good feedback on my previous thread as I was writing, so I know the song doesn't totally suck.

Honest opinions, please. Pick it apart if it is really necessary. I want to sell my music on bandcamp like everyone else. Just go a little easy on me. If it sounds okay, I want to get it mixed and mastered professionally. I am listening to this mix and thinking...there's gotta be a better mix out there.

-Brandon Burch

http://soundcloud.com/fireball100/surge-3

Posted by: ElHombre Mar 15 2012, 08:12 PM

Yeah, what program do you guys use for mixing?
The song sounds very good anyway, you make awesome metal songs

Posted by: Ulrik Mar 15 2012, 09:12 PM

Sounds good mate. What do you use for those synthesizer sounds?

Posted by: Dinaga Mar 15 2012, 09:36 PM

It sounds great! I like the agressive riffing, variations of the main riff, transitions and especially the synth parts! They remind me of Dream Theater! I too would love to know which software/virtual instruments you used

Good job on the drum fills, I really enjoy them. The solo is very fitting and I like the thunder after the solo
All in all congrats man, it's one fine work of art!

Posted by: Todd Simpson Mar 15 2012, 11:59 PM

It's normal to want to sell your music, but honestly, when starting out, until you develop a decent size following I'd give it away to anyone that will listen and hopefully spread the word. At this point, charging for units might be premature. Or maybe charge for a track or two and give the rest away? The main goal when you are at the 'Fan building" stage is actually building up fans. Until you reach the level where selling makes financial sense, (e.g. Enough units per release to cover all hard costs plus some for profit), it's typically not worth it. But it's a very informative experience, so maybe even just for that aspect you should give it a shot.


As for the mix, are you using DRUMS FROM HELL? Also, what is your FX chain on the drums?

As for the song, the structure works well for me It is written with plenty of sonic space left for lead playing and or vocals. Have you thought about having other players contribute solos, or having vocalists do a vocal pass over it? I love instrumental tracks but yours here almost sounds like it was written expecting a vocal line? Which isn't a bad thing, just means you'll need someone to sing on it

Todd

QUOTE (thefireball @ Mar 15 2012, 01:38 PM)

Perhaps you remember this from another thread. I am so unsure of my song. Some parts I am not sure about. What do you think? I already had some good feedback on my previous thread as I was writing, so I know the song doesn't totally suck.

Honest opinions, please. Pick it apart if it is really necessary. I want to sell my music on bandcamp like everyone else. Just go a little easy on me. If it sounds okay, I want to get it mixed and mastered professionally. I am listening to this mix and thinking...there's gotta be a better mix out there.

-Brandon Burch

http://soundcloud.com/fireball100/surge-3

Posted by: thefireball Mar 16 2012, 01:54 AM

Thanks for all the feedback so far, guys. You really are helping me feel better about my abilities. I have issues with my self-confidence.

That is a very good point, Todd. Since I am putting my stuff on Bandcamp, I can enable "Name Your Price" so people have the option to download for free and donate if they want. I see a lot of artists doing this and they already have a great following. So you definitely have a point, Todd. Maybe there will be some generous people out there. There are many artists I have bought stuff from on Bandcamp and it was a Name Your Price (free download option).

As for the plugins: Reaper 4 (x64) is my DAW (Digital Audio Workstation), or what I use to mix my tracks. The synths were created with a VST called http://www.superwavesynths.co.uk/product_p8.htm It took some research to figure out how to turn off the constant changing of the sound. I'm pretty sure it was the LFO. The drums are from EZdrummer, expansion pack "Drums From Hell." I am using EZmix to beef up the kick and snare tracks. POD Farm 2 is my source of tone. I use the Criminal amp (5150). You need the metal expansion pack though. There are 4 guitar tracks for most of the song. My bass is the plugin Trilogy with a Reaper "JS" distortion plugin afterwards to give more of a drive to the bass. A real bass guitar is on my wish list...before a 7 string - sad, but for the best. I might also add, the storm sounds came from a http://sweetsoundeffects.com/

I don't know where that guitar solo came from. It just came to me! I have more information about this song on my new artist channel. (Link in my sig.) I am subscribed to myself (like other big people do from related channels) so I minus one subscriber when checking my sub count. When I reach 101 subs (again, because I count as one) I will make a video the following Saturday about my artist name. What does it mean? And how did it originate?

As for vocals and/or lead parts, I am keeping that possibility in mind. If there are ever vocals, there are a few things people need to know if they are going to write them for me. I am a Christian, so nothing that is inappropriate, including the use of the word "hell" as some people (including me) do not feel comfortable with the use of that word as in "hell on earth" or "who the hell are you?" I would want my lyrics to be kind of deep, since my vision is to reach deep within yourself. I don't want vague vocals. I could always change the name of this song, with Surge in parentheses, because I am not so sure as to how the title "Surge" can have a spiritual application. I guess it doesn't have to really for this one song. My original inspiration for this song was "power outage." In that case, this song may have to get a main guitar solo part.

I am not very good at lead so it wouldn't be me performing the main guitar solo. There's somebody out there that could do the song justice. I have often thought about letting http://www.ericmaldonado.com/ record a main solo or a guest solo at least. But for those who do guest solos, or any other contribution, how do I compensate them for any possible profits I eventually make off the song?

QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Mar 15 2012, 05:59 PM)

It's normal to want to sell your music, but honestly, when starting out, until you develop a decent size following I'd give it away to anyone that will listen and hopefully spread the word. At this point, charging for units might be premature. Or maybe charge for a track or two and give the rest away? The main goal when you are at the 'Fan building" stage is actually building up fans. Until you reach the level where selling makes financial sense, (e.g. Enough units per release to cover all hard costs plus some for profit), it's typically not worth it. But it's a very informative experience, so maybe even just for that aspect you should give it a shot.


As for the mix, are you using DRUMS FROM HELL? Also, what is your FX chain on the drums?

As for the song, the structure works well for me It is written with plenty of sonic space left for lead playing and or vocals. Have you thought about having other players contribute solos, or having vocalists do a vocal pass over it? I love instrumental tracks but yours here almost sounds like it was written expecting a vocal line? Which isn't a bad thing, just means you'll need someone to sing on it

Todd

Posted by: JTaylor Mar 16 2012, 02:18 AM

Like I've told you before, you've got a LOT of talent. That, combined with how hard you're working should pay off! It sounds really impressive!You appear to have mastered a lot of Mr. Lupu's methods! Best wishes with it!

Posted by: thefireball Mar 16 2012, 02:24 AM

QUOTE (JTaylor @ Mar 15 2012, 08:18 PM)

Like I've told you before, you've got a LOT of talent. That, combined with how hard you're working should pay off! It sounds really impressive!You appear to have mastered a lot of Mr. Lupu's methods! Best wishes with it!

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Mar 16 2012, 08:44 AM

QUOTE (thefireball @ Mar 16 2012, 01:24 AM)

I can't wait to finish my Drop A song next!! Thanks again, Jon!

Posted by: The Uncreator Mar 16 2012, 09:33 PM

Check ye soundcloud!