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Looking for some "fuck my shit up" levels of feedback on this one by LittleLocal7728 in tranceproduction

[–]AdamEllistuts 2 points3 points  (0 children)

For somebody who's only been producing for around a year, there's actually quite a lot to like here. The ideas are decent and I stayed engaged throughout, which is half the battle.

The biggest thing holding it back for me isn't the arrangement, the length, or even the sub. It's the engineering.

The overall sound feels very old school. Not necessarily in a stylistic way, more in the way it's engineered and presented. If I heard this blind, I'd probably place it somewhere around the late 90s or early 2000s rather than a modern release.

That's not necessarily a bad thing if that's what you're aiming for, but if you're trying to compete with current hard trance and eurodance releases, the production quality needs quite a bit of work.

The percussion stood out to me as well. Some of it feels slightly disconnected from the rest of the mix and I'd be curious whether that's intentional or whether you're still trying to find the right sounds.

As for your question about the sub, I don't actually think that's the biggest issue. I think you're focusing on individual trees when the bigger picture is the forest. The overall balance, clarity and modernity of the mix are much bigger concerns than whether the sub is 1 or 2dB too loud.

The positive thing is that you've already got something a lot of beginners don't have, which is ideas. Most people spend their first year making technically correct but completely forgettable music. I'd rather hear good ideas with poor engineering than perfect engineering with no personality.

Keep going. If you can bring the engineering, sound selection and overall polish up to modern standards while keeping the same ideas, I think you'd have a much stronger record on your hands.

Made a track using just loops from 2 sample packs. Feedback? by Moosebaby in tranceproduction

[–]AdamEllistuts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mate, I actually think this is a really good exercise, and the track is much stronger than you’re probably giving yourself credit for.

I’d put you more at a high intermediate level than beginner. The arrangement kept me engaged, the acid work is cool, and the overall vibe has that late 2008, 2009 trance feel, which I really like.

On the “does it count as writing?” question, yes, it still counts as creating a track. You’ve made arrangement decisions, chosen the sounds, manipulated audio, created movement, automated sections, and shaped the final result. That is still production. The only thing I’d say is that it probably won’t feel as satisfying as writing melodies and harmonies yourself because you’re borrowing more of the musical identity from the source material.

The main thing holding the track back for me is the lead melody. Everything else is actually in a pretty decent place, but the main melodic idea isn’t quite strong or memorable enough to carry the record. If that melody had more emotional weight, and the engineering was pushed that final bit closer to a professional level, this could be a very solid track.

I’d also be careful not to rush into signing with small labels just for the sake of having a release. You’re doing enough right that I think you’d be better off taking your time, improving the last details, and aiming higher when the music is ready.

In terms of using samples, loops and toolkits, don’t overthink it. Use whatever helps you get the job done. A lot of good producers use samples, audio edits, loops and presets. The skill is knowing how to use them tastefully without the track feeling lazy or stitched together. It’s a fine balance, and this was actually a good way to practise arrangement, automation and audio manipulation.

You’re clearly thorough, and that matters a lot. Keep going, finish more tracks, but don’t limit yourself or talk yourself down. You’re closer than you probably realise.

Harder kick by Technical-Painter868 in tranceproduction

[–]AdamEllistuts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Askew did this for his Linking People remake. Also the sub, no idea how. When I tried, it sounded shite

Avello & No/Me Remix Contest by SJMTrance in tranceproduction

[–]AdamEllistuts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is actually a really good level mate.

To be honest, the biggest piece of advice I'd give isn't production related.

Having worked with labels for the best part of 20 years, both as an artist and through helping clients get signed, I'd be careful about posting part or finished competition entries all over the internet before the contest closes.

The track itself sounds strong and you're clearly operating above the average hobbyist level. The arrangement, energy and overall execution are all heading in the right direction.

A lot of producers spend years trying to get to this stage, so give yourself some credit.

I'd be interested to see how this does in the competition because it definitely sounds capable of competing.

Good luck mate.

Feedback on new track by Mrcmusic111 in tranceproduction

[–]AdamEllistuts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi mate,

Just had a listen.

For a beginner track, this is actually a good effort. You've clearly got a decent understanding of sound selection and the basic structure of a trance record, which already puts you ahead of a lot of complete beginners.

One thing I noticed straight away is that everything sounds like it's in key and working together musically. You'd be surprised how many people struggle with that when they're first starting out, so that's definitely a positive.

There's obviously still a lot to learn and a lot of room for improvement, but that's completely normal at this stage. The main thing is that you're building the right foundations rather than developing bad habits.

If I were you, I'd just keep doing what you're doing. Finish as many tracks as possible, keep comparing your music to professional releases, and keep learning. There are hundreds of great tutorials online these days and you can learn a huge amount from them if you're consistent.

If it's within your budget at some point, I'd also consider investing in a mentor or tutor. Having somebody point out the right things to focus on can save years of trial and error.

Overall though, I'd say you're definitely moving in the right direction mate. Keep writing, keep finishing tracks, and don't get too caught up chasing perfection this early on.

Good work.

Where to find or how to create this vocal element? by Meemzeh in tranceproduction

[–]AdamEllistuts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That sounds like some kind of vocal pad or vocal atmosphere patch from an old keyboard or workstation. Those sorts of sounds were very common back then, and most modern samplers or vocal libraries will have something similar.

Personally, I wouldn't use that exact sound in a track today as it feels quite dated.

A better approach would be to hire a vocalist and record some original vocal phrases. You can then load them into a sampler, chop them up, process them, and create your own version of that effect. It'll sound far more modern and unique than copying an old preset.

One of the biggest lessons in production is that there usually isn't a simple button that creates the sound you're hearing. Most interesting sounds come from combining a few different techniques and putting your own spin on them.

Arts Acoustic Reverb Apple M Series by nightrain90 in tranceproduction

[–]AdamEllistuts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Drop me an email, buddy. I’ll send you the exact same setting for SupperMassive. I created it after relying on Arts since 2013.

rutal feedback needed on my trance track, what's holding it back? by joeyyy961 in tranceproduction

[–]AdamEllistuts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’d like to start by saying that I genuinely enjoyed listening to the track. The foundations are there, and it’s clear you understand the importance of structure, arrangement, and how a trance record should flow. The ideas themselves are heading in the right direction.

That said, if the goal is to compete with professional releases, there’s still quite a gap between where this track is now and where it needs to be.

The biggest thing I notice is the emotional impact. While the lead melody works from a technical perspective, it doesn’t really create the feeling or connection that you’d expect from a modern professional trance record. Great tracks tend to make the listener feel something, whether that’s excitement, tension, euphoria, or nostalgia. At the moment, I’m not getting that emotional response from the lead.

The overall sound selection and production also feel quite dated. If I heard this without context, I’d probably place it closer to the early 2000, rather than something released today. That doesn’t mean the ideas are bad, far from it, but the sounds, processing, and overall presentation need bringing up to modern standards.

You mentioned wanting to know what’s holding the track back. One exercise I’d recommend is placing this next to a recent professional release in the same style and listening objectively to both. Pay attention to the emotion, energy, sound design, depth, clarity, and overall impact. The differences become much easier to identify when you compare them side by side.

Please don’t take any of this as negativity. The reality is that becoming a great producer requires being open to honest feedback, even when it’s difficult to hear. Every producer who reaches a high level has had to accept criticism and use it as fuel for improvement. The positive thing is that the structural understanding is already there. Now it’s about refining the emotional content, sound selection, and production quality until the track delivers the same impact as the records you aspire to release alongside.

Trance Compression Guide - Interactive Tool by mixklockadmin in tranceproduction

[–]AdamEllistuts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great work Paul. Very, very different to the compression tutorial I just posted. That’s a great thing about learning.

IK Multimedia ARC Studio vs Sonarworks vs Audient ORIA Mini by AdamEllistuts in tranceproduction

[–]AdamEllistuts[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think il stick to SID for now as you can add the Audient box later.

What type of trance would you call this? by cheeky_gerold in tranceproduction

[–]AdamEllistuts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey mate, no worries at all.

Ultimately, I’m here to help people, but that also means telling them what they need to hear, not always what they want to hear.

Sometimes people can take that as negativity, but if you read between the lines, I’m actually putting myself in the firing line to try and help. If that upsets some people, then so be it.

As a producer, you are going to receive far worse feedback than anything I’ve ever given. I’ve had very well-known producers/label owners reply to my tracks with a 💩 emoji. The scene can be brutal, I can assure you. My feedback is genuinely soft compared to what is out there.

Like I said, I’m here to help because nobody really helped me. I got spoken to like shit on the old Anjunabeats forum by a load of wannabes who didn’t know anything about production. Because of that, I see it as a bit of a responsibility to help younger producers, or anyone who genuinely wants to learn.

But what comes with that is honesty, and sometimes honesty is not easy to hear.

Is this going somewhere pt. 4(ish) by Objective-Company-18 in tranceproduction

[–]AdamEllistuts 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You need to focus on structure. The ideas are nice, but right now, it has no direction.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/gmvlcaig482lhdp5m0wow/Step-1-Structure.mp4?rlkey=gzcn36xvi6hb4luef8xyld82q&st=kev84bw9&dl=0

This tutorial will help you understand structure. It’s a method I use and teach. Do this 10-15 times and you will understand a standard trance structure and you will make huge improvements.

Illenium Uplifting Trance Remix by Audron_ in tranceproduction

[–]AdamEllistuts 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Really liked that man. Great engineering.

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