Hip-Hop Instrumental

Discussion in 'Off Topic' started by DC, Aug 2, 2012.

  1. DC

    DC Ancient
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    Im getting into producing so id like some critique on this instrumental i made earlier this mourning, in my opinion this is my best work so far, thanks for helping.

    Hitting Up The Captain (instrumental) Prod. by Big Mike - YouTube

    The name i made up last minute because of my night last night lmao so don't make fun of my bad naming skills
     
  2. RightSideTheory

    RightSideTheory Legendary
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    The sounds in this don't work together well, and are poorly leveled. Some of the "clap"s and "snare"s are way to loud and in your face. Other than that, there's absolutely no depth to the music, it lacks any real change or interesting twist throughout. It's hard to really get into something like this, because it's not musically there. Even if you were going for a bare bones "boom boom clap boom clap" rap instrumental, you still need a bit more depth and layering to come of as anything but a bit shallow musically.

    The synth you have in the background is nice, if a bit simple, but you really need to bring it forward. It's way to quiet in the background. Layering multiple synths using different keys, samples, and timings it what makes for really cool synth. It's not a really a "Background" kind of thing, if you're making something like this the synth and pad noises should be in the foreground as much as possible, because they're basically filling in for everything that would be in a band that isn't the drums.

    There's honestly not much to critique about what you have hear because there isn't much to it. It's not bad, it just sounds like a really simple beat that you would start with. You need to layer and build from here, and continue to change up the sounds throughout. Even if you only have a quick cycle of different beats or sounds, it sounds a lot better than the same chords and beat over and over again. Oh, and do something crazy with the timing! Make the beat interesting, not just simple time keeping.

    But it's good to see musicians posting their work on Forgehub, so don't think of me as too overly critical. I'm just trying to provide some decent feedback.
     
  3. Noxiw

    Noxiw Ancient
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    Moved to GnA.
     
  4. DC

    DC Ancient
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    sorry haha i didnt know whether to put this in gna or videos, but anyways, thank you very much rst, i need some good criticism, so i need to work on my mastering and layering, do you know any sites where a could download good synths or something? im pretty new to this whole thing and i only started using abelton like 2 days ago haha
     
  5. RightSideTheory

    RightSideTheory Legendary
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    I've honestly never heard of that program, so I can't give you any tips on it, and when I do music I use all live recordings or synths and pads from my midi keyboard, so I can't direct you to a website for those either :(

    I can tell you, however, a midi-keyboard or power organ would be amazingly useful in recording electronic music. Also; make sure you're buying sounds and samples and not stealing them or using copyrighted ones if you plan on marketing the songs you make with them.
     
  6. DC

    DC Ancient
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    its just a simple DAW, and i have a midi keyboard but i dont know how to play haha any tips?
     
  7. RightSideTheory

    RightSideTheory Legendary
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    With playing a piano in general? Or with using it for other samples?


    If it's playing a synths and things on the piano, you're going to need to basically know how to play a piano, and I have to ask a few more questions, then I can help.

    Do you have any experience with the piano?
    Do you know what any of the keys are? (as in notes)
    What do you know about which notes go in each keys?
     
  8. DC

    DC Ancient
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    no experience, and i dont really know much about the piano, i could learn where the keys are though so that probably should be my first move
     
  9. Pulpapple

    Pulpapple Promethean

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  10. DC

    DC Ancient
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    woah i love those drum sounds haha, i almost downloaded a couple cultural sound kits today to, ill def look into to that, and what do you mean by more spicy? like different pattern or different drums?

    Thank you for the feedback aswell
     
  11. Pulpapple

    Pulpapple Promethean

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    Oh, just implying that the drum pattern needed more ferocity - like Cuban drumming generally is. And no problem! ;]

    I'm a fellow musician myself.
     
  12. DC

    DC Ancient
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    really? you should post some of your stuff here id love to hear it
     

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