How to get that real heavy drop/chorus?

[ThatMusicBrony]

I've been working on a dance-y remix of Luna by Eurobeat Brony, and I'm pretty satisfied with how it's coming.
However, I don't feel that the drop/chorus is very good, because it doesn't feel heavy enough to me.
And everyone I've shown has said the same thing.

But I don't have any clue how to make it heavier.
I've tried layering it with some extra synths, which just made it louder, not heavier.
I'm sure it probably has something to do with the mastering, but I don't have any clue where to start.

I'm hoping someone has had experience with this kind of thing, and I hope I explained it clearly, haha.


Thanks for your time,
-Jonathan

[Alycs]

Well, could you post an example and we could see

[ThatMusicBrony]

God dangit, why do I always forget to put links in my posts?
;-;

For example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJbdMqspODQ

As compared to what I'm getting: http://tinyurl.com/mbmwbx2
(starts at about 3:10)

[the4thImpulse]

Some real quick tips about that section:

- To much spacial effects (reverb and delay), these help create atmosphere and are necessary but with too much you start to lose focus on the lead line itself. I use send tracks for stuff like reverb so its easy to turn down the volume and automate it all, if you just have a plugin on the channel itself turn down the 'wet' signal.

- The kick is the initial driving force, if your kick isn't on top of the mix or all around 'weak' sounding you will lose a lot of energy. In your case the kick falls behind the mix, compress it and then bring it out on top. It should be in the top three loudest elements (often the loudest).

- The bass frequencies are muddied. Use EQs to roll out the bass frequencies on every track that isn't 'bassline' or 'bass drum (kickdrum)'. My ears tell me its your lead synth causing these frequency problems in your song.

Your bassline, lead synth, and bass drum should be your main focus now. I recommend muting everything else until you find the right balance, less is more.

[Captain Ironhelm]

I imported your mp3 file to FL for testing. It sounds like your mixing is off, like you're trying to mix everything too loud which makes things muddy. I messed with EQing and compression and got it to sound pretty "heavy".

One of your biggest culprates is your bass. It overwhelms almost everything even though it might not sound like it. Turn that bad boy down and you will find that less can be more.

The lead is mixed a bit too loud as well, I think. Try pulling back on the lead just to the point where you're afraid it might be too quiet just 'cause for testing.

[ThatMusicBrony]

Thanks to both of you for the tips/advice.
^-^

I've never been given any instruction on mixing, and I have no clue on what to/not to do with anything.
Do you mind if I ask how you learnt these things?
Did you read/watch tutorials on it?
Was it a matter of trial and error?
I should probably start doing this properly...
o-o


Thanks again for your advice, I'll make sure to work on what you mentioned.
:)

[the4thImpulse]

Thanks to both of you for the tips/advice.
^-^

I've never been given any instruction on mixing, and I have no clue on what to/not to do with anything.
Do you mind if I ask how you learnt these things?
Did you read/watch tutorials on it?
Was it a matter of trial and error?
I should probably start doing this properly...
o-o


Thanks again for your advice, I'll make sure to work on what you mentioned.
:)

Learning this stuff is just a matter of devoted time. I am a certified audio engineer now, but before that I spent a lot of time watching/reading tutorials and judging other peoples music. I grew an ear for it by listening to a random artists track and reading semi professional peoples responses and analysis of the track. I tried to listen to what they heard and to recognize why they heard is such a way. It's very difficult to properly analyze your own music (I struggle with it, everyone I know struggles with it) so practice by analyzing other peoples music, wether or not you are there to give them feedback.

Mixing is all about knowing the tools at hand and how they can be useful to you. Once you can spot problems you can begin to find the tools to help you solve those problems.

[the4thImpulse]

Contrast

What you said about contrast is great and I notice many of those issues in mainstream music, it bothers me greatly when there is so much energy in a build only to have a weak drop in comparison. I do feel though that there was enough contrast I his song, he had that bar or two where everything faded away for a second and it felt like it was good enough, at elastic for now. I think he should focus on cleaning up the mix and then we can see about that build.

[JSynth]

Thanks to both of you for the tips/advice.
^-^

I've never been given any instruction on mixing, and I have no clue on what to/not to do with anything.
Do you mind if I ask how you learnt these things?
Did you read/watch tutorials on it?
Was it a matter of trial and error?
I should probably start doing this properly...
o-o


Thanks again for your advice, I'll make sure to work on what you mentioned.
:)

Well HI

There are loads of video tutorials about eqing, compression, mixing and mastering. Sometimes, it is just a matter of finding them.

I personally took a few lessons which helped a lot.