This probably won't be up to the standard of the other entries, but I would greatly appreciate any feedback on it.

Brickaloch - After The Silence

It starts out with some heavy beats and sfx, easing off into a classical piano break.

I've been told to make it more mix friendly, so I'll be modifying it in that regard, but I would appreciate any other direction on offer.

don't be so unsure, imo your track competes very well with other tracks.

about making it mix friendly:
you should let this track the way it, call it an intro mix.
then make another variation of this track wich will be more mix friendly.
you can post them both in the same topic.

points of notice:

* very nice intro, good use of effects.
* do you play piano are something? some very good emotion in the break.
* you should make it more anthem-like though:
Some more energy is needed, louder kick, more standard hihats, bass should be little more standad as well, so the track sounds faster.
but i should make that in the (more friendly)remix

don't know why you are so unsure about this track i like it very much, it has good potential for an anthem tune. especially with the piano going on.
so my advice to you is to make a remix wich will be more anthem-like(and mix friendly ).

could become a great anthem, good luck.

ow yeah maybe it's nice to tell something about yourself, like what you produce with and how long, just a little information to other members.

Thanks Phantazm, I appreciate your kind words

I think you're right, I'll probably leave this mix as is. I might trim the intro somewhat though, the break is very far in (I think people lose interest before they get that far!).

All your other points (kicks, hats, bassline) are things I will do, yes. I'm not really sure how to make it more anthem-like though ... I'll see what I can come up with


About me ...

Yes, I play piano, it's my favourite instrument. This piece started life as a piano-only work; the piano part that remains now is only a very small part of that.
I'm classically trained (albeit some time ago!), and I've been producing for just short of 9 months, mostly trance, but there's nearly always a classical element in my work!


Thanks for taking the time to listen to this and reply. I owe ya one!

oh my god (couldn't find a larger heart which is really necessary)
you only produce for 9 months trance
the combination of the almost perfect(sometimes they're a little too loud) effects and the sensivity of the piano remember me to the greatest producer ever (check my avatar). Don't forget this: the trance pluck you use on the background is good for once or maybe a 2nd time but it's used by almost every producer so don't use it in every production of you Too bad it's not real anthem style, as phantazm already noticed but this is real competition for us. Don't forget to check the next competitions like the remix competition

Oh, would like to know what you use for producing

will give you a 9/10 for sensitivity

Keep 'em coming, would like to hear more from you


And to phantazm, you can clearly hear this is not played through a MIDI trigger like your mouse...it's a little asking to the way you already know Sensitivity like this is almost impossible to get with your mouse

Downloading, leave feedback later.

EDIT:

There is a lot I have to say about this track, but nothing bad about it, except the kick needs some more power (gain).

Lets begin with the intro, it started really psychy trancy there, nice unique bass which was accompanied with those weird sounds giving it that unique feel.
There there was this pluck synth fading slowly just to give place to the high octave piano. Beautiful Beautiful, kicks disappear at around 3:40, I can notice some strings in the background, and then the pad!!! Boom the big piano enters!!!

Man, you play the piano really good!!!

from there on there is not much to say, it could be repetitive, but I WOULDN'T mind listening to the paino over and over and over, so instead of annoying me, you are doing me a favor so I didn't have to start the song so soon again.

Nice track.

Maybe some more percussion... some more pads in the last 4 minutes, but I respect it, if you decide to leave it as it is, because it is a great idea turned into a great track.

Congratulations!!

Thank you thijsje, I _greatly_ appreciate your comments And the heart is very touching

@the trance pluck
Do you mean the guitar? (it forms part of the bassline). Yes, I suppose you often hear it in trance (indeed in all forms of music). But I think it deserves it's place in music, it is such a wonderful instrument

@anthem style
I don't think this piece will ever be in true anthem style (like ppk's resurection or gouryella), indeed I'm not so sure that I'd want it to be; but for this competition I will try to give it a more anthem 'feel'

@my production kit
You'll find it listed here. It's much the same as what you guys use I guess.

@the piano
I think what Phantazm meant was: is it a recorded sample from somewhere else? (correct me if I'm wrong).
But no, it's played 'live' as such The section of the recording used in this version is from a draft recording that I made when I first started work on this. Later, I tried to program (in midi) the same passage (with a mouse as you say), but it lost it's emotion, so I decided to use the draft version instead (even with it's imperfections).


So, thank you again for your comments. I will try to take as many of them on board as I can

btw, I can't see your avatar (it just says 'user posted image')

I'm dead curious though: who do I remind you of?

updated it...

should be visable now

@anthem style
think in your case, cause it sounds very melodic and classical with the piano, you should listen to some sensation anthems. it's very much the same idea.

@the piano
let's just pretend i meant that

indeed, they (almost) all have classical breaks...
if this should become the anthem, then it would be cool for the anthem remixes

me has a few ideas

but nah, don't change it too much... maybe a little in the kicks, they need a little more compression or gain. I still remember the chords from something, but can't remember exactly what it is going to figger that out when i'm back home, in the late afternoon

... made me smile
You're a good guy Phantazm (assuming you are a guy!)

It isn't every day I get such a comparison ... I'm flattered

keep on working with trance music in your own style and build up many connections in the trance world, I bet you can be signed to a record company in a few years

wow nice tune indeed... not really an trance anthem tune indeed.. but the piano could be awesome on the begin of some fat lead!!
This tune reminds me of some old tracker music i know...same demo stylish..
Really like this man. But again,, don't really think it could make to an Anthem winner.. sorry .. keep on working mate!!

Wooooow i really love the piano melody really it's amazing
this can be turned into a gr8 track imo
work on it m8

Paulo, that's one of the most adept reviews I have ever read .. it's like you were using my ears
Thank you, thank you, thank you, for all the nice things you said.


I'm getting that alot! Everyone says, "It sounds like ... " and then they can't name the piece The start of the piano break is somewhat like "I don't like Mondays" from the rats, but that's not the piece people are thinking of I think.
You are right about it not being in true anthem style, but I will have a listen to the sensation anthems as Phantazm suggested ... we'll see where it goes from there.


I will, believe me


Thanks again people

OH YA..... WE HAVE A WINNER..... how can u compete with a COMPOSITION like this one... not only is it MOTZART like but it complies with modern day trance. You got ur self a hit dawg.. congrats playa

i know it's a good production but a lot of people signed in and haven't posted anything jet.
so don't draw a winner that easily, mr huge

hehehe i got a lil excited

ok since iam not a producer iam afraid i cant give you any usefull comments but what i can say is that the track is very nice. nice/long intro and then beautifull piano . nice work. keep it up

Cheers man! Hardly think it's the case, but I'm flattered nonetheless Phantazm is right, there's further entries to come yet, and besides, the production standard of most of the other entries is far above this. Thanks all the same though


@Sprigan
Thanks for taking the time to listen and comment. Music isn't written for producers, its written for listeners ... the only qualification needed is to have a pair of ears. So non-producer comments are far more valuable to the producer. Thanks again

the track is very nice produced!!!
u definately got a nice feeling about how to build a track.

i would be very happy if u could produce a remix of the track which is a bit more uplifting

or maybe thijsje can

grtz

Thanks Tommy, appreciate the comments

... not sure about the remixes yet!

that's exactly what i want 2say

not a very bad idea

think i could do something with it
but I think it wouldn't be easy to make something uplifting without losing 0% of sensitivity coz the most of the sensitivity is the combination of the smooth things like the choir in the back in combination with the natural piano, and a little part of the sharp synth FX'es... that also the part you hear less in an uplifting mix..... if bricky likes I'll remix it, then i really would like to do Me has some ideas to keep it sensitive but uplifting too

entry for the remixcontest?

we (me, A-I-T and bricky) could discuss it to use it as original for the remix contest but we first have to get more participants and have to arrange a few more things

Can I ask ye to hold off on the remixing for the moment people?

This piece is getting a good amount of airplay around the world, and I would like it to get established as my work before someone else does a better job with it (as they undoubtedly would).

oki

off course remixers should ask for your premission first, so you make the call

Thanks guys
We'll revisit this, I promise.

lets see that as an unwritten rule for all tracks which are produced by UKTA members

As regards remixing this (this is a kinda public announcement):

I've had a number of requests about this, primarily from other artists in ireland, but a few also from here, and I want to say yes to every one! (this is very flattering you understand!).

There are currently 4 very talented artists remixing this (all more talented than me), and I would like to keep it to that number for the present.

But: In the next fortnight or so, I will open it up to anyone who's interested, and I have no doubt that there will be some superb remixes floating around after that. Also, I would have no problem with it being used for the remix competition or anything like that (but I would have to refrain from voting or partaking).

In the meantime, thank you all for your interest

we already have a tune for it
working on the MIDI atm

have to say it becomes massive

Wow! Amazing track mate!

Only comments:
1) the beat is a bit soft imo, perhaps you could turn it up more.
2) the intro is nice, but the sounds fade away a bit too quick, perhaps you should add some echoes/reverbs or something like that.

Keep up the good (amazing!) work mate!

Thank you, I appreciate the comments

About the beat; since so many of you have commented on it, and how it should be louder, I will certainly do something about this. But that's probably all I'll change with this piece for now. I seems that every time I touch it I make it worse ... it's just gone beyond my ability to improve methinks

say bricky, what does "gothic" trance mean?
the songdiscription on your website says this song is "gothic" trance.

Bricky one question to you:

Could you somehow give me that piano samples??? have you played them yourself??? They are so beautifull!!!

I'd like to create something with them... is it possible???

Don't worry phantazm, I'm not trying to create a new genre or anything

'Gothic' trance is a term I use myself; what I mean is that it evokes the same feelings as gothic art, a little bit religious I suppose. I don't think there's a proper term for it; maybe 'epic' would cover it, but not quite.

Maybe I think about things too much



Thanks ravekid If you check back to the earlier posts you'll see the history of the piano part. And as I promised above, I will make them available here in time.

i know the genre exist but don't really know what i a song makes it gothic trance.
we had a topic about it so i wonderred, nowone knew what it was so..

Wow! Is it a real genre??? I didn't know.

do you mean "religious" with heavy church organs ?

LOL! No, it's far more abstract than that. I suppose alot of gothic art is associated with religion, but it's often associated with vampires and the undead too!!!

I really didn't know that there was a genre called gothic trance. I was just looking for a word to describe the way I felt about this piece

yeah i didn't know either, but it seems there is

found the topic i was talking about.
http://www.uktrancealliance.com/forum/inde...showtopic=14600

I have a steve murano mix of that song they're talking about ... and yes, I'd say exactly the same thing about it: it's gothic trance.

I really have no idea why though!!!

Edit:
Listening to it there again. It shares alot of production elements with After The Silence, the beat and the forced bassline are quite similar. I think he may even be using some of the same samples! Coincidence?!?

Put alot of work into this tune again recently (it's a little scary just how many versions of it there have been so far). I'm still not happy with it, and I suppose I never will be, but for now, this is how it is!

Some of the things I've changed/fixed:
1. Radio stations that use a phase rotator in the signal chain made the bassline sound wrong (yes, it took me ages to discover what was causing it). Fixed now I think.
2. Cymbal crashes under heavy compression were drowning out the other elements. Fixed that too.
3. Under direction from the much acclaimed John O'Callaghan, I relaxed the compression overall: I was leaning far too heavily on Steinberg's magneto as a compressor. Lots of eq and level changes ensued. The sound is considerably cleaner now.
4. I shortened the track a bit.
5. I removed some of the 'painful' freqs out of the glassy hats!
6. Eq and level changes to just about everything now brings out the kicks much more (lots of people commented on this one). You'll find that the subwoofer now works for it's money!
7. Others ...

The track still needs more work, in particular it is still over compressed I think. But I haven't the heart to fix it.

Brickaloch - After The Silence (Original Mix)
(it's the same link as before)

I haven't made it any more anthem-like btw. It's just not right for this track. I'll consider putting together another anthem-style track for the competition; we'll just have to see how my workload pans out.

To those of you who mentioned remixes (pm me if you're still interested): I'll put together a (simplified) version of this in fruity some time soon (am I the only one who uses cubase?) and wrap it all up in a nice remix pack! It'll be a few days yet though, I need to put more time into my collab with Paulo.

thanks bricky
I'm interested

hell yeah you are right, track sounds a lot cleaner than the previous one.

nice pianos bricky

very heavy classical influence in this one, like it im a piano player myself, but havent played in ages, you're good