MikroMakro

Tristan produces the "thing" very strongly... at Curlies 02:49 onwards and it keeps going especially 03:01 onwards... to see people loving it like that is it, those moments. That's why we like it : ) I don't any other music that does it quite like psy trance and Goa. That bass line grind is great.

Guest X was a prophet 😄

Well this was a wonderful thing to log into and see ! And especially to hear 2K was kicking up dust in the birthplace ! I am in communicado with Draeke at this moment via email. I appreciate the wonderful comments.

Third time lucky ? First try, forum ate my post, second I could not articulate myself. I think for some it might be almost sacred, special moments impossible to convey. I have special tracks I like but rarely did I hear them dancing. I find them and enjoy them at home. I often I have moments dancing and it is as much the people around and the track, mostly I have no idea what track is playing, the name of the track might have a place after the time has gone. Let's rest in those moments unhindered by thoughts.💭 We can also hope maybe the best is yet to come, it is a difficult thought but we can always hope. This track towards the end with the ambient style arp had a big impact on me just relaxing with sound system playing at 25pct one morning. I think he waited a bit too long for that touching part towards the end, great track though. There is one thing though which I am a bit saddened about and have to mention. I am missing beauty and melody in modern psy and I wish it would reappear. I almost never remember sound effects alone. Anyway in the end we can like it or lump it I suppose.

04:05 yeah that's some true Goa feelings, I could imagine people going completely zoned out and smiling to that section. Thanks for sharing. Thing with goa and psy once you are in you are in. It does something other music does not. You may wander and do other things but when you need that feel not much else hits the spot.

Yes the thing that does it for me I think is that octave up bass note against that rising filtered arp, the bass line is also grinding nicely at you.. it makes a special feeling.

Yes that is pretty much what I suggested, but it was quite literally from my head in a moments typing. Store that as a preset, listen carefully and consider if it is good or not compared with other types and variations of tempo synced delays. Some settings will work better with your track than others, that is your job as a producer to work out what is good an what is not. All the best with it ! Get the delays spatial effect in the stereo image nicely balanced against the definition and presence of the main lead. Adjust feedback, the send level, that is what mixing is all about. Get the balance right that sounds good to you. And listen to different leads from different tracks to try and judge if your sounds are approaching some similar qualities. That is a good way to learn. There will be variations but good track mixes will all have a good sonic balances that don't wander far from good taste.

Ok let's go there others can follow and maybe learn something. With compression you need a goal. You also have to know what a compressor can do and what it can resolve. In short I do not personally use a compressor on every channel and I do not use one on the master bus either. I use a compressor when I hear there is a need to make a dynamic adjustment. So one potential use if I have a sound that is being filtered and it sound like it is escaping the mix a little and becoming to loud in some section. I will play over that section, then set the compressor up to reduce the peaks by something like 3-4dB this will hold that section in place. Sometimes you may need to automate a fader of course as part of routine mixing. Compression can perform multiple tasks, it can keep levels in check, it can change a sound character a little by making it more punchy (when set up extremely cautiously) it can smooth a sound out and it can change tone over time. It can also make the average volume of a sound more consistent .i.e increasing and lower level sections in an otherwise changing volume musical phrase or part. So we don't add compressors without a reason. They are not a tool that instantly makes things sound better. They need setting up and tweaking for a pre determined goal. I am not sure about psy trance producers at the top levels but my gut feeling is they probably do not use a master output compressor. Master bus compression can react to new sounds in a mix unpredictably, that is not something that relates to psy trance as typically it is a genre of control. It might sound free when you hear the track completed but the work that goes into it is about as controlled as modern music production gets. It is super produced and takes great care of details. Arguably in Goa trance compression was used VERY sparingly, in part because a studio at the time may only have had 2-3 stereo compressors available, in some cases no compressors would have been used. This may account for some Goa/Psy Trance mixing differences. Goa is allowed to rip a little more..it is less refined at least in the old days, neo goa probably has taken a more modern approach and there are greater dynamic and tonal controls to keep things smoother. If you listen to original 95-99 Goa trance you will hear a very wide range of mix styles as they were not pinned into position with 100's of dynamic and tonal processes, many automated, which comprise a modern psy trance mix. So you will hear harshness from time to time and splashy effects and a rather unrestrained tonal and dynamic movement. I will leave you with an extremely important point. Always ensure you match the make up gain by ear once there is gain reduction so you can hear the effect of the compressor on the audio rather than just a drop in volume. Avoid automatic make up gain and do it by ear using the bypass button. Compressors can make things sound worse as well as better ! So whether you are using one for control (ultimately reducing the volume of a loud section) or compressing for punch, smoothness or character, always match up before and after volume otherwise you don't know if it is better or worse. Then once you know it is better you can set the make up gain to the correct mix balance level for the sound you are working on, if it is to be used to control. (and hold for example the peak crescendo of a lead sound at a specific optimal volume) It can take a long time to understand compression fully, it's a long path of repetition and reinforcement of good habits to learn it well. Some compressors, classic retro compressors with valves and specific electronic design have a secondary function which we will not consider now (some have a tonal characteristic which can change the tone whether they are compressing or not) If you want to progress seriously you need to do a few things. Discern what good references are, have exceptionally good monitoring and acoustics and be willing make each track you make with a view to active learning. Otherwise you will making it close to impossible to improve in a reasonable time frame. Accurately level match everything by ear that you are making reference comparisons with.

I always found this track to be quite archetypal for the Goa Trance sound. It ticks all the boxes and could be a useful reference point for the old days. It is not constrained by automating every last detail like Psy Trance is, which is fine I like that too, but it's allowed to be a little more free. It's nice and warm, borderline muddy actually and has not been EQ'd into submission for loudness alone (none of the lower mids have been sucked out and probably few High pass filters, if any) and the leads and delays are a little free sounding, dancing around a bit. By not draining the lower mids out it balances any slightly harsher filter sweep moments and balances out. Though on this particular track the upper mids are not pushed forward anyway. It is a very pleasant listen, soft on the ears and there is surely a time and place for that.

It's better already, for myself anyway, kick has weight to it. Sounds like a different bass line as well. Making music is a long ride, enjoy it. I am checking the media player under Audio Goa, I presume that is the track.

Good for you ! It is also good to get feedback if you are unsure and inexperienced as a producer. It is also worth understanding what level the best music in the genre sits at as you can gauge your own current sonic abilities. It is one thing to be creative and original and another to achieve a good sonic benchmark in tandem with that creativity, which can appear intimidating at first. The technicalities remain intimidating for all, because the music, especially psy trance, is at an extremely high level of audio engineering. It has become one of the most difficult genres of music to produce well. Few succeed and even fewer get signed by a big label and pursue it as a career. I am no technical slouch and still it remains a challenge to do it well. Luckily for me I have run out of ideas for now. 🤣 So I can relax and forget about it for a while that is why I am happy to be on here a bit and chat. Here is a link that will last 7 days of 3 Goa Trance style kicks https://we.tl/t-x87a1pFIQ4

I have mixed feelings about using kick samples in psy trance production as they can cause as many problems as they solve (pitch vs aligning phase of bass) compared to a kick synth like Bazzism/Kick2. But for Goa this is arguably a good idea, a kick sample will take away some pain making the kick although they are actually quite easy, at least a basic serviceable Goa type kick. If I get a little time I post a couple up on here in the next few days.

I would say the leads need the right EQ (maybe cut some lower mids on 1 or 2 lead sounds 270 - 600Hz , but they need to be the right frequencies, for each sound and the combination of the sounds) and different effects, but not overdone. Maybe a little delay, maybe distortion but it needs to be well chosen otherwise it can just become harsh and radically change the sounds. Effects like 2 different but complementary delays that occupy slightly different parts of the stereo image (as a pure example one ping pong and one stereo, one 1/4 note and one 1/8D - experiment and listen to what works, without over doing the delays feedback. Slight panning to opposite sides might help if you get stuck. AP I think constructive criticism would be more appropriate, no one gets better by being fully insulted. We all start somewhere, my first tracks were not much good.

Overall feeling in this is very nice, you have a nice mysterious feel to it. Technically it is difficult to comment as technicality for Goa is a little different than psy trance. The kick sounds quite high pitched to me, it knocks well but could do with some more bottom end thump/sub. The mix is rather blurred together overall (other than your hats) There is something a little too similar happening on the sounds (maybe reverb choice is on to many lead sounds, try and separate them and give then definition and distinction) 03:46 watch out for harsh frequencies in the upper mids when that high res filter sweeps (also it pops/clicks there smooth the automation out) Enjoy it. To add I am just listening on headphones and some tiny speakers on my office PC (Small Presonus Eris)

For myself personally it is a little chaotic yes. There is a lot Goa trance which has a lot of layering going on, much more complex drums and considerably deep programming, yet sounds coherent I suggest you listen to some great music in the Goa Trance style and let that sound in for a while. Which is actually a really nice thing to do... rarely a waste of time to listen to new and good music you enjoy. Just one suggestion try Cosmosis track Moonshine to see where I am coming from. This is his channel.... This is punchy, hypnotic, very psychedelic, super advanced before its time Goa Trance IMO. One of the best tracks of the genre for me. Listen to the drum patterns, the movement, interesting lead rhythms, variations, sections, drop outs, arrangement, balance of freqencies of the mix and most important the overall combined feel of excitement and drive forwards that is created in the track. Listen to 07:48 there is a rhythmic sound there that is quality, genius, trancey and borders on FM (I would guess it is a Nord Lead) it is constantly moving and twisting and giving some warped nice feeling, it sounds rich, Sometimes the moments of less are more but of course we have the entire track before it to expose that wonderful moment. That is favourite tracks all over, a single potential manifestation from an infinite set of possibilities that were locked down into one form infinite possibilities (Like quantum mechanics observation locks down due to observation itself). That is what makes a really good track magic for an individual. One really good tip, if you add something and the track does not immediately sound better for it. Don't add it. If in doubt do nowt as my mum used to say. Try something else. Another tip is to not use all notes in the scale just the ones that imply the correct feel, for the eastern sound. Sorry my musical theory is not deep enough to express what I hear easiest. So based melodies on interesting repetitions of 3-4 notes. Maybe anyway.. that is ultimately a job for us all to work out individually. And there are Goa melodies that use more notes..(Second Room X Dream springs to mind that is a wonderful archetypal Goa trance melody IMO) Also totally amazing on every level... Never let a bit of feedback discourage you either. This music is not easy to make whether you are making Goa style music or Psy trance. It takes a really long time to even get reasonably decent. Recall many producers have been doing this for 20 years or more... some probably near 30. It is great you are drawn to this music as many are. It is so technically challenging that many fall by the way side.(I think even myself) I suspect what happens is the following... many great ideas are expressed for tracks if you have a little music talent, then as each track passes you become bogged down in technicality for which Psy Trance is known, especially the kick and bass wormhole... then by the time you have your technical chops together you have worn your musical ideas out and end up sounding rather similar to many competent but never standing out psy trance tracks. There are only so many Phrygian expressions. Which gives an understanding into why we have implied Phrygian melody in Psy which is overtaken by harmonic controls (filtering of harmonics in order to give a sense of movement even though it is the scale of harmonics - like Tibetan or Tuvan over tone singing for example - The harmonic series - this has a mysterious and spiritual sound of its own... (Close Encounters Spaceship melody uses this if I recall correctly) or you go the Sci-Fi sounds fx) to have something new to play with.

Sorry friend, no direspect intended.. the first time I tried the link it would not play. Download is not something some will readily do I suspect. So the first link played just now. You are right there is something not quite right here. The sound that is trying to be bass, that has no bass in it and it triggers at same time as kick which is unusual..The filtered.. "ewwwww.....ewwwwww....ewwwwww" sound does not seem to work with the melody quite, I think anyway,,, so yes there is dissonance and it does not sound right. Actually....are you sure you have not de-tuned your sawtooth / supersaw lead a bit much? That might not be helping, it is a fine line to detune to give the Goa classic lead sound and well... just be out of tune. That is one bad sounding piano by the way, more like a terrible harpsichord.

Reply to Parasphere.. I left Facebook nearly 2 years ago. I feel so much better for that even though I feel I miss the online company of quite a few people. The extreme filtering of people's life is not more real than not knowing anything about what they are doing. It's a highly edited, false representation of people's lives. It is also very strange to have such a wide mix of people that you know intimately, quite well, a bit, very little and hardly at all. I decided to control it and not let it control me. It is addictive in a very strange way and not many addictive things are good for us, hard to think of any actually. I understand it as a business tool and for musicians/artists (still a business tool still in large part) there you can present the persona you need to present and not get overly personal. But for personal use I found it too demanding, addictive and strange to carry on with. Even real life with few people around is better than that, go out and look at some landscape, sky, nature a beach or something with the hours saved doing whatever the hell social media is. Slowly digital is becoming like a prison, a digital prison, like a lot of technology is, when you can no longer do anything in world without a mobile phone we are in great peril, vulnerable, weaker, easy to destabilize and disrupt. This is not conspiratorial it's in plain sight.

If you enjoy sweet incense, as opposed to the more woody / darker tones like Sandalwood/Tibetan then you are likely to really like Nitiraj. It is like Nag Champa classic but even nicer, more natural fragrance. Something changed with Nag Champa, it smells less good than before... cheapened at a guess as commodity prices increased. Of course be very careful to extinguish fully like any incense. It is amazing how Nitiraj can totally make a different feeling in a space, it is top quality.

I love E-Mov.. I think it might be 2 people...here are some classy tunes. Again I tend to favour earlier tracks... I enjoy melody and I love the way the tracks are put together and very nice sounds and synthesis.. there is a great sense of positivity in their music.

He seems like an artist who did his own thing, not really following others but doing his own style, that deserves massive respect in this genre. There is a real vibrancy to the kick and bass in Healing process, the slightly unusual deep low kick gives immense warmth and bounce. Something very satisfying i have looped that track for an hour before and enjoyed that 1 hour fully. Just soaking up that feeling. Nice analogue feel, if not actual analogue more organic synthesis less reliant on pure SFX and metallic textures.

It is amazing I agree, hypnotic and just has a very deep groove, also intense. Energizing !

He is one of my faves, kind of low key for a long time, maybe not getting the respect he deserves actually. You need to listen a little he likes his kick and bass up front which I personally like and behind melodies, melodies, melodies. I would be surprised if he does not know music theory or has some real musical knowledge either that or he is just great at intertwining track sections. Myself I love his earlier sound it;s more colourful for me. Do you know who you are ? is great, the next album is warming on me but the more melody the better. And yes actually psychedelic, he has these small moments, special transitions you don't hear much... not just a...... riser and a cymbal. I tolerate his high tempo's as it is energizing, he keeps just the right balance, just. Love him.

May I make a suggestion.. Nitiraj "The original Masala incense" is certainly my favourite. That is a top tip, it is even better than that old trusty "Satya Sai Nag Champa" which is not as nice as it used to be. It is a premium price but the Nitiraj scent is amazing... you should be able to find it a bit cheaper than this, it's worth trying to find. I found it for 3 packs for £12.00 somewhere which given how long it lasts is pretty good value. You can burn it for 2mins and extinguish and the beautiful floral scent is there for hours. Instant transportation to the sub continent. This sent has been going since 1979, so you are lighting up a bit of nasal sensory history, it seems to be made in India under some agreement with a company based in Florida in the USA. It really is a cut above any other incense I have smelt.. and let's face it we like a bit of the old agarbhatti right ? We may as well smell the best one. https://www.incense-man.co.uk/products/nitiraj-original-natural-masala-incense-sticks

It's important to share when you love something, if you can also transmit the feeling. This dude is class, a committed artist. Up tempo often, likes a key change, likes to send hairs up on arms, loves a gorgeous pad, light and dark mixed together.. early stuff awesomely melodic. Old and very beautiful. Let this one inside and you will not regret it.. warm and thick in the lows. in my Top 10 psy tunes ever : ) Superb album.. a bit faster than I normally like but it's awesome... This album warms on me, so many subtle beautiful melodic moments, has a truly mind opening psychedelic style.

For the SFX style of psy he is one of my faves along with Ajja. I guess nighttime/forest if I have my sub genres right. Has his own style and love the sound design. I walked into a tent after a 8 hour drive once on a windswept field in the west of England, stone cold sober and I am pretty sure either he was playing or someone was playing one of his tunes (event was Triplicity) the energy was pure WTF so I just bounced along...strobes and lazers in a tent, grey windy weather, and a bonfire where the wind blew the smoke directly into the side door of the tent from about 300m away. No food onsite cause the wind was blowing so hard people could not get their tents up properly till the day after. Really bad weather for a festival in early May in UK, was like raving in winter but just slightly warmer about 13c temperature. A moment I won't for get, surreal and uncomfortable. Sometimes an artist really fits the entire feeling of what you are experiencing. I love his phaser kick and bass sections as well.