Dance Music for Grownups Needs Work

I recorded the 13 songs I wanted to record. Here is what I think:

• Overall
  • Make every track intersect with the track below it
  • Leave Holes
  • Listen
  • Less is more
  • Smooth out the lyrics


• Drums
  • Need more variation in drum loops/drums
  • Solutions
    • Better use of Dr. Rex
    • Jamstix
    • Reason Drum Kits
    • ReBirth
    • FPC
    • Trigger Finger


• Bass
  • Not organic/funky
  • Solutions
    • P/Jazz Bass
    • POD Bass Pack


• Piano
  • Does not cut through the mix
  • Solutions
    • Reason Pianos


• Electric Keys
  • EP, Organ not great sounding
  • Solutions
    • Lounge Lizard EP-3
    • Native Instruments B4 II


• Synths
  • More whoosh/atmosphere. Tempo synced filters and effects. More interesting sounds
  • Solutions
    • Better use of Reason
    • Rapture
    • CamelSpace
    • Kjaerhus Classic AutoFilter
    • Kjaerhus Classic Phaser
    • FL Flanger
    • FL Flangus
    • Love Philter
    • Fruity Slicer
    • Fruity Granulizer


• Guitars
  • Too much guitar which says too little. Guitar parts have no structure and do not groove with the other instruments.
  • Solutions
    • Have a plan for the guitar solos.
    • Play fewer notes.
    • Record dry.
    • Create a reference wet track after recording.
    • Edit in ProTools
    • Slice in Edison


• Vocals
  • Very pitchy, rhythmically wayward, not layered.
  • Solutions
    • No more one take/afterthought vocals.
    • Record Vocals with minimal instruments.
    • Create a guide track.
    • gSnap
    • Voxengo Voxformer


• Mixing/Mastering
  • EQ - Voxengo GlissEQ
  • Volume Automation/Sidechain - FL Peak Controller
  • Reverb - Wizoo Reverb, Fruity Reverb, Kjaerhus Classic Reverb, SIR + Impulse Reverbs
  • Compressor - Digital Fishphones, Voxengo Crunchessor, Voxengo Marquis
  • Stereo Widener - Fruity Stereo Enhancer, Voxengo Stereo Touch
  • Limiter - Kjaerhus Classic Master Limiter