Ancaibe

This is my first post, but I came to this forum cuz I was desperate to hear criticism that I can use to hone my craft with (like for example, my mixing needs work and I can't tell if I made the song too muddy or not),

This song uses a melody I created when I started making music mid 2024

I used the term 'video game music' because I plan on using this in a passion project video game I've been developing

that being said, I made Ancaibe on FL Studio, the key is in B Major and it is 60 bpm

Thank you for listening!

Edited 5 hours ago5 hr by Forty6
I keep realizing I forgot to include certain details

Nice to meet you!

First, I want to say this melody you made is familiar, catchy, memorable, and I think it's nice. Playing the main melody on bass or guitar might be nice. I like it. Anyway, it doesn't matter, just my impression when I listened to this.

Ok - about mixing. I think you're doing well using panning and making all instruments clearly recognizable. I always have my attitude to respect what you want to express even if the mixing sounds unusual. For example, if the bass note was so strongly panned or much stronger than other instruments, if you have some purpose it would be part of creativity, I think. So please keep this in mind, as I'll give you what is called "general" mixing tips.

I'm not sure what kind of sound you want to achieve, but starting around 1:25 many elements come in although the right-panned bass sound has almost not changed, and it's not clear in that section, which is what you call muddy or something like that. Solution: be careful about reverb and volume, use 3D panning plugins like Parallax Audio, or—it's a bit different, but—you'll be able to use PanCake. I think the biggest improvement right now for your situation is "volume". You can adjust volume balance - changing balance and finding your preferred version; if it's found, that means you have better mixing and can improve like "oh, I like this one better - this one sounds better" to the point you are satisfied. And leaving the work for one day and readjusting the mixing is so powerful. Also, writing down your vision or ideas about placing, mixing, and trying it anyway. I suppose the most important thing is not to compromise. Pursuing what you want to do with "no compromise"! Observing your favorite mixing/music is important too.

Your piece has several nice parts and ideas, and I don't know the details about your game project, but this piece has a hopeful, beautiful vibe, so keep it up.

Happy to hear your piece and welcome to YC, Forty6!

Side note: just in case you're not familiar with it - Plugin Boutique is powerful for finding new free VSTs. However, be careful—there are a bunch of free VSTs in this world, so you need to choose great ones. If there are too many, you'll probably have no idea what to use, so at first, watching YouTube reviews like "best free reverb" and discovering nice ones is a good idea.

Best,

Lithl.