[Need Help With Mixing!]

So I'm near completion with one of my tracks and I'm finalizing mixing before I start mastering. I always do a series of tests to see how well I mixed my track. I start off by critically analyzing my speakers connected to my PC. I then put on a pair of headphones and analyze. I then put the track onto my iPhone and listen through the built in speaker, then with earbuds, then with headphones. Lastly, I go into my car and test. But before I even finished the iPhone built in speaker test I noticed that the bass (808 in my case, not a bass guitar) was quite low almost to the point where I couldn't hear it. I could make out some of the sounds but not really. The mix was perfect for every other test. Could it just be that the iPhone has a low quality speaker? Or how should I fix this? I don't want to mess up the mix for all the other devices.

[What Degree Do I Need?]

1 hour ago, Jenn said:

Most likely, you will change your major in college. Maybe once, maybe several times. Hell, you'll most likely transfer as well. I've never heard of Music Technology to be honest.. It seems very specific and you may have difficulty finding programs at colleges. Then if you don't like it and are stuck at a very specialized school, you'll have to tolerate it or transfer...

I can't tell you what to major in or how to expect your college experience to go, but I can tell you what I've seen and what I've learned.

If I could have done it again, I would have majored in something really broad... that I could later concentrate in with a masters or further education..

Right now, a Bachelor's doesn't really mean anything. And ultimately, it is up to who you know and what experience you have..

 

Like I said, I don't know too much about music technology, but maybe you could look into computer science programs or IT or something.. and then minor in music? 

 

You're so young right now... you have plenty of time to figure it out! Hell, I graduate next year and I still don't know what the hell I'm gonna do....

There was one college I was looking into that was pretty affordable. I was looking at the Audio Recording Technology Concentration (Basically Music Technology). My uncle went into the same field about 20 years ago and had trouble looking for a job. I might come across the same bump in the road. But, I just want to live out my dream.

[What Degree Do I Need?]

So I was talking to my parents and they think that Music Technology is probably best for me. Do you think I'd need any special prerequisites for that path? @Jenn @tunesmithth

[What Degree Do I Need?]

4 hours ago, HoboSage said:

Ever hear of Google?  Berklee or NYU.  But, you don't need any degree other than from the School of Hard Knocks - preferably from it's L.A., California campus.

I've heard of Google. It still doesn't tell me from a current student/past student's perspective.

[What Degree Do I Need?]

1 hour ago, tunesmithth said:

My first reaction is that your focus is too wide.

1) The music industry, 2) music technology 3) music itself (as well as performance of it) are 3 distinctly different areas of expertise. 

You may be better to select "one" & use it as a jumping-off point.

 

Overall...

• I doubt that many (if any) colleges offer programs to educate you on the "Business of Music". You can certainly inquire, but I doubt that formal education will do much for you here.
• You may very well find that an education in music technology is offered at some institutions now-a-days, but this is a specialty unto itself.
• College level "Music" programs are offered at most major institutions, as was the case back in my day. These types of programs are focused almost entirely on the art of music, rather than the world of it. I'll warn you up-front that the prerequisites for aspiring music majors are many. These programs assume their candidates...

1. already possess an extensive knowledge of basic theory
2. read music fairly well (both treble & bass clefs)
3. have some formal ear-training (on day-1 they will sit you'll find yourself in an ear training class where they expect you to recognize 2-note intervals played on a piano...major 3rds, 5ths, octaves, etc.)
4. are competent enough on a single instrument to declare that as a major on day-one & sign up for private tutoring as supliment
5. are comfortable functioning as part of a band/orchestra 

 

Perhaps we'll get some others to chime in her, but this should give you some food-for-thought.

 

Tom 

 

BTW it's good that you're inquiring now, while there's still time to whatever fill skill gaps exist.

Thanks Tom! I guess what I said was little confusing. I shouldn't really of said I wanted to do all three, my mistake. I more so meant that I was what are some of the best schools for each of those three things and I would look into it.

[What Degree Do I Need?]

I'm about to start my Junior year in high school. I have a meeting in two months with my counselor to discuss this year's schedule and post-graduation plans. I want to pursue music (Obviously LOL) but I am struggling to find a good, affordable college that can give some great knowledge about the music business. I want to be comfortable in a studio and know my way around and how to use just about everything. I also really want to be able to perform my music as well. I want to be in charge of creating my own music. I just don't really know what degree I would need to pursue such needs. Anything will help! Thanks.

[Need Opinions]

3 hours ago, MikeRobinson said:

Your problem, at least to my ears, is that the drum hits, specifically at 0:29, do not "hit" at the correct beats.  Instead, they appear to be exactly one beat out-of-sync.  

 

As early as its introduction at 0:37, we can hear that the piano and the drums are out-of-sync:  the hi-hat beat is striking on the off-beat, rather than the on-beat as undoubtedly intended.

 

... and, in fact, when you present the drum-part ... that cymbal-hit at 0:28(!) ... isn't that entire line of cymbal-hits out-of-sync with the timeline established by the bass drum?  

 

When, after soloing the drums, you try to bring them together, I hear a distinct competition (never resolved) between all of the various parts ... piano, and the several components of(!) the drum line ... as to exactly where the "on-"beat is supposed to be.  It appears to my ears that several of them are off by exactly one beat.  Hence, they are working against each other, leaving the listener (and you ...) confused.

 

Fortunately, "easily fixed."

 

Thanks for the response! I believe I have fixed it with the help of some others!  I still appreciate your help.

[Need Opinions]

So I roughly created this chorus to a song I'm interested in creating in about 3 hours. I'm pretty new to making music (so don't yell at me about no mixing lol) I am currently at a stuck point. I made this melody, and I REALLY REALLY like it. I have some chords and drums. The problem is I don't think the melody fits the BPM. It may not be the BPM but something just doesn't sound right. Maybe the drums are too fast for it. I don't know. That's why I wanted some of you geniuses  to help me! What should I do differently? Here is a link to a video of my project.