I like this...is this all programmed on a single keyboard or do you have a recording platform where you can mix and effect independent tracks? A little independent EQing would really help this, but that's my engineer's ears working.

 

Overall, this is quite good, I like that it's busy. Some groove, some complexity, very good chops.

 

Nice job. 

But the basic idea is that each instrument or element has its own place in the EQ spectrum. Mixes get busy when instruments are too much in the same EQ space. What that practically means is cutting a little bass out of the non-bass instruments, and finding the frequecies that really are most important to a track and either boosting those or cutting the rest (just a little). You end up not necessarily making each track sound it's best solo'd but occupying its own space. (Reverb and panning are also used for this.)

 

Although acoustic guitars are classically hard to EQ, you'll notice that most recorded acoustic have alot of low and sometimes low mid cut out of them. There place is in the high mid section. This is NOT what you're used to listening to when you sit with your acoustic.

 

Let me listen to your mix again and I'll give some specifics.

 

First off, everything (especially the drums) seems gated pretty hard. The drums are eating alot of EQ space. They really need mainly a little of EQ for cymbals, maybe a little boost in the bass, and then some mid cut to allow the keys to come through a little more clearly. The bass also can be confined to a narrower frequency range.

 

Finally, do you use compression on your master? This can and has been badly overdone but a little really is the proverbial "Good" button. You might experiment a little with a master reverb, again very mild.

 

There are four "effects" used for good mixing...Panning, EQ, Compression, and Reverb. Along with your actual levels. Getting used to using these will really make your mixes sound less home-made.

 

Your playing and composition is great...this is just technical garbage.

 

The big thing with reverb is balance. You don't one instrument sounding like it's in a huge hall and other one right in front of your face in a closet. When you think of reverb as an effect, it's easy to do this. Having big ringing guitars and really dry centered elements. There's a little bit of that going on in your mix.

 

The other things is a gate which is what chops off the low volume elements. The drums in this mix are gated really hard, meaning that you hear them stop almost artificially. It sounds cool, but for something to sound natural, it needs some bit of trail as the sound dies off.

 

Maybe that will help a little. Just experiment with the ideas and you'll find what you like.

Very nice work! 

 

Well done!

 

Production-wise, things are good except that the keys and the rhythm tracks feel very separate. The keys fade in and out a little obviously, and perhaps the reverbs aren't quite matched.

 

Overall, again, I love this composition, and it does sound better than the first.

 

Keep at it.