realistic assessment: i think i can make it better. i have to resign myself to the reality that i can't make it perfect. i guess every serious composer has a piece that somehow got away from them. maybe this is it for me.

one thing i want to try is to run the drums and bass separately through a mastering shape, then kill the high end, then mix it with the same file that's had the low end cut (and just has the cymbals and snare reverbs on the top). that could conceivably separate the tracks. but i sort of already know that it's going to sound messy. have to try it though...

these are the kinds of hacks that i'm stuck with, though.

one thing i'll state clearly: in the end it'll be close to what i want, and i'll fuck with it until it is.