MIX CHALLENGE - MC20 April 2016 - Winners announced

[Compyfox]

(I wasn't even sure it wasn't a reason for disqualification, but I didn't see anything like this in the rules), but I felt it could work well with this song.

This is what guidelines are for. The songs are provided "as is", you're not allowed to change anything arrange wise unless otherwise stated (in a real life scenario, 99% of the client would be major ticked off). Mix wise, you can be creative within certain boundaries.

For the record, it's the first time I do a mix, and I'm glad I got this opportunity, it was great fun and I learnt a couple of tricks in the process. I've done everything with only free plugins and a couple of ToneBoosters plugins (Evoke on the voices). For the bongo and the back voices, I used ACON digital Multiply. I guess a slight delay would have done much the same effect.

That's the spirit of the Mix Challenge:
Experimenting, learning new things, fine tuning your skills, having fun in the process.

We hope to see you in the next challenge again.

[kevin gobin]

deleted because of wrong files...

[photonic]

Hi all,

I'm back again with my hopefully improved mix for round 2.
I have to admit that all issues in the feedback led to a better and smoother mix. I like this new version much better than my first one.

MP3: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/717 ... ic-Rd2.mp3
WAV: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/717 ... ic-Rd2.wav

[ykon28]

Some light touches and here comes part 2 .If anyone is interested I will share details on what plugins I used at the end of the contest .

https://soundcloud.com/yannis-konstanti ... wn/s-wtspV

I also loved the depth on the guitars; really nice use of what, a plate verb? I dig it so much.

yes , thats a plate reverb (convolution) .

[M.O.R.K.]

Phew! I'm glad I saw this in time since I am a forum noob and don't know yet how to keep track of things
Same folder as before:
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id= ... sp=sharing
The Files that end with _TwoPointOhh contain the new mix (as you might have guessed ). You'll get a more 70's style intro and more drama when everything hits, a backed up lead vocal with some extra spices and an overhauled fundament
I hope you have fun with the retouch!

[jhkennedy5]

Here is my second round mix. Thanks to erictracks for providing the great song and taking the time to provide everyone the detailed feedback. I tried to address each of the items mentioned.

WAV: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/896 ... ennedy.wav
MP3: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/896 ... ennedy.mp3

Thanks.

[Compyfox]

A friendly reminder:
Less than 24 hours left to submit your mix for Round 2

[Aditya.inHim]

Wow! Thank you for your feedback, eric.. And honestly I was lately read this thread.. So in this limited time I try to following your feedback to make revision mix for 2nd round.. here is my 2nd round mix


MP3 format https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/kxh ... 2.mp3?dl=0

WAV format https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/04b ... 2.wav?dl=0

God bless

[radio12]

Hiho,
erictracks, thank you very much for your detailed and positive feedback, indeed helpful to listen to the other mixes and read your comments.
So here is my second version:
MP3:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/l4tb4cc0tg1fn ... 2.mp3?dl=0

Wave:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kt08577o1zkqx ... 2.wav?dl=0

You asked about the vocal sound, there was nothing extremely special, a short slapback delay , a small portion short reverb, lots of compression with three different compressors, the built-in mixbus ones, only one or two points in levelling mode, and the one in pink (channelstrip, API clone, from acustica audio), five or six points, i used a free plugin called ADT on the double vocal tracks and mixed them with the original vocals, beside that i used the saturation knobs in mixbus.
Thank you for listening and good luck to all
manfred

[kevin gobin]

Hi All!


Here we go for Round 2.

Thank you Erictracks for the time spent with all of us.
It was very nice having the client's returns to improve the mix, well detailed and clear observations.

Thanks again for this great challenge KVR Team, and best of luck everybody!!!

Kevin.

https://soundcloud.com/kevin-gobin/eric ... evin-gobin

https://soundcloud.com/kevin-gobin/eric ... -gobin-mp3

[g_liou]

Hey everyone!
Thank you a lot erictracks for such a detailed review!!
Here's my 2nd Round mix:

wav: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3oJ-m ... sp=sharing

mp3: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3oJ-m ... sp=sharing

I might check the sustain on the snare, as I found the "pshhht!" a little distracting.

That sound was ΤΟΟ much reverb

On the bridge, maybe a big plate on the background vocals? Just to open the mix up a bit more? Maybe you did, and I'm not hearing.

I added a little more. Not sure if it's enough but still better than too much.

I'm not really buying the slap delay on the guitars in the break. I might dial that back.

That was a plate verb. I dialed it back for that section.

The bass is also standout, as is the mix on the background vocals in the last chorus, and the delay on the lead guitar in the outro.

I took them all down a couple of dBs. Hope that did the trick!

Good luck everyone!

[Compyfox]

It's currently 03-05-2015 at noon, we're now going into the final evaluation of Mix Round 2
Thanks for your participation.

Please check once more that your files are properly accessible (downloadable)
And as usual, please have an eye on this thread for the Winners Podium announcement.

[erictracks]

It was almost impossible only select 3 mixes. Each mix excelled at a particular element important to the song. I also learned so much from listening to your mix decisions, I feel like a better mixer just going through this process (that's probably the point haha). Again, thank you for taking the time to mix this.

First Place: radio12
Second Place: ykon28
Third Place: jhkennedy5

After the winner feedback, the remaining contestants are in no particular order!

----

radio12
Your vocal decisions hit me hard, your mix has impact, is glued, and sounds like a 'record'. And for that, your mix is first place. Also, I kept coming back to the fat organ sound on the choruses. That was not an easy component to get right. Where did the claps on the third verse go? They sounded so good in your first mix (I thought so anyway).

Thanks for the overview of your vocal chain! You certainly have the Mixbus sounding great. That new Mixbus 32C looks incredible. Awesome job!

ykon28
You achieved so much depth on your drums, from the ocean-deep opening toms throughout. This is the most "3D" of the entries, and this, plus your skillful drum mix, brought you into second place. I thought maybe the guitar effects on the break were a bit too much of a good thing, but ask me tomorrow and I'd probably disagree with myself.

I'd really like to see your plugin details, btw.

jhkennedy5
Clarity and guitars. I couldn't help but get you on the winners podium, as your mix was so clear, yet retained such a nice punch (sorry about the marketing catch phrases on these feedbacks, but I feel like we all have some understanding of what we're trying to say at this point!). The clean, relatively dry mix, and chime guitars just really sounded so good. Also the guitar had interesting and thoughtful positioning, which made for a fun listen (no mean feat after hearing the song a million times haha). Also, your work on the claps is notable, as I thought these sounded pro. My only complaint would be the drums seem to be a bit squashed forward.

photonic
If I could give out 3.5th place I would. Mainly for the work you did on the bridge and the break, and that incredible flange you pulled from Satin. It certainly sounds like nothing else. I enjoyed the intimate vocal and the big guitars, and thought you definitely smoothed out the overall brightness. My only issue would be at points the mix got a little crunchy, like there was a buildup of saturation plugin effect. Also, I caught some sibilance in there as well.

M.O.R.K
The final chorus is such a pleasure to listen to. In my notes I wrote "++++". It has such impact after the sort of compact, maybe compressed, sounding third verse. The vocals definitely sit better this time around, and I really liked the piano effect, where the impact occurred in the left channel, and seemed to wash across to the right channel. I thought the mix could have used a lighter touch in the bridge background vocals level, effects on the instrumental break, and the verb on the final verse. I thought it sounded good, but I found myself focusing on them rather than the song itself. All that said, I could see where it was going after the final chorus kicked in!

Aditya.inHim
Intro and Piano. These sounded dramatic, with the piano almost emotional on the intro. I loved the deep piano hits in the verse. The guitars also took on a more 3D sound in this mix, especially your work on the sustain guitars in the chorus. The kick and bass sound great together! But, the overall low end and high end of the mix didn't quite blend, like they were of two different songs (even though they were each skillfully mixed). Also, there were some volume issues on the vocals near the end of the second verse. Nice job though, you obviously had a vision and were going for a different feel.

kevin gobin
Excellent job with percussion and effects, really skillfully done. The shakers in the first verse were surprising and differentiated it from the others. You also fixed the bass as requested, so nice job there. Bridge vocals are super lush. The left channel guitar with what sounds like the spring reverb, that sounds so appropriate. Sounds like you may have automated it, or did some nice mixing with the different guitars, because it makes for a great transition between the first chorus and second verse. I thought the guitars were a touch too low in the mix, and the vocals still weren't quite there in terms of glue. I also missed the claps on the third verse (not mandatory though).

g_liou
Huge drums. Just thunderous. That kick is immense. Your intro is also so nice, with great contrast into the thundering toms. That snare is like cannon fire now! As verby as this mix is, it has an appealing overall cohesion. Like, I also listened in mono, and it still sounds really interesting and good. You also did some trickery with the guitar, maybe mid-side stuff? It made for a cool headphone listen. I also dug the heavy guitars in the second verse, and the instrumental break sounds really good now. That said, I thought some focused cutting and high and low passing on the verb returns might take this mix from good to amazing. Tightening up loose verb on the kick, that kind of thing. The vocal effects on the final chorus got a little distracting, too. Overall though I thought this was the braver of the second round mixes, in terms of creative decisions.

[Compyfox]

Congratulations to the winners, and it's nice to see new faces around as well.

We are now proceeding with the usual-usual...
Please select something out of the license pool, mention what you took and then get in touch with satYatunes. Unless it's either Nyrv System or TwoNotes Audio Engineering, then please get in touch with me.


Once more, thank you for your participation. Hope to see you in the next challenge.

And please, we're still looking for more content to mix, and we have a couple of technical concerns for the near future of the challenge. Also... Twitter.

[satYatunes]

Congratulations to the winners.