MIX CHALLENGE - MC23 July 2016 - Winners announced

[Compyfox]

Hello and welcome to the KVR Mix Challenge 23 - July 2016


This is the introduction post, where we directly link to the challenge corresponding files (source files, submission information, sponsors), start of the evaluation process and the first post for re-submissions for Mix Round 2.



In this month, we take a closer at one of the many productions by Music Cafe resident an-electric-heart. We are thrown back a bit towards the late 80ies/early 90ies with this Pop Rock / New Wave type production called "Seeing in Blue".

We're also getting a very special bonus this time around - a music video!



Please take note of the following

• as of MC17, the rule set has been overhauled/simplified - please take note of them in the Rules and Guidelines thread.
• our Twitter Account can be found via the handle @MixChallenge

Also Important:

• We're desperately looking for new source material for future Mix Challenges. Our pool is in constant fear of running dry. Please follow our official campaign for this in the Music Cafe. No new tracks, no more challenges!
• Please also spread the word on your preferred social media platform. Our Twitter Account is already a good start

This post will be updated with the corresponding links as we progress, and of course the suitable thread headlines. So please watch this spot:


Submission Period: General Information, Source Files, Sponsors
Mix Round 2: Global Feedback and Round 2 Participant Announcement
Results of the Mix Challenge 23: Winners announced

[Compyfox]

CURRENT CHALLENGE - GENERAL INFORMATION

Time Frame: Friday, 01st July 2016 to Thursday, 21st July 2016 (21 days)

Challenge submission will end on 21-07-2016, 11:59pm CEST/GMT+1 (Germany) - until further notice. If you want to find out when that is the case at your place, please use the following tool and and select "Berlin (Germany)" as location 1, and your location as location 2:
http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/meeting.html



Song Provider: An Electric Heart (KVR Profile)
Song Name and Length: Seeing in Blue, 3:52min
Song Information: 120 bpm / Signature: 4/4, Key of E major
File Format: WAV, 44kHz, 24bit

GENRE: Pop Rock / New Wave


Preview of the Song:
http://anelectricheart.bandcamp.com/alb ... e-single-2

Music Video (Bonus)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Z7b7YwIrXc

A word from the song provider:

When I mixed the song I added a lot of ambiance:
Delay and reverb on the vocals, room on the guitars, plate reverb on the snare. This is what I'm into, I like delay effects (the files provided have all this turned off, the samples are dry).

You may choose to take this same path if you wish, but you don't have to. Really I'd like to hear a mix that is different to the way I've mixed it.

A few words by the Mix Challenge staff:

This is an interesting blend of late 80ies New Wave and Synth Pop / Progressive House from the 90ies. "Alternative Pop" is just as fitting, since it's a niche that doesn't want to fit anything. But this should give you a nice starting point if you want to venture a bit deeper into the genre(s).

I do recommend to have an eye on the vocals. To me it sounds as if these are different takes, recut and then blended into one. So paying attention to detail, cutting up parts and treating the parts individually can probably pay off big time.

Else... old school drum machines, tasteful delay and reverb, maybe side chaining (sub bass) and we have a clear winner. If you want to go that route.

Else, be creative - make the best ouf of these tracks!

Please also consult the TXT files that are bundled in the source files package below. There you can find more information about the individual files and changes to the time signature.

Special Add-On Rules:

• try to create a mix that complements this production (in your own style)
• Clean / Alternative versions can be used if you need more flexibility over a certain sound (not present in this production)
• No rearrangement of the song structure
• try to not(!) pre-master the track (please no overuse of mix bus treatment)

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Source Files:

Main Mix Package - Mirror on Studio Compyfox (401,00 MB, LZMA compressed)


The provided files were packed as ZIP with LZMA compression.
File size extracted: 1326,46 MB, packed 401,00 MB (ZIP, LZMA)
In order to extract the files, we can recommend these programs:

Macintosh:
The Unarchiver - get it here

Windows:
7zip - Installation, Portable


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Please take note of the official rules - they can be found at the following thread:
Mix Challenge - Official Rules and Guidelines

Please address any OT question in the official Gossip thread:
Mix Challenge - Gossip and Discussion

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SPONSORS (Prizes):

Prizes for mix participants:

Note: All licenses are NFR (Not-For-Resale), except where noted.
Changes to available prices on short notice may be possible and will be announced separately.



Acon Digital is kind enough give away a single plugin of winner's choice.
License will turn into NFR
More info on Acon Digital: http://acondigital.de



Ghostwave Audio (KVR User Karten) is kind enough to donate MixRight (a Reaktor Ensemble) to the winner (until further notice)
License won't turn into NFR, you need Native Instruments Reaktor 5.8+ for this
More info on Ghostwave Audio: http://ghostwaveaudio.com/



JRR Shop will give away a free copy of Audiffex/Audified STA Preamp (until further notice)
More info about the plugins on Audiffex (now known as Audified): http://shop.audified.com/
More info about the sponsor: http://www.jrrshop.com/



Metric Halo will give away a single plugin of winner's choice.
License will turn into NFR
More info about Metric Halo: http://mhsecure.com/metric_halo/



Nyrv Systems offers AGENT incl. all currently available NyrvDevices and free update to at least v1.5 of winner's choice (until further notice)
License will turn into NFR
More info about Nyrv Systems: http://www.nyrvsystems.com/



Sound and Graphic, KVR user and Mix Challenge staff satYatunes is donating one commercial product of winner's choice (until further notice)
More info on satYatune's page: http://www.satyatunes.com/



Tone2 is kind enough to donate either a bundle consisting of AkustiX Enhancer and WarmVerb, or a license of Ultraspace to the winner (until further notice)
License will turn into NFR
More info on Tone2: https://tone2.com



Two Notes Audio Engineering is kind enough to donate one license of Torpedo Wall of Sound III to the winner, loaded with 57 cabinets (equivalent to "Torpedo WoS II") (donation until Summer 2017)
License will not turn into NFR
More info on Two Notes: http://www.two-notes.com/en/



THANKS FOR THE DONATIONS!
And also a thank you to all former contributors as well.

If you want to sponsor content (please have a focus on mix plugins, bundles and the likes), please get in touch with the Mix Challenge staff.


Did you know that there are even more contests / competitions / challenges here on KVR Audio?

• One Synth Challenge (see stickies) - a demanding game where you have to use "one synth only", tweak it to your needs and write song with it (the OSC offered us a lot of songs in recent months!)
• Music Cafe (KVR, see stickies) - A thematic monthly competition. Use recording, real instruments, synths and samples.

Please spread the word of the challenge on social media.
For example with our dedicated Twitter Account: https://twitter.com/MixChallenge

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Good luck to all participants.
And most importantly, have fun!

[an-electric-heart]

Hi everyone, I hope you enjoy mixing my song!... thought I'd better make an appearance.

[3ee]

I'm in!

[Compyfox]

A friendly reminder:
We've passed the first 7 days of MC23 - 2 weeks left to mix and submit your version of this tack

[Compyfox]

A friendly reminder:
Including today, 10 days left to submit your mix for MC23


Who will be the icebreaker?!

[Baddo]

Pretty great track. Good thing I have some free time, this will be a treat to mix.

Looking forward to checking out everybody else's mixes.

[Compyfox]

A friendly reminder:
Including today, 7 days left to submit your mix for MC23!


Now now I'm slowly getting worried. So far, nobody broke the ice and submitted the first mix, the thread is fairly quiet as well. I am aware that a lot of challenges run in parallel throughout the Summer that have a money donation or offer just a bigger toolset. But I really hope that the challenge doesn't come to a grinding halt (incl. the constant issue that our pool is running dry and we get no new tracks!).

A life sign would be nice. Please?!

[Kolyev]

Now now I'm slowly getting worried. So far, nobody broke the ice and submitted the first mix, the thread is fairly quiet as well. I am aware that a lot of challenges run in parallel throughout the Summer that have a money donation or offer just a bigger toolset. But I really hope that the challenge doesn't come to a grinding halt (incl. the constant issue that our pool is running dry and we get no new tracks!).

I'm totally swamped with work this month, as I have a huge project deadline. I hope I'll find some time anyway as this is a very nice track. But it doesn't look very good right now.

[photonic]

Yesterday I started with this mix. I saw that there is a lot of work with the lead vocal. The changes between falsetto and chest voice are hard to manage. I will try my best to finish the mix in time.

[an-electric-heart]

Yesterday I started with this mix. I saw that there is a lot of work with the lead vocal. The changes between falsetto and chest voice are hard to manage. I will try my best to finish the mix in time.

Compyfox and I talked about this, I basically said; "I used a lot of volume automation when I mixed it, if I can do it, they can do it". So yeah, I didn't really want to (or have time to) do a lot of work to get it ready, anything I can do, you guys can do. The other thing we talked about is a clip when I shout in the breakdown part, but it's there, and that's the take I used, if I used it, you guys can (and kind of have to ) use it too.

[GaryNorthants]

Hi, I was a little late coming to have a look at this challenge but having heard the song I will be submitting a version. As far as vocals go I chopped them up and did some levelling last night although I have yet to decide upon what I will do with them next lol

[Fender19]

OK - let's get this party started!

mp3
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxuC5 ... U1ZTkFwMmc

wav
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0BxuC5 ... GxOSk9mdVk

I did a lot of work on the vocal track to bring out more clarity. A bit of pitch tightening, lots of EQ, DeEssing, compression and gain riding. Also fattened up the sound in the choruses with harmonizer with a little double tracking throughout.

Cool tune - thank you for sharing!

[thiagoam88]

I'm here! Working on it.

The vocals do need some automation to move with the music. I'm expecting to post it this weekend.

BTW,

@an-electric-heart
Are you looking for up-front, in-your-face vocals or something like "burried", ambience vocals? Your mix suggests the second option, but better safe than sorry.

Cheers!

[an-electric-heart]

I'm here! Working on it.

The vocals do need some automation to move with the music. I'm expecting to post it this weekend.

BTW,

@an-electric-heart
Are you looking for up-front, in-your-face vocals or something like "burried", ambience vocals? Your mix suggests the second option, but better safe than sorry.

Cheers!

Whatever you'd like! But yes, personally, I do like ambiance.