CURRENT CHALLENGE - GENERAL INFORMATION
Time Frame: Tuesday, 01st May 2018 to Monday, 21st May 2018 (21 days)
Challenge submission will end on 21-05-2018, 11:59pm CET/GMT+1 (Germany) - until further notice.
Want to find out if you're still within the deadline, please consult the following options:
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Song Provider: 7th Pyramid
Song Name and Length: Veiled Encounters (Original Mix), 5:42min
Song Information: 130-128 BPM / Signature: 4/4, D min
File Format: WAV, 44kHz, 24bit
GENRE: Trance/Dance
Preview of the Song:
A word from the song provider:
Jorgeelalto wrote:This track is composed of two parts:
the first part is Trance, and the second is a mix of Dance/House, inspired by a famous track by Grum.
It's a bit hard to get a good mix of all the keys and strings layerspresent in the House part, so be careful about it. The kick is also a challenge since it's the same for both parts: if we aim for a full Trance kick, it will not fit too well on the House part, and vice versa, so you can really do whatever you want (effects, automation) but keep in mind the kick is a fundamental part of these genres.
The organ bass in that second part is complicated, too, since it has a really characteristic mid frequencies I'd like you to keep in the mix, but it may clash with other mid range sounds. That's why I have added a "Hipassed M1 Bass" track, so you can already start working with those two tracks to get that effect.
The trance part is easier to mix. Still, a good balance of all the stacked percussion hits and loops is fundamental to keep the groove, since they are needed to give a sense of speed in a 128 BPM trancey track like this (trance usually plays between 13X and 140 BPM).
If the "Intro Organ" effect/phrase seems too dry for you, check the "Send Delay" and "Send Reverb" tracks I have included. You can use them as a guideline to check how the sends are automated in the original mix and how they serve as transition tools.
IMPORTANT!
The tracks are exported to 128 BPM. That means when you load them in a project, it has to be set at 128 BPM. Then you can time automate and time stretch the tempo to get the 130 to 128 BPM transition. In my original mix it takes place between the bars 98.1.00 and 114.1.00, and that BPM change is linear.
A few words by the Mix Challenge staff:
Staff (Mister Fox) wrote:Time stretching might be uncharted territory for some. But fear not. A lot of hosts do provide very good time stretching features these days. From ProTools, to Logic, Cubase/Nuendo, Studio One, FL Studio, etc.
I do recommend to dive into your host manual for further info, as each program handles this differently.
<read more about setting things up in the TXT>
A couple of hints on effect usage:
I do recommend to work a lot with automation. Mainly filters, different amounts of reverb/delay, panning (Hi Hats), etc. Use the guide tracks (REVERB and DELAY) not only for further inspiration, but also to recreate the one or another transition effect (listen to the demo mix). But still try to add your own twist to the whole production.
The kick can be shaped with more than just an EQ (hint!), automated even.
Trance is also obnoxiously loud with stabs and breakdowns. So in-your-face compression is no rarity (use on the summing bus still needs to be tasteful / artistic however! Don't push the perceived loudness!). You might need to tame the low frequency range however (multiband compression and/or so called "ducking" techniques comes to mind).
Else - be creative.
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 (if present in this production)
- No rearrangement or pitch shifting of the song structure, with the exception of the following add-on rules
- PRODUCTION RELATED: you need to use time stretching / proper BPM transition
- summing bus processing is allowed, as long as the dynamic range (average signal strength to maximum signal strength) doesn't suffer - use of this method is artistically!
- try to not(!) pre-master the track (please no overuse of mix bus treatment, no loudness adjustments / limiting)
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Source Files:
Main Mix Package - Mirror on the Mix Challenge Homepage (465,15 MB, LZMA compressed, zip)
The provided files were packed as ZIP with LZMA compression.
File size extracted: 4740,37 MB, packed 465,15 MB (ZIP, LZMA)
In order to extract the files, we can recommend these programs:
Macintosh:
The Unarchiver -
get it here
Keka (open source) -
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 Challenge 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.com
Black Rooster Audio is kind enough to give away one bundle of all currently available plugins to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Black Rooster Audio:
http://blackroosteraudio.com/
Hornet Plugins is kind enough give away one license from the depicted tools (see image) to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Hornet Plugins:
http://www.hornetplugins.com
Metric Halo is kind enough to give away a single plugin of winner's choice.
License will turn into NFR
More info about Metric Halo:
http://mhsecure.com/metric_halo/
MuTools is kind enough give away one license of MUX Modular 7 of winner's choice (until End of 2018)
License will turn into NFR
More info on MuTools:
http://www.mutools.com/
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/
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 Spring of 2018)
License will not turn into NFR
More info on Two Notes:
http://www.two-notes.com/en/
THANKS FOR THE LICENSE 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.
Please spread the word of the challenge on social media.
For example with our dedicated
Twitter Account or
Facebook Page
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Good luck to all participants.
And most importantly, have fun!
