CURRENT CHALLENGE - GENERAL INFORMATION
Time Frame: Wednesday, 01st June 2022 to Tuesday, 21st June 2022 (21 days)
Challenge submission will end on 21-06-2022, 23:59 UTC+2/CEST (Germany) - until further notice.
Want to find out if you're still within the deadline, please consult the following options:
The
Global Countdown on it's dedicated page or the countdown on the
home page. There will also be short reminders on Social Media and on Discord.
Song Provider: 7th Pyramid (
@Jorgeelalto)
Song Name and Length: No Escape, 3:54 min
Song Information: 170 BPM / Signature: 4/4
File Format: WAV, 48kHz, 24bit
GENRE: Halftime Drum & Bass / Darkstep
Preview of the Song (Demo Mix):
INFORMATION: This version might sound different from the provided multi-tracks.
A word from the song provider:
7th Pyramid wrote:This is a pretty simple track designed to work as a DJ tool on Halftime D&B sets. It is very drum-focused, with a really low bass that should work pretty well on big sound systems, and a dark/scary character typical of these genres.
There is not really much going on in the arrangement, so I would say the most problematic part of the mix should be balancing kick frequencies and making it work with the bass sounds, as well as pumping the rest of the melodic elements (side chain).
As mixing requests, I'd like you to take a creative approach with delay units to get a more 'dub delay' sound (see the original mix) to at least these sounds:
- Track 3, Snare
- Track 7, Chant
- Track 31, Dialogue
- Track 32, Scream
Also please create some space (reverb) for secondary drums (not the kick nor the main hats) and for the melodic sounds.
Sounds that I don't want to be messed with (you can still add reverb and delay, just to make them sit in the mix), are:
- Track 24, Signature fill: that is my sonic 'signature' in a lot of my tracks.
- Track 28, Main Pad: already heavily automated
You can take a look at these tracks for further sonic reference:
Skeptical - Pitch Black
Bredren - Whose Rights
(more technical details in the Mix Pack bundled TXTs)
A few words by the Mix Challenge staff:
Mister Fox wrote:Where to begin? There is so much room for creative FX usage and sound layering this month. I highly recommend listening to the original mix first, then take a look at the individual tracks. See where things can still be pushed (also AUX FX wise), or where "subtle layers" can emphasize the groove of the production.
A focus should be the main beat. Drum and Bass makes a point with distinct spaces for the main kick and snare. So please keep that in mind. Another thing to take into consideration - modern day drum and bass is a bit on the "thin" side if it comes to the snare. This is at least Jorge's style. But the main idea of the Mix(ing) Challenge is to listen to your interpretation of the mix, not a 1:1 recreation.
I can't give good references this month, as "Drum and Bass" is an ever evolving genre, that is also overlapping with each other. I can therefore only direct you to the "Ishkur's Guide to Electronic Music", most notably the "Drum and Bass" section (Darkstep and Jazzstep, branching off mid 2000s), and then go from there. Youtube and Spotify will definitely lead you down plenty of rabbit holes.
Have fun!
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.
Rule Summary / Add-On Rules:
- try to create a mix that complements this production (in your own style)
- the focus of this game is "mixing" - NO MASTERING. Edit/Mix in such a way, that barely any after-touches other than loudness adjustments and final limiting is needed in a possible follow-up mastering step.
- Clean / Alternative versions can be used if you need more flexibility over a certain sound (if present for this production)
- make the best out of the provided audio material (EQ, compression, transient tools, etc), no "drum sample triggering / replacement", neither any changes to the arrangement (copy/add/move/remove parts)! (unless otherwise stated)
- please only provide WAV files, files need to be accessible/downloadable from your preferred cloud storage space (no SoundCloud, WeTransfer or similar!)
- render the edited material in the same sampling rate and bitrate as originally provided (MC086 / June => 48/24)
- ADD-ON RULES - PRODUCTION RELATED:
- Filename Template: MC086__7th_Pyramid__No_Escape__ForumUsername.wav
- you can and in certain places even must use creative with effect devices
- summing bus treatment ("glue compression") is common for such genres, but keep the rule set in mind
- no (more) add-on rules specified
Please consult the official
Rules and Guidelines for a more detailed set of rules, including how to document your edits, maximum loudness values and delivery formats (see
Rule Book - Post #6).
Failing to adhere to the rules will result in disqualification. There will be no additional reminders given.
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Source Files:
Main Mix Package - full package (244,90 MB, LZMA compressed, zip)
IMPORTANT NOTE: download window might show a smaller file size, file unavailable after 21-JUN-2022
The provided files were packed as ZIP with LZMA compression (specs from 2015).
File size extracted: 2500,42 MB, packed 244,90 MB (ZIP, LZMA)
In order to extract the files, we can recommend these programs / apps:
Macintosh:
The Unarchiver -
get it here
Keka (open source) -
get it here / please take note of the
file extraction guide
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
If you like what the Mix Challenge (community) has been doing in recent months:
Please consider supporting us
Got an interesting production and want to become a Song Provider?
Check in with the Song Pool campaign and reach out
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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 to give away a single plugin of winner's choice (exception: Verberate Immersive)
License will turn into NFR
More info on Acon Digital:
https://acondigital.com/
Hornet Plugins is kind enough to give away one license from the depicted tools (see image) to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Hornet Plugins:
https://www.hornetplugins.com/
IK Multimedia is kind enough to give away one license of T-RackS Tape Machine Collection to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on IK Multimedia:
https://www.ikmultimedia.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:
https://mhsecure.com/metric_halo/
NOS Audio is kind enough to give away one license of NOS Roomer to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on NOS Audio:
https://www.nosaudio.com/
NUGEN Audio is kind enough to give away one license from the depicted tools (see image) to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on NUGEN Audio:
https://nugenaudio.com/
Tone2 is kind enough to donate a license of
Ultraspace to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Tone2:
https://tone2.com
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!