MIX CHALLENGE - MC073 February 2021 - Winners announced

[Mister Fox]

Apologies for the waiting time. The song provider(s) are already on it, and they have (usually up to) 14 days counting from the Statistics Sheet reveal.

Please be patient.

[Treeeye]

Hello guys!

First of all we would like to thank everyone for participating and for your efforts and labour you made! Sorry that it took time for collecting & posting feedback as there was only 1,5 people from our band who could do that due to lack of time or experience how to do it and making it constructive & helpful to you and us as well.

We will be short as the main goal is give the most important points and feedbacks as we have to choose very small amount of those who goes to Round 2 as actually the number of very good mixes is much bigger. We will point on main mistakes from our view. Sorry if we have not done it expanded and maybe as it was expected but we would to know your feedback to our feedbacks We did not go deep into technical specifications or difficult explanations as we tried more to give feedback on what it makes us feel when listening and more paying attention to balance, panorama, equalizing & choosing beautiful effects and sounds.

We started to listen to mixes when we did not know who will be disqualified so part of the participants are lucky having feedback (even being disqualified) and have information to learn from. Later we skipped the disqualified participants as we wanted to be on time and in sum we listened to about 60 mixes. Unfortunately, some really good and even one of the best mixes were disqualified due to strict rules on the forum, which shows that paying attention to the rules is very important (we have to understand Mister Fox as he is running this forum) and even small mistake can turn into disqualification and being dropped out of the competition.

Thank you once again for your works! And of course a huge thanks to @Mister Fox for doing such a big job on this forum!

Feedbacks:

@Alex Van mixland
Overall mix sounds like listening from the side of the audio monitors. It is not going straight in the face.
Strange equalization of the drums in some parts.
Djembe is too loud in main chorus.

@francobhalla
Too much compression on drums.
Chorus solo guitar is too low level.
Not bad mix overall.

@GUSWIS
Djembe is too loud in chorus
Solo guitar in choruses could be sweeter.
Good idea with chorus end part.
Overall good mix.

@alavault
Clean solo in verse is little too loud. Bass should be louder. Overall balance is good.
In chorus drums are over compressed. The snare sound is not good one.
The end is interesting.
Good one.

@Photonic
Shaker is too loud and bright in verses.
Snare drum on main chorus should be more powerful.
Solo distortion guitar in first main chorus is too deep.
Rhythm guitars in chorus can be panned wider.
Clean solo guitar in main chorus too loud and bright.
Overall one of the best mixes.

@dadomachado
Pre-chorus solo sound is too funny "wrong effect".
Chorus sounds nice! Snare sound, balance and panning is fire!
Overall good!

@JohnK
Where is the bass?

@Mellow Browne
Overall mix is on a dark side. Which of course is not bad but not what think is good for this song.
Delay on the kick in the beginning is too pronounced.
Bass is too loud.
Chorus lacking in impact.
Shaker is too loud.

@copyc4t
Shaker is too loud and bright.
Too much lows on the solo guitar in verses. Chorus is not good idea.
Good percussion approach, except shaker!
Pre-chorus solo guitar is little too loud.
Bass guitar loud and muddy in the choruses.

@Ollio
Nice job on verses. Good clarity and balance!!!
Chorus is on the weak side.
Drums sound too much "shotgun and cannons" in the chorus (too loud)
Guitars in the chorus are too low in the mix.
Fix the balance in the chorus and it will be a winner.
Overall nice!

@michaelh
Nice clarity in the verses. Shaker is little too bright.
Solo guitar approach in choruses is interesting but not in the mood.
Rhythm guitar in choruses are too "sandy".

@pabloAT
Balance is not quite right.
Panning is too narrow. Chorus sounds mushy.
Rhythm guitar in verses too drawned.

@Cadence Soundlabs
Nice overall.
Good compression choice and tonal balance.
Chorus could be more powerful. Rhythm guitars is too drowned.

@m_tree
Nice overall.
Good impact of the chorus.
Verses lacking some space. Sounds too thin.

@s&f
Very interesting and experimental.
Nice reverse fx.
Too "trashy" drums in the chorus.
Pre-chorus buildup is too scary.

@EchoOread
Very small sounding mix. Tonal disbalance, and overcompressed.
Too narrow panning.

@Green-Dog
Be careful with the file naming. This time you were lucky
Sounds interestingly warm and maybe little too dark. Hi-hats are too much sticking out in the chorus.
Maybe should try different kick drum fx in verses. We liked the original sound of solo distortion guitar in choruses, now it sounds too different.
Nice balance and fx added overall.

@maxovrdrive
Shaker is too loud. Not good balance in verse.
When shaker disappears in pre-chorus it fells down in overall dynamics.
There some fizzling in both pre-chorus & chorus that does not sound so well.
Good chorus solo guitar sound. The overall balance is better in chorus. Interesting drum sound in chorus.

@Løü
Shaker is too loud.
Drums do not sound good in chorus. Sorry, do not have much to say.

@RoadieShow
Nice bass sound and overall balance in verses.
In pre-chorus solo guitar is too dry.
In Chorus good balance between rhythm guitars but the clean solo guitar is too loud and dry. Drums in the chorus could be little bit louder.
The end part of the chorus sounds good.

@E.C.Miraldo
Bass is quiet. Solo guitar is quiet and behind the rhythm guitar.
Big difference in level between verse and pre-chorus but the balance in pre-chorus is good except the bass.
Chorus drums could be louder.

@VasDim
Nice overall.
Delay on the kick in the beginning is too pronounced.
Drums on chorus have very plastic sound lacks of energy. There is some flick on snare drum which is not good.
The dry solo guitar in chorus is too loud and dry and it interference the main distorted solo on second half of the chorus.

@IbanezoO
Overall very good balance.
Maybe in verses the fx of small room with concrete walls is not that good.
The rhythm guitars in chorus could be wider. Solo distorted guitar is too loud.
Good mix.

@eusonic_studio
The panoramic idea is interesting but the balance is not good. The ping pong fx is good. The shaker is quiet. Bass is too loud and little bit out of concept. The solo guitar in verse is narrow and some parts are missing.
Djembe is too thin in pre-chorus part.
Drums in chorus could be more massive. Good idea with fx on keys with delay but it is too loud. Also there is missing first beat of kick drum in chorus. Maybe try to make the kick not that rock punchy but use more low freq. sound.

@rvalle
Overall mix is good and very close in panorama to what we have sent with good adjustment in equalizer.
The rhythm guitars could be more balanced in main chorus.
Very good one.

@dnlptn
Good overall
Maybe bass in verse could be louder.
Clean solo guitar should not be that loud in chorus.
Very good.

@Coiled_Ear
Overall interesting mixdown.
Djembe seems to be overcompressed which sounds like "pluck, pluck" too much.
Overall is good but maybe less overall compression will be better.

@Naturecord
Shaker is too loud but overall balance in verse and pre-verse is good.
Rhythm guitars in chorus are too distorted and noisy.
Clean solo guitar is too loud, but distorted solo guitar could be louder.

@Christoph_K
Overal mix is very good. It sounds juicy. Guitars have nice balance. Bass is good as well but maybe it lacks some deep tone.
What we would like to suggest is to give deepness "grease" to the bass in the chorus, or maybe even try some overdrive.
The snare sounds great in the chorus but kick drum should be more powerful and in balance with the snare.
Jembe is good in verse but in chorus does not have the right tone which cracking through all other stuff.
Overall one of the best.

@harryc1344
Good balance except that maybe shaker is too quiet.
Maybe too much compression on drums and guitars and too boosted mid range on guitars.

@simola
Shaker is too loud but solo guitars level in verse and chorus is too low.
Pre-chorus has good in balance.
Nice balance and sound if rhythm guitars in chorus.
Overall mix is too bright and contains too much high freq.

@Jerze
Interesting solution with phaser and flanger. Overal mix is good and not far away from original sound.

@Vana
Shaker has interesting fx but is too loud.
Interesting fx for clean solo guitar in verse but maybe not in the right place in the panorama.
Clean solo guitar in chorus is too loud with much high freq. but rhythm guitars are too quiet.

@Arthur Labus
Good fx choice and sound in verses. Maybe clean solo is too dry.
All nice until main chorus. Chorus rhythm guitars are too loud and "sandy" and are at the front. Clean solo guitar in chorus is too loud as well.
Should work more with overall balance in chorus.

@cpsmusic
Shaker is very loud. Very plastic sound with overboosted highs on drums.

@TomImmon
Shaker is too loud. Overal balance in verse is good.
The chorus plunged down the rhythm guitars and left jembe more at the front. Some hi-hats overcompressed and crack.

@kirurg
Shaker is too loud. Hi-hats in chorus are little bit too loud.
Clean solo guitar in chorus is too loud.
Overall good balance, equalization & reverb fx for solo guitar in verse.

@Matik
Overall good balance except hi-hats are sticking out from mix.
Solo guitars are too smeared.
Rhythm guitars are little bit too noisy in chorus.

@loupi
Dark & experimental equalization. Not enough space. Maybe some instrument are missing and/or are too dry.
Chorus should be fatty and guitars be not that noisy.

@Dodgingrain
Starting point is cut off. Shaker is too loud. Ringing guitar in verse is little too loud.
Hi-hats in pre-chorus are too loud. Not enough difference in dynamics between parts.
Overall balance is good. Especially good balance for rhythm guitars in chorus.

@Pingafuego
Bass guitar sounds like active one. Sounds bright and messes in verse with snare sound. Maybe should change one of the them with different fx.
Overall balance is good.
At 1:09 before main chorus starts there's is some strange thing happening which does sound good.

@SuC76
Bass guitar is really fat. Rhythm guitar in verse is too quiet. Good sound to solo clean guitar in verse.
Not that good panorama for pre-chorus solo guitar. Jembe sounds too thin.
Distorted solo guitar in chorus has unpleasant equalization.
Overall mix is good.

@RB310
Nice bass sound but the kick drum is louder than the bass in verses which is not that good. Clean solo guitar is too quiet in verse.
Pre-chorus lacks some space and solo guitar is too dry.
Rhythm guitars in chorus are too loud but the compression and sound for low freq. are good.

@Clueless
The rhythm guitar sound is too messy and have strange noise.
Drums in pre-chorus are too quiet.
Should work on equalization, balance and fx.

@ArneB
Overall good balance.
Jembe in Pre-chorus & chorus is little too loud. Maybe should try some different panorama in pre-chorus.
Solo in pre-chorus and distortion solo guitar in chorus should be more in front.
Good one.

@Pemberley
Too thin sound for drums. Not best choice for hi-hats sound. Bass level is too low.
Chorus drums are overcompressed. Guitars are too rich & fatty.

@stefanweith
Ineteresting guitar sound choice in verse but solo lacks some space. Bass lacks some deepness. Rhythm guitar should be more behind in verse
Overall good balance. Maybe lacks overall brightness. Also lacks difference/dynamic change between Pre-chorus & chorus. Good balance for rhythm guitars in main chorus.
good one.

@DimitrisPalantzas
Shaker is little too loud. Solo guitar is too deep in panorama.
Pre-chorus is well balanced.
Kick should be louder in chorus. Distorted solo guitar in chorus is too loud.

@FUS
Overall good balance. Clean solo guitar in verse is too dry.
Distorted solo guitar in chorus is very quiet.
In second verse the solo is too quiet at the beginning.
Clean solo guitar in second chorus too loud.

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Some feedbacks for disqualified participants:


@stefanos
Drums in first part is some kind of going in the wrong direction.
Bass should be louder.

@jh.sample.hero
Too deep and bassy. Not enough presence.

@studjo
Main solo guitar in verse should be louder.
Djembe in pre-chorus should be little be louder.
Wo would prefer different sound for drums in main chorus . This sound too much synth pop like.
Really interesting mix.

@NIKHIL
Dry mix sound drums which is interesting solution.
Some parts of rhythm guitar are too loud.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Round 2 contestants are:

@GUSWIS
@Photonic
@Ollio
@Cadence Soundlabs
@m_tree
@Green-Dog
@IbanezoO
@rvalle
@dnlptn
@Christoph_K
@Jerze
@SuC76
@RB310
@ArneB
@stefanweith
@Coiled_Ear

If you have any questions, please ask.

Our suggestion to all of you is to try to blend or smear all the instruments in the end of the track where a lot of noise feedback is coming. But it is up to you if you feel you know how to make it sound good. If not, leave it as it is.

Thanks to all & good luck in Round 2!!!

[Mister Fox]

Thank you for handling the evaluation, @Treeeye.

Ladies and gentlemen, let us kick off Mix Round 2, which will end on Thursday, 11-MAR-2021 23:59 UTC+1/CET

As of this moment, that is a bit more than 5 days. All Mix Round 2 participants will be sent a reminder via mail, as this has been the case for a couple of month now.


There is a GLOBAL COUNTDOWN available to check for deadlines.
Just follow this link: Global Countdown (on homepage)



The following 16 participants go into Round 2 (alphabetical order)
(all Mix Round 2 participants should have been pinged)

@ArneB
@Cadence Soundlabs
@Christoph_K
@Coiled_Ear
@dnlptn
@GUSWIS
@Green-Dog
@IbanezoO
@Jerze
@m_tree
@Ollio
@Photonic
@RB310
@rvalle
@stefanweith
@SuC76


The feedback to the productions can be found here:
viewtopic.php?p=9992#p9992


If you are unsure what to do exactly with your mix, reach out to the song provider and engage in a conversation here on the forum.
And please keep the Rules and Guidelines in mind regarding submitting your entry.

[E.C.Miraldo]

Guys, i'd just like to put this here.

You should definitively check your monitor response. Because one thing i noticed right away on your raw mix was that he bass was HUGELY saturated. I'm 100% sure you guys have a HUGE dip on your bass response.

I talked about deficient monitoring by song providers and got no response, i feel like i should throw this on again.

Anyway, good luck to all contenders on the round 2

[rvalle]

Nice!
I'm glad you guys enjoy my mix, @Treeeye , and also that I reached the round 2.
Thanks

[Coiled_Ear]

Guys, i'd just like to put this here.

You should definitively check your monitor response. Because one thing i noticed right away on your raw mix was that he bass was HUGELY saturated. I'm 100% sure you guys have a HUGE dip on your bass response.

I talked about deficient monitoring by song providers and got no response, i feel like i should throw this on again.

Anyway, good luck to all contenders on the round 2

Can I ask what kind of monitoring do you use? Because guys are right - bass in your mix is quieter than quiet. Moreover - it's so undercompressed which creates a really messy responce in reproducing fundamentals in the track. Sorry but the difference between guitars and bass sometimes around 10-15db.
I think you have bump around 100-200hz, near the corners or such. It's not about bass level overall, more about dynamics. If your monitors soloing around 100hz you probably will never get how track is actually rocking or not.
Instead blaming song providers is better ask to somebody feedback on this forum for example.

[FUS]

@Treeeye Thanks for your feedback, and @Mister Fox for the competition.

[Photonic]

@Treeeye,

Thank you so much for choosing my mix for the second round!
And thanx for the dedailed feedback you gave. So it was easy to correct the mix according your notes. I hope I did the corrections in the right amount!

WAV: https://www.dropbox.com/s/3iwmd0u2n3acx ... 2.wav?dl=0

Good luck to all others in the second round!

[SuC76]

Hi,

@Treeeye thanks for your feedback, thanks everybody !
I did corrections as you suggested.

Here's my R2:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/17j7xA4 ... sp=sharing


Good luck !

[IbanezoO]

Once again thanks for the feedback!

Here's my entry for round 2:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WXow8S ... sp=sharing

Good luck everyone!