MIX CHALLENGE

#1

Hello and welcome to the Mix Challenge 100 - October 2024

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Bonus Info

Welcome to our 100th Mix(ing) Challenge!

This month, you have the chance to work on a "Hard Rock" production by the band "SilverStoned", represented by returning song provider @JeroenZuiderwijk, who kindly provided these multi-tracks. The song is called "MrRockNRoll".

The biggest challenges this month, will be handling already processed material. This is an old multi-track recording, so certain material is not available in clean form (like the vocals, or guitar recordings), or there are a limited set of microphones. The tone is fairly raw, but there is a lot of potential for mixing.

Interested in this new challenge?

Then please take special note of the attached TXT files in the Mix Pack. And please read about the details and special requirements for handling this mix further down below.

BEFORE WE GET STARTED:

Please consult the official "Rules and Guidelines" (TL;DR version) for the Mix Challenge regarding principles of the game, upload/submission guidelines, the concept of documenting your edits, and maximum allowed loudness. The Multi-Track Mix Pack also features a "TL;DR Rules.txt" file with the game specific filename template and distribution specs.
The focus of this game is "mixing". Try to create a mix in your own style that complements this production and can stand on it's own, no matter the playback medium. Edit/Mix in such a way, that barely any after-touches other than proper fade in/out and finalizing for distribution (incl. loudness adjustments e.g. for release on Streaming, Vinyl, Tape, CD) is needed for a possible follow-up mastering step.
The "Mix Pack" and additional information for this months production can be found in in post #002

Read more about this month's competition further down below. And if you got any question, please also reach out on Discord.

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MIX(ING) CHALLENGE THREAD INDEX

Post #001 -- Introduction post and index for the various stages of the Songwriting Competition. Will be updated as we progress
Post #002 -- Submission Period: General Information, Source Material, License Sponsors
Post #003 -- One Time Reminder -- general task, filename template, distribution format, off-site license distribution agreement
Post #188 -- Mix Round 1 Statistics/Data Sheet: Overview of Submissions - is your entry within given parameters?
Post #221 -- Mix Round 2: Global Feedback and Round 2 Participant Announcement
Post #000 -- Mix Round 3: <optional>/<not happening this game>
Post #000 -- Results: Winner announcement

#2

CURRENT CHALLENGE - GENERAL INFORMATION

Time Frame: Tuesday, 01st October 2024 to Monday, 21st October 2024 (21 days)

Challenge submission will end on 21-OCT-2024, 23:59 UTC+2/CEST (Germany) - until further notice.

Want to find out if you're still within the deadline, please either consult the Global Countdown (dedicated page), or the countdown on the landing site. There will also be short reminders on Social Media and on Discord.

Song Provider: SilverStoned (represented by @JeroenZuiderwijk)
Song Name and Length: MrRockNRoll, 2:57 min
Song Information: (+/-) 173 BPM / Signature: 4/4
File Format: WAV, 44kHz, 24bit (source)

GENRE: Hard Rock

Preview of the Song (Demo Mix):

phpBB [media]

INFORMATION: This version might sound different from the provided multi-tracks.

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SOURCE FILES:

Main Mix Package - full package (223,92 MB, LZMA compressed, zip)
- or -
Main Mix Package - full package (271,79 MB, regular zip)

IMPORTANT NOTE: download window might show a smaller file size, file unavailable after 21-OCT-2024
File size extracted: 769,42 MB, packed 223,92 MB (ZIP, LZMA) / packed 271,79 MB (regular ZIP)

The provided files were packed as ZIP with LZMA compression (specs from 2015), and for compatibility reasons also in regular zip compression (Deflate, Ultra). Please select the format most appropriate to your operating system.

In order to extract the files, we can recommend these programs / apps:

► Show Spoiler

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A word from the song provider:

JeroenZuiderwijk wrote:About the band:
SilverStoned is a band playing grunge / (hard) rock and punk. The songs are written by Ronald Lolkema (guitar and vocals on this track) and Jeroen Zuiderwijk (guitar / vocals, also this month's song provider). The demo was produced and mixed by Jeroen Zuiderwijk.

About the song:
It is a very basic no-nonsense song. We needed an energetic song to get the crowd going in a live situation. Fast and loud. We where actually just joking around playing the main riff... but after a while it gained some structure and a song was created. There is not much variation, it is all about the energy. Our guitar player Ronald Lolkema (who also is the vocalist on the song) wrote some lyrics with the song about "Mr Rock n Roll" who is being drunk and high all the time, thinking he is living the rock and roll lifestyle.

Direction for mixing:
Like I said... it is all about the energy not about the cleanest polished mix. You could even try experimenting with some overdrive / distortion on the bass, and in my experience some heavy saturation on the room mics can give a really cool effect. I not only want to hear, but also feel the driving energy of the song.

There are many things I don't like about the demo mix:
First of all I am aware of the fact that the drums (especially, but not only the snare) needs some work. The snare track is already gated and it is an processed signal. In the demo mix there is too much focus on the transients... I don't like that sound.

The sound of the drum doesn't really blend with the rest of the track. The bass sounds dull and lifeless... doesn't really cut through the mix. So I'm sure there is lots of room for improvement. (ADMIN EDIT: within allowed parameters!)

We've recorded multiple guitar tracks so we could layer the sounds. In the demo mix there where even more guitar tracks but I decided not to make it too chaotic for the participants this month and settle for the most important tracks.

Rule Summary:

► Show Spoiler

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LICENSE SPONSORS (Bonus Prizes):

A huge thank you goes to our very generous License Sponsors for this month's game. Those being (in alphabetical order):
Acon Digital, Audified, Hornet Plugins, IK Multimedia, Kilohearts, Metric Halo, NUGEN Audio and Tone2

A detailed list of offerings can be found in the following information block.

► Show Spoiler

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

#3

The following is the absolute base-line you need to cover prior to joining the Mix(ing) Challenge.

Failing to adhere to the rules will result in disqualification. There will be no additional reminders given.

⚠	Moderation Message from Mister Fox
	Prior to joining this Mix(ing) Challenge You must consult and adhere to the official Rules and Guidelines (long version). Bar minimum, please consult the TL;DR Rules version (also available as "TL;DR Rules.txt" with each Mix Pack, which lists the game specific filename template and distribution specs as well) Add-on Rules / allowed mix techniques for this particular project are mentioned in the bundled "TL;DR Rules.txt" Please pay attention to details such as sampling rate, bit rate, maximum signal strength, file name template and documentation. Check this before you upload your entry. Your entry must be accessible and easy to download by the time the deadline has been reached (21th of the month, 23:59 UTC+2/CEST). Cross check with a different device and/or browser. No re-uploads - your submission is final. Important Stats to check prior to uploading Filename Template: MC100__SilverStoned__MrRockNRoll__ForumUsername.wav Song Length: 2:57 min (edit no shorter than 02:54.000min!) File Format: WAV, 44kHz, 24bit (export) Loudness (min/max): anything between -24,0 LUFS to -16,0 LUFS ILk, -1,00 dBTP max Off-site redistribution agreement Our Song Provider for this month, @JeroenZuiderwijk, does allow the usage of this song as part of a personal mix portfolio without prior communication. Please consult the bundled TXT for proper attribution credits.

INFO: This post is still a test-run to see how many people adhere to given rules. You can find everything you need to know in post #002 and the Mix Pack bundled TXT files. This third post might become redundant again after MC100.

EDIT: Initial Post on 25-SEP-2024 13:55
EDIT: Updated on 30-SEP-2024 23:25

elements · #4

What a fun song. What else can I say? I think it’s a very suitable track for a 100th celebration! Rock ON

Thank you.

PonySho · #5

Awesome track, I'm in!

floodo · #6

I'm really going to enjoy mixing this song, I practically grew up listening to grunge and it's one of those genres that marked a before and after in music, it's impossible not to think about that legendary trio from Seattle so dear to me, and if... Grunge is energy in its most electrifying state, I hope to be able to capture that energy in my mix and manage to shake heads when listening to it, greetings from Argentina!

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

floodo · #7

I'm doing my static mix and I'm noticing that the voices already have the reverb printed on them, I want to know if there is a problem in the rules about removing them using izotopba that RX reverb since it's a bit cumbersome when applying compression, that reverb gets very high.

#8

I don't see a problem with that, @floodo. Although the results might not be ideal (I tried as well, see the "Words" TXT file). You have to make the best out of what has been given to you.

Also, as mentioned in the Newsletter... I am working on a Rule Book addendum, which will in fact extensively cover the topic of drum editing tools. This addition should be available to everyone by end of Wednesday, 02nd October (German time zone).

JeroenZuiderwijk · #9

Hi all,

It is an honor to be the songprovider for MC100. Congratulations with this anniversary to Mr Fox with the best mix-challenge website on the internet!! And thank you for your hard work to keep the challenge going.

And I know it has been hard work, the future of the challenge depends on the availabiliy of songproviders.

For that reason I have been songprovider before and decided to provide another song. I encourage you all to explore the posibilities to be a songprovider as well or maybe you know a musician who would like to have his / her tracks mixed by our mixing community.

That being said, the tracks this month are far from ideal, and I am fully aware of the challenge that comes with that. But I am very glad that I can contribute to the mix-challenge and I hope you will enjoy this months contest.I am looking forward to your mixes!

Cheers,

Jeroen

kombainera · #10

Hi there happy MC 100

Thanks for the song to work with lets hope that there will be one more for the last MC for this year.

my entry: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Oj5ZOl ... sp=sharing

So drums ssl e channel on most tracks not duing much only on kick a lot of low end boost low mids cut and 5ish nad 7ish k boosts and vitamin to put some low end harmonics .On the snare saturn 2 for saturation, overheads a bit compression with 1176 style plugin, room x-saturator with + 6 db mode on. On the drum bus x saturator, ssl drum strip for harmonics again and tranzients, lindel t100 eq with +3db low boost and g bus comp for a bit glue.On paralel 2 revurbs and more drive for the kick and snare with different sends so i can control how much to blend.

Bass i duplicate it and put guitar amp sim on it and sans amp after that blend with original one some eq and multiband compressor + uad la2a gray for color. At first my bass was a lot loader in the mix but after some mix cheks here and there i put it back.

Guitars basic eq moves spring revurb on the 3 low gain guitars that are playing together. I dont get the rythm guitars panorama pathern at all seems that there is non so end up trowing them here and there.On the lead guitar a bit compression and api channel strip for color.

Nothing on the synt

Vocals compression on the first main one bit eq de esser and fab saturn for drive. On the gang vocals api 2500 style comp to glue them and vca comp after with 1-2 db more compressions.At the finale part there is some place that main vocal is commit with the gang vocals but i think that with the compression its ok.

Master bus vintage drive pul teck eq g bus style comp and a bit stereo wight and a bit peak control processing. It was not easy to fit into -16 lufs this time my mix was on -13 even with nothing on the master bus so i end up just pulling down the volume on every plugin that i put there.

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MIX CHALLENGE - MC100 October 2024 - Submissions until 21-OCT-2024 23:59 UTC+2/CEST

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Re: MIX CHALLENGE - MC100 October 2024 - Submissions until 21-OCT-2024 23:59 UTC+2/CEST