MIX CHALLENGE - MC100 October 2024 - Mix Round 2 in evaluation

[Mister Fox]

Well... it looks like I still need to overhaul the Rule Books and the explanation for the Statistics / Statistics Sheet, as these questions and concerns keep coming up every time a Mix(ing) Challenge has ended.

Ah I see that my filename invalid due to there being 2 underscores in the naming. Not very obvious in the rules.

I am sorry, but I kindly ask you to read again what has been written:

• in post #001, Paragraph "Before we get started", most notably: "The Multi-Track Mix Pack also features a "TL;DR Rules.txt" file with the game specific filename template and distribution specs."
• in post #002, the Rule Summary section, most notably the sentence "Additionally a TL;DR Rule Set with the game specific filename template and distribution specs." and the section "Important Stats to check prior to uploading"
• In post #003, the third bullet point once more explicitly stating "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.", repeating what has been written in post #002 with the Rule Summary section
• in the Mix Pack bundled "TL;DR Rules.txt", bullet point 09, explicitly stating "Pay attention to detail regarding the file naming. Use the provided template (see below) - simply copy / paste and then adjust the ForumUsername. Don't leave white spaces."
• the TL;DR Rules section of the extensive Rules and Guidelines, paragraph 09, once more stating "Pay attention to detail regarding the file naming. Use the provided template (see corresponding thread and Mix Pack bundled "TL;DR Rules.txt") - simply copy / paste and then adjust the ForumUsername."
• and the Rules for participants of the Mix Challenge in long form, Upload and Submission Guidelines, bullet point 10, stating "All entries must be properly named and tagged prior to uploading. Please use the following naming convention: ... (see follow-up text)"

If you consider this to be "not very obvious", I do not know what to tell you.


Your entry was submitted with the following filename

Code: Select all

Submission filename:
MC100_SilverStoned_MrRockNRoll_JohnRowley.wav

Filename template:
MC100__SilverStoned__MrRockNRoll__ForumUsername.wav
 
Filename should have been:
MC100__SilverStoned__MrRockNRoll__JohnRowley.wav

I really do not care if you you write John_Rowley or JohnRowley. As long as you use the forum username, and there are no white-spaces. It is imperative that the rest of the filename is as provided with the template. As mentioned multiple times throughout the last couple of years, I am using scripts for creating Statistic Sheets. If the filename is off, this results in wrong parsing of data, which results in me having to triple check things and manually adjust, resulting in more work. Worst case scenario, errors even.

So I assume I am disqualified from the contest now and cannot amend it now for inclusion?

I've also explained this in minute detail in post #188 (closing out Mix Round 1, listing the statistics) and post #203 (the follow-up post to the statistics). Additionally, both posts explicitly mention the Rule Book Addendum Thread called Statistic Sheet and Wild Card Mechanic, which explains the difference between "tagged disqualified" and "tagged OUT" even more, on top of explaining what can happen for you as participant for a possible selection for Mix Round 2.


Let me repost the important part again:

!	Bonus Info
	Your mix being "tagged disqualified", does not mean "you're out of the game" (exceptions do apply). For more information on the Statistic Sheet and the "Wild Card" Mechanic, please consult the following addendum thread: Mix Challenge - Addendum: Statistic Sheet and Wild Card Mechanic

The exception being "tagged OUT" (as marked with a red box and big bold "OUT" written in it). If your entry does not have this listed, then the "Wild Card" mechanic can be used. But only if the Song Provider selects your entry for Mix Round 2.

So please wait for the Mix Round 2 announcement.

Its weird that it shows 23 bit rate yet Cakewalk was set to 24 as per rule set and I turned down the Lufs as it seemed to loud.

That is also explained on the Statistic Sheet, final page, with the color code "legend", on top of the Addendum thread for the Statistic Sheet and Wild Card Mechanic, post #002, section "What does the Statistic Sheet tell you?", sub section "dBTP (L / R)".

The TL;DR is... this is how digital signals work. The lower the maximum signal strength, the less of the maximum bitrate of a file is being used. This is not an error, this is not a disqualification criteria. This is merely an information and how Wavelab (CD Mastering and File Analysis tool) lists the actual bitrate, despite the file being 44kHz 24bit WAV.

Even though I enjoyed doing this track, I was not keen on the loudness settings being too low and its easy to not read the correct file format as usually its one underscore not two.

You can submit an entry within the range of -24 LUFS ILk and -16 LUFS ILk. As long as it is within this "range", it is within given rules / parameters of the game.

Your entry has a "Peak-to-Loudness" ratio of 15,4 // the loudness range is 5,9 LU... which is highly dynamic. If you want, you can still push the loudness up to -17 LUFS ILk without reaching -1,00 dBTP maximum signal strength. And if you mixed properly, the material can still sound punchy and impactful, yet loud, despite it being lower than -16 LUFS ILk. Or "loudness being too low" (as general term).

Mastering, or rather "Finalizing for Distribution Medium ABC" as a possible follow-up step, should really only be for adjusting loudness for different release mediums, and setting a proper fade in/fade out.

This is what the Mix Challenge is trying to teach you. That you can(!!!) create outstanding mixes even at "such low loudness" - as has been proven for decades with releases between 1960s and late 1990s (where the loudness war really kicked into high gear and there was no longer any sense of "decent dynamic range"). The main concept of the Mix Challenge is to focus on "mixing only", creating a product that can stand on it's own and translate to any playback medium.

Bonus: you also learn to work with reference levels / "Ideal work levels" for both software tools and hardware (to those that use a hybrid setup).

Being the first challenge I have ever entered, i feel now not so confident in submitting anything else.

This is completely up your own discretion what you will do for future games.

However, in fairness to the work that our Song Provider is doing, and with the chance that you can still move up to Mix Round 2 despite your slight mistake, withdrawing "mid game" is not recommended.


If you still consider this experience to not be what you hoped for, then please reach out after Mix Round 2, and I can get your user account / credentials sorted out.




Thank you for reading and for familiarizing yourself with the rule book once again.

[kieran515s]

Here is my entry for the October mix challenge ,really enjoyed mixing this and it is a great song . https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0of6q57k ... hpbct&dl=0

Hey Kieran515s...interesting snare treatment in your mix. Did you use sample replacement?

Hi ponysho,
I used ez drummer as a snare and kick replacer using logics built in replacement

[PonySho]

It's quiet around here.
I'm guessing there's lots of busy-ness in the background going through the multitude of mixes.

[Mister Fox]

I'm in touch with our Song Provider. Working yourself through 110 mixes is quite time consuming after all.

We hope to give you all an update soon.

[JeroenZuiderwijk]

I'm in touch with our Song Provider. Working yourself through 110 mixes is quite time consuming after all.

We hope to give you all an update soon.

Indeed, thank you mr Fox,
I am not just skipping through the mixes. I listen to every mix with the full attention it deserves.

You'll hear from me as soon as possible.

Cheers,

Jeroen

[PonySho]

I'm in touch with our Song Provider. Working yourself through 110 mixes is quite time consuming after all.

We hope to give you all an update soon.

Indeed, thank you mr Fox,
I am not just skipping through the mixes. I listen to every mix with the full attention it deserves.

You'll hear from me as soon as possible.

Cheers,

Jeroen

Hi Jeroen - thanks for the response.
Sorry, didn't mean to come across as impatient, just curious.
And I appreciate that you have a MAMMOTH task.
I hope you're hearing some mixes that capture the vibe and flavour you and the band are looking for.

[JeroenZuiderwijk]

I'm in touch with our Song Provider. Working yourself through 110 mixes is quite time consuming after all.

We hope to give you all an update soon.

Indeed, thank you mr Fox,
I am not just skipping through the mixes. I listen to every mix with the full attention it deserves.

You'll hear from me as soon as possible.

Cheers,

Jeroen

Hi Jeroen - thanks for the response.
Sorry, didn't mean to come across as impatient, just curious.
And I appreciate that you have a MAMMOTH task.
I hope you're hearing some mixes that capture the vibe and flavour you and the band are looking for.

That's allright, glad you asked....I was so bussy with the mixes that I didn't thought of posting a reply

[scottfitz]

Hi,
If it was me reviewing so many mixes I would cue up the hardest 15 seconds of the track to mix and judge it solely on that. It is not foolproof by any means, but normally if someone is nailing the hardest part then they will have done well on the easier part too. The hardest part will normally be the part with the most tracks active. I would use this shortcut to get down to maybe 25 only and then start listening to the full length for the remaining mixes. It's still an incredible amount of work. Thanks for doing it for us. Please disregard what I said and continue to go your own way, it was just a thought of how I would do it once my turn comes.

[White Punk OD]

...
Should you have a moment, kindly give my mix a listen, even if it's not part of this month's competition.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HwA2Rj ... sp=sharing
..
The guitars were mixed using principles I learned reading SLIPPERMAN's (RIP) writings. Legend.

The mix setup was entirely in-the-box. I adapted Michael Brauer's Multi-buss compression style
...
Kind regards,
AtticusNOW!

ok I'll do it.
worked well, I like it.
guitars are on the brighter side, which is a legit old-school style. in digital era, can have more oomph.
drums sound really great, a little bit of punk is pure joy.
bass could use more distortion, perhaps an aggressive amp emulation like Ampeg.
vocals and guitar solo are good, but I would have added some gated bathroom reverb, different from the drums (different position in the depth).
no problem or issue, just for experimenting, what I would have tried if I had the time.

[Mister Fox]

I am more than overjoyed to announce the following license sponsor for the Mix Challenge audio community



Hornet Plugins is kind enough to give away any one license of winner's choice, alternatively any-2 licenses "Custom Bundle" with a total value less than 20 EUR MSRP
License will turn into NFR
More info on Hornet Plugins: https://www.hornetplugins.com



HoRNet Plugins have been with the Mix Mix Challenge since December 2017. They renew their partnership for both the Mix(ing) Challenge and Songwriting Competition with offering licenses to all available plug-in products. Their offer is retroactive (already in effect since SWC077 / January 2024, and starting with MC100 / October 2024).

A huge thank you goes to HoRNet Plugins for providing the licenses.