MIX CHALLENGE - MC102 February 2025 - Winners announced

[Denge]

I would love to get some feedback on my mix as well.
I did mistakenly upload a version with muted buses and eq on toms and all keys. But besides that, it is what it is

I'll happily return the favour with my limited knowledge.

Thanks to Mister Fox and Edling.

/Denge

Close mics on toms usually sounds bad in 90% of all recordings, muting them is a good default

Yeah I agree. I usually just sprinkle whatever I think is missing from the OH and room mics.

[Denge]

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/x5jfojl4 ... ulflc&dl=0

I had a couple of listens now. Great mix!
I really like the balance you have. I hear all the tracks great and complimenting each other.
I really dig the lift in the chorus. It makes a huge difference.

There was only two things that I reacted to (and this is probably my personal taste more than anything, but could also be my head phones accenting something) is that the "pop" of the snare is quite loud and that I (as a bass player) would love me some more bass guitar.

Thanks again for you feedback.
/Denge

[Denge]

Hello There,
Thanks Edling for sharing the stems of this song.. I reallly like it
Now It is crazy to think that it was recorded 16-20 Years ago, but the sound feels fresh and new, as if it could have been worked on in the last year.

My Version/Submission

My version of the song features some automation for chorus intensity, as I felt it was lacking.
The room mics for the drums are full of energy, but perhaps a bit much for the verse, so i also automated them to only appear in the chorus.
I really like the country-style guitar that picks on the end of the lyrical phrases of the verse.. I gave it a bigger presence with some reverb and raised its level.
I am not sure if the bass in my version is too loud, but it does play a important role in the song.. so I figured why not. As for its processing, I just used the DI Signal and amped it up differently.

The Vocals have a nice feel, but do depend on the backings in the chorus. so I took some time to try and make them blend... whether it was worth it or not. I hope they don't sound to nasal or harsh.. but bright and energetic..

I love the strings and the pad.. did not change much

Please let me know what you guys think

Great energy in this mix. And the bass can never be to loud
I love the tight feel of the verses. It creates a massive lift when the room mics enters the mix in the chorus.
One thing that I really like is that all this energy transfers to when I listen on a very low volume. Also the details are all there. I always have issues with finding that balance when listening on different volumes.
The only thing I found is that when the room mics enter they seem quite compressed and creates this different feel on the drums. I think it's just my personal taste. But it creates a more 70s than modern vibe for just that part that seems a bit out of place when the part before was quite modern sounding.

But a great job!

I'm super thankful for your feedback and getting to listen to your mix as well. Every posted mix has been a learning experience,
Thanks
/Denge

[SDB_12]

I would love to get some feedback on my mix as well.
I did mistakenly upload a version with muted buses and eq on toms and all keys. But besides that, it is what it is

I'll happily return the favour with my limited knowledge.

Thanks to Mister Fox and Edling.

/Denge

Yo,

I took a listen, and to be honest I really like the vibe you have going. Your mix sounds roomy and kinda trashy on the drums but in a cool way. You've balanced the instruments and vocals really well overall...and nothing is jumping out at me. I really like the kick sound you have as I think it's fitting with your mixing vibe.

With that said...the things I would have done differently to suit my personal tastes:

-the mix sounds a bit mono...I'd want more spread and bigness coming out of the sides and a little more punch overall
-toms are low...(probably b/c you've muted them???) ha!
-more punch when we transition from verse to chorus. More of a jump in width and bigness
-try more automation, level rides, interesting effects here and there, etc. overall

Nice job!

If anyone cares to listen to my mix, it's the first post on page 14

Thanks!

Hey there,
Had a quick listen to your mix SDB and honestly I think it's good. I would want more low end to the bass than this and maybe a bit less reverb on the vocals but it's decent. I think the main problem with what you've done with the bass is that by having a shortage of low lows, you end up with this pronounced amount of 300Hz. When I listen I want to reach for an EQ and take about 2dBs out around 300Hz where there is build up of this mid-dy bass, electric guitars, bottom of the vocals.

Anyway cheers and good luck

Very cool, thank you @scottfitz for the insight and for taking the time to listen and reply. I only left myself a day to get the mix done and submitted and was testing out my new Audeze headphones for this one...so the next day I listened and wished I had filled out the low end of the bass guitar a bit more like you mentioned...so if I move on to round two depending on the feedback that would be something I'd look into doing.

For now, I played around with a master eq just dipping 300hz a bit and you're right, it did open up the track. It's something to keep in mind for me moving forward, so again, thank you! I'll take a listen to your mix as well soon and give some feedback to return the favor.

[SDB_12]

If anyone cares to listen to my mix, it's the first post on page 14

Thanks!
[/quote]

Very Nice mix, I would have only good things to say as everything but one is to my liking.

The guitar motif in the verse is too loud.. the first time especially.. not the second time.. but then again in the second verse its just a little too loud, everywhere else its well balanced.. and hte reverb works great..the space is great.. and d-a-m-n how do you get your cymbals so silky
[/quote]

Thank you for listening! I really appreciate your feedback, I'll have a listen to those verse guitars to check the volume of them

For silky, smoother cymbals...I'm generally boosting in the airy frequencies, as I did in this mix, like around 15khz, and maybe some 12khz. Dip anything that hurts around 2-5khz.

With drums in general I typically like an 8khz shelf boost going on from something like an SSL, so sort of this gradual rise of the top end to make them cut and shine, without being harsh. It seems I often like cymbals to be the very tip top of the record sitting over the mix, and often to be pretty present in a rock style song...and the only way I can get away with that is to make sure they stay silkier and pleasant sounding lol. Otherwise, ouch!

Thanks for the nice comment on them!

[SDB_12]

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/x5jfojl4 ... ulflc&dl=0

I had a couple of listens now. Great mix!
I really like the balance you have. I hear all the tracks great and complimenting each other.
I really dig the lift in the chorus. It makes a huge difference.

There was only two things that I reacted to (and this is probably my personal taste more than anything, but could also be my head phones accenting something) is that the "pop" of the snare is quite loud and that I (as a bass player) would love me some more bass guitar.

Thanks again for you feedback.
/Denge

Thank you! I completely agree! I mentioned in a few posts back that since I only left myself 1 day to complete the mix and submit, the next day I listened fresh for the first time, and wished I'd added a little more low end to the bass guitar to fill it all up down there. And yes, I love the snare to crack, often times getting a little carried away with it I do find that sometimes this can be good once the track is mastered, but for this mix on this site without a limiter at the end, yeah it's a bit loud

Thanks again!

[DSBotez]

[/quote]
The only thing I found is that when the room mics enter they seem quite compressed and creates this different feel on the drums. I think it's just my personal taste. But it creates a more 70s than modern vibe for just that part that seems a bit out of place when the part before was quite modern sounding.
[/quote]

Yes.. I can defs try to keep a more modern sound through the chorus with the drums.. the room mics might be a bit too much, and give a old quality vibe.

thanks for the feedback

[Pitta]

Hey Pitta, Key and Scott,

All good mixes, collectively you've actually made me hear mine in a different light! I think my vocals are a tad toppy in comparison I need to rein that in a little if I get the chance.

Here's a quick bit of mix feedback for you all...

@Pitta
• Overall the mix in general seems very dry. This does make it nice and upfront on one hand but also makes it feel like it lacks some excitement and sheen on the other
• Something weird is going on with the vocal top end, in places it sounds very lispy like it's been too harshly de-essed (eg: "second" and "smile" in the first line)
• Vocals aren't quite loud enough in the choruses, they're being drowned by the guitars and drums
• To me the drums sound too dry and a little too loud on the whole (hats / snare / kick in particular), but they have good punch.
• Conversely though, the overheads aren't loud enough - the crashes are very quiet (eg: at 1:03) so you're missing some of the musical punctuation they bring
• Cool effects on the "dig your own grave" line, very creepy and powerful

In summary a pretty good mix I would say, just largely level balance issues to deal with.

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@keyhengchan
• Drums sound a bit thin and weak against the guitars
• Love the chorus effect you've used on some of the guitar tracks throughout, very cool sound!
• Not sure the guitar delay effect in the first verse works though, it's a bit distracting
• Chorus vocals are a bit narrow and not quite loud enough - there's not a lot of difference between the verse and chorus in terms of width / level, so you're missing the emotive impact the extra vocals tracks can bring

A great job for a headphone mix though, and especially for someone still at school starting out, I wish I could mix this well when that was me back in the day!

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@scottfitz
• A main issue is you didn't include a fade out at the end. I'm not sure if this was just a technical oversight in the bounce down, for instance, or you just missed it
• Pad in the verses is too loud, I think it's swamping some of your vocal clarity
• However, I really like the level of the all the keys and strings in the chorus - gives it a wonderful sorrowful boost as they ascend, you really feel it, nice job here!
• Some harsh frequencies to tame on the strings / mello in the solo section, really quite piercing in places
• Vocals in general are a bit quiet in both verses and choruses
• Drums are good, all elements nicely balanced
• Solo guitar could be louder
• Breakdown is a bit one-sided with both the acoustic and tremolo guitars off to the left, maybe split them left and right

You've done a good mix here, but my advice would be not to focus too much on the technicalities. Try and look at the broader picture of the musical product you're crafting - does it sound cool? Will people enjoy listening to it? How does it make you feel? I know as mix engineers we're ideally supposed to remain objective and somewhat clinical in the process, but it's music after all.

One of the most eye-opening stories I heard from a good friend of mine who runs a studio professionally - when he was starting out some years ago he met the engineer who mixed a lot of George Ezra's tracks and my friend had the chance to play him some of his mixes. He didn't respond with technical details, in fact the very first thing he said was "the vocals aren't cool enough". For me that just said it all - focus on the outcome, the musical product. I try to remember that with each mix I do.


Best regards,

Benji

Thanks for the input Benji! Your mix is very nice, very smooth and easy to listen. I don't feel vocal is to toppy. Maybe could be deessed on the way to the reverb. I like the overall tonal balance. Could hear more of the strings. From this point is taste, and I feel that anything I could say would be to make yours more like mine. We feel and hear things differently.
Having said that, there's aspects of your review on mine that I tottaly agree. They jumped at me the next morning after the late night submission.
Esses are overcooked, and could have more cymbals. I guess I get more sensitive to high frequencies when I'm tired.
I wanted the vocals a bit more burried in the chorus, to feel a bit of struggle but I could admit more half db or so and still mantain that effect, to feel the instrumental bigger.
Thanks again, cheers!

[BenjiRage]

Thanks for the input Benji! Your mix is very nice, very smooth and easy to listen. I don't feel vocal is to toppy. Maybe could be deessed on the way to the reverb. I like the overall tonal balance. Could hear more of the strings. From this point is taste, and I feel that anything I could say would be to make yours more like mine. We feel and hear things differently.

Cheers for having a listen and thanks for the kind words. It's interesting you said you don't think the vocals are too toppy, I keep flipping on this - one listen they are, the next they're not. Really just depends how my ears feel on the day I think haha

[Pitta]

[/quote]
I keep flipping on this - one listen they are, the next they're not. Really just depends how my ears feel on the day I think haha
[/quote]

I'm sure we can all relate. Got me thinking, again, that I should use references more. I always find it difficult to find the right songs to reference accordingly to what I'm mixing and end up just listening, in the start of a mixing session, to songs that I know well, just to tune my ears.