MIX CHALLENGE - MC103 April 2025 - Mix Round 1 in evaluation

[Mork]

Hey and Moin,

catchy song that stays in your head!
With the mix notes in my head (vibey like Happy etc) I set up the session and literally let the song guide me. It inspired me to do a lot of things different than usual. I started the mix with everything open and just hit play. I never do that... until now I mixed a good portion with only a little tape (UAD Ampex) on the mixbus, usually I have most of my chain set up from the get go. This results in only a 2500 on 1.5:1, which is even dialed back to 50% Mix, on the Mixbus. Usually there's an additional DynOne and maybe Weiss. But the funkiest thing is, there is no limiter... I actually think there isn't one in the whole session. Yes, in 2025

So while I'm balancing and getting a feel for the song, Falco and Bilderbuch where constantly popping into my head (I actually referenced neither). I don't know why, but that set my goal to land between my idea of those two. In my mind the Falco part is the not-so-subtle and bright reverb vibe with proper action drum room. Drum room is the original drum room nuked with a Distressor (it's actually on 20:1 not Nuke). I tried to enhance it with some other fancy reverbs, but it just worked best on its own.
The Bilderbuch part is more the spectral shape and attitude. Heavy and crisp. The vocal recording kind of dictates a little crispness. There's an Sonnox Surpresser on it, but that can only do so much. The body of the lead vocal is maintained by a parallel all-buttons-in UAD 1176E. Peaks are generally shaped and conrolled by saturation. Decapitator, KClip, MH Character, UAD Ampex... things like that. Snare 2 for instance is driven heavily into an API Vision Channel to get rid of the "plastic" edge.

While mixing I imagined the lead vocalist, racing in his cabrio towards his girl, singing this song and getting maybe a little careless... But who cares, he's in love and hyped.

Mixed in Reaper on Audeze LCD-X, EQed on my ADI-2 Pro FS.

https://icedrive.net/s/G4ujDN8CVN9BG5abX815Gb89taGi

[Davias]

Hello, thanks again for this great challenge ^^

I mixed in my untreated room which is full of stuff n dirt lol, with KRK Rokit 8 that serves me under dire conditions since ten years at least.
Rushed mix (but pressure can be good) because of IRL constraints, so I didn't double check on my Beyerdynamics headphones nor on my cellphone which I usually do.

I mixed focusing on the Pharell vibe, esp his track with Robin Thick, despite the mood being a bit different.
So I tried to make the beat thick n groovy, and I started with adding the bass n the funky guitar.

I left the snare a little bit alone, and afterthought It was a bit more hiphop n less rock I hope.

I used a lot of vari mu comps, britson n bx neve the modern one consle, just for flavor, valhalla vintage reverb


Here is the mix : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ztXIFj ... sp=sharing

[Davias]

Now I'm listening it thhu my phone and there's a bad crackling at the start, I do wounder where does it comes from, note for later

Good luck to everyone !

[SuC76]

Hi,

Here is my mix.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/12OBlyq ... sp=sharing


Mixed in Logic X
Added Uad Oxid Tape on all channels.


2BUS
SSL Comp 2:1 / 3dB of GR
Some UAD Pultec EQP-1A
60 Hz about 3dB and 3k 3dB , wide bandwidth



KICK- copy track and roll off some bottom. added some clip distortion
bussed together and added some Uad 1176 and Slate FG-N

SNARE - copy track and roll off some bottom. added some saturation and some SPX900 Room
bussed together and added some Uad 1176 and Slate FG-N

Toms - UAD 1176 4:1, some FG-N and some reverb.,CLA TOMS

Overheads L and R - bussed together , roll of some bottom , UAD La2A

Rooms - rolled off some top and bottom, smashed with Uad 1176

GUITARS - added on one bus panned hard left and right , rolled some top and bottom, added some CLA3-A and Slate FG-N

SYNTH and Fx - Slate Lead Pusher

Vocals - added some UAD 1176 and Slate FG-N



Thanks to Mix Challenge and song provider !

[knob_Houdini]

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[Mister Fox]

It is the 22nd April 2025, 00:10 UTC+2/CEST - the first Mix Round has officially ended

A very warm welcome to all new participants, glad you found this place, nice meeting you and I hope you'll enjoy your stay. Furthermore, an extended thank you to everyone that is spreading the word about the Mix Challenge.

Please also help get the Songwriting Competition as popular (SWC092 is still in full swing).


STATISTICS:

• If I didn't miscount, we have 075 submissions this month (075 prior to the deadline, plus 01 after the deadline, not counting possible re-submissions)
• the multi-tracks have been downloaded 143 times (regular compressed ZIP)
• We have 01 submission after the deadline (as of 22-APR-2025 08:30 UTC+2/CEST)
• We have 03 submissions that could not be downloaded by the time of this post and are therefore disqualified (re-checked 22-APR-2025 08:30 UTC+2/CEST)
• We have 01 submission not submitted properly or not submitted in public (e.g. submitted via SoundCloud or via PM - see Rule Book, post #6, Upload and Submission Guidelines)
• We have 02 submissions that have been withdrawn (entry counts as "submission within the deadline")

STATISTIC SHEETS:

• Overview of Submissions - is your entry within given parameters? (PDF - updated: 00-APR-2025 00:00 UTC+2/CEST)
• Overview of Submissions (disqualifications only) (PDF - updated: 00-APR-2025 00:00 UTC+2/CEST)

INFORMATION:
The submitted entries will be checked again for accessibility and time stamps over the course of the next 48-72 hours (collection check)

Statistic Sheets are not available yet, please wait for the official announcement post -- sheets will arrive by end of 26-APR-2025 latest -- this is not an automated process
Statistic Sheets have been updated (on 00-APR-2025 00:00 UTC+2/CEST)
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⚠	Moderation Message from Mister Fox
	Our Song Provider for this month, @Strange, decided to go the "(Feedback for) Top 15" route. There might be additional feedback, but this is not a guarantee. We will keep you updated.

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I now open the field for everyone to give each other feedback (highly encouraged). This will be independent to the client feedback however.


Please watch this spot for the Statistic Sheets, client feedback and Mix Round 2 participant announcement.

Good luck to all participants.





The Songwriting Competition 092 (SWC092) is still in full swing.
There are 05 entries so far -- this month's theme: "Rushed" (Picture Theme), genre: free to select

Please spread the word, get involved, and just make music!




EDIT: 22-APR-2025 00:10 UTC+2/CEST - initial post
EDIT: 22-APR-2025 08:30 UTC+2/CEST - Initial Statistics updated

[knob_Houdini]

Well... better late than never, right?
I jumped on this mix last minute—timing always trips me up (blame the whole UTC vs EST dance, I’m based in NY). Did this rough pass in about 1 hour and 29 minutes, all in the box, straight on headphones.

The track? Beautifully produced, really organic. A few spots I'd normally polish—some digital harshness that could use saturation, warmth, maybe even a tube hug. The balance needed finesse, especially with dynamics around the bridge and chorus—automation would’ve brought the emotion out just right. But hey, contest rules, so I kept it honest.

Wish I’d had a couple more days to finesse it, but hey... challenge accepted.

Enjoy the ride, folks.
Salutazioni. Mit herzlichen Grüßen.





Click here to Listen the MIX

[scottfitz]

Thank you @Strange for providing this fun song & @Mr Fox for keeping this thing going and putting up with us not following the rules.

My mood / inspiration was etched into my mind reading the provider notes. Who doesn't love "Happy"?

After rough balance and truly listening to this song, hit my first derailment... that bridge, oh my that bridge...
So dark yet the message is still so positive. As if the door is a barricade, but a temporary one. So I leaned into the darkness only to be pulled out by the whistle.


My Mix:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gK46DK ... sp=sharing

The technicals

Mixed ITB using Pro Tools, Beyerdynamic DT990 PRO Headphones and Sonorworks Reference ID correction.

All Drums processed with EQ / Compression using Pro-Q3 and SSL Channel Strip

Kick & Snare sent for parallel compression using dbx 160
Snare sent for additional parallel processing using lockless for added sizzle
All drums sent for parallel compression using distressed.

Used both bass tracks with different EQ curves. DI was left clean and just used as weight. LA2A in limiting mode on both of these tracks.
Bass Bus used multi band compression and LA2A.

All Guitars, Multi band compression, LA3A, and Helios Preamp.

Lead Vox, Slight pitch correction, Neve 1073 Pre, 1176 and LA2A.
Sent to Vocal Chorus with automated send level. Also sent to slap delay and 1/8 note delay and plate verb.

Backing Vocals, not much processing. Sent to chorus, delay, and plate verb.

All Group busses, ATR-102 and VMR for console / tape emulation.

Mix bus, ATR-102 and VMR for console / tape. BX Digital V3 for stereo width and Pultec EQ. No compressor was used on the mix bus.

Master fader only included SSL Meter, Mastering the Mix Reference, ISOL8 to easily convert to mono (Rough mix is always in Mono) and Sonarworks.

I regret to inform you that you have uploaded the wrong track by mistake. I'm not sure if there is any chance to now submit the one you intended it to be, I suspect the rules say not. But you may want to still post the one you intended it to be for feedback purposes

[Mister Fox]

I jumped on this mix last minute—timing always trips me up (blame the whole UTC vs EST dance, I’m based in NY).

This is why we have a Global Countdown both as dedicated page, and on the landing site. The clock at the top of the forum shows the time difference as well. The time you need to keep an eye on, is "Berlin / DE" (Berlin / Germany).

Each thread post #002 has a reminder.


I got your entry, it will show up on the Statistic Sheet (ETA: soon).

Good luck for the next Mix(ing) Challenge.