MIX CHALLENGE - MC104 June 2025 - Submissions until 21-JUN-2025 23:59 UTC+2/CEST

[Mister Fox]

Hello and welcome to the Mix Challenge 104 - June 2025

!

Bonus Info

With this month's game, you have the chance to work on a "Synth-Pop" (Synthwave) production by Mix Challenge community regular @BenjiRage, who kindly provided these multi-tracks. The song is called "Above the Clouds", and was an entry for Songwriting Competition 073 in September 2023. The bigger challenges this month, will be handling various layers of sound that (when mixed properly) result in a certain "sound cloud". And depending on how you mix, this can also drastically change the "feel" of the song. Another aspect of this challenge are the vocals, which were created with the help of a vocal synthesizer. Have we piqued your interest? 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.



.
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 #000 -- Mix Round 1 Statistics/Data Sheet: Overview of Submissions - is your entry within given parameters?
Post #000 -- 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

[Mister Fox]

CURRENT CHALLENGE - GENERAL INFORMATION

Time Frame: Sunday, 01st June 2025 to Saturday, 21th June 2025 (21 days)

Challenge submission will end on 21-JUN-2025, 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: BenjiRage (represented by forum user @BenjiRage)
Song Name and Length: Above the Clouds, 04:56 min
Song Information: 115 BPM / Signature: 4/4
File Format: WAV, 44kHz, 24bit (source)

GENRE: Synth-Pop / Synthwave


Preview of the Song (Demo Mix):


Image Source: photo by Ben Stuart-Brown, released under Berne Convention, allowed to be used on the Mix Challenge homepage
If you want to cross-promote this Mix(ing) Challenge on another platform - please use this image instead.




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


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


SOURCE FILES:

Main Mix Package - full package (925,29 MB, regular ZIP)

IMPORTANT NOTE: download window might show a smaller file size, file unavailable after 21-JUN-2025
File size extracted: 2535,85 MB, packed 925,29 MB (regular ZIP)

The provided files were packed using normal ZIP compression (Deflate, Ultra). This format should work on all operating systems and does not require any special tools to extract. If you have problems extracting the files, please make sure that your OS apps are up-to-date!


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


A word from the song provider:

This song was originally an entry I did for the Mix Challenge held Songwriting Competition SWC073 in September 2023.


I'd been having a pretty tough time that year due to worsening tinnitus, hearing issues and low-pressure headaches linked to a CSF leak, and I was very worried about how much time with good hearing I might have left. It made me reassess the direction my life was going and I made the decision that month to go part time at my regular job as a web developer so I had much more time to focus on writing and producing music. The theme of the competition was "reflection", so I wrote "Above the Clouds" about the crush I had when I was 17 on the character Tidus from the video game Final Fantasy X - a reflection on something really personal to me from a much happier and care-free time in my life. It's something that became a part of who I am today and I wouldn't be the same without it.

In terms of the mix - the original is very squashed so something that is a more spacious while still maintaining a lush and reverberant sound would be great. I was gunning for a very 80s sound, something that would place is squarely in the Synthwave genre, although it probably wandered a little more towards pop than I originally would have liked.

I'm hoping to hear some quite heavy and/or creative use of reverbs and delays but I'm interested to hear your take on the song and where you feel the mix should go - maybe that's more towards the modern end of the spectrum with a clean and polished mix that's a bit drier, or something really retro with some grit and dark reverbs reminiscent of early 80s. Hopefully the references will help to give you a starting point.

Finally, I would request that you avoid attempting to tune the vocals since they're synthesized anyway, they're already very on point and all this will do is introduce unwanted artifacts.

Please also use all the supplied tracks, as they're all integral to the overall sound. Although you can recreate a similar delay effect like the "Keys OB Plucky Delay" yourself. A screenshot with the original settings has been provided.

Rule Summary:

► Show Spoiler

More technical details are in the Mix Pack bundled TXTs. In there you can find the lyrics of the song (incl. a translation to English), more information about the individual files, possible changes to the time signature, and maybe even additional tips and tricks relevant to this production (by the Mix Challenge staff). Additionally a TL;DR Rule Set with the game specific filename template and distribution specs. And, depending on the song provider's approval, an available "Off-site redistribution agreement" for a possible portfolio presentation.

Please consult the official Rules and Guidelines for a more detailed set of rules, including how to document your edits, maximum loudness values and delivery formats (see Rule Book - Post #6). Please pay attention to detail. Failing to adhere to the rules will result in disqualification. There will be no additional reminders given.


Important Stats to check prior to uploading

Filename Template: MC104__BenjiRage__AboveTheClouds__ForumUsername.wav

Song Length: 04:57min (edit no shorter than 04:56.200min!)

File Format: WAV, 44kHz, 24bit (export)
Loudness (min/max): anything between -24,0 LUFS to -16,0 LUFS ILk, -1,00 dBTP max

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


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

Available Bonus Prizes for Mix Challenge participants:

Note: All licenses are NFR (Not-For-Resale), except where noted.
Changes to available prizes on short notice may be possible and will be announced separately.



Acon Digital is kind enough to give away either one plugin bundle, or any individual stereo plug-in of winner's choice. (exception: Application Bundles, Immersive plugins)
License will turn into NFR
More info on Acon Digital: https://acondigital.com



Audified is kind enough to give away one license of MixChecker Pro to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Audified: https://audified.com



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



IK Multimedia is kind enough to give away one license of T-RackS Tape Machine Collection to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on IK Multimedia: https://www.ikmultimedia.com



Kilohearts is kind enough to give away a "Sound Design Playground" Bundle, consisting of one license each of Snap Heap and Multipass, which supercharges all freely available Kilohearts Essentials.
License will turn into NFR
More info on Kilohearts: https://www.kilohearts.com



Metric Halo is kind enough to give away a single plugin of winner's choice (exception: SpectraFoo)
License will turn into NFR
More info about Metric Halo: https://mhsecure.com/metric_halo/



NUGEN Audio is kind enough to give away one license from the depicted tools (see image) to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on NUGEN Audio: https://nugenaudio.com



Tone2 is kind enough to donate a license of Ultraspace to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Tone2: https://tone2.com



THANKS FOR THE LICENSE DONATIONS!
And also a thank you to all former contributors as well.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

[Mister Fox]

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.
INFO: You can always find everything you need to know in post #002 and the Mix Pack bundled TXT files.

⚠	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 depth, 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 for public access with a different device and/or browser while being logged out of the file hosting service. No re-uploads - your submission is final. Important Stats to check prior to uploading Filename Template: MC104__BenjiRage__AboveTheClouds__ForumUsername.wav Song Length: 04:57min (edit no shorter than 04:56.200min!) 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 ► Show Spoiler Our Song Provider for this month, @BenjiRage, does not allow the usage of this song as part of a personal mix portfolio. Request by the Song Provider ► Show Spoiler We (the Song Provider and I, the host) would like to know on what on what devices you mixed his song. Please note down your used headphones and / or speakers, if they have been frequency corrected (e.g. traditional methods with 31-band EQs, or custom correction software), if you use room treatment, etc. Please keep it simple - you do not need to mention the full signal chain in this case. Answers like "mixed on Genelec 1031A, frequency corrected with Sonarworks SoundID, cross checked with Noname PC speakers, the room has been treated" or "mixed on AKG K240 Studio, no correction" will suffice. Thank you.

EDIT: Initial Post on 31-MAY-2025 23:40

[kombainera]

@BenjiRage Thanks to the wonderful song to work this month. Just download the multitracks and i have small technical question. How the tracks "vox chorus" must be routed/panned. In pro tools 12 it made them automatic at one 3 channel track but the output option of it is just mono- l or mono R. Is it wrong that i duplicate it just to get both channels working or may be i must reimport the l c and r channels manual again. I can make it to work and by my self but just in case if u have some hints i decide to ask. Cheers

[Mister Fox]

Our kind Song Provider might be able to go way more into detail regarding mix ideas.

For the time being:
I highly recommend re-importing. Before you do, check that your project either has the "Interleave" setting active, or check your audio settings on import (Audio Tab, set "treat as individual mono"), or use the "Breakout to Mono" command to have individual tracks.

Some DAWs are very picky if you load files that are labeled L, C, R and either creates the wildest groups, or combines them as "dual mono" files. ProTools is one of them. The "stack" is indeed three individual positions in the stereo field (Left and Right depends on how far you pan things, and one center voice).

[BenjiRage]

@BenjiRage Thanks to the wonderful song to work this month. Just download the multitracks and i have small technical question. How the tracks "vox chorus" must be routed/panned. In pro tools 12 it made them automatic at one 3 channel track but the output option of it is just mono- l or mono R. Is it wrong that i duplicate it just to get both channels working or may be i must reimport the l c and r channels manual again. I can make it to work and by my self but just in case if u have some hints i decide to ask. Cheers

Yeah I noticed my Pro Tools did the same when I test imported them yesterday, sorry for the confusion! There shouldn't be any special routing as such so you could just create three new mono audio tracks and drag them off the LCR channel to the these then pan them as you like (C obvs should be central but L&R don't necessarily have to be 100% wide, although I think they were in my original mix ). Or you could try the re-import with the selected options as Mister Fox suggested.

[kombainera]

@BenjiRage @Mister Fox Thanks for the reply ! At the end simple rename on the source tracks did the job done. The strange thing was that it worked from the second import after the rename. My point is that it still knows that this are the same tracks even renamed. But this was the only solution that i find and i have 3 mono tracks at the end .

[theHELLuTALKINGabout]

I was going for timeless hit, then I remembered the rules, but anyway

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Irhd9Y ... sp=sharing

[BenjiRage]

I was going for timeless hit, then I remembered the rules, but anyway

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Irhd9Y ... sp=sharing

Wow, that was...unexpected . It would be pretty cool in a remix challenge but, yeah, I think you've broken a few too many rules for just a mix. Well done for using the filename template correctly at least

[elements]

@BenjiRage Nice track..You know I went back to that songwriters challenge and it was your first submission in the comp
The comp was running hot that month!
It’s a strong track. Has me feeling it on my initial balance run.
Thanks for putting it up here for us to play with.