Firstly thank you to you all for entering, it's amazing that so many people had a go at mixing my little song, and for your kind words too I'm very humbled! It's great to see so many new users joining too.
Once again it was a hard choice picking a top 15, there were many who missed out narrowly. It was also very interesting regarding the use of monitors/headphones - I had a prediction that nearly all of the tracks I would choose for the top 15 would be primarily mixed on monitors, however, I was pleasantly surprised that this turned out not to be the case. In the end it appears to be an almost 50/50 split between those who mixed mainly on headphones vs mainly on monitors so it definitely presents the argument that, as long as you know the caveats of your system well, mixing on headphones absolutely can turn out great results.
It was similarly interesting to note that out of the mixers who did document their monitoring nearly 1 in 3 used some form of EQ curve or frequency correction on their system. Take this with a pinch of salt, but I did note that some of the mixes with the most obvious frequency issues were ones where correction had been used. That's not to say frequency correction isn't a helpful tool, but if you've always used it on your system (IE: you haven't really ever mixed without it), how do you know you're creating better mixes with it than without? Try turning it off and see how things go - it might be better, it might be worse but you'll at least have a frame of reference, which is what it's all about.
To the feedback...the thing I found I was writing the most was "K2000 piano too quiet in the mid-section", which applied to nearly a quarter of all the mixes. This is an important section in the song so if anyone in the top 15 has had a comment like this, please do take note! Apologies also if anyone's feedback seems short, I've tried not to waffle on too much and 92 mixes was a lot to review! If you have any questions let me know and I'll try to further expand on my comments.
► Show Spoiler
theHELLuTALKINGabout
Yeah sadly we know this is an instant "OUT" due to the speed and arrangement changes if nothing else! It's a creative effort, but purely in terms of the mix... sorry to be harsh but it's pretty bad. Wildly irrational panning, really chorusey/phasey sound on everything that's turned it all to mush, drums go really quiet in the mid section, and the frequency balance is just waaaay off.
kombainera
It feels like you might have rushed to submit this mix, there are a couple of things wrong that could have been picked up with a quick listen through. Namely the K2000 Piano in the mid section is missing - I can hear the reverb of it but the main channel sounds like it's muted, and there's also 30+ seconds of silence at the end that ideally should have been trimmed. I like the drums, which are nice and punchy, but the vocals are a bit too quiet in general and there's no real boost as the chorus comes in with the extra tracks. They could also have been compressed a little more to bring out the diction.
BenoitCharbonnier
I can't hear the reverse clap at all. The vocal delay is well chosen but has been a bit overdone in the verses and is making the vocals separate too much from the instruments. However, it works really well in the choruses. The chorus vocals are perhaps a little too wide though, reducing the levels of the L and R channels in relation to C would address this. The toms balance could do with a little more of the VSDSX ones vs Reason. Mid section piano could do with some extra reverb/delay and indeed the instruments in general are a bit dry. Also a lack of bass frequencies from Diva Bass so some of the punch is lost.
FromAtoZMix
The intro starts off really nice but then there's a horrible amount of distortion briefly when the drums hit, what's going on there?! I like the OB plucky synth bounce. The verse vocals are pretty sweet sounding, however they are off centre to the left, which is a big issue. There's also an issue going on (with some of the master plugins I suspect) where the mix seems to get louder when it thins out in the verses then gets supressed again in the choruses. Crashes are just way too loud and distorting, kinda ruins the enjoyment of the mix overall, which is otherwise a pretty good effort.
Vanilla Puff
Intro is pretty gritty, I kinda like it, but the drums are too quiet and muffled in comparison. The drums do actually have a nice smack to them, just needs that top end lifting and the unpleasant distortion taming. I'd say the OB plucky track is a bit loud/over compressed in relation to everything else, it's sticking out a bit much. Maybe relax the compression on things in general, feels like the mix is struggling to breathe. The vocals are nice and upfront but aren't quite sitting in the mix - I think this is just down to the choice of reverb, which is a bit too bathroom-like. Mid-section K2000 piano could do with being a tad louder. I think you've captured the musical movement overall though, it's got a good vibe.
Ronson79
Instruments and drums sound really muffled here, vocals not so much, they're better. Strong bass track, which drives the track well, but maybe a bit too loud. Backing vocals are really quiet and chorus vocals could be wider and the mid-section K2000 piano is completely missing!
Edling
Lovely balance between vocals/drums/synths, everything blends together really nicely. Well-chosen effects with a lovely sense of spaciousness. The spectral profile is a little thin sounding in general, it feels like there's a bit of an EQ tilt going on pushing the highs and reducing the low-mids/lows, but other than that it sounds great.
paglia
Drums are on point, lots of nice smack from the snare (a touch too loud though). Verse vocals are nice and bright but a little overcooked on the chorus effect - I like the choice of it but it's too prominent. Chorus vocals in contrast are dark and muffled-sounding. K2000 piano is too quiet, as are some of the other synths like Fantasia and the Diva pad.
filipandrei
Fab mix! Sounds nice and punchy and bright right from the start. Vocals in the verses have great clarity, but they start to get lost as the chorus approaches and then in the choruses they're a little buried under the additional instruments, I think just making them a bit louder will sort any issue here. Nice strong reverbs, love the K2000 piano - it sits right in the pocket.
sjottasound
OB Plucky has too much high frequency rolled off, sounds incredibly muffled. Drums and instruments are a little quiet in relation to the vocals, especially in the choruses. I love the reverb, nice and spacious with a lovely decay when the sections change. Feels like the mix is lacking some mids in general, bass is there and treble is sweet but the mid-range power is falling a bit flat - I think this is because you've mixed the Diva Pad track really quiet and thinly as evident in the break down. Mid section K2000 piano is too quiet and the energy level after the second chorus drops because of this.
hjchjc
Nice OB plucky, but the D50 Fantasia track has way too much of a scoop and it's barely audible. Verse vocals are a bit too loud and don't sit in the mix too well, although I like really the delay effects you've chosen. Chorus vocals are good though. The chorus effect on the K2000 piano is a bit too strong and pushes it back in the mix too much.
MixyMcMixFace
Nice creative intro there, definitely something I wouldn't have thought of but it works. Vocals, drums and instrument levels on the whole are well balanced together. I feel like the OB plucky track or maybe the delay could be louder in the verses as it feels like there's something missing in these sections. The mix in general is also quite muffled - I think a wide bell boost EQ of 3 to 4dB at 8kHz should address this. Rolling off the low end on the drum reverb would also greatly help as this is considerably darkening the sound. K2000 mid section piano could definitely be louder. Lovely shimmery breakdown section and the sections in general are very well punctuated with good apparent energy boosts for the choruses. A decent effort, 80s Robot!
Mark929
Pretty solid mix with strong, punchy drums, nice and clear vocals, and tasteful reverb and delay. Nice hit into the chorus sections. In general the pads and some of the synths could do with being a bit louder and having some more effects as they're pretty quiet and dry - especially in the choruses where it feels like there's something lacking. K2000 piano definitely needs to be louder in the mid-section.
Vanderdude
Immediate impressions were that there's too much compression and a lot of harsh distortion going on here. Vocals are really loud/harsh and don't sit with the drums and synths - probably need to reduce the level by at least 3dB for them to sit right. You've made some interesting panning choices too, which I perhaps wouldn't have done myself but they have added some width to the mix, which I like.
UHLS
First off thank you for entering even though synthwave isn't your bag. Interesting choice of effect on the OB plucky track! It's totally different and perhaps a bit prominent in the mix, but it really imparts a bouncy, shuffle movement on the song, which is kinda cool. There's some nasty distortion going on with the drum hits where the sections change, but the energy difference between verse and chorus is good, lots of boost for the choruses. Snare feels a bit thin, as do the vocals in general. I can at least hear everything well, so good job there.
scottfitz
I'm not too keen on the fade up at the start and the drums are a little too compressed with some distortion artefacts slightly audible on the section change hits. That said, the drums do good have punch. I love the vocal reverb - really lush, especially in the choruses where they come alive with the addition of the delay, gorgeous! The synths too, the pads are wrapped in velvety softness, love it. Chorus vocals in general could be a touch louder. The reverb tails at the end of the song die off too quickly - it would be much better to let them ring out for a few more seconds.
VasDim
Drums thin
OB Plucky too loud
Vocals not bad
sthauge
A clean and polished mix. Very "roomy" reverb - it definitely seems to place everything in a "physical" space together, but it's not particularly enchanting. You made the conscious choice to push back some of the instruments to give space to other elements, which it has done, however, the energy level of the chorus suffers as a result and there's no real apparent difference between chorus and verse (with the exception of the hits at the start, which are nicely punctuated). The mid-section with the piano similarly falls a bit flat because of this choice. The Diva pad in particular has been pushed so far back it's barely audible - this needs to be louder otherwise its whole purpose in the song has been defeated.
Mellow Browne
On first listen the immediate thing that struck me about your mix is how mono it sounds, there's very little stereo width and the song is less immersive because of it. That said, the choice to keep things more mono has focussed the rhythm and made it really tight, but that's not necessarily right for this song - I would definitely review this. OB plucky and its delay are too loud against the drums and vocals, it's swamping the vocals somewhat and making them harder to hear. Conversely the toms are a too quiet in relation to the kick and snare. Kick and bass sound nice and tight together though. I'd like to hear more of the Diva Pad track, it's pretty quiet. K2000 piano definitely needs to be a bit louder too and I'd like to hear more reverb/delay effects on it. Overall though this is a solid, tight and polished mix, good job. I would have probably made the vocals a little wetter, but I respect the choice to go drier and I quite like the subtle delay you've used.
Swiv_In_Da_Mix
There's a weird squeak sound in the intro that's a bit concerning, sounds awful. It also sounds like you might have added some strings a couple of bars before the drums come in - these sounds quite nice, but this would be classed as changing the arrangement, which unfortunately isn't allowed in the competition. I can't hear the hi-hats or crashes at all, which mean they're either too quiet or too high frequency for me to hear. Not mega keen on the big reverb on the snare every third hit or so, it's very distracting from the rest of the material. Vocals are ok, nice and clear with a tasteful delay, perhaps a bit dry and definitely too loud in the verses. K2000 piano is way too quiet.
MattP
Initial thoughts were OB plucky sounded a bit muffled, but it actually works to give the mix a soft and emotional feel. Verse vox chorus effect has been a bit overdone, it works but it's a little too prominent. There's also another effect making the vocals sound lispy on a few lines eg: "divine shun from the wesht" (!). Drums are nice and crisp and well balanced, snare maybe a tad thin sounding but otherwise they're great.
MemphisB
Unfortunately the spatial and spectral balance sounds way off in this mix. Drums are over-compressed and pushed back, vocals are really harsh in the choruses and don't sit well in the mix. Things are also distorting on the hits at the start of each section. One positive, I quite like the level and feel of the OB plucky track and associated delay in your mix, many others didn't get this key part to sit right.
LowlandsWave
Toms are really nasty sounding. Sounds like saturation has been over applied somewhere as there's high frequency distortion in places all over various elements in the mix (toms, crashes, fx noise sweep, alone, vocals to name a few). Aside from the toms, the rest of the drum elements are pretty good, nice snare smack and weight from the kick. You also got the K2000 piano level at a good place, but it could do with more effects.
floodo
Chorus on OB plucky is cool, makes the mix seem really wide. I’m not that keen on the mega reverb and boominess of the drums, especially the toms as it's totally taken away their punch. The energy level is lacking in the chorus as it's being dominated by drums and vocals, with the synths totally pushed back so there's a big hole. K2000 piano also isn't loud enough in the mid section. There are elements that I like here but as you've detailed, you've used a lot of different reverbs, which unfortunately I think has made many of the elements a bit mushy and incohesive.
MadMav
Nice bounce to OB plucky, and nice creative effects in the intro. Vocals are very harsh (could do with a cut around 2.5kHz) and are also slightly too loud. Synths and drums are at a good level generally though with everything audible. Kinda struggling for what else to feed back on, it's a decent mix and I like it but I don't know if it's just the vocal balance as I'm not loving it yet.
Drannob
Lovely delicate intro before the drums power in, great start! There's lots of reverb but everything is spacious too, which is spot on what I hoped to hear, nice job. Maybe bring up the airy pad in the choruses just to lift it a bit more. Vocals are clear and sweet but sound a little too de-essed and thin, and could also do with a little cut around 2.5kHz to tame some slight harshness. Mid section and break are lovely, full of space and air yet they don't sound at all empty.
Kron
Powerful and punchy drums, but possibly a bit too loud and slappy with the kick. Diva bass track has good low end but I can't really hear any of the rhythm of it, especially when it double times in the second chorus. The extended vocal delay at the start of the choruses is interesting, perhaps a feeding back for a little bit too long, but it otherwise works and I quite like it. Diva pad is too quiet so there's a hole in the mid frequency in the choruses and mid-section. K2000 piano is also too quiet and thin sounding. Also, why have you copy/pasted the vocals to the breakdown section? They should not be here! Unfortunately I think you might have DQ'ed yourself with this choice as it would class as an arrangement change.
PapaScrumptious
Initial impressions were that your mix is too compressed and over saturated. There's lots of reverb, but unfortunately instead of making it lush and spacious it sounds like all the hardware saturation and compression has squeezed the mix to death and distorted it. The vocals in places sound like they're off-centre to the left (eg: around 2:30) and the overall spectral balance is also skewed - it sounds like the mids have been scooped out. From your documentation it sounds like the relatively new mixing environment could be partly to blame for some of the issues. I'm sorry I haven't got more positive feedback for you.
red86549
Effects are cool, definitely 80s sounding with the soft pitch modulation in the intro. Toms are almost silent, they need to come up a lot! Vocals on the other hand are way too loud. The mix in general feels spectrally quite out of balance and thin. I quite like the slap delay on the pianos though, very retro.
Blue-S-man
Drums are a tad muffled (snare mainly). Vocals are just a little bit too loud and harsh and don't quite sit in the mix because of it. The chosen reverb and slap delay also seem to detach them from the song rather than blend them in. Mid section piano is too quiet and dry. The low end of the mix is really good, however, nice punch and weight from both the kick and diva bass - well done with these elements.
tubiesubie555
Drums are certainly punchy, but the kick low end is too prominent and dominating. Similarly the high end of the mix is too pronounced - it sounds like there's a big "smiley face" EQ curve going on and the mid-range energy is somewhat lost because of it. I like the reverb and effects you've used though, the synths and vocals have a nice dreamy quality to them - the breakdown section in particular is lovely and spacious. The mix is also nice and clean, no distortion or over saturation audible, which I commend.
jules666
I think there's a bit too much compression and saturation going on here, audible right from the intro. Things are squeezed too much with a muffled fuzz covering everything, particularly evident on the crashes and FX noise. Not sure what's going on with the first snare hit, the track must have been edited as it's late by at least a semi-quaver! I kinda like the 80s feel of the drums with the deep reverb, likewise on the vocals, which are spacious and lush but a tad quiet. The airy synth in the choruses has been brought out nicely to lift these sections but it seems to be very inconsistent, one chord is loud, then it suddenly goes quiet - I think the use of compression really needs to be looked at in this mix, it's doing a lot more harm than good. K2000 piano also needs to be louder.
MFTWC
Good mix! Clean and balanced, all the levels are solid and consistent. I'm not very keen on the vocal delay used at the end of the second verse, the delay time is too long and by the time it feeds back the next line is already being sung and they clash and it sounds messy / discordant. A touch too much with the de-esser too. I would like to hear a bit more reverb in general to blend things together a little more. Nice level and effects on the K2000 piano, really makes the mid-section float. Conversely the piano in the breakdown section after is a bit dry.
John Rowley
The low mid of the mix in general seems to have a hole in it. The verse vocals are good with a nice amount of reverb, however, the BVs and the chorus vocals sound like they're mono so all the width and spaciousness of the multiple tracks is lost. The chorus vox are also quieter than the verses, which is totally the wrong way round!
maxovrdrive
Snare is very muffled. Not too sure what is responsible, but the vocals sound really smeared like she is singing through a mask. A bit too much vocal reverb in the verses, but the chorus vox are fab, wide and lush! Very good level balance in general overall, all elements are clear and audible in the correct places, however, in contrast to what I've said to many mixers, the K2000 piano here is too loud! It could also do with some reverb and/or delay. Likewise in the breakdown with the shim piano track.
Strange
OB plucky sounds a bit thin and unnatural, like it's too spikey. Low end of the mix is a bit too much - I think this stems mainly from the "wobble" on the sub bass rhythm track (I actually ended up turning off my subwoofer as it was just too fatiguing on my ears!). Vocals are quite harsh in general and I would have loved to hear a bit more reverb/delay in the verses. All that said, I think you've got the level balance of everything in a pretty good place, it's all audible and clear.
CPMIX
Hi hats are too quiet and toms a little too loud. Kick and snare have a good level, although the snare is bordering on being distorted, I like the reverb effects, the vocals are lovely, with the chosen reverb and delay. Diva bass track is bassy but lacking the rhythm of the upper frequencies so it's not as driving as it could be.
LCM!
Hmmm, the Diva bass sounds really roomy at the start, which I'm not sure I like. I like the long reverb on the claps but they're too loud when they hit. Verse vocals are pretty good, clear and crisp with decent reverb, but the chorus vocals are too quiet in comparison - it sounds like she's suddenly singing quieter when the first chorus begins. As a drummer I love a good snare, but dare I say it's actually a bit too loud here and ends up being the most dominant element. Good piano levels in the mid-section though.
Miłosz
Ooh I can definitely hear the 80s-inspired sound when the drums begin, cool! When I read "less high end and low end" in your notes I was expecting it to be detrimental, but it isn't. You've actually worked these qualities into your mix really well so it doesn't really feel lacking even though it has less of both compared to the demo, skilfully done. The vocal reverb and delay are great, the delay especially - inspired choice to de-sync it from the tempo. Great "chugga-chug" from the diva bass when it double-times in the second chorus. One thing clearly missing though is the Diva pad in the choruses and mid section, I can't hear it at all so there's a big hole where it should be - the mid section in particular falls flat without this.
jw_
D50 Fantasia is a bit loud and harsh and the reverse crash china is waaay too loud. Drums are punchy but a little over compressed (and I don't actually think the toms are too loud, they seem pretty good in general - except for the final fill!). Vocals sit nicely in the mix with well chosen effects, BVs nice a wide and well balanced. But damn, turn that rev crash china down, it's a really nasty shock at the start of every section!! Otherwise you've crafted a great energy contrast between verse and chorus, with the chorus vocals and synths floating on air, lush. Cool reverb tail at the end too.
Rockincher
A pretty good mix on the whole, there are things I really love and then other things that really need work. D50 Fantasia is really muffled, likewise OB plucky could do with a bit more top end. Drums have a great punch (I really love the snare!), however, the toms are too muffled and dark in contrast - I'm really not sure what's happening with the toms, but whenever there's a fill (eg: at 1:06) the whole top end of the mix (vocals, synths, everything) seems to get supressed and it all goes really dark and muffled until the fill finishes and then it comes back. Occasionally some drum hits also seem to drop out, like the kick at 1:30. Vocals are great, crisp, clean and spacious with good reverb. Lovely diction on them too, every syllable is audible but never harsh, nice work. K2000 piano lets the mid-section down, it's too quiet and panned way over to the left so it feels like an afterthough - make it central, a bit louder and with more effects please! I love the subtle delay on the Shim Piano in the breakdown though.
eccentric
Wow, the drums in this mix are totally different with the VSDSX snare accentuated much more than others, unexpected but it works really well and gives it a totally 80s feel. The mix sounds pretty muffled in general, lacking in top end. The verse vocals start off ok but then when the backing vocals come in they're way too loud and have too much HF and this continues for the chorus vocals - it almost sounds like they've been bit-crushed too, there's some weird effect going on with the top end! K2000 piano is too quiet in the mid-section, but the shim-piano in the breakdown is great, love the delay on this and all the synths blend together really well in this section. Really it's just those vocals that ruin the chorus listening experience, if not for that then a little bit of top end would see this mix right.
Pingafuego
OB plucky is a bit too loud and spikey here. Conversely the crashes and reverse crash china tracks are too quiet, almost to the point of being inaudible. Claps and reverse claps are similarly missing in action. Kick/snare/toms are pretty good and punchy though. Vocals are clear and audible, but the BVs are too loud in relation to the mains. K2000 piano is too quiet.
alexMZ412
Diva bass needs more low end. Drums are ok, all elements are clear and audible at least, hi hats maybe a touch too loud and kick a little too quiet. I like the vocal effects in the verse, but they sound a bit roomy/boxy in the choruses. Diva pad needs to be louder. I quiet like the piano delay in the breakdown and coda, works pretty well but could have done with some reverb also.
RobADAMO
You've definitely got the airy/spacey feel and the reverbs you've chosen have a good decay time, but they're a bit boxy in terms of apparent reflections and diffusion, especially in the choruses. Nevertheless, there's a great energy boost as the choruses come in. Drums are punchy but the balance of the toms is too much towards the reason ones, which are much more robotic sounding than the VSDSXs. Love the mid-section reverbs on the piano and synths.
Michael_K
Great vocals in the verses, a little on the loud side in the choruses. Everything otherwise is very well balanced, punchy drums, crisp and clear synths, tasteful and subtle reverbs/delays. Lovely mid-section piano and effects, love the 3/16 delay it works really well. I would say there's a touch too much high end in general as it's a very bright mix, however, it's not harsh by any means and I only noticed it when comparing to the demo and other mixes.
ari5to5
Hi hats are too quiet, I can barely hear them, but the kick and snare have a good weight and body to them respectively. The vocals are little loud/harsh and thin with a really hissy top end and could be wider in the choruses (the L and R tracks probably just need to come up in relation to C). Nice use of effects, the echoes and plate reverb work pretty well.
Yusuke-I
The biggest problem here...where are the lead verse vocals?! I presume they've been muted by accident, at least I hope that's the case! The vocals that I can hear have some nice effects and are well placed in the mix. The spectral balance seems a bit off with the drums lacking mid range. The hi-hats are also a little loud in comparison to kick/snare/toms. Thank you for your entry though, you have at least captured the emotion of the song with your mix.
JeroenZuiderwijk
The D50 Fantasia track is a bit harsh and ringy but the reverb is cool and works well. Drums and bass are working really well together with a great rhythmic drive from the Diva bass track. I love all the effects on the vocals, however, I don't like the drums in the choruses with the extra reverb addition, it makes them sound like they've suddenly been portaled into a bathroom! They sounded fine in the verses so maybe maintain this sound throughout. Really love the rest of the mix though, spacious and lush reverbs all round, which is what I hoped to hear. The effect on the Diva pad track is really cool too, sweeping up and down. The reverb on the K2000 piano is a little roomy/boxy, and it could do with some delay like the demo. Other than the drums in the choruses this is a very good mix, Jeroen, well done!
TonyF!
The mix is totally in mono! I'm sure this wasn't intended and probably a result of your Pro Tools bounce set to "Mono (summed)" by accident. The lesson here...always double check your bounces! Anyway, going off what I can hear, your mix seems well balanced with punchy drums and clear vocals. Solid bass with lots of punch and thump from the kick. Possibly too much high end in general. The synths I can't really judge so well due to the mono mix, but I would really like to hear what it's like in stereo.
Waleed Morris
Unfortunately all the tracks are time-wise out of position and the song is completely ruined because of it. Purely in terms of the mix, the vocals have some very cool effects going on but they're a bit too loud against the synths and drums. Drums do have good punch though and likewise the synths have some cool effects. Such a shame about the time shifting as this mix had the potential to be very good.
Ohbeejuan
First off thank you for your very kind words about the track, I really appreciate that. To the mix: the first thing that struck me is OB plucky is very...plucky! It could do with being less spikey. I think this goes for a lot of the parts, as when the drums come in I thought the same - tons of punch but it can quickly become fatiguing. Your mix certainly has clarity, but for me it's unfortunately on the harsh side with a bit of a hole in the mid-range energy and it makes my ears duck on the high vocal notes in the choruses. Props for using external summing though, and Black Lion Audio too, very nice!
_Enlightened_
Welcome to the forum, Han! For a relative beginner this is a decent mix, well done. I would say the kick needs more upper frequencies - the low end is ok but is doesn't cut through the mix so it lacks some of the rhythmic drive that it would usually provide. Love the vocals, beautifully spacious and lush in the choruses, then central and back down to earth in the verses. I think Diva bass needs a little bit more upper mid around 1-3kHz to help the rhythm cut through more. The mix in general could also use a little high frequency boost, maybe just 1dB, to give it a little more air.
Whitenoisestudios
Welcome to the forum, Christian and thank you for your mix. First of all I like the reverbs you've chosen for the vocals, tastefully applied in the verses especially. The vocals are a little bit loud and verging on harsh in the 2.5kHz region, mainly in the choruses. Oof, those reverse crash china and fx noise hits are waaaay too loud! I found myself actually putting my fingers in my ears when they hit! Similarly the shim piano is too loud and really causes some ear splitting. Drums on the whole aren't bad but the kick could do with some more highs to cut through.
Martial.Levesque
Spectrally quite a dark start to the mix but this balances out somewhat when the drums come in. The drums are quite compressed, the snare in particular feels very squeezed. Not sure I like the vocal saturation / distortion, they should ideally be sweet and clean, especially in the verses. There's a nice dynamic boost when the choruses begin, I really like the contrast you've crafted. I think the chorus vocals would benefit from more reverb and/or delay but the level and frequencies are great. All the synths and keys are similarly at a good level and nicely blended together.
gloukin
Drums are a bit roomy and lose some attack because of it, especially the toms. OB plucky is a little loud. The vocals have a good up-front quality with very good definition and diction, I can hear all the syllables really well, which not everyone managed in their mix, so well done with this. You've used some nice effects too, which I quite like.
SDB_12
The top end of the mix is very dark in the intro with the drums and synths, until the vocals come in, which are very bright and hissy in comparison. If you were to tame the vocal hissyness and brighten the drums a tad (snare mainly) I think it would balance out nicely, because level-wise everything sounds great. Lovely reverb in the choruses that fills the stereo field with lushness. The pianos could also do with a touch more top end, but again great levels.
Pavel Nebesky
I think there's a bit too much top end in this mix, the vocals in particular are very spikey. While it's great that I can hear all the diction, it's too much and becomes quite fatiguing on the ears. I really don't like the buzzy delayed guitar at the start of the choruses, it's nasty and sticks out. You have managed to get everything level balanced well though, which is good, just everything is a bit spikey with sharp transients all over.
Quince
Firstly, very sorry to hear about your house being robbed a couple of years ago, that sounds like hell, but I'm glad you've been able to get back on your feet with your mixing. In your mix I love the filter effect on the gated pad in the intro, as it lifts before the vocals come in, very nice! Good drums, punchy, tight low end, clear and poppy top end - the work you've done here has definitely paid off. Sadly the vocals are a bit of a let down for me, they're just a bit too loud, harsh, mono and dry to my ears. They don't seem to sit in the mix well (probably because of the loudness mainly) and there's barely any difference between the verses and choruses in terms of width and level. You've really gone to town with the synth effects, which I commend for the creativity, but I think in the breakdown before the final chorus it's a little too much as things almost filter out completely in places.
marc clement
OB plucky is a bit spikey and D50 Fantasia a bit dark in the intro. Drums are also a bit dark and muffled slightly, as are the vocals. Everything is at the right level though. Vocals are really wide in the choruses, they're spread right out so there's a bit of a hole in the centre. I quite like the chorus effect on the K2000 piano, it makes it blend well with the synths. Lovely shimmery effects in the breakdown with the pitch just warbling a little bit, feels really 80s!
Dodgingrain
Oww my ears, the transients on the hi-hats are so loud and attacking, these are really overcooked and unpleasant! Vocals are a little harsh and too de-essed, I'd have loved to hear them wetter too. Kick/snare are ok, toms are very spikey like the hi-hats but the body is lost somewhat. Pianos have a really nasty frequency profile and are way too plinky and harsh. Sorry to say I can’t give you more positive feedback but I feel I have to limit my listening of this one before it triggers a burst of tinnitus!
Mork
Good deep kick and snare with both weight and pop. Feels like the top end of the Diva bass and D50 Fantasia are a bit muffled - this is particularly evident in the choruses where the bass wobbles more than it chugs, especially after it double times. Very good level balance though, nothing really sticks out as too loud or too quiet...well, other than perhaps the chorus vocals being a touch on the loud side, but this could probably just be tamed with EQ to cut a little harshness around 2.5k. Nice work with the pads, they sit together well. I like your use of effects, but I would love to hear the vocals with a slightly longer/deeper/wider reverb to really fill the sound stage.
Stfh
I think the OB plucky delay track is a bit loud here, it's overpowering the main plucky part so the rhythm feels off. Some of the drums elements are a bit too quiet - namely the toms and crashes, which don't really have much impact. In fact, the drums in general could do with being a dB or two louder. The vocals are nice and clear though and quite a good level too with some tasteful reverb. I can also hear a good width expansion between the verse and chorus. The pads really seem to thicken up the choruses in your mix, which I like. Lastly thank you for your kind words, Stefan, yes it's not ideal but I've tried to make the most of my situation!
DRSNIOTAM
A very unique mix with some interesting choices! I like what you've done with the plucky track and its delay, it's certainly not what I expected to hear, but it works and helps to create a driving "chicka chicka" rhythm without being intrusive. Some of the drums elements are a bit weak and thin-sounding, the snare in particular, and the K2000 piano is really quiet in the mid-section. The vocals are a little too quiet and harshly de-essed, and unfortunately I can't hear the backing vocals in the choruses at all, but I like the reverb you've used which is spacious and wide.
patlutz
Some interesting panning choices, it's made the mix feel a bit lop-sided and unbalanced - the snare in particular is off centre to the left the whole way through, which is really off-putting. There's not a lot of low end from the Diva bass track so in general the mix feels really thin and lacking much power. The reverbs are very roomy so there isn't the depth or spaciousness I was hoping for. Other instruments like the K2000 piano are very dry and a little boring, and again panned very questionably. One positive is that everything is at least balanced well in terms of level.
Tony Black
Ooh err, I'm not sure I really like where this mix went. All the elements seem really detached and separated - it sounds like the vocals are in a village hall, the drums are down a deep dark well, and synths are clouded behind a curtain! You have at least made use of reverbs and delays, which I commend, it's just a shame they're not more cohesive.
LughSenderson
Dare I say it...too much reverb on the synths?! It's swamping the vocals so they're quite hard to hear in the verses. The verses are also very thin with a big lack of bass frequencies. Nice big hit into the choruses, the bass comes back and it sounds a lot better, but then it disappears again for the next verse.
pabloAT
The vocals are really loud and quite harsh/thin, it sounds as if they have a high-pass filter that's set way too high. I'm also not keen on the buzzy distortion/saturation on the Diva bass and Diva pad. Unfortunately I can't really discern much from the drums and synths while the vocals are singing since they're so dominant. In the instrumental sections, what I can hear sounds really dry, which is what you've aimed for, but it doesn't really add any excitement or sparkle to the song. Sorry I can't offer you more positive words. If I was to offer some advice, it would be to try turning off Sonarworks on your monitors and see how that changes what you hear - it might be doing more harm than good.
PistolPete
Lots of low end in this mix, and lots of high end too - sounds like a big smiley face! Sadly the mid-range is really suffering so it feels like the song is lacking some energy. Many of the synths tracks have been widened so much to the point that the left and right channels are really out of phase and they almost disappear completely if the mix is mono'ed. The vocals are thin, but they are at least audible and smooth.
Schwefelhard
It starts off with synths that sound a bit over compressed and saturated, they're really dark and fuzzy. The drums are crisper when they come in and the snare has good body to it, but the crashes are really quiet as are the hi-hats. The snare also seems to get a lot louder for the choruses and sticks out way too much in these sections. Verse vocals are in need of more sparkle and top end. There's lots of saturation and distortion evident in general, which doesn't sound great.
Crazy Loco
Intro is quite soft, dry and reserved, but good punch from the drums when they come in. You've attained quite a nice balance between the synths, drums and vocals in general, with everything audible and in its place spatially and spectrally. It is a very bright mix, the top end has been pushed maybe a touch too far - the vocals as a consequence are very smooth and clear but feel just a little on the thin side. The Diva bass is mixed really well, I can hear the driving rhythm from it nicely when it double times. Things are very dry on the whole, I would have loved to hear more reverb on the vocals and pianos especially, but it's so well balanced that I like it for other reasons. The only thing that really sticks out that I don't like is the FX noise track, which feels like an afterthought - ideally it wants to be smooth and reverberant, so you don't notice it as such but it provides a cloud of air. Other than that, a solid mix effort.
Zsolt
Very reverby and roomy sounding right from the start. I quite like the vocal plate, which is spacious and smooth, but the reverbs on the drums and synths are making things a little too washy so some elements are lacking definition and clarity. The Diva pad track is too quiet so the energy is lacking in the choruses and mid-section. Frequency wise, your mix seems quite well balanced - highs and lows are both good.
Ferenc
The long reverb on D50 Fantasia in the intro is nice, it makes it seem really dreamy. Unfortunately the reverb on the drums is too much and makes them quite distracting with noise tails all over. The drums are also over compressed with transients that are too spikey. The verse vocals are good, smooth and clear with a delicate reverb and delay, but in the choruses they're too loud and over compressed - as a result somehow it doesn't feel like there's much energy difference between verse and chorus since all the extra synths that come in are being swamped by the loud vox.
elements
Interesting that you mixed this on an iPad! Very 80s with the gated reverb, this is cool. It does have the effect of making the drums seems quite heavy though and in general I think they're mixed too loud and crowd out the vocals - it seems like the snare and hi-hats are the dominating elements throughout. The vocals are slightly smeared at the top end, possibly too de-essed or too EQ'ed. The mix is also a quite light on bass frequencies, however, this does lean more towards the 80s sound so not necessarily a bad thing in this respect. In general the pianos and synths sound like they're balanced pretty well with some good effects.
cpsmusic
This is a marmite mix for me, there're things I love but also things I hate. I'll start with the negatives, the biggest point of which is you appear to have moved the hi-hats so they're now playing on the beat instead of off beat (Edit: you've clarified this was actually a delay, but there's no mention of this in your original documentation). I don't like this as the original off beat / upbeat feel was intentional and this is now largely gone from the song. Many instrumental elements are lacking definition and/or are too quiet (OB plucky, kick drum, toms), the vocals are too de-essed and the snare sounds really mushy. Things that I really do like are the vocal reverb (lovely and lush/spacious in the choruses especially - props for using hardware units too!) and the energy difference between the verse and chorus, which has a great dynamic change.
Piotr
The vocals in your mix are great, really smooth, no harsh frequencies and yet still great clarity and diction, which few others managed. The only things I can really say would benefit from improvement on the vocal front are the Vox Echo track, which is really dry in comparison to the others, and the delay used in the choruses, where the feedback is sometimes obscuring the current phrase as the delay time is pretty long. There are a few small level balance issues I would also address - OB plucky is a little loud (and very dark), and the Diva pad is similarly on the loud side drawing a bit tool much attention to itself. I can hear you have paid attention to the K2000 piano, it has good effects and a great presence in the mid-section.
Gunnar
"Middley" is definitely the word I would use to describe this mix. The synths in general sound very frequency restricted with rolled-off highs and lows, like they're coming out of a radio. There's a big lack of bass frequencies from the Diva bass track, the majority of the lows of the mix are coming from the kick drum. Volume-wise everything is audible and pretty well balanced (though I would have made the K2000 piano louder). I like the gated reverb on the drums, there's good thump from the kick, and a there's good emotive boost in the choruses as the vocals thicken and widen. I think for me the restricted "radio" feel just kind of kills it.
Uberproduktion
Things are way too compressed right from the start - the first note comes in with a massive spikey transient. Really unbalanced in general with, shim piano and kick drum too loud, OB plucky and K2000 piano too quiet. Vocals are absolutely smothered in reverb so it's hard to discern the lyrics. Bass wobbles rather than chugs. Many synth elements are overly wide and disappear in mono and there's distortion when the choruses hit. It sounds like you would benefit from mixing on some better speakers!
Vongluck
The first thing I noticed is the Diva bass track is behind the beat, which is really off-putting. I think the OB plucky track is the same - possibly plugin delay/latency that's caused this. The vocals are quite good, decent effects on them and a nice boost in the choruses, good level, smooth and clear. The synths have some nice effects to, but the drums just don't feel cohesive with the rest of the mix elements and the snare drum is off-centre to the left for some reason.
jaThum
Definitely an 80s feel with the choice of reverbs! Perhaps too little bass frequency from the Diva bass track, I can here a decent amount from the kick but the Diva bass feels very light in comparison, although as you point out this was often characteristic of 80s music. The chorus vocals change so much from the verses and the reverb on these is really roomy and short compared to the hall/plate of the verses - I'm not sure why this was done as is makes them sound very incohesive like they don't gel well together. Some of the synths such as D50 Fantasia and shim piano are really dark and quiet. You've also got nearly 30 secs of silence needing to be trimmed at the end.
dstra
Your mix does feel quite compressed, with a kind of breathing effect on the crashes and noise tracks as the kick makes them duck. The vocals are good though, your choice to present them prominently has worked and they're crisp and clear, though just a little loud and borderline harsh in the choruses. I like your reverbs and delays, not too heavily done but adds some quite nice air and excitement. Snare is crisp and the kick is punchy, good driving rhythm from the Diva bass, nice K2000 piano in the mid-section.
VAK
There are a few level issues with your mix - namely the OB plucky delay is too loud, and the toms and Diva pad are too quiet. Nice reverbs on some of the synths though. Unfortunately they're being severely squashed when the drums come in. Good punch from the drums, but yeah it's steamrolling the synths with what sounds like some side-chaining. The Diva bass is good and rhythmic with a tight low end. Unfortunately the autotune has made the already synthetic vocals seems even less human, but the biggest issue is the lack of backing vocals - it sounds like they've been completely muted.
Henrik Hjortnaes
I don't like the fade up in the intro, it starts too quiet...but I love the effects and the slight bass pause before the drums come in. The "pumping reverb" effect on Fantasia before the vocals enter is also really cool. Things start to get a bit unbalanced and wayward in the second half of the first verse, the vocals start to get lost as the synths increase in volume, then the reverb dries up and things start cutting out. While I can see you have put lots of thought into trying to create impact between the verse and chorus, it's not really necessary to do it in this way as there should already be more than enough impact created from the drums, percussion and synths with the arrangement as is. I think you've de-essed and smoothed out too much with the vocals, it's lost some of the diction and some words (eg: "crashed" in the chorus) really sound unnatural and smeared. The vocals are also a little too quiet in the choruses and are getting drowned out by the synths. Spectrally you've done a good mix, everything is placed really well in the stereo field and it all sounds tight and focussed, it's just the wildly varying first verse and vocals that are the weak points for me. Oh, and the last note of the K2000 piano in the mid-section is really quiet and almost cut off for some reason. You end on a high though - the coda of the song is lovely with the digi blips repeating as they fade away. Beautiful.
rvalle
I quite like the subtle upbeat you've crafted on the bass, it works well in support of the hi hats. Great punch on the snare, possibly a bit loud and in need of a little top end lift as well, but wow what a whack it has, and a good kick too, although hi hats could be a little louder. Vocals are strong, clear and smooth, although I would like to hear them with more reverb and/or a bit of delay in the choruses. The first note of the K2000 piano at 2:48 is a bit lost behind the crash and fx noise tracks - you might benefit from some automation here.
SonicAuthority
I would say the OB plucky track and delay are a bit too loud in the mix. There's also quite a lot of distortion going on with the high frequencies, they're really tearing and buzzy throughout. Something weird is also going on with the low end of the mix, it's coming and going throughout the mix as if my ears are pressurising then releasing, which is quite disconcerting! Sadly for me there are lots of frequency issues, with some elements sounding so wildly EQ'ed it might've been better not EQ'ing at all. One thing I do like though is your use of reverb, which does help things blend together. I think you would benefit greatly on a different set of headphones, or even some monitors - this would likely help you to get your frequencies sounding more natural.
Jon_Starko
Hmm, I can immediately tell the OB plucky track is behind the beat by an 1/8th note and panning the track towards the left has made the stereo balance a bit uneven. The top end of the vocals is smeared slightly and I'm not sure I like the chorus effect used in the verses, it sounds really boxy. In contrast though the chorus (section) vocals are spacious and lush with reverb, good job with these. I can't really hear the hi hats and the crashes very well, but the kick and snare are pretty tight and all other elements seem quite well balanced so another good job here.
atticusnow
Initial impressions were that it's a pretty dry mix, but everything is tight and focussed. The vocal balance leans too much towards the backing vocals rather than the lead so the melody of the BVs seems to dominate. I'm not sure I like the chorus effect on the verse vocals, it spaces them wider than I had envisioned. The K2000 piano in the mid-section is too quiet. You have however crafted a good dynamic contour between verse and chorus, which I like.
DIVESPANNER
Ooh er, it sounds a bit like I'm listening underwater here, the high frequencies of the synths and drums are very recessed and clouded. You've mixed the vocals really dry and prominently. While this makes them clear and easy to interpret, it doesn't add much excitement to arguably the most important element of the song so it doesn't really enchant me as a listener. It's a real shame you lost your first mix and had to bash this one out quickly on the final day, I'm sure with more time you would have been able to elevate it further.
WMN
The gated pad is quite loud in the first part of the intro, so you notice when it stops as the drums come it and it feels like there's a hole. It almost feels like the Diva bass track drops out in the choruses, I'm not sure if it's been purposefully automated to do this when the Sub bass comes in, but again it feels like there's a hole as a result. Drums are good and punchy, all elements of the kit present and accounted for! Vocals are lovely, good level, good clarity, tasteful effects, in fact a really nice choice on the backing vocals with a long, lush decay. K2000 piano could do with being a bit more prominent in the mid-section.
Davias
I wouldn't say the plucky synth is absent from the intro as your notes suggest, I can hear it pretty well albeit not that bright. But wow, the drums are pretty smashed! I don't think it's really the right vibe for the song, a little too rock 'n' roll?! The vocals are similarly compressed with the reverb ducking in and out on each phrase instead of being smooth. There's not a lot of breathing space for dynamic changes (says the guy that smashed the demo mix with no dynamics haha) but I do enjoy the reverbs you've chosen so at least your mix does have some spacious excitement to it.
approxgo
Hmmm, volume levels are pretty out of whack here - the D50 Fantasia and shim piano tracks are very loud and reverby, but conversely the OB plucky track and Diva bass are really quiet. Your lead vocals are also a little loud and the backing vocals too quiet. There's no real discernable emotive difference between verse and chorus - the choruses should be fuller and bigger, which sadly isn't the case as many of the synths that support this have been mixed too quietly. I do like sound of the drums, the snare has a good solid punch, as does the kick, but again they're perhaps a bit loud. It feels like you might have rushed to get this submitted with just two minutes to spare! I'm sure given more time you would have been able to craft a better balance.
ggibson1988
I think too much saturation has been used on the OB plucky and D50 Fantasia tracks, they are very "fuzzed up" and dirty sounding - I presume this is the HeadCrusher plugin doing its work, but I think it sounds out of place in the context of the song. The vocals in contrast are crystal clear and clean, which I find much more pleasing. They are however very sibilant with really cutting esses that would benefit from either a compressor that lets less of the transients through, or a bit of de-essing. Lovely use of reverb on the vocals though, really like this. You also get the same comment as so many other mixes though: K2000 piano in the mid section is too quiet!
Here are the top 15, in alphabetical order, who are through to the next round:
Well done to the top 15, you all produced good mixes with just a few tweaks needed. I hope I've given you enough detail to go off, let me know if you need clarity on any of the points. Looking forward to hearing your revisions!
