Here is my submission for the challenge, 24-bit, 48kHz wav file.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1cXd9eEjsAbBgPyGnMt1s5SB0_I4YUwi_
The overall loudness is around -14.7 LUFS-I, with a peak in the -3.6 or so dBfs. No major 2-buss processing and no limiting or maximizers used. My detailed track notes are below.
I hope you enjoy the mix!
TRACK NOTES
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- 2 Channel
bx_townhouse Buss compressor for "glue" the needle barely moves.
Dynamic EQ (tames a few frequencies that get overwhelming)
Dangerous BAX mastering EQ.
Waves J37 tape (for saturation)
- Guitars
Individually just a gain plugin set to -9 dB and panned left or right, then sent to the same bus
Guitar Bus has iZotope Neutron 3 as my channel strip for some EQ, a touch of compression (about 1 dB) and some saturation with the exciter. Then into a Process.audio sugar plugin, followed by the Vertigo VSM-3 for some mid-side saturation.
The guitars are then sent to a group “room” reverb and a Guitar FX parallel bus. The FX bus has a chorus plugin on it.
- Piano
Very simple here. The Neutron 3 channel strip for some shaping, eq, saturation, compression, and I used the transient shaper to both give it more attack, and let the sustain feel stronger.
The piano goes to the same “room” reverb that the guitars use.
- Bass
I added an amp simulator from BIAS Amp 2 to the DI signal and some compression to the supplied amped signal. They were bussed together with some slight compression and EQ on the bus.
The bass was also sent tot he "room" reverb.
- Drums
This is the most processing. All drums but the Overheads were sent to a single bus, and 2 FX busses.
The kick has one plugin, bx_boom. The snare, both top & bottom have SPL transient shaper on them.
The two FX busses are a “Drum Crush” and a Drum reverb bus.
- Drum Busses
The main drum bus has bx_consoleE (SSL 4000E) plugin for compression and EQ. Then iZotope Neutron for shaping, EQ, saturation, and a multibrand compression.
The Drum Crush has McDSP Ultimate channel strip. It’s doing parallel processing inside the plugin. One half has gentle compression, EQ and distortion, the other is heavy compression and some saturation.
The last bus is a reverb bus to give the drums some more space and sustain.
- Drum Overheads
Neutron 3 for some shaping, EQ, an exciter and multiband compression. It helped brighten the cymbals and make them feel more lively than they did before. It’s followed by the Sugar plugin.
- Tambourine
Very little done here. McDSP channel strip with some EQ and subtle compression followed by the Shine module to add some brightness. That was sent to a bus with very little, but some compression and the Maag EQ2 to add some air.
- Vocals
Some compression, then tube saturation, then a bit more compression and some EQ at the end. This was sent to 3 FX busses and one effect throw.
The first bus is a parallel FX bus, which has the Waves Reel ADT to thicken them up and then the iZotope vocal synth to add some distortion and chorus effect to add more thickness.
The second bus is a stereo delay to add some space.
The third bus is a 1-second plate reverb.
There’s also a bigger delay throw used at the ends of some of the lines.
- Backing vocals
I panned them left and right for some good stereo effect, then bussed them together. On the bus, I had 2 plugins.
First, I used the bx_panEQ to boost the mids on one side, and the upper mids on the other to help add some stereo depth. Then I used the Vocal Synth to add some chorus effect and a little bit of distortion.
- I route all instruments to a single bus, and all vocals to another so I can control the levels as a group, or add processing to instruments, that don’t affect vocals or the other way around. On the instrument bus I added the VSC-2 compressor as a “glue” compressor, the needle barely moves, then I added the Dangerous BAX eq to control the overall level and some minor EQ tweaks.