MIX CHALLENGE - MC068 August 2020 - Winners announced

[Alex Van mixland]

Hello,
Here is my mix:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ffZkW1 ... sp=sharing
https://www.dropbox.com/s/51d64pwt414jn ... d.wav?dl=0

Kick: i add highs and lows
Snare: i just control high end because it was a little bit harsh
Instruments - I used only dry multitracks and i added to all instruments my own reverb.
Bass - I mono below 70hz and spread highs a little bit.

Cheers!

[DigitalSoundLabs]

Hello,
Here is my mix:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ffZkW1 ... sp=sharing

Kick: i add highs and lows
Snare: i just control high end because it was a little bit harsh
Instruments - I used only dry multitracks and i added to all instruments my own reverb.
Bass - I mono below 70hz and spread highs a little bit.

Cheers!

Have no access on your linked drive

[Mister Fox]

I will only repost this once, as the following is straight up taken from the first post in this very thread. (we are merely on page 2 still)

!

Bonus Info

Please get re-acquainted with the official "Rules and Guidelines" of the Mix(ing) Challenge. This particular Rule Book has been updated on 2020-JUL-31 WARNING: If your entry hasn't been documented, the uploaded file properly named and/or can not be downloaded by the time the deadline has been reached (21-08-2020 23:59 UTC+2/CEST), your entry will be disqualified. Do not post a link and then mention "documentation will be added later" (as in - after the deadline). You have 21 days for a submission - plenty of time to prepare your post accordingly. Please take note of the implementation of a "Rule Compliance Data Sheet" mechanic for the rest of the year 2020.

⚠	Warning Message from Mister Fox
	By joining the Mix(ing) Challenge, you confirm that you understood the established Rules and Guidelines, and agree to adhere to these regulations.

I am done sending out reminders, newsletters mentioning to check in on the updates, post paragraphs in bold letters, colored blocks, etc. I will post no further warnings form now, and all comments on the lines of "I can't download your files" or snark from other users like "nobody sticks to the rules" will be deleted without further comment. Results of all entries will be posted globally in the Rule Compliance Data Sheet at the end of Mix Round 1 of MC068.

PLEASE RE-EDUCATE YOURSELF ON THE RULES

Thank you

[ManuC]

Hi everyone,

This is my entry.


I'm not used to this style, but it's nice to try.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/vn34iq9okohe0 ... C.wav?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mg3mil7xefi5s ... 8.png?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/l3hunusb5btz4 ... 2.png?dl=0

Basically i used only eq to shape sounds

A little of parallel compression On Kick and snare, and a very little touch of parallel comp for the entire mix.

A doubler is used on 3 or 4 tracks to enhance the stereo width.

One reverb (vss3 tc electronics) for depth placement and one lexicon hall .

Good luck to everyone, and thanks to MisterFox and Digital Sound Labs for these song!

Musicals greetings

Manu

[Alex Van mixland]

Hello,
Here is my mix:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ffZkW1 ... sp=sharing

Kick: i add highs and lows
Snare: i just control high end because it was a little bit harsh
Instruments - I used only dry multitracks and i added to all instruments my own reverb.
Bass - I mono below 70hz and spread highs a little bit.

Cheers!

Have no access on your linked drive

Hello
If google drive doesn't work i uploaded my entry also on dropbox and edited my post and i added share link, so please check and download. Thank you for information.

[lackplayback]

Overall approach and project organization
I decided to use the "dry" tracks instead of the "wet" ones to have a little more freedom in processing.
I separated the tracks in to 3 main groups: drums, bass, and synths and sent each group of tracks to their own bus.
I also created a "sidechain" bus that I only send the synth and bass busses to.
Finally the "sidechain" and drum busses are routed to the master bus.

All tracks
* Gain stage using a VU meter (0VU = -18dBFS calibrated) to provide enough headroom for comfortable mixing and to meet challenge requirements
* Use a high pass filter on all tracks necessary to regain headroom from unwanted low frequencies and to leave more room for bass and drum low
frequencies
* For eq moves on tracks not described below please refer to the attached screenshot

Mixer Screenshot

Drums
* D16 Frontier limiter on parallel "Beat" track limiting and boosting enough to push the peaks in to soft clipping.
* Boost Luftikus 7dB at 10k on Hi Hat
* Aggressive VCA compression to kick and snare via Black Rooster Black Ash slow attack fast release
* Boost Luftikus 7dB at 10k on Side Stick
* Drum Bus - fairly aggressive compression at 4:1 slow attack, fairly fast release via SSL G Comp

Bass
* Bass and Bass Polystab both gated to try to create a groove with the drum tracks
* All bass tracks treated with Cubase stock eq as illustrated in screenshot

Synths
* Pad Massive volume automated to decrease when Violins play to blend better and provide some listening interest
* Pad Sylenth stock Cubase comp with hi ratio slow attack and auto release
* Pad Air Waves s1 imager to widen the track in the stereo field with super tap 8th note delay to provide interest
* Pad Alchemy volume automated 8th note delay to provide listening interest in some sections
* Layer 2 Serum VQA154 EQ in M/S mode with side completely attenuated to remove stereo information for fear of phase issues
* Synth Bus - Fuse Audio Labs Baxandall boost high frequencies and add some saturation

Sidechain
* Magix Volume Former set to 1/16 and LPG Pump envelope to create space for the drums
* Pulsar Smasher 1176 all buttons in added to glue SC tracks together and add saturation

Reverb
* Only hi hat, snare, side stick, bass - poly stab, dd chop vocals and synth bus were sent in moderate amounts
* Copied Magix Volume Former with identical settings and insert before reverb
* Reverb is fg-2006 room lush 1.5 with 23ms pre-delay and boosted width

Mix/Master Bus
* VQA154 in M/S mode - cut stereo frequencies below 160Hz so all low frequencies are in mono only

Mastering the Mix Expose reports:
-20.2 LUFS INT
-2.75 dBTP

Thanks to all involved for providing this challenge.

MC068__Digital_Sound_Labs__Over_the_Rainbow__lackplayback

[javiramallo]

Hi friends!

Cool to be here mixing this song.

Thanks to Mix Challenge and Digital SoundLabs for let us learn and enjoy doing it.

Here is my Mix: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qhBVtw ... sp=sharing

and

Here is the explanatory video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wbUxCH ... sp=sharing

Best regard to everybody.

Javier from sunny Spain.

[btongninja]

Hey everyone! My first submission ever, so feel free to dig in and advise. Thank you to Digital Sound Labs for providing the track, lots of fun to work on

Here's the mix:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/t43tadew4gfg0 ... a.wav?dl=0

Overall description:

Used wet tracks to augment what DSL had approximated and work from there
My first time mixing an electronic track, so opposed to my normal processing of each element in groups, I chose to keep them isolated and processed on their own with a reverb bus to glue. I wanted each element to feel like it was more distinct.
Heavy use of sidechaining to allow kick and snare to punch more
Most of my effects was in bringing out the snare and tweaking reverb
High passing most elements below 30hz to create headroom/space for bass elements
Snare chain: Pro Q 3 3db cut at 250, 3db boost at 3500, Saturn for bite, Pro C, Gate synced with beat to give more pumping feel, valhalla vintage room setting with .82s delay

Volume/pan of tracks:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/k7d0uni0ie9su ... s.png?dl=0


Thanks everyone who contributed!

[SuC76]

Hi,

Best regards to all.

Here is my mix:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a7zBAO ... sp=sharing

I used wet tracks.

DAW: Ableton Live

Kick: layered
Snare: layered, little bit of transient designer
Beat: little bit of DBX-160 parallel
Bass Poly Stabs: layered into three tracks, one of them treated with guitar amp sim with cranked mids.

Mixbus:
VTM Brit-N, UAD-Pultec, VTM

[dadomachado]

Hi All,

Great song to mix with a lot of space for being creative. Follows my mix below:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gbcib5jqdomjj ... o.wav?dl=0

- I started putting a lot of effort on levels and panning to make it really wide
- I added a Lindell 80 Channel strip to most tracks mailny for HPF and some EQ
- Added some reverb to the snare to create some depht to it
- Added some compression and a kramer tape on the master bus

Thanks and good luck to all participants !

dadomachado