Mix Challenge

Strange wrote: ↑

Tue May 20, 2025 18:31 CEST

Wow,
Round 2 was a clear sound win. I can only congratulate and thank everyone. The song really gained from your editing.
Since I'm the “client” this month, I have to be honest with myself and with you: I would ask every mix I receive here for improvements. These are not fundamental mixing decisions, but rather specific "small" adjustments that would be important to me.

MisterFox has suggested the possibility of a third round. And I think this is the best way to improve these final details in the mix. Seven mixes will be invited to round 3 and I am sure that each of these mixes can exceed my expectations.

I will ask these seven mixes for further adjustments in this round 3
(and please read the third line, too, you're really on the right track) :

► Show Spoiler

@VividPhase
- sounds cleaner, but a bit too hollow, maybe too much EQ?
- too much low end, especially in the 100-150Hz range
- BGV a bit too quiet compared to LV

@GeorgeCorg
- too much low end
- the mids sound a bit too hollow/empty
- 3.5 kHz range was reduced a little too much and too tightly

@JeroenZuiderwijk
- too much bass, approx. 180 Hz around 3 dB
- sub bass too much
- HH still a bit too harsh in the 4-5 kHz range
- Toms too quiet, too insignificant
@Drannob
- cut off at the beginning,
- LV 1dB too loud
- still a bit much HH and emphasis in the 4kHz range, approx. 1.5 dB
- funky Gtr too loud
- outro- gtr right and left a bit too loud
- Toms too undefined and a bit too quiet (especially from 2:27)

@scottfitz
- HH still a bit too harsh in the 4.5 kHz range
- Toms too quiet and undefined

@Mork
- why is the piano 2 so quiet?
- too much bass in the 80 Hz range
- LV too quiet compared to BGV, or BGV (“zu Dir”) too loud.
- auto pan funky Gtr is great
- Toms are very good, maybe LoTom a bit clearer

@titantraxx
- what happened to the input risers?
- overall very balanced and tidy
- Bass resonances at 45 and 150 Hz (narrow band about -5 to -7 dB )
- Low mids at 260 Hz should be a little less
- LV should be 1-2 dB quieter
- more air, around 3 dB from 5-7 kHz and above

@Mister Fox will tell you more about the round 3. It's not the usual way, but he approves this proceed.
I hope you will agree, too, and you're "happy" to present me your best mix for my unimportend taste. Thank you!


This is bonus information, if you want to continue editing I would like to ask for these customization requests for the other mixes in the second round:

► Show Spoiler

@Miłosz
- LowEnd too loud, pushes too hard into the bus compressor
- Bridge BGV too loud and muddy/boxy
- Outro Gtr right and left too loud
- the overall mix lacks clarity, becomes increasingly indistinct at the end

@LowlandsWave
- far too much low-mid around 200Hz
- about too much 3.5 kHz removed
- Toms too unclear/quiet

@MartialFromentin
- too much low end,
- a bit too much low-mids
- a bit empty, the mids of the various instruments/vocals could be worked out better (see 2kHz range).

@Mellow Browne
- almost 10dB too much low end below 100 Hz
- therefore everything is a bit uninhibited

@MadMav
- LV a bit quiet
- Resonances in the bass range (60 and 150 Hz range)
- overall a bit dull and midrange-heavy

Other participants who asked for feedback:

@Crazy Loco, this is definitely also a good mix, would also have fitted into the 2nd round. I noticed the following things:
- LV too loud
- Gtr too muffled, too quiet, not spatially integrated
- a little too much low end
- the end seems too contrived
- Mids a bit too weak, hollow
Thanks for the discussion about my song

@knob_Houdini, thank you for taking the trouble to adapt your mix outside of the competition. I like the result much better. I noticed the following things:
- Drums very hollow, without mids
- Vocals without treble, somewhat nasal/ mid-range and too loud (2dB or more)
- too much sub and bass

Greetings
Peter