Hi Everyone,
Here's my mix of the Digital Blue Deep Space Remix.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Oj7DbJ ... sp=sharing
Special thanks to the song provider for the opportunity to mix this song.
The main goal I had for this mix was to create a clear sense of stereo width and depth. My initial plan was to work with the original stereo files however after spending some time on this, I realised that working this way was going to make it very difficult to get the sort of separation between sources that I was after. So I decided to change tack and reduce most of the stereo source files to mono and then add width as required. I kept a few of (what I thought were) the key tracks as stereo to preserve the original sound. The stereo-to-mono bounces took a while as I auditioned different bounces - Mid, Side, Left, Right, Mono, and tried to pick the most suitable for the mix.
With respect to the mix, I tried to maintain a pretty strict LCR approach. I initially tried to use a fairly standard reverb approach (short, long) but found that this became muddy very quickly so I opted to use delay instead for the primary spatial effects, and then use some reverb to push sources to the back of the mix.
There were two aspects of the mix that I found challenging. Firstly, getting the multiple basslines to work together without sounding muddy or dissonant. Secondly, getting sufficient separation between the various noise and synth sources which had quite wide frequency content.
The mixbus chain is straightforward except for the use of two Novas and TB EQ 4. The first Nova was used for a small amount of low end upward expansion and midrange compression of the Mid signal. The second Nova was used for a small amount up upward expansion for the high end Side signal. TB EQ 4 was used to roll off the low end below 40Hz and for a small amount of "hissy" cymbal removal.
Most of the basic EQ and compression duties were done using the SSL Native Channel Strip. Fuse's VPRE-376 was used to brighten sources that I wanted more forward in the mix.
Main Loop - Submarine, TB EQ 4, Townhouse, BlackBox, Nugen Stereoizer 3
Extra Hat Loop - SSL Native Channel Strip
Hats - SSL Native Channel Strip
Percussion - SSL Native Channel Strip
Attack - SSL Native Channel Strip
Attack 2 - SSL Native Channel Strip
Hat Loop - SSL Native Channel Strip, Flux Mini
Clap - SSL Native Channel Strip
Hit - Dual Pan, SSL Native Channel Strip
Drums Level - MMultiAnalyzer, bx_digital V3 (Mono Maker only)
Bass - SSL Native Channel Strip, Frontier
Bass 2 - TB EQ 4, El-Germano, Frontier
Monoment Bass - TB EQ 4
Sub Bass - TB EQ 4
Bass Bus - C6 (Ducked by Kick)
Bass Level - MMultiAnalyzer
Drop Arp - SSL Native Channel Strip, Overtone RVB500, Fazortan 2
Dark Multisaw - SSL Native Channel Strip
Ummm Chorus - SSL Native Channel Strip
Ummm Chorus (D) - SSL Native Channel Strip
Background Arp - SSL Native Channel Strip
Pulse Arp - SSL Native Channel Strip
A Fine Pad - SSL Native Channel Strip
Rhodes - SSL Native Channel Strip, VPRE-376, Frontier
Synth Groove - SSL Native Channel Strip
Dark Sun - SSL Native Channel Strip
Pulse Chords - SSL Native Channel Strip
Organ Chatter - SSL Native Channel Strip
Harmony Synth Level - MMultiAnalyzer
Statment Amp 1 - SSL Native Channel Strip, VPRE-376
Statement Amp 2 - SSL Native Channel Strip, VPRE-376
Monoment DblGtr - SSL Native Channel Strip
Monoment DblGtr (D) - SSL Native Channel Strip
Keys - SSL Native Channel Strip, VPRE-376
Lead Synth Level - MMultiAnalyzer
Low Strings - SSL Native Channel Strip
High Strings - SSL Native Channel Strip
Strings All - Syntorus 2, Nugen Stereoizer 3
Dark Energy - SSL Native Channel Strip
Noise Background - SSL Native Channel Strip
Intro Noise Sweep - SSL Native Channel Strip
Chord Riser Low - SSL Native Channel Strip
Chord Riser High - SSL Native Channel Strip
Jam Leadin - SSL Native Channel Strip
Light Sweep - SSL Native Channel Strip
FX Level - MMultiAnalyzer
Lead 2 - Dual Pan, SSL Native Channel Strip
Backing Vocals - Dual Pan, SSL Native Channel Strip, MH Character
Harmony 03 - Dual Pan, SSL Native Channel Strip
Harmony 04 - Dual Pan, SSL Native Channel Strip
I Try03 - Dual Pan, SSL Native Channel Strip
I Try04 - Dual Pan, SSL Native Channel Strip
Vocal Level - MMultiAnalyzer, Frontier
Haas Delay - Unfiltered Audio Instant Delay
Mono 1/2 Delay - Unfiltered Audio Instant Delay
Stereo 1/2 Delay - Unfiltered Audio Instant Delay
Short Verb - Arturia REV Plate-140
Long Verb - Blackhole
Mix Bus - TDR Nova (1), TDR Nova (2), TB EQ 4, SSL Native Bus Compressor, SPL Vitalizer, VSM-3
Meters - Reference 2, Youlean LM 2, MMultiAnalyzer, TB Morphit, SPAN
Specifications:
44.1kHz/24-bit
-20.9 LUFS (Int.)
-5.4 dBTP
Best of luck to all participants and once again, thanks to all who made this challenge possible.
Cheers,
Chris