Mix Challenge

Hello and welcome to the Mastering Challenge 003 - April 2018


This is the introduction post, where we directly link to the challenge corresponding files (source files, submission information, sponsors) and start of the evaluation process.



Welcome back to Mastering Challenge 003, where we're revisiting the winner mix from Mix Challenge 40 - a 2:10 minute long 80s synth ambiental electronica, initially recorded by 3ee and engineered by Henrik Henrik Hjortnaes.

This month is also adding a "bonus challenge": a Vaporwave master. This edit will have no influence on the client evaluation (3ee) - this particular edit is for pure fun and educational purposes only. More about this below in the "Words by the Song Provider".



Please take note of the following

• IMPORTANT: It is mandatory to provide WAV and encoded files (MP3 currently), files need to be accessible/downloadable, and please document your edits - the Vaporwave Edit can be released in mp3 form only
• IMPORTANT: please use the following naming convention: MastC000_-_TrackName_-_ContestanttName.wav/mp3. The order of the tags might change in upcoming challenges - though this is up for debate
• It is highly encouraged to give feedback to each other, to share tips and tricks. Ideally, this should happen after the initial Mastering Round has ended, to not influence each other during the main competition round

Also please take note of the following

• We're desperately looking for new source material for future competitions (Mix Challenge, Mastering Challenge, Remix Challenge). Please follow our official campaign. No new tracks mean no more challenges! Please reach out!
• Social Media accounts can be found via the handles @MixChallenge (Twitter) and MixChallenge (Facebook). Please spread the word!
• if you like what the Mix Challenge (community) has been doing in recent months, please consider supporting us. For example with a voluntary monthly donation (this will mainly cover server and social media maintenance fees). Some interesting bonus perks await you through either route, and donors get a special rank on the forum.

This post will be updated with the corresponding links as we progress, and of course the suitable thread headlines. So please watch this spot:


Submission Period: General Information, Source Files, Sponsors
Results of the Mastering Challenge 003: Winners announced

CURRENT CHALLENGE - GENERAL INFORMATION

Time Frame: Sunday, 01st April 2018 to Saturday, 14th April 2018 (14 days)

Challenge submission will end on 14-04-2017, 11:59pm CEST/GMT+2 (Germany) - until further notice.

Want to find out if you're still within the deadline, please consult the following options:
The Global Countdown on it's dedicated page or the countdown on the home page. You can also consult the World Clock at the top of the forum or alternatively the following tool - in this case please select "Berlin (Germany)" as location 1, and your location as location 2: Time and Date - World Clock Meeting Planner. We do post reminders via our Twitter account and Facebook page.



Song Provider: 3ee (mixed by Henrik Henrik Hjortnaes)
Song Name and Length: Reaper MIDI Song2 (work-title), 2:10min
Song Information: 85 BPM / Signature: 4/4, A min
File Format: WAV, 44kHz, 24bit


Preview of the Song:
Preview mix on Box.com



A word from the song provider:

Client wrote:Just master it! No special requests, master it to the best of your abilities.. Henrik did a great job with his mix, take it further from there.


For fun, try an extra vaporwave master version:
See YouTube for documentation on vaporwave, ask questions within the contest's forum thread... but basically, it's a "lo-fi" , saturated, aesthetically pleasing color/tone/character and usually pitched/slowed down version of the original. (tip: tape wow'n'flutter may help, just don't overdo it all over the place, it's really cheesy!)

Please also consult the TXT files that are bundled in the source files package below.

Add-On Rules / Target Values:

• Loudness Target: -12LUFS ILk
• Maximum allowed digital peak: -1dBTP
• Release Medium A: Redbook CD / Streaming (all via one file)
• Bonus Release: optional Vaporwave master version (320kbps mp3 format is fine for this)

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Source Files:

Main Mix Package - Mirror on the Mix Challenge Homepage (32,00 MB, LZMA compressed, zip)



The provided files were packed as ZIP with LZMA compression.
File size extracted: 32,00 MB, packed 34,03 MB (ZIP, LZMA)
In order to extract the files, we can recommend these programs:

Macintosh:
The Unarchiver - get it here
Keka (open source) - get it here

Windows:
7zip - Installation / Portable


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Please take note of the official rules - they can be found at the following thread:
Mastering Challenge - Official Rules and Guidelines

Please address any OT question in the official Gossip thread:
Mastering Challenge - Gossip and Discussion

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SPONSORS (Prizes):

Prizes for Mastering Challenge participants:

Note: All licenses are NFR (Not-For-Resale), except where noted.
Changes to available prices on short notice may be possible and will be announced separately.



Acon Digital is kind enough give away a license of their editing, mastering and restoration host Acoustica 7 / Premium Edition (until Q3/2018)
License will turn into NFR
More info on Acon Digital: http://acondigital.com



MuTools is kind enough give away one license of MUX Modular 7 of winners choice (until Q1/2018)
License will turn into NFR
More info on MuTools: http://www.mutools.com/



NUGEN Audio is kind enough give away any one plugin of winner's choice from the "Master Pack"
License will turn into NFR
More info on NUGEN Audio: http://www.nugenaudio.com/



THANKS FOR THE LICENSE DONATIONS!
And also a thank you to all former contributors as well.

If you want to sponsor content (please have a focus on mix plugins, bundles and the likes), please get in touch with the Mix Challenge staff.

Please spread the word of the challenge on social media.
For example with our dedicated Twitter Account or Facebook Page

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Good luck to all participants.
And most importantly, have fun!

I see this is up now... will keep an eye..

MastC003 is up and we still have heard nothing from the first two? I'm sorry, but I'm having a little trouble believing that anything will ever come of these. I'll have to think about it... I just don't know if I'm willing to put forth the effort just to be left hanging indefinitely.

3ee - please understand there us nothing personal here.

I too. This is not any kind of ultimatum or something like this. Just the motivation going down and that is. Sorry.

Here we go.

What to say. I still like the track. Im more into mixing other kind of music, but i just kept listening to Todd Terje or Siriusmo to adapt to electronic music.

Mp3
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ojz6pl66m1r5n ... e.mp3?dl=0

Wav
https://www.dropbox.com/s/90mi2vepg44kd ... e.wav?dl=0

Main question was.. do i like stereo-bass?


Limiter : Limiter 6

Parallelcompression via Molot
Softube Saturation Knob

SonEq
the glue
gem eq550

So much freeware.

J

Why not, I'll give it a final try and hopefully we get results on this one. Gonna be tough to do this without it becoming a remix.

vaporwave version: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AqpB-RLndYJriaA2B52IvFY9T5LEaA
Tried to stay somewhat true to the genre with some DJ like effects, saturation, vinyl sounds, and cheesy late 90's and early 2000 samples that reflect consumerism, etc.


master
mp3:https://1drv.ms/u/s!AqpB-RLndYJriaA3V_OFp7PNYzB8Aw
wav:https://1drv.ms/u/s!AqpB-RLndYJriaA4ie5q-Uc8ll63ag

As far as the master there is some eq work to try and tame the nasty frequencies around 3kHz. And a shelf up around 8kHz. Some widening to the stereo image (not a lot) and some slight compression. Otherwise mainly volume boost and some adjustments for a better mp3 conversion.

WAV
MP3

Applied EQ cut on low freq. Slight boost in the mid and high region. Applied downward dynamic eq in low, mid, high regions. Finally maximizer for some loudness.

Wav:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/n33pmngwwk47a ... r.wav?dl=0

MP3:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/cjxtj60zovgm2 ... r.mp3?dl=0


Edits: Some minor Bass Boosts to bring up the Low End, some more Dips in the Mid- and High-Range Area to make it more pleasant to the ear. (all Boost and cuts within 1 to 2 dB) Tonal Balance of that mix was really good!
Same gentle Multiband Compression and a final Limier for loudness.