Mix Challenge

Hello and welcome to the Mix Challenge 74 - March 2021


This is the introduction post, where we directly link to the challenge corresponding files (source files, submission information, sponsors), start of the evaluation process and the first post for re-submissions for Mix Round 2.



This month, you have the chance to work on an "Electronic" production. The multi-tracks are kindly provided by forum regular Dodgingrain and is a remix of Christopher Dallman's song "Digital Blue". DodgingRain worked on both the original, and the remix.

You have mostly free reign this months regarding building on top of the existing arrangement by creating a "sense of space" through clever effect usage. Please take special note of the attached TXT files (Technical Details section in "Words by the Song Provider") with the Mix Package, as you get an insight on certain created sounds, and what flexibility you are offered..

Please read about the details and special requirements for handling this mix further down below.




Please take note of the following

• Please consult the official "Rules and Guidelines" for the Mix Challenge regarding principles of the game, recommendations and upload/submission guidelines
• IMPORTANT: please only provide WAV files, files need to be accessible/downloadable, try to work within suitable work levels (the focus of this game is "mixing", not mixing and finalizing), document your edits, name the files properly to distinguish your edit from all others.
• please use the following naming convention (Contestant Name = Forum Username):
  • MC000_ArtistName_TrackName_ContestantName.wav
  • MC000_ArtistName_TrackName_ContestantName_R2.wav for those that go into Mix Round 2
  • Example: MC074__DodgingRain__Digital_Blue_Deep_Space_Remix__ForumUsername.wav
• please only upload to cloud storage spaces (DropBox, GoogleDrive, etc), not SoundCloud - and check that your material is downloadable
• It is highly encouraged to give feedback to each other, to share tips and tricks. Ideally, this should happen after Mix Round 1 has ended, to not influence each other during the main competition round

Please also take note of the following

• Our Song Pool has dried up! Future Mix Challenges are in jeopardy. We're looking for new source material for future competitions. Please follow our official campaign. Your only investment is time in turn for a free mix by our very talented participants. No new tracks mean no more challenges! Please reach out!

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
Mix Round 1 Statistics/Data Sheet: Overview of Submissions - is your entry within given parameters?
Mix Round 2: Global Feedback and Round 2 Participant Announcement
Mix Round 3: Global Feedback and Round 3 Participant Announcement
Results of the Mix Challenge: Winners announced

CURRENT CHALLENGE - GENERAL INFORMATION

Time Frame: Monday, 01st March 2021 to Sunday, 21st March 2021 (21 days)

Challenge submission will end on 21-03-2021, 23:59 UTC+1/CET (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: DodgingRain
Song Name and Length: Digital Blue Deep Space Remix, 4:24 min
Song Information: 138 BPM / Signature: 4/4
File Format: WAV, 44kHz, 24bit

GENRE: Electronic


Preview of the Song (Demo Mix):



A word from the song provider:

DodgingRain wrote:This track is a remix of the song Digital Blue by Christopher Dallman,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XljZB7AB8j4

I mixed the original version that was released this year and I wanted to create a remix that gave the feeling of being in deep space by yourself while going through a wormhole or some other faster than light travel. The track needs to have a lonely and isolated feeling but in the sections with the drums is should be driving and a little bit manic.

There are some "Easter eggs" in the song as well such as Morse code, radio effects, sound of thrusters firing for stabilization in the background, etc. for fun and to try and fit with the technology vibe.

What I'm looking for is a mix that is better than my rough. Try to get more emotion out of the track while cleaning up some of the masking, fixing the frequency balance etc.

Check every few bars by comparing your mix vs. mine, if your mix is better your on the right track, lol. Given that this is a remix adding a little bit of ear candy with effects to keep the listeners interest in a few spots in the track might be nice but is has to fit with the track and it cannot be a significant change to the arrangement or general sound of the track.

This track may get released if there is a mix that I'm happy with and is liked by Christopher Dallman.



(more technical details in the Mix Pack bundled TXTs)

A few words by the Mix Challenge staff:

Mister Fox wrote:A very interesting Electronic track this month, that even though a certain sound has been "printed" (bass sounds especially), still has so much room for sound design ideas.

The trick here is to find your groove in "pushing" the ambience, but then pulling it back at the right moment, emphasizing on the "space travel" idea. Which is where a lot of automation of effects come into play (delay, reverb) rather than approaching this mix in a more traditional static manner.

If you want to go a bit crazy on that behalf however (sound design and automation), please check that the song is still mono compatible in the bass ranges. Something that can be easily overlooked.

While the following songs are not necessarily on similar lines as DodgingRain's remix, it might be a good start of inspiration for a pulsing, yet ever evolving song.

M83 - I'm sending you away (2013)
M83 - Oblivion (feat. Susanne Sundfør) (2013)
Röyksopp & Susanne Sundfør - Running to the Sea (2013)

Have Fun!

Please also consult the TXT files that are bundled in the source files package below. There you can find more information about the individual files and changes to the time signature.

Rule Summary / Add-On Rules:

• try to create a mix that complements this production (in your own style)
• Clean / Alternative versions can be used if you need more flexibility over a certain sound (if present for this production)
• make the best out of the provided audio material (EQ, compression, transient tools, etc), no "drum sample triggering / replacement"!
• summing bus processing is allowed, as long as the dynamic range (average signal strength to maximum signal strength) doesn't suffer - artistic use only!
• the focus of this game is "mixing" - NO MASTERING. Edit/Mix in such a way, that barely any after-touches other than loudness adjustments and final limiting is needed in a possible follow-up mastering step.
• render the edited material in the same sampling rate and bitrate as originally provided (MC074/March => 44/24)
• ADD-ON RULES - PRODUCTION RELATED:
  • you can use either the premixed sub kick, or recreate an own variant from scratch with the clean versions. Do not use both!

Please consult the official Rules and Guidelines for a more detailed set of rules. Failing to adhere to the rules will result in instant disqualification. There will be no additional reminders given.


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Source Files:

Main Mix Package - Mirror on the Mix Challenge Homepage (422,16 MB, LZMA compressed, zip)
IMPORTANT NOTE: file unavailable after 21-MAR-2021


The provided files were packed as ZIP with LZMA compression.
File size extracted: 3497,39 MB, packed 422,16 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:
Mix Challenge - Official Rules and Guidelines

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

If you like what the Mix Challenge (community) has been doing in recent months:
Please consider supporting us

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SPONSORS (Prizes):

Prizes for Mix 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 single plugin of winner's choice (exception: Verberate Immersive)
License will turn into NFR
More info on Acon Digital: http://acondigital.com



Hornet Plugins is kind enough give away one license from the depicted tools (see image) to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Hornet Plugins: http://www.hornetplugins.com



IK Multimedia is kind enough give away one license of T-RackS ONE to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on IK Multimedia: https://www.ikmultimedia.com



Metric Halo is kind enough to give away a single plugin of winner's choice
License will turn into NFR
More info about Metric Halo: http://mhsecure.com/metric_halo/



NOS Audio is kind enough give away one license of NOS Roomer to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on NOS Audio: http://www.nosaudio.com/



Tone2 is kind enough to donate a license of Ultraspace to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Tone2: https://tone2.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!

Nice!

Great track!

I just downloaded the files. Just want to make sure - I only have the audio from 0034-0079. Are there meant to be audio files from 0001-0033?

Thanks!

The files do start at 0034 with the Kick, indeed.

Hey guys, looking forward to hearing what everyone comes up with on this one!

@Dodgingrain

Would you allow any add-on instruments? Let's say to limit us, maybe 1 track by our own choice? Since there are no vocals, I'm hearing stuff I want to add lol

To things to point out:

1) Vocals are present
2) this is a mixing challenge, not a remixing challenge (read: no changes to the arrangement)

Hello,
Here is my entry and good luck for everyone

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e-AHYa ... sp=sharing

Dang, that was fun, I love this song. I could probably tweak this one for another week, but I'm super happy with how it turned out and curious to hear the other mixes or to see what you think. (first time here, but did some back in the kvr days)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/15aBdLD ... sp=sharing