Author Topic: Contest entry (Read 799 times)

sr1200 · « **on:** June 28, 2012, 05:38:10 PM »

Hey i posted a mix for this contest... if anyone has a few min and could cast a vote, would be appreciated

pucho812 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 28, 2012, 07:38:42 PM »

The mix in first place sounds like ass. WTF? do they not notice how the f-ing vocal is so compressed in spots it distorts? Plus over all I think the drums do not fit into the mix and sound completely different then the rest of the band.

well I also think the drums should have been recorded better.

Even the bounce/original mix(not sure if the original mix or not) in the session sounds like ass. There is way to much compression and the drums get buried in spots when the whole song gets kicking. The initial tracks over all are lack luster and some are so out of wack that using correction/eq just only makes the sh*t shine but it's still sh*t. COBB needs to go back to mix school and learn how things need to breathe like a fine wine or whisky.

If this were brought to me to mix I would be re-recording things.

sr1200 · « **Reply #2 on:** June 28, 2012, 09:57:33 PM »

Geeze, i hope you werent listening to my mix of it.... and the drums aren't real, theyre all samples. You should see the original levels of everything... infact, download the stems or the PT session.it was over 80 tracks. I had quite a time on it. (and the original mix that they had as a reference was pretty bad which is why i think they put this track up for a re-mixing...)

pucho812 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 28, 2012, 10:39:43 PM »

I downloaded the PT session. I had to see it for myself, I played with it for a while and there is only so much one can do. But in the interest of making records and making a product that is good, Fix it in the mix does not apply to tracks that need re recording. You can polish a turd but you end up with a polished turd.

Now as for your mix, I feel it sounds better then the guy in First place.

So rock on. Wait I mean mix #1, you get the idea, I think your mix was more pleasing to my ear.

sr1200 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 30, 2012, 10:25:26 AM »

Cool thanks, and I agree with you 120% the entire session sounds store bought (if thats even a term) None of it sounds like a live band. Im all for crazy production, but I usually do it with REAL tracked instruments and at least some dynamic element to it...

pucho812 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 01, 2012, 03:04:50 PM »

Well as long as we are talking this session. Lets compare and contrast different ways to handle things and how we both approached the session. It's a good case study of how 2 engineers would approach it in very different styles/methods. The main object of a mix in my opinion is to get the person(listener) interested in the music. Now the music itself is very bland so need to really get wild to make something happen. I'll send you my version that most likely is far different then the others and I know way different then yours.

For example I used the midi data on another drum plug in, boom, to get a techno loop in the background going along side the already recorded drum audio tracks.

sr1200 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 02, 2012, 12:01:23 PM »

Actually this bring up something that was discussed during the last Pensado's Place episode (in chat), in that where is the line between mixing engineer and producer and should it be crossed if its not requested. What was brought up is that almost all the contests on indaba turn into dub step "re-mixes". When someone gives you a song to mix, SHOULD you take it upon yourself to make drastic changes in the production of the track, or just mix what is given and make the existing tracks as exciting as possible without re-writing parts and drastically changing timbres. I know if i sent out a rock tune to be mixed and I was returned a techno song, i'd be a bit irked, especially if it wasn't discussed. (not saying thats what YOU'RE doing) but just talking about "mix engineers" (and i use that term loosely) in general that think they're the next great producer. Im all for making things sound better and more exciting, just not too sure where to draw that line... what do you think?

pucho812 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 02, 2012, 12:38:05 PM »

I would agree to an extent. for example an artist I know had recorded a song and when it came time to mix there was a section where the mix engineer had an idea. The producer didn't think of it, the artist didn't think of it. When everything dropped out except strings and vocals on the mix and when it was heard by the artist, it made her cry it was so powerful to her. I think the job of the mix engineer is to be another person helping make production calls. No general does it alone. But lets be honest this is far from a stellar production. It's obvious the tracks were either produced by the band or by a first time producer. Since the band is not well known there are things that are happening that shouldn't . For example the revamp to the beginning after the first chorus is just takes up time. More over the break down in the bridge is another time waster. I think the song needed one hell of a re-write before going into the studio. The band thinks this is a single or one can assume they thing that. There is nothing at the start that really jumps out at you and goes hey listen to me, I am a single of a band you never heard of. Now in the hands of say John Bonham playing the same beat I am sure it would be a different story, I am sure he would play it were it has life VS what's there.

Re-write needed

sr1200 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 02, 2012, 02:52:49 PM »

Cant agree with you more on this... lol Cookie cutter everything on this track. Arrangement sounds like it was done using a formula. I think they separately tracked all those chior and gang vocals just to piss people off for this contest... I probably would have bussed them all together and created a stem rather than leave all that in there.

Im still trying to figure out if the guitars are a softsynth or real... theres no real string noise anywhere which makes me think plugin... but thats about the speed of things these days... and if bonzo played on it, the track would have been cool.... theres no"cool" here at all...HAHAHA.

pucho812 · « **Reply #9 on:** July 02, 2012, 03:11:14 PM »

Funny, I bussed all the gang vocals and choir in their current(from the session)volumes down to a stereo aux track. I panned out as I saw/heard fit. Made it way easier to deal with. After all I can assume that is the blends they wanted otherwise all faders would have been at unity. From there you can queen it by adding phaser and or flanger to the stereo aux

I think the soft synths are just that, software rhodes and string patch in that one section. Guitars sound D.I. to me but your right no string noise. Could it be that the guitar player is using finger ease or other type product to eliminate the buzz or that his guitar is just set up that well?

I am sure we could re-write this into a 3:30 minute pop/rock song that would be radio friendly VS it's current form of the band trying to showcase. Showcase what?, I have no idea.

abechap024 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 02, 2012, 05:55:11 PM »

Dude, your mix sounds good. There are some people in the top 5 that I think have no biz being there.

abechap024 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 02, 2012, 05:56:46 PM »

Wait I get it now, the contest is for who can L3 their mix the best.

pucho812 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 02, 2012, 06:16:30 PM »

I prefer L4 as it is one better

sr1200 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 03, 2012, 10:12:48 AM »

Hahah, thats funny, (but true). I found out the standings there have absolutely no bearing on the winner (they didn't really publicize that till yesterday) Basically, Dave Pensado is going to pick the winner regardless of the standings... (which are just a popularity contest on facebook and twitter)

Biasrocks · « **Reply #14 on:** July 03, 2012, 12:41:29 PM »

Your mix sounds great SR.

Working on a mix now.

Bass sounds canned to me, guitars sound real. I think there was a lot of editing done to this already, most likely the string noise was removed. It sounds like every single vocal was autotuned to death. The drum sound, well I've added some of my own secret sauce. Very cookie cutter for sure, trying hard to make it better.

Regards,
Mark

sr1200 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 03, 2012, 02:13:13 PM »

the bass solo in the second verse made me think twice about the cannedness of it, although it wouldnt surprise me at all. The lack of fret noise and noise in general makes me think that the guitar is fake. I replaced the kick and snare, they were too "roomy" for my taste and i completely threw the compressed drum track in the garbage and used my sb4000 for that duty. Post a link when you're done I'd love to hear it!

pucho812 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 03, 2012, 03:07:08 PM »

I feel bad for dave having to listen to all of those.

sr1200 · « **Reply #17 on:** July 03, 2012, 03:22:52 PM »

Yeah i was thinkin about that too... theres over 300 submissions at this point.

Im sure hes gonna listen to the first 15 seconds (if that) to weed through potential candidates at first. Then (MAYBE) listen to the keepers... i cant see him listening to all those straight through... he'd be pullin that mop of a head of hair hes got out by the roots.

pucho812 · « **Reply #18 on:** July 03, 2012, 09:59:01 PM »

301 submissions now. My mix is far perfect but I don't care, I hear tweaks I could still make in terms of level but I don't care as it's got punch, there is level to master if needed and more over since it's in the box could easily be re-tweaked.

pucho812 · « **Reply #19 on:** July 04, 2012, 06:16:58 PM »

amazing how so many instruments are just compressed to death especially in the drums, too many mixes where you can hear the drums smack the compressor and that sucking sound which I think is ugly.

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Author Topic: Contest entry (Read 799 times)