June/July Mix Competition - THE RESULTS!

[Skol303]

[size=6][b]BASSCHAT MIXING CHALLENGE - JUNE/JULY - [color=#ff0000]THE RESULTS![/color][/b][/size]

The voting has finished and I'm happy to announce that this month's winner is [b]ironside1966[/b] with over 45% of the vote! Very well done indeed

Here are the scores on the doors...

MIX 01: moonbass (1 vote)
MIX 02: ironside1966 (14 votes)
MIX 03: ras52 (1 vote)
MIX 04: Skol303 (2 votes)
MIX 05: lurksalot (1 vote)
MIX 06: Dad3353 (1 vote)
MIX 07: MiltyG565 (1 vote)
MIX 08: alexien90 (3 votes)
MIX 09: jaroslav.celujko (7 votes)

[b]MIX 1[/b] [url="https://soundcloud.com/basschat-mix-challenge/mix-01"]https://soundcloud.c...hallenge/mix-01[/url]
[b]MIX 2[/b] [url="https://soundcloud.com/basschat-mix-challenge/mix-02"]https://soundcloud.c...hallenge/mix-02[/url]
[b]MIX 3[/b] [url="https://soundcloud.com/basschat-mix-challenge/mix-03"]https://soundcloud.c...hallenge/mix-03[/url]
[b]MIX 4[/b] [url="https://soundcloud.com/basschat-mix-challenge/mix-04"]https://soundcloud.c...hallenge/mix-04[/url]
[b]MIX 5[/b] [url="https://soundcloud.com/basschat-mix-challenge/mix-05"]https://soundcloud.c...hallenge/mix-05[/url]
[b]MIX 6[/b] [url="https://soundcloud.com/basschat-mix-challenge/mix-06"]https://soundcloud.c...hallenge/mix-06[/url]
[b]MIX 7[/b] [url="https://soundcloud.com/basschat-mix-challenge/mix-07"]https://soundcloud.c...hallenge/mix-07[/url]
[b]MIX 8[/b] [url="https://soundcloud.com/basschat-mix-challenge/mix-08"]https://soundcloud.c...hallenge/mix-08[/url]
[b]MIX 9 [/b][url="https://soundcloud.com/basschat-mix-challenge/mix-09"]https://soundcloud.c...hallenge/mix-09[/url]

Well done to everyone who entered. Now it's time to spill the beans on your own mix and post constructive feedback on others... like a big, soppy group hug... aww!

Edited July 31, 2013 by Skol303

[Myke]

Sweet I'll be doing this one

[lurksalot]

Cheers Paul ,
count me in ........

















1 and a 2 and a 3...........

[Twigman]

one track of premixed drums??

this is gonna need some work!!!

[MiltyG565]

I'M SO OUT OF MY DEPTH THIS IS SO EXCITING!

[Skol303]

[quote name='Twigman' timestamp='1371512407' post='2114994']
one track of premixed drums??

this is gonna need some work!!!
[/quote]

Damn right.

Don't anybody be fooled by the mere seven stems and think to themselves: "ooh, an easy one!" Each stem is going to need a lot of work to help compensate for the raw recording - some more than others. The drums being an especially tricky customer.

Time to sharpen your surgical EQ and "get all Medieval on it"

[Skol303]

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1371513070' post='2115007']I'M SO OUT OF MY DEPTH THIS IS SO EXCITING! [/quote]

Some [i]very[/i] different challenges to the last one, Milty.

This time it's less a case of 'balancing' all the different sounds and more one of 'processing' them. In particular, using parametric EQ cuts (Google!) to remove the noise in each mix stem that you don't want.

Shout up if you need any tips.

[Dad3353]

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1371516197' post='2115030']...Shout up if you need any tips.[/quote]

I NEED SOME TIPS..!

[bobbass4k]

I was going to have a bash this month, but it seems unnecessary now, my composition competition entry has been an absolute bugger to mix, I just can't seem to get a decent sound out of the VST's and I've had to do a lot of rescue jobs, you should see the EQ on one of the ambient tracks...

[xgsjx]

The drums was originally all mic'd up, but the guy recording us accidentally turned them all off & we only got the overheads & the kick.
I've re recorded my bass for this one & there's 2 versions to choose from; a clean bass line & one with some funky wah.

The "finished" version that I did also has quite a bit of editing & bits chopped out, but that was for a demo for getting gigs.

Frigorifico are sadly no more.
But they was fun for the 5-6 years they was together.

[MiltyG565]

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1371516197' post='2115030']
Some [i]very[/i] different challenges to the last one, Milty.

This time it's less a case of 'balancing' all the different sounds and more one of 'processing' them. In particular, using parametric EQ cuts (Google!) to remove the noise in each mix stem that you don't want.

Shout up if you need any tips.
[/quote]

TIPS!

I need all the help I can get with this kind of thing! I'll download it and have a listen and then come back

[Skol303]

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1371516669' post='2115031']I NEED SOME TIPS..! [/quote]
[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1371548598' post='2115226']TIPS! [/quote]

Ok guys! You ask, you get...

Perhaps the biggest challenges this month are:[list]
[*]Working with a track that hasn't been recorded in a big 'pro' studio: hence the individual stems need cleaning up to remove unwanted noise/artefacts.
[*]Working with a limited number of stems: which places major constraints on fine tuning and 'finessing' the mix.
[/list]
So how to go about dealing with it? Well, perhaps the most useful tool for a job like this one is an EQ plug-in. And specifically, a plug-in that offers both shelving EQ (used for cutting/boosting the low or high end) and parametric EQ (used to cut/boost around a specific frequency). [url="http://blog.basschat.co.uk/equalisation/"]51m0n's mixing blog[/url] has an article on EQ'ing that I recommend as a great starting point for anyone new to it.

[b]Here's how I'll be going about starting on this mix myself...[/b]

1) Firstly, listen to each track individually and pick out the features you like and dislike about it. Jot down some brief notes about each. Do any frequency bands sound particularly nice or nasty? (thinking broadly at this stage: lows, low-mids, mids, high-mids, highs). Are there any unwanted noises or artefacts from the recording process that will need removing?

2) Work on each mix stem individually, add a high-pass filter (HPF) and slowly dial up the frequency from the lowest setting (usually 20Hz) until you start to hear the sound become affected - in this case, it will start to lose its low end. Dial back the frequency of the HPF a little until the sound appears pretty much unchanged. Now do the same for the high end frequencies using a low pass filter (LPF): this time dialing downwards from 20KHz. This process removes unwanted low-end rumble and high-end white noise, which helps to clean up your mix and give you more headroom to work with.

3) Now apply an [b]EQ plug-in[/b] to each mix stem individually. Start by dialing in a boost of around +6-8 Db (taking care if working on headphones!), at a Q setting of around 2-3 (a rounded rather than shallow curve) and use the frequency dial to sweep up and down along the frequency range. Listen out for the resonant frequencies of different instruments - the frequencies at which they become much louder / boomier / muddier / more nasal, etc. Once you hit upon a 'boomy/loud' section, increase (i.e. narrow) the Q setting and again, sweep along the frequency range to hone in on the resonant frequency (i.e. where the sound becomes the loudest). In most cases you probably want to apply a cut at these frequencies, but the resonant frequency can also be one you want to boost - there's no hard rule here and it all depends on the context, so let your ears be the judge.

Also, try sweeping along the frequency range using a cut instead of a boost. Try cutting around -6/8 Db, this time listening out for when instruments fade away, or perhaps become clearer and better defined. Use both of these process to identify:[list]
[*]Unwanted frequencies that you'd like to cut; and
[*]Useful frequencies that you might consider boosting.
[/list]
[b]As a general rule, it's usually better to cut rather than boost when using EQ.[/b] Why? Because EQ cuts sound more natural to our ears.
[list]
[*]When cutting, use a shallow EQ to make broad strokes (i.e. a low Q setting of around 1, cutting between 1-4 Db) and use sharp, surgical cuts to chop out problematic sounds without having too much impact on surrounding frequencies (i.e. using a high Q setting and a greater Db drop).
[*]When boosting, it's generally better to boost gentle yet broad, rather than boosting sharp and steep. In other words, use a low Q setting and boost between 1-4 Db (ideally no more than 6 Db) around the your desired frequency. Sharp, steep boosts can sound very unnatural... but that might be the effect you want! Again, follow your ears.
[/list]
[b]Lastly... the drums![/b] With this particular mix, there's no scope to easily tweak the sound of individual elements of the kit (apart from the kick). So you're going to have to use careful EQing to achieve the same aim - or at least, as close to the same aim as is possible! If you want to boost the snare, for example, then you'll need to work out which frequencies of the drum stem will need boosting or cutting or achieve that. It's going to take a lot of careful listening and EQing to get it sounding anywhere near 'right'. So, err yeah, have fun with that

...a long ramble but I hope that helps to get you started! If you need tips about anything in particular, just ask - I'm no expert but I'm always happy to share what I know.

Edited June 18, 2013 by Skol303

[Skol303]

PS: I use Reason as my DAW, which doesn't use standard VST/AU plug-ins (long story...).

So, if anybody can recommend any good quality - and free! - EQ plug-ins to assist with this month's challenge then please post links to them here. I think it'll be of great help to anyone who's new to EQ'ing and might be wondering which products to use.

Ta.

[Dad3353]

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1371552534' post='2115308']...[b]Lastly... the drums![/b]...[/quote]

Maybe a bad idea, so stop me now before I waste quite a lot of time, please. I was considering duplicating the drum track and cutting out all but the snare, so as to isolate it as much as possible, then deal with separately.
I would duplicate the original again, and 'rub out' the snare as much as possible. Maybe 'rinse and repeat' for toms, etc..?
Is this a feasible/legitimate method, or would I be better off simply (S[i]imply..? Did I really write that..? Doh..![/i]) treat the drum track as an indivisible entity..? ([i]Why are you all laughing like that..? What did I say..?[/i])

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1371552534' post='2115308']...a long ramble but I hope that helps to get you started...[/quote]

That's why we shouted..! (...[i]and a jolly fine ramble, too. Many thanks; now on to the serious stuff[/i]...)

Edited June 18, 2013 by Dad3353

[51m0n]

Wish I had time to do this one now

OK for all those Reaper users out there, you can replace drums using the built in gate and any midi firing drum tool (or even Reasampler and a drum wav you like):-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKumkYIDar8

If you did this once for each drum in the kit you can get as medieval as you like to filter the drums before the gate and run off each new drum kit item to get totally clean drums to add back to what is there or replace it altogether....

[MiltyG565]

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1371555605' post='2115375']
Wish I had time to do this one now

OK for all those Reaper users out there, you can replace drums using the built in gate and any midi firing drum tool (or even Reasampler and a drum wav you like):-

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKumkYIDar8[/media]

If you did this once for each drum in the kit you can get as medieval as you like to filter the drums before the gate and run off each new drum kit item to get totally clean drums to add back to what is there or replace it altogether....
[/quote]

That's cool! Is there any way to do that in Logic?

[51m0n]

[quote name='MiltyG565' timestamp='1371556418' post='2115387']
That's cool! Is there any way to do that in Logic?
[/quote]

Almost certainly, but I havent used logic in anger for over 12 years and so couldnt possibly comment on what you can and cannot do with it in its current Mac only form.....

[Skol303]

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1371554120' post='2115339']Maybe a bad idea, so stop me now before I waste quite a lot of time, please. I was considering duplicating the drum track and cutting out all but the snare, so as to isolate it as much as possible, then deal with separately. I would duplicate the original again, and 'rub out' the snare as much as possible. Maybe 'rinse and repeat' for toms, etc..?[/quote]

Nice idea, Douglas! A good way of thinking round of the problem Go for it... it's certainly an approach that could work well in this instance. Some useful advice in the video above posted by Si.

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1371555605' post='2115375']Wish I had time to do this one now [/quote]

I knew you'd be tempted mate... maybe just room for a wafer-thin mint??

[xgsjx]

In the mix that I did, I used a couple of duplicate drum patterns to do just what Dad asked.
I didn't know about that what 51m0n has shown was possible. I had thought that something that could do it would be cool, but expected it to cost a bit. Cheers for that!

[51m0n]

[quote name='Skol303' timestamp='1371557437' post='2115412']
Nice idea, Douglas! A good way of thinking round of the problem Go for it... it's certainly an approach that could work well in this instance. Some useful advice in the video above posted by Si.



I knew you'd be tempted mate... maybe just room for a wafer-thin mint??
[/quote]

F*** off, I'm Stuffed!!!

[51m0n]

[quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1371557745' post='2115426']
In the mix that I did, I used a couple of duplicate drum patterns to do just what Dad asked.
I didn't know about that what 51m0n has shown was possible. I had thought that something that could do it would be cool, but expected it to cost a bit. Cheers for that!
[/quote]

Well thats the point of the BC Mix 'Competition' - I hope it helps!

You could easily combine Dad's idea with this, to make it really easy to trigger the right drums at the right time....

Edited June 18, 2013 by 51m0n

[Skol303]

[quote name='51m0n' timestamp='1371558692' post='2115454']F*** off, I'm Stuffed!!![/quote]

[Dad3353]

Thanks for the 'thumb's up' on my scatter-brain mad scheme. Another question, a bit more delicate, maybe..? Can I re-do the bass line entirely..? As an engi, I'd do the best with what was played; as a producer, I'd ask for another take (it's not the playing, it's for a different style, or feel...). Is that going too far..? ([i]Ducks, runs for cover behind drum baffle, plonks hard hat onto bonce[/i]...)

[51m0n]

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1371559487' post='2115475']
Thanks for the 'thumb's up' on my scatter-brain mad scheme. Another question, a bit more delicate, maybe..? Can I re-do the bass line entirely..? As an engi, I'd do the best with what was played; as a producer, I'd ask for another take (it's not the playing, it's for a different style, or feel...). Is that going too far..? ([i]Ducks, runs for cover behind drum baffle, plonks hard hat onto bonce[/i]...)
[/quote]

Ooooh ontentious!

Didnt we just have a great big long thread on here about exactly this type of shenanigans eh?

[xgsjx]

I've never been happy with my playing on this track. Playing it at a jam or a gig & it's been fine, but every time that I've recorded it, it's been one thing after another (from an itchy nose 1/2 way through, to just getting fat fingers).