Awards
Hey Everyone,
I want to start out by thanking everyone who has participated (and also those who still plan to). What follows is my detailed analysis of each of your mixes. If I missed any of you, I apologize. I currently have 14 mixes saved to my computer (for some of you, I have both your original and your re-mix). With the amount submitted, it has become impossible to pick a ‘winner,’ and so I have broken it down into ‘awards,’ for various categories. The list below is alphabetical, by your user name:
4.Lane – For this analysis, I’m going to use your first mix. There is a great balance to this mix, especially with the guitars. The rhythm guitar and background guitar complement each other very well, and the slight echo you have on background adds a nice ‘distance’ feel. Lead vocals have a good presence, but are slightly up-front, and almost seem separate from the rest of the mix; this could be a function of the fact that the background vocals are very quiet. This is a very pleasant mix to listen to.
13th_Omen - A clean/quiet mix. I liked how you brought the little tom-foolery (that was originally at the end) to the beginning, almost sounded like warming up. Lead vocals are a bit warm, but sit nicely. The echo you put on “fall asleep” fills that little gap in the vocal section, and sounds really cool. There is a nice ‘hall’ feel to the background vocals, and the background guitars sit perfectly. I like the calmness of this mix.
Anywhither – Absolutely beautiful work with lead vocals and guitar. The lead sits comfortably, and the clean/tight sound of rhythm guitar really helps the overall feel. I also liked the echo you put on the background guitar, but the levels of both background guitar and vocals are very low. They sound distant, which is pretty, but can barely be heard. This is especially noticeable in the solo section, where the strong lead vocals stop, and the mix goes quite. Overall, a beautiful, focused mix.
DAFFYDRUNK - As with 4.Lane, I’m going to use your first mix. They are both quite similar, and your first mix is truer to the original song. This is one of the most fun mixes to listen to. The first time I heard the drums/bass come in, I just starting smiling. It’s a very pretty and creative mix. The lead vocals are a little on the ‘echo’ side, and the lead guitar is slightly weak at the beginning (though it fits nicely with the ‘full band,’ it could have been stronger when it was alone). The background guitar is almost inaudible; I would like to hear more balance there, especially at the solo section. What I love about this mix is its uniqueness. The background vocals throughout (including the absolutely beautiful ending) are a nice touch, and the bass performance is excellent. I really appreciate the time you put into the ‘full band’ version.
Gatorhaus - Nice, ‘dreamy’ feel. Lead vocals sound great by themselves, but tend to dominate the mix. Rhythm guitar has a nice sound, but needs to be more dominant (it’s the root of the song). Background vocals need to have a nicer balance, as the high end is almost non-existent. I would love to hear this mixed with better balance, as the lead vocals are simply gorgeous.
Nik D - As with 4.Lane and Daffy, I’m going to use your first mix. There is no question; awesome drum work. The solo section is very nicely done, and the background guitar throughout has a perfect balance. Lead vocals are a bit up-front, and background vocals could sound nice brought up near the level of the background guitar (this was done more in your second mix). A slightly better balance could enhance the song a great deal. This is the type of mix that you can listen to over and over again. Excellent work.
Ocnor - A little bit overdone. The lead guitar reminded me a lot of “Neutral Milk Hotel.” Have you ever heard them? They’re awesome, so that’s a good thing, though that sound doesn’t necessarily ‘fit’ in this song. The background guitar cuts through nicely, and has a really cool ‘echo’ at the solo section. However, much of the light touches in this mix are clouded by a ton of reverb. It has a lot of character, and is a nice diversion from the norm, but could benefit from fewer effects.
Sk8ingsnowman - Clean mix. The lead vocals sound nice, but are distant from everything else. Background guitar is very, very light. Lead guitar sounds good, but could benefit from being brought up as well. An enjoyable, easy mix to listen to that could benefit from a little bit of character.
Sonic Misfit - A very nice balance, probably the most well balanced of them all. Lead guitar sounded a little bit heavy on the low end, but the ‘brightness’ of the lead vocals sat very well. Background vocals had a perfect presence, but that swirling (phasing) effect made them seem slightly disjointed. Background guitar could cut through a bit more. Solo section was nicely done. A near-perfectly balanced mix.
Strryder (private submission)
Thirst - Bright mix! Guitar sounds really nice, and lead vocals have a nice ‘cleanness’ to them. Background guitar and vocals complement each other very well. The solo section could be brought up some. There is a nice balance to the entire mix, but it lacks mids and ends up sounding slightly empty.
Awards
Creativity: DAFFYDRUNK, Nik D
Lead Vocals: Anywhither, Gatorhaus, Sonic Misfit, Strryder
Lead Guitar: Anywhither
Attention to Detail: 13th_Omen, DAFFYDRUNK
Mix Balance: Sonic Misfit
Thanks again, everyone. This is by no means ending the project, but I have had the opportunity to listen to some wonderful work, and wanted to share my feedback. I am truly grateful.
Sincerely,
Kirk Whitney
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