Public Mix Contest #6

[Pro Tools User]

Thanks Eric, guess I still need to understand this room and my new monitors. I mixed at different volumns, only thing I really didnt do was check it on other playback systems. (big mistake) I still plan on using a RTA on this room to see what is really going on with my sound. Damn I miss my old house.

 

[caryindy]

After doing this five times, I'm at a loss for words. I'm done here.

Congratulations Gary! Instrument flight rules.

PTuser- I feel exactly like you. I'm flabergasted that I score a 'fair' in the balance of mix elements cat. No offense Eric - thank you for judging.

 

[Tonio]

Thanks to Bryan and Eric!!
Bryan, good to hear you're doing better!! Not much you can do with a head cold except pass it through with some pharmaceuticals. sometimes a shot of a strong alcohol does the trick LOL!

I knew I had problems with the low end. Guess I over compromised! But its a learning experince, and I'm slowly notching up over 3 or 4? PMc's. Damn null.

sorry to hear geet didn't get 2nd place. Told ya dude!

congrats to the winner(s) and see ya on the next one!!

T

 

[Doug H]

ah cool, not bad. I think I could have done better in a couple categories backing off one of the horn pairs a bit. Most of the mixes sounded pretty good to me, and the scoring seemed pretty tightly packed as a result. For some reason I think it was a hard tune to make really sing, so I RT's judging was in the ball park IMO.

If I were to do it again I'd go to work on the horns, maybe some slow attack compression to make them dig in. The percussion stuff was cool, but I just bascially spread it all out across the main bus, no vision at all lol. I think the trick to this mix would be to make it sound like only 4 or 5 guys were playing untill you really listenned to it, that and having the horns knock you off your chair without taking over the mix.

 

[vestast]

I think the really important thing here is that I totally beat Chris Harris even though I was disqualified.

That's all that really matters to me.

 

[BentRabbit]

Well this gives me an idea of what I need to tweak with my stuff...
And helps me justify 'upgrades' of stuff in some areas ("ummm no honey... I've always had those monitors... why?")

Thanx Eric and Bryan... You guys put a lot into this and it is totally appreciated!

So folks... Since Bryan is throwing his hat in the ring for the next one, any chance we can get it under way while he's still got the head cold?

Congrats to the winners!

 

[schenkerguy]

Yehaw, I'm the weiner!

There is a Santa Claus

I wonder where I was on Giles list? Better not to know..

 

[timboZ]

Damn, I suck!

 

[timboZ]

Raw

OK I know mine sucked after hearing a lot of the other entries, but it sounds and looks like some of the entries had compression on the overall mix. (mastering). I was under the impression that no mastering was to be done.

I think before the next mix contest someone should set the rules down first.
Then every one will know what they can and can’t do. Also all entries should be uploaded the same bit rate.

 

[Raw-Tracks]

Raw

OK I know mine sucked after hearing a lot of the other entries, but it sounds and looks like some of the entries had compression on the overall mix. (mastering). I was under the impression that no mastering was to be done.

I think before the next mix contest someone should set the rules down first.
Then every one will know what they can and can’t do. Also all entries should be uploaded the same bit rate.

I don't think any ground rules were ever laid regarding "mastered" vs. un-mastered. I think both have been acceptable.

That being said, I realize that some of the mixes were "mastered" (read: limited, therefore louder). I tried to compensate for the differences by monitoring all the mixes at the same level. This was done by ear using the volume control. Not scientific, but sufficient.

As for the bitrates, I have said previously in this thread, I think all submissions should be at 128kb/s or 192kb/s. Not for sonic reasons, but for bandwidth considerations. I do not think any mix would have scored higher if it had been submitted at a higher bandwidth.

 

[dcwave]

Mastering isn't going to help if the mix is weak... a well polished turd is still just a turd.
Limiting will just make a turd louder. Although, multiband limiting might make a turd seem pleasantly loud.

 

[Markaholic]

i always encode all my stuff at 320 and zip it..whick takes like 2mbs off!
Its just something ive always done and got in a habit of doing..i have the HD space and a fast connection so i never gave it a second thought

 

[chrisharris]

Raw Tracks - thanks for judging; it's not an easy job, and the whole thing fell on your shoulders this time.

If I had entered this one, I'd probably be flaming you or something, LOL...but I didn't, and I'm not...and it's a pretty thankless job...so thanks.

 

[Raw-Tracks]

Raw Tracks - thanks for judging; it's not an easy job, and the whole thing fell on your shoulders this time.

If I had entered this one, I'd probably be flaming you or something, LOL...but I didn't, and I'm not...and it's a pretty thankless job...so thanks.

Thanks Chris. I really think there should be 3 judges. Each judge is going to interpret the criteria differently. I think with 3 judges you will get a better overall picture.

 

[Nik D]

Thanks Chris. I really think there should be 3 judges. Each judge is going to interpret the criteria differently. I think with 3 judges you will get a better overall picture.

I agree, 3 is a good number of judges. Also I think that entries should be encoded at nothing lower than 160. 128 sounds terrible, and it degrades the mix way too much to judge accuratly.

 

[schenkerguy]

I believe I sent mine in at 192, seems like a good balance between size and quality.

I also used some limiting in the final mix, but no compression as such. The mix would have to be too quiet if all the peaks were left in..

 

[vanbas2]

Congrats to all

Eric - Thank you
Brian - Here is the truth only the truth and nothing but the truth
Don't know what to say more
I hope you 'll get well soon
Waiting for PCM7

vanbas

 

[giles117]

Well Van as you can hear from my Original Mixed track this is the correct instrumentation layout. Everything is in from top to bottm. Played as I wanted it it. No Biggie Though. Remember this is all just practice. So Who is Hosting PMC 7 I am eager to get this head cold gone and mix someone elses stuff while we track all this new stuff for the new album. So far we have 6 songs done wqith 12 to go. And dang I done fell into song writers mode too

So It will Be Kristal (and Husband in 3 point font. LOL)

 

[caryindy]

Yes, we need three judges.

First, Eric had very limited time to compile his scores, only to have them sit for almost a week. Furthermore, had he more time to listen, he would have been able to hear things which he obviously didn’t. I’m not blaming him, he simply was rushed to get it done.

The idea between the three judges was to balance out the possible bias of the single. With that said, why didn’t we wait for Bryan to get better, or ask for a few of the contestants to judge?

As a contestant, I was fully aware of the rules. I can make the assumption that each contestant is fully aware of the actions they took as they mixed. In the light of how graciously the two known disqualified contestants have accepted their misfortune, is seems pretty unfair that those who also broken the rules have not come forward and admit their actions. Perhaps it’s the same type of thinking that defends the use of pirated software.

This is probably hard to receive, because it looks like sour grapes. Keep in mind, I did make some comments even before Eric posted his scores.

 

[dcwave]

is seems pretty unfair that those who also broken the rules have not come forward and admit their actions. Perhaps it’s the same type of thinking that defends the use of pirated software.

This is probably hard to receive, because it looks like sour grapes. Keep in mind, I did make some comments even before Eric posted his scores.

So call them out. Why beat around the bush? Doing so does make it look like sour grapes. If the purpose of these mix contests is to learn, lets hear what you're talking about so everyone can learn.