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Old 04-01-2021, 12:59 AM   #1
darjama
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Default The Reaper Mixing Contest - April 2021, We'll Talk About It All Tonight

REAPER CONTEST - April 2021
(ONLY REAPER PLUGINS ALLOWED)



OFFICIAL WEBSITE: reaMIXed.com


MIXING: 1-16 April
VOTING: 20-26 April
RESULTS: 28 April
FEEDBACK: 29-30 April



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This month's song was selected by javiramallo, last month's contest winner. The track is We'll Talk About It All Tonight by Ben Carrigan. It's a nice chamber-pop piece with lots of fun elements to mix


You can download the multitrack from the website or clicking on this link.

Again, no prize this month, aside from the customary track-picking privileges for the next month's contest.


Happy mixing!
-Daryl

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Old 04-01-2021, 10:42 AM   #2
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Chamber pop! Yes! Excellent choice, Javi. It will make me feel like I am mixing Neil Hannon's latest track . I know not everyone enjoys this genre, but I am in for a treat!
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Old 04-01-2021, 11:44 PM   #3
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Quote:
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Chamber pop! Yes! Excellent choice, Javi. It will make me feel like I am mixing Neil Hannon's latest track . I know not everyone enjoys this genre, but I am in for a treat!

Glad you Like it Jansen.
I think is going to be funny to mix.

I plan to start work in today. I'll see how are the tracks.

Cheers.
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Old 04-02-2021, 08:46 AM   #4
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It looks amusing, there are many things to figure out how to deal with.
At the first hearing I thought of "Tonight the streets will be ours" by Richard Hawley.
I will play with the song from tomorrow.
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Old 04-02-2021, 01:28 PM   #5
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What on earth is 'chamber pop'?
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Old 04-02-2021, 01:55 PM   #6
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Pop songs with chamber orchestra and intricate melodies /arrangements? Like this one (personal hero ):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4V7WBq72Gg
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Old 04-02-2021, 04:45 PM   #7
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Interesting song.

I think the hardest thing is going to be to get a good drum sound.
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Old 04-02-2021, 05:20 PM   #8
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This one may be quite a bit outside my abilities, but I have Easter week off work so I might give it a shot. I've already done a bit of manual pitch correction on the vocals just for something to do.
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Old 04-02-2021, 05:21 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jansen View Post
Pop songs with chamber orchestra and intricate melodies /arrangements? Like this one (personal hero ):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4V7WBq72Gg
Wow! - thanks for then link jansen!
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Old 04-03-2021, 08:18 AM   #10
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Glad you like it garanimals- and if you enjoy the genre, you're going to love the Divine Comedy albums, which are consistently great.
Neil Hannon is not only a gifted songwriter, he is also a top human being. It's a mystery to me why he gets so little recognition outside of France and the UK/Ireland.
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Old 04-03-2021, 09:12 AM   #11
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Default Markers in the MIDI at wrong position

Hi, is ist possible that the MIDI-file is somehow incorrect? The length of the wave-files are roughly 3m19s and the file length of the Midi is 6m34s. The file lengths are about a factor 2 apart (taking into acount the 1 bar silence at the beginning and fade-out as well).
It was absolutely not able for me to bring the markers of the midi-file at the right spots in the Reaper project.
I want to participate the first time and I only want to be sure, that the markers are at the correct position. Otherwise it will be a nightmare when it comes to comparing the different mixes ....
Am I doing something wrong at importing the midi-file?
Anyone with the same problem?
Or just my stupidity?

Cheers Jopame

Last edited by Jopame; 04-03-2021 at 09:21 AM.
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Old 04-03-2021, 09:42 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jopame View Post
Hi, is ist possible that the MIDI-file is somehow incorrect? The length of the wave-files are roughly 3m19s and the file length of the Midi is 6m34s. The file lengths are about a factor 2 apart (taking into acount the 1 bar silence at the beginning and fade-out as well).
It was absolutely not able for me to bring the markers of the midi-file at the right spots in the Reaper project.
I want to participate the first time and I only want to be sure, that the markers are at the correct position. Otherwise it will be a nightmare when it comes to comparing the different mixes ....
Am I doing something wrong at importing the midi-file?
Anyone with the same problem?
Or just my stupidity?

Cheers Jopame
I am not using that MIDI file at all so I can't help you. Sorry!
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Old 04-03-2021, 10:05 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jopame View Post
Hi, is ist possible that the MIDI-file is somehow incorrect? The length of the wave-files are roughly 3m19s and the file length of the Midi is 6m34s. The file lengths are about a factor 2 apart (taking into acount the 1 bar silence at the beginning and fade-out as well).
It was absolutely not able for me to bring the markers of the midi-file at the right spots in the Reaper project.
I want to participate the first time and I only want to be sure, that the markers are at the correct position. Otherwise it will be a nightmare when it comes to comparing the different mixes ....
Am I doing something wrong at importing the midi-file?
Anyone with the same problem?
Or just my stupidity?

Cheers Jopame
I think you can safely ignore the midi files.

If you want to use them it looks like the drum midi files line up except for the crash swell. For the ones that look long, set the playback rate in item properties to 2, and it lines up better, might still need a little but of nudging. You can compare them to the audio tracks for the same instrument.

Just remember: only reaper plugins allowed for the contest.

Anyone have a better way of importing the midi that avoids this?
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Old 04-03-2021, 02:33 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by javiramallo View Post
I am not using that MIDI file at all so I can't help you. Sorry!
No problem, I also had not intention to use the midi. But I thought it's a good idea to integrate the markers at the correct position. But it seems not to be necessary.
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Old 04-03-2021, 03:19 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by darjama View Post
I think you can safely ignore the midi files.

If you want to use them it looks like the drum midi files line up except for the crash swell. For the ones that look long, set the playback rate in item properties to 2, and it lines up better, might still need a little but of nudging. You can compare them to the audio tracks for the same instrument.
Thanks, I'll leave the midi out (Had no intention to use, only wanted to integrate the markers)


Quote:
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Just remember: only reaper plugins allowed for the contest.
Understood. But jsfx are also okay, right?
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Old 04-03-2021, 04:00 PM   #16
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Understood. But jsfx are also okay, right?
That's right. Just include any non stock ones in your zip file.
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Old 04-05-2021, 09:10 PM   #17
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Default I'm new here!

Hi friends, new to this contest. I've done a lot of work in music but always wished my mixing could be at a better level. I'm really looking forward to digging my amateur teeth in. Most of my mixing work has been for 2-5 member groups.

Enjoying listening to this track a lot, should be a fun month 😁 Also appreciate The Divine Comedy link!

Already loving it here.
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Old 04-07-2021, 01:04 PM   #18
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I'm not familiar with this type of music but I do like this track. I assume that this type of music is more dry and not very reverb added? There is a lot going on with the instrumentation.
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Old 04-11-2021, 09:01 AM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnDaniel View Post
Hi friends, new to this contest.
Hi John, wellcome, happy to see new partners over here.


Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnDaniel View Post
I've done a lot of work in music but always wished my mixing could be at a better level.
There is no better place for that.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Trogdor View Post
There is a lot going on with the instrumentation.
Yeah Trogdor!! There is a lot to dig in the sections. was fany.


I took advantage of this Sunday to finish my mix, so mine is up, friends.

Hugs to all.
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Old 04-11-2021, 10:21 AM   #20
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I like the track. It was a good choice.
Very challenging.
Learn a lot mixing this.

Just submitted!
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Old 04-13-2021, 10:06 AM   #21
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Just submitted mine! I'm much more satisfied with what I uploaded than last month. Looking forward to the results.
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Old 04-13-2021, 11:16 AM   #22
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Submitted mine too. The song is good, but strangely I didn't enjoy mixing it as much as I initially thought,the tracks were very clean (samples) and there was not much to do besides the usual comp and eq (though the background vocals were tough to fit in the mix). Maybe it's just me? Last month's track was not the kind of music I listen to, but mixing the guitars to get this big sound was fun.

Anyway, looking forward to hearing everyone's mixes!
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Old 04-14-2021, 06:59 AM   #23
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Submitted.
Alea jacta est and good luck.
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Old 04-14-2021, 06:04 PM   #24
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Just uploaded mine. I hope my is close to as good as everyone else. Was a fun mix. I didn't really have anything to reference to. Seems I never do.
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Old 04-14-2021, 09:13 PM   #25
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My mix is in too. Great choice of song for this month. This is one I'll be happy to listen to 20 more times as I write feedback for everyone.
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Old 04-15-2021, 06:30 AM   #26
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Submitted mine a couple of days ago.

jansen's link at least gave me a direction as I'm not used to this genre.
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Old 04-16-2021, 02:46 AM   #27
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Submitted too! thanks for making this!
I did a few mixing contest with old formula back then, and it seems to have improved a lot.

Nice choice for the track too!
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Old 04-18-2021, 07:15 AM   #28
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QUESTION: Spectral Editing...Okay or Taboo on the contest? If you aren't baking the changes won't they just follow the project file?

JS DeEsser does a poor job at best.
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Old 04-18-2021, 07:58 AM   #29
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Spectral editing is fine, like you said just don't apply the changes.

I've actually been quite happy with the js deesser, often I'll set it to reduce too much then blend with the dry signal. but there are some cases where it doesn't get the job done. Reaxcomp can do nicely as well. I used spectral editing to deess on one project, very time consuming.

I remember watching a video where someone isolated the esses with a gate and a bandpass or highpass filter, then flipped phase on them and blended with the dry signal, seemed to work well. Haven't tried that myself.
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Old 04-18-2021, 11:26 AM   #30
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Yeah the process of using phase cancellation for effect is actually not a bad one...but a bit 'toothy' for my taste. Oddly however Spectral Editing seems quite therapeutic somehow? Must be the pretty colors! lol j/k
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Old 04-21-2021, 05:24 AM   #31
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Okay, voting is live, let me know if you encounter any problems.
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Old 04-21-2021, 08:59 AM   #32
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Wow, that was tough to vote. Lots of good entries and very close on a bunch of them. I look forward to seeing the results! I think I did much better this time, but we'll see what the consensus is!
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Old 04-21-2021, 12:32 PM   #33
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I agree... I think the contest will be decided on details this month. I'm half into it and a lot of mixes are around 4 stars. Good job everyone.
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Old 04-21-2021, 01:17 PM   #34
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We've been so busy trying to find a house so we can move that I haven't had enough time to finish anything for the past 2 contests. I have the tracks up and running on my MacBook Pro and my PC and have spent a little time on them.

I have to admit, when I first heard the song I wasn't into it at all...I hated it. But after listening to all the tracks and messing around with it for an hour here or there...now I can't get the dang thing out of my head!

The song haunts you almost irritatingly so, like "Gangnam Style"!

There was a lot to work with and I have a lot of ideas for it. I'll probably continue to play around with it. The point is, wether I like a song or not, I still have to provide a faithful repesentation and value for the client(s). So it was a great challenge to push myself to discover the genre and to be able to hear the finished product in my head.
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Old 04-22-2021, 10:24 AM   #35
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We've been so busy trying to find a house so we can move that I haven't had enough time to finish anything for the past 2 contests. I have the tracks up and running on my MacBook Pro and my PC and have spent a little time on them.

I have to admit, when I first heard the song I wasn't into it at all...I hated it. But after listening to all the tracks and messing around with it for an hour here or there...now I can't get the dang thing out of my head!

The song haunts you almost irritatingly so, like "Gangnam Style"!

There was a lot to work with and I have a lot of ideas for it. I'll probably continue to play around with it. The point is, wether I like a song or not, I still have to provide a faithful repesentation and value for the client(s). So it was a great challenge to push myself to discover the genre and to be able to hear the finished product in my head.
I know how you feel... just moved into a new place and am surrounded by boxes... I'm not sure I'm going to get to critique all the mixes as it might not sit well with my gf with so much unpacking to do.

I am always amazed with how songs grow on me as I mix them.
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Old 04-23-2021, 08:52 AM   #36
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A short questionnaire just to have a little fun waiting for the votes to end.
1 do you listen to all the mixes wholly?
2 how many times on average?
3 are you somehow biased in favor of other mixes that are similar to yours?
4 do you check the author of the mix before voting?
5 in that case, is it meaningful to your assessment?
6 can you write comments not using the following words: boxy, messy, balanced or muddy?
My answers, soon.
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Old 04-23-2021, 09:59 AM   #37
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A short questionnaire just to have a little fun waiting for the votes to end.
1 do you listen to all the mixes wholly?
sometimes... if they are long and a lot of submissions I will pick a section and rule out weaker mixes.
I then will listen to the remaining contenders in full

2 how many times on average?
no average - depends on the contenders

3 are you somehow biased in favor of other mixes that are similar to yours?

If I feel strong about my mix and nothing moves me from it.

4 do you check the author of the mix before voting?

no
5 in that case, is it meaningful to your assessment?
n/a
6 can you write comments not using the following words: boxy, messy, balanced or


muddy?

never use the first two but use the second two a lot. Maybe will try not to.
My answers, soon.
answers in line

Last edited by garanimals; 04-23-2021 at 10:27 AM.
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Old 04-23-2021, 10:31 AM   #38
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Quote:
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answers in line
1 do you listen to all the mixes wholly?
yes. But the ones with lots of issues will be sorted out in the beginning. The best mixes are more or less on infinite loop
2 how many times on average?
Well, maybe 3 or 4 times I think. But for really judging I've thrown all flacs in a new reaper project and aligned them so that I can easily switch from mix to mix (SOLO) in no time. And with this setup I hear a lot of the mixes tenfold. For me this works much better than the online tool. And you can easily define your own loops you want to hear. The aligning of the 20 mixes was done in 15 minutes
3 are you somehow biased in favor of other mixes that are similar to yours?
Hopefully not. At least I make an effort
4 do you check the author of the mix before voting?
No, I don't mind the name. For me it's just mix xy
5 in that case, is it meaningful to your assessment?
6 can you write comments not using the following words: boxy, messy, balanced or muddy?
Oh difficult. Balanced or muddy I find absolutely okay as a judgement. Messy or boxy are not technical descriptions, so I try to avoid these.

Grüße Jopame
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Old 04-23-2021, 10:49 AM   #39
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1 do you listen to all the mixes wholly?

2 how many times on average?

3 are you somehow biased in favor of other mixes that are similar to yours?

4 do you check the author of the mix before voting?

5 in that case, is it meaningful to your assessment?

6 can you write comments not using the following words: boxy, messy, balanced or muddy?



1) Yes always

2) Each mix gets listened to from beginning to end once.

3) Depends on how much I like my mix, or if I find one I like better. Mine is not always my favorite.

4) NO! To my mind doing so would absolutely affect my votes and so I would suggest that it is contrary to the spirit of purely focusing on the mix! Should it matter to the end listener whether a song was mixed by Paul Valenti or Chris Lorde Alge if they like the song and mix?

5) N/A

6) I use whatever language that I feel properly illustrates what I hear or don't hear. I can't recall specifically using some of that language, but I usually like to fully explain my comments regarding mix issues in an effort to better help those I'm reviewing. So hopefully if I ever use that verbage, I'll back it up with a detailed explanation. But I'm always happy to explain my observations if I'm asked.
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Old 04-23-2021, 12:06 PM   #40
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1 do you listen to all the mixes wholly?
Yes, unless there's a serious problem that makes them difficult to listen to the end, like a really harsh high-end.

2 how many times on average?
Average about 1.5. I listen all the way through and then spot-check sections and compare them to the other mixes.

3 are you somehow biased in favor of other mixes that are similar to yours?
I don't think so. There are always mixes that are better than mine.

4 do you check the author of the mix before voting?
No

5 in that case, is it meaningful to your assessment?
N/A

6 can you write comments not using the following words: boxy, messy, balanced or muddy?
Yes, but I've used balanced and muddy to describe EQ.
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