ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOQRSTUVWXYZAAABACADAEAFAGAHAIAJ
1
2
3
AuthorDrumsBassPadRG + SynthsViolinsVocalsLead (bar 145)Vol Balance & GlueFlow / transitionsDynamicsTonal balanceMIX ROUND 2
4
5
OVERALLDrums are difficult to get right and sit in the mix. They need to be punchy but not too much, have body but not overpower, clarity but not sound too tinny. In some mixes the kick was boosted / boomed too much, which overpowered the song (and the sub bass). Sometimes it had a pronounced (often high-freq) reverb all by itself, which unglued the drums from the rest of the mixMany of the mixes are too heavy in the sub 100Hz range, the Bass Hold instrument is a very deep sub and needs taming!! Sometimes the drum kick was boomed a lot, often adding to the problem.The Blue in Grey Pad is, in its raw preset form, more like an organ sound. It is also horribly autopanned. In the reference track it has a space-type reverb which 1) turns it into a pad and 2) kills the autopan. Some of you tamed the autopan without killing it completely, which I liked, but left untreated, the autopan was too much. In some cases it sounded like a cheesy organ during the break in bar 89, which I really didn't like (although you wouldn't have known that so I ignored that in my assessment)Since there are plenty of 'main' + 'filler' instruments, it's important not to overload with too many and choose the balance of them at different stages of the song. The RG guitar is great to introduce the song but then should fall back to make room for the new instruments. The synth tops risks being repetitive if over-used, especially if used only in its dry form. The sparkle is nice to add shimmer to the chorus. And the Synth Motion is delivering most of the harmony, so it needs to be heardAlthough not the best in the business, this is still a great quality string preset (NI Session Strings). Many mixes gave the violins a quiet, background and/or flat treatment. After the vocals, the violins are, for me, the second best instrument to create emotion and dynamism. For me the best treatment is to give it broad wide stereo and make it sing, with volume dynamics and crescendos.Not the easiest to get right, but I have found that when you have great vocals, and I'm super happy with the session singer's raw vocals by the way, it makes it easier to mix in. I prefer vocals to be up front but still very much in the mix, which usually means subtle reverb and FX whilst keeping the original character of the voice as much as I can. But in some styles a more pronounced reverb works, if the rest of the track sounds like it's in the same spaceThis is for me the climax of the song, with the lead riding and building on the energy that the vocals created in chorus 2. Many mixes treated it as a more relaxing way to come down from the chorus, but I really wanted to hear it literally crying out, to top off the already intense vocals. So if the lead was very quiet or weedy, it felt like a bit of a let down. I had assumed calling it a lead in the mix pack would be enough of a hint. However, I didn't specifically ask for the above, so I made it a less important criteria for my scoring in the endIt's important for me that main instruments get more airtime than supporting effects or high frequency rhythmic effects; the more repetitive they are, the less they should be up front. I don't like any hard panning of instruments unless they are far back in the mix and are well balanced. Hard-panned hihats tend to get irritating because they have high frequencies that can easily annoy, like flies buzzing behind the ears. I also find that lots of different reverbs applied to different instruments unglues the mixWhen using the riser and crash FX, I want them to sound part of the song. In my mind, they need to lead into the next section of the song without then stopping dead, they need to flow. Also any creative changes in mix parameters can add more interest as the song passes from one section to the next. E.g. change in vocal character, reverb, violins swelling in, etc.Apart from the break at bar 89 which should be a bit quieter and more dreamy interlude, the most important section for dynamics is the second pre-chorus from bar 113 going into chorus 2 at 129. This where the volume needs to build up, crescendo, especially in the violins which add so much emotional impact. In many cases I didn't feel this, apart from the vocals which already deliver an increase in emotion all by themselves.I use iZotope's Tonal Balance 2 which is an excellent indicator of how our brain will perceive the spectral balance of a song. It's a pretty reliable indicator showing where the bass is too heavy, the mids are too thin, or the high is too strong or maybe even missing altogether. If I think a song is too bassy, muddy, tinny or hollow, then Tonal Balance pretty reliably confirms it.
6
AdamTownsendNice but a bit muted / tamedProvides warm backgroundToo much like an organ in the breakRG lacks drive, needs motion (more delay), it's a bit too persistent hard panned L+RA bit flat soundingGood presence, lots of reverb though, and don't like the 1/4 bar delay in chorusLead is very quietNice balance of instrumentsGood flowFairly consistentGreat tonal balance overall
7
alavaultDrums energy boost ! Punchy and cut through the mix but sit wellTotally transformed, the Bass Hold becomes a deep growl and the Bass Stabs a kind of heavily distorted industrial sound. The Bass Stabs work at certain points in the song, when they could potentially have been an added FX. But it's not so great to hear it all the time as the core bassA bit too organ-like, and dry, esp. in break at 89. Which really doesn't fit the new style at allGood balance between instruments, choice of which to combine in each section worksViolins sit well in the mix, I think there is volume dynamics on them (although hard to say because rest of the song has so much energy already)Normally I'm less keen on heavily reverbed vocals, but they work really well in the context of this style. Although I'd still up the delay decay rate a bit in the chorusLead is fairly strong, but for this style I might have expected something sounding more like a metal electric guitarFeels well balanced and well gluedRisers, FX and bass meld together to give a really new and exciting drive to the song. Just at the very end, I find the bass a bit heavy as the song closesThe style imports a real drive to the song and makes it really exciting, it could belong in the climax of a filmWell balanced, doesn't suffer from too much sub like many other mixesYES
8
AlexvanmixlandFit in mix wellA but heavy below 80HzSit well in mixSynth tops a bit too prominent, obscuring the melody of the vocals, in both verse and chorusViolins have some dynamics, to create interest, greatReverb is good, but I'd prefer less reverb to make vocal more present. Especially needs to be stronger in 121 pre-chorus. Chorus 2, vocal not up front enoughLead is a bit thinWell glued togetherNice transition bar 57 to pre-chorus. Nice dreamy section in the break bar 89. Feels free-flowingGenerally quite dynamic on violins especially, would like more volume variations still!A bit heavy in the 150-300Hz range
9
ArneBDrums need to cut through the mix a bit more, kick is a bit boomy, hihats a bit tinny on the sidesBass too heavy below 100Hz, makes a distorted buzzing sound, plus a peak at 200HzToo much like an organ in the breakThe synths blend into each other creating a bit of a muddy feel. 'Synth Motion' very quietA bit flat at first, but some dynamism laterToo much delay and reverb, loses impactLead is very quietOver heavy bass and some instrument muddinessFlows well, ending a bit abruptGoodBass too heavy below 80Hz, there is a strange peak around 200Hz
10
Arthur_labusDrum kick too heavy, lots of reverb which distracts. Snare is distinctive but doesn't fit, also lots of reverb - puts drums too much at the frontWay too heavy, below <200Hz. Combined with the kick, I sometimes hear it clipping or distortingA bit too much like an organ, interesting effects on it thoughInstruments reasonably well balanced (in their part of the mix). But 'Synth Motion' very quietSit behind the synths in the mix, would be better a bit more forward especially during prechorus 2Vocals sound a bit 'radio' and are not standing out very well, reverb pushes the vocals further back. Need more bodyLead sings out more than most other mixes, good !Doesn’t glue so well, primarily the drumsFirst riser and subsequent transition FX are a bit over the topFairly constant, need crescendo in prechorus 2Too heavy below 200hz and dip in mid range 200-2000Hz, thus it loses body
11
BexplorersDrums nice and punchyBass is too strong below 100HzA bit too organ-like, esp. in break at 89Nice balancing of the instrumentsViolins need more dynamics, sound a bit roboticSit nicely in the mixLead is a bit thinGood balance of all instrumentsFlows well between sectionsFairly constant, need crescendo in prechorus 2Slightly lacking in hid-mids and highs, needs more 'air'
12
BlangDrums sit well, have punchBuzzing sound on the sub bass. Very slightly too high below 50HzAutopan too strong at start. Interesting effects applied on the pads, but pads are pretty loud, a but too much for meRG very strong. Synth motion also very loud, sounds like its distorting, synth tops too, need to reign in as vocals enterA bit drowned out by the other synth tracks + vocalsSwitch from clean to chorus effect in early verses works well to build interest. 'Radio' vocal bar 57 also is a great idea, it morphs to clean vocals as lyrics are about 'clarity', works wellLead is prominent, but I'm not sure I like the sound, it's has an ever so slight buzz that makes me think of kids party buzzers. Maybe it was chorused ?Quite a lot of competition between multiple loud synths at the same time, sounds a bit clutteredInteresting use of filter on drums in build-ups, on riser FX. Creativity changing vocal character throughoutEnergy build up nicely from first verse to prechorusGood tonal balance
13
Brunobennet77mixSome kind of phasing applied to the drums, I'd prefer it to be more punchy, the phased effect on share + HH gets annoying quickly (someone sharpening a knife sound)Bass is heavy below 100HzPads too prominent, often sound more like keys / organ than padsSynth tops a bit too prominent, and too dry, needs to be more dreamy, supporting the rest. 'Synth Motion' hardly audibleNo dynamics in violins volumeFull 1 bar delay is too corny for me, it reduces the impact of the vocals actuallyLead is a bit thinGreatBreak at 89 not dreamy enough, a but too dry for my taste. FX risers etc don't seem to blend into the next sections, kind of stop deadPre-chorus up to chorus 2, doesn’t do a crescendoSlightly biased towards lower end of the spectrum, making it feel slightly less clear / airy
14
caneseNice, clean and punchy, love the use of filters to create a build up in the prechorusBass a bit too strong below 100Hz, bit it bothers me less than the other mixes because the separation of instruments is so cleanA bit much autopan on BinG pad at beginning. But the break at bar 89 is really dreamy, I love itI love the combinations of all the instruments. The timbre is changing and shifting on some which creates interest. Would like to dial down synth tops after the start when it's done it's job in the introThey fit well and enrich, maybe a bit more reverb / widen to make a bit more enveloping ? The subtle chorus effect on the voice works well, I like it. Some creative effects on the vocals add interest. But in prechorus 2, too much reverb to start with, makes the vocals swim a lotLead is a bit thin, need to boost it ! So it sings out and puts drums back in their place.A very clean and punchy feelLots of creativity here, and it works really well. In prechorus, Bar 57-65 love the way the drums start on a low pass and open up progressively to lead into the chorus. And in prechorus 2 bar 113, a similar effect (+formant effect?) on the synth motion to create build up to the chorus 2. Plus reducing reverb on the vocal (gaining clarity as he sings 'clarity') as we approach the final chorusCould add more crescendo in the prechorus, or the chorus leading up to the final 'lead', but the creative filter FX already create a dynamism of their ownWell balanced, slightly heavy on bass but not so bothersomeYES
15
Cantus ProDrums are in cotton wool, but with a high pass that lets through just the high end of the snare and hatsBass in cotton wool too, sounds like I'm standing outside the nightclubAutopan needs controllingRG guitar interesting panned to right … but quickly becomes annoying, sounds a bit like a bee buzzing over my headViolins don't sit in mix well, no dynamics, a bit thinVocals not forward enoughLead is a bit thinDoesn't feel glued Hard to tell, because of overall imbalanceEverything feels a but far away and quiet, so difficult to engage in the songMajor dip in 200-2000Hz range, making it sound both too bassy and too tinny at the same time
16
cdj1000I really like the punchy snare, the drums site really well overall, maybe slightly too prominent ?Bass too heavy below 100HzNot used so much, to give mix a more punchy feel, but I feel they are lacking e.g. in the chorus. Pad sounds like an organRG needs a longer delay to give it more driving energyViolins need more dynamics, sound a bit roboticSit nicely, slightly too much reverb for my tasteLead is too thin, no energyNice balance of instruments, but feels a little bit emptyFlows well between sectionsNeeds crescendo in pre-chorus 2Well balanced except heavy bass <100Hz
17
ConcreteMixerDrums fit well, hits would be better in centre/right instead of left. Maybe a bit too forward ? Not sureToo strong <100HzWould like BinG pad to be more pad-like. Also sounds distortedRG guitar distorting, sounds like its clipping. Synth tops, sometimes left panned, sometimes right, gets annoying after a while; too dry + up front. 'Synth Motion' hardly audibleNot very dynamicLike the clean, no-reverb sound, but don't like the More energy than other mixes, but needs moreNicely balanced and gluedFlows well Needs crescendo in pre-chorus 2Dip in 200-4000Hz range, which the violins fill out later
18
cpsmusicNice and punchyBass super heavy below 150HzNot used so much, to give mix a more punchy feel, but I feel they are lacking e.g. in the chorus. Pad sounds like an organI'd prefer RG to be less tinny, synth tops less dry they stand out a bit much in the chorus. 'Synth Motion' very quietDelayed attack on violins makes them a bit late on the beat which lessens their impactSit well, have presence, prefer less reverb since all other racks have little or no reverbCould be stronger and more characterfulGood balance except for bass and synth tops / seq hardNice transitions. Pre-chorus and chorus sounds a little lightViolins not leveraged to create crescendo and emotionBass quite heavy below 100-150Hz
19
diegonerystsKick drum has a high reverb which doesn't suit it. But when full drums come in, it's betterBass is a bit heavy below 80KhzPads :-). Until the break when it sounds like an organNice mix of synths to give dreamy effect in chorusA bit flat soundingSit well in the mix, clean, maybe not quite up front enough ?Lead is very quiet, overshadowed by rhythm synths (e.g. seq hard)Nice balance between instrumentsFlows well between sectionsGoodGood, just a slight bass bias below 80Hz
20
dnlptnCould be more punchy, snare is subdued, tend to hear hats more than the snareBass is well tamed, but sometimes feel slightly boomyNice pad atmosphere to startKeeps synth effects light and subtle to start with, spacey verb works on synth motionA bit quiet, although come to live a bit more in the chorus 2Vocals fit in the spacey reverb atmosphereIt's comparable presence to other synths but needs more body and characterViolins don't seem to glue into the mixCould be a bit smoother on some of the rise -> crash transitions. I'm not hearing a strong riser effect to create more anticipationStarts quiet, then builds upGood tonal balance throughout
21
DodgingrainSnare is a bit distracting I don't know why, it cuts through right to the front of the mixBass slightly strong below 60Hz but not too noticeableToo much like an organPhasing effect on RG works well. Good balance between instrumentsFluttering slightly (sidechained?). Would be nicer if they swell / crescendo with the songSit nicelyFairly flat, needs a boostGood balance of all instrumentsTransitions well from one part to nextWould be good to feel more crescendo in the prechorus 2Good overall balance with only slight bass bias
22
DoobopDrums could be a bit more punchy and cut through the mix betterA bit heavy <60hzSounds like an organ, and is too strong in the pre-chorus, overwhelms the vocals. Too strong in break bar 89, doesn't fit well, if it was converted into a pad would fit more naturallyRG is nice but it remains too strong through the whole first verses and becomes annoying, needs to fall back as the melody and synth motion comes inSound good, dynamic. A bit of reverb might help sit in the mix betterNice and clean, need to be more up frontLead is very quietRG guitar and pads were a bit too strong, overshadowing the vocals. Chorus 1 sounded more empty than the verse. BinG pad sounded like an organ and was too strong in many parts including final chorus and the endGoodThe violins seemed to crescendo a bit. A number of abrupt instrument changes, mainly the BinG 'organ'Slight bias in bass but not bothersome, however important dip in frequencies above 400Hz, missing a bit of 'air'
23
dozzer61Drums are quiet, they need to cut through the mix moreBass too heavy below 100HzGreatRG plus high freq reverb on it is a bit too up front, especially when the vocals come in, it masks themDon't sit well in the mix, too loud in verse 3 & 4 (bar 97) and drown out the vocalsVocals reverb too strong, dampens impact of the voice and pushes it back in the mixLead is a really thinSounds like a lot of reverb going on, muddies the mix in the mid range (esp. at bar 41). Violins don't sound like they are part of the mixFlows wellNot enough use of volume variations, especially noticeable on the violins which seem to stay same volume throughoutA bit heavy below 60Hz
24
DwicDrums feel slightly flat, kick is maybe it bit boomyBass is a bit heavy below 80KhzPads a but loud in break, I think they're driving a peak at 200hz in the bassRG reverb makes it sound a bit outside the mixFX on violins in chorus makes them sound partly like a cathedral organ / but it could be bleed from the vocal chorus effectNot so keen on slight right pan of voice, prefer in center. Chorus in verse 2 doesn't work. The FX (phasing ? slight detune?) on the voice appear to detune it around the true note, making it often sound slightly off-noteLead has character, but sounds less present with its 'radio' like soundA bit unbalanced between the tracks, so didn't really glueFX transitions generally good, but could be more fluidFairly consistentBass a bit heavy below 80Hz, there is a strange peak around 200Hz, giving a woolly feel
25
EduardoDinisFit well in song, maybe slightly more punch needed in the kick & snareBass is a bit woolly, heavy below 60KhzA bit too organ-like, esp. in break at 89RG a bit dry, need to drive more. Synth Motion almost completely cut outViolins are panned slightly left and therefore lose their power, they should be in full stereo to bring them outSit wellCan hardly hear the leadCould be glued a bit better, the panning of certain sounds left and right makes the nix feel less gluedCould be more fluidChorus feels a little flat, need more crescendo in prechorus 2Generally good, bass slightly heavy <60Hz
26
ElromsDrums sit quite well but the reverb on them unglues them from the rest of the mix, snare+its reverb is too strong for meBass way too heavy below 120Hz, overpoweringToo much like an organSynth tops a bit too prominent, and too dry, needs to be more dreamy, supporting the rest. Violins need to shine through moreSit wellLead too quietSynths seem to be competing a bit for space, lots going onFlows well between sectionsNot so much volume variationOverpowered by bass
27
ElverDrums nice and punchy. Less keen on the L-R panned hats which start to annoy a bit bouncing between the ears.Bass too heavy below 120HzA bit too organ-like, esp. in break at 89RG needs more delay, more motion. Instruments are nicely balanced, all have their placeViolins are a bit quiet, and are drowned out by the reverb on the vocalsFX on vocals sounds a bit like a radio to start with, then changes to open & echoey in the pre-chorus. Panning changes regularly too. It's an interesting idea which seems to work to start with but then is overused, it's changing every section, so I lose the thread and the focus. Spacey reverb in chorus is too much for me.Lead is really brought out, it really sings. Like an electric guitar, which was my intention in the reference track. Prolonged echo at end of the section works wellGenerally a good balance, vocal keeps shifting with its changing FX thoughTransitions & FX are well handled. Switch from 'radio' to reverb to cavernous echo on vocals is destabilising. Chorus really does sing out though compared to the versesViolins not leveraged to create crescendo and emotionGood apart from heavy sub
28
flat_hatSit well in the mixBass is slightly heavy below 80Khz but it fits the style which is a bit psychedelicOriginal heavy LFO effect on pads, takes me back to Camden lock in London in the 90s. But careful not to overdo itLots of reverb, trippy effectsFit in wellVocals are clear and fit well into the styleA bit light, could have done more with itSo trippy I got lost in it, i.e yes it balances and glues very wellFlows very wellOverall feel is very laid back, so it's a chillout versionQuite a bassy overall balance, sounds a bit mutedYES
29
FranzThe reverb on the drums is too strong (upper-mid freq)and so they don't sit in the mixToo heavy <100HzGoodRG too quiet at least during the intro, so we lose the driving effect it brings. Synth tops are out of sync with all other tracks so it unfortunately ruins the rest of the song. Synth tops too strong in chorusNeed to be more dynamic / volume changes to play their partToo quiet, not out front enoughCould be more up front. Sounds a bit flat, needs to be more dynamic-sounding (tremolo, delay, reverb, distortion …)Drums take up too much space (reverb) and vocals not our front enoughThe FX don't feel glued into the mix, they are sometimes too loud, then stop dead, without a new instrument to take over or a reverb to smooth their exitCould be more dynamicBit heavy in bass, and seems to be missing body in the midrange compared to other mixes
30
GB_RealPunchyBass super heavy below 200Hz, really too much. Then even more heavy in chorus, which really upsets the balanceToo much like an organ in the breakRG lacks drive, needs motion (more delay). Rest of instruments sit well together though. 'Synth Motion' very quietThey do add to the crescendo in prechorus 2Vocals sound a bit unglued from mix, with their own reverb. Short delay. They are up front thoughLead sings out more than most other mixes, has some character, tremoloGood balance, but bass out of line and synth tops at the end panned leftFlows well between sectionsGood use of violins for emotional impactToo bass-heavy
31
Green-DogCool driving drums, I like this new sound. Am wondering whether to hold back on their full power until after the break at 89 when the versus come back in. Maybe the kick drum is a tad loud ?Bass character is different (raised an octave at least), and when playing alone from bar 17 to 25 doesn't sound quite right. But then when the verse gets going, then the drums in 41, the drums and bass combination work very well together, creating some real driving energyNice, used well to keep body. Very strong organ sound in break at 89RG nice but I feel it would fit better the darker beatbox style if it had less reverb and was more punchy. Synths all sound warm and fit together, sparkle used well to add 'sparkle' to the chorusViolins are a bit lost behind the synths but otherwise goodLots of reverb on vocals, makes them lose presenceLead has been given some character, and it sings out wellGood balance between partsBar 57 prechorus, nice transition. Interesting how the pads are cut to give a cleaner chorus the first time, however it cuts the energy a bit. Then brought back for a fuller chorus 2Variation introduced via change in reverb style and switching certain synths on or off. How to create more tension in prechorus 2 ?Great tonal balance overallYES
32
hjchjcFit well in the mix, although have a strange reverb that mutes their punchinessBass too heavy, way too much below 100HzDry blue in grey pad with autopanRG too quiet, doesn't create interest, can hardly hear 'Synth Motion' synth, pads too strongViolins not used to create emotion, very quiet in the back of the mixVocals don't sound settled in the song. Have a reverb that makes it sound like he's in a different room to the rest of the song. Too much infinite reverb in chorus, reduces impactLead a bit weedy, doesn't stand out like it shouldDoesn't feel glued together, sounds like the pads are sidechained off the vocals and so fade in and out very strongly, upsets the balanceFlows well between sectionsdidn't notice any use of volume to create dynamicsStrongly skewed towards low end of the spectrum, balanced restored only with vocals. Overall sounds a bit like it's wrapped in cotton wool
33
IbanezoODrums are well placed, but the snare high-freq reverb singles it outBass Stabs buzzing soundToo much like an organ in the breakLots of delay on synths makes it sound really busy in the middleA bit flat soundingUp front, sit in mix, I don't like the 1/2 bar delayQuiet leadGood but drums and some rhythmic synths don't fit wellGreatViolins not leveraged to create crescendo and emotionGood balance
34
ilrentonDrums are a bit heavy and too much up front. Kick is very boomyQuite strong below 80Hz but not too badPads are fading in and out in opening verses, are they sidechained on another instrument ?Generally fit together wellViolins remain flat in volume, in the backgroundVocals sound quite far away, too much reverb ?A bit weedy, but added tremolo to create more interest and character, plus long reverb at end is niceSong feels to lack body, hollow soundingBreak at 89 is nice and dreamy. Flows well between sectionsCould be more dynamicLow in the 600-2000 mid-range, making it sound hollow
35
jeffssolobandSit well in the mix, keep their punch but not overpoweringBass is a bit heavy below 80KhzPhasing type FX on pad, it's a bit much for meA bit too much emphasis on the repetitive Arpegg and not enough on the synth motion which brings the harmoniesA bit flat sounding, really quiet in fact, hidden behind other synths (esp. the Arpegg)Clean and sit well in the mixLead is very quietA bit unbalanced between the tracks, so didn't really glueMoves well from verse to chorus. Chorus feels a little flat compared to the verseCould do more (violins)Good but Bass is a bit heavy below 80Khz
36
JerzeDrums nice and punchy, fit well in the mix, have drive / motionBass is a bit heavy below 80Khz. Bass is a bit buzzy (eg at bar 89)Interesting subtle warm soundInteresting granular / reverse effect on synth motionA bit flat soundingSit nicely in the mix, would like to bring more forwardLead is singing out, would prefer more saturation than the fast warble effect. Or maybe both !Nice balance between instrumentsGoodViolins need to be treated to make them swell in and crescendoGood but Bass is a bit heavy below 80KhzYES
37
jetwolfThumping, super boomy kick clashes with bassOut of time with rest of tracks. Too heavy <100HzGreatRG out of time with rest of tracksQuietToo much reverbNeeds more volume / characterMisaligned tracksMisaligned tracksMisaligned tracksVery bass heavy, mid range is not so strong
38
JohnKDrums quite up front, hihats/shakers are too present / high frequency / persistent (on right pan)A bit heavy, <100HzPad sounds too much like an organ, very abrupt, esp. in the break (bar 89)Nice RG sound, synth motion works well, synth tops would be nice with more dreamy sound. RG tone changes from intro bars 9+ to verse bars 17+, then back again in bar 25+ I'd prefer it to stay the sameCome in quite strong, they are also dynamic, with crescendosVocals nice and upfront. Reverb is good because it's subtle. Would have preferred reverb wasn't dialled up in the chorus though, it makes vocals less impactful, when it should be more impactful. Sound slightly thinner than other mixesDoesn't really sing out like it should, would be better with more power, like an electric guitar !Parts generally well balanced. Push drums back but let them cut through a bit more, bring vocals forwardTransitions well from one part to nextViolins have volume dynamics, climax builds up nicelyGood, just the <100Hz bass to rein in
39
JulienMerioneDrums fit well, snare is too 'grungy/noisy' and so gets repetitive and attracts too much attentionToo much bass below 150Hz early on. Imbalance is better later, still a but heavy <80HzPads really add body to the song. Autopan too strong at the beginning and end, would be good to tame itRG comes in nice. Nice balance of instruments. Sparkle adds sparkle to chorusSit nicely, but need to be more dynamicWell positioned in the mixOne of the best treatments of the lead I heard , made it stand out, one of the few mixes that applied tremolo to give it more lifeAll parts balanced and glue together really well, each has its placeNice transitions create tension, Chorus sounds better / sweeter / fuller than verse (as it should)Nice build ups from section to section. Violins could be more dynamic to create tension in prechorus 2A but heavy on bass <60hz, main thing is the dip in mid range from 300-2000HzYES
40
KirurgSit well in the mix, punchyBass is slightly heavy below 60Khz but not very noticeableUsed well to build up, nice dreamy break at bar 89. I'd like to tame the autopan a bitStrange noise artefact on RG. Nice strong synth motion sound, gives the harmonySound really niceClean and sit well in the mixLead signs out, tremolo adds interestFeels to have good body, great balanceGood flowGood use of violins for emotional impactGood balance overall with very slightly heavy bassYES
41
LastdegreeKick and Snare masked by the bass and vocals, but hi hats some through (a bit tinny)DonStrong pad with character. Too loudOverpowered by the rest. Can't hear 'Synth Motion'Overpowered by the restLoud, distorting too, unsure if it’s the vocal or bass or both doing thatOverpowered by the restSounds like it's mastered for max loudness, but lots of things are distortingDon't knowMax volumeBass heavy below 60Hz
42
LemmonzGreat, maybe turn down the snare hi freq reverbBass too heavy below 100Hz, and overpowers the other instruments it's a bit too loud throughoutClean, do their job as pads shouldRG sounds a bit thinGood but, not very dynamicSit well, have presenceBetter than some other mixes, want more energyBass out of balance, rest glues well togetherSwitch to radio vocal in pre-chorus is nice idea but the actual character of the sound makes it unglue from the mixFairly consistentHeavy bass, dip in mids between 400 -1500Hz
43
Les LingleNice and punchy but reverb (high freq on snare) feels out of placeNot too heavy, fits in wellSound very quiet or non-existent in placesRg, Synth motion sound nice and punchy. Synth tops maybe a little overused ? But not a big dealA bit too quiet, not really exploitedVocals nice and clear and up front. Not so keen on the faint long delay echoCan barely hear the lead at all, violins + synth tops were given precedence The mix of all the synths together, although clean, sounds a little mechanical, which makes the song feel a bit less gluedSounds kind of halting, it must be the very clean, punchy style adopted, it's hard to put my finger on it. Maybe because the pads are hardly used ? Louder (halting sounding) synth tops ?Not so much variationGreat tonal balance overall
44
MatikSnare stands out a bit much, the strong punching sound + reverb diverts attentionTamed !Too much like an organ in the breakSynth tops a bit dry and persistent. Synth motion is a bit hidden behind synth tops and arpeggA bit flat soundingClean and sit well in the mixLead is loud enough but needs more characterWell balanced, just the snare + its reverb that unglue it a bitInteresting FX on risers, flows wellGoodGood balance
45
MattrocketSit well in the mixTamed and in their placeNice ambienceNice use of all the synths without getting a cacophony, each track has its place. Synth motion sometimes a bit lost. Synth tops too dry and persistent for meSound really nice, maybe try to warm them up more ?Sit well, have presenceCreative treatment to turn the lead into an ambience effect. Works quite wellGood balance, just synth tops a bit dryFlows well Good use of violins for crescendoGreat tonal balance overallYES
46
maxovdrdriveDrums would be nice with a bit more punchWell tamed, fit well, Bass Hold provides solid undertonePhasing/flanging on pad is not unpleasant, although makes it sound to me like it's in a boxFlanged RG sounds nice. Like the open spacey synth motion feel. Dreamy use of sparkle / synth tops in chorusSit well but could be more dynamic and more up front at key 'high emotion' momentsVocals sound a bit mid-range, lost the air. Sounds like there's an octave lower shadow / vox effect on them ? I prefer cleanerLead needs to be louder and the gating effect cuts its powerWould glue together more if vocals and drums were sat better in the mixGoodLimited variationGood tonal balance overall, but vocals need more 'air'
47
MorkDrums fit well, a bit more punch ?Bass too heavy below 100HzAutopan needs controlling. Organ sound in breakSynth tops a bit too prominent, and too dry, needs to be more dreamy, supporting the rest. Fit in well, dynamic in prechorus 2Sits great … until chorus 2 when alien deep horror vox effect arrives and … hmm not what I was expecting!Lead doesn't come out strong enough, a bit lostNicely balanced and gluedGood flowGoodGood balance apart from bass <100Hz
48
ObaOzai (v2)Kick drum is boomy, I can't hear the snare. Gives a deep sub thump too strong for the rest of the song. Hats need the highest frequencies rolling off, they get a bit bothersome over timeBass sounds too low. Too heavy below 80HzA bit too organ-like, esp. in break at 89RG comes in nicely. Synth tops a bit loud and persistent. Synth motion is almost inaudible, it's a key element of the harmony. Feels like there are lots of instruments competing, don't fit together so wellCome in too loud and strong just 4 bars before chorus (bar 69), then are too loud during the chorusVocals are nice and clean, but don't seem to fit the mix, quite dry and panned slightly to the left, feels disconnected.Lead doesn't come out strong enough, a bit lostFeels like there are lots of instruments competing, don't fit together so well, Violins too loud, don't sit within the mix and overpower the vocalsShort term risers + crescendos leading up to next sections (eg bar 57) sometimes followed by a sharp volume drop that breaks the flowDynamics would be better if the violin didn't overpower the rest so muchA bit bass heavy <80Hz, otherwise overall tonal balance good
49
OdisdanA little quiet / mutedBass is slightly heavy below 60Khz but not very noticeableToo much like an organ in the break, autopan too strongThe synth motion has added repeated chord elements but I'm not so keen, it might work better just before a new section of the song than every 4 barsThey do add to the crescendo in prechorus 2Sit well in the mixLead is very quietGood balance of all instrumentsGreat Good use of violins for emotional impact. Maybe widen to make more enveloping ?Good overall
50
pabloATDrums need a bit more punchBass too heavy below 120HzA bit too organ-like, esp. in break at 89Synth tops a bit too prominent, they create interest at beginning but get repetitive after. 'Synth Motion' very quietLike the way the violins swell, but they flutter (sidechained to vocals / synths?)Sits well, maybe a tad more presence needed. Seems to be further back in the mix in some places (verse), and more up front in others (pre-chorus, chorus)Lead is a bit thinReasonably balanced except for bass. Needs gluing a bit betterChorus needs to sing more (pads, sparkle, violins)Needs to build up better in lead-up to choruses. Violins have some dynamism but sidechaining dampens thatToo bass heavy
51
pagliaDrums are in cotton wool, kick a bit too boomy? Seem to distort/clip a bit, but it's probably the overlap with the bass doing that = muddy low endBass way too heavy below 100HzGreat, a bit hidden behind the vocal reverbRG has a nice sound and motion to it. 'Synth Motion' very quietViolins sound nice, they shine through quite well, need a bit more dynamicsA bit too much reverb, pulling the vocals back in the mix and losing presenceLead has all but disappearedDoesn't feel balanced, vocals in a reverb space of their own, the other instruments Risers cut dead at end, need to flow into the following instruments or reverb tail them outSome dynamics on violins, needs moreApart from heavy subs, there is a dip in the mids from 400 -3000Hz which leaves the song feeling to lack body
52
PGPMixingSlightly weedy, just a bit more punch would be good, but sit well in the mixSits well, sub has been tamed pretty wellAutopan is a bit overpowering throughout. Also sounds likes it's sidechained off vocals, fades in and out a lot ? Pad sounds like an organ, too abrupt (bars 57, 89)Nice balancing of the instruments, except the synth tops is a bit dry and too up front for me. Synth motion high passed very high, very quietNicely balanced, and dynamic later onSits well, subtle reverb keeps it up front but in its placeLess thin than other mixes but needs more !Feels well balanced and gluedCould be more fluidGood crescendo in pre-chorus 2, violins are dynamic and add emotionGood overall
53
PhotonicDrums nice and punchy, wondering whether the hats need to be made very slightly less harshSub bass (Bass Hold) has been tamed ! And it gives a nice warm undercurrent to the whole song now. I like the delay added to the Bass stabs too, it fills in the low end a bit morePads sound good, the autopan is tamedNice balance of instruments. Each instrument has its place. RG guitar I'd like to hear a bit more motion. Synth motion really well placedCome in nicely. Could crescendo more in pre-chorus 2Vocals nice and clear and in the mix. But don't like the echo / delay effect on them in the chorus or pre-chorus. I'm not so keen on the octave below chorus too much.Lead sings out well, would be good to have more grit / body to itWell balanced and glued together. Spacey (but not overdone) reverb sounds consistent for all parts, works really wellSome riser FX cut dead at end, need to flow into the following instruments or reverb tail them out. Ending of song a bit abrupt, again the riser just cuts dead at the endSome dynamics on violins, needs moreGood tonal balance throughoutYES BUT DISQUALIFIED
54
qhtrvw425Sit well in the mix, a bit less reverb would be betterBass is a bit heavy below 80KhzToo much like an organ in the break, autopan too strongArpegg is a little too prevalent. Synth motion a bit drowned out by Seq hardA bit flat soundingWell positioned in the mixLead a bit in the background, needs more energyWell balancedCould be smoother eg move from break to verses 3&4 a bit abruptFairly consistentOverall sounds a bit bass-skewed, a bit low in the 1000-2000Hz range
55
rvalleDrums nice and punchy, fit well in the mixTamed and in their place, add warmthEmphasized pads in prechorus add to angst in the vocals. Organ againNice balance of instrumentsNice swells & dynamicsSit well, clean, have presenceLead is upfront but not sure about the volume LFONicely balanced and gluedNiceGreat crescendos on violinsGreat overall balanceYES
56
SamonovSit well in the mix, keep their punch but not overpoweringI can hardly hear the bassPad sounds like an organ in the break bar 89. But overall pads are in their place. Might have liked to hear them pad out the choruses more. But it's a punchy style so it works as isRG intro is nice, maybe turn the RG down a tad once the verse gets going. Synth tops too dry and prominent, want to push way back in mix. Nice subtle mixing in of rhythmic synth soundsViolins too much in background, need to create crescendoVocals sitting nicely up front, clear and strongLead is a bit thinNicely glued together, well balanced. Would be good to FX the rhythmic synths a bit more so they blend together better, they sometimes sound like they are competing for spaceFlows well between sectionsI'd like more variation in volume, especially crescendo leading up to chorus 2 and again leading up to the leadGood
57
SamVSnare doesn't;'t seem to fit with the rest of the drums, like only the snare has a reverb, so doesn't fit in the mix. Drums feel a bit to much up front overall, snare reverb is probably the reasonBass is great, kept in its placePad sounds too much like an organ, very abrupt, esp. in the break (bar 89)Arpegg is a bit too strong for me, overpowers the melody a bit. Synth tops in chorus is too dry and doesn't fit, overshadows the mix.Pretty quiet, not brought out to create dramatic tensionI not keen on the 1/2 bar repeated delay on vocals, sounds a bit artificial. Would like vocals to be more up frontLead is a bit thin, doesn't sing outDrums don't sit well, vocals a bit lostMove from one section to the next feels a bit abrupt, could be smootherDidn't notice any particular use of volume changes / crescendos, so not very dynamicQuite elevated in the highs, mids are a bit low - making the song overall lose body
58
satchboogieDrums need to be a more punchy, cut through the mix betterSub bass (Bass Hold) is untamed, but the bass stabs are too quietSounds like an organ in the pre-chorus, overwhelms the vocalsIn the chorus Sparkle effect has a fair bit of high frequency content that is overlaying the restSomewhat overwhelm the vocals in the chorus. Also a bit loud in the verses after the breakA little lost in the mix, would like to bring forward. Not so keen on chorus effect. Too quietLead is too quietA few instrument imbalancesFlows well between sectionsDynamic violins in prechorus, but since they were loud before, the impact is lostGood tonal balance
59
SDB_12Drums are nice and punchy. The low pitch noisy snare is too different in character though, it doesn't fit and stands out all the way through the songSub bass has been tamed pretty wellA bit too organ-like, esp. in break at 89RG clean and creates motion. Synth motion used sparinglyViolins very quiet, they are not leveraged to add emotion. They also sound sidechained by other synths (or the drums?) so they flutterSit well in the mixLead could have more presence, also sounds sidechained by the drums or synths so it flutters in and outInstruments generally well balanced, vocal sits wellFlows wellCould be more dynamicLow in the 300-2000 mid-range, missing body
60
SimolaDrums nice and punchy, fit well in the mixGreatPrefer pad to organ ;-). Break at 89 is good thoughRG lacks drive needs more delay to keep the motion. Like the phase / chorus effect on the Arpegg, maybe turn it down a tad to sit better. Would be good if the synth tops were less dry and insistent esp. in chorusWork wellNice and clear, up front. Not so keen on the 1/2 bar repeated delay on vocals. I understand the intention, but don't like distorted+doubled vocal in prechorus 2Good volume but a it of saturation to make it less pure would be goodOverall good balance, glues well, arpegg / synth tops (esp.) sometimes a bit strongGood flowPretty goodGreat tonal balance overall
61
SpacemanDrums sound pretty good, maybe the best part of the track, full of energy and presence without overpoweringToo much 150-300Hz range, also <100hzPads sounds like reference trackGood sound to the RG Guitar. But overall too loud. The synth tops are too strong, need to be more subtle. Synth motion inaudibleLoud but so is everything elseHeavily processed, but fit the style, they really sing outLead could be more powerful, but it's nicely supported by other synth instrumentsToo loud overall, a bit of an unrelenting assault on the ears from the start to the finishInteresting pitch effects applied to risers. Also pitch effects on break (bar 89). All sections flow well from one into another.Loud all the time, so very limited dynamics, which fatigues the earsGood tonal balance
62
SuC76Drums could be a tad more punchy. Snare sounds stands out from the rest, and sticks in my head throughout the songA rather bass-heavy sound, right up to 200Hz, creating muddinessWould like to tame the autopan. Pads are a bit strong in verses. Organ sound in breakGood balance between instruments, although I'd like to turn down the synth tops after a while. Synth motion is pushed behind the pads, I'd prefer the other way roundComplement the vocals pretty wellClean and sit well in the mixAlmost can't hear it, pads too strongPretty good balance, but pads too strong, the whole hangs together wellGreatViolins help add dynamics, not sure there is much volume variationQuite bass-oriented, but overall tonal balance is good
63
TomFernsbyDrums have been mostly muted out (except hihats which sound a but strange alone)Bass is a bit heavy below 60KhzClean, subtle effect to start with. Break at 89 is dreamyRG sounds good, synth tops a bit persistent after intro. I like the fx treatment of the arpegg. 'Synth Motion' very quietViolins come in too strong just before first chorus, and then overpower a bit the trackCould be more present, less reverb would helpLead sings out more than most other mixes, good. Needs a bit more characterA bit unbalanced between the tracks, so didn't really glueGreatViolins need to be treated to make them swell in and crescendoNoticeable dip between 100 and 300 Hz, particularly after the break
64
TonnobassNice and punchySlightly heavy below 80HzSounds like pads yay!Nice use of all the synths without getting a cacophony, each track has its placeSit really well in the mix, chords have a warm qualitySit nicely, reverb not too overpoweringI like the sound, would like it stronger soundingOverall clean and punchy feelGreat smooth transitionsNice filling out of chorus to elevate it above the versesGood balance overall with very slightly heavy bassYES
65
TrueFlowStudioDrums need to be a bit more punchyBass too heavy below 150HzNice smooth padsRG a bit dry, needs more motion, stays a bit too strong in verses, clashing with vocals a bit. Synth Motion very quietNot dynamic, no crescendo to add emotion / tensionNeed a tad more presence, overshadowed by the RG guitarLead has been beefed up a bit, needs moreSong feels to lack a certain body, very light touch on instruments, sounds subdued. Pre-chorus bar 57, feels empty. Chorus needs more body and energy. Need to be more bold with volumes and carve out more place for instruments to fit togetherBreak bar 89 don't like the warble on the BinG pad, doesn't fit. Crash FX too strong and feels a bit outside of the mixInstruments don't build up along with the rising vocal in prechorus 2, violins stay low volumeLeaning too much towards low end, mid-highs and highs from 1KHz up were les strong than the other mixes
66
VasDimDrums sit well, but are a bit quiet in later sections of the song, don't cut throughSlightly heavy below 80HzNice pad sounds, dreamy break at 89Nice rhythmic RG. In first verses, quite a lot going in the same space, but clears up in pre-chorus. But can hardly hear synth motion which delivers the harmony in the chords, hear the arpegg / seq hard all the time making it sound a bit mechanicalNice and wideClean and up front, sit wellTreated nicely, distortion adds characterWell glued together, I'd prefer to turn down the rhythmic synths which are going all the way through the song, to make it sound a bit less mechanicalI'd prefer not to start fading out in the last bars, and bring the song to a close without fading out (but that's minor)Feels fairly constant in volume throughout, with limited dynamic variationGood balance overall with very slightly heavy bassYES
67
VongluckGreatBass is a bit heavy below 80Khz. Bass volume fluctuates, is it sidechained ?Strange volume fluttering on pads. Sounds like they are sidechained to synths ?RG needs more delay to give it motion. Fairly quietReverb a bit too long in verses. In prechorus, slightly distorts ?Lead is super quietFluttering in various instrument volumes leads to lack of balance and glueGreat Fluttering volumesGood balance, Bass is a tad heavy below 80Khz
68
Mark AndrewsDrums are nice and punchy but a bit too much in the backgroundBass a bit heavy <100Hz. The bass stabs are very subtleStarts nicely, but balance wise it is a bit in front of the other instruments and would fit better pushed back. Was the heavy distortion effect on the pad/organ at bar 89 intentional ? It sounds like it's clippingBalance between instruments is good, but the pads and violins have been given precedence in the mix, so the other synths don't shine through enoughNice sound, lots of stereo reverb giving them a rich velvety sound. But except for in the prechorus where the violins become more important, the other synths are behind the violins and masked by it too muchVocals need to be more forward, they have a very spacey reverb on them that makes them feel far away. The long reverb tail is loud enough to overshadow the other tracksLead is 1/4 bar behind the rest of the song, which actually works out ~kind of~ ok. But wasn't the original intention. I would like it to be more meaty in character.The pads and violins are given more presence than the rest of the mix, including the vocals. I think it would be better the other way round (except for violins coming up front in prechorus 2)The whole feel of the song is spacey and laid back, with all the elements flowing one into the other, giving a very smooth feel but dissipating energy as a result. I'd like to hear more differentiation between verse and chorus, giving the chorus more energyViolins are really brought forward for the prochorus, adding emotional effectGood balance apart from bass <100Hz
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100