Slate Digital Cup: July - Rules And Downloads

[brandondrury]

This Months Prize:
Your choice of Slate Digital Trigger, Slate FG-X Mastering Processor, VCC, or Steve Slate Drums 4.

Group: Jetface
Jetface is my Tuesday night synth pop project. You may remember them from the UAD Mix It Til You Puke contests where chkn8r won the remix competition for Can't Stop Your Heart and Monsters where Ryko pulled out the big win.

Song: War And Trees
Youtube Channel: JetfaceGroup - YouTube
Tempo: 95bpm

Contest Rules
You can find all rules for the entire Slate Digital Cup here: Rules, Details, Prizes, Questions, and Comments That's the place to go if you have any general questions.

Deadline
Last day to enter is the last day of the month. More details.

Downloads
There are TWO zip files. I've done this because it reduces upload errors. You can find the SECOND zip right here. The first one will require you to go through the usual propaganda. July Slate Digital Propaganda For Download Part001 You absolutely need both zip files.

How Should Your Mix Sound?

Three Rules:
#1 - Pop music allows for quite a bit of leeway on the mixer end. I say have fun. I've intentionally NOT given MIDI tracks to keep this from turning into a remix competition. (For the record, I LOVE remix competitions but these ideas were shot down when we were dreaming up the Slate Digital Cup.)

#2 - All the usual rules apply, I guess. Make it good. Don’t screw up the original Jetface vision too badly. Have fun.

#3 - If anyone sends me any PMs or emails asking me at what point “dark orange” becomes red (much like when a pebble turns into a stone) I’m simply going to refer them back to #3. It’s music. Have fun. No one will get disqualified for using a reverb, delay, or compressor. In fact, I can’t imagine how a person would get disqualified at all. All I know is the community didn't want a "remix contest". No one knows exactly where that begins or ends and, frankly, I'm tired of trying to figure it out. So you figure it out. Mix with balls. The end.

A Few Tips
-- If you run into trouble check my reference mix. I'm hitting -4dB RMS frequently in TT Loudness Meter. You don't have to go that loud. I wish I hadn't. Hovering around -6dB RMS in choruses is about right.
- The solo sounds out of tune. You need a fairly long delay on it to make sense. It's bending into the ambiance and won't make sense dry.
- There are many tracks here. Ditch any you don't want to use. That's fine.
- You'll notice a lot of vocal tracks. Again, use what you want. To be honest, my mix was a grab bag / smorgasbord of vocals. I just gave you all of 'em. They'll probably need a little tuning. Have fun with vocal effects. Jetface is VERY tolerant of REALLY stupid vocal sounds....if they fit the song.
- I removed the intro from the tracks I sent you. It wastes everyone's time to sit through 30 seconds of nothing 650 times in a row in this contest environment.

The Big Factor
Other than some reverb and a tiny bit of EQ, these tracks will mix themselves into something usable. Anyone with an okay handle on mixing without clipping and such will get something usable. The name of the game at this stage (particularly with pop music) is making the song come alive. What does that mean? I have no idea, but one mix will make you sing along and dance more than another. That's what I'm talking about. THAT is the thing that I believe 99% of the home recording world ignores in some kind of ridiculous arms race for sound quality. Sound quality never hurts, but mind control is where the money is. Your extra efforts should go into making the song more song like.

Brandon

[acidfrost]

WOOT! this looks like a really fun month!

[acidfrost]

So the intro is not there right? Or I'm missing something?

[Ableton_Love]

Top notch mix. This will be a very cool month. I'm excited to hear what everyone comes up with

[Stan_Halen]

Sweet! It's 44.1k/24 bit? Can you provide lyrics for it?

[bobbybovine]

My first non rock mix....this should be interesting.

[JoshERTW]

My first non rock mix....this should be interesting.

Yeah same, other than acoustic stuff.

[brandondrury]

WOOT! this looks like a really fun month!

We'll see. It's definitely different. I've got radio screamo set for next month. Another opus I tracked.

So the intro is not there right? Or I'm missing something?

I ditched the intro. The main reason is in a contest like this where some people listen to 100 different mixes, 30 seconds turns into a LONG time. Ignore the intro. Don't make your own, either.

Top notch mix.

Thanks! That's the third compliment this week (and this year) on my audio production. I actually had a guy ask me how I got a metal bass sound and I had a client who loved his toms. These are all firsts. Maybe I finally learned how to engineer.

My first non rock mix..

My advice. Hell maybe this should be a 10-page article. The short version: Mix it like a rock song. It's all the same stuff, they just use a different noise maker to do it. The only big difference is in this genre, hihats that machine gun are desired. That's about it, really. Maybe you can get away with a little more low end.

Brandon

[bobbybovine]

My advice. Hell maybe this should be a 10-page article. The short version: Mix it like a rock song. It's all the same stuff, they just use a different noise maker to do it. The only big difference is in this genre, hihats that machine gun are desired. That's about it, really. Maybe you can get away with a little more low end.

OK, Insane hats and giant low end it is.

[fHumble fHingaz]

Cool song Brandon! Tell the Jetface dudes it's catchy as hell - I'm already humming the chorus - I love the "cold" sounding vocal part in your mix - very nice. Really sweet mix - Glossy & slick, yet with a cool bite to it.

[kakeux]

Listen to your mix, I'm really looking forward to play with it. I think I will have some hard time but it will be challenging for sure! By the way, really nice mix Brandon!

[wireman957]

You did a great job on these tracks Brandon! Some very nice and tastefully done effects in your mix too. It's going to be interesting to see what the rest of us can come up with to match but not copy the tricks in your mix. Should be fun!

[victorsanti]

Nice. Lets see how this month treats us for mixing.
Good luck everyone!
PS. Thanks Brandon for cutting the intro Makes judging a little easier.

[Janko]

Hi Everybody. I can't figure out where to submit our Mixes. Any help would be great,

Janko

[jackslab1]

Hi Everybody. I can't figure out where to submit our Mixes. Any help would be great,

Janko

Go to the top of this page and click on "Slate Digital Cup :July. Start a new thread and upload.

[Janko]

Oh cool.

Thanx a lot Jackslab1!

[jackslab1]

No problem. Good luck in the contest.

[Janko]

I have one more Newbie question:

How do I rank and give notes on other fella's Mixes? I searched for it but couldn't figure it out.....

[bobbybovine]

Just click reply under the first post which contains the song and then type your review then submit. For the ranking you will need to click on Rate this thread in the header just above the first post on the right hand side, then select the rating and click "vote now".

[Janko]

Thanks Bob!!

[bobbybovine]

Thanks Bob!!

No problem.

[ncls]

No FF' mix this month??? I really wish to hear what can happen with this song

[Guitarslinger5150]

Im sorry for the newbie question, but how and where can I up load my mix? Thanks in advance! Paul

[Guitarslinger5150]

If any one can help me.......I'm having trouble finding where I can post my mix. I'd also like to hear to what other people were able to do. Please....anyone? - Peace

[fHumble fHingaz]

Hey Guitarslinger! Welcome!

The July and August comps are closed for entry, but September is still going. It's a 12 month long comp, and you can find the rules and details here:
Season Rules

Although this thread specifically deals with uploading songs to the 'Bash This Recording' forum, the same process applies when uploading mixes to the Slate Cup.
Getting Started With Bash This Recording

the September comp is here:
Slate Digital Cup: September

Hope that helps... All the best!