The FAQ?!
This section is for frequently asked questions of things that are not really clear
Q1) ARG! I don't have the time to join! I won't make it! Can you extend the time limits? Or do this every other month instead?
A1) No, but you can put away some time and join the next round of course.
Q2) I've just found the place. Can I still download old mix packages?
A2) The TL;DR: due to legal reasons and special agreements with the song provider, that is not possible. The mix package will be inaccessible after the the 21nd of the month.
The long answer: With permission by the "virtual client", the Mix Packs for the current running challenges are only available for the month in question. The material is being removed from the server once the challenge has ended. There is no further distribution of the source material. The only remaining links are to finished mixes by the mix participants.
Q3) The rules are too much - it kills the fun of the competition
A3) Your opinion is very valued. However unfortunately, we have to set up fairly strict rules for everyone to be on common ground. Pretty much every challenge or competition in the music realm has this. Even if they seem like a lot (they have to be as detailed to not have any misunderstandings), at their core they are still fairly simple to understand.
Q4) I won the competition! How can I pick up my license?
A4) Please get in touch with user "
Mister Fox" (currently) - he'll guide you through. But please don't wait too long for your "first pick", the other winners want to choose as well.
Q5a) "Why should we not send in our mix within the first 24 hours?" and
Q5b) "I did a small mistake, why can I not re-submit my entry?"
A5) The challenge not only tries to simulate a real world scenario, but is also a competitive environment. Since you only have one chance at this, and resubmissions are not possible (unless you go into Mix Round 2), I (point of view: Mister Fox) always recommend to take a day off and listen to the content again with fresh ears - see if a severe mistake did sneak into your mix (missed an effect, wrong automation, forgot to render out one instrument). Especially if you pulled an all-nighter.
You have a time limit, but you don't need to be first in line either. Imagine what a client in a real life scenario might think if you submit a faulty mix and be like
"whoops, I did mistake, need to change that" and/or a couple of hours or days later
"whoops - need to change that again". That disqualifies you from possible future deals. Try to prevent that.
Q6) I don't get the reference level thing - why?! Can't we just mix how we feel like?
A6) You can, but the focus of the challenge is to mix, not mixing and mastering. I do recommend to take a look at the following threads here in this forum regarding reference levels and summing bus treatment
Gain Staging with VU meter
Q&A - Mix Challenge - rule set and reference/target levels (split from MC35)
Mix Challenge - Rules and Guidelines Addendum: Summing Bus Treatment
Interesting reads can also be found at the following places (off-site):
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=391672
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 4#p5775714 (middle section)
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 8#p5845478 (and the next 3 following posts)
http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic ... 5#p5867105 (an information about Loudness and Dynamic Range Analysis // ITU-R BS.1770-x LRA vs DR Meter values)
http://www.gearslutz.com/board/so-much- ... tored.html
Q7) Artistic freedom but we're not allowed to rearrange, do heavy sound design or sound replacement?! But this track has issues!
A7) If you get tracks "as is", you shall threat them "as is". You have to expand upon them, within given boundaries (see add-on rules for the challenge in question, these days, there is no limitation on FX use unless otherwise stated). You are a
mix engineer in this case, not the
composer /
songwriter /
producer or actual
remixer. At least not in this particular challenge. Use your communication skills, reach out to the client and communicate about what you consider being problematic, what you'd like to do and whether or not it's acceptable. Just like in the real world: communication is key to provide a mix that you enjoyed working on, and the client enjoys listening to.
Q08) I'd like to use drum sample replacement - this kit has been really bad recorded...
A08) Short answer: not allowed. Usage of drum sample triggering will result in instant disqualification. Drum Recording "Enhancement" on the other hand - like "sub bass enhancement tricks" (MaxxBass technology, subharmonic synthesizer, gated sine/white noise) and transient designers are allowed. Please consult the
rules above
Q9) Can we pitch shift the kick drum within a certain semi tone range?
A9) While this is a famous technique used in electronic music, this particular element would count to changing the "song key". Therefore - not allowed. Please consult the
rules above. Adding as different pitched sound as a "subtle effect" to the original source (certain special cases like drums and sub-bass come to mind) is a completely different topic. If in doubt, ask in the thread of the corresponding challenge.
Q10) Can we micro pitch shift vocals, instruments or percussion parts? (cent range)
A10) Technically, there is no mention of "not allowed". The main question you should ask yourself "when does the editing in favor for ultimate perfection end"?!". So unless the main vocals or instrument parts are totally off, don't do it. If it's "minor corrections" ever so often, for example in a slightly out-of-tune background vocal, then pitch correction might maybe not hurt.
Make it clear in your documentation however that you applied pitch correction, and why you think that was necessary. You never know if the sound you consider "out of pitch" was intentional. If in doubt, ask in the thread of the corresponding challenge.
Q11) Can we time-correct offset vocals/instruments?
A11) If it's an adjustment to fix phasing issues (for example: drum kit microphones, or different amplifier microphones, suffering from phase cancellations), then micro-adjustments are allowed. However, everything that has influence on the groove and feel of the production, should be taken into consideration. Is quantization of certain parts really necessary (human factor)? Please see Q10 - "when does the editing in favor for ultimate perfection end?"
more FAQs will be added as soon as there are more similar questions come up...