Mixing Contest #1 - "Chaos Is" by Sweetbreads

Table of Contents

SUBMISSIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

Thanks to everyone who submitted a mix! We will be selecting a shortlist this week and peer voting will be open on Feb. 24, 2024. Winners will be announced on or around March 1.

If you missed the deadline, look for our next contest starting in early March. Good luck to all!

PARTICIPATE

Download the multitrack and readme file (1.1 GB) for Chaos Is by Sweetbread
Mix the song to the best of your ability in your DAW of choice
Level should be -16 to -11 LUFS
It’s recommended you limit peaks to -1. to -.5 dBFS (no inter-sample peaks)
Do not use 3rd party mastering services
Bounce a stereo wave file (48k/24bit) of your final mix labeled:
- FirstName_LastName_Chaos_Is_Mix.wav
Submit your mix to the Waveinformer Google Drive

TIMELINE

Tracks available for download – January 16, 2024
Submission Deadline – February 16, 2024
Short-list Selection Process – February 16 – 23, 2024
Peer Voting Period – February 24 – 29, 2024
Winners Announced – March 1, 2024

JUDGING CRITERIA

Tracks delivered in requested file formats and specifications (see above).
Overall Balancing of Track Levels.
Spatialization and mono compatibility.
Treatment of the Frequency Spectrum–the overall mix isnʼt too bright/dull/etc. and elements were treated appropriately with equalization.
Treatment of Dynamics–individual elements and overall mix are punchy, clear, and processed appropriately with compression.
Use of Time-based Effects including reverb and delay. This mix should sound lush and spacious without becoming muddy.
Overall Aesthetic and Emotional Impact: Whether you deliver a deeply creative mix, or try to make the song sound like the best possible version of itself, decisions should be appropriate for this particular piece. The overall result should be a satisfying emotional experience.
The use of reference tracks is highly encouraged. Listen to the reference track links provided by the band in the readme file in the download folder.

SELECTION PROCESS

Members of the Band and the Waveinformer team will short-list the top 3 submissions. These will be posted on the Waveinformer site where your peers can vote for their favorite mix. Voting will begin on Feb. 24 and remain open until midnight (PST) Feb. 29, 2024. The winners will be announced on or about: March 1, 2024