REAPER Contest - December 2016 (RESULTS)

DaveKeehl · 11-29-2016, 05:07 PM

REAPER CONTEST - DECEMBER 2016
(ONLY REAPER PLUGINS ALLOWED)

~~MIXING: 1-21 December~~
~~VOTING: 22-28 December~~
RESULTS: 29 December

December 2016 winner: Fergler
November 2016 winner: zacki
October 2016 winner: Indiscipline

Click here to download all the submissions.

__________________________________________________

Helloooo everyone

This is the third and last contest of 2016! December is pretty... jazzy

This month I wanted to do something different because I don't always want to make you guys mix rock-oriented music. In fact, I've chosen the song All The Gin Is Gone by Maurizio Pagnutti Sextet. It has a very cool vibe and was recorded by Stefano Amerio, a grammy-nominated producer, at Artesuono Recording Studio.

__________________________________________________

Conditions and steps to follow:

1) Download the source files from this link.

2) When you’ve mixed it send a zip file to reaper.contest@gmail.com with:

Your Reaper project
any reverb impulses you’ve used
any custom JSFX you’ve used (put them in an effect subfolder (project_path/Effects/))
any glued files which are NOT in the source folder. See below
a master mix (limited to -0.2 dB and at -14 LUFS): WAV, 44.1 kHz
a note containing your username and your reaper profile URL

3) Go to http://bit.ly/2guV2J7 to listen to the submissions. Pick your 3 favourite mixes and take note of their ID numbers (look the track titles). You can also download the zip file "SUBMISSIONS" with an RPP containing all the files.

4) Go to this link and vote your 3 favourite mixes.

__________________________________________________

A few VERY important notes:

Don't rename the source files
Don't rename the source folder (leave it to "Source")
Avoid gluing items together, BUT if you really need to, then make sure they are in the source folder and include them in the zip you send me

Borodog · 11-30-2016, 09:32 PM

I've mixed the track but I'm going to let it stew for a few days and give it a relisten with fresh ears for any final tweaks.

thunderbroom · 11-30-2016, 10:20 PM

Can't wait to get cracking!

zacki · 12-01-2016, 01:15 AM

My first impression when inserted the tracks: OK, I'm ready, there's nothing more to do.

This sounds already very good!

lolilol1975 · 12-01-2016, 02:08 AM

Good idea you compressed the files in FLAC.

martinmadero · 12-01-2016, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zacki

My first impression when inserted the tracks: OK, I'm ready, there's nothing more to do.

This sounds already very good!

agree!

DaveKeehl · 12-02-2016, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lolilol1975

Good idea you compressed the files in FLAC.

I did it on purpose due to complaining about file sizes and slow internet connections

VinodXAgent · 12-02-2016, 02:47 PM

Hi Dave,
would you please elaborate on your choice of this track. I don't need Reaper for this, my 16 Track analog console from the 70s will do this job. I thought this contest has something to do with showcasing (showcasing? pretty sure this word didn't exist in english language) Reaper? This is a Bebop standard from the old mono times. What do you expect us to do? Due to respect to the recording engineer I skip this one. Maybe this is more a mastering contest?
Greetings from Hamburg

pcartwright · 12-02-2016, 02:55 PM

The point is to try out our mixing skills, shares results, and demonstrate Reaper's abilities. I like that we have seen three very different projects used thus far.

karbomusic · 12-02-2016, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VinodXAgent

Hi Dave,
would you please elaborate on your choice of this track. I don't need Reaper for this, my 16 Track analog console from the 70s will do this job. I thought this contest has something to do with showcasing (showcasing? pretty sure this word didn't exist in english language) Reaper?
Greetings from Hamburg

HI VinodXAgent,

What it has to do with is how well *you* can the mix the tracks in Reaper, and we are using Reaper because this is the Reaper community and DAW we use and discuss.

There is the restriction that you can only use plugins that are built in such as the ReaPlugs and JSFX and we are all free to showcase our talents and learn from each other which is the real goal.

VinodXAgent · 12-02-2016, 03:09 PM

That is prompt feedback

.
Well, I come from the german Tonmeister school of thoughts. I can't think of any plugins that can put this tracks to another level.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jh7...0F3B59BDE731DF
Yeah, I can submit a balance mix, but that is boring. But anyway, a great tune. Just ordered at amazon at a ridiculous price. https://www.amazon.de/All-Gin-Gone-J...he+Gin+Is+Gone

VinodXAgent · 12-02-2016, 03:19 PM

Just listening to another track from this album on Youtube. I am glad that Dave mentioned this artist.Will play this album at "Heiligabend" to my Folks.
Beautiful Guitar!
Love to you all!
Greetings from Hamburg
Update: Listening to more tracks of this Jimmy Forrest album. I am hooked.
Another update: This is timeless. And as a side note, Dear Karbo: Is there a top Ten of tunes that your president elect likes?
Böse Menschen haben keine Lieder
http://stein-collectors.org/library/...der/trans.html

Tod · 12-02-2016, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VinodXAgent

Update: Listening to more tracks of this Jimmy Forrest album. I am hooked.

Yeah.............

karbomusic · 12-02-2016, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Yeah, I can submit a balance mix, but that is boring.

You can mix it however you want to win. This December contest is slightly different as the musicians actually knew what they were doing so there is less fixing-mixing acrobatics required. Still should be a good exercise regardless because if any of you guys landed a dream job of being a mixer for the top acts around the world, and tracks are as well-recorded, which they often are, what makes them want you.

In contrast with the other two contests, I think this is a great example between "mixer" and "repairman".

DaveKeehl · 12-02-2016, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VinodXAgent

Hi Dave,
would you please elaborate on your choice of this track. I don't need Reaper for this, my 16 Track analog console from the 70s will do this job. I thought this contest has something to do with showcasing (showcasing? pretty sure this word didn't exist in english language) Reaper? This is a Bebop standard from the old mono times. What do you expect us to do? Due to respect to the recording engineer I skip this one. Maybe this is more a mastering contest?
Greetings from Hamburg

I'm sorry to hear you don't find any value in mixing this song. As others said, there is barely anything to fix because it was well recorded and produced. Furthermore, jazz players are usually very conscious of their playing. It might be a bit "boring", but I think you can still have fun even without heavy fixing stages like the previous month. I hope I don't sound rude but I can't always make everyone happy with the songs I choose

Borodog · 12-02-2016, 08:13 PM

How is it not fun mixing well recorded great music? o_O

Tod · 12-02-2016, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karbomusic

You can mix it however you want to win. This December contest is slightly different as the musicians actually knew what they were doing so there is less fixing-mixing acrobatics required.

In contrast with the other two contests, I think this is a great example between "mixer" and "repairman".

Yes, I agree, in fact I didn't actually think of last months as needing fixing, there were various ways it could be mixed, and I think that showed in the various mixes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveKeehl

I'm sorry to hear you don't find any value in mixing this song. As others said, there is barely anything to fix because it was well recorded and produced.

I think this is a good one Dave, it has a lot of different aspects to it. Sure, it's well done, right out of the box. But there are a lot of different way's you can approach it.

It has a good drum track that might sound okay out of the box, but can truly be improved, in a big way.

It has horn sections and some great free form playing that that can be dealt with in all kinds of different ways.

Quote:

Furthermore, jazz players are usually very conscious of their playing. It might be a bit "boring", but I think you can still have fun even without heavy fixing stages like the previous month. I hope I don't sound rude but I can't always make everyone happy with the songs I choose

Very true Dave, we all have different backgrounds and experiences, there's no way you can make everybody happy.

Heh heh, I definitely didn't expect you to come up with something like this.

I played in a lot of bands like this back in the 70s and 80s, so to me it's a real treat.

I'm still wondering how I'm going to do this, there are so many different approaches you can take with it. In the end I'll probably try to keep it natural, because that's how I like most things. Although, there are some other ways, that are not quite so natural, that might sound good too.

One thing I'll agree with, it's going to be hard to make this sound bad.

lolilol1975 · 12-03-2016, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zacki

My first impression when inserted the tracks: OK, I'm ready, there's nothing more to do.

This sounds already very good!

Yeah, that's what I thought too. It sounds like a lot of jazz recordings already.

I don't really know what I could improve on this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tod

One thing I'll agree with, it's going to be hard to make this sound bad.

But it can be easy to make it sound worse than unmixed though.

BJORG · 12-03-2016, 05:59 AM

So maybe try to make it sound different. The 'contest' could also be doing interesting things with reaper rather than get the best standard jazz sound. (of course i have no idea about jazz sound at all

)

karbomusic · 12-03-2016, 06:31 AM

Like I inferred earlier, pretend a major studio is hiring a mix engineer, you applied and they sent you these tracks to mix as an audition with no further explanation. There are 20 others up for the job who were also sent the same tracks. How are you going mix them in order to get the job?

Borodog · 12-03-2016, 10:23 AM

Welp, I shipped my mix & project. Hope I don't embarrass myself too much.

Dave, thanks for putting this all together. Much fun.

martinmadero · 12-03-2016, 02:23 PM

i sent the mix!!!

DaveKeehl · 12-04-2016, 06:29 AM

received both of them

thunderbroom · 12-05-2016, 09:48 PM

In attempting to submit my mix, the folder containing only the items requested (folder with JSFX plugins, master mix .wav at 44.1K, Reaper Session file, .txt file with user info) - it was only able to compress down to 50MB, which then bounced back due to gmails 25MB limit. Any other ideas on how to submit this, or perhaps where I went wrong?

Borodog · 12-05-2016, 10:34 PM

Mine sent as a google drive link, but I sent it from a gmail account.

thunderbroom · 12-05-2016, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Borodog

Mine sent as a google drive link, but I sent it from a gmail account.

I'll give that a try, as I do also have multiple gmail accounts.

thunderbroom · 12-05-2016, 10:45 PM

Hopefully they arrive...let me know. Thanks!

DaveKeehl · 12-06-2016, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonE

Contests using a single drum .rex from Justin's stems, plus single vocal could be fine for showing off what is possible with Reaper only fx and scripts.

At max one more bassline.
1. justin drums .rex
2. justin vocal
3. justin bassline (optional)
4. reaper only tools (must)

-lfo tool for
--global tempo envelope
-ultimate sidechaining of
--ReaEQ
--ReaPitch

Reaper rocks.

I'm pretty sure you didn't understand the purpose of these contests mate

DaveKeehl · 12-06-2016, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thunderbroom

Hopefully they arrive...let me know. Thanks!

I received your link, but you could use wetransfer so that you didn't need to render in 16 bit!

DaveKeehl · 12-06-2016, 06:49 AM

@TonE this is a mixing contest, not a reaper plugins contest. The plugin restriction is just to allow the users to download and share their projects.

DaveKeehl · 12-06-2016, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonE

Playing with fx and scripts, is mixing.

sure, but the end goal is different

DaveKeehl · 12-06-2016, 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonE

End goal is creating well sounding original sounds.

do we really need to discuss such pointless things? These contests' goal is NOT to mix 4-5 files.

karbomusic · 12-06-2016, 07:43 AM

The best course of action is to go to post #1, download the project, mix that project and submit it.

thunderbroom · 12-06-2016, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveKeehl

I received your link, but you could use wetransfer so that you didn't need to render in 16 bit!

Oh - well then I'll prefer to do that. You'll hear from me shortly. And thanks for the option!

thunderbroom · 12-06-2016, 12:30 PM

We transfer seemed to do the trick. Thanks!

DaveKeehl · 12-06-2016, 12:59 PM

you're welcome

Bass6 · 12-07-2016, 02:40 PM

Hi Dave,

1) Thanks so much for organising this - it's invaluable experience for a relative noob like myself.
2) I think I've sent my feeble effort in via Google Drive - I'm beginning to lose the plot with technology these days. Hopefully it's got there.
3) Stupid question: Are the entries only posted for listening after the competition closes? I've had a look at the link in your OP but it seems empty - I presume that's so one can't nick others ideas, or am I being even more dim than usual....
4) Love the track. It's so well played and recorded I wasn't sure about stomping my size 10s all over it, but what the hell, it's all fun innit?

Really looking forward to hearing everyone's entries and learning some more tricks.
All the best mate.

karbomusic · 12-07-2016, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass6

Hi Dave,

3) Stupid question: Are the entries only posted for listening after the competition closes? I've had a look at the link in your OP but it seems empty - I presume that's so one can't nick others ideas, or am I being even more dim than usual....

Dave makes the all the submitted projects available for everyone to check out.

Bass6 · 12-07-2016, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karbomusic

Dave makes the all the submitted projects available for everyone to check out.

Sorry Karbo, I didn't phrase that very well. What I meant was, are the entries only available for listening to after the mixing segment closes on 21 December.

karbomusic · 12-07-2016, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass6

Sorry Karbo, I didn't phrase that very well. What I meant was, are the entries only available for listening to after the mixing segment closes on 21 December.

Ah, gotcha, yes. The competing entries become available when the voting phase starts. Then the entries and the projects are available when the winner is chosen.