My impressions of the WUMP6 tracks, at least as many as I have time for now. There a couple spots in the original file that I might consider "clicks" that I have decided not to comment on here. I will finish listening to the remainder when I can. And, as always, just my personal opinion! PS i used the original file dithered to 44.1 as my palate cleanser.
1978
The low mids a bit too scooped out for me, and too much above 15k. Kick drum hits are gritty, but punchy. Snare sits a little better
5277
Most of the low mid wooliness is still there, feels a bit pinched, snare pops a bit too much. Toms are big, and violins bite nice.
7288
Wow, fairly hot here, makes the drums punch too much, not balanced like the original. Image is a bit too wide, seems at bit hollow in the center. Like the eq balance. Dynamics are weak.
9170
Wow, where is the low end? Almost everything below 250 is missing, makes things seem small and overy strident. Good dynamics.
0001
Decent eq balance, but the very high stuff is gritty. Toms seem to be missing most of their original transient impact. Seems kinda "dry."
0603
More low end impact for sure, but also kinda tubby. Kick hits here also seem gritty/distorted. Pretty hot, not feeling the dynamics here.
0905
Here, too, I feel like the low mids are overly cut, removing the wonk, but throwing out the track balance. The kick feels too "woofy" as a result. Don't feel like the violins have the "guts" in the building parts. I like the imaging.
1114
My favorite so far in listening, unfortunately not mine. It has just the right balance of low mids and a little extra air relative to my submission. I feel it keeps the tom impacts in the crescendo the best so far! Great job.
1138
Very similar to my entry (but not mine.) Has a bit more low end impact, and a bit narrower imaging. I like the little extra oomph on the snare. Another good job in my book.
1212
Wow, where all all the mids again? the strings sound like they are in a tunnel. It is too hot level-wise, too.
1234
A bit to smiley-faced eq wise for me. The cello resonance stuff is all still there in my book, maybe worse. This track is too loud/squashed, but at least it is somewhat similar to the original in instrument balance compared to the other "hot" tracks so far.
1389
Good eq balance, though a bit of cello "wonk" is still there. Nice imaging and spaciousness. Not the most impressive in terms of "sweetening" the original, but a pretty good job.
1411
I like this one pretty well, except that there is some "seasickness" inducing quality of the low mid eq cut (widening?) that I can't seem to get around. I also feel there is too much above 13k, making it too crispy. It also feel it is touch lacking in dynamics.
1793
Good eq balance, the though I feel like bowing is a bit too "sawing." I feel like the instrument balance in the builds is a bit out of balance (not enough lead), like the mid was compressed more than the sides? The best of the fairly hot mixes so far!
2323
I feel like the low mids are a touch too cut, and the highs are too bright, or at least bright in not quite the right spots. Like the imaging. Some resonance is there in the cello, but I personally like that... Not feeling any dynamics here, but this is the best of the hot mixes, replacing 1793. Would like to see it 2dB quieter.
2941
Wow, upper highs too boosted, and low end too full, and the cello "wonk" not dealt with . Whatever was done for ambience feels cluttered, too. Violins lacking body, weird build after the first creshendo.
2951
Mids are too cut, and the bowing is accentuated. Feels like the track could use some more "bite" in upper mids. Kick is "blatty" in spots. Oh, and where are the dynamics?
4391
Too loud for me to even consider objectively, since the instrument balance is totally off to my ear. "crispy" sounding, too. Obvious distortion in the creshendo.
8085
Another pretty darned hot version, with too much highs. Hi hat is screaming at me. Kick is punchy. The extra ambience I like too, but it might be a touch heavy. Violins are screaming at me.
8606
Hum? where are all the mids? and why so stinking hot?
9070
Other than feeling like it needs a touch more low mid energy, I like this version. Has a good smoothness to it, and a nice image balance, and the creshendo really pops! Pretty loud, too. Best of the loud versions comes last I guess.
If I was the client in this case, I would pick between 1114, 1138, and 1389 if I wanted something with the dynamics. If need more "modern day" levels, I would pick 9070 first, followed by 2323.
Hmm, only five out of 21, I am probably being too picky. Regardless, love reading other's replies! Very insightful!
