Foundation

Download the session and
mix the track from this video

The Production

Do you really need a multi-million dollar studio and microphones older than Europe to make a great sounding record?

That was the question that Lauten Audio, SPL & Focal set out to answer in this video featuring Stephano Petrocca's "Foundation"

Starting from a demo, Stephan Ritch produced and recorded the musicians in several locations, with only an SPL Crimson and the Lauten Series Black Microphones. For Stephano's Vocal, they headed to the remains of the once famous Le Studio in Morin Heights. When it was in better health, the studio was visited by greats like The Bee Gees, Cat Stevens, Keith Richard and David Bowe. This was the last known song recorded there as the remains of the studio were subsequently burned by arsonists. 

From there, transported by his trusty skateboard, Stephan headed to different parts of Montreal to record guitars, drums and brass in a house, and background vocals on a sun porch using only his SPL Crimson interface, Lauten Audio Series Black Microphones, and Focal Spirit Pro Headphones proving that you really can record great music anywhere. 

Finally, the song was shipped off for mixing to pureMix Mentor, Darrell Thorp (Foo Fighters, Radiohead, Beck) to bring it all together. 

Now is your chance to sit in Darrell's chair and mix the same multi-track, for a chance to win the entire rig, plus a guest spot in a Q&A session with Darrell.

Win Big with Focal, SPL and Lauten Audio.

This month's Zelab is sponsored by Focal, SPL, and Lauten Audio and offers one of our best prize packages to date! 

• The first place prize is the entire rig used to record the song, which consists of an SPL Crimon Interface, Lauten Audio Series Black 320, 220, and 2 sets of Focal Listen Pro Headphones PLUS a Lauten Audio backpack and skateboard.

• Second place wins a Lauten Audio Series Black 320,

• Third place receives a Lauten Audio Series Black 220,

• Fourth place receives a pair of Focal Spirit Pro Headphones.

How to win

Mixing is an art form, the winner will be chosen based on the judges' TASTE. There are no absolute rules. Don’t be upset if you’re version of this mix do not make it to the top.

The pureMix team will listen to ALL the mixes, makes a selection of the best 50 mixes and send the selection to Darell Thorp himself who will pick the 4 winners

That said here are a couple tangible suggestions to carve your way to be the potential winning mixer:

• Make sure you send the right song in (Don’t laugh, it happens quite a bit)
• Don’t send the mentor’s original mix hoping we won’t notice (Don’t laugh, it happens quite a bit)
• Make sure the vocal/drums/bass/guitars are not muted in your mix. Especially the leads vocal. (We will)
• Don’t change the tempo/key/arrangement. This is a MIXING challenge.
• Louder is not better, we level match everything before we listen (You know who you are)
• Submit your mix before the deadline

Good luck!

Submissions

Winners

First Place: Stemiro

Congratulations on winning the entire rig used to record the song, which consists of an SPL Crimon Interface, Lauten Audio Series Black 320, 220, and 2 sets of Focal Listen Pro Headphones PLUS a Lauten Audio backpack and skateboard.

Second Place: song horse

Congratulations on winning a Lauten Audio Series Black 320.

Third Place: elizeu

Congratulations on winning a Lauten Audio Series Black 220.

Forth Place: whitmore

Congratulations on winning a pair of Focal Spirit Pro Headphones.