Mastered version #1 - let me know which one you like better (vs version #2)
for me personally version nr 1 is a spot better because I do not like the compressor acting too much. Especially in the sparely instrumented acoustic parts the dynamics are important and the compressor is mudding it too much in the higher loudness intensities. Markus, I still have the problem with the gain. The loudest signal should have 0dB damping, and in both of your versions there is a lot of space until you reach that level in the loudest signal. Also the levels in nr 1 and nr 2 are different. You should, after mastering, at least normalize the strongest signal in the song to 0dB so that you can compare the two versions without different loudness levels. I personally tend to put the strongest signal even to +3dB which means that maybe 1 short peak is a little bit distorted, but 99,9% of all other peaks have a lot more power, without being distorted. I can see this clearly in my DAW. I will upload your mix nr 1 level corrected, then you can compare... Thank you, Kurt
Haaahaaa!! I feel like I'm at the eye doctor and he's asking me which farm scene is less blurry.... And they look EXACTLY the same to me. I KNOW there's a difference.... I just don't see it!! :) Ok, to be honest I DO have a favorite but I'm VERY CURIOUS to know which one YOU GUYS prefer before I say which one I like better, after listening to them a couple times each. :) Uh huh!!! :)
Also, I'm pretty much a big, sopping, wet puddle when I listen to this track!! MONSTER FREAKIN' CHEERS to you both!!!!! :)
Thanks, Kim! :) Do me the favour and try out both versions in a number of listening situations, i.e. on your home stereo, on your car stereo, on your smartphone with earbuds etc and choose which one sounds best to you across all of these. It's of course all subjective but as we are aiming for best average sound quality for the biggest audience possible each voice counts! :)