Opinions on a mix Options

[HUNDOLOS]

Hello everyone I just want to say right at the start, I'm not an expert of any sort, it's not even a serious hobby, just amateur stuff really, plain curiosity, so please keep that in mind.
Anyhow, I just created a version of the menu theme from Age Of Empires (the original), using all kinds of soundfonts I found, choosing the best sounding ones for each instrument and mixing it in Adobe Audition CS5.5. I have read some writings about mixing and mastering, but I'm not someone who's ever done something like this or is familiar with how it should really be done. Even so, it'd be really helpful to hear some opinions, I do welcome all constructive criticism. Obviously, only the final mix should be considered '"done". I also provided a raw mix, using only the exported material from the soundfonts, no adjusments of any sort.

http://soundcloud.com/hundolos/sets/age-of...ires-menu-theme

[slks]

I like the "final mix" best - it seems like a good balance of bringing out all the instruments with none overpowering. I like least the "second mix" - the ding-ding thing (for lack of the real word) is too loud compared to the other instruments and takes center stage, pushing everything else too far in the background.

But really there's no "right way" to do it, it's just a matter of opinion. Mixing is an art, IMO creating a mixdown and other post-production stuff is part of the artistry of a finished, whole recording. "right" and "wrong" have a lot less meaning when you're talking about creating art.

[HUNDOLOS]

I like the "final mix" best - it seems like a good balance of bringing out all the instruments with none overpowering. I like least the "second mix" - the ding-ding thing (for lack of the real word) is too loud compared to the other instruments and takes center stage, pushing everything else too far in the background.

But really there's no "right way" to do it, it's just a matter of opinion. Mixing is an art, IMO creating a mixdown and other post-production stuff is part of the artistry of a finished, whole recording. "right" and "wrong" have a lot less meaning when you're talking about creating art.

Fair enough, but you can still distinguish "pleasant" and "realistic" which is sort of what I was aiming for, even though this is no real orchestra, obviously. Btw I think the ding-ding thing is a xylophone or a similar instrument. Thanks for your input and I'm kind of pleased with it now, turned out better in the end than I expected.