SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC054 February 2022 - Winners announced

[Mister Fox]

Hello and welcome to the Songwriting Competition 54 - February 2022


This is the introduction post, where we directly link to the challenge corresponding basics (theme and premise, submission information, sponsors) and start of the voting process.

Before you get started, please consult the official and very simple "Rules and Guidelines" (Rule Book - post #6) for the Songwriting Competition regarding principles of the game, it's engaging game mechanics (allowed editing/re-submission of your entry until the deadline has been reached) and upload/submission guidelines.

Read more about this month's competition further down below.




This post will be updated with the corresponding links as we progress, and of course the suitable thread headlines. So please watch this spot:


Submission Period: General Information and Sponsors
Cheat Sheet: A couple of examples / audio demos for this month's challenge (limited if genre is "free to select")
Voting: Summarized entries and start of voting process
Results of the Songwriting Competition: Results of the Songwriting Competition

[Mister Fox]

CURRENT CHALLENGE - GENERAL INFORMATION

Time Frame: Tuesday, 01st February 2022 to Thursday, 24th February 2022 (24 days)

Challenge submission will end on 24-02-2022, 23:59 UTC+1/CET (Germany) - until further notice.


Want to find out if you're still within the deadline, please consult the following options:
The Global Countdown on it's dedicated page or the countdown on the home page. There will also be short reminders on Social Media.

Does the game time frame feel too long? Why not set a personal shorter one of 5-7 days absolute max to push yourself to focus on the essentials, then use the rest of the time to ask for feedback and possible refinements.



SONGWRITING THEME: "Voyage"
GENRE: free to select



Image Source: Pexels, photo by Tom Swinnen, released under Creative Commons CC0



A few word about this month's theme:

As you've probably noticed, there have been plenty of changes happening to our small community. From game mechanics, overhauled schedules, even new expansions and soon-to-be visual overhauls. Some of this being months in the making, some being impromptu decisions to try something new. While there is a certain routine at this point, we're also still on quite the interesting journey...

Without trying to write up a deeper meaning for this month's theme -- think of being on a "voyage", traveling a path of both uncertainty yet also a healthy dash of excitement. You don't know what will happen, experiencing something new is always scary, but your curiosity keeps you going.

Hold on to that feeling, and put it into music.
.



Your task for this Songwriting Competition:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This month, you can create a production in any music genre you feel like.

Personally, I often associate music that conveys the feeling of being on a journey with more relaxed genres like ambient, jazz, country, chill-out, etc. So why not reach for that acoustic guitar from the corner of your room? Why not play some interesting piano chords that you would usually not do? Picked up an instrument from a certain area of our planet and didn't find a chance to put it to use yet? What about that Kalimba or your Harp that is collecting dust? Ever wanted to incorporate your flute collection into a production? This is your chance to experiment.

Try to tell a story that fits to the overall theme - "being on a voyage". Traveling somewhere, to a place you always wanted to visit, may it be in your head or actually physically doing so, or you have visited already. You decide the route...


I'm curious about the results.


And please remember:
The more people join, the more interaction and feedback. If you think the 24 days time frame is too long, you can always set yourself a personal limit of 5-7 days absolute max, then post your entry, ask for feedback and use the rest of the time for possible refinements. Just by joining the game in the first place, you're already a winner in my book.

Songwriting Rule Summary / Add-On Rules:

• create a production fitting to the given theme, genre and general premise
• you can use any tool that is at your disposal (samples, virtual instruments and/or real instruments)
• IMPORTANT: if you use non-licensed material (as in: non royalty free material from sample CDs, etc), give full credit to the source material
• for newcomers: no finished productions that have already been released outside of the time frame of the current Songwriting Competition (Spotify, iTunes, Bandcamp, etc), no cover versions or remixes, no ripped acapella's -- please only showcase your own content
• do not go higher than -14,0 LUFS ILk/-1,00 dBTP in terms of perceived loudness (mastering). Music doesn't have to be squashed to bits in order to be impactful
• name your files properly prior to uploading and make the production downloadable. If you opt to present your entry through SoundCloud, the forum can also convert your links into a Soundcloud player through the [soundcloud] BBCode from the text editor (orange square with a white cloud in it)
• ADD-ON RULES:
  • Filename Template: SWC000_ArtistName_TrackName.wav and/or .mp3 (please use it!)
  • <no add-on rules specified>

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please take note of the official rules - they can be found at the following thread:
Songwriting Competition - Official Rules and Guidelines (most notably Rule Book - post #6)

Please address any OT question in the official Gossip thread:
Songwriting Competition - Gossip and Discussion

If you like what the Mix Challenge (community) has been doing in recent months:
Please consider supporting the project

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


SPONSORS (Prizes):

Prizes for Songwriting Challenge participants:

Note: All licenses are NFR (Not-For-Resale), except where noted.
Changes to available prices on short notice may be possible and will be announced separately.


RECURRING LICENSE SPONSORSHIP:


Cherry Audio is kind enough give away one license of Voltage Modular Ignite, plus either a license of "Year One Collection" or "Year Two Collection"
License will turn into NFR
More info on Cherry Audio: https://cherryaudio.com



IK Multimedia is kind enough give away one license of MODO BASS to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on IK Multimedia: https://www.ikmultimedia.com



Tone2 is kind enough to donate a license of Saurus3 to the winner (until further notice)
License will turn into NFR
More info on Tone2: https://tone2.com



kv331 audio is kind enough give away a bundle of either SynthMaster 1+2 Bundle, or a freely selectable set of 3 SynthMaster Expansions
License will not turn into NFR, you need to have a kv311 audio user account in order to pick up Expansions
More info on kv331 audio: https://www.kv331audio.com



JRR Sounds is kind enough give away any-1 sound sets or sample set of winner's choice (exception: Bundles)
More info on JRR Sounds: https://www.jrrshop.com/jrr-sounds



Luftrum is kind enough give away either a license of Lunaris, a license of Bioscape, or any two sound sets of winner's choice (exception: Bundles and Nano Electronics)
License will turn into NFR
More info on Luftrum: http://www.luftrum.com



Rekkerd Sounds is kind enough give away 1 sound set of winners choice (exception: Krezie EDM and Neurofunk Vol. 1)
License will turn into NFR
More info on Rekkerd Sounds: http://sounds.rekkerd.org/



Ghostwave Audio (Vincent Bastiat) is kind enough to donate any 2 sound sets to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Ghostwave Audio: http://ghostwaveaudio.com



Hollow Sun is kind to donate one license of "Music Laboratory Machines - The Suite I" to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Hollow Sun: http://www.hollowsun.com



Hornet Plugins is kind enough give away one license from the depicted tools (see image) to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Hornet Plugins: http://www.hornetplugins.com



Sound / Graphic Designer, and honorary Mix Challenge staff satYatunes is donating one commercial product of winner's choice (until further notice)
More info on satYatune's page: http://www.satyatunes.com/





THANKS FOR THE DONATIONS!
And also a thank you to all former contributors as well.

If you want to sponsor content (please have a focus on instruments, samples and sound sets), please get in touch with the Mix Challenge staff.

Please spread the word of the challenge on social media.
For example with our dedicated Twitter Account or Facebook Page

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Good luck to all participants.
And most importantly, have fun!

[Mister Fox]

AUDIO EXAMPLES:
---------------------

Articles and Info Pages:

A great starting point is the "Addendum"/Supplementary thread for the Songwriting Competition
Songwriting Competition - Addendum: Music Maps and BPM Charts

Since the genre this month is "free to select", there are no clear pointers




Music examples (selection):

Traveling (by the BLUME Youtube Channel, focusing on ambient and chill-out music)
Wanderlust (Indie/Folk/Pop Playlist Vol. II by the alexrainbirdMusic Youtube Channel, more "relaxed")
Travel the World (Indie/Pop/Folk Vacation Playlist by the alexrainbirdMusic Youtube Channel, more upbeat)
Road Trip (Indie/Pop/Rock Playlist Vol. 3 by the alexrainbirdMusic Youtube Channel, more "pop-rock" oriented)

These collections cover various music genres that convey the feeling of traveling/"being on a journey"...
.



Please also check in with the following threads in the the Gear Talk sub-forum, if you're on the look-out for new tools:
Places to fuel your GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) (the starting point if you're in need of audio tools -- from free to affordable)

Also recommended to check out the following tools, if you're new to/need help with songwriting:
Plugin Boutique - Scaler 2 (highly recommended tool!)
Xfer Records - Cthulhu (another highly recommended tool)
CodeFN42 - Chordz (Transition is also recommended, if you want more experimental/generative MIDI, Free, Windows only)
W.A. Production - InstaChord and InstaScale
Fabrizio Poce / J74 - Progressive (Progressive Standalone might not be available anymore, else the "Max4Life" version)



UPDATED: 31-JAN-2022 05:30 UTC+1 (sourcing content: several hours), updated 31-JAN-2022 00:00 UTC+1

[Mister Fox]

A friendly reminder:
Including today, 13 days left to submit your production


If you want to access the extended game mechanics of the Songwriting Competition (asking for feedback during production), please try to release your first edits within this week and to have enough time to get possible feedback (if needed/wanted) and continue to work on your song.

Our community is all about learning. So I highly encourage people listening in, to offer some insight and keep the conversation going.

[Arelem]

Hello All,

So voyage made me think of epic adventure movies like Lord of the Rings and such. I wanted to try and do something in that same vein while still making it in my own way.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BBdwg- ... sp=sharing

The DAW used is Fl Studio 20

Instruments:
I used various orchestral drum samples for the drumming.
Piano is The Gentlemen
Kontakt and Flex for the strings
Sweet Melodic Choir and Nexus 2 for the choir
Kontakt for the winds
Kontakt and Nexus 2 for the brass

Effects:
Smooth Operator to smooth out the mix (no pun intended)
True Iron for some vintage saturation
Hornet Normalizer for gain staging
RC-20 for some vintage sound and reverb
Raum for some different reverb
Fruity Convolver for some more different reverb
Spaced Out for some reverb and delay effects
Fruitty EQ2
Maximus for some compression and limiter
Loudmax for brick wall limiting

[GMoneh]

A voyage, huh?

That brings to mind nights around the camp fire, some buddies with their guitars, perhaps someone brought some bongos or maracas, the rest can join singing...

I present The Cabaña Song



Production Details:

Recorded and produced by Xil Arya (GMoneh) on Presonus Studio One 5.5.
Instruments:
- Taylor 214ce guitar
- Breedlove Pursuit Exotic guitar
- Acoustic bass
- Superior drummer 3.0 - Latin percussion pack
- NI Session Horns

Effects:
- BIAS Effects amp simulation
- Fabfilter everything
- Uhe Satin, Presswerk

[Mister Fox]

A friendly reminder:
Including today, 7 days left to submit your production


If you want to access the extended game mechanics of the Songwriting Competition (asking for feedback during production), please try to release your first edits within the next 3 days to have enough time to get possible feedback (if needed/wanted) and continue to work on your song.

And to those sitting on the fence - please don't feel scared off and think "the bar is set too high, I will never make it" - maybe set yourself a private, was shorter deadline. Just make music, submit your entry, join the conversation. See where this goes. By joining, you're already a winner. The rest is bonus.

[EsteveCorbera]

Here is my proposal for this month. This time I wanted to do something totally orchestral, without using synthesizers. I wanted to describe a mid-afternoon walk through a rural setting, accompanied by the sounds of birds. I also wanted to give it an antique feel by making the sound come from a vinyl, sounding with speakers without too much power on the bass.
I hope you like it.


Thanks mates. Good luck to all !!!

(translated with google)




Equipment:
DAW:
Reason 12

Instruments:
Friktion

Rack Extensions:
ProjectSam Orchestral Sampler (Strings, Woodwinds, Concert Harp, Celesta)
Humana

Other instruments outside of Reason:
Arturia Piano V2

Effects:
RV7000 MkII Advanced Reverb
The Echo
Quartet Chorus Ensemble
Channel EQ
Master Bus Compressor

Utilities:
Combinator
MicroMix

Players:
Scales & Chords
Dual Arpeggio
Note Echo
Lectric Panda Evolution

Other effects outside of Reason:
XLN Audio RC-20 Retro Color


Other tools:
iZotope Ozone 9
Plugin Alliance SPL HawEye

[Mister Fox]

A friendly reminder:
We're in the final 24 hours to submit your production.



Please get your production ready and submitted (through the forum) today.

[VCA-089]

Here is my submission:

FLAC: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_9tgJe ... sp=sharing
MP3: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Sl8rW0 ... sp=sharing

This may not be the right thing for the context of this particular game, but at least it's my best idea this month.

I tried to create a feeling of traveling inside an imaginary worlds, dreams, fantasies. Each dream is a momentary trip to unknown that never happens again. It's always a bit scarry and exciting. Sometimes your mind tries to reflect the reality that you live in, but it twists unexpectedly every time. The memories of dreams usually dissappear, but some of them can be remembered for the entire life.

My intention was to create an acoustic/electronic hybrid setup, blending (virtual) analog synthesizers and percussion instruments. I also set another challenge to not using drums because I'm relatevly good with drumkit programming and processing.

Instruments and techniques:

1. Percussion samples are from "LinnDrum" and "TR-727" drum machines, very slightly processed and pitched.
2. Synthetic pulsing bass made with u-He's "Repro-1". I tried to make it softer and deeper but quite "punchy" and engaging.
3. Two different synth-choir variations made with two instances of u-He's "Repro-5". AudioThing "Orb" is used as a formant processor with different settings of vowels and modulation. One of the istances also followed with shimmer reverb.
4. Ample Sound "Cloudrum" is a steel tongue drum sample instrument used to create two percussive sequences with velocity variations.
5. "Repro-1" used again to create synth-solo part consisting of a soft pad with glide, filter modulation and a touch of west-coast style overdrive.
6. Additional percussion samples from "99Sounds - Percussa Toolbox" were used to create atmospheric sounds (chimes, cymbal roll and a thunder tube).
7. Eventide "Blackhole" effect used as a main reverb send.

Technical details:

► Show Spoiler

Produced in FL Studio 20.9

Generators:

x1 FPC
x2 u-He "Repro-1"
x2 u-He "Repro-5"
x2 Ample Sound "Cloudrum"
x2 TAL Sampler

Native Effects:

x2 Parametric EQ 2
x3 Stereo Enhancer
x1 Balance
x5 Delay 3
x1 Flangus
x1 Wave Candy
x1 dB Meter

VST Effects:

x9 TDR & VoS "SlickEQ GE"
x1 AdHd "Leveling Tool"
x2 AudioThing "The Orb"
x1 Audiority "Xenoverb"
x1 Eventide "Blackhole"
x1 Valhalla "FreqEcho"

Master Chain:

TDR "Nova"
TDR "Limiter №6 GE"

Total:

x9 Generators
x31 Effects
x10 MIDI Patterns
x16 Mixer Tracks
x1 Audio Clip
x14 Automation Clips

Sample packs:

Samples from Mars "727" and "LinnDrum"
99Sounds "Percussa Toolbox"

phpBB [media]