SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC075 November 2023 - Winners announced

#1

Hello and welcome to the Songwriting Competition 075 - November 2023

BEFORE WE GET STARTED:

Please consult the official and very simple "Rules and Guidelines" (TL;DR version) 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.
The general idea of this game is to "...just make music", to also challenge yourself by stepping a bit out of your comfort zone, and take a dip at realms you've never worked in before. Instrumentals are just as welcome as productions with vocals.
The Genre and "Premise" of this months challenge can be found in in post #002
Filename Template (Important): SWC075__ArtistName__TrackName.wav or .mp3
- example: SWC075__MisterFox__ColorOfTheSky.wav
- example: SWC075__Mister_Fox__Color_of_the_sky.wav

Read more about this month's competition further down below. And if you got any question, please also reach out on Discord.

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SONGWRITING COMPETITION THREAD INDEX

Post #001 -- Introduction post and index for the various stages of the Songwriting Competition. Will be updated as we progress
Post #002 -- Submission Period: General Information, Source Material, Sponsors
Post #003 -- Cheat Sheet: A couple of examples / audio demos for this month's challenge (limited if genre is "free to select")
Post #025 -- Voting: Summarized entries and start of voting process
Post #041 -- Results: Results of the Songwriting Competition

#2

CURRENT CHALLENGE - GENERAL INFORMATION

Time Frame: Wednesday, 01st November 2023 to Friday, 24th November 2023 (24 days)

Challenge submission will end on 24-NOV-2023, 23:59 UTC+1/CET (Germany) - until further notice.

Want to find out if you're still within the deadline, please either consult the Global Countdown (dedicated page), or the countdown on the landing site. There will also be short reminders on Social Media and on Discord. 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: "Momentum"
GENRE: Progressive Metal

Image Source: Miguel Á. Padriñán (via Pexels), released under Creative Commons CC0

A few word about this month's theme:

Staff (Mister Fox) wrote: There is a lot happening behind the scenes. Small cogwheels that try to drive larger ones. Things in constant motion, but at varying speed.

Progress - no matter how small. The final result - remains to be seen.

The premise might be simple this November, but the task won't be an easy one.
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Your task for this Songwriting Competition:
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This month, you can create a production in any Progressive Metal music genre (or try to push boundaries from Progressive Hard Rock, if you fancy that more).

Something that conveys progress - be it something at a certain pace, be it something with occasional chaotic momentum. Things will eventually balance themselves, find a groove and lead to a well-oiled machine that helps to move things forward as they come.

"Progressive" is also an umbrella terms for "experimental music" in this genre. Often going with odd time signatures, using both sound design elements and jazz influences (chords and melodies). Not an easy task for novice songwriters. But maybe just the right thing to break through a writers block, try something new, learn and grow from this experience.

Instrumental content is more than welcome this month. Not a rarity in this genre even. As usual, you are not forced to add any vocals. And to put a lot of pressure off of your shoulders - you are not bound to do odd time signatures. Do whatever you feel like - if it's in 4/4, so be it! You also do not need to copy others. Do not go the route of "modern mid-range heavy" mushy sound (that seems to be all the rage from the last 3-5 years of metal). Find your own groove,

Looking forward to your creations!

Songwriting Rule Summary / Add-On Rules:

► Show Spoiler

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LICENSE SPONSORS (Bonus Prizes):

A huge thank you goes to our very generous License Sponsors for this month's game. Those being (in alphabetical order):

Cherry Audio, Ghostwave Audio, Hollow Sun, Hornet Plugins, IK Multimedia, JRR Sounds, kv331 audio, Luftrum, Musiclab, Rekkerd Sounds, satyatunes - Sound / Graphic Design, and Tone2.

A detailed list of offerings can be found in the following information block.

► Show Spoiler

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

#3

AUDIO EXAMPLES:
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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

Additional Articles on Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_metal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Math_metal
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_rock

Music examples (selection for inspiration, 25 videos):

► Show Spoiler

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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).

if you're new to/need help with songwriting - please check out the following tools:

► Show Spoiler

More tools of the trade

► Show Spoiler

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UPDATED: 31-OCT-2023 09:45 UTC+1, updated 10-NOV-2023 03:30 UTC+1

#4

⚠	Moderation Message from Mister Fox
	License Sponsors Musiclab are kind enough to offer an extension / renewal of their instrument demo period. This is a special offer for SWC075 / November 2023. If you've already used up your demo time (14 days), and want to take another look at the Musiclab guitars, or if you are in the middle of testing the software/songwriting for SWC075, but the demo timer is about to run out, you can kindly request a prolongation. This is how it works: Please reach out to Musiclab via their support request form as subject, please use "Requesting trial period prolongation" as text, please write "I am kindly requesting a trial period extension for <your full name> as part of the Mix Challenge audio community collaboration (SWC075 / November 2023).", please also copy this game thread link and paste it into the text message Musiclab need the following information from you full name and email address of the person requesting the extension (as in: you) computer model, OS and DAW version Real instrument model and version (e.g. RealStrat, version 6.1.0.7549) The turnaround should be within 24 hours on workdays. Please be patient, and please check your spam filters.

If you want to get more out of your Musiclab instruments, I highly recommend taking a closer look a the available video tutorials.

You can find the whole collection via this link

phpBB [media]

Most notably the videos titled:

Tutorial. Key Switches Solo Mode Walkthrough
Tutorial. Simulating Guitar Techniques with KeySwitch FXs
Tutorial. Creating Vibrato and Bend via MIDI CC#1 Automation (available for multiple DAWs)
MusicLab V6. Humanize (tipp as longtime user: either reduce the "Strength" to 75% to make things "more tight" - which affects all settings, or only reduce the timing parameters in half to add just "a touch" more randomness)

The examples work for all "Real Instrument" engine variants.

Arelem · #5

Hello All,

I've had a lot of free time, so here is my track this month. I'll post details later as there is a lot of time to make changes even though I'm pretty happy with it's current state. (Details posted). Sorry I haven't been too active but I've not been feeling well due to some health issues.

Details:

► Show Spoiler

Lyrics:

► Show Spoiler

#6

A friendly reminder:
Including today, 14 days left to submit your production.

So far, we have 1 entry and sadly no further interaction.

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 7 days to have enough time to get possible feedback (if needed/wanted) and continue to work on your song.

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" - set yourself a shorter private 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.

APi_ZZ · #7

This is my try at this genre and challenge, presumably more Prog than Metal.
Update Nov 16, 2023: Now (hopefully) properly named/tagged ...

UPDATE Nov 24, 2023: Sound file at Soundcloud has been replaced.
Guitars and bass got beefed up or fattened or what you'd call it. Nothing else got changed, and it still is more Prog than Metal, eventually closer to Ayreon than to outfuzzed shredders.

This is my final entry.

Details:

► Show Spoiler

Brandon740 · #8

This is my submission,

Thanks

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https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3et6vmdf ... u8pak&dl=0
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I Made it all using reaper, and third party VSTs.... including Neural DSP: Abasi archetype, MeldaProductions, MonsterDRUMS.. sorry for the non player view.

#9

I am happy to announce the following month exclusive license sponsoring for the Mix Challenge audio community:

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

IK Multimedia will provide this bonus license for SWC075 / November 2023.
A huge thank you goes to IK Multimedia for providing the licenses.

#10

A quick "Hello and Welcome" to all new users.

If case you didn't do that yet, please check in with at least the TL;DR Rules regarding how to participate with the Songwriting Competition on the community. Please also update your posts with additional documentation (please do not just post anything, and then walk away), and maybe even join the conversation before the feedback and voting process starts.

This games lives from interaction.

Los Angeles / US	New York / US	London / UK	Berlin / DE	Moscow / RU	Tokyo / J	Canberra / AUS

Mix Challenge

SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC075 November 2023 - Winners announced

SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC075 November 2023 - Winners announced

SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC075 November 2023 - Submissions until 24-NOV-2023 23:59 UTC+1/CET

SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC075 November 2023 - Submissions until 24-NOV-2023 23:59 UTC+1/CET

SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC075 November 2023 - Submissions until 24-NOV-2023 23:59 UTC+1/CET

Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC075 November 2023 - Submissions until 24-NOV-2023 23:59 UTC+1/CET

SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC075 November 2023 - Submissions until 24-NOV-2023 23:59 UTC+1/CET

Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC075 November 2023 - Submissions until 24-NOV-2023 23:59 UTC+1/CET

Re: SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC075 November 2023 - Submissions until 24-NOV-2023 23:59 UTC+1/CET

SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC075 November 2023 - Submissions until 24-NOV-2023 23:59 UTC+1/CET

SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC075 November 2023 - Submissions until 24-NOV-2023 23:59 UTC+1/CET