SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC072 August 2023 - Winners announced

[Doc Jon]

I have made a few minor mix adjustments and updated my original post with the final version

[Crosshatched]

I just enabled downloads.

Strangely, I thought I had already double-checked and enabled downloads on the 22nd...

[satyatunes]

Getting back to music after a long time. Little bit rusty. It took a while, but I finally finished the track.

I present you "Mysterious Cloud". When I see the picture that's what I feel - A Mystery. Is there a spaceship hiding in the cloud? Initially it started as an Ambient track but gradually moved towards cinematic. Hope you like it.

DOWNLOAD / PLAY LINK:
Mysterious Cloud

► Show Spoiler

DAW: FL Studio

PLUGINS:

Instruments:
- Moving Pad - Loom 2
- Bell Arp - Loom 2
- Short Strings - BBC SO
- Double Bass - BBC SO
- Cello - BBC SO
- Violin - - BBC SO
- Choirs - ProjectSam - The Free Orchestra - Luminous Choirs
- Bass - Spire
- Theme - Dune 3
- Piano - Flex - Essential Piano

Effects:
Master Track:
- Fruity Limiter
- bx_MasterDesk True Peak
- Youlean Loudness Meter 2
- Sonarworks Reference 4

Sends:
- ValhallaVintageVerb

Other:
- Fruity Parametric EQ2
- PanFlow

SAMPLES:
Some royalty free samples collected from Internet

[The Exponent]

Made some final changes to my arrangement and mix, updated the SoundCloud file.

I see that some may have already downloaded the file, please consider downloading the updated file, or just use the SoundCloud play feature to listen to the updated final submission in the original post --> https://mix-challenge.com/forum/viewtop ... 471#p15471

[EsteveCorbera]

Challenge companions and Mister Fox, Good afternoon!!
This month I present to you a very calm track. Inspired by the image proposed by Mister Fox, for when the storm has passed.
I have based it on an improvisation I had made some time ago and I have tweaked it a bit. I've changed some of the instruments (Now there's the Arturia CS-80, because in the initial version it didn't have the license yet) and I've added some new sounds and more worked effects.

I hope you like it.

Thank you colleagues.



Equipment:
DAW:
Reason 12.6.1

Instruments:
Subtractor Polyphonic Synthesizer
Thor Polysonic Synthesizer

Effects:
RV7000 MkII Advanced Reverb
The Echo

Players:
Scales & Chords
Dual Arpeggio

Other instruments outside of Reason:
Arturia CS-80V

Other effects outside of Reason:
iZotope RX8
Rob Papen RP-Pan
Arturia Rev INTENSITY
AIR Music Tech Tube Drive

Other tools:
iZotope Ozone 9
Plugin Alliance SPL HawEye
HoRNet Plugins HoRNet VHS

[Mister Fox]

It is the 25th August 2023, 00:30 UTC+2/CEST - this month's Songwriting Competition has official ended


STATISTICS:

• If I didn't miscount, we have 11 submissions this month (1 entry more than last month, and also 3 more entries than August 2022)
• We have 0 submissions after the deadline (as of 25-AUG-2023 00:30 UTC+2/CEST)
• We have 0 submissions that has been disqualified (production released outside of the game's timeframe)
• We have 0 submissions that has been withdrawn
• The "staff balancing vote" add-on rule does not apply -- but special game mechanics do apply
• "Sole Winners Podium" rule (equal or less than eight participants results in a single winner) does not apply (3-position Winners Podium)

How do we go from there?

Over the course of the next (hopefully) 24-48 hours (usually up to 6-12 hours maximum after the game has ended), I'll gather all links into one post and hot-link to that from the first post of the thread. Please, no more changes to your entries, but please do check your links that these entries are accessible and downloadable. We then perform with the final feedback and "public vote" system.


We have 11 official participants. We are adapting the overhauled vote mechanic, as talked about in the following news blog:

Songwriting Competition - game mechanic changes: Voting Process (October 2022 Update)
(Info: I am aware that the Rule Book has not been properly updated yet. Time constraints, apologies for the inconvenience)


Summarized:

!

Bonus Info

Participants can (and must) vote for their Top 5 entries (tiered mechanic). You're furthermore asked to please reflect on your experience this month (2-3 paragraphs max), what you have learned, what you would like to do different in the future, etc. (personal growth) You are also asked to give feedback to at least five (number: 5) entries (tiered mechanic) that either stood out to you and you would like to provide some additional final thoughts, or where you could provide constructive feedback for possible improvements. To add to the learning experience of our community, it is recommended that these entries are outside of your personal "top entry" voting. Have the chance to get additional bonus points if you decide to invest the time to provide more constructive feedback than the requested minimum. It must be more than just "nice production, please keep up the good work" however. This is to boost more interaction and can balance out your overall points on the score sheet. (get 1 point if you give constructive feedback to 2-3 more people, get 2 points if you give helpful feedback for everyone) The "Voting Process" mechanic is mandatory for all participants, and the only criteria to drop out of the game by not partaking. The overall "Bonus Point" mechanic still applies. Please update your posts with proper production documentation, most notably regarding whom you have collaborated with (as in: proper credits -- not doing so will result in a 2pt deduction on the score sheet at the end of the game). You got until the voting period has ended. Please cast your vote (not the feedback) in collective form through the "spoiler text" bbcode (button on the WYSIWYG editor that features the orange triangle with an exclamation mark in it). Please use the forum username of the participant to make it easier during the score collection to address what vote belongs to whom.

.

⚠	Moderation Message from Mister Fox
	For transparency: The staff (Mister Fox) will not give feedback to all entries and/or cast a vote this month.

Feedback from non-participants and/or collaborators is highly encouraged (voting not needed!). The same goes for entries after the deadline, or those that sadly do not count for the current running game (even if you've exceeded the deadline, why not post your entry regardless?). Musicians and Engineers are always after constructive criticism. This is what this forum is about.





Have some general feedback? Please provide that here:
Songwriting Competition - General Gossip Thread, or on Discord.



Please make sure your files are accessible, and please have an eye on this thread!

[Mister Fox]

Let us kick off the VOTING PROCESS, which will end on Friday, 01-SEP-2023 23:59 UTC+2/CEST latest


There is a GLOBAL COUNTDOWN to check for deadlines.
Just follow this link: Global Countdown (on homepage)



Here is the collection of productions from all participants (in hope that I didn't forget anyone). As usual, if you click on the small upwards-arrow right beside the quoted name, you can jump to the original post and read up on the documentation for this production.


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"Turbulence"

"Get a Grip

WAV: Google Drive playback and download

"Hey Kid"

"Make Love Not War"

MP3: Google Drive playback and download

"Clouds Over Herrenhausen"



WAV: Google Drive playback and download

"Pulverized"

"Skygaze"

PREVIEW Re-Uploaded to Mix Challenge server

phpBB [media]

MP3: Catbox download (ZIP contains MP3 File)

"Dark Omen"

WAV: Google Drive playback and download
FLAC: Google Drive playback and download
MP3: Google Drive playback and download

BONUS VIDEO:

► Show Spoiler

phpBB [media]

"Fragments of Hope"

"Mysterious Cloud"

WAV: Dropbox playback and download

"LaTempestaJaSAllunya"

.



WITHDRAWN (not participating - feel free to give feedback, but you sadly can not vote for these entries)


<no withdrawn entries>
.



BONUS ENTRIES (submitted after the deadline - feel free to give feedback, but you sadly can not vote for these entries)


<no bonus entries>
.



GAME MECHANIC SUMMARY:

► Show Spoiler

Please consult this news blog post regarding an overhaul to the voting mechanic. To make it simple for me for counting the votes - please use the forum usernames in your listing. Thank you!

Please also consult the previous post that features a summary for this month's mechanic (see "Bonus Info" in the red colored box).
.


This month's SWC participants giving feedback to each other is mandatory, it is the only criteria to drop out of the game by not partaking. If you have collaborated with somebody, then only the one doing the main entry needs to give feedback and vote. Bonus feedback is always welcome. However, please be open minded, objective and constructive.


INFORMATION: If you have submitted your entry in multiple file formats, the statistic sheet (posted alongside the results) will focus on the uncompressed material first (WAV), then FLAC, then MP3. The higher the quality (e.g. lossless format), the less possible loss on bonus points for "Loudness Specs" due to offsets introduced by a used CODEC.

Good luck to all participants!




If you have an idea for a future Songwriting Competition, please post about this in the theme/genre request page or on Discord.


Post updated: 25-AUG-2023 02:25 UTC+2/CEST

[Koekepan]

Reflecting on Process

In terms of process, I think that for me the sequencing of the bed is the hardest part. I can handle the live session rendition and recording, no problem, and the process of sound design, while protracted, answers most of the mixing problems before they start. I follow Bob Johnston's approach of getting the headphone mix right first, and then just recording that correct sound. If it sounds good, it is good, and by preloading the mix in terms of thoughtful sound design most of my problems are solved. I know where I can push the faders and nudge the knobs without wrecking my soundscape, and I live within those limits. It's the progression and chord structure as captured in the performance sequencer that gives me the most pause for thought, because that reflects the structure of what I want to achieve and the more that I want to add in terms of complexity, the more precomposition I have to build into the sequencer configuration. If it's too complex, on the other hand, it can really wreak havoc with my ability to coherently improvise on top so there is an upper limit to how far I can take it.

Other than that the biggest hassle is warming up and tuning analogue synths. 'twas ever thus.

Next time, I might do it by using the Force as my sequencer, and presequencing and editing everything in a live take there, before recording the audio.



General review and discussion

► Show Spoiler

Havol - Make Love not War - distant battlefield sounds aren't bad. Transition to sad piano is a bit cliched, and for that matter so is the chord progression. Good build with bass added, then drumkit and rhythm guitar. Very competent, rather than creative. By 2:00 I was hoping for something more. OK, at 2:30 a bit of a change, but still just a change-up for a bridge that feels very ... '80s? Not a bad thing, but I'd hoped for more. The guitar wants to be more; it feels too clean, too measured. It needs to be freer in comparison to the basic, measured pace of the whole.

KukoBass - Clouds over Herrenhausen - A more literal rain-and-thunder start to it all, then going for more typical movie epic sound stuff. The lead guitar sounds a little out of place with respect to the drums. This sound design mismatch rather spoils it for me, because they sound as if they come from different musical sets.

VCA-089 - Dark Omen - OK, now we're talking about a more consistent musical world, a more consistent aesthetic. This is good. It comes out of the gate promising a sort of synthrock experience, and delivers. It does feel rather episodic in its structure, with predictable-feeling moves such as "now it's time for a drum break leading into the next section and we'll follow a similar chord progression". Still, a good sonic structure.

Arelem - Turbulence - Nice rap, decent lyrics, good flow. Clear lyrics. It's not a hackneyed take on hiphop either, so the sound is clearly its own and yet all the sounds belong together. This is a good thing, because the result stands on its own as a project. If I were to make a criticism, it would be that the rap could have more emotional punch in its delivery, but it works as it stands.

Crosshatched - Pulverized - This kind of singing, alas, demands better intonation. This has to count against the singer, more's the pity. The piano-and-singer model works well, but I think that the mix is off-balance, favouring the singer and leaving the piano in the background as if it were halfway out the door. Still, compositionally it's more interesting than the other offerings so far. I like that the ending feels incomplete; but is still a viable ending.

Doc Jon - Hey Kid - I actually like this. It has a sort of a funk to it that makes one move despite the fact that it plays into a somewhat hackneyed model. I think that the vocal delivery could have been a bit more heartfelt, but other than that it's really hard to find fault. I like the mix, and the vaguely mellotron-sounding flute seems as if it wants to be out of place, and yet it fits well in the mix. Good job of pulling it all together.

Esteve Corbera - La Tempesta JaSAllunya - Another literal opening, but a more synth meditation opening. This sounds very coherent, and feels like a synth demo inside while outside thunder rumbles. I like the sonic development, with layers coming in and a gradually adapting mix. Just peaceful, and coherent.

Satyatunes - Mysterious Cloud - I like the sense of mystery that comes with the riser-and-drop-to-thin-mix move around 0:48. The incomprehensible radio chatter also hints at a story of people investigating with this mysterious cloud. The change over at 1:35 suggests that the story is developing, and the movie score style of megadrums makes it feel as if it's the pilot to some weird TV show. It still feels coherent, in the sense of a scene being painted.

The Exponent - Fragments of Hope - There's a distinction between the clearly synthetic backdrop and the organic sounds in the foreground. Sure, it's all synthesised in the end, but it gives a tableau that tells a story. If would feel typically at home in a JRPG. In terms of chordal progression and development it's not very exciting, but for that style of music this isn't unexpected; game music rarely breaks much ground except in its own context. The riser and development at 2:30 still fits within this mould. I think that the drums are a bit overblown at this point, but that sort of approach to the epic sound is, again, typical of the form, as is the subsequent come-down. I really only ask a more coherent sonic approach, but in a specific context it could be ideal.

A Future in Noise - Get a Grip - I'm not sure that I think that this really captures the mission of the original theme. It does address upheaval in a more distant sense, without alternative reference to the sky or atmosphere or anything like that. Fair enough, I don't think that this is disqualifying. The sound really reminds me of the sort of thing that you'd hear on the BBC in the '70s, with the whole band backing what would otherwise have been a single singer and guitarist. It definitely captures the sound of an era, somehow. That said, the delivery was competent in every respect except that it could have used a better voice - even if a weaker voice is somehow right for this sort of scene. In the end, if that sound was the mission, then mission accomplished. But was it called for? I don't know.

Ranking

► Show Spoiler

1 - Arelem
2 - Doc Jon
3 - Satyatunes
4 - The Exponent
5 - EsteveCorbera


Additional Ranking (since only Top 5 is important)

► Show Spoiler

6 - VCA-089
7 - A Future in Noise
8 - Havol
9 - KukoBass
10 - Crosshatched

⚠	Moderation Message from Mister Fox
	Post has been slightly adjusted in terms of layout in agreement with user @Koekepan. Due to the way how phpbb works, this post can unfortunately no longer be edited by the user. Apologies for the inconvenience.

[A Future in Noise]

And please don't forget to use the provided filename template (@A Future In Noise, @Havol, @Koekepan)

Hello Mister Fox, I didn't notice until now you use two different kind of underscore in your template. I doubt more than one kind of those has ever existed on Swedish keyboards, but I'll see what I can do (if it's not already too late).

[A Future in Noise]

(Long and short underscores, that is.)