SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC074 October 2023 - Winners announced

[Mister Fox]

Hello and welcome to the Songwriting Competition 074 - October 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): SWC074__ArtistName__TrackName.wav or .mp3
  • example: SWC074__MisterFox__ColorOfTheSky.wav
  • example: SWC074__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 #017 -- Voting: Summarized entries and start of voting process
Post #027 -- Results: Results of the Songwriting Competition

[Mister Fox]

CURRENT CHALLENGE - GENERAL INFORMATION

Time Frame: Sunday, 01st October 2023 to Tuesday, 24th October 2023 (24 days)

Challenge submission will end on 24-OCT-2023, 23:59 UTC+2/CEST (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: "Dread"
GENRE: free to select



Image Source: ELG21 / Enrique (via Pixabay), released under Creative Commons CC0



A few word about this month's theme:

There is something strange happening, yet you can't put your finger on it as to why.

That shadow in the corner of your eye, yet you don't know what it is that you notice. The noises in your apartment that you can't comprehend. The phone that rings, the unknown number on the display, and that weird automated message on the answering machine. That weird light at the end of a foggy road. That recurring weird tingling sensation. That unexplainable unrest you have, even while lying down, trying to unwind and get some rest in. A weight on your chest, the almost deafening heartbeat... this looming dread.


It is October, mid Fall season, it feels like constantly being dark outside.
Tell us a scary story through music... and if you can manage to do that without any vocals, even better!
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Your task for this Songwriting Competition:
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This month, you can create a production in any music genre you feel like.

The task should be focusing on creating an "ambience", something that might even be able to send chills down one's spine. Yes, we might be drifting towards more experimental ambient music and noise this month. Dabbling into sound design is highly encouraged, and a good practice for January's "Community Scramble" (where your sound sets will be more limited).

Ideally, the music should speak for itself, keep the listener on the edge of a seat. Instrumental content might work better than vocal work. As usual, you are not forced to add any. Please try to not overshoot 8min of runtime.


I am curious about your musical ideas...

Songwriting Rule Summary / Add-On Rules:

► Show Spoiler

• 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), exceptions apply regarding vocal sample usage)
• 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 new and original 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: SWC074__ArtistName__TrackName.wav or .mp3
  • <no (additional) add-on rules specified>

For a full set of rules, please consult the Official Rules and Guidelines (most notably Rule Book - post #6). If you got any questions regarding the game mechanics or similar, please either utilize the SWC - Gossip and Discussion thread, or reach out through Discord.

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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

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



IK Multimedia is kind enough to give away one license of MODO BASS 2 to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on IK Multimedia: https://www.ikmultimedia.com



Musiclab is kind enough to donate any 1 guitar of your choice to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Musiclab: https://www.musiclab.com



Tone2 is kind enough to donate a license of Saurus4 to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Tone2: https://tone2.com



kv331 audio is kind enough to either give away a SynthMaster 1+2 Bundle, or a freely selectable set of 3 SynthMaster Expansions
Licenses 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 to 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 to give away either a license of Lunaris 2, a license of Bioscape, or any two sound sets of winner's choice
License will turn into NFR
More info on Luftrum: https://www.luftrum.com/



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



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

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

[Mister Fox]

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

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




Music examples (selection for inspiration, 00 videos):

No music examples available this month. But I can always recommend to enter random genre search words either into Youtube, Spotify or whatever music streaming services you prefer using.
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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

ScalerPlugin Pty Ltd - Scaler 2 (collaboration w/Plugin Boutique, currently the most comprehensive chord/harmony tool out there)
Xfer Records - Cthulhu
W.A. Production - InstaChord and InstaScale
CodeFN42 - Chordz (Transition is also recommended, if you want more experimental/generative MIDI, free, Windows only)
trackbout - Ripchord (free/open-source MIDI chord generator, think Xfer Records Cthulhu, but simplified)
Fabrizio Poce / J74 - Progressive ("Max4Life" is needed, Ableton Live bound)

Please note, that a lot of DAW also have Harmony Theory and/or Chord Generation tools built in. Please consult the manual of your go-to software for more information.

More tools of the trade

► Show Spoiler

Need a good starter kit of free instruments?

Instruments:
AKAI - MPC Beats (limited to 1 instance, 8 MIDI + 2 Audio tracks, but can be used as VSTi in any other DAW)
Apisonic Labs - Speedrum (a "spiritual successor" to One Small Clue POISE, Lite version available)
Big Fish Audio - Momentum (a free and powerful WAV/AIFF loop mangler)
IK Multimedia - MODO DRUM CS (one drum kit)
Rayzoon - Jamstix (an amazing drummer brain)
IK Multimedia - MODO BASS 2 CS (one e-bass)
Spitfire Audio - LABS
Spitfire Audio - BBC Symphonic Orchestra Discover
Pianobook - started by Spitfire Audio's co-founder Christian Henson, offers many free/affordable sample sets in various formats
Decent Samples - project started by David Hilowitz as alternative to NI Kontakt (Full), offers many free/affordable sample sets
Orchestral Tools - SINEfactory
Vienna Symphonic Library - the "HELLO Free Instruments" series (offering an Orchestra, Piano, Small Percussion and more)
Project Sam - Free Orchestra 1 and Free Orchestra 2 (the latter has just been released, Kontakt Player license included)
Soundpaint - started by 8dio's CEO Troels Folman as more advanced sample player engine to NI Kontakt (Full), offers many free sample sets
Sound Props - "Free Series" (offering a synth, guitars, bass and drum sample sets for free/small donation, needs Kontakt 6+ Full)
kv331 audio - Synthmaster Player (the free version comes with over 600 presets!)
Cherry Audio - Voltage Modular Nucleus ("entry level" to Modular Synthesis, usable as plugin or instrument)
DISTRHO - Cardinal (a proper open-source variant of VCV Rack, plugin variants available)
Surge Synth Team - Surge-XT (a free and open source hybrid synthesizer)
Matt Tytel - Vital (spectral warping wavetable synth, a free "basic" version is available)
Sonic Charge - Cyclone (Yamaha TX16W/Typhoon sampler)
CWItech - TX16Wx Software Sampler (If you want a highly powerful Soundfont2 loader / sampler)

Please do remember, our kind License Provider Musiclab also offer 14 day trial versions of their virtual guitar range.


In need for presets for your synthesizers, or even more samples?
Soundpacks - an information page highlighting sample sets and preset packs that have been released for free
PresetShare - a free synth presets exchange platform (account signup needed)
Tom Wolfe's Synth Vault - the free Monthly Preset Club (account signup needed)
VSTBuzz - Freebie Collection page, plenty of good material to find there (often Native Instrument Kontakt bound)



More tools of interest for this month:
Ghosthack - quite literally gigabytes of free sound FX sample content
Sonosaurus - Paustretch (the tool of the trade for creating insanely long sound effects and soundscapes)
Arthelion - MOLOSS II (a free and open source hybrid synthesizer, Windows only)
VAST Dynamics - Vaporizer 2 (a recently "set free and open source" hybrid wavetable additive / subtractive synthesizer and sampler workstation)



More recommendation for free/affordable tools can be found at the #audio-tech-deals section on our Discord server.

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UPDATED: 30-SEP-2023 10:30 UTC+2, updated 00-OCT-2023 00:00 UTC+2

[Mister Fox]

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

So far, we have 0 entries



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.

[A Future in Noise]

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This is the soundtrack to a short cartoon about bats in an evil castle that attacks musicians.



DAW: REAPER

Instrument: A saw. (I only managed to get two tones out of the saw, so Shortcircuit had to do the rest.)

Plugins: Instruments: XLN Audio Addictive keys, Spitfire Audio BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover, Soft samplers Shortcircuit and Independence Free handling various free audio material from the internet, primarily the sgossner/VSCO-directory found at GitHub (I've used samples from trumpets, a bass tuba, snares, a cymbal and kettledrums). I've also made a few recordings in my flat (water dripping, footsteps and the saw). FX: Teletronix LA – 2A Tube Compressor, Independence Free Limiter, reverb IR files from Samplicity.

[Doc Jon]

For this month's track I fired up my old Cubase Halloween template (last used in 2020 in SWC038) where I had saved a bunch of spooky patches from Absynth, String Studio and Alchemy, the classic VST horror triad! I also re-used the audio samples that were sitting in the audio folder (footsteps, creaky door).
I created a new track using the template sounds and added in some extra sound effects and spooky guitar sounds.

Host
Cubase 12 Pro

VSTs
Absynth x8 for the atmospheric sounds
String Studio x9 for the grating and dissonant strings
Camel Audio Alchemy x5 for choirs and spooky jingly bells
u-he ACE for bass throb
Halion Sonic for strings and brass
Korg MonoPoly for pads
MusicLab RealStrat for the guitar sounds

Fx
Very few Fx needed as most of the patches were already very Fx-heavy
One instance of ValhallaRoom on sends for ambience
FabFilter Timeless 2 and Saturn as inserts here and there
Guitar Rig 6 for RealStrat
Little Altar Boy to pitch down the whisper at the end
Cubase Multiband Compressor and Magneto Tape on the Master bus
TRackS metering and Voxengo Span keeping an eye on things

Samples
I used the following Freesound.org samples:
19292__martian__footstep-on-wood-foley
28238__herbertboland__footsteps
145417__soughtaftersounds__door-footsteps-1

[EsteveCorbera]

Dear fellow challengers and Mister Fox.

This month I returned to my origins: In the soundtracks.
I want to present you a new soundtrack for a horror scene. It could be defined as the title itself, a scene of terror where the elements increase the anxiety and lead to a fatal end.
The melodies are in scales with each other and also different from what I usually use. My intention is to create a bad atmosphere, that the music is not comfortable. That he thinks it's bad.
An instrumental curiosity, I used a theremin at very high notes that sounds like a human voice. I liked the experiment and that's why I left it.
You will see that I have used very few samples, most of the effects are made with Reason's own synthesizers.

I hope you like it or not.

Thank you colleagues.

(translated with google)



Equipment:
DAW:
Reason 12.7

Instruments:
NN-XT Advanced Sampler
Monotone Bass Synthesizer
Thor Polysonic Synthesizer
Humana Vocal Ensemble
Europa Shapeshifting Synthesizer
Algoritm FM Synthesizer
Grain Sample Manipulator
Umpf Retro Beats

Effects:
RV7000 MkII Advanced Reverb
The Echo
Alligator Triple Filter Gate
MClass Maximizer
Scream 4 Sound Destruction Unit
BV512 Vocoder
Sweeper Modulation Effect
Audiomatic Retro Transformer
Channel EQ
Pulveriser Demolition Unit
Softube Bass Amp
Quartet Chorus Ensemble
MClass Stereo Imager

Players:
Scales & Chords
Pattern Mutator
Drum Sequencer

Utilities:
Combinator
Line Mixer 6:2

Reason Packs (like Presets):
Haunted House
Scary Monsters
Algoritm - Dark Melodies

Reason Rack Extension:
ProjectSAM Orchestral Sampler
Turn2on FlexaComp Compressor

Other effects outside of Reason:
iZotope Vocal Doubler
2B Played Music Warble

Samples:
Ghosthack - Tesseract Vol1 Universal Cinematic Sounds\06 Sinister Tones - Vocal Scream.wav
Ghosthack - Tesseract Vol1 Universal Cinematic Sounds\Kit 46 - Drum Roll 120BPM.wav
Ghosthack - Tesseract Vol2 Hybrid Tools\Whooshes\Ghosthack-T2_Whoosh_Debug.wav

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

[Mister Fox]

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

So far, we have 3 entries.



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. Please also remember, vocals are not mandatory -- instrumentals are just as welcome.

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" - 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.

[A Future in Noise]

The WIP version is gone, and a new version has been uploaded. Rather different.

EDIT: I made yet a new version a few minutes ago. It's this ten minutes to two pm CEST that's the definitive one.

[A Future in Noise]

I realized some more reverb was needed. The space in which I right now am does not allow for controll listening, so I took a chance for -36 dB and my usual hall reverb. New update, that is.