SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC086 October 2024 - Winners announced

[Mister Fox]

It is the 25th October 2024, 07:15 UTC+2/CEST - this month's Songwriting Competition has official ended


STATISTICS:

• If I didn't miscount, we have 11 submissions this month (2 entries more than last month, and also 5 entries more than October 2023)
• We have 1 submission after the deadline (as of 25-SEP-2024 07:10 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• We have 0 submissions that has been withdrawn (therefore it can't count to the overall participation)
• The "staff balancing vote" add-on rule does not apply (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:

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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) -- things that stood out to you, providing some final thoughts and constructive feedback for possible improvements. This adds 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 participant, 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. Please don't just collect feedback, and not give back to the community. 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). Please also make your entries downloadable, or provide an additional download link if not existing already. You got until the voting period has ended. (please: no changes to the arrangement anymore) 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.

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⚠	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. (unless there is a tie that can not be broken otherwise) Additionally: I consider @ThomC's late entry to be a "slow server glitch" (4 min over the deadline -- please try to prevent this in the future). Unfortunately, @R0boooo's entry was submitted 5 hours after the deadline. The entry will be listed under "Bonus Entries" in the follow-up post.

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 give me a moment to collect all entries - they are more scattered in this thread than usual.
Please make sure your files are accessible, and please have an eye on this thread!




EDIT: 25-SEP-2024 07:10 - initial post

[OlliH]

Ok, Here is my submission,

You really can paint images with your playing.
It takes a talent to play flawlessly with so sophicated drum patterns. (Nowadays I have trouble playing along with loud drums banging clearly 1-2-3-4)
In your song each instrument lives nicely independet life, but still together they form one cohesive piece. So there's more in your music that ear can capture with one listening.

You're clearly an artist and a musician. Since I'm just a hobbyist and player, of course I can't give you any real instructions. But I'm ignorant enough to still try to say something: I would like to see you step on stage more boldly and say, "that's my music". Now everything is far away, both physically and attitudinally. As if a band was playing in a lobby somewhere. In my opinion, there is no need to change a single note. The song is ready. You already have it. But somehow you could try to place some instrument or voice closer to the listener so that it clearly says: "listen to me now". It would guide the listener where to focus. It can be a question of the mix or the playing attitude or both. When something is near and something is far, it would create a three-dimensional space. And in that way, it would ask the listener to sit down and enjoy the music.

[Mister Fox]

Let us kick off the VOTING PROCESS, which will end on Tuesday, 01-NOV-2024 23:59 UTC+1/CET 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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"Cycle of Seasons"

"Growing Pains"

"Harvest Sunset"

WAV: Dropbox playback and download

"Flexing The Harvest"

"Els Fruit De La Tardor"

"My life from seed to vegetable"

WAV: Google Drive playback and download

"Law of the Harvest"

WAV: Google Drive playback and download

ADMIN INFO: Final Submission was declared in post #063, the link to the file is the same.

"Harvest Morning"

WAV: Dropbox playback and download

ADMIN INFO: technical documentation still missing

"Neo Funk"

WAV: Google Drive playback and download

"Hope Will Grow"



WAV: Google Drive playback and download

Stories of the Sky"

WAV: Google Drive playback and download

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


<no withdrawn entries>
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BONUS ENTRIES (submitted after the deadline - feel free to give feedback, but you sadly can not vote for these entries)

"Sunrise Fields"



ADMIN INFO: song can not be downloaded

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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, not the song titles. 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).
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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. Please also do not just collect feedback, and give nothing in return. The concept of the Songwriting Competition is interaction and "learning by doing". 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-OCT-2024 07:55 UTC+2/CEST -- initial post
Post updated: 25-OCT-2024 11:15 UTC+2/CEST -- removed admin info from 2 entries

[Mellow Browne]

I edited my post with more information.

Nice track. Liked the feel, sounds, groove.

I like the drum programming, but I'd either really lean into the artificial drum thing by producing it in a way that makes it clear it's an intentional part of the sound, or if it's supposed to sound "real", then I think you need to find a better library or produce it in a more"live" manner.

Regardless, nice track.

Thanks for your feedback but I'm not sure if I understand you correctly.

[ThomC]

Stories of the Sky"

ADMIN INFO: technical documentation still missing

Hey Mister Fox!

I've now updated my post with 4 different sections :

- Instruments Used
- Mixing Plugins Used
- More Info About The Song
- My Takeaway From This Challenge

Thank you for your consideration, I'll be more careful next time, I'm still figuring this all out .

[Mister Fox]

Thanks for the update @Mellow Browne and @ThomC.


Please keep in mind, that the "personal reflection" is still a topic for the feedback/voting post. It's nice that some of you added this to your entry -- however, it's supposed to be a "final thoughts" on your personal experience throughout the month.

The reminder newsletter will go out around midday (Central European time).

[Ike H-mope]

"Harvest Morning"

WAV: Dropbox playback and download

ADMIN INFO: technical documentation still missing

Ok, will tend to this as soon as I can. Thanks for herding the sheep.

[crispy]

Hello, all. Here is my submission: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Bouys ... p=drive_fs

It's called "Law of the Harvest"
I really enjoyed this theme - I wasn't sure if it would lead me anywhere but as I thought about this concept of "harvest" all kinds of ideas came to mind. I thought of the law of the harvest, that "you reap what you sow" but it occurred to me that that maxim doesn't address the fact that the harvest doesn't immediately follow the planting, and so may be misleading. In my experience, any meaningful endeavor - be it trying to get in shape, succeeding in business, harboring intimate relationships, etc - requires prolonged, consistent effort and the fruit doesn't usually come immediately, but on a delay - sometimes a very long delay. Not being aware of this fact can lead to discouragement and despair when we resolve to meet a goal and don't see immediate results. What's required is faith & trust that our current efforts will cause favorable outcomes in the future if we keep at it.

tools used:
DAW: Presonus Studio One
VST Instruments:
• MT Drummer
• Ample Bass P Lite
Mitchell Acoustic Guitar
Harley Benton Tele-Style Guitar
Blue Spark Condenser Microphone

I performed all the instruments and the vocals

Lyrics:
There was snow,
It was cold, cold
But we stooped down
And scattered sleeping green into the ground

Now it's been weeks
Still, all I see, see
Is barren ground
Instead of green, brown

Chorus:
And they say you reap what you sow
But no one ever warned me it would take so long to grow
And they say, "wait, it's just a matter of time." Ooh
"Have some faith, there's change in the air."
So I'll hose it down again and send up a prayer.

(Chorus)
Bridge:
"And have faith," they say
But can I get the fruit without the work and wait?
"Have faith," they say
Is that the price I have to pay?

It's still cold
But I see gold, gold
peek through the clouds
and, looking close, there's green emerging from the ground.

Very nice track!
And you have a good voice too!
If I have to give some critics the mix could be improved, imo it could be more energetic like I would saturate a bit the bass to make it more audible even on devices like phones, vocals are a bit too dry I would give them some reverb and overall I feel the mix could be a lot better with some tweaks on eq, comp and transient design... But overall I think you did a great job! Damn man I really would like to mix the song now!
Would you mind to?
Also would be great to hear your thoughts on my track too if you want

Thank you for your feedback! Very kind and gracious of you.
I really appreciate your feedback on the mix. Of my many weak points, mixing may be my weakest. If you would like to mix it, I would love to hear your take on it. I listened to your track and I think it sounds great! Reminds me of that classic disco song, "Let's Groove." I'll have more feedback to share during voting after I've had a little more time to give it a couple more good listens, but the mix sounds very clean and easy on the ear, so your vastly superior mixing skills show through.

Here are the stems: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1BqjnP ... p=drive_fs If anybody else wants to give it a go, I'm more than happy to be shown up.
Thanks again!

hey man!
here is my mix of your song:


Basically I EQ'd and compressed tracks, busses and mix bus, enanched the transient with a transient designer tool and some clipping added a bit of reverb on guitars and vocals, a delay on some parts of the vocals, saturated the bass and a bit of the sides on the mix bus and finished with a multiband compander on the mix bus to do the final balancing.
I also used a dynamic EQ to tame down some ringing frequencys and highs on vocals and guitars and I added an autotune to the last part of the vocals where you go high just to keep it nice in tone.

Let me know your thoughts man!

Really enjoyed mixing it really nice song and great vocals again!


PS: I used soundcloud just cuz I feel it's nicer than google drive, didn't mean to make it public but I can't share the link here if it's private, but don't worry nobody listens to my soundcloud

Let me know if it's a problem for you I'll take it down

[crispy]

https://soundcloud.com/robert-story-jr/ ... al_sharing

Ok, Here is my submission,

Had a lot of fun composing this over the month, I took all the photos and placed them in Reaper as
a movie real and composed to it. That actually helped me keep the feel I felt and wanted.
Thanks for the opportunity to take the challenge.

Composed in Reaper
Piano - Kontakt VSTi PianoBook - Lobby Piano
low strings and Horns Roland Fantom XR Rack -
Bass - Roland Fantom XR Rack
Percs - Pieces from all kinds of VSTi - Kontakt - Precision Sounds Ethno Percussions
Drums - Kontakt Soniccoutur Moonkit
Whistler - me and Kontakt - Best Service Whistler
Choir voices - me and Kontakt - Pharlight

Damn man a lot of good vibes here!
It's sad you posted it too late!
A lot of variation here, I would like to here those cool melodies and chords combined with some more modern cool drums and bass tho - just my taste obviously...
Reminds me some progressions in some old native instruments demos!!

Damn man now I want to remix it so bad!
Would you mind?

[crispy]

I composed an instrumental song on acoustic guitar in three parts to describe the cycle of the seasons, starting with nature's awakening,
followed by the period when nature reaches full maturity with the harvest of its fruits, and ending with its death.

► Show Spoiler

daw: fl studio
guitar: recording with an old unbranded electro-acoustic directly connected to the audio interface.... not the best way
plugins : EQ / reverb / delay
samples: I used some ambient samples
mastering : ozone

I get what direction you wanted to take here the feeling is like some sort of ballad and it's nice.
Although to me personally it's a bit flat in terms of arrangement, I would like to hear a more clear direction, more variety and more instruments.
Of course it's just my Opinion and I know when you try some alternative genre it's not so easy, btw it's still a good job