SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC091 March 2025 - Winners announced

[juhu]

Everything from 2:00 to 3:46 works great! The rest of it feels totally unnecessary, at least to my taste - I would suggest to drop the dead weight and develop the excellent material at 2:00 to 3:46 into a finished track! The intro material at 2:00 - 2:10 works well, maybe use that as an intro and perhaps extend it just a little bit longer, just not too long. I hope this is helps!

[juhu]

Hello,

Just finished uploading Rev2, any additional feedback appreciated:

Hi,

1) Here’s my entry named “Five in the Chamber“ (Rev2):
http://tinkerstate.com/mix-challenge/SW ... hamber.wav

List of Rev2 changes:

• Improved dynamics, especially in the slow sections built on long string swells;
• Adjusted some articulations in the energetic development sections;
• Adjusted tempo map subtly to better suit each section.

As a result, the piece should feel a bit more natural now. Granted, there is no MIDI-substitute to recording a real string orchestra with a real piano. Might actually happen one day, though definitely won't happen within the March 24 2025 timeline.

2) Documentation for prior revisions below (click on "SHOW" to expand):

► Show Spoiler

Rev1 documentation (file still available with "_R1" name suffix):

Started by opening the provided MIDI file in Logic just to check out the chord progression and to think what can be done with it. Since the given sample chords sounded kinda plain with parallel motion and no voice leading, I began to mess around with the mouse in piano roll editor. After a while, something resembling 4-voice counterpoint started to emerge so I decided to keep going in that direction.

After I had my main theme fleshed out and harmonized using counterpoint voice leading, it felt a bit bland having just a piano alone playing this 4-voice thingy, so after some trial-end-error I ended up with a five-part chamber orchestra (or a mouse-drawn MIDI-imitation thereof) using stock instruments from Logic’s sound library: “Studio Grand”, “Studio Violins”, “Studio Violas”, “Studio Cellos”, “Studio Double Basses”.

Before I finally settled for the five-part chamber orchestra though, I had tried string quartet first (2 x violin, viola, cello), but the quartet sounded kinda weak without the piano and when I added the piano back in then I really felt it needed the double bass as well, so I dropped 2nd violin part in favour of the double bass - this particular set of instruments turned out to support each other well timbrally.

Hearing the main theme played by the orchestra, I noticed that it works better if I flip the first and second halves of it. By doing that, I also flipped the first and second halves of the chord progression. This should be OK rules-wise I hope, since the only difference between the halves is the "D minor (sans 5th)" at the end - in my version, that chord now appears in the middle of the theme instead of ending it.

Now that I had a main theme and a set of instruments to play it on, I wrote the side theme and the development section, a transposed variation on the side theme and a coda. I am acutely aware that as of Rev1, the thing does occasionally come across a bit like separately written sections artificially glued together. Also, a lot of MIDI dynamics are still TODO. I might attempt to improve on these matters in upcoming revision(s).

[juhu]

Hi once again,

Decided to up the overall tempo by just a smidgen, so here goes Rev3:

Hi,

1) Here’s my entry named “Five in the Chamber“ (Rev3):
http://tinkerstate.com/mix-challenge/SW ... hamber.wav

List of Rev3 changes:

• Sped up the tempo a bit.

2) Documentation for prior revisions below (click on "SHOW" to expand):

► Show Spoiler

Rev2 changes (file still available with "_R2" name suffix):

• Improved dynamics, especially in the slow sections built on long string swells;
• Adjusted some articulations in the energetic development sections;
• Adjusted tempo map subtly to better suit each section.

As a result, the piece should feel a bit more natural now. Granted, there is no MIDI-substitute to recording a real string orchestra with a real piano. Might actually happen one day, though definitely won't happen within the March 24 2025 timeline.

Rev1 documentation (file still available with "_R1" name suffix):

Started by opening the provided MIDI file in Logic just to check out the chord progression and to think what can be done with it. Since the given sample chords sounded kinda plain with parallel motion and no voice leading, I began to mess around with the mouse in piano roll editor. After a while, something resembling 4-voice counterpoint started to emerge so I decided to keep going in that direction.

After I had my main theme fleshed out and harmonized using counterpoint voice leading, it felt a bit bland having just a piano alone playing this 4-voice thingy, so after some trial-end-error I ended up with a five-part chamber orchestra (or a mouse-drawn MIDI-imitation thereof) using stock instruments from Logic’s sound library: “Studio Grand”, “Studio Violins”, “Studio Violas”, “Studio Cellos”, “Studio Double Basses”.

Before I finally settled for the five-part chamber orchestra though, I had tried string quartet first (2 x violin, viola, cello), but the quartet sounded kinda weak without the piano and when I added the piano back in then I really felt it needed the double bass as well, so I dropped 2nd violin part in favour of the double bass - this particular set of instruments turned out to support each other well timbrally.

Hearing the main theme played by the orchestra, I noticed that it works better if I flip the first and second halves of it. By doing that, I also flipped the first and second halves of the chord progression. This should be OK rules-wise I hope, since the only difference between the halves is the "D minor (sans 5th)" at the end - in my version, that chord now appears in the middle of the theme instead of ending it.

Now that I had a main theme and a set of instruments to play it on, I wrote the side theme and the development section, a transposed variation on the side theme and a coda. I am acutely aware that as of Rev1, the thing does occasionally come across a bit like separately written sections artificially glued together. Also, a lot of MIDI dynamics are still TODO. I might attempt to improve on these matters in upcoming revision(s).

[alphageeks]

Hi, first try here. I never found the time to participate in the previous challenges.
For this SWC091, I tried to create a vintage style track after a long "less vintage" intro (not so long, it's only an intro)!
So this intro is composed of acoustic guitar, cello and different scapes and pads.
The main part of the track, with not really verses and chorus, with a tempo x2, contains drums, bass, guitars, synths and mellotron.
I followed the chord progression throughout the track, with some slight inversions and a fade out to finish, and added a melody in the main part.
I'm not a guitarist, so the main and perpetual challenge is to try to use correctly Guitar VSTs...

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/51qtln7v ... iew24&dl=0

Any feedback is obviously welcome!

► Show Spoiler

DAW: Tracktion Waveform Pro 13.
Instruments: Ben Osterhouse cello, AD2 Vintage Dead, EZbass, Ample Sound guitars, Arturia Analog Lab.
FX: Melda EQs, IK MixBox, TDR Kotelnikov GE, Venomode Maximal 3.

I thought it was a wonderful song with a mature, sophisticated feel.
I'd like to try making music that's as cool as this.

[alphageeks]

Here goes:



For listeners:
normalized .flac link: https://mega.nz/file/E6ZVCCgD#3CAoHu9rD ... DJJPeH2fRM
EatMe_-_SWC91_-_En_Route_Sur_San_Jose.flac

as entry:
-6.58 dBTP 48000Hz 24bit .wav link: https://mega.nz/file/FmJxEQpC#6gAMGrDFg ... myoUqhzJ3A
EatMe_-_SWC91_-_En_Route_Sur_San_Jose.wav

Hope everything is good as provided.

EatMe - En Route Sur San Jose (House, Trance, EDM) for the Song Writing Competition nr. 91 in March 2025.

Used:
the complete song scheme x2 as provided per MIDI

DAW:
Renoise 3.4.4

Instruments:
plucks (sylenth1)
plucks (sylenth1)
bass hi (sylenth1)
bass lo (sylenth1)
arp organ (sylenth1)
pad modern (korg wavestation)
pad ambient (korg monopoly)
pad hi (mausynth)
several edited kick drum samples
several edited cymbal samples and cymbal noise with reverb
a snare drum sample
a 909 clap sample
an edited snapping finger sample

fx:
internal Renoise effects (filter, flanger, phaser, compressor, equalizer, expander, maximizer, LFO, gainer, hydra)
BassChorus by CloneEnsemble
MJRotoDelay
SupaPhaser by Bram
TokyoDawn Kotelnikov GE
FreeVerb2

EatMe - SWC91 - En Route Sur San Jose (C) (P) Some Rights Reserved
Music by EatMe - http://www.eatme.pro/

I don't own a Korg synth or a sylenth1, so I was interested in the music that would be created using them.
The music was basic and trance-like, but also had some interesting inflections.

[alphageeks]

Dear challenge partners and Mister Fox.

This month's challenge immediately motivated me.
Based on the chords that were provided to us in MIDI format, I drew all the tracks (or almost all). I extended the 4 groups of chords 16 times (if I remember correctly), that is, now the chords last 16 times longer and I used it for the pads. For the bass and the melodies, I took advantage of the same chords but staying with only one of the notes (I deleted 3 of the 4 notes of each chord). And then I stretched or shortened each piece and assigned different instruments to each melodic piece.
I'll give you a little outline:


Pads...... |___________1___________|_____________2___________|________________3_____________|_________________4_______________|
Arpeggios |_______________________|_____________2___________|________________3_____________|_________________4_______________|
Bass...... |___________1___________|_____________2____________|________________3____________|_________________4_______________|
Melodies |________________________|___1-2-3-4_|_1-2-3-4_______|_____________________________|____________1-2-3-4_______________|


The pads are made with 9 layers where I've put 9 Reason systemizers playing at the same time with padS presets and I've been panning them to make the sound wider.
I've also worked a lot on the mix.

Well, I hope you like it or at least give me ideas to improve it or highlight what you would have done differently.

Thanks guys.
Thank you colleagues.

(translated with google)




Equipment:
DAW:
Reason 13.1d330

Reason Instruments:
Monotone Bass Synthesizer
Radical Piano Advanced Acoustic Piano
Europa Shapeshifting Synthesizer
Thor Polysonic Synthesizer
Algoritm FM Synthesizer
Complex-1 Modular Synthesizer
Grain Sample Manipulator
Malström Graintable Synthesizer
Parsec 2 Spectral Synthesizer
Polytone Dual-Layer Synthesizer
Subtractor Polyphonic Synthesizer
Dr. Octo Rex Loop Player

Reason Effects:
Reason Equalizer
Master Compressor
RV7000 MkII Advanced Reverb
The Echo
Synchronous Effect Modulator
ECF-42 Envelope Controlled Filter
MClass Compressor
MClass Equalizer
Audiomatic Retro Transformer
Scream 4 Sound Destruction Unit
Channel EQ
Sweeper Modulation Effect
Ripley Space Delay

Reason Players:
Scales & Chords
Dual Arpeggio
Quad Note Generator

Reason Utilities:
Combinator
Mixer 14:2
Gain Tool

Reason Rack Extension:
Kilohearts AB kHs Pitch Shifter (Effect)
ProjectSAM Orchestral Sampler Filmscore Instrument

Other instruments outside of Reason:
KV331 Audio SynthMaster v2.9.9
Native Instruments Kontakt v7.1
UVI Workstation

Other effects outside of Reason:
Rob Papen RP-Pan
Plugin-alliance TBTECH Kirchhoff-EQ
HoRNet Plugins HoRNet Harmonics Pro

Kontakt/UVI Library:
KONTAKT Sonuscore Trinity Drums
UVI Soundbank PX Sunbox

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

It left a very beautiful impression on me.
The strings, pads, and piano sounds blended together really well.

[alphageeks]

A personal reviews of the works provided so far:

APi_ZZ: Good, with generic instrumentation, a style choice.
These wonderful 80's/90's MIDI synthesizer instruments are all
over. These are used very well, especially the end is earjerking.
The key change/shift upwards in the middle is creative and does
not hurt the composition. The customer is still hanging around
the isle where this music is played, but did not purchase yet.


EFEMGIE: Wonderful trance.
It sounds like another (key) project transitioned into a
part with the provided material for this competition,
that is also possible, I guess. The instrumentation is
good and giving a trance classic vibe, the chosen sounds
all belong to that classic trance style sound. Before the end
is a repeated chord section, maybe more variation from the
provided chord scheme material could have been used.


Alphageeks: Good, but with some low quality bitrate sources.
It sounds like you have used some source material with
an obvious lower bitrate than CD quality (sound like some
computer generated .wma drums) and that will certainly
come back as ringing the more it gets encoded and re-encoded.
The arrangement is decent, the whole structure still lacking
a complete song feel.


MarcFey: Good arrangement.
The lead bell/xylophone is a little too resonantly ringing.
The drums are processed very well, yet I feel the closed hihat
in the middle section is too much below the strings and bell
level and they overwhelm the (closed) hihat. The guitar solo
has some odd out of key notes that it keeps hanging on,
rather more fast arpeggios would be more pleasant.


juhu: A somewhat robotic take.
Strings can use alternated short attack time per string,
but rather do not increase in volume the same way each strike.
The notes in the composition are somewhat random and do not
really connect well, there is almost no repetition,
only a really short part progression in the middle
suddenly is good and the notes are related.
On the strings can be more high pass filter and maybe 1-3KHz
mid reduction, less wet reverb, to certainly below -24 to -32 dB.

Thank you for your valuable advice.
I will use it as a reference for my future music productions.

[Soni2Music]

Hello, I'm sorry to say I'm leaving the contest. I find the mechanics of the contest complex, and I don't have much time for my hobby (music production), so I'd rather keep making music. Thanks for everything.

[Strange]

Hi,

I like this chord progression, thank you Mr.Fox.
As I started playing around with these chords they reminded me of Forever Man by Eric Clapton. So I started a funky souly version... it ended up here

I hope you like it.

Recorded during last week in my little homestudio:
DAW: Cubase 14
Drums: EZ Drummer 3
Piano: EZ KEys 2
Bass: Sandberg California II Umbo 5-string with UAD Apollo, Ampeg B15N
Guitars: Squire Strat, Sire Larry Carlton Les Paul with UAD Apollo, Fender deluxe Amp
Micro: slatedigital ML 1, U47-model

Sorry for the unconvenience, but I didn't use soundcloud for a while. Here you can get the download of the song:
https://os5.mycloud.com/action/share/a3 ... 9b375d7a20

[Mellow Browne]

Hi,

here is my entry for this month:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PHvNpH ... share_link


To get a more hiphop/funk/r&b vibe I had to invert the chords and add a 7th. On a few occasions I even completely swapped the chords to get some variation. I tried to keep the band performance engaging and added some ear candy here and there.

Drums were recorded with a Zoom L-12 using a cheap Superlux microphone set, a SM57 clone as snare bottom and a Lewitt LCT 240 as Kick out.

Other instruments:
Bass: ModoBass 2
Piano: Arturia Piano V2
Wurlitzer: Arturia Wurli V2
Guitar: RealGMS
Synth: Pigments
Bell Melo: Pigments
Mello Flute: Arturia Mellotron
Organ Like: Arturia Farfisa