SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC088 December 2024 - Voting until 03-JAN-2024 23:59 UTC+1/CET

[PonySho]

FINAL VERSION

Hi All,

I have updated my song 'A Journey'. The feedback I got from Ike H-mope helped me to realize it was indeed missing something. So I have added a transition to the second chorus with a drop in the beat, a more simple pianopart with cello (Sunvox instrument) and a guitarsolo build up I played myself with the amp sims provided in the Boss BR 80. To keep things from peaking over -1dB I used GClip a very easy no nonsense clipper / limiter that works really well.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3i3ub7l6 ... 3jvrw&dl=0

Cheers,

Jeroen

Nice work Jeroen. The breakdown at 1.56 is a nice contrast and the following guitar solo is great - well played.

[becsei_gyorgy]

dear everyone!

My submission for this month is:



The images we received were very evocative, giving us a lot of inspiration.
This month I approached the subject from a textual perspective. I definitely wanted to try out this SynthV singer (Hayden) in a song, that's why I chose a song vith vocals.
I rarely start with lyrics so it was a challenge, I usually start with musical melodies and motifs.
For the musical realisation, I imagined an 80's-esque instrumentation.
Simple chord progression, nothing fancy, I wanted to give the lyrics a "tolerable" background.
There is still plenty of room for improvement, but this was all the time available for the implementation.
The bass and synth layers are provided by different synthesizers, I wanted to try more during the creation process, but that's how many I ended up with. Vocals are provided by synthV (Hayden).

Lyrics:

► Show Spoiler

The night wraps us in a velvet embrace,
We sit beneath the endless space.
The stars, they flicker, they whisper and gleam,
Each one a fragment of a distant dream.

Time moves slower in the summer’s warm air,
Wrinkles tell stories of the lives that we wear.
You hold my hand, a soft, steady light,
Guiding me gently through this starry night.

Space unfolds like a map of our years,
A canvas painted with laughter and tears.
The stars hold secrets, the past we retrace,
Together we wander in this infinite space.

Do you remember the swing by the tree?
The world was so big, and we were so free.
First loves, first losses, the lessons we learned,
The fires we started, the bridges we burned.

Now here we are, at the edge of the sky,
Looking for meaning in the “how” and the “why.”
Your eyes meet mine, and the answers appear—
A lifetime together, and I’m glad we’re still here.

Space unfolds like a map of our years,
A canvas painted with laughter and tears.
The stars hold secrets, the past we retrace,
Together we wander in this infinite space.

Each star a spark from a time long gone,
Moments we’ve cherished, the battles we’ve won.
The universe stretches, a mirror so vast,
Reflecting the beauty of our shared past.

Space unfolds like a map of our years,
A canvas painted with laughter and tears.
The stars hold secrets, the past we retrace,
Together we wander in this infinite space.

The dawn will come, but for now, let’s stay,
Beneath the heavens where memories play.
The space between us is filled with grace,
A love that wander in this infinite space.

Instruments, Effects:

► Show Spoiler

DAW:
Reaper

VST:
ReaSamplomatic 5000 (for drums)
Synthesizer V (Hayden) (Vocal)
Softube Model 72 (Bass)
Softube Model 84 (Synth)
KORG Polysix (Bass)
U-he Repro (Pad)
U-he Diva (Pad, Synth, Keys)
U-he Hive (Synth)
Xfer Serum (Bass, Synth)
Originals Intimate Piano (Keys)

FX:
Pro-Q3
Pro-C2
Pro-MB
Vertigo VSC-2
UAD LA-6176
UAD 176
OTT
SSL Bus Comp
MBassador
NEOLD BigAL
UAD Studio D Chorus
Softube Fix Doubler
U-he Colour Copy
soothe2
Butch Vig Vocals
BlueArp
kHs Trance Gate

--master--
Sonnox EQ
UAD Manley MU
Sonnox Inflator
Sonnox Limiter
UAD Ampex ATR-102
Voxengo SPAN
Correlometer
Tonal Balance Control 2
Youlean LM

--reverb--
Seventh Heaven
Valhalla Vintage Verb
UAD Lexicon 224
Echoboy

[JeroenZuiderwijk]

Hey everyone! Here is my entry for SWC088! I had some help with this one and got to collab with PonySho, highly recommend anyone else to work with him he's got a great sense of song structure and knows how to layer vocals extremely effectively! Thanks for helping to make the song something bigger than I could have on my own!

Wav - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LWXKHn ... drive_link

MP3 - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D7yIfi ... drive_link

That is amazing...what a brilliant entry for this SWC. Full of power and cool songstructure. And all the details that makes this interesting to listen to. Is that you singing? And what about the other instruments?

If I could only make a (little) suggestion about the mix....I feel like the sound of the guitars are maskig the vocals a bit. There is not much high freq info in the vocal I think....you could add some of that to the vocal. Or filtering out some low mids in the guitar. Could be my monitoring...but that is what I noticed when I listened to this song.

Just a thought; would you consider providing this as a song for the mixing challenge maybe? I think lots of people would be happy mixing a song like this...including myself. Ayway...my compliments. Sounds great!

Cheers,
Jeroen

[PonySho]

*FINAL SUBMISSION*

Hello mix challengers

I didn't think I'd have time to submit a song during this crazy xmas month.
But...a friend of mine was telling me about a relationship problem.
He doesn't feel close to his partner anymore, due to her manipulation and her good looks did not make it easier .
However, the space that had grown between them was such a big deal. Anyway, it left me thinking about 'space' in a different way. This song is about that.
I've tried to write in a very different genre. Something sparse and spacious in terms of production.
It's a bit of a messy recording with the guitars. I recorded this in a couple of hours yesterday and have had no time to improve it. Also, I feel that the structure is not quite right the way it flows. But mostly, recording this song was therapeutic for me because after the conversation with my friend, a song formed and I couldn't get it out of my head. Recording it gets it out of my head; it's a beautiful release.

Production Information

► Show Spoiler

Recording chain:
Bass: Fender jazz > Sansamp BDDI > LA610.
Guitar: Seagull S6 acoustic miked with single Oktava MC-012 into a LA610 preamp with +/- 4db gain reduction.
Lead and backing vocals: Me into a Neuman TLM193 into the LA610 with +/- 6dB gain reduction.

FX
Lead vocal: short stereo delay (no feedback) in verses with 2.4s reverb automated on in choruses.

Rhythm guitar: 0.5s room reverb with longer reverb automated on in choruses.

Lead guitar: long hall reverb.

Bass: none

[JeroenZuiderwijk]

Hello mix challengers.

I didn't think I'd have time to submit a song during this crazy xmas month.
But...a friend of mine was telling me about a relationship problem.
He doesn't feel close to his partner anymore, due to her manipulation and her good looks did not make it easier .
However, the space that had grown between them was such a big deal. Anyway, it left me thinking about 'space' in a different way. This song is about that.
I've tried to write in a very different genre. Something sparse and spacious in terms of production.
It's a bit of a messy recording with the guitars. I recorded this in a couple of hours yesterday and have had no time to improve it. Also, I feel that the structure is not quite right the way it flows. But mostly, recording this song was therapeutic for me because after the conversation with my friend, a song formed and I couldn't get it out of my head. Recording it gets it out of my head; it's a beautiful release.

Production Information

► Show Spoiler

Recording chain:
Bass: Fender jazz > Sansamp BDDI > LA610.
Guitar: Seagull S6 acoustic miked with single Oktava MC-012 into a LA610 preamp with +/- 4db gain reduction.
Lead and backing vocals: Me into a Neuman TLM193 into the LA610 with +/- 6dB gain reduction.

FX
Lead vocal: short stereo delay (no feedback) in verses with 2.4s reverb automated on in choruses.

Rhythm guitar: 0.5s room reverb with longer reverb automated on in choruses.

Lead guitar: long hall reverb.

Bass: none

Wow, what can I say....I am impressed by your work. Beautiful singing and instrumentation. I can hear you are a talented musician. The lyrics feel like they are right from the heart.

[Mister Fox]

A friendly reminder:
We're in the final 24 hours to submit your production.



Please get your production ready and submitted (through the forum) today.

To make it easier for me to create the collection post, please update your initial post with the appropriate links (final version), or explicitly mark your entry as "final entry". Please also don't forget to make your files accessible to download. Thank you.

If I didn't miscount, we have 09 interesting entries so far.
It would be great if we see about 12-15 entries this month.

[BenjiRage]

Hi everyone, it's been a while!

I've finally managed to get something created to enter, having been wanting to get back into the SWCs for a few months now. Alas, being the Christmas season free time has been in short supply so my song is still a "work in progress" so to speak. There's an intro, verse and chorus so the bulk of the song material is there but I'm hoping to find a few more hours to get a bit more done before the deadline.

MP3: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u-KVtA ... sp=sharing
WAV: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AXeRu2 ... sp=sharing

Centred around the Space theme, I wrote the track trying to capture a specific feeling that's reminiscent of youthful nights out dancing and looking for love - that feeling of euphoria that just blows your mind and takes you miles off the ground.

It's bathed in reverb courtesy of Valhalla Vintage Verb with a long 10s+ decay so it envelops everything and feels like it goes on forever like space.

The lead riff is a Fender Telecaster virtual instrument that I recorded a friend playing then loaded the samples into AIR Structure.

Vocals are done with SynthV and the NOA Hex voice.

Production notes:

► Show Spoiler

Instruments:
• u-he Diva and Zebra2 for pads, synth bass and some stereo FX synths (noise hisses, risers etc)
• AIR Structure for the lead Tele melody
• AAS Strum Session 2 for distorted guitar backing
• TAL Noise Maker for punchy low sine waves hits
• Plogue Chipsynth SFC loading the Star Wars-style speeder howl
• Aly James VPROM and VSDSX for the bulk of the drums and percussion
• AIR XPand2 for Taiko hits
• Additional drums, perc and impact samples loaded with Reason Rack Plugin and Redrum

Dynamics:
• PSP Vintage Warmer
• Massey CT5
• Waves Kramer PIE and API 2500
• DMG Audio Limitless
• SIR Standard Clip

EQs:
• Brainworx and Waves SSL4000 E-Channels
• Fab Filter Pro Q-3

Effects and other tools:
• SynthV and NOA Hex for the vocals (single tracked verse lead, triple-tracked chorus lead, double-tracked harmonies, double-tracked "ha has")
• Valhalla Vintage Verb, Room and Ubermod
• TAL Chorus-LX
• AIR Multi Delay and Dynamic Delay
• Soothe2 on vocal bus
• McDSP Futzbox for vocal "radio" and distortion fx
• Graillon 2 for a little bit of real-time pitch correction
• Massey De-esser
• Audiodamage Panstation
• AIR Filter Gate
• Waves MaxxBass
• TC Electronic LM2N loudness meter

Created and mixed in Pro Tools

Lyrics:

► Show Spoiler

Verse 1
So you wanna be a space boy
Flying to the moon
But are you ready, boy?
The countdown is ending soon
Yeah, you know it, boy
It's gonna be out of this world
It's all up to you, boy
To find that interstellar girl

Chorus
You've been waiting for so long
To find the one
And time is on your side tonight
You've got to fly so high tonight
You know that this girl is the one
You're in the game until the dawn
And when the sun comes up in her eyes
Your worlds collide

Superb entries from everyone so far, I've been listening to them all. @EsteveCorbera in particular, this is one of my favourites of all your compositions, wonderful work.

All the best

Benji


Update: I've made a few mix and lyrical tweaks and posted an updated version with a final WAV file. I've written a second verse today but unfortunately haven't got any more spare time to play around with SynthV to get a good vocal take so I'll have to leave it there.

[Paramnesia]

That is amazing...what a brilliant entry for this SWC. Full of power and cool songstructure. And all the details that makes this interesting to listen to. Is that you singing? And what about the other instruments?

If I could only make a (little) suggestion about the mix....I feel like the sound of the guitars are maskig the vocals a bit. There is not much high freq info in the vocal I think....you could add some of that to the vocal. Or filtering out some low mids in the guitar. Could be my monitoring...but that is what I noticed when I listened to this song.

Just a thought; would you consider providing this as a song for the mixing challenge maybe? I think lots of people would be happy mixing a song like this...including myself. Ayway...my compliments. Sounds great!

Cheers,
Jeroen

Hey Jeroen,

First off thanks for taking a listen! The vocals were provided by PonySho who demonstrates his mastery of song writing not only on this track but with a solid entry of his own! Thanks again PonySho! My favorite style of music is progressive metal and he really understands this style and provided me with quite a lot of layers to work with.

I am a guitarist myself so I performed all the guitars on the track, although I can play bass I don't own any so I unfortunately had to program everything else so bass, drums and synth are all midi instruments but the drums and bass plugins offer quite a lot of samples for their perspective instruments and with proper velocities it is possible to get a pretty organic sounding take but thats something I may have to work on.

You were absolutely right about the mix I was trying to keep more of the low mids in the guitars but there were some issues for sure. I've done another mix (actually there was phase issues on the quad tracked guitars so I did some retakes too.. opps) I think this one sounds a lot better, lots more clarity and bottom end. I got a lot of feedback about my mixes being overcompressed previously but I think it's just the nature of this kind of music to glue all the many layers together. I was trying some new things and just learned a bit more about the relationship between each instrument, this was my first time mixing with vocals too so lots to learn there as well.

Overall I still think the mix needs some work, the levels aren't quite right but I'm exhausted and sick of chasing that magic -14 number so I'm going to go with this and enjoy the feedback and get better for next time!

As for providing this for a mixing challenge I would be open to it if others are interested, would be interesting to see how others would handle the parts I'm sure I could learn even more that way.

Thanks again Jeroen, I got to learn a little more with your feedback please share anytime!

[Koekepan]

OK, this is a bit of a saga.

I looked at the theme, and thought of space ... and earth, which is also in view. This brought to mind the phrase: "Spaceship Earth" and this planet's limitations which, in a small way, are echoed in the weaknesses of spacefaring technology - and the limited life of our biosphere is echoed by the weaknesses of a breaking space vessel.

This led me to think of the experience of inhabiting a breaking space vessel, with air slowly bleeding out, and waiting for the end.

I did everything in the box on my Akai Professional Force.

Every track was a synth plugin.

The first one was the arp, for which I used the Odyssey plugin. I set it going, with a few tweaks. I used a macro to address its volume parameter on a free-running LFO, and also set note probability and ratcheting on it to give it shadows of variability. I used it to represent the backdrop of technology, running along on its own. I used a sidechain compressor to deliberately bury it behind other sounds, as being neglected when other things take attention.

The second one was the broken machinery echoing sound effect, for which I used a Hype plugin pluck, pushed through the Granulator effect to give it that echoing, rattling sound. I created a 32 measure loop, which I randomly, sparsely populated with hits (thanks, Akai) and then put a low probability on to make it a very irregular event.

The third one was a dark string pad intended to form a backgrop. Just the Hype plugin again, somewhat tweaked.

The fourth one was the electric piano, for which I used the Electric plugin, tweaking the details of the sound but leaving it quite dry because I wanted to use it to present the inner life of the observer; near and clear, over the wet backdrop of the other things representing the vastness of space.

The fifth one was the high string/choir sound from the Hype plugin, intended as a sort of rough counterpoint to the melody lines. It occupies a higher part of the spectrum and got plenty of reverb.

The sixth, final one was the gliding, modulating lead which I configured a bit to present the vicissitudes of the situation itself rather than the personal experience, or the spacecraft. It's a mono Hype plugin, which I tweaked for a little extra flavour. The modulation on it linked to the modwheel for raising or burying it in the mix with the filter cutoff.

The song itself I laid down in a single sequence rather than a series of loops, extending it to give me linear sequencing. The arp and the sound effects I used looping to save time, but the other four tracks all had full length clips. I recorded them live with my KORG MicroKEY61 so as to get a more human feel for those tracks, leaving them unquantised.

The song has three movements, starting with the arp and sound effects, and introducing the dark pad and electric piano to give the initial statement. Those with sharp rhythmic ears will hear that I had the piano using a 7/4 motif, while the pads try to keep a straight rhythm. This is intentional, structured to give rise to a sense of imbalance, of discomfort, relating to the concept of the piece. It is slow paced, because this is about slow decay.

The second movement de-emphasises the electric piano and pulls in the mono lead, bringing in a new motif that states the situation more clearly. It is a different motif from the electric piano's original statement but compatible with it. At the same time the high choir patch comes in, lending an auditory poignancy to the soundscape.

The third movement brings them all together, before fading out.

I used Audacity to do a bit of final compression and normalisation, I think that the levels and loudness should be OK.

The track itself is here as a zipped .wav file:

https://files.catbox.moe/yremij.zip

[JeroenZuiderwijk]

Off topic: For everyone that is interested, please check the post about swc089 community scramble. We need more samples for next competition and if i am not mistaken, the deadline is today. It is always great fun, so for next month competition to be a succes, we need help.

Cheers, Jeroen