SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC059 July 2022 - Winners announced

[Mister Fox]

It is the 25th July 2022, 0:15 UTC+2/CEST - this month's Songwriting Competition has official ended


STATISTICS:

• If I didn't miscount, we have 11 submissions this month (4 entries more than last month, and also 3 less than July 2021)
• We have 0 submissions after the deadline (as of 25-JUL-2022 1:05 UTC+2/CEST)
• We have 0 submissions that has been disqualified (production released outside of the game's timeframe)
• We have 0 submissions that have been withdrawn (but counts as entry within the deadline)
• The "staff balancing vote" add-on rule does not apply (I might add final words regardless / step in if there are ties)
• "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 downloadable. We then perform with the final feedback and "public vote" system.


We have 11 participants. That means that each participant can vote for 10 tracks, the staff will will not cast a balance vote, unless there is a tie that can't be broken (or if it would add a bit more spin to the game, like this month's special task).

Please take note of the Rules and Guidelines (see post #7) on giving feedback (mandatory for all participants). Even if you already gave feedback prior to the deadline, please offer some final encouraging words, and maybe give some additional tips for possible improvements on the way. The only main criteria to drop out of the game, is if you do not participate.

Please cast your vote in collective form through the "spoiler text" bbcode. Please use the forum username of the participant to make it easier during the score collection to address what vote belongs to whom. To get an idea how this usually works, please take a look at the last two Songwriting Competition for how your feedback and vote could look like:

SWC058 - Song Collection and follow-up
SWC057 - Song Collection and follow-up



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 have an eye on this thread!

[Mister Fox]

Let us kick off the VOTING PROCESS, which will end on Monday, 01-AUG-2022 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.


.

"A Game Of Fates"

"Dark Prophecy"

WAV: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dgFk3x ... sp=sharing
FLAC: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10Gw0I- ... sp=sharing
MP3: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rhbcfI ... sp=sharing

BONUS VIDEO:

► Show Spoiler

phpBB [media]

"Hold Eem Or Fold Em"

WAV: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MDiEok ... sp=sharing

"Boss Carddraft"

MP3 (in a ZIP): https://files.catbox.moe/k27g0h.zip

INFO: Might not be a finished production

"Homenatge A MSXZanac"

"Serenity"

WAV: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZrLzul ... sp=sharing

"Uncertain Paradox"

WAV: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hgpCTZ ... sp=sharing

BONUS INFO: offered track no 1 out of 3 concepts

"Show Your Hand Dr Piezo"

"Loop Of Faith"

WAV: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xz7U0i ... sp=sharing

"Check your Cards"



WAV: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SjaSx9 ... sp=sharing

"Luck of the Draw"

.



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


<no bonus entries>
.


Please consult the Rules and Guidelines (see post #7) on how your vote could look like. And to make it simple for me for counting the votes - please use the forum usernames in your listing. Thank you!

SWC059 participants giving feedback to each other (to every participant) is mandatory. If you've collaborated with somebody, then only the one doing the main entry needs to give feedback and vote (everything else is bonus). Ideally, please focus on the "overall experience", and what you think could be improved in a future release of this production (technical or even instrumentation), maybe even provide the occasional tip for mixing. Please be open minded, objective and constructive.


INFORMATION: If you've 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, 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.

[Olli H]

While listening these submissions, I wasn't sure if I should have been thinking from the point of view of the "dev team". Actually, about twenty-five years ago there was a period when my main job was to code 2D-minigames to multimedia publications. During that time they were published as CD-roms. But times are different now, and I haven't been following the playing scene at all. So, I realized that it was too difficult for me to try to think from the point of view of modern game company's dev team.

So, I just listened to the music as music, and while listening I tried to smuggle into my head images of playing cards, just to see what happens.

=============

Arelem: A Game of Fates
I like each and every moment of this. While listening I feel like playing cards with big bets. Lots of variation around within the same loop. Well done.
But the main problem to me is that it doesn't develop musically, and it doesn't create musical tension. As if it is an endless everchanging intro for something that never comes. The weakest point is probably the too short chord progression that is never resolving properly back to root, or never properly leaving the root. But still, amazing work.

=============

canese: Uncertain Paradox
This feels very coherent and finished track. I think it's the most professional submission in this month. Main riff very good.
Bass feels a bit out of tune.
It surely sounds like great game music. Game music to younger audience, or to retro game lovers. But for some reason I didn't get into my head any images of playing cards. To me it feels like some Super Mario mini-game. Maybe those sound effects make me think of Super Mario and his friends jumping in tubes. Well, maybe it's Super Mario in Casino, without any real bets. "Damn, I died. Let's play again."

=============

Crosshatched: Show Your Hand Dr Piezo
Very beautiful song. Nice use of harmonies. After the main theme is introduced, it starts to feel improvisational.
Bass lines bother me a bit. It's not moving at all but repeating the same note a bit mechanically. When the buzzing bass synth comes in, I found myself thinking "did it play wrong notes?" With better listening I can't pinpoint any moment where it's going wrong, but still I end up looking the mistake point.
I didn't get the card playing feeling while listening this. I felt it's more like a beautiful introspective rainy day music, or sad "after game" music when adrenaline level is down and all the money is gone. It feels to me like a music to a speechless movie where the main character is sad after weekend's game session. Luckily the money lost was not too big, bu the main character is more worried about what his wife might say this time.

=============

Denisioo: Serenity
Music to Silk Road documentary. Very well done. The most beautiful melody line of this month's submissions. And overall production feels very coherent.
I like that percussion sound. Although it's a loop, it still feels very organic. Every now and then the hit in "AND" (1-2-3-4-AND) feels a bit exaggerated. The sound of that percussions feels to me as if the body of Double Bass is used as a percussive instrument. (Actually, my wife has a double bass. Maybe I'll try to make a percussive sample collection with it.)
But does this suit as a music to "card playing game"? Maybe it's about a family that is sailing in the still sea, and having a relaxed card playing moment. I’m waiting for Rod Stewart to join in the song with words "I am sailing,...".

=============

EsteveCorbera: Homenatge a MSXZanac
The main theme is very nice. Skillfully done. Drums are probably a bit too monotonic. But overall, a strong coherent mood throughout the song.
Great melody line in the first half of the song. Later the song switches to more improvisational mode. Then I miss parts where melody could be more singable, and that way more "catchy". Now its maybe too much arpeggio based.
For some reason I didn't manage to think me playing cards, for I end up being in a meditational trip in a colourful space.

=============

JanKoekepan: BossCarddraft
Weird and fun time signature. The bravest submission of this month. What happened to me is that I stopped listening the music and tried to figure out whats happening rhythmically. I end up counting: 12123412-12123412-12123412.
Melody line nicely follows that different rhytmic pattern. Very skillfully done. And definitely sounds like a game music.
Card playing: for some reasons I didn't get any card playing images to my head, but still it's definitively a well-done game music.
Overall it feels like an unfinished experiment that is testing one great idea. Maybe for that reason there's no outro. But anyhow, this very good one as such. If I were to develop this, I might switch here and there to simpler 1234-1234 pattern, just to have more relaxed listening moments, and then back again to that weird pattern. Something like what Beatles did with their megahit "All you need is love".

=============

KukoBass: Check your Cards
Melody line feels a bit "mouse played" or "quantized". Synth sound could be more expressive. Overall feeling is that this is a bit hastily done.
Card playing: With this one I get into my head a story of a poor lonely guy sitting alone at home playing again and again some solitaire card play, and the main point is the loneliness, not the cards. So, maybe it doesn't fit this months theme so well, but on the other hand it suits very well my musical taste. I feel it's the most expressive of this month's submissions. I feel it has the biggest potential in it. It could grow up to be a superb, weird and fragile introvert song.
If I remember correctly also in your previous submissions, you tend to come up with some brilliant ideas, but the finishing of overall production has been a bit hasty. But in my mind it's always much more interesting to have an ability to find rough diamonds than to create skillfully beautiful jewelry from quartz stone. The finishing skill can always be rehearsed, but the skill to provide a basis for a hit probably not.

=============

MellowBrowne: LoopOfFaith
This gives me a feeling of a caravan moving in oriental deserts. The basic idea is very nice, but for some reason I get a bit incohesive feeling. It has beautiful and shy melody line, and at the same time a bit aggressive monotonic accompaniment. I tend to think that accompaniment should support the melody line and mood. In this case I feel the beat is too heavy for otherwise delicate music part.
The musical progression plan could be developed a bit more. For example the chord progression loop feels too short. So it starts to repeat it self too much. Here and there it could escape to some surprising chord or two, and then come back to that caravan loop.
Some parts could provide different drum track, something that's not emphasising the first beat. Now that drum beat starts to feel a bit suffocating.
But if I were to play a card game with music on, this might be the one I would choose to be played. For this one gives room to concentrate on cards to make strategic decisions. So, if I were not thinking from the point of view of musical experience but rather from the point of view of the purpose of music track (background for the game situation), I would have given totally different points.

=============

NickCollins: Luck of the Draw
Sounds surely like an old-time game music.
Cool and simple main riff played with bass. That weird arpeggio line fits perfectly. Drums come nicely in to strengthen the riff.
The riff part is so dominant that the song surely needs a part without that riff. But when it comes (bass goes away), music feels a bit weak. As if there's no focus point to listen, and after some time my attention disappears. Also the same drums, that fit so perfectly the bass riff, feel now wrong when there's no instrument in the front line. So, I feel that something essential is missing in these parts that are without that bass riff.
The "guitar sounding" riff part starting around 2.15 feels very cool.

=============

VCA-089: DarkProphecy
I guess that this is music for a poker game in a witch cave. It seems to have two main parts.
1. Rock part: The main riff is cool. It reminds me of the "Smoke on the water". The unexpected drum riff supports nicely guitar parts.
From the point of view of playing, the energy level remains pretty constant. As if the band hasn't got the courage to play the main riff with full attitude and the softer parts with reduced energy.
2. Bond in the witch game: Very nice and weird atmosphere. Having heard your previous submissions this seems to be you speciality area. That "classic" jamesbond-guitar fits surprisingly good the mysterious ghost cave. I guess that when it comes to poker game in witch cave, Bond is as good companion as Potter. Both of them manage to end up as winners after some initial problems and struggling time.

► Show Spoiler

01 (10 pts) Arelem: A Game of Fates
02 (9 pts) canese: Uncertain Paradox
03 (8 pts) JanKoekepan: BossCarddraft
04 (7 pts) VCA-089: DarkProphecy
05 (6 pts) NickCollins: Luck of the Draw
06 (5 pts) Denisioo: Serenity
07 (4 pts) EsteveCorbera: Homenatge a MSXZanac
08 (3 pts) KukoBass: Check your Cards
09 (2 pts) Crosshatched: Show Your Hand Dr Piezo
10 (1 pts) MellowBrowne: LoopOfFaith

[KukoBass]

So the client asked for
- an "Image Theme" for the game; something easily recognizable
- something that can be looped and never gets old
- at least 2:30 minutes long
and Mr. Fox explained
- it should be able to stand on it's own (as in: with intro/outro), but also be able to be listened to on loop
- the card game is steampunk themed

What I consider as fitting for a steampunk card game is purely subjective, just a question of personal preference. If I'm saying that I don't find your song fitting for the genre, please don't take it to seriously.

For my vote, I will only listen to the final entry and not consider earlier versions. I have listened each submission for at least 3 times on loop on two different days. I listened to them on my gaming headphones.


So here is my feedback in alphabetical order:


Arleem - A Game of Fates
The song sounds very heroic and I love the distorted lead guitar.
For my taste, the song starts a little slow: The lead guitar could have set in before 1:08; the build up of the song could have happened in the background. This way, the melody motif of the song starts after a quarter of the song is already over.
The song loops well when you cut off the breaks at the beginning and the end. Unfortunally, I got tired of the rhythm and chord change in the intro / outro when listening on loop. Maybe a change of key earlier than 2:44 in the song could improve this. Or maybe the intro could be the lead guitar without the chords to establish the melody early.
I really love the lead guitar, especially when doubled (e.g. at 1:38 and 3:46) and the drums starting at 2:44.


canese - "Uncertain Paradox"
This song is so much fun to listen to! Very recognizable, loopable without getting old without losing the focus of the main melody.
There is no outro to speak of, but the intro doubles as outro when looped.
The gaming sound effects are fun, but more fit for a platformer. That is also my only reason why this song is not my top choice: The atmosphere is not what I would have imagined for a steampunk card game. But the song is so good and unique I would be really tempted to pick it anyway if I was the client.


Crosshatched aka The Jetstream Rushes - "Show Your Hand Dr Piezo"
A beautiful piece of music but perhaps the wrong genre for a steampuk card game. The first motif is memorable but the melody in whole is not very recognizable. The bass sound is very buzzy and sometimes sounds like it is clipping (e.g. 3:0 on the right side). The piano sounds a little detuned.
What I like are the Bach-esque counterparts of the bass (e. g. starting at 1:56). Overall I think this music sounds more like a classical concerto and would work great as the credit score of a sad movie or adventure game.


Denisioo - "Serenity"
This song puts me a relaxing mellow mood, like a picknick on a summer meadow. I like how instruments blend together and raise from the background to the foreground and back again, e. g. the strings starting at 1:37.
Only the drum gets a little irritating over time.
The vocals add a nice touch and are well integrated in the song.
I like how it all is coming back together at 2:48.
The song can stand on it's own or be looped without getting tiresome. It is everything I would expect from a game soundtrack. The only reason this song is not my winner is that the mood of the song does not feel right for a steampunk card game. But if I was the client, I would defenitely keep you contact data for a possible follow up project.


EsteveCorbera - "Homenatge A MSXZanac"
This is the submission that threw me off track because I listened to it before my submission was finished. How can I compete with this? But as Mr. Fox reminded me, this is about the experience as well.
For me, this song has it all: A memorable motif in the background of the song; suspense in the background of the song with an relaxing feeling in the main instruments. Subtle variations in the drum rhythm. What I love about the drums is that they sound dramatic without getting too much in the way of the song.
The song is usable as title song or during the entire game as background soundtrack. It works as a song as well as a loop and can be replayed over and over again without getting old. If I was the client, I'd hire you at once for the title track and possibly for the rest of the soundtrack, too.


Koekepan aka Jan Koekepan - "Boss Carddraft"
I like the relaxed and laid back latin feeling of the song. It is a pity that your submission got stuck in the draft stadium. I would have loved to hear what it would have sounded like as a full song. On the other hand, it already works well when looped.
For my ears, the flutelike sound gets a little annoying over time; it draws to much attention for "background music" that you listen to again and again while playing the game. As the melody is quite percussive, perhaps some kind of mallet could have been a better choice.
The bell at 1:12 gives the song a more heroic feeling and works well as the intro to a transition. Unfortunally, that is where the song breaks off.


Mellow Browne - "Loop Of Faith"
This music makes me think of a big medieval army marching to battle, it sounds very heroic. My main concern is the instrumentation: The slightly detuned instruments give me a "Dexter"-main-theme-feeling (in a positive way) but draw too much attention to them and get a little annoying on loop. The part from 1:13 works better for me.


Nick Collins - "Luck of the Draw"
This song sounded like an 80s car racing game to me. Also, it would work good in a battle scene.
I like the bass but I think it gets too dominant over time. Also the drums might profit of a little more variation. The use of augmented and diminished chords and scales makes this song quite unique and memorable.
I like the call and response part between left and right channel starting at 0:55 and the piano part starting at 1:50. Unfortunally you decided to go for a fadeout as an outro, wich is bad for looping. A drum hit and a precisely timed break could improve this.



Olli H - "Hold Eem or Fold Em"
This music sounds like someone invited Mozart and Ennio Morricone to make music together.
The slide guitar makes me think of "Wild West" music and poker rounds; the violins make me think of vienna and rondo dancing. I like how the guitar and string parts call and respond to each other. Palm muted distorted guitar in the background and violins in front of the mix; distorted guitars playing violin parts. There are a lot of surprising and unique ideas and musical motifs in this song.
It is able to stand on its own but unfortunally the outro is so distinctive from the rest of the song that I always noticed the song ending and starting when listening to it on loop. I understand that it is not intended to be listened to in full and should go from and to the specified loop points, but I understood the assignment differently: The song in whole should be able to be looped while playing the game without the player conciously noticing that the song ended or started again.
I also got a little distracted by the exessive use of timpani when listening on loop. Maybe a little less would have been more here.
Overall, a song with an abundance of unique musical ideas.


VCA-089 aka Infravolt - "Dark Prophecy"
I like the orchestral metal sound of the song, slow, heavy, excellent drums.
The part from 1:58 to 2:30 seems a little to long for my liking; half of it would have been better.
Part 3 might profit from less swooshing in the transition and at the end, the things happening somewhere in the excessive reverb are drawing to much attention away from the guitar and the game.
But all this is only nagging at small parts. My overall impression of this song is great; I'm just struggling to find words for it, especially in a foreign language. But I'm headbanging to the first part of the song.

► Show Spoiler

01 (10 pts) - EsteveCorbera - "Homenatge A MSXZanac"
02 (9 pts) - canese - "Uncertain Paradox"
03 (8 pts) - Denisioo - "Serenity"
04 (7 pts) - VCA-089 aka Infravolt - "Dark Prophecy"
05 (6 pts) - Olli H - "Hold Eem or Fold Em"
06 (5 pts) - Arleem - "A Game of Fates"
07 (4 pts) - Nick Collins - "Luck of the Draw"
08 (3 pts) - Koekepan aka Jan Koekepan - "Boss Carddraft" (draft)
09 (2 pts) - Mellow Browne - "Loop Of Faith"
10 (1 pts) - Crosshatched aka The Jetstream Rushes - "Show Your Hand Dr Piezo"

[KukoBass]

I feel it has the biggest potential in it. It could grow up to be a superb, weird and fragile introvert song.
If I remember correctly also in your previous submissions, you tend to come up with some brilliant ideas, but the finishing of overall production has been a bit hasty. But in my mind it's always much more interesting to have an ability to find rough diamonds than to create skillfully beautiful jewelry from quartz stone. The finishing skill can always be rehearsed, but the skill to provide a basis for a hit probably not.

I am a big fan of your feedback. You find something positive to say for each and every song, always highlighting the best parts. When I finally grow up, I want to give feedback like yours!

[Crosshatched]

Here is my attempt at providing comments. I enjoyed listening and the moods but am not up to the rigors of giving proper reviews. Rankings at bottom of the post. Nonetheless:

Arelem - A Game of Fates
Good sound and drama, the drums and panning ar convicing, you have a general riff but add interest to it with new parts. Then, just when this might feel like it is wearing out, i.e. good timing, you change timbres (even flutelike and synth ambience?) around 1:50. But sometimes I still get impatient at the rate of change versus repetition (this might depend on my mood and not just at the point of the piece.)

canese - Uncertain Prophecy
the crunchy sound was very prominent. The rhythm is tight enough it can handle the accentuation of the crunchiness. The playfulness of the varying soundeffects began winning me over, but perhaps the real interest here comes from the 3 parts-- first the crunchy playfulness, which morphs through the chiptune soundefects to sci-fi dystopia, to a reprise of the main theme in lighter synths with repeats with the risers that seem to suggest takeoff or spaceflight, maybe with acceleration/deceleration fluctuating--

does the timing of the beats in the crunchy section have swing/syncopation/something sometimes? at one moment I thought it came in a splitsecond fast to good effect.

Denisioo - Serenity
Maybe the secondary melody at first is overpowered by the ambience synths (and the rising drums, which I like.) Or is that intentional, as it is a repeating background melody? The flute melody is clear. Very appropriate title.
Nice break into the vocal interlude with the silence + pedal point.
I like the instrumentation anyway, and the hand-drum sound is nice.

Esteve Corbera - Homenatge a MSXZanac
nice ominous calm opening-- and also the overall vibes carried on
especially nice how the voices seem to separate out of a quiet unified undertone.
ambience sound effects add interest
then the melody develops and catches the interest at the end.
General attitude kept throughout, but lots of things keep the tension.
then also how the bass is echoed in the hesitating melody with the reverb harmony. I like developing melodies. Still, I might be less convinced by the melody instrument when it is fast and higher up the scale-- for some reason.

Jan Koekepan -- Boss Carddraft
Cool to have this type of rhythm, I like the thin sustained synth adding ambience throughout, but you aren't complacent with just that sound. I also like the tsking percussion.
However, feels short because it is. The score I give is a cop-out due to duration.

Kuko Bass - Check Your Cards
Like the drama of the opening / drums. the plainness (?) of the melody's synth seems to accentuate its quiet yearning well. There's some followup from here, it continues developing, and yet it might be the entry of the melody that remains most in mind.

Mellow Browne - Loop of Faith
capture an eerie tone well, both with melody and instrumentation, but sometimes convincingly shift the instrumentation to something smoother. Nonetheless, I think you might need something more to vary if this is going to loop forever.

Nick Collins
Luck of the Draw
jaunty rhythm, and then the parts come in an interact. I like the nuance of the entry of the high percussion.
The theme around the middle is catchy. The solo around 2:00 is harder to take seriously somehow, maybe just the instrument. But I like this jazzy take.

OlliH - Hold Eem or Fold Em
I like how the intro blooms from ominous to bright but kind of anticipating triumph.
lots of development, even story telling.
Cool instrumentation: fiddle-thing versus electric guitar and everything else

VCA-089 - Dark Prophecy
drama and development and well put together
then part 2, the winds and effects versus low-speaking guitar, then the ending sustain of the guitar that finally calls out to be heard between the cliffs.

Summary of Comments:
...
One focus seems to be on how the tune develops.
...

Ranked from 10 points to 1 point (i.e. 1st to 10th), and when meaningful, this ranking is basically subjective:

10 pts canese - Uncertain Paradox
9 pts Olli H - Hold Eem or Fold Em
8 pts Denisioo - Serenity
7 pts VCA-089 - Dark Prophecy
6 pts KukoBass - Check your Cards
5 pts Esteve Corbera - Homenatge a MSXZanac
4 pts Nick Collins - Luck of the Draw
3 pts Arelem - A Game of Fates
2 pts Mellow Browne - Loop of Faith
1 pts Koekepan - Boss Carddraft

[Arelem]

Hello Everyone,

I don't have much of a prelude to go here other than everyone did great (makes judging a lot harder!).

VCA-089 - Pretty good overall. I really like the vibe and the guitars in this. There are some parts where the lead and rhythm clash a bit. There are also some of the more ambient parts that drone on a bit. In the context of a game soundtrack that's probably fine, but just critiquing the music itself it gets a bit boring. Overall though nice track.

Olli H - There are some really great parts in here. In fact, individually all the components seem good. It does get a bit cluttered at times though with everything going at once. There really isn't much of a melody to latch on to though. Also, some of the strings sound pretty synth-like while others sound more realistic. It might benefit the track to lean into either one or the other for a bit more cohesion. I really liked the first 50 seconds or so, but after that, the track loses a bit of focus in my opinion.

Koekepan - This makes me think of a menu screen more than actual gameplay. It also gives me older vibes that I like. The lead feels more like noodling than an actual melody. I don't usually take the prompts too seriously when judging because everyone interprets them differently but you are about a minute short so I do have to take that into consideration. Overall, it's a nice beginning to something that just doesn't feel fully realized yet.

Esteve Corbera - Definitely an 80's vibe or maybe stranger things type soundtrack. I like the ambiance that it creates. The little fades and sweeps in the background go a long way to making the track interesting. I did hear some subtle changes to the drums here and there but between the drums and the constant droning bass, the track gets a bit stale. There are some parts of the lead I'm not a fan of but that's pretty subjective. I think the track would most benefit from a little bit more variation and that would be about all it needs. Nice job.

Denisioo - I really like the sound selection here. Everything fits together really well. The bongo gets a little overpowering at parts, but not too bad. The transitions work well together. I like the main melody because it's a rather long melody, I actually wouldn't mind it repeating a few times before the track changes to the other sections. Other than that though, really good track.

Canese - The stabs are really loud in the mix; I would turn those down a bit. There's also a bit too much bitcrush for my liking. The melody is nice and the precision fits really well into the track. Actually, the track reminds me a bit of old like Zelda Ocarina of Time type tracks (which is hitting my nostalgia). The 8 bit sound effects fit OK but they come across a bit cheesy to me. Nice track overall though.

Crosshatched - Some notes feel a bit out of time. I know not everything needs to be quantized perfectly (in fact it can be better not to be), but it actually feels off at times. The beginning also feels a bit weird to me. I'm not sure if it's in a good or bad way. It's either robotic feeling, or maybe like a beginner is playing it. The piano sounds good and I think the melody has potential; it just needs some fine-tuning here and there.

Mellow Browne - I like the transition at about 1:55 but the rest of the track drones on with the same drums and plucky string for too much (especially considering how short of a progression they are). The lead is not prominent in the mix to get much feeling for the main melody either. Other than those things, it sounds good. The track would definitely benefit from some more variation too.

Kukobass - I'm really not a fan of the sound you chose for your lead but I guess that's a personal preference. The track has a good backing to it though which sets a nice feel for the track. It also was just about the right length for what is here but it gets a bit tiresome on successive listens. A bit more variation would really help that. Nice track overall though.

Nick Collins - I like the bass, it sounds nice and punchy. Not too realistic, but it sounds good so it isn't really necessary for it to. It's a bit too loud in the low to low mid area though. The drums are a bit overpowering too, and also very repetitive. The sound selection is good and cohesive. My technical knowledge isn't particularly great but the out-of-tune bits, or maybe diminished (I'm not sure) don't sound good to me. It does add some chaos to the track but I'm not personally a fan. It's a good track overall but it needs some mixing and probably some variation in the drums and bass.

► Show Spoiler

01 (10 pts) Denisioo
02 (9 pts) VCA-089
03 (8 pts) EsteveCorbera
04 (7 pts) Canese
05 (6 pts) Olli H
06 (5 pts) KukoBass
07 (4 pts) Koekepan
08 (3 pts) MellowBrowne
09 (2 pts) Crosshatched
10 (1 pts) NickCollins

[Denisioo]

Hi, first of all, I wanna say thank you for the feedback to those who already voted! Really means a lot to get feedback from other producers, and to get someone else's opinion. I think I put more weight on ''The game has a fantasy feel to it'', than an action filled card game, so I totally understand that some didnt feel like it gave the correct mood for the game

I think giving feedback to you guys has turned out pretty hard, as I'm still very new to this, so I kinda feel like an amateur go-cart driver, giving tips to Formula One drivers, but I did my best!

Arelem
I think this is a really good song, and I immediately think of an action filled game, or someone playing with high stakes. I really like the switchup at 02:44. Only thing I could think of that would give a better listening experience for me, is maybe a bit more beefy bottom end, but thats just personal preference I guess. Either way, well done!

Canese
This tune really grew on me, and the more I listened to it, the more I liked it. I find it really groovy, with a fun-ish melody, and the game details really adds a lot. I think the ''drill sound'' might be a bit too high, but I still like it. I actually think this fits this type of game genre really good. Very well done!

Crosshatched
I like the mysteriousness in this. I'm not imagining sunny days on the beach, or green forests when I hear this song, but rather the opposite, so it definitely sets a type of mysterious or troublesome mood, which can be nice to implement in a game, to set the correct mood that the developer wants. Honestly I have no idea what would make this type of song ''better'', since I dont have any experience with this type of music, but it definitely sets a mood, so it works well in my opinion!

EsteveCorbera
Instant fan of this song. Gives a mysterious, and old school vibe. Only thing I think that could've been different, is maybe a bit less of the main pluck/synth in the middle of the song, as I think that would bring it back even better when it appears again later in the song, instead of it being there all of the time, and I think that would make it more mysterious in the middle section of the song. Also a bit more in the lower end sometimes would be cool I think, kinda like some movie sub-rumble that appears sometimes, like your rising synth at 01:07 but I might be wrong. Anyways, really a great song!

JanKoekepan
I like this draft, and I would've loved to hear a final mix of it. Melody line is nice, and it definitely works for a game like this. The bell at 01:12 is too loud in my opinion. Some fine tune up's in the mix, and a completion of the song, and you would probably be higher on todays list.

KukoBass
This song is pretty good, and it even has a lot of potential to be honest. I'm not really a big fan of the lead synth, so I think another sound would be nice, or maybe some EQ, reverb and or delay would make it fit more with the rest of the song. I actually think the synth could use more quantizing, in both start and end. In ableton, you can right-click in the midi-view, and u could go into Quantize Settings. I think something like 1/8 and around 70-100% would make it nicer. I also think a longer attack would make it sound less on and off. Melody line is good imo. Also for the ''chopped'' part, I would like to suggest a great plugin for this type of effects, called Gatekeeper by Polyverse (and Infected Mushroom). I think that would be really cool for this type of usage. Also to make the melody sound more dynamic, I would suggest adding a Groove on the midi track. I like the one called Loosely Flow, and you could play around with the Velocity, and Timing, to make it sound more organic. I also like to play around with the Random knob, and that often helps bring it more to life. Rest of the song sounds really good to be honest. Some of the bass notes might be a bit too high, but thats not much. But I think you did a great job overall, and if you keep working on it, please send it to me later!

MellowBrowne
You have made a really interesting song here. I almost get some circus vibes, and thats definitely nice for some type of games. Mix might be a bit fatiguing after listening to it for a while, but I'm not sure what would help fixing that. Maybe some EQ to make it less bright at some parts, but other than that, I cant pinpoint anything that sticks out. Overall, good job!

NickCollins
I like the bass line, and the melody overall. I like the beat, but I think it would be really nice to have the distortion on the beat, for just one or two bars in the beginning, then make it open up after. I also think the bass is a bit too much. Other than that, I think its really good.

OlliH
Really great mix. Only thing I noticed, was maybe that it was leaning a bit much towards the right at the second half of the song. Especially when both the lead violin, and lead guitar is on the same side at some part. Other than that I think it sounds great!

VCA-089
I really like the laidback beat in this. The guitar bends is also really nice. The slow part at the end works really well. I honestly cant find anything that I would change in this.


I think all the entries was really good, and ranking them was really not an easy task. If there only could've been ten #1 spots!

Good job to everyone!

► Show Spoiler

01 (10 pts) - EsteveCorbera
02 (9 pts) - VCA-089
03 (8 pts) - OlliH
04 (7 pts) - Canese
05 (6 pts) - Arelem
06 (5 pts) - NickCollins
07 (4 pts) - Crosshatched
08 (3 pts) - KukoBass
09 (2 pts) - JanKoekepan
10 (1 pts) - MellowBrowne

[Nick Collins]

Keeping my feedback relatively brief, I don't like backseating too much as so much of this is so subjective if there were hard right and wrongs people wouldn't make such different music. But I'll try to highlight some things I liked and give at least some constructive criticism where I can

Arelem
Some solid rock. It could use some higher energy section or maybe even less energy in the breakdown, the tension level feels really consistent throughout. Also a bit bright to me, could use more low and mids to my ears but then you mentioned my low mids being high so that could be my headphones or my own bias lol

Canese
Quirky, I love the whole vibe of this. I think the main melody could work well with another instrument making it a call and response thing, as well as being interesting itself this would break up repetition a little bit. Could also use another melody somewhere, like I want to hear the high bell that comes in before the loop play something different

Crosshatched
Really strong intro, kinda feels like it loses focus at times after that especially for a more involved gameplay thing, I think a lot of this I would like as ambient music in a cave area

Denisoo
Some really great chords and sounds, killing the atmosphere here. The melody is good but could use some variation, maybe a bit resolved for my tastes but it also totally depends on context in game for something like this

EsteveCorbera
Feels more cyberpunk than steampunk yet I can see this working for some reason anyway. Plucks feel a bit sharp to my ears, not sure if it's the panning being too far or the transient.

Koekepan
Interesting glassy texture, kind of gives it more of a supernatural vibe. Catchy rhythm, I like where this is going though it could use more elaboration, too bad you didn't finish this

KukoBass
Nice percussion throughout, I'm a fan of the emphasis on melody in this one, albeit maybe a bit melancholic or dramatic for a normal game theme? Has more of a major plot event feel I think.

MellowBrowne
I like the eclectic instrumentation of this one. The melody is quiet, the simple solution would be to make it louder though I think doubling it with something else more forward in the mix would be good too

OlliH
I like how dynamic this is, only real criticism is with the mixing the melody is overpowered a bit at times by the accompaniment

VCA-089
I like the contrasting sections here, the extended ambient part would help with repeated listening. Nice alternating panning on the cymbal, random little thing but I love stuff like that listening on headphones

► Show Spoiler

01 (10 pts) - Canese
02 (9 pts) - VCA-089
03 (8 pts) - KukoBass
04 (7 pts) - JanKoekepan
05 (6 pts) - Denisoo
06 (5 pts) - Esteve Corbera
07 (4 pts) - OlliH
08 (3 pts) - MellowBrowne
09 (2 pts) - Arelem
10 (1 pts) - Crosshatched

[Mister Fox]

A friendly reminder:
We're in the final 24 hours to submit your feedback and cast your vote.


Please don't let yourself be put at a disadvantage by not participating. The Songwriting Competition lives from the given feedback towards each other. Outside feedback is welcome, of course.