Mix Challenge

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• We have 0 submissions that has been withdrawn (therefore it can't count to the overall participation)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

R0boooo wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 25, 2024 05:07 CEST

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.

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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Elcubano wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 18, 2024 09:33 CEST

"Cycle of Seasons"

PonySho wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 18, 2024 21:43 CEST

"Growing Pains"

Chasey24 wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 19, 2024 21:36 CEST

"Harvest Sunset"

WAV: Dropbox playback and download

crispy wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 21, 2024 21:16 CEST

"Flexing The Harvest"

EsteveCorbera wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 21, 2024 23:55 CEST

"Els Fruit De La Tardor"

OlliH wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 23, 2024 01:14 CEST

"My life from seed to vegetable"

WAV: Google Drive playback and download

ryanc wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 23, 2024 21:49 CEST

"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.

Ike H-mope wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 24, 2024 04:00 CEST

"Harvest Morning"

WAV: Dropbox playback and download

ADMIN INFO: technical documentation still missing

Mellow Browne wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 24, 2024 16:54 CEST

"Neo Funk"

WAV: Google Drive playback and download

KukoBass wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 24, 2024 23:19 CEST

"Hope Will Grow"



WAV: Google Drive playback and download

ThomC wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 25, 2024 00:04 CEST

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)

R0boooo wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 25, 2024 05:07 CEST

"Sunrise Fields"



ADMIN INFO: song can not be downloaded

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GAME MECHANIC SUMMARY:

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

I edited my post with more information.

Ike H-mope wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 24, 2024 18:07 CEST

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.

Mister Fox wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 25, 2024 07:57 CEST

ThomC wrote: ↑

Fri Oct 25, 2024 00:04 CEST

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 .

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).