Mix Challenge

Hello and welcome to the Songwriting Competition 52 - December 2021


This is the introduction post, where we directly link to the challenge corresponding basics (theme and premise, submission information, sponsors) and start of the voting process.

Before you get started, please consult the official and very simple "Rules and Guidelines" (Rule Book - post #6) for the Songwriting Competition regarding principles of the game, it's engaging game mechanics (allowed editing/re-submission of your entry until the deadline has been reached) and upload/submission guidelines.

Read more about this month's competition further down below.




This post will be updated with the corresponding links as we progress, and of course the suitable thread headlines. So please watch this spot:


Submission Period: General Information and Sponsors
Cheat Sheet: A couple of examples / audio demos for this month's challenge (usually not available if genre is "Free to Select")
Voting: Summarized entries and start of voting process
Results of the Songwriting Competition: Results of the Songwriting Competition

CURRENT CHALLENGE - GENERAL INFORMATION

Time Frame: Wednesday, 01st December 2021 to Friday, 24th December 2021 (24 days)

Challenge submission will end on 24-12-2021, 23:59 UTC+1/CET (Germany) - until further notice.


Want to find out if you're still within the deadline, please consult the following options:
The Global Countdown on it's dedicated page or the countdown on the home page. There will also be short reminders on Social Media.

Does the game time frame feel too long? Why not set a personal shorter one of 5-7 days absolute max to push yourself to focus on the essentials, then use the rest of the time to ask for feedback and possible refinements.



SONGWRITING THEME: "Ballroom Dance"
GENRE: free to select (with time signature experimentation)



Image Source: Pexels, photo by Los Muertos Crew, released under Creative Commons CC0



A few word about this month's theme:

Staff (Mister Fox) wrote: This month's theme is based upon a suggestion from 2019. "Ballroom dances" have been social events that go way back in history. Also known as "social dances", they had the function of interaction, or being ceremonial (like courtship, celebrating a certain event, coming of age, etc).

Let us focus on these partner dances for a moment, which are completely unlike performance dances (modern art/dances) that you can see in music videos or stage shows these days. Meaning - Standard and Latin American dances. Think Cha Cha, Mambo, Jive, Waltz, Rumba (Slow Dancing), Two Step, etc.

Aside from specific "tournament music" (which can definitely sound like something out of a Yamaha Motif or Kork Triton Demo Session), pretty much every contemporary music can be used for dancing. The essential differences here are defined by the groove, and the time signature. I think you might know where this is going.



Your task for this Songwriting Competition:
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This month, you can create a production in any music genre you feel like, which would work great with any known Standard or Latin American dance type. Basically something that can be played at a "ballroom dance".

If you want to create a Bolero or Classical Waltz (both in 3/4 time signature), go for it. Not your cup of tea? What about a pop ballad with the same kind of rhyhtm? You rather prefer a Jazz Band or small Classic Rock combo to go more upbeat and "Jive", go for it. Blues like JT Coldfield (Slow Dance), or channel "Latin Rock" (Cha Cha) like Carlos Santana? Two Step (Country or RnB)? Absolutely nothing to say against that. As long as it works at a "ballroom dance" event and is not an Anthem Dance Club experience, also... it should be a full song, not a "tournament length" production.

Experiment, maybe even with time signatures you usually do not go for.


I'm interested in what you come up with.

And please remember: The more people join, the more interaction and feedback. So please spread the word! And if you think the 24 days time frame is too long, you can always set yourself a personal limit of 5-7 days absolute max, then post your entry, ask for feedback and use the rest of the time for possible refinements. Just by joining the game in the first place, you're already a winner in my book.

Songwriting Rule Summary / Add-On Rules:

• create a production fitting to the given theme, genre and general premise
• you can use any tool that is at your disposal (samples, virtual instruments and/or real instruments)
• IMPORTANT: if you use non-licensed material (as in: non royalty free material from sample CDs, etc), give full credit to the source material
• for newcomers: no finished productions that have already been released outside of the time frame of the current Songwriting Competition (Spotify, iTunes, Bandcamp, etc), no cover versions or remixes, no ripped acapella's -- please only showcase your own content
• do not go higher than -14,0 LUFS ILk/-1,00 dBTP in terms of perceived loudness (mastering). Music doesn't have to be squashed to bits in order to be impactful
• name your files properly prior to uploading and make the production downloadable. If you opt to present your entry through SoundCloud, the forum can also convert your links into a Soundcloud player through the [soundcloud] BBCode from the text editor (orange square with a white cloud in it)
• ADD-ON RULES:
  • Filename Template: SWC000_ArtistName_TrackName.wav and/or .mp3 (please use it!)
  • <no add-on rules specified>

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Please take note of the official rules - they can be found at the following thread:
Songwriting Competition - Official Rules and Guidelines (most notably Rule Book - post #6)

Please address any OT question in the official Gossip thread:
Songwriting Competition - Gossip and Discussion

If you like what the Mix Challenge (community) has been doing in recent months:
Please consider supporting the project

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SPONSORS (Prizes):

Prizes for Songwriting Challenge participants:

Note: All licenses are NFR (Not-For-Resale), except where noted.
Changes to available prices on short notice may be possible and will be announced separately.


RECURRING LICENSE SPONSORSHIP:


Cherry Audio is kind enough give away one license of Voltage Modular Ignite, plus either a license of "Year One Collection" or "Year Two Collection"
License will turn into NFR
More info on Cherry Audio: https://cherryaudio.com



IK Multimedia is kind enough give away one license of MODO BASS to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on IK Multimedia: https://www.ikmultimedia.com



Tone2 is kind enough to donate a license of Saurus3 to the winner (until further notice)
License will turn into NFR
More info on Tone2: https://tone2.com



kv331 audio is kind enough give away a bundle of either SynthMaster 1+2 Bundle, or a freely selectable set of 3 SynthMaster Expansions
License will not turn into NFR, you need to have a kv311 audio user account in order to pick up Expansions
More info on kv331 audio: https://www.kv331audio.com



JRR Sounds is kind enough give away any-1 sound sets or sample set of winner's choice (exception: Bundles)
More info on JRR Sounds: https://www.jrrshop.com/jrr-sounds



Luftrum is kind enough give away either a license of Lunaris, a license of Bioscape, or any two sound sets of winner's choice (exception: Bundles and Nano Electronics)
License will turn into NFR
More info on Luftrum: http://www.luftrum.com



Rekkerd Sounds is kind enough give away 1 sound set of winners choice (exception: Krezie EDM and Neurofunk Vol. 1)
License will turn into NFR
More info on Rekkerd Sounds: http://sounds.rekkerd.org/



Ghostwave Audio (Vincent Bastiat) is kind enough to donate any 2 sound sets to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Ghostwave Audio: http://ghostwaveaudio.com



Hollow Sun is kind to donate one license of "Music Laboratory Machines - The Suite I" to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Hollow Sun: http://www.hollowsun.com



Hornet Plugins is kind enough give away one license from the depicted tools (see image) to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Hornet Plugins: http://www.hornetplugins.com



Sound / Graphic Designer, and honorary Mix Challenge staff satYatunes is donating one commercial product of winner's choice (until further notice)
More info on satYatune's page: http://www.satyatunes.com/





THANKS FOR THE DONATIONS!
And also a thank you to all former contributors as well.

If you want to sponsor content (please have a focus on instruments, samples and sound sets), please get in touch with the Mix Challenge staff.

Please spread the word of the challenge on social media.
For example with our dedicated Twitter Account or Facebook Page

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Good luck to all participants.
And most importantly, have fun!

AUDIO EXAMPLES:
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Articles and Info Pages:

A great starting point is the "Addendum"/Supplementary thread for the Songwriting Competition
Songwriting Competition - Addendum: Music Maps and BPM Charts

Taking a deep dive on the "Music Map" (see link above) is not easy this month, as "Ballroom Dance Music" results a huge variety due to the fact that everything can be used for dancing. What I can recommend, is reading the summary of available dances, and then try to find associated music genres / time signatures given to the song structures (see below).

The following two Wikipedia articles are good starting point:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballroom_dance
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_signature




Music examples (selection):

BALLROOM MUSIC MIX #1 (covering: Cha Cha, Samba, Rumba, Jive, Tango and Waltz)
BALLROOM MUSIC MIX #2 (covering: Foxtrot, Quickstep, tango, Rumba, Jive, Samba and Cha Cha)
BALLROOM MUSIC MIX #3 (covering: Rumba, Cha Cha, Jive, Samba, Waltz, Tango and Foxtrot)
Dancing Alone In A Ballroom (Part 1) (mostly classical music, Waltz)
Dj Ice - Dancing With A Stranger (Rumba, original by Sam Smith and Normani)
Santana - Corazon Espinado ft. Mana (Samba)
The Champs - Tequila (Jive)
Cuphead OST - Floral Fury (by Kris Maddigan, can work for various faster dance genres)
Cuphead OST - Die House (by Kris Maddigan, can work for Jive, Swing, etc)

Also recommended
Postmodern Jukebox (Youtube Channel)
Collective Cadenza (cdza) (Youtube Channel)
Chameleon Jazz Connection (Youtube Playlist)

These collectives play various music genres that can be used for "Ballroom Dances" and have a feeling as if you're at a real ballroom with a Jazz/Big Band.
.



Please also check in with the following threads in the the Gear Talk sub-forum, if you're on the look-out for new tools:
Places to fuel your GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) (the starting point if you're in need of audio tools -- from free to affordable)

Also recommended to check out the following tools, if you're new to/need help with songwriting:
Plugin Boutique - Scaler 2 (highly recommended tool!)
CodeFN42 - Chordz (Transition is also recommended, if you want more experimental/generative MIDI, Free, Windows only)
W.A. Production - InstaChord and InstaScale
Fabrizio Poce / J74 - Progressive (Progressive Standalone might not be available anymore, else the "Max4Life" version)



UPDATED: 30-NOV-2021 08:10 UTC+1 (sourcing content: several hours), updated 30-NOV-2021 23:30 UTC+1

A friendly reminder:
Including today, 7 days left to submit your production -- so far we have 0 entries (sadly).


If you want to access the extended game mechanics of the Songwriting Competition (asking for feedback during production), please try to release your first edits within the next 3 days to have enough time to get possible feedback (if needed/wanted) and continue to work on your song.

And to those sitting on the fence - please don't feel scared off and think "the bar is set too high, I will never make it" - maybe set yourself a private, was shorter deadline. Just make music, submit your entry, join the conversation. See where this goes. By joining, you're already a winner. The rest is bonus.



Still confused about the game?

You can write a production in any genre you feel like. Literally everything can played on a modern ballroom dance, not just a classic Waltz. The biggest twist this month might be: time signatures (if you don't go the usual 4/4 route).

Hello Everyone,

Figured I'd take a crack at this. It's definitely out of my comfort zone. I went with a classical waltz and I think it turned out OK.

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

DAW used is FL Studio

Instruments:
The bass is a factory Kontakt instrument
The piano is the Grandeur
The strings were done with Session Strings 2

Effects:
There wasn't much used. A little reverb with Raum,
and I used BX Masterdesk for mastering.

Title: Valse de nyår.

This is a collaboration. The other collaborator is @alavault . Although we have managed to agree on most things, a few issues remain.

So we ask for feedback. The fourteenth measure in the chorus – are there some dissonances (1-3 notes?), or are there not? Note: only the second and third chorus.

Are the two e-guitar solos a little bit too loud?

Hope you are able to see the 'a' with a little circle above.

Equipment:

A Future in Noise:

ZynAddSubFx, Classical gtr from Independence Free, Addictive Keys Grand Piano, Glockenspiel from Plogue/Garritan, DoubleBasses from Plogue/Karoryfer and NI Kontakt Player, Cello from Karoryfer/Plogue

alavault:

Squier Jazz Bass, TSE BOD into EQ and limiter.

GTR: Squire Start, Nalex MultiAmp (Soldano style for both).

Mix: see my mix challenges posts.


Translation of verses in French and choruses in Swedish. V1 and V2 is a poem written by William Chapman. The choruses written by A Future in Noise.

Verse 1
It's a northern afternoon
the sky is white and dreary, it's snowing
and the tree of the path twists
under the gust that besieges it

Chorus 1
Flakes fall, the drifts grow
they bury the year that has passed
it was written on your face, in your gaze
that our time together would come to an end

Verse 2
Since dawn, it has been snowing in waves
everything is erased
under the turmoil
through its hoarse sobs a bell in the distance wails

Chorus 2
Flakes fall, the drifts grow
they bury the year that has passed
no bells, please, as long as they are
an assurance that everything will be as before

Chorus 3
[Instrumental]
no bells, please, they are reminiscent of a time
when a fairy tale could not be denied

Translation of title: A New Year's Waltz

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18hweGM ... sp=sharing

Mister Fox and fellow challengers,
Here is my proposal for this month. This time I took the opportunity to learn how to use sampled sound libraries.
Thanks mates and good luck !!



(translated with google)

Equipment:
DAW:
Reason 12

Instruments:
Dr.OctoRex
Mimic

Various samples

Effects:
RV7000 MkII Advanced Reverb

Other effects outside of Reason:
Waves Renaissance Bass
BPB Saturator
Analog Obsession Loaded

Other tools:
iZotope Ozone 9
Plugin Alliance SPL HawEye

I sadly do not have much time to give feedback this month. Just some quick pointers, maybe:


@Arelem
Your production is fairly dry. Unless you want that "in your face" pop feeling, you can definitely experiment a bit more with reverb to make things a bit more spacious. Hint from my side... a delay with about 2s decay, a bit of pre-delay (20ms - 25ms), adjust to taste to the point where things drown too much, then pull back by about 3dB. This should "gel" things together a bit better


@alavault and @A Future in Noise
I can't really comment on the dissoance. But I can at least tell you that the second guitar solo is a bit loud. Other than that, the vocals are cut "too high" (give them a bit more lowend, please), and try a more "warm" reverb for them. Volume balance is also a thing in the first half of the song. You're almost there IMHO.


@EsteveCorbera
A samba, nice... I would pull back the first trumpet a bit (volume wise), at least in the intro, for the rest it is fine. The reverb is a bit too much for the lead trumpets, and maybe the first drums. Just turn them down a bit. The rest can keep that reverb. An interesting bass-line would be the final touch. Oh wait, there actually is a bass, but I can't sadly hear one on small speakers (maybe copy it, add some saturation to the copy, then blend it in until it cuts through in the mix).



Please keep up the good work, everyone. Still a bit over 1,5 days left for your productions.

Mister Fox wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 23, 2021 04:56 CET

I sadly do not have much time to give feedback this month. Just some quick pointers, maybe:

@alavault and @A Future in Noise
I can't really comment on the dissoance. But I can at least tell you that the second guitar solo is a bit loud. Other than that, the vocals are cut "too high" (give them a bit more lowend, please), and try a more "warm" reverb for them. Volume balance is also a thing in the first half of the song. You're almost there IMHO.

Please keep up the good work, everyone. Still a bit over 1,5 days left for your productions.

Thanks for the feedback !
How would you tackle this balancd problems for the first half (and where does this half end) ?
I will try your suggestions for a warmer reverb and the "warmer" vocal too.

I would say until the first guitar solo, you can still play a bit with instrument placement through the proper use of volume.