Mix Challenge

Hello and welcome to the Songwriting Competition 062 - October 2022


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" (TL;DR version) 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 (limited 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: Saturday, 01st October 2022 to Monday, 24th October 2022 (24 days)

Challenge submission will end on 24-10-2022, 23:59 UTC+2/CEST (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 and on Discord.

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: "Change of Colors"
GENRE: Pop (Indie Pop / Uplifting Pop Music)



Image Source: Pixabay, photo by Hans, released under Creative Commons CC0



A few word about this month's theme:

Staff (Mister Fox) wrote: After last game's fairly depressive, yet needed topic to spread awareness about mental health issues, I'd like to turn things around and actually do the complete opposite this month.

There is so much chaos and negativity going on in our world right now, so many chings happening. So I'd love to push a some positivity, ask to maybe create something a bit more "upbeat". Maybe even fitting to the seasonional changes, although this doesn't have to be about that specifically. Whatever comes to mind. "A change of colors", so to speak (not only figuratively).

How about writing some pop music?
.



Your task for this Songwriting Competition:
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This month, you can create a production in the "Pop" music genre. Most notably something that would fit the more upbeat "(Modern) Indie Pop".


What I'd like to see/hear this month:
"Pop Music" a very large "umbrella term" in this particular case. "Indie Pop" nowadays focuses heavily on electronic instruments, with the occasional thrown in features acoustic one (Guitar or Piano). The general depicted mood is "uplifting". Big chords, catchy melody, portraying a happy-go-lucky feeling. This can be a minimalist approach (just a couple of instruments), or a super detailed modern Electro Pop production (while still not being straight up "Modern Stadium Electronic Dance Music").

The Pop Music genre is so so vast and scattered, that literally anything goes. So please don't take this as a "narrow guideline", get inspired by some of the audio demos below, and then get started. As usual, you are not pressured to add vocals -- if you're not a singer, or don't know anybody that would love to sing on your production, just shine with your instrumental composition. We're here to have fun, interact, and improve on our skills.

Make some music, everyone!

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 (additional) 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 to 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 to give away one license of MODO BASS 2 to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on IK Multimedia: https://www.ikmultimedia.com



Musiclab is kind enough to donate any 1 guitar of your choice to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Musiclab: https://www.musiclab.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 to 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 to 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 to 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 to 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 to 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

Wikipedia Article:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_music (just a starting point!)




Music examples (selection for inspiration, 00 videos):

Spotify Playlist - Feel Good Autumn
Spotify Playlist - Feelgood Pop (2022)
Spofity Playlist - Indie Pop
.



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
Xfer Records - Cthulhu
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 ("Max4Life" is needed, Ableton Live bound)


More tools of the trade


UPDATED: 30-SEP-2022 20:50 UTC+2, updated 01-OCT-2022 00:00 UTC+2

A friendly reminder:
Including today, 14 days left to submit your production


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 this week and to have enough time to get possible feedback (if needed/wanted) and continue to work on your song.

Hi, thank you for introducing this inspiring theme.

For my part, I also took the opportunity to refine my technique a little:
- I made the drum part trying to put myself in the head of a drummer, I think I did it enough, perhaps with a plus of richness (but always with 2 feet and 2 hands);
- I played the melody (in the chorus) imitating the Farina brothers (steel guitar), even here I think I have succeeded enough;
- as far as the text is concerned, this tells of the desire of a young woman (with a veiled and very thin voice) to be a leaf, which in the autumn will fall from the tree, mix with the mud, thus feed the tree and then return to live. She therefore she will never die: this is the desire of the young woman.
- the veiled and subtle dreamy voice was obtained / accentuated by an energetic flanger; not having a suitable singer available, I made it in synthesis;
- the finale ends by replicating the chorus on which an energetic guitar solo insists.

Unfortunately my English is very poor so I have had a hard time setting up the text which is still incomplete.

This is still a pre-release, especially when it comes to voice and text.
Any comments are more than welcome.

Here is the MP3_192 version:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/16fZRCJ ... sp=sharing

Have a good evening.
GamaGama

Hi GamaGama

I doubt I'll have time to enter this one - though the theme's a great idea from Mr Fox!

Just popped on here and had a listen to your tune - I really enjoyed it (even in it's embryotic state). My sort of title too! I really love the ideas and textures. The piece is quite long, but I don't mind that. Amazing what you have done with the synthetic voice idea - well done. Hopefully I'll get to hear the final version.

Best wishes anyhow.

PocketSunlight wrote: ↑

Sat Oct 15, 2022 19:09 CEST

Just popped on here and had a listen to your tune - I really enjoyed it (even in it's embryotic state). My sort of title too! I really love the ideas and textures. The piece is quite long, but I don't mind that. Amazing what you have done with the synthetic voice idea - well done. Hopefully I'll get to hear the final version.

Thank you very much for your feedback.
I'll try to shorten the whole thing a bit, and especially to complete and improve the text, which is still a bit precarious.

Good day!

GamaGama

A friendly reminder:
Including today, 7 days left to submit your production.

So far, we sadly only have 1 entry -- with some minor interaction.



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.

Hi there

Great Theme Mr Fox!

Since last round I have managed to iron out some kinks around posting my track for submission with emphasis on making it downloadable.
Hopefully this time it all goes to plan.

I will briefly try to explain the concept.
So often in life we doubt ourselves, no matter in what context. We think maybe that when things do fall in to place for a little while, its merely by coincidence and that it has no bearing on us as individuals. Or maybe when you make a decision that turns out the right one, you blow it off as "luck".
My motivation would be that its not luck. It is the culmination of life experiences and lessons we have learnt that has aided us to make that right decision or step.

So see every set back as a challenge and a learning period. Every Mountain as another way to perfect your climb.
The small acts we do every day all have an effect. Even when seemingly unappreciated by society our actions have impact and hold weight.
Because we are not "by chance" or a "coincidence". Surely there is more to life than that.
Surely we are designed!

Instruments used:
Piano
Synth (includes Orchestra)
Bass
Drums
Electric Guitar


Any feedback as always on the WIP is welcomed. Thank you.

Here is the soundcloud link:

https://soundcloud.com/user-655396019/s ... al_sharing

Dear David John wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 19, 2022 01:50 CEST

Any feedback as always on the WIP is welcomed. Thank you.

Sounds beautiful!
On my headphones, the volume of the vocals is too low in the chorus (or the instruments are too loud in relation to the vocals). Also, the piano sounds a little muffled. Nothing that can't be fixed in the mix.

I like the change of the rhythm to a waltz and back again.