SONGWRITING COMPETITION - SWC079 March 2024 - Winners announced

[Arelem]

Not sure if I'll make the deadline but I'll get my feedback/vote in after work today. Was hoping to get it done this weekend but classes took longer than I would have liked.

[Doc Jon]

Phew, made it in time! I left home the day after submitting my track knowing that I would not be returning until today so there has been a lot to catch up on this afternoon!

Things I have learned during this month’s competition:
This month I learned that I should be a little more disciplined in following the theme and genre for the month. Instead of using it as a start point from which to expand off at a tangent I should probably aim more towards meeting it as an endpoint instead!

Feedback

► Show Spoiler

Arelem - Glass Alloy
Good strong beat and great distorted synth riff. Great as that distorted synth sound is however, I felt it made the track feel modern rather than retro. To my ears we didn’t really get a proper synthwave vibe until the other synth patch comes in at 2:00. I really liked the ducking effect with the percussion and the whole fade/false ending section at 2:45 was very effective. Sounded very well mixed to my ears, overall great track but probably not enough of a Synthwave feel for my taste

APi_ZZ - WynthSaved
Nice vocoder intro! Authentic 80s synth sounds and drum machine percussion with that typically bright reverb. That synth riff is very familiar! The bassline was definitely a strong element within the track, great choice of synth patch, and helped to consolidate the various other overlying elements in the various sections throughout the track. Nicely mixed

KukoBass - Bit By Bit (Things Are Getting Better)
A great selection of authentic Synthwave patches in this track. I love a nice string machine patch as you have used here, but it is perhaps a bit too loud in the intro where the drums need to be more upfront in the mix. A more punchy set of drum sounds would also have helped to achieve this and I would have brought the bass line higher up in the mix to sit alongside and get a stronger drums/bass combination to drive the track. The vocoder sections work very well and fit well with the synthwave feel of the track. I even liked the Casiotone style synth sound that we first hear at 0:30

TrojakEW - Move Forward
Really great intro. I though this track had a fairly modern feel to it while managing to keep the authentic synthwave vibe throughout. Nice choice of drum samples and synth patches, particularly the Roland D50 style sequences and pads. Good mix although I would have liked even more reverb in keeping with the 80s feel

becsei_gyorgy - Never Grow Up!
This is like a great demo track for a Synthwave soundset. A good selection of authentic sounds. I found the ducking of the pad sound a little unnatural although that may have been the effect you were aiming for. Very nice arrangement, I thought the quiet section at 1:40 was very effective. Well mixed overall and a great Synthwave track

EsteveCorbera - HomenatgeAlsVideoJocs
Feel those retro vibes!! This track positively oozes retro charm with such a great choice of sounds. The synthesized speech was great. I would have liked a stronger melody for the game sections, it did feel in places that there should be a synth lead line overlying some of the sequences. Really good effort and very much in keeping with the theme for this month

Chasey24 - Getting_Chippy
Great octave sequenced bassline, very authentic, together with some great synth patches, I particularly liked the synth keys sequence that first appears at 0-:25 and then runs alongside the bassline, in fact I would have brought this much higher in the mix to make it much more of a dominant feature. This is one of those tracks which is crying out for some vocals, I can just imagine some Human League style vocals fitting very nicely with this. Overall a very nice track which only just missed out on my top 5

StoryGirlOz - Thank You to the Warriors
Welcome and well done for adding vocals to your track!
This is definitely an interesting track and has a definite feel of its own. I like the way you have used the full stereo field with the synth sounds and sequences but I would probably have also spread the drums sounds a bit more with some of the percussion and toms to the left and right, to my ears the drums sound more or less mono for a lot of the track and the ride cymbal is the only component that seems to be away from the centre. Is it Synthwave? I’m not sure, I think the autotuned vocals probably make it too modern to my ears. However, I look forward to hearing what else you come up with in the future

FixInTheMix – Virus
Great filtered opening and some authentic synthwave synth patches, I really liked the saw stabs and the DX style slap bass. The drums are definitely a strong point in the track, highly repetitive sounds with no effort made to add any variation, round robins were still many decades away at this point, just the way it used to be!! Nice arrangement, I liked the interplay between synth and guitar in the later sections of the track. Excellent mix, perhaps a little more reverb in keeping with the 80s style would have been nice but otherwise I cannot really think of any changes to suggest, well done!

VCA-089 - Inevitable Progress
Great intro, nice bright mix and plenty of reverb, typically 80s style production - all that’s missing is the ghetto blaster to play it through! I liked the arrangement and synth sequences, I did perhaps feel that a synth lead riff melody would have really added another layer to the soundscape, something to sing along to but that is just me being fussy. Mix was great, excellent track

BenjiRage - Corneria Capcom
This is more 80s than the 80s itself and I should know, I was there! This is an excellent track, great arrangement and well mixed, lovely choice of patches and great drum arrangement with the panning toms and very skilful use of fills and ear candy embellishments. It does have your ‘signature sound’ which I recognise from your previous track a few months back, I seem to remember that was my favourite at that time, and this is no exception. I really cannot think of anything to change here you have done a truly professional job, well done

Koekepan - I am not a Cyborg
Another great string machine style patch but again a bit too loud in this context and the volume changes are a little offputting, at points it does also swamp some of the other synth sequences later in the track. The gated reverb drums work very well here in my opinion, I liked the slightly unusual choice of drum samples and I would probably have made them even more up front in the mix to really make them a focal point of the arrangement. I did keep imagining how great it would be to have a vocoded ‘I am not a cyborg’ vocal at various points in the track to add some additional interest. Overall a very good effort that just needed a few changes to the mix to be a winner

Voting

► Show Spoiler

1) BenjiRage
2) FixInTheMix
3) VCA-089
4) TrojakEW
5) Gyorgy Becsei

[VCA-089]

This month I learned how to replace a faulty CPU cooler fan on my PC for just 15 minutes. It was kinda tedious, but now my CPU is ice cold. I also learned to properly use the chili sauce while cooking pasta, so other people could also eat it (not only me).

Jokes aside, I finally learned how to properly use the preset system in my DAW. It helped me to create a lot of (over 500) useful presets for Dexed while extracting the sounds from sysex files.

My feedback:

► Show Spoiler

1. Arelem - Glass Alloy

This song perfectly fits into the modern Darksynth/EBM genre (not quite "retro" as you can guess).
The main beat is very strong. Works well with the distorted bass patch.
Good synth arps and pad sounds. They create a very deep atmosphere.
I think the melodic section in the middle doesn't support the mood, like it's from another song.
The production is quite good. The track feels very loud and "punchy".

2. APi_ZZ - Wynth Saved

This song could fit into a low-budget 80's sci-fi movie I think.
I really like the main bass riff, it's very catchy and groovy.
The main lead melody sounds typically 80's and reminds me of several famous songs simultaneously.
The atmospheric sections where many different parts join the soundscape is much more convincing to me.
The main drum beat could be a bit more developed (some hi-hats, toms maybe?).
The overall production is pretty acceptable to me.

3. KukoBass - Bit by Bit

This song goes far into 70's electronica/spacesynth. It sounds retro, but still it's a slightly different thing.
The phasy strings, minimalistic synths sounds, analog rhythm machine style drums, vocoded vocals - all sound very authentic and work together.
Still, the sound palette could be a little bit more diverse.
The production is pretty good to me.

4. TrojakEW - Move Forward

This song represents the month's topic pretty well in my opinion. It has a retro aesthetic, yet there is a very progressive set of sounds.
The song evolves nicely, adding new sounds and textures. It goes very dramatic at the end.
It has that "epic" cinematic feel, could be an opening to a TV show or a movie.
Alot of synth sounds reminds me of digital samplers and FM keyboards of that time.
Great production, mix and sound design.

5. becsei_gyorgy - We Will Never Grow Up

Somehow this song sounds to me like a modern pop with a bit of retro flavour.
The big ethereal piano sounds really nice. The rest of the instruments are quite common synth patches.
The guitar part is kinda lost in the mix, it sits in the same frequencies as the soaring lead.
The song is pretty short and feels like a draft. The production could be done better in terms of mixing.

6. DocJon - Death By Degrees

The song drifts away from synthwave to something more techno-ish with early hip-hop influences.
It has a lot of Kraftwerk vibe in it (particularly it reminds me of "Radioactivity").
The beat and electronic parts are really cool. Very groovy and energetic.
I'm getting a bit tired of hearing those news reports throughout the whole song. Also, the bunch of "F" words in the lyrics weren't that necessary.
The production in this song is quite acceptable.

7. EsteveCorbera - Homenatge Als Video Jocs

The sound palette in this song reminds me of 16-bit consoles, but I think the source of influence was a bit different (C64 maybe?)
The arrangement feels very random and chaotic to me, it lacks direction and intrigue.
I think those abrupt cut-offs with spoken phrases and effects are not really satisfying, breaking the flow and vibe of the song.
The song has a lot of different sections, but it repeats the same one again and again.
I think the mix needs to be adjusted in terms of levels and frequency balance.

8. Chasey24 aka Jerry Payne - Getting Chippy

This song feels very early 80's spacesynth/disco influenced.
I liked the uplifting vibe in the main section, but the melody is kinda unsetting and perhaps it isn't in key with the harmony.
The drums are getting lost in the mix (particularly the bass drum), they could be compressed a lot more harder.
The song feels a little bit repetitive at times.
The mix gets very muddy when more instruments are involved (the massive choirs at the end). The production could be a lot better.

9. Story GirlOz - Thank You To The Warriors

This song reminds me of underground 80's techno compilations on YouTube. The synthwave aspect is kinda off.
The vibe in this song is very atonal and crazy, some kind of "avantgarde" feel.
The vocals sound very robotic with that autotune. They also don't fit into the mix and feel off the key.
The mix feels lo-fi, like an old cassette tape, probably on purpose.

10. FixInTheMix - Virus

A classic 2010's outrun song, I think I heard 1000 songs like that.
Pretty common synth sounds and beats. The "guitar-like" solo was interesting, but the tone isn't convincing enough.
The FM style bass sound fits better with the chord stabs compared to 16th bass.
The mix is good, but a little bit too dry. Adding more reverb, delays and modulation effects could be nice.

11. BenjiRage - Corneria Capcom

This song seems to be hugely inspired by videogames, but I think it would fit for an 80's style TV show or anime opening.
The authentic atmosphere of the era is preserved. It does feel a little overused and "corny", but it always works.
The main beat is very strong and energetic. The drums are processed with care.
The song feels a bit too long. Too many repetitions of the same section. Been waiting for a solo or a change in the mood.
The overall production is very balanced to me.

12. JanKoekepan - I am not a Cyborg

This song is like a B-side from a very moody darksynth album.
The vibe in the song is kinda unsetting but very chilled at the same time.
I like the sound palette, it feels very old school cyberpunk.
The song is very long and there are very few things happening. It is good for background listening though.
The production is quite acceptable to me.

Voting:

► Show Spoiler

1. BenjiRage - Corneria Capcom
2. TrojakEW - Move Forward
3. APi_ZZ - WynthSaved
4. FixInTheMix - Virus
5. JanKoekepan - I am not a Cyborg

[EsteveCorbera]

Good night,
This time I'm late!!!
Good job guys!!

I liked this month's proposal. I have always liked the synthwave sound and I have studied it a lot.
This month I learned how to use new sounds based on chips that were used in computer/video games from
beginnings It's always interesting to experiment with these sounds again.


Thanks.


I will give you some brief comments.

Arelem__Glass Alloy
Good presentation. Aggressive sounds within a risky theme, very powerful. good mix The percussion and bass sound may differ from the synthwave concept, but this may be a matter of taste.
I would have liked a little more variation. I really like the background sound that accompanies the whole theme and the more melodic sound of the synthesizer. Good job.


APi_ZZ__WynthSaved
Nice synthwave sound. I like this kind of sound. Maybe it lacks a bit of cohesion and variation. And the transitions need to be improved. Right mix.


KukoBass__Bit_by_Bit_v7
Nice production. I like the mix of synths and bass. The melody is very simple but I think it works in the idea of your song, but the notes are too short, you should lengthen the length of the note or add a longer release. Maybe it would have made the voices more moist.


TrojakEW__MoveForward
Good start, very promising. Good choice of sound elements. Brings back lots of 80's memories!!! Maybe it lacks a bit more reverb.


becsei_gyorgy__WeWillNeverGrowUp
As always a very high level of work. Good selection of sounds from the 80s.
The main gripe I've found with it is the initial side chain type pumping. For my taste too forced. But that feeling goes away as your subject progresses and things get better.
I like this sound that looks like voices, with the delay that gives it body. Good job.


Doc Jon__DeathByDegrees
Good work but the sounds seem a bit far from the Synthwave wake. Good rhythm and good percussion. I'm sorry but I can't comment on the lyrics because my level of English is too poor.


Chasey24_aka_Jerry_Payne__Getting_Chippy
Welcome to this challenge.
It looks like the beginning of a JMJarre concert and ends up being a video game soundtrack. I like synth sounds that seem to be creeping along and never stop. Battery power is low. I like the initial and final FX, it depends on what your subject wants to convey.


StoryGirlOz__ThankYouToTheWarriors
Welcome to this challenge, too bad you seem to be leaving the challenge.
Sometimes it's hard to give advice when you're still learning, as is my case.
I would say that, maybe it's just a personal feeling, but I find that the voices are not well integrated in the whole (BenjiRage explains it better in his comment). As the subject progresses, this feeling diminishes. The mix also needs to be improved.


FixInTheMix__Virus
Good start with this opening sound. I like the initial arpeggios, with delay that lengthens them. Good synthwave feeling. Little else to say, good job.


VCA-089__InevitableProgress
Good synthwave sound with a lot of reverb from that time. Nor could I say that it is necessary to improve. As always, very good level.


BenjiRage__Corneria_Capcom
Also cool 80's feel. Good use of sounds. Good vibes, nostalgia!!! Dude, you nailed it!! Maybe the melody could use a little more variation.


Koekepan__I_am_not_a_Cyborg
I like the melody, it immediately caught my attention. It brings back memories but now I couldn't tell you where. But I like the feeling it gives me.
Are there any moments where the rhythm and melody don't match well or is the pumping effect too pronounced?


Thanks.


(translated with google, sorry for the imperfections that the translation may contain)

► Show Spoiler

01 BenjiRage
02 VCA-089
03 FixInTheMix
04 KukoBass
05 Koekepan

[Mister Fox]

It's the 02nd April 2024, 00:15 (UTC+2/CEST) - the Voting Period has officially ended.

Sadly, not all participants have submitted final feedback, we would therefore have 2 disqualifications.

Actually: @Arelem already announced that he might not make it in time, @StoryGirlOz opted to "withdraw" (sadly also from the community), and I might consider @EsteveCorbera's feedback to be "within the time frame" due to a server glitch (posted on 0:04).


I will send out another newsletter/message to those particular participants, give you until the end of Tuesday, 02-APR-2024 as per the rule book on the voting process ("overtime mechanic"). If there is a feedback and a vote by the participant in question, only -5 points will be deducted from the scoresheet. Else, sadly a disqualification.

Once I have this feedback as well, I will post the results within 2-3 days and take "late feedback" into consideration.
(this is not an automated process)


The only disqualification criteria is by "not participating" with feedback at the end of the game.
Time constraints can happen -- but I do not consider entries to be "withdrawn" at this point. You unfortunately just didn't have the time.


Everyone else, please no more changes to your vote. Thank you.

Please don't just gather feedback, and don't give anything back. This is not what the Songwriting Competition is about. To those that kept their feedback brief, please consider at least adding just "a tad more".


Please have an eye on this thread

[Arelem]

Hello All,

This month I learned a little more about the subgenres of synthwave. I am not a fan of the straightforward "80's inspired" genre, but some of the off-shoots I found really enjoyable. I'm a little disappointed that so many reviews seem to be as stringent as they were with their idea of what the parameters of the challenge were. I definitely pushed the boundaries of what might be considered synthwave or its relative subgenres, but I still think there was enough influence present in my track. Personally, unless an entry is way off-base, I try not to let my own interpretation of the challenge affect my judgment too much because we will all interpret things differently.

Feedback:

► Show Spoiler

APi_ZZ: I really like the arp in the B section. Does it have a delay or is it straight? It's a little hard to tell, but I like the effect it gives either way. The production is very 80's which I am not personally a fan of. I would have liked to have heard some kind of modern influence rather than a strict recreation. I think artists like The Weekend or Dua Lipa do a good job of blending retro with modern to create something new. I know those are pop examples but they are widely known.

KukoBass: I like the atmospheric elements here. Has a chiptune feel to it which I can appreciate. The vocoded vocals feel offbeat a bit to me. The main melody is intriguing, so good job there. The playing feels a bit choppy which works well in parts but not so well in others. I don't know how to better articulate it other than it feeling 'off' to me.

TrojakEW: I really like the wide soundstage setup in the intro. The drums sound a little too upfront to me. I think they were a bit dry and centered compared to how wet and panned everything else was. It gave a weird balance to everything. I didn't really catch much of a melody to help engage the listener, but the different elements helped keep it interesting.

becsei_gyorgy: Definitely a strong 80's inspired theme here. I like the melodies and the sound selections fit well. The piano helps for me because they are not strictly 80's which helps keep the song from feeling instantly 'dated'. A little slow tempo-wise for my tastes, but that's simply a preference thing.

Doc Jon: The foley sounds sprinkled throughout add a lot of interest to your track and shows some good attention to the details. I think you have the bulk of a good track here, it just needed some editing. The documentary portion was well integrated but it was too long in my opinion. If it was used to accent the song rather than build the body of it, I think the track would have benefitted.

EsteveCorbera: The percussion is nice and interesting, I like the rhythm of it. The lead synths have a bit too long of a release with the quicker notes and make it sound very messy. The more plucky lead worked a lot better. As a chiptune track, I think it works very well. I also like that you didn't stick strictly to an 8-bit sound profile as a lot of artists tend to do in this realm. Apart from the one critique of some of the sound choices, this is a really solid entry, nice job!

Chasey24: The lead is a little buried in the mix making it hard to hear the melody. What I can make out sounds good though. It sounds like it's maybe in a similar frequency range as the arp while also being pretty quiet. The track is also lacking a bit in the low end. I think you have the foundation of a pretty good track that mostly needs some additional mixing to get a better balance out of the different elements.

StoryGirlOz: The drums fit with an 80's estetic well. Wasn't a fan of the off-beat hats that came in in parts. The vocals are too loud compared to the rest of the track in my opinion. The song could have used a little more variation to help keep it interesting, but overall a solid effort.

FixInTheMix: A very solid 80's inspired track with a more modern production. Good sound selection and nice melodies. I really don't have any feedback that I could provide. Just a well-done synthwave track.

VCA-089: Nice intro; nice big soundstage. The drums fit perfectly into the genre. The melody gets a little buried behind the snare which is maybe a little too present. The lead melody could have been a little more interesting. Not really sure what about it was 'boring' but it didn't keep my interest very well. Too long of a pattern, or too slow maybe? Apart from some pretty minor details, a really good track.

Koekepan: I really like the soundscape that's created by the drone and synth. Even though the song does evolve over time, the different parts run on too long in my opinion. This would work well as background music to something else rather than a song to just sit and listen to. There isn't anything specifically wrong with the track but it is pretty minimal and lacks a strong element to really engage with.

Vote:

► Show Spoiler

1st - FixInTheMix
2nd - VCA-089
3rd - EsteveCorbera
4th - becsei_gyorgy
5th - Doc Jon

[Mister Fox]

It's the 02nd April 2024, 23:40 (UTC+1/CET) - the Voting Period extension has officially ended.

Everyone that is still in the game has sent in feedback and cast a vote. We only have 1 disqualification (because of user stepping away).


Please no more changes to your feedback from this point forward.
I will post the results within 2-3 workdays. (this is not an automated process)


Please have an eye on this thread

[Mister Fox]

Ladies and Gentlemen, here are the results of Songwriting Competition 078

The winners podium consists of:

1. @FixInTheMix (56 pts)
2. @BenjiRage (55 pts)
3. @VCA-089 (40 pts)

Apologies for the waiting time, this is not an automated process.

<4 participant rule is not in use (staff comments and votes, my vote would count as bonus)
We have 1 disqualification (due to lack of feedback / a final vote)
We have 0 withdrawn entries (but counts as submission within the deadline, yet couldn't be voted for)
We have several users still in the game that tied

• The following ties on the chart happened due to various reasons
  • KukoBass has 1x2pts, 0x1pts, resulting in 2pts with the participation vote -- the participant has otherwise all bonus points (resulting in 14pts)
  • Koekepan has 0x2pts, 2x1pts, resulting in 2pts with the participation vote -- the participant has otherwise all bonus points, but has lower participation scores from votes overall (resulting in 14pts)
• no (more) users that tied

"Sole (License) Winner" rule does not apply - 3-position Winners Podium (>= 9 participants prior to the deadline)


STATISTICS SHEET:
Overview of Submissions (PDF - updated: 02-APR-2024, full sheet)

!

Bonus Info

Short info: I am using Wavelab 10 for batch analysis, then I manually port the CSV export to a Microsoft Excel/Open Office Calc sheet with custom layout (this is not an automated process). As pointed out in this post from SWC047 / July 2021, Wavelab has different tolerances for dBTP max analysis compared to tools like iZotope RX, Youlean Loudness Meter, NUGEN Audio VisLM, etc. To find a common ground, I've implemented "allowed tolerances" (just like with the Mix Challenge). These are based upon allowed offsets mentioned in the white papers for EBU R128 and ITU-R BS.1770-4. Since no measurement tool is the same, to be on the save side, please export at -14,1 LUFS ILk max, and -1,1 dBTP max. As usual, I did list/analyze alternative releases (MP3s and FLAC). If you've submitted your entry in multiple file formats, the statistic sheet 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. In this case, FLAC and MP3 are merely for information purposes.

Here are the results as chart in image form:



Thank you so much for your participation.

⚠	Moderation Message from Mister Fox
	INFORMATION: As of January 2023, I am adapting the same voting mechanic as most other International Songwriting Competitions utilize. Nearly all of these games use(d) a 01 to 05 points system (top 5 entries) in some shape or form. The main difference to our game: these ones don't offer bonus points or penalty points, neither are they tiered (depending on the participant amount). I hope to get that properly sorted out in form of an extensive Rule Book update in the foreseeable future (serious apologies for the waiting time). Breaking up a tie: There was no unbreakable tie that needed to be addressed. The ties were "sorted out" with the known fallback mechanics of the game. An explanation on the bonus points and penalty points: I have addressed a -5pt penalty for @Arelem due to the fact, that the feedback arrived after the initial game's deadline (feedback arrived within the "overtime" mechanic). I am giving a warning to @EsteveCorbera to please keep an eye on the timer in future games. I consider this late post to be "a server glitch". I unfortunately could not address the full 2pt bonus for additional feedback for @Arelem (misses one participant) and @APi_ZZ (only gave feedback to 7 participants) Due to exceeding the loudness specs, the following users could not acquire all 4pts bonus -- @Arelem, mention]StoryGirlOz[/mention] and @Chasey24 (only exceeded the maximum signal strength of -1,00 dBTP) I've listened to all entries, and enjoyed every entry for their own reasons - great work interpreting the brief, everyone. It clearly showed that you had fun this month. I am also happy with the participation amount and hope we can keep this for games to come - the more participants, the more feedback, the more to learn from each other. So please keep it up. See you folks in the next game.

License selection:

We will now perform with the usual. Selecting of licenses is handled in public. Please select one license/company out of the pool (in order of the winners podium) and mention it in this thread, then (important) please get in touch with me (via PM) with your full name, email address and your license selection.

As usual - you're not forced to pick up anything. You can pass and therefore offer more to select for the next person in line (if there is a spot existing / not available for "sole winner" mechanic). Just let all participants/winners/the staff know in a timely manner (within 5 days). Once one company has been selected, it's out of the pool for the next person on the podium.

⚠	Moderation Message from Mister Fox
	As part of a new collaboration with Hornet Plugins, you are allowed to select either 2 plugins at a maximum value of 20 EUR MSRP for both, or one individual plugin of choice from the whole available plugin range (bundles are exempt). Due to time constraints, I could not make a bigger announcement about this yet. Apologies for the inconvenience.

I re-open the field for talking some more about each others' productions. If things drift a bit too off-topic, please use the General Gossip thread, or Discord.



See you in in the next challenge!


Songwriting Competition 080 (April 2024) is still in full swing.

There are currently no (number: 00) entries.

[TrojakEW]

Congrats all especially @FixInTheMix . You deserve to win in this round.

[BenjiRage]

Thank you everyone for your invaluable feedback. I have to admit it was a little disheartening to be overlooked by Arelem (I don't know whether this was intentional, but I know you're not the biggest fan of the 80s sound! ); nevertheless @FixInTheMix you are a very worthy winner and your submission was the better musical composition for sure so it is well deserved, congratulations! Congrats also to @VCA-089 for making the podium for your excellent composition. I feel honoured to be alongside you both.

I'll pass on choosing a plugin, it doesn't feel deserved somehow as I still feel like I need to do better. Honestly the feedback from you all has been so gratefully received, the positive points and love you've shown for the track have been a big boost to me this month, I really appreciate it. It's clear also that I need to learn to better develop my melodies, be less repetitive and try and reduce my song length so these are great points you've given me to take away and apply to the next one, thank you.

Hopefully see you all in the next challenge!