Mix Challenge

• 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.
• The general idea of this game is to "...just make music", to also challenge yourself by stepping a bit out of your comfort zone, and take a dip at realms you've never worked in before. Instrumentals are just as welcome as productions with vocals.
• The Genre and "Premise" of this months challenge can be found in in post #002
• Filename Template (Important): SWC079__ArtistName__TrackName.wav or .mp3
  • example: SWC079__MisterFox__ColorOfTheSky.wav
  • example: SWC079__Mister_Fox__Color_of_the_sky.wav

Staff (Mister Fox) wrote: Ti SN76477, Sharp LR35902, Yamaha YM21280, Ti SN76496 / Yamaha YM2612, MOS Technology SID 6581, Ricoh RP2A03, Sony SPC700, Ensoniq 5503, Roland LA32, E-mu EMU8011, QSound DSP16A, MOS Technology 8364 "Paula", Ensoniq ES-5506 OTTO...

If some of these sound chips instantly ring a bell for you, then you might know where this month's songwriting game direction is going. These are all chipsets from early 1980s to mid/late 1990s. Chips that have not only shaped generations of video game music, but also formed the (technological) basis for certain cutting-edge instruments and samplers that have changed the audio industry forever. We still use or emulate some of these tools today. Just to name a few of them: Yamaha DX7, Roland D-50 (and it's derivatives), E-MU Emulator/Proteus Series, the Ensoniq Mirage, Ensoniq SQ-80, Kawai K1, the Dewanatron Swarmatron concept was heavily inspired by/built upon a 1970s Texas Instruments chip, etc.

The task is simple: make "retro" music. Ideally even with some of these sound chips (or their evolution) as center-piece instruments. Please read more about the "fine print" further down below.
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Your task for this Songwriting Competition:
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This month, you can create a production in any "Synthwave" genre or sub-genre you feel like.


"Synthwave" (umbrella term) is a "revived derivative" from Synth-Pop, a music genre from the late 1970s to mid/late 1980s which dominantly featured synthesizers and other electric instruments rather than acoustic ones. The Synth-Pop genre found a slow "revival" with a new "genre label" during mid 2000s, also thanks to video games and certain media adapting stories and/or aesthetics that were set in the 1980s.

The genre quite literally exploded early 2010s with movies like "Tron: Legacy" (2010, the OST itself being heavily inspired by the first TRON movie soundtrack by Wendy Carlos) or "Driver" (2011), and in the video game realm with games like "Hotline Miami" (2012), "FEZ" (2012, blending pixel art, with chiptune/electronic music) and "Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon" (2013, itself being a spoof of 1980s action flicks). Another "jolt" happened in 2016 with the Netflix series release "Stranger Things" (2016), and in parallel with "Sci-Fi/Indie Horror" games like "Stories Untold" (2017), with similar 1980s aesthetics. Just to scratch the surface.

"Synthwave" also covers the sub-genres Synth-Pop (it's roots), Retrowave, Dreamwave (which can easily drift into Vaporwave), Darkwave, Video Game Music (most notably the 4th and 5th generation of video game consoles) and Chiptune. Some mix techniques for current style iterations are heavily inspired/adapted from modern day electronic music.


This month's general idea is based upon various requests on the forum, on Discord and behind the scenes (via email). In fact, an old request was to go "chiptune with a theme". And while this particular genre does indeed cover "Chiptune" as sub-genre, and you are allowed to go that route, maybe try to find a middle-ground. The idea is to have a "general vibe" from that era, but it can be as modern as you want it to be.

You set your own parameters and limitations. And as usual - vocals are optional. Don't feel pressured to provide any. Maybe instrumentals are working better this month, you never know.

Bonus comment:
There might be a follow-up to this month's general premise later down the line with a future Songwriting Competition.


Have fun, everyone!

Looking forward to the results!

► Show Spoiler

Available Bonus 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"
Licenses 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 Saurus4 to the winner
License will turn into NFR
More info on Tone2: https://tone2.com



kv331 audio is kind enough to either give away a SynthMaster 1+2 Bundle, or a freely selectable set of 3 SynthMaster Expansions
Licenses 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 2, a license of Bioscape, or any two sound sets of winner's choice
License will turn into NFR
More info on Luftrum: https://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: https://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: https://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: https://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: https://satyatunes.com/



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

Arelem wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:08 CET

For this month's theme/genre, I struggled a little bit because I'm not a fan of synth-wave in particular. However, I was able to make something that I really think came out great! It is a cross between mid-tempo and synth-wave. It does lean heavily into mid-tempo but there are obvious synth-wave elements and influences. It's good to be back and I hope ya'll like it.

Arelem wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 09, 2024 10:08 CET

Hello Everyone,

I've been absent for a bit; I had a lot going on. For this month's theme/genre, I struggled a little bit because I'm not a fan of synth-wave in particular. However, I was able to make something that I really think came out great! It is a cross between mid-tempo and synth-wave. It does lean heavily into mid-tempo but there are obvious synth-wave elements and influences. It's good to be back and I hope ya'll like it.