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, "Premise" and Rules Summary for this months challenge can always be found in in post #002

Staff (Mister Fox) wrote: Throughout the last years, I always tried to have a certain guideline for "Rocktober" / "Metal November" songwriting games. This month, I would like to try something new.

Instead of focusing on a specific genre of rock or metal music and perhaps setting the entry threshold a little too high, why not simplify? There is one common denominator - and that is the guitar. Have you always wanted to experiment with this instrument? This month you have the opportunity to do so.
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Your task for this Songwriting Competition:
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This month, you can create a production in any music genre you feel like. However, you are kindly asked to build something around at least one or more guitars. Be it an acoustic or an electric guitar.


The genre is not important. It can be a singer/songwriter style song (minimalistic, just guitar and voice, or a small arrangement with 4-6 instruments), chamber music, guitar ambient music, pop, rock, metal. Whatever you would like to try this month, or feel comfortable with. You set the entry level yourself - as long as you have a focus on guitars.

As usual, and I seem to have to emphasize this every month, you are not required to add vocals. Although I do notice that some of you fancy vocal synths as of late. Instrumental content is more than welcome with every game. Experiment, have fun. Ideally, the song runtime should be between 2:00 minutes and 8:00 minutes.


Looking forward to your creations.

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Summary:

• 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), exceptions apply regarding vocal sample usage)
• 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 of other artists, no ripped acapella's -- please only showcase your own new and original content (you are allowed to "remix yourself", recreate an old project, etc)
• 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:

• have a focus on guitars, the genre is up to you
• <no (additional) add-on rules specified>

Filename Template: SWC087__ArtistName__TrackName.wav or .mp3

• example: SWC087__MisterFox__ColorOfTheSky.wav
• example: SWC087__Mister_Fox__Color_of_the_sky.wav

Please also try to provide only one file format (ideally the highest quality possible).


For a full set of rules, please consult the Official Rules and Guidelines (see Rule Book post #6). If you got any questions regarding the game mechanics or similar, please either utilize the global Gossip and Discussion thread, or reach out through Discord.

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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.

⚠	Moderation Message from Mister Fox
	License Sponsors Musiclab are kind enough to offer an extension / renewal of their instrument demo period. This is a special offer for SWC087 / November 2024. If you've already used up your demo time (14 days), and want to take another look at the Musiclab guitars, or if you are in the middle of testing the software/songwriting for SWC087, but the demo timer is about to run out, you can kindly request a trial extension. This is how it works: Please reach out to Musiclab via their support request form as subject, please use "Requesting trial period prolongation" as text, please write "I am kindly requesting a trial period extension for <your full name> as part of the Mix Challenge audio community collaboration (SWC087 / November 2024).", please also copy this game thread link and paste it into the text message Musiclab need the following information from you full name and email address of the person requesting the extension (as in: you) computer model, OS and DAW version Real instrument model and version (e.g. RealStrat, version 6.1.0.7549) The turnaround should be within 24 hours on workdays. Please be patient, and please check your spam filters.

• Tutorial. Strumming -- especially for the acoustic guitars and the just released RealGMS
• Tutorial. Key Switches Solo Mode Walkthrough
• Tutorial. Simulating Guitar Techniques with KeySwitch FXs
• Tutorial. Creating Vibrato and Bend via MIDI CC#1 Automation (available for multiple DAWs)
• MusicLab V6. Humanize (tipp as longtime user: either reduce the "Strength" to 75% to make things "more tight" - which affects all settings, or only reduce the timing parameters in half to add just "a touch" more randomness)