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MetalOz
01-10-2007, 04:15 PM
This month's theme is:

CHOICES :amaze:

Shattered Future was last month's winner and he says "Imagine a difficult choice that you had to make in your life at one point or another. It could be about anything...

And don't blame me for the bad theme. I'm horrible at coming up with ideas. :P"


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GENERAL RULES FOR SUBMITTING YOUR SONG:
1. You can only enter ONE song.

2a. You are allowed ONE edit. As soon as you submit your song, you are given this edit. If for any reason you feel the need to fix or change anything in your song, then you may use your ONE edit.

2b. If you elect to use your one edit, you WILL NOT receive any more edits, and you MAY NOT tamper with or edit your song in any way, shape, or form.

2c. A SAMPLE OF YOUR SUBMISSION DOES NOT COUNT AS AN EDIT. IF YOU UPLOAD A SAMPLE FOR US, WE WILL GIVE YOU AN OPINION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE HEADED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

None of this bullshit where you submit multiple attempts but write "THIS IS NOT MY FINAL ENTRY." This encourages you to use your ONE edit when you actually need it. Submitting multiple samples that aren't samples (i.e. sending your song piece-by-piece) will result in an immediate disqualification, because it's just not fair to the other entrants.

3. Your song must fit the theme of this month.

4a. Host your submission on http://www.soundclick.com/, upload it into this thread via YSI, or email it to me and I will add it to the competition's Soundclick.

4b. If you would like your entry to be anonymous (So other users don't know whose song is whose) obviously, you will need to email me with a link rather than posting it in the thread.

5. I MUST have your song in MP3 format. Don't send me .wma, or .m4a, or any of those other BS extensions. As easy as they are to convert, don't make me do it for you, please. Thanks!

6a. MIDI SUBMISSIONS WILL BE IGNORED.

6b. Exception to Rule 6a: if you're using MIDI drums and/or keyboards, this is allowed; however, ALL GUITARWORK MUST BE AUTHENTIC.

7. If you are in need a recording program, do not ask us. Instead, download this free one: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

8. Here is a basic tutorial for using Fruity Loops and DKFH, Thank you comptonassrobert: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showpost.php?p=10716797&postcount=217

GENERAL RULES FOR THIS MONTH'S COMPETITION

1. You are absolutely allowed to have other MXers and/or musicians in your area to help you with your song; however, you (the member on MX) need to have a hand in the production.

2. Time length is not a staple for this month. It's all up to you. But keep in mind that a 30 second song is probably not going to win and a ten minute epic is going to be harder to vote on. Most rock and metal songs are three to five minutes in length.

3. Quality is not a must; however, naturally, superior quality may give some members an edge in the final voting, but do not be discouraged from entering if you feel you have mediocre or worse equipment. Voters who trash your recordings because of quality will be disqualified from voting.

4. Vocals are NOT A REQUIREMENT; however, if you're paranoid about singing or can't find a singer, then do an instrumental track.

5. Jom is my associate for these competitions. He will help me in judging if songs meet the required genre.

6. If you are having trouble recording or anything like that, please feel free to ask in this thread, plenty of members (especially Berner and moaner in The Jam Session forum) will be willing to help you to make your song. Just tell them why you need help, and these guys will be more than happy to assist you. Rounder is also extremely knowledgable and posts here often.

7. Any questions, feel free to post here or e-mail me.


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GENERAL RULES FOR THIS THREAD

1. The winner decides the theme for the next competition thread, except that I will make the thread.

2. Voting takes place in a separate thread, which is usually 2-3 days after the competition is over. PLEASE BE PATIENT. THANK YOU.

3. Winner selects the genre or theme. He/She is to NOT reveal it in the thread if he/she wins.

4. Don't spam this thread. Ask questions, give feedback, and so on, but don't spam this thread.

Besides the accepted definition of spam in R&M, the following case will also be treated as spam:

Don't **** in the thread about how you wished the theme was something else or that someone else should have won. Either you enter the competition and win it and change the theme and vote in the voting threads or shut the hell up.


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DEADLINE

THE DEADLINE FOR THIS COMPETITION WILL BE THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1ST , 11:59:59PM EDT (-5 GMT)

*This is open for flexibility - if it needs to get pushed back or forward, just let me know. Don't expect long periods, though.


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PARTING THOUGHTS:

1. READ THE RULES AND GUIDELINES ONE MORE TIME.

2. Good luck to all the participants.

3. HAVE FUN.

4. If you have questions, DO NOT HESITATE TO ASK IN THIS THREAD. We will not bite your head off unless you blatantly break the rules.

5. Make sure your song pertains to this month's selected theme.


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PS: If you have any specific questions for me personally, please send them to my email address:

metaloz@yahoo.com

Kage
01-10-2007, 04:20 PM
wtf @ theme


Actually I applaud you for doing something different. I think there could be a lot of different angles at which people approach this.

Shattered_Future
01-10-2007, 04:32 PM
Yeah, that's where I was going with it...





































*shiftyeyes* <_<

That was kinda what I had in mind though. So...have fun with it. Or ignore it. :p

Nick
01-10-2007, 06:02 PM
So I guess it'll be hard to pull off an instrumental this time....


It's that or try to find a use for my vocal range

Dr. Jake Destructo
01-10-2007, 06:18 PM
Ah, a lyrical theme.

This might actually motivate me.*



*I'll probably blow this off

La Revolucion
01-10-2007, 06:49 PM
Hmm...I think I'll go with an instrumental on this one, but I'm not entirely sure as to how I'll keep with the theme...oh well I'll do it anyway.

repcak
01-11-2007, 06:30 AM
so its not a special genre? its should have lyrics based on difficult choices you have made (once, or not)?

MetalOz
01-11-2007, 07:11 AM
^^no particular genre, although this is the R&M songwriting competition... although country western may seem the ideal choice for this theme, I don't know how well you'd score :)

repcak
01-11-2007, 08:48 AM
well, i can't write country music... but i propably will write something in the style of death-metal, doom-metal ... but recently i started to write a song in the style of buckethead with a nice melody... maybe i should write this to the end and add lyrics, yes.

i think i shall enter this competition for the first time, although i have exams in the next few weeks...

edit:
btw. is it possible to write this song with some other guys? maybe with my 2nd guitarist who is also registered here but he never post anything.

Kage
01-11-2007, 09:21 AM
Yeah, writing it with other people is fine as long as their participation is acknowledged.

Iceman-rocker
01-11-2007, 10:09 AM
i think this could get interesting seeing as how the theme will be hard to express instrumentally.

Iceman-rocker
01-11-2007, 10:10 AM
i think im going to enter this time :)

repcak
01-11-2007, 01:54 PM
you can write lyrics....

i am the robots
01-11-2007, 03:30 PM
Straight edge ghetto hardcore, I promise.

Expect something like Crimescene :lol:.

Dr. Jake Destructo
01-11-2007, 06:27 PM
I'm pretty sure you can't do this without lyrics. I suppose you could have some kind of theme of duality in the songwriting, but I doubt anyone rating these songs will dig that deep or anything. :-/

Iceman-rocker
01-11-2007, 07:12 PM
lol i wasnt saying i was going to do it instrumentally. just saying that it would be hard to do it. would have to write extremely thought provoking music to get someone to think about choices. lol.

Dr. Jake Destructo
01-11-2007, 08:02 PM
After thinking about it, it would definitely be possible. Maybe start with a major piano progression, then enter a dark chorus with heavy guitarwork and maybe some haunting synths...Go at that for a while, then have a breakdown with like a bar or phrase of each, building up into an intense wall of dissonance between the piano and the guitars, eventually receding into whichever 'choice' you wish to choose with the direction of your song.

Hey, I have an idea!

copyright Dr. Jake '07

Shattered_Future
01-11-2007, 08:12 PM
Now the hard part. Getting off your lazy *** and actually doing it.

Huber
01-11-2007, 08:42 PM
I finally got the ability to lay down some recording with DKFH and a decent guitar setup and now I need vocals to enter!? ARGH

Kage
01-11-2007, 08:43 PM
Don't worry about vocals. Just write a song and come up with a crackpot explanation of how it reflects choices in your life. ;)

Huber
01-11-2007, 08:48 PM
I might be able to pull that off.

/walks to guitar

Pete
01-11-2007, 09:08 PM
If everyone didn't always hate on my vocals, I'd be thrilled about a lyrical theme. But w/e, this means I can just write a good song, any genre, and hope people will dig it even though my vocal work won't be 100%.

Unless someone wants to do the vocals for me?

Dr. Jake Destructo
01-11-2007, 11:55 PM
Now the hard part. Getting off your lazy *** and actually doing it.

Truth.

I actually do have a song that might fit the description well as is.

Kage, do you remember the last song I whored to you? I could get the contrasting minor and arab-based riffs to somehow play off of each other to signify the 'choice' or something...

Ugh, **** this.

Shattered_Future
01-12-2007, 10:08 PM
I'm gonna try to get somebody to do vocals for me, but I wouldn't worry about it. I'm probably gonna go vocal-less again.

Pete
01-13-2007, 04:22 AM
If anyone wants to/can record vocals in the Immortal vein, let me know. I will probably do it myself again though, and get sh!tty scores because of it.

adamstartin
01-13-2007, 09:48 AM
Does the choice have to be real, or fictional? can we make up a story or summet? I wanna write summet about death, hell and killing, but my life isnt that interesting, im actually a librarian :-(

Shattered_Future
01-13-2007, 09:52 AM
Just write SOMETHING. :smash:

adamstartin
01-13-2007, 10:54 AM
Just write SOMETHING. :smash: haha ok, ive got some funky jazz blues in the works for this one.

Rounder
01-13-2007, 01:56 PM
Having been offline for a good long time, I figure a good way to come back would be to enter into another one of these comps. I happen to have a song I have been working on the last few months that fits the theme I think.

repcak
01-14-2007, 07:57 AM
how can i record drums? i know there is this fruity loops, but i never used it... isn't it more a synthesizer?

the other thing is: i use Kristal Software to record my guitar. how can i import gp4 files (midi) into it? f.e. if i record the drums on guiter pro?

what programs are you using for recording drums? any help would be great. thanks

Rounder
01-14-2007, 12:05 PM
8. Here is a basic tutorial for using Fruity Loops and DKFH, Thank you comptonassrobert: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showpost.php?p=10716797&postcount=217



If you dont really know how midi drums, or drum programs in general work, read the tutorial, and fruity loops would probably be your best bet. Having never heard of your audio recording software, I can't really help you there, except most halfway decent audio progs will have some sort of import midi feature in the menus.

There is a way you can kinda jerry-rig it. If you can select the 'record what U hear' feature in the windows audio options, and if your audio software will record 'what U hear', you can just open up gp4, play the drums, while recording with your audio software. Of course whatever prog your using must be a multi-track program, other wise its pointless.

repcak
01-14-2007, 12:22 PM
ok, thank you!

repcak
01-14-2007, 02:11 PM
i think i have a problem.... with Kristal i have problems putting the samples together... i can export only one sample at a time into .wav but never all :angry:

and when i play a chord for longer than 5seconds the mic is getting quite :eek: i never had this before... i think i should try out audacity.... :/

Dr. Jake Destructo
01-15-2007, 06:59 PM
how can i record drums? i know there is this fruity loops, but i never used it... isn't it more a synthesizer?

the other thing is: i use Kristal Software to record my guitar. how can i import gp4 files (midi) into it? f.e. if i record the drums on guiter pro?

what programs are you using for recording drums? any help would be great. thanks

Export it as a .WAV instead of a MIDI file.

Iceman-rocker
01-16-2007, 09:27 AM
ah god. i need to get around to doing this.

been putting it off.

hey anyone knowlegable, are you allowed to use a song you have been working on with your band? if it reflects the topic?

MetalOz
01-16-2007, 09:35 AM
Of course you can, do it!

Iceman-rocker
01-16-2007, 09:36 AM
sweet. kill 2 birds with one stone. just gotta record one song :)

repcak
01-17-2007, 06:59 AM
great, i've got the lyrics!

a friend will help me with the drums and he will do record some parts of the guitar ...

Pete
01-17-2007, 07:27 AM
Hmmm, decisions decisions - should I go for my thrash-tinged punk rock song, or my blackened melodeath song?

Iceman-rocker
01-17-2007, 09:37 AM
do a neo classical piano solo.

with hardcore screaming about which cereal you want to eat for breakfast.

naboo
01-17-2007, 08:51 PM
****, I have a song that I'm going to do soon that would fit this theme very well, but I'm right in the middle of recording a huge song right now. Hmm, the lyrics of that one vaguely reflect the theme of this... maybe with a few rewordings.. heh.

naboo
01-17-2007, 08:58 PM
Hmmm, decisions decisions - should I go for my thrash-tinged punk rock song, or my blackened melodeath song?

Blackened Melodeath!!!! I'm doing something somewhat similar though.

repcak
01-19-2007, 12:28 PM
i just finished my song in guitar pro and realized that it will be about 1min long.... solo included... is it too short for this competition?

MetalOz
01-19-2007, 12:36 PM
There's no time limit but voting may be affected... most rock songs are 3-5 minutes...

repcak
01-19-2007, 12:39 PM
right now the song is about 45seconds long... without the solo... lol

Invicta_Veritas
01-19-2007, 11:03 PM
I think I might drop in on this one.......maybe

Pete
01-20-2007, 10:28 AM
Mine is done. I did the vocals myself (although I still have one edit, so if anyone wants to give them a try, hit a nigga up). Here's the song and the lyrics for those interested;

http://www.rebukepunks.com/pete/junk/FatPete-MortisAboriorSol(SurrenderOrDie).mp3

Mortis Aborior Sol (Surrender Or Die)

in the dead of night
in the shadows of dreams of mine
the silence was shattered by cries

from a crimson sky
over landscapes of ancient ice
gaze burning celestial eyes

a new god is born
crown of thorns and a head of horns
exhumed from the grave of yore

wields a burning scythe
black heart and teeth shining white
setting the darkness alight

i am malice
i am spite
you will come to rue the night

you awoke me
and my wrath
i have come to pave the path

for the last time you have turned your back on me
surrender your newborn to me as a sacrifice
surrender or die
and the women wept
and the men all grasped their swords
to fight back the charging horde

from the depths of hell
with lust for blood and bestial yells
they spread carnage cross the moors

i am death and destruction
i'm the seventh pillar of time
i'm the darkness of human minds

the carnivorous instinct
the maddening hunger for blood
the shadow of all that is good

i am your grand commander
your limbs are all in my control
mortis aborior sol

turn your swords on you brothers
the fusion of hatred and self
unleash your inner hell

repcak
01-20-2007, 02:49 PM
so my song is now 1:40 long... with the solo and all the other parts... for me the song is perfect, though its short but repeating the whole lyrics once again is a little bit pointless ....

Morbid Angel - Day of Suffering is only 2min long and is still awesome... i think i will leave it...

the song is good enough to vote, though its only 1:40 long... :p

/be surprised :D

Rounder
01-22-2007, 12:04 PM
Ok, Here is my song, called Hope. It wasn't written for this contest, but I think it fits the theme somewhat. Lyrics are on the song page.

http://www.soundclick.com/player/single_player.cfm?songid=4914071&q=hi&ref=2

(Updateded- Vip soundclick)

And yes, I know the vocals are teh suxxors, but I can't find any worthy vocalists around here.

I just upgraded our soundclick to vip, if anyone cares to check it out, got a vid of my brother playing our songs on drums there.
http://www.soundclick.com/pro/view/03/default.cfm?BandID=175879

Shattered_Future
01-22-2007, 02:11 PM
That's my problem too. I have the song done, but I know almost NOBODY who will do vocals. I gotta ask around school.

repcak
01-22-2007, 02:41 PM
well... my song is written, lyrics, everything... the vocals are doing me and my guitarist... i have another problem... some guitar parts i wrote are tricky... and i have problems to record them without big mistakes. in addition it sucks with my amp...

TheHamburgerman
01-24-2007, 05:10 AM
I have a small question. How do you all record those songs? At home I have a drum, guitar, keyboard and a throat, plus I'm thinking of buying a bass guitar. But I don't know how to record it.

TheHamburgerman
01-24-2007, 05:11 AM
Plus, is there any way to listen to Shattered Future's song?

MetalOz
01-24-2007, 05:26 AM
7. If you are in need a recording program, do not ask us. Instead, download this free one: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Last Month's Competition results are here:
http://www.sputnikmusic.com/forums/showthread.php?t=509341

Eliminator
01-24-2007, 05:32 AM
ew audacity

Avalanche.
01-24-2007, 08:28 AM
Ok, Here is my song, called Hope. It wasn't written for this contest, but I think it fits the theme somewhat. Lyrics are on the song page.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=175879&songID=4914071

And yes, I know the vocals are teh suxxors, but I can't find any worthy vocalists around here.

Hey man, you did a great job, I love the song.

Dr. Jake Destructo
01-24-2007, 11:49 AM
Rounder song pretty much owns. It's very reminiscient of the Aussie prog rock act Cog which is a good thing.

I'm listening through a few random songs on that page...Dayum. Geltab is epic.

Shattered_Future
01-24-2007, 01:55 PM
Plus, is there any way to listen to Shattered Future's song?

For this month, or last?

Last month, Oz posted.

This month...you gotta wait. :p

Rounder, this is a flippin cool song. Kudos.

DaTwig
01-25-2007, 02:14 PM
You know, I might actually do this. I'm already writing a song with my band that would fit well with this. Just got to get it recorded. Hopefully we can do so in a week.

MetalOz
02-01-2007, 03:52 PM
I seem to have entries from FatPete and Rounder and I'll be entering as well, so that's only three entries... this is over at midnight tonight...

MetalOz
02-02-2007, 07:19 AM
I'll be posting the voting thread in a little while...

EDIT:
Rounder, I can only stream your entry and I need an mp3 so I can put it on the Competition soundclick!!!

I am going out of town in a couple hours so if I don't get an mp3 soon, I will wait to post the voting thread until Sunday when I am back

Rounder
02-02-2007, 02:38 PM
fix'd

Shattered_Future
02-02-2007, 02:38 PM
Man, I really wish I could have found a singer...:mad:

repcak
02-02-2007, 04:11 PM
i wished i would be able to record it in a quality i would have been satisfied... i sounded sooo awful, that i stopped... though i really liked the song. :(

Rounder
02-02-2007, 05:35 PM
there are only 3 entries??? c'mon peeps.

MetalOz
02-04-2007, 07:49 AM
I'm back! I'll get the voting thread up before the Super Bowl :)