• 🏆 Texturing Contest #33 is OPEN! Contestants must re-texture a SD unit model found in-game (Warcraft 3 Classic), recreating the unit into a peaceful NPC version. 🔗Click here to enter!

Music Contest #11 - Cinematic

Status
Not open for further replies.
Level 28
Joined
Nov 12, 2007
Messages
2,341
the%20hive%20workshop.png

music.png
contest.png
number.png
1.png
1.png



Movie-set.jpg


Cinematic

Participants are to create a cinematic soundtrack that would be suited for modern styled cinematic tracks that you would hear today.

contest%20rules%20and%20conditions.png


  • Submissions may not be started / made before the official launch of the contest.
  • Teamwork is not allowed (physically working on someone else's entry).
    • Giving feedback isn't considered teamwork and is always welcome. However if you feel someone is abusing it, you may appeal to the appointed moderator.
  • Post 1 Work In Progress (WIP) in the contest thread during the contest process. It should be clear that you are working on the submission.
  • Post your final entry in the contest thread before contest is over. The post should have your submission attached, ideally with a little presentation,
  • Judges may not participate.
  • Your WIP must include a screenshot of your worksheet.
  • Your final entry must include the music in an accepted file Format (MP3 or OGG).
  • You may not include long periods of silence in your song - rests are allowed but using 30 seconds of continuous silence simply to fill up space is not allowed.
  • Songs shouldn't contain only a single instrument soloing.
  • Minimum length is 1 minute, there is no maximum length (please keep it reasonable, 20 minute entries may create the necessity for a maximum length).
  • Any method of music production is allowed, including using sequencers, virtual instruments, sound samples and standard recording.
  • Vocals can be used, though the part being judged is the overall sound. Essentially the vocals are being treated as if they were instruments. Since this is a music contest, the sound is the product being judged, not the lyrics.
  • Though sampling is allowed, it must be within reason:
    • If you use an instrument sound sample for a Sampling VSI (basically if you just use the sound for the instrument, and make it play your music) you must provide the source of the sound, be it a website or an individual.
    • Sampling copyrighted material without the consent of the owner is illegal and will not be accepted.
    • You may use Royalty free sound samples - but you must provide the source of the sample.
    • The final song must be at least 75% of your writing - In essence, you can use a royalty free drum loop (or other form of sampled material) in your song, but if you chose to you must create enough of the other material or use in such a way that it can be said that you wrote 75% of the song. Samples of instruments are simply to be used for a sequencer (like building a drum line out of specific drums or using a pitch altering sampler to make a melody out of a sound sample from an instrument) are exempt from the 75% rule.

Breaking any of these rules may lead to punishment in the judgement score, up to disqualification from the contest, depending on the weight of the issue. In case of doubts towards a certain rule you are very encouraged to discuss it in the contest thread so others and judges may help with sorting it out.

prizes.png

  • 1st place: 40 reputation points
  • 2nd place: 25 reputation points
  • 3rd place: 15 reputation points
  • Participants: 5 reputation points
  • Judges: 5 reputation points
The three winners will receive an award icon, representing the winning entry.​

contest%20judging.png

  • Mr. Vacant
  • Ms. Vacant


Theme
How well does it demonstrate the feeling of the theme/15

Creativity/Originality
How original is the piece? How creative are you with the theme/instruments/etc.
/10

Production
Basically, how well does it flow? Are accents used to good effect? Do overall levels make sense? etc./10

Composition
How well is it composed? Do the key changes make sense?/15

/50


  • Judgement: 70%
  • Poll: 30%
FinalScore = (30*Reached_Votes/POSSIBLE_VOTES) + (70*JudgeScore/100)

contest%20dates%20and%20deadline.png


The contest shall begin on 18th December 2018 and conclude on 21st January 2019 GMT (day is included).

tips.png


Here are some free to use resources that can get you started:

  • Audacity: Free Audio recording program - though you have to start a new track every time you record (cut and paste across tracks to deal with this), this handy audio program has nearly no latency (non-noticeable) and is a great start for people recording actual instruments.

  • ModPlug Tracker: A tracker composing program. Pretty easy to use and powerful. Doesn't come with very many instruments although more are easy to get.


  • FL Studio (formerly known as Fruity Loops): Another powerful composer. Has a bit of a steep learning curve and also is not free but there is a trial version you can use.

  • Switch Audio Converter: Free audio file changing program - can convert to less commenly used audio file types like RAW's and Orggis Vorbis along with the big ones like MP3's (Can convert iTunes locked format too).

  • Psycle: A free sequencer type program - similar to Mod Plug. Has a bit of a learning curve, though it's pretty powerful when used correctly.

  • Mp3 Direct Cut: Simplistic audio editing program that allows you to edit Mp3 directly, from their original file (don't forget to back up the original).

  • Krystal Audio Engine: Similar to Audacity, though this program is tooled more towards people editing or mixing music - recording can generate some terrible latency. (Essentially its more powerful then Audacity, but much more difficult to record a sound directly to it)

  • Hammerhead Rythm Station: A free drum machine that has built in sounds geared towards Electronica and Dance music. Also supports importing your own drum sounds via userbanks (some userbanks are provided on the site) and the entire sound library can be edited if you get more advanced with it - Drum parts can be exported as wav's and then used in your music. You will want to use Switch Audio engine if you plan on importing your own sounds as it only supports the RAW format.

  • Guitar Pro 5 - A popular Tab program that is capable of producing MIDI works. When used with the RSE plugins it can produce some realistic guitar/bass/drum parts. There is a trial version that allows for 15 days free - RSE can't be used in the trial version

  • Acoustica Beatcraft a drum machine that works similarly to Hammerhead but with more power (like the ability to use triplets). The free trial can be downloaded multiple times

  • FamiTracker: Sequencer for producing old school Nes/Famicon music. Music made from this can be played on an actual NES or Famicon (if you happen to know how to transfer such works to a game cartridge)

  • Suggest some more!


  • Cockos REAPER: REAPER is a complete digital audio production application for Windows and OS X, offering a full multitrack audio and MIDI recording, editing, processing, mixing and mastering toolset. Has a 60-day 100% functional trial and can still be used after that.
Additionally, this page can help some new composers to create better music if they don't have any good workstation to work on:

The 10 Best Free DAWs Available - RouteNote Blog

Extra two here as well:

SAVIHost – Standalone VST host for Windows
Ohm Studio - this might be paid by now.

Download Free Digital Audio Workstation plug-in: Podium Free by Zynewave its in the DAW list but i feel its better than most options,FL Studio is good but not being able to save a project is a big minus
Komplete : Samplers : Kontakt 5 Player | Products Very good and comes with a bunch of good stuff already,plus just googling ''Free Kontakt player libraries'' and you'll find a lot of stuff no doubt
Ultimate List of Free Kontakt Libraries A list of free libraries for kontakt.Be aware though,not all kontakt libraries will play on the kontakt player,some will play in demo mode as they require the full kontakt version,others will play normally
bigcat Instruments This guy makes a lot of good stuff for kontakt,free.




Applied moderator: @Naze
 
Last edited:
Level 28
Joined
Nov 12, 2007
Messages
2,341
Last edited:

deepstrasz

Map Reviewer
Level 68
Joined
Jun 4, 2009
Messages
18,680
Haven't started yet and your boy @deepstrasz is already almost complete.
Nah... just had a little inspiration and some free time today. But, let's be frank, it's basically the same thing over and over. Not hard to copy paste notes :p until you get to so many minutes you could call it a song.

I just had the urge to try something. I was skeptical at first when I saw the theme because I thought we'd have to fit the song to a specific scene but, phew, it was not like that.
 
Level 16
Joined
Jul 21, 2010
Messages
923
Been working on my engineering game for the past few months... I'm curious to see where mine goes. But anyway here's my first WIP, it's nothing much but it's something. Though I'm not sure why I bother showing so little, but I'll work on it more tomorrow and rest on it today.

Welcome to the party, @Hakren. Will be looking out for what you do for sure!
 

Attachments

  • WIP 1.png
    WIP 1.png
    200.5 KB · Views: 244
  • ItsRyanBoi_CinematicProduction_MusicContest_11.mp3
    608.1 KB · Views: 227

deepstrasz

Map Reviewer
Level 68
Joined
Jun 4, 2009
Messages
18,680
Been working on my engineering game for the past few months... I'm curious to see where mine goes.
Is this song connected somehow to the game you've been working on? Or engineering game in the sense that you've been trying to modify sounds/instruments (VSTs)?

I like where it's going. I expect a boom or something from that soft intro to some action packed orchestration. Am I right :D?
 
Level 16
Joined
Jul 21, 2010
Messages
923
Or engineering game in the sense that you've been trying to modify sounds/instruments (VSTs)?
Just getting a lot better at making my tracks sound complete, so I don't need to rely on others to engineer my tracks.

I like where it's going. I expect a boom or something from that soft intro to some action packed orchestration. Am I right :D?
Not sure if the intro will stay exactly how it is. But yeah you should expect a pretty big boom after the little break at the end.
 
Level 16
Joined
Jul 21, 2010
Messages
923
Here's an unproved updated to what it was before (plus a little extra). The drop will have same changes to it, but figured I'll keep you all up to date. This will take me a while to make, since I never put effort into a cinematic before. I'll provide a picture in my next update once I'm happy when the drop.
 

Attachments

  • Music Contest_11_ItsRyanBoi_Cinematic.mp3
    1.1 MB · Views: 165
Level 9
Joined
Jul 15, 2011
Messages
40
Okay,heres WIP with screen,stuffs out of tempo here and there yes,but ill leave it at that,else it wouldve been sketchy with the WIP so similar to the entry as i dont know how much ill end up changing on the final entry,might make the build up slower or something,melody is not quite right as well.Still thinking of a title for it though might go with ''Pulsating Universe''


Contest 11.png
 

Attachments

  • Cinematic Contest 11 wip.mp3
    3.8 MB · Views: 168
Last edited:
Level 4
Joined
Jul 25, 2008
Messages
55
Hi there,

I'm in. Here's a screenshot of my progress, as well as an MP3 up to the signature change. The signature change is not in the mp3 as of now. Very little mastering has been applied.
 

Attachments

  • HiveContestWarRis.png
    HiveContestWarRis.png
    123.2 KB · Views: 182
  • WarRis1.mp3
    4.4 MB · Views: 175
Level 9
Joined
Jan 7, 2019
Messages
24
I think I have finished the track. Well, the rules said about little presentation (hope I understand the rules right). I was inspired by some epic castle sieges from different RTS games (and Warcraft 3 of course!). So this track about the brave defenders who are ready to stand vs much bigger armies and ready to protect their home to the end.
 

Attachments

  • Castle Defenders.mp3
    5.5 MB · Views: 228
  • final.jpg
    final.jpg
    373.3 KB · Views: 194
Level 16
Joined
Jul 21, 2010
Messages
923
@Its Ryan Boi , @deepstrasz , @Phantawalker

All three have completed their tracks. I see that Phantawalker still needs to be added to the list of contestants.

@Brambleclaw

I'm not sure if you're actually done with your submission, please leave an update on if it's complete or not.

@Tridinar

The same for you too, it's hard to tell if you're actually done, since you don't state that yours was complete. I'll assume that you're still mix and mastering the track.

@enzo2090

You've mentioned a few things that would make me consider that your last submission was not your final entree, please make sure to give us the final version if applicable.

@Hakren

If you're already done please give us the final version of your track for the contest.

I don't think I've missed anybody, just letting you all know what's going on with the contest, if the contest does not get extended then now is your chance to upload your final version of the tracks that where made for this contest.

Thanks,
ItsRyanBoi
 
Level 17
Joined
Apr 3, 2010
Messages
1,101
I thought deadline was 18th. I've just been too procrastinating over actually exporting the track from the software. Will get that submitted today ;l
 
Level 4
Joined
Jul 25, 2008
Messages
55
Hey there, almost finished. Doing the mastering on it now, and trying to get some things cleaned up. It'll be uploaded tonight before midnight. That way it'll be ready for the 18th.

Everyone's doing a great job so far.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top