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Subject:Cool song contests
Posted by: liquid
Date:3/13/2003 5:28:16 PM

I went to acid planet, and realized that I missed a great opprotunity with Jewels contest to open up for her tour...I was wondering if anyone know of any good contests worth entering?

Subject:RE: Cool song contests
Reply by: Iacobus
Date:3/13/2003 8:12:30 PM

There's the Stockhausen contest. I mention this because it's good to challenge oneself to something one is not used to. (Plus there's a bunch of goodies to be had.)

Speaking of which, why do people enter their "entry" in that contest, even though they do not follow the rules on purpose? Why do they bother? I get kind of irritated, because it disrespects the nature of it all. They're called "rules" for a reason. Yeah, the rules are complex, but it's not that hard.

Iacobus

Subject:RE: Cool song contests
Reply by: liquid
Date:3/13/2003 9:20:43 PM

I checked out your link....ummm...that's really not what I had in mind...? I was thinking more like a contest where I enter original material that I wrote....but thanks anyway...

Subject:RE: Cool song contests
Reply by: dkistner
Date:3/14/2003 12:07:56 PM

They post news of contests on kvr. I know there have been several lately to win VSTis that I've been working on, with the emphasis on showcasing what the VSTis can do; but from time to time they have others that are more geared toward musicians showcasing their own material.


Subject:RE: Cool song contests
Reply by: fuzzy
Date:3/14/2003 6:24:57 PM

mD,

You're right about some entries not following the rules - particularly a few that use sounds and loops that obviously weren't provided by Stockhausen. However, if you examine the rules and the formula very closely you will find that they offer a surprising amount of freedom.

I can see only three real constraints in the rules. They are:

1. Use only the sound files provided for the contest to generate your "excerpts"
2. Stretch the formula 8 times to provide structure and duration for the composition
3. Use the formula, in it's original configuration, at least once in the composition

Apart from these constraints, I can see an infinite number of possibilities. There are two main reasons for this:

1. If you look at the original score of Stockhausen's formula, you'll find a single isolated note around the middle of the second measure - it's an A(7). This is the only note in the whole score that is not layered by other notes. You won't find this note in the project files provided by SF because they're wrong. I ignored those files altogether because they were inaccurate. In fact, anyone who uses them as the basis for they're entry is breaking the rules because they're not using Stockhausen's original formula. Anyway, getting back to my point, according to the rules, you can take any segment of the formula, and stretch it, repeat it, transpose it etc. Therefore, if you take that single A note, you can create any melody or rhythm you want with it, without breaking the rules.

2. If you use very tiny excerpts from the sound files provided, it is possible to create musical sounds. I found I got the best results from excerpts that were around 625 samples in duration. When you loop these tiny excerpts and then add a filter, some modulation, an envelope etc, you'll be amazed at the sounds that can be achieved. One of my excerpts sounds a bit like a piano, another like a cello. The longer your excerpt is (as in number of samples), the more percussive it sounds.

So I wouldn't be too quick to accuse people of not following the rules when you consider how much freedom the rules actually provide. Try my ideas for yourself and you'll see what I mean.

See ya

Subject:RE: Cool song contests
Reply by: Iacobus
Date:3/16/2003 10:56:19 AM

Actually, keep an eye out at ACIDplanet. They usually have the Electronoel contest at the end of each year. You're basically free to go crazy with whatever you have in that contest (copyright-free material, of course).

Iacobus

Subject:RE: Cool song contests
Reply by: Iacobus
Date:3/16/2003 11:28:08 AM

Oh, I know. I've found this out myself. There can be a lot to do creatively once you have the basic building blocks done (namely, both the original formula and the x8 formula) as you've noted. I was just referring to those who outrightly claimed they didn't follow the rules but entered anyway. (They're actually good projects but they just don't follow the rules.)

Actually, I looked at the original score and the project formulas (both normal and the x8 formulas). I couldn't find any discrepancies in that particular measure. Were you speaking of that lone natural A that's part of the triplet in the middle of the second measure? It corresponds to the event pitched to -4 in measure 2 on the D-flat 7 track.

Iacobus

Subject:RE: Cool song contests
Reply by: fuzzy
Date:3/17/2003 3:23:51 AM

Were you speaking of that lone natural A that's part of the triplet in the middle of the second measure? It corresponds to the event pitched to -4 in measure 2 on the D-flat 7 track.

That's the one. What can I say? My mistake. I could have sworn it was wrong the first time I looked at it. I thought I found other discrepancies also but I'd better take another look.

Subject:RE: Cool song contests
Reply by: Iacobus
Date:3/17/2003 1:55:03 PM

Hey, we all make mistakes. I should know. ;o)

Iacobus

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