NorioDS
Well we won't know if it works unless we try it. So if we can get some +1's for Rene's suggestion, let's try it for this week's challenge, maybe next week's as well. If it significantly improves the number of people entering, we stick with it, otherwise we ditch it.
All in favour say I (or +1 as it were ?)
CDee
+1 for Rene!
Renesongs
@ Alan - so you started playing guitar when you were 1 years old - impressive ?
@ Norio the only thing I am still trying to get right is the experience categories - I'm just having a guess at U2, U5, U10 and 10+ based on my teaching experience but any other ideas would be welcome. Maybe just run with these and adjust the groups as we go along.
NorioDS
Ya the experience categories can be tricky. If I work with that, then I'm U10 but if I only work from when I started getting serious about guitar, it's U5.
*shrug*
Squonk
Just stick to the original format but shorten the time. I think 60 seconds is good idea (Alan)
All the u10 , U20 would be too difficult to judge. It's just a little fun thing, let's keep it that way.
I am not overawed by the entries but rather I am challenged to become a better player.
How would you judge "Bob Dylan" doing "knocking on heavens door vs Joe Bonamassa doing "Walking Man Blues". Two extreme levels but which is the better?
Let's keep it simple.
LMinnie
Heres the way I see it gents...The challenge was put into practise so that we could showcase our ability...
Why not just do away with the voting altogether..after all.... were all winners(cos we play guitar).
Like Sqounk said its all fun and simple lets not get all uppity about it....
I for one dont want to win....I play for fun and enjoyment...I dont want to feel as if I need to make a big song and dance about this....It's a challenge there are no prizes..so why the fuss.
Just do what you do and if the other guys like it ....coodos to you..
Keep it real and enjoy yourselves!!
NorioDS
Keeping it simple works for me Squonk.
Doing away with the voting is fine by me.
We need to come to some sort of consensus. So far we're all pulling in different directions. We need to fixate on something we like and go with that. Either the shorter entries, or the categorised voting, or doing away with the voting, or maybe a combo.
Over to you ?
Spyke
My 2c:
Stick with the voting, it's a good way to encourage you to actually enter - you get to choose the next topic / theme and score some Karma in the process. (rightly so for contributing)
I'm for the short pieces, I'd say maximum two tracks, guitars or guitars and drums. Nice, cause now I need to explore the drum backing tracks too...
use it, don't use it...
NorioDS
I'm such a happy-go-lucky guy, I'm happy with most of the suggestions here. I just want some other people to agree on something and then let's do THAT ?
I'm also quite happy with keeping it exactly as it is. Bit by bit, the competition is growing and challenging people to up their game so it can't be all bad ?
NorioDS
I think I've got a good idea. Maybe the best one yet!
Just like the radio stations, what if we make it that, once you've won a challenge, you have to sit out the next one or the next 2. (Let's not go overboard, we don't wanna punish the winners, just give others some space to win in)
Thoughts?
FatBoy
I like Rene's idea, same reasoning why I started this topic and mentioned leagues. Yes we do this for fun, and yes there is no prize, but we are still trying to compete, otherwise we could all just post recordings in the Recording section. I vote we keep the format just as it is now, i.e no limits as long as you are playing a guitar in there, and add the categories.
I don't think limiting it to "no covers" or a certain track limit is a good idea, I been playing for just over 2 years about and I can only do covers at this stage. With regards to limiting tracks etc, I think even though we are guitarists, we are musicians too, and if you need to add 50 tracks to make the song sound good to you then so be it.
Happy with your idea of sitting out one round as well Norio, I think more than one would be going overboard though.
Rene, I am on of those that was hinting at having you in your own category (or just not in mine lol), I only did it because I felt it's unfair for us noobs to compete against someone as experienced as you, I hope you didn't take any offense, I should have just started this topic earlier.
Renesongs
I am in agreement with the under 60 second rule but topic pickers must be mindful of that there is no ways that Epic could work in under 60 seconds. Voting in categories is easy Each entry mails their category with their entry eg. "Here my version of Heavy I'm U5 Shredshredshred.mp3". And when It comes to voting I say here are the 50 entries but they are in three categories so you get 3 votes. At end I announce the winner in each category. If you are the only entrant in a category then well you win by default. Also if you have been playing for 2 years but want to play with the big dogs there is nothing wrong with competing in the U10 because you still have been playing for less than 10 years. It is just if you do it the other way round that it's a fail. There reason why I am pushing the voting system so hard is because is that it adds realism and a competitive edge that makes you strive for your personal best. For the country challenge I spent hours on youtube looking at tutorials on chicken picking and hey I learned to chicken pick (just a little bit) something I couldn't do before and something I would probably stayed on my to do list for the rest of my life if I wasn't motivated by a challenge.
Renesongs
@ Fritz - Absolutely no offence taken for quite a while I have thought it more than a little unfair that we all measured with the same stick regardless of experience. I was considering not entering last week but at the end of the day there were only 2 entries and that would probably caused this challenge to fissile out completely which would be a shame.
Sean
I'm one of those who have been too shy to enter because my effort will seriously be a beginners effort. Not only that but my only means of recording also leaves much to be desired.
...so, here is my 2c... ?
+1 for different categories (leagues whatever)
+1 for limited amount of tracks
+1 for limited time period
...oh, and keep the voting.
sepheritoh
Sean wrote
I'm one of those who have been too shy to enter because my effort will seriously be a beginners effort. Not only that but my only means of recording also leaves much to be desired.
...so, here is my 2c... ?
+1 for different categories (leagues whatever)
+1 for limited amount of tracks
+1 for limited time period
...oh, and keep the voting.
I have to say that there is no reason for anyone to not have access to good recording software. A computermusic magazine cost about R130 and has every piece of software on it that you would ever need (a sequencer, guitar effects, eq, compresors, drum samplers, etc, etc). Sure, I use Sonar 7, which is studio stuff, but many out there uses the freeware stuff and get much better results.
dyllels
Seeing as there aren't that many entrants IMO to make an age group thing work, what about having a 'BEGINNER' and 'ADVANCED' section?
I really like the limiting to 4 tracks idea. That way if you want a band sound you can have the usual two guitars, drums and bass or if you want different sound you can layer your guitar 4 times to get a big sound.
Just my opinions thrown into the mix ?
Squonk
sepheritoh wrote
I have to say that there is no reason for anyone to not have access to good recording software. A computermusic magazine cost about R130 and has every piece of software on it that you would ever need (a sequencer, guitar effects, eq, compresors, drum samplers, etc, etc). Sure, I use Sonar 7, which is studio stuff, but many out there uses the freeware stuff and get much better results.
Which magazine Seph?
Maybe you more experienced guys can give us a simple guide to recording from scratch. What do you need etc?
"basic recording for dummies" for those of us who have who want to learn.
NorioDS
I like Dylan's beginner/advanced idea. +1 ?
LMinnie
You know what.?...Just leave everything as is...Rene is a champ..and we should all be working our butts of to be more like him..
Suck it up guys..write something and post it...get over yourselves and just enjoy making music :-[
AlanRatcliffe
+1 on beginner/advanced.
@Squonk - there are a few things in the recording section (I've just stickied Neps' Recording 101 tutorials), but basically you need:
- Something to record on to - can be a computer with software and interface or a dedicated recorder like the Boss BR series
- Something to listen to your recordings - headphones or speakers. Headphones are essential if you are recording with a mic
- A way to capture your amp's tone - a microphone or if your amp has a "recording out" you can use that to DI (direct inject) the amp sound
