The Paul Bothner sponsored Challenge - June 2014

FruitarGeek · 2014-06-03T13:11:39+00:00

Paul Bothner Music is once again sponsoring this month's competition, and they are offering 3 sets of RotoSound strings for the winners of each category. Paul Bothner also have recording facilities at most of their stores should you require assistance in recording your entry. Contact your closest store to book or for more info. The challenge will be broken into 2 Categories. Category 1 - "Beginner - Intermediate" Category 2 - "Advanced - Professional" The Theme "cinematic soundtrack." This could be anything really (could be an action sound track or suspense or comedy, etc) See an example here: Tutorials from the same artist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgt6WPxUgZIqP5idHHn_kylwTCzNUrHIO ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Submit all entries on or before 23 June at 9:00. Entries must be submitted via EMAIL Send the following: 1. An mp3 of your song 2. A link to your song 3. Your username on the forum 4. What category you wish to enter into. Send to: rogowski.adrian@gmail.com *Many of you are still sending via the site's PM function. It creates more admin for me, so please try help a brother out haha.

guitarboy2828

Mike wrote Adrian, can I suggest that the blind voting does make it harder for there to be dialogue, and also for the participants to engage. If I'm an entrant, I have to be very delicate about commenting on anything in case I blow my cover, and I certainly can't respond to any comments about my own entry until maybe a week after the comment in question, by which time it's a bit stale.

I can see that there are many, many advantages to pseudonymous entries, but I just wanted to articulate some of the downsides, too.

For example, you wondered what kind of movie my entry might have been for—I saw it as the credit sequence for a caper movie, and could have answered (thus continuing the dialogue), under different rules.

Just my R0.02-worth ?

I agree with Mike 100%. I really wanted to respond to your comments regarding my entry, but knew I couldn't. Also wanted to ask questions about other people's entry, but knew I couldn't. So, I do think there is a big limiting factor with the way it is now. I think posting names, but not showing votes is cool.

I agree with what you said Adrian, strings are really a lil bonus. So, if people are going to get too serious about the voting and being biased because they know they they are voting for to get some strings, I rather drop winning strings. I'd love to get more feedback on my entry. Especially from guys like you and Alan, Bob and Mixerboy. I do a lot of digital stuff and would love to hear techniques on how to get better sounding mixes, etc.

But hey, love these challenges, thanks for all the time you invest Adrian!

Mixerboy

I was a bit confused as well about whether to respond or if we shouldn't etc.

I like the small prize idea though, makes it seem more like a legit competition.

G-Man

I've just moved to a new area and the last 2 months have been impossible for me to enter, I might have a go again soon.

As for the drop in votes, Ive sometimes kind of felt like these things are as much a popularity contest as they are a guitar challenge, I mean this forum is about the people who play guitar as well as the instrument itself, so it isnt surprising that the lack of activity from not having an ongoing dialogue equals less people viewing the topic which equals less votes. Dont hate me, it's just my opinion.

studmissile

I thought the old way didn't really work either? Since you've done it this way you've had way more entrants than ever, no?

FruitarGeek

studmissile wrote I thought the old way didn't really work either? Since you've done it this way you've had way more entrants than ever, no?

Absolutely. We've had about 9-10 NEW people enter, not just the same old same old (which don't get me wrong, I love the same old, I am a same old haha). And you've seen for yourself, the entries have doubled if not more so. So its a big perk, and its what the guys at Bothners want to see, but what I want to see is more interaction. I understand you can't really comment on your tracks. If any of you have suggestions, please shoot away. I still intend to develop this competition, its still in the Alpha stages.

warrenpridgeon

Adrian Rogowski wrote
studmissile wrote I thought the old way didn't really work either? Since you've done it this way you've had way more entrants than ever, no?
Absolutely. We've had about 9-10 NEW people enter, not just the same old same old (which don't get me wrong, I love the same old, I am a same old haha). And you've seen for yourself, the entries have doubled if not more so. So its a big perk, and its what the guys at Bothners want to see, but what I want to see is more interaction. I understand you can't really comment on your tracks. If any of you have suggestions, please shoot away. I still intend to develop this competition, its still in the Alpha stages.

I shall make a plan to comment and possibly enter the next one. I feel "unqualified" to comment on the entries... Feel way outta my depth with these challenges ???

Mixerboy

Will start commenting as well

FruitarGeek

warrenpridgeon wrote I shall make a plan to comment and possibly enter the next one. I feel "unqualified" to comment on the entries... Feel way outta my depth with these challenges ???

Ah man, you have absolutely no reason to say anything. I mean, the crits I give, are quite literally MY OPINION on what I would have done in the circumstances. Each to their own.

Ive had industry professionals give me tips on my mixing which I completely disregarded cause I didn't think it was relevant to me, yet I've had the real joe soap of the street also give me a crit which had revolutionized a certain way I mixed. So it has nothing to do with qualifications.

Also, why do you feel "outta depth" with the challenges? I must know so as to make it more accommodating.

V8

G-Man wrote As for the drop in votes, Ive sometimes kind of felt like these things are as much a popularity contest as they are a guitar challenge, I mean this forum is about the people who play guitar as well as the instrument itself, so it isnt surprising that the lack of activity from not having an ongoing dialogue equals less people viewing the topic which equals less votes. Dont hate me, it's just my opinion.

Maybe - I'm a fan of the double blind/mystery voting as now I don't have any expectations or connotations that it's going to x/y/z, so I can listen and be surprised. Also trying to figure who's track it is big fun for me ?

Adrian Rogowski wrote
warrenpridgeon wrote I shall make a plan to comment and possibly enter the next one. I feel "unqualified" to comment on the entries... Feel way outta my depth with these challenges ???
Ive had industry professionals give me tips on my mixing which I completely disregarded cause I didn't think it was relevant to me, yet I've had the real joe soap of the street also give me a crit which had revolutionized a certain way I mixed. So it has nothing to do with qualifications.

What Adrian said! Perhaps we get a bit involved in being guitarists/artists that we forget 95% of people who we'd want to listen to our creations are...listeners. I'm reminded of that silly quote "I don't know much about art, but I know what I like".

I reckon opinions are like checking your mix on multiple sound systems (your monitors, cheap earbuds, car audio, etc), a balanced mix will sound decent on most. I usually ask my sister to have a listen, she's not a music junkie and if it 's not working - she'll let me know.

warrenpridgeon

Adrian Rogowski wrote
warrenpridgeon wrote I shall make a plan to comment and possibly enter the next one. I feel "unqualified" to comment on the entries... Feel way outta my depth with these challenges ???
Ive had industry professionals give me tips on my mixing which I completely disregarded cause I didn't think it was relevant to me, yet I've had the real joe soap of the street also give me a crit which had revolutionized a certain way I mixed. So it has nothing to do with qualifications.

Insecurities man...Insecurities... Make me feel like I shouldn't comment on the amazing stuff people are submitting.

chris77

It's a dual edged blade. Double mystery means the voting is as neutral as possible and therefore devoid of any outside elements which might influence it. BUT, no outside interaction means all we have to go on is the track itself and there is no context provided within which to judge it.
I personally like to read which gear was used by the entrant and how their entry came to be. Let's take this challenge as am example. All the entries were great, but it would have added a lot more if the scene was set with some background info, eg, what was the name of the movie and during which scene does your entry play, and how the heck did you get that fat crunch tone that kicks in at the 32 seconds mark? Just little things that add to the overall quality of the track would have been nice....

V8

chris77 wrote I personally like to read which gear was used by the entrant and how their entry came to be.

Me too. That interaction is such a great tool to improving one's skills (and not having to try every friggin' plugin under the sun!). As a direct result of a few challenges I upgraded drums and 'mastering' plugins because people shared their knowledge. (Thanks guys!)

I don't understand why the thread(s) now die after the voting closes and the results are announced. I figured no-one is really interested and have moved onto more interesting things. Personally, if I've done anything that intrigues someone and they want to know more, feel free to ask and I'll share my (super amateur) approach/tools.

Alternatively one could write a little blurb with a entry giving it context - tough to judge if it'll give away the identity of the creator?

FruitarGeek

V8 wrote Alternatively one could write a little blurb with a entry giving it context - tough to judge if it'll give away the identity of the creator?

Ok, well we will try it for this month's challenge. I don't see the harm in a little blurb, it shouldn't reveal too much about the author. I'm just waiting for the runner up of Category 2 to send me a possible theme. Hopefully by tomorrow we can get the new comp up and running.

Wildaker

How would it work if entrant voluntarily "outed" themselves? So those who wished anonymity could remain anonymous and the others could 'fess up... Or would that be the worst of all worlds?

FruitarGeek

Mike wrote How would it work if entrant voluntarily "outed" themselves? So those who wished anonymity could remain anonymous and the others could 'fess up... Or would that be the worst of all worlds?

No, that would still defeat the purpose. Lets see what happens with this month. I'm going to be introducing 2 new changes. We will work on this aspect though

Chocklit_Thunda

Well here's my 2c.
I for one think that Adrian has done a great job with keeping the challenges going as well as differentiating these challenges from Rene's ones which did help to increase some interest. As far as commentary goes I just feel I won't have much to say and would probably just use the word "nice" a lot. I do feel underqualified to comment on the pieces seeing as i'm only a god of rock in my bedroom... I let my vote do the talking...

I do agree with V8's sentiment about the threads just dying though... I think that there's a lot to be learnt from these threads and the participants and just because they're anonymous before the votes are tallied shouldn't stop us from interacting and learning from each other. Is it just that the month is over that we want to move on to the next month? Perhaps - if this is the problem - we could start a new thread just for discussion of the previous challenge as the new one comes along?

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