August Challenge "Anything Goes" - VOTE!

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Anything goes this month and people sprung into action - Thank you and congratulations everyone for getting your entries in :goodtimes:

I've had a (very quick) listen through, some impressive tunes in there - across genres, I reckon there is something for everyone this month.

It's a slightly different looking round of voting this month with three groups : Pool A : beginner/intermediate Pool B : intermediate/advanced Added a Bands/Professional group.

Don't ask how I decided on the Pools for entries, I'm applying "Anything Goes" logic to this month's voting too ::)

Oh, and you've got three votes to wisely cast before 5th September...

[b]Pool A[/b] [b]Hasie & iainrossouw - World in Union[/b]http://guitarforum.co.za/gfsacomps/mp3s/hasie.mp3[i]An arrangement of World in Union created by iainrossouw. Played and recorded by Hasie.[/i]

[b]Stoffeltoo - Another Never Christmas[/b]http://guitarforum.co.za/gfsacomps/mp3s/stoffeltoo.mp3[i]Drums and Bass generated in Jam Band (Panned Centre) Fender Sonoran acoustic through a Digitech RP360XP pedal with my own acoustix patch (Panned right) Fender Special Strat used for lead through same pedal and used toned down La Grange patch (Panned left) Vocals by myself panned 30% left All recordings were done through a Behringer Xenyx 1204 to a Lexicon Lambda audio interface. DAW Audacity with mostly noise removal[/i]

[b]Wern101 - Threshold of a Dream[/b]http://guitarforum.co.za/gfsacomps/wern101.mp3 [i]I wanted to go for a ‘live’ feel. I recorded the acoustic and vocals together using the built in Microphone of my new PC. (Which is better than the old mic I have) I’m pretty impressed as it’s the best acoustic sound I’ve been able to get so far. I know there’s loads of room for improvement in the mixing, but I’m happy with this. I added Reacomp, Reaverb, Reaverbate and Reavoice in Reaper. Played around with settings till I thought it sounded acceptable. Acoustic: Ibanez vintage 627 Electric: Stock standard Adonis with Behringer XV-Amp multi effect pedal directly into PC. Drums: Simple drums deluxe android app. Here and there it’s slightly off beat.[/i]

[b]Pool B[/b] [b]PeteM - Red Sofa[/b] http://guitarforum.co.za/gfsacomps/mp3s/petem.mp3 [i]I wrote this piece about 40 years ago. It is a song with lyrics but since this is a guitar forum I played the melody on acoustic guitar. Very little else to add other than I haven’t entered for a while. It was good fun getting back into recording again.[/i]

[b]Studmissile - My Eternal Love[/b] http://guitarforum.co.za/gfsacomps/mp3s/studmissile.mp3

[b] AJB (andrewjbryson) - The KillSwitch Thang[/b] http://guitarforum.co.za/gfsacomps/ajb.mp3 [i]I was listening to a lot of Killswitch Engage albums and was really starting to get into the Melodic metal vibe.

I used a Ibanez RGA 121 Prestige (Crashed deep ocean) with dimarzio Air norton / Evo2 pickups into a Marshall JMP1 pre amp. Used Cubase and T-racks for mastering. [/i]

[b]Averatu - Kaos[/b] http://guitarforum.co.za/gfsacomps/mp3s/averatu.mp3 [i]Demo collaboration we did a while back, kinda thrash metal. Guitars recorded on Protools LE by lovely partner. The programming was done in Traction, drums on DKFH.[/i]

[b]Bands/Professional[/b] [b]Bruciekins/Bruce Boome - Afterglow[/b] https://soundcloud.com/bruce-boome/afterglow-remix [i]Backing is from Band-In-A-Box 2016, mixed in Sonar- fair amount of audio editing involved. Guitar is a 1994 Fender 40th anniversary Strat played through a Line6 Toneport, my own patch. [/i]

[b]Arno West/Audio Architects - Alone Inside[/b] https://soundcloud.com/audio-architects-345653666/alone-inside [i]Written by Arno West / Nigel Geden and Andrew Maskell.

The Players: Arno West - Guitars/Bass/Drums/Wine Glasses/Mixing//Mastering Nigel Geden - Guitars/Vocals/Wine Glasses/ Mixing/Mastering Andrew Maskell - Lead Vocals Gail Wilson -Additional backing Vocals

A bit of info: We started working on this tune about a year ago. It evolved from the basic delay guitar riff into what it is now. We needed a power vocalist to bring it to life which is where Andrew came in. He used to be with a band called Zebra & Giraffe. What you hear here, will probably go onto myself and Nigel's upcoming album which should be released sometime in 2027.....[/i]

[b]Meron Rigas/Stick8 - Chillin'[/b] https://soundcloud.com/v8-aka-meron-rigas/stick8-chillin [i]I'll keep it real with a live recording from the old band, Stick8 (2007). Think we had two beat-up dynamic mics, the best one (a Carol!) was used for vocals, the other one on the guitar amp. The Roland electric drums were DI'ed and I had the bass running into a ZoomB2 DI'ed. Finally, all of this majestic tech went into a Maya 4/4 external soundcard.

At least the guitar was a 70's lawsuit Ibby LP ::)[/i]

(old forum) Poll Results: August Challenge "Anything Goes" - VOTE!

Hasie: 2
Stoffeltoo: 7
Wern101: 4
PeteM: 2
Studmissile: 7
andrewjbryson: 6
Averatu: 5
Bruciekins: 1
Arno West: 7
Meron Rigas: 9

wern101

Wow. Great entries! Well done everyone.
Meron, I cant access Petem's entry?? Just me?

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wern101 wrote: Meron, I cant access Petem's entry?? Just me?

Thanks, not just you - I made a typo!

Should be fixed now.

Now if we could only fix your device to stop disappearing topic headings ?

Stoffeltoo

10 Entries! Whoa! Awesome number of tracks to listen to. From what I have heard, my votes may change but well done for rising to the occasion.

studmissile

Fantastic turn out, can't wait to give each a good listen! Sounds awesome!

Squonk

Good Stuff!

Lots of killer entries

Good to hear old Andrew Bryson again! Killswitch indeed!

Foottapiologist

Voted. Not entirely sure of the criteria for the vote so my personal choices were based on me blanking out the "demo cd" camouflage and focussing only on my perception of the flair of guitarist.

morph

Votes are in, well done to all

wern101

Meron Rigas wrote: Now if we could only fix your device to stop disappearing topic headings ?

Yeah I saw that. Don't know why that is. Tapatalk app maybe?

My votes are inn. I am not going to comment on any of the tracks but just bow down to the awesome talent on this forum
* bows down to superbly talented musicians.

Seriously great entries this month and so many!

Well done all. Well done! :applause: :bopping: ?arty:

PeteM

Great to see so many entries. I'll have a good listen tonight and vote in the morning.

V8

Woo-hoo, 10 Entries!

Only way to tackle this elephant is one Pool at a time...

Hasie : Your best work yet. Immediately reminded me of the Jeff Buckley version, lotsa space and performed with feel. Keep em coming!

Stoffeltoo : Heh, a slightly contentious issue, but I enjoyed the way you played with it. There was some lyrical twists I particularly enjoyed. The sibilance on the vocals bugged me a bit, and some of the doubled vocals did not work for me either :-\ - it distracted me a little from the content.

Wern101 : Parts of this was excellent, particularly the blending vocal with lead in the one section - very clever (and well executed). Best vocals I've heard from you too and the rhythm guitar was solid (drums better, a bit odd for me, but it worked).

All three of you raised the bar for yourselves, take a bow!

Stoffeltoo

Thanks Meron.
This comp really raised the bar in terms of our application of recording skills and presenting our interpretations of our particular music tastes. I must congratulate Hasie here, although not an original song his interpretation was hauntingly beautiful and memorable. For Wern +1 what you said

Hasie

Wow! Exceptional entries! :goodtimes:

wern101

Meron Rigas wrote: drums better, a bit odd for me, but it worked)

Thanks Meron. ? Appreciate the feedback, and I agree with Stoffel, the bar was raised here and I am well chuffed.

Ja... the drums is a bugger. I shall have to go youtube hours of vids to see how to best utilize the drumkit in reaper. What i used for this was an android app, learning as i'm going. The Digitech RP50 i picked up from Thomas also has a drum machine built in. Will see how that works in the next comp.

Stoffel - Lovely sounds man. Albeit a jab at politics I quite enjoyed it. I struggled to hear the vocals a bit. Agree with Meron on the doubled vocals.

Hasie - Nice one! I was just waiting for PJ Powers to start belting out the lyrics ? I enjoyed the clean tone and the interpretation. Well done. Keep em coming.

Cheers!

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Onto Pool B, easily the most difficult Pool to cast just one vote...

PeteM : Such a pleasure to hear you around these parts again. Classy track, I can hear the vocal melody as clear as day - works as an instrumental as well, I enjoyed the motif evolving through the track. Can't offer any crit's on this one, you do great work!

Stud : You are vying the title of "GFSA hook-meister"...within 10secs I want to know where the tune will go. Not country, but country flavoured - in a good way - them leads adds something special to the track - though I was missing a Middle 8 change up, the vocal melody had it, but the underlying rhythm didn't? Which mic(s) did you use for the vox - thought it complemented your voice.

Andrewjbryson : Dug it, lots & lots. It's begging for vocals and the track just cuts out (by design perhaps?), but locked down riff-age and good heavy tones.

Averatu : Well played, massive riffage - The two guits locked in was throughly enjoyed! For me, the mix sounded a little thin - I thought bass was lacking on my bass heavy system. Admittedly I am a bass junkie and the flat sounding kick drum is not something I'm a big fan of. And +10 for the pads/synths, that added something special to the track.

Gents, it's great to have you all remind us of what is possible at home. Thank you!

It's easy to be complacent and I'm really chuffed that you've all put forward tracks that we can all take something away from each one and set goals to work towards.

Foottapiologist

I don't see the current status of the poll. Just wondering if I have an issue with my laptop or if that is the way it is?
I just see my own votes

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Foottapiologist wrote: I don't see the current status of the poll. Just wondering if I have an issue with my laptop or if that is the way it is?
I just see my own votes

With polls on the forum, there's a few options, for challenges we've been using the "show results when poll expires", which is 4th September 2:19am.

I like the mystery of not knowing - but it's always open to discussion. If the majority wants to see the results as we progress, I'm happy to change it for the next one.

Personally : it isn't about the votes or "winning". Just getting a entry in and opening one's self to constructive criticism is a big step for many people. Also, listening and voting is a underappreciated skill in itself. (Thank you to the voters so far!)

Foottapiologist

Probably a good thing to leave it a surprise. People are subliminally influenced

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Foottapiologist wrote: Probably a good thing to leave it a surprise. People are subliminally influenced

Yeah we've tried a few different things - I preferred the anonymous entries and leaving the results until the voting finished. But people preferred knowing who entered, so we changed it. In retrospect, everyone has their style, so after a few anonymous entries it wasn't too tough to figure out who the regulars were.

But good question - the challenges are ours to play with and evolve - keep things from getting stale/boring. So, I have no issue with changing formats, rules, etc.. Any and all suggestions welcomed!

Foottapiologist

Meron Rigas wrote: the challenges.......

And it is literally a challenge. Kudos to the guys that take part. I'm challenged enough just playing guitar and don't have the capacity to learn the whole other discipline of recording it