August Challenge "Anything Goes" - VOTE!

V8 · 2016-08-29T02:19:51+00:00

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

I'll have to go google what a guitar 'hook' is... ?

I also like these two:
Acoustic Rock: must be acoustic and it must rock (mini)
Open Mic: one mic only no mix (mini)

V8

Ok, something along the lines of Acoustic instruments only, limit the tracks & time,

Genre/style and challenge topic to be debated?

Making lyrics mandatory will limit entries and I wanna see if having more open ended challenges encourages entries - For now, I'm uncertain about lyric/vocal challenges.

Open mic night I like - dust off your looper/trio/stomp box and capture a mini performance. No condenser mic? A laptop mic into reaper works great for this...just sayin' :?

studmissile

Meron Rigas wrote Ok, something along the lines of Acoustic instruments only, limit the tracks & time,

Genre/style and challenge topic to be debated?

Making lyrics mandatory will limit entries and I wanna see if having more open ended challenges encourages entries - For now, I'm uncertain about lyric/vocal challenges.

Open mic night I like - dust off your looper/trio/stomp box and capture a mini performance. No condenser mic? A laptop mic into reaper works great for this...just sayin' :?

Yeah that's what I'm thinking Open Mike Night, but everything should go through a single mike? As if it was an open mike in a bar/cafe and you had to go up do something on the spot? Condenser or Dynamic just try and do your best?

Stoffeltoo

I like last suggestion mery buch!
Looking forward to final compo proposal

V8

studmissile wrote As if it was an open mike in a bar/cafe and you had to go up do something on the spot?

Mmm, liking this!

Wouldn't limit to mic only, some peeps have plug in acoustics - so maybe two tracks, one mic (in case you wanna do vocals too) and one instrument? (Loopers/other live use devices welcome in either/both signal chain(s))

Let's be nice and make the time limit 1min?

I did pull out my neglected acoustics last nite (9mths!) - happy to find out all the bass playing has strengthened up fingers & hands considerably ?

Squonk

Sounds Good. Pity about the voice though can we growl and rap ?

wern101

Meron Rigas wrote dust off your looper/trio/stomp box and capture a mini performance.

Ok, i realize how much of a noob I am. Meron, can you explain this please? How would this work with an 'open mic' ? ???

Meron Rigas wrote I did pull out my neglected acoustics last nite (9mths!) -

? ? ? 9 Months??? For shame....for... shame... ?

I like the idea of two tracks.

Logue

Why cant I view any of the older competitions music?

V8

wern101 wrote
Meron Rigas wrote dust off your looper/trio/stomp box and capture a mini performance.
Ok, i realize how much of a noob I am. Meron, can you explain this please? How would this work with an 'open mic' ? ???

If you wanna use FX (loopers/etc) &/or maybe one of those stompboxes to lay down a bass drum, you would have to use a amp (Or DI to the PA), which one would likely do for a open mic.

What I'm trying to propose is : Use any acoustic instrument, however you like to record. Don't get caught up in the recording process - try and record your performance with as little fuss as possible. Even if that is just pressing record on your laptop/phone and going for it.

Alternatively :
If it doesn't have a pickup, mic it up.
If it does, use the preamp and feel free to dig out the dusty toy and add them to the signal chain and mic up the amp/room
If you would rather capture the room ambience (vox and guitar or just guitar), use a condenser mic (or laptop/phone).
If you want to DI the guitar and do the vocals separately - go for it. Though we'd like to hear you doing it all at once... ?

Squonk

original or cover?

V8

Logue wrote Why cant I view any of the older competitions music?

Were you going through 2016 entries or stuff prior to that (There is a "Hall of Fame" as well)

I only started admining the challenges from Jan 2016, and I have all entries archived from Jan 2016 onwards - but I do not have anything prior to that aside from what is already on the GFSA soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/guitarforumsa, most of this was 2014 entries. I recall Doc Phil and Mixerboy churning out some excellent stuff back then!

Something I've been looking at is hosting entries on soundcloud/other. As you can imagine a few comps generate a LOT of data, that can be tricky to store long term (mostly due to cost). I'm still figuring out a intelligent way to get this uploaded, maybe host them all on GFSA and get Norio to cover it or pay up for a Pro soundcloud hosting or dropbox everything. Not sure yet - suggestions are welcome!

V8

Squonk wrote original or cover?

Hmmm. Good question - my standard vibe is original(s). But anything in the public domain is 100%. We try and avoid copyrighted covers to avoid licensing/DCMA silliness - not that it has ever happened, but I'll follow in the wise footsteps of Alan/Rene/Adrian on this.

wern101

Meron Rigas wrote Though we'd like to hear you doing it all at once... ?

Riiiight.....

So if i was to use the digitech pedal for drums through the amp and play that + vocals and acoustic and record all at once on PC mic then that's what you mean? Cause at an 'open mic' you won't have post mixing and all that...?

Also thought of a cover, but there may be to many issues with that...

Logue

Meron Rigas wrote
Logue wrote Why cant I view any of the older competitions music?
Were you going through 2016 entries or stuff prior to that (There is a "Hall of Fame" as well)

I only started admining the challenges from Jan 2016, and I have all entries archived from Jan 2016 onwards - but I do not have anything prior to that aside from what is already on the GFSA soundcloud - https://soundcloud.com/guitarforumsa, most of this was 2014 entries. I recall Doc Phil and Mixerboy churning out some excellent stuff back then!

Something I've been looking at is hosting entries on soundcloud/other. As you can imagine a few comps generate a LOT of data, that can be tricky to store long term (mostly due to cost). I'm still figuring out a intelligent way to get this uploaded, maybe host them all on GFSA and get Norio to cover it or pay up for a Pro soundcloud hosting or dropbox everything. Not sure yet - suggestions are welcome!

awesome thanks for the reply, yeah I was trying to look at prior works and none of them wanted to play. Did not know of the soundcloud account, its defn a good idea, embedding is easy enough ?, i think bandcamp is also a possible option.

V8

wern101 wrote
Meron Rigas wrote Though we'd like to hear you doing it all at once... ?
Riiiight.....

So if i was to use the digitech pedal for drums through the amp and play that + vocals and acoustic and record all at once on PC mic then that's what you mean? Cause at an 'open mic' you won't have post mixing and all that...?

Yes! Capture a Live performance - that's the vibe. Had a thought that it doesn't have to be solo either, get your kid(s) to do the chorus... ?

wern101 wrote Also thought of a cover, but there may be to many issues with that...

My first thought was nursery rhyme - DMCA safe, but I've tried that trick a few times for the challenges.

Logue wrote Did not know of the soundcloud account, its defn a good idea, embedding is easy enough ?

Neither did I (Or Norio), but google is my friend and Adrian gave me the deets so we can use it. But with only 180min of free uploads, we'd max that account out in no time :-[

domhatch

cough, ahem. i have a few lyrics lying around i'd be willing to contribute. perhaps two sets, so peeps can choose which speaks to them more?

just a thought...
dh|

studmissile

I'm not convinced how successful a lyrics challenge would be? ...then again it would be a challenge...and a half!

domhatch

agreed, a challenge of extreme note!

but 'skyooz me, must've read the idea for the challenge wrong. thought it was to use one set of lyrics and have everyone interpret them in their own style - so there's a consistent element, but something different added by everyone...

?
dh|

V8

studmissile wrote I'm not convinced how successful a lyrics challenge would be? ...then again it would be a challenge...and a half!

Agreed!

At the end of the day, it is a Guitar(forum) and I'd like to keep the challenges as open as possible keeping the guitar orientated flavour going. If you are deep into singer/songwriting, then perhaps the Pat Pattison Coursera offering or Songramp, Barleycorn and other singer/songwriter focussed resources are a better platform(s).

I'd rather find ways to include people without bags of gear or who don't sing, etc... I don't believe a lyrical challenge is as inclusive as "open mic night", which could be instrumental, singer/songwriter or your band.

domhatch wrote but 'skyooz me, must've read the idea for the challenge wrong. thought it was to use one set of lyrics and have everyone interpret them in their own style - so there's a consistent element, but something different added by everyone...

It was an idea in response to a shout-out for some help - I do like to hear everyone's thoughts before settling on a challenge. That said, it is customary to allow the winner to choose...(honestly, it's a booby prize!).

As I said earlier in the thread, if there are people who would like to to do a lyrical challenge, I'm happy to run one - I'd suggest a extended deadline (2-3mths). IMO, good lyrics take time to craft and a month just isn't enough time, especially when it's collaborative work.

This could be the birth of an annual GFSA Singer/Songwriter Challenge...?

studmissile

What could/might be a good idea, is if we presented some complete songs, and the challenge was to reinterpret those?

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