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Andrulian
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Joined: 05/11/2012 - 08:54
Anyone up for a songwriting challenge?

Over on KVR forums they often have a 'one synth challenge'. Obviously this takes a lot of work to create all your sounds from scratch.

I thought we could do our own similar challenge but make it a bit simpler from a sound point of view courtesy of The Element of Surprise by Ugo audio. It's a fully featured synth with a very easy interface - you click an exclamation mark and it generates a random preset. The down side is this does mean you've no say what sound you get.

So I've generated 5 random sounds and created pcmsynth files from them and uploaded to dropbox.

http://db.tt/QhvEyT4d
http://db.tt/qmRFfAUh
http://db.tt/otX5iE5i
http://db.tt/udRBUX5l
http://db.tt/J9qUw0xe

I'd say to keep it as easy as possible, feel free to use your own drums, use any combination of the sounds you like and use them anyway you want to. Also, make anything from a jingle to a full song of any style you like.

Is it possible to create a song using randomly generated sounds?

Unfortunately no prizes but with the diverse styles we see on here hopefully the challenge will inspire some creativity!

ImpulseGame
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Joined: 05/23/2012 - 05:10
Sounds like fun. I'll give it

Sounds like fun. I'll give it a go. Running out of data, download monday.

wardini
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Joined: 07/13/2012 - 17:13
OK

OK
I am in too.
As soon as I finish the one I am working on.
Is there a time limit?

mekanism
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Joined: 06/16/2012 - 19:34
This sounds fun, I'm game!

This sounds fun, I'm game! Yeah is there a deadline? Also, it would be cool to have the winners track featured on this sites front page or something.

Also I would like to see a challenge where only caustic generated sounds can be used, no loops, no custom presets, no outside editing, pure caustic baby!

ImpulseGame
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Joined: 05/23/2012 - 05:10
Winner?

Winner?

mekanism
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Joined: 06/16/2012 - 19:34
Damn, my bad, no "winners"!

Damn, my bad, no "winners"! When I read "challenge" my mind put winner in there as to win the challenge. I'm a bit competetive but when it comes to music there are no winners only creativity!

ImpulseGame
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Joined: 05/23/2012 - 05:10
I think everybody who

I think everybody who succeeds in the challenge of finishing a track wins. Hope to hear lots of them from these presets :)

Andrulian
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Joined: 05/11/2012 - 08:54
Thanks for your comments so

Thanks for your comments so far.

I was trying to keep it fairly informal so hadn't thought about a time limit, just thought if anyone had time and was interested to give it a go.

I've started a track, it's harder than I thought! As an exercise I thought it would be good to try different techniques and styles although mine so far is still somewhere between ambient and minimal.

Fenster
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Joined: 03/29/2012 - 15:24
I'm getting a message saying

I'm getting a message saying "your version of caustic is out of date, please update" when I try to load these into the PCM synth

Andrulian
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Joined: 05/11/2012 - 08:54
They were created on my phone

They were created on my phone in version 2.0.2 which I think is the latest one. Is this the same version you are on Fenster?

Fenster
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Joined: 03/29/2012 - 15:24
I have version 2.0.2 as well,

I have version 2.0.2 as well, the message is coming up in a caustic style pop up window too, strange, I'll mention it on the bug report forum

ImpulseGame
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Joined: 05/23/2012 - 05:10
My attempt.

My attempt.

I didn't use EOS3 (though I had plans for it, BIG plans :P , but the track was already 5 min, so I ended up not using it), Vermona drumkit, the bassdrums were either too soft on headphones or too loud on stereo, I finally went with too loud on stereo because I mostly listen to music on headphones. 99 bpm.

If you get clicking on EOS1, increase polyphony.

I called this one Clear. Hope you like, sorry if you don't.

This was fun :D

Andrulian
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Joined: 05/11/2012 - 08:54
Nice track johandelpire. Not

Nice track johandelpire. Not sure why but it made me think of a Scottish mountain scene. Good job there's no psychologists round here to analyse that lol.

I've done a couple of tracks, which I've uploaded to dropbox.

They haven't really got names yet, the first one is just called EoS http://db.tt/OaxhfItA

The next one is EoS3 http://db.tt/YhZM7bzo

EoS2 got lost along the way somewhere.

I agree it was fun but quite challenging as well, I normally choose or make the exact sounds I want rather than them choosing me.

ImpulseGame
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Joined: 05/23/2012 - 05:10
Thanks. I think eos1 sounds a

Thanks. I think eos1 sounds a bit like bagpipes.

I like the element of surprise, some of my tracks have caustic 'errors' I worked around (tried to make them seem on purpose).

Download tomorrow. Got a data usage warning from my provider :p

subshift
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Joined: 09/02/2012 - 14:41
Hi,

Hi,

Here's another one! It's the first Caustic song I've actully finished. Well... "finished", because you have to stop at some point... The song is as stupid as its title. Thanks to OP for this challenge!

Cheers!

ImpulseGame
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Joined: 05/23/2012 - 05:10
I think it sounds creepy,

I think it sounds creepy, unnerving. Sort of like an approaching menace.

ImpulseGame
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Joined: 05/23/2012 - 05:10
Liked EoS3 most. Nice drumkit

Liked EoS3 most. Nice drumkit and chilled atmo in EoS1 though. I enjoyed both takes.

ImpulseGame
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Joined: 05/23/2012 - 05:10
Just dowwnloaded Not as clean

Just dowwnloaded Not as clean...
Like this take a lot :)

ice-machine
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Joined: 07/02/2012 - 06:33
I'm also game but I need to

I'm also game but I need to finish my current track before I concentrate on this fun mission!

wardini
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Joined: 07/13/2012 - 17:13
I've started mine and have to

I've started mine and have to say this is fun and I hope it becomes a regular thing. I never would have thought that Having to use a certain set of sounds would result in the creativity and diversity that has been shown in these posted example! Maybe next time the 'price of admission' to the challenge would be to up load a single shot .wav sound for beat box.Then out of those 8 would randomly chosen. That way we'd also have a random drum kit.

Jason
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Joined: 03/23/2012 - 21:32
Stand by.....

yup there it is...J

ImpulseGame
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Joined: 05/23/2012 - 05:10
Cool :)

Cool :)

Disco.rd
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Joined: 08/04/2012 - 11:10
Entertaining results so far =

Entertaining results so far =)

A few words to each track..

Johandelpire: This track has so much soul... very nice.
subshift: No stupidity found here... (:
Andrulian: I like EOS3 most of them.
jblann1: HD audio craftsmanship & and authentic Jungle, keep breaking this beats! (:

After impulsegame contacted me on soundcloud if i take part i was pushed somehow to do my part here as well. First i wasn´t sure if i can do something cause working on kind of a "request" is not easy for me cause i can´t guarantee if something listenable comes out.
After all i started with a track this week. Hopefully i can upload a version of chaircore tonight or on sunday.

thanks for the motivation fellow artists (:

Jason
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Joined: 03/23/2012 - 21:32
@Disco.Rd I'm standing by to

@Disco.Rd I'm standing by to hear your new track for this challenge... you have a unique retro-like groove that I like every time I hear your funky beats...J

ImpulseGame
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Joined: 05/23/2012 - 05:10
Looking forward to it :D

Looking forward to it :D

wardini
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Joined: 07/13/2012 - 17:13
ZUFALLSANFRAGE

I had lot's of fun with this challenge.
Thanks Andrulian for the presets and the idea!
Hope we do more.

EOS2 reminded me of a 8 bit piano
from an old game so I sort of went with that at first
but of course drifted 'off track'.

Looking forward to promised entries by BOJEROO, DISCO.RD, FENSTER, MEKANISM and ICE MACHINE!

Disco.rd
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Joined: 08/04/2012 - 11:10
Wardini!

Wardini!

The melody starting @ 1:20 is a perfect example what is such a promising approach within your music in my ears. It sounds like a kind of sci-fi medieval mixup.. I think you almost can tell stories with even more dramatising parts like this in a track. (=

I think no "zufall" is responsible for the structure of your songs btw..

wardini
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Joined: 07/13/2012 - 17:13
Thanks for the kind words.

Thanks for the kind words.
I like the idea of a sci-fi medieval mixup!

"I think no "zufall" is responsible for the structure of your songs btw..

how about 'verrückt'? ;~}

bojeroo
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Joined: 06/08/2012 - 17:25
Some really good tracks

Some really good tracks posted so far. I've downloaded the presets today and hope to start putting something together soon...

Disco.rd
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Joined: 08/04/2012 - 11:10
Zufall could associate its

Zufall could associate its kind of a random track or you have no control over your tracks, wich is definitely not the case ^^ its finely arranged. As trackname its a good pick i think after all.

Disco.rd
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Joined: 08/04/2012 - 11:10
"Verrücktheitsanfrage" would

"Verrücktheitsanfrage" would mean that a person would order some kind of force to make it crazy after something or get kind of insane... (:

And it would be a new, but grammatical correct german word ^.^

ImpulseGame
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Joined: 05/23/2012 - 05:10
Maybe "zufall" can be seen in

Maybe "zufall" can be seen in another way. If Andrulian hadn't posted the presets, the song wouldn't have existed?

If I look at my tracks none of them would have existed if kriminal or jblann1 hadn't posted those wonderful presets, or if Andrulian hadn't posted sites for samples. Quite a coincidence.

Disco.rd
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Joined: 08/04/2012 - 11:10
Hello everyone.

Hello everyone.

Allright somehow i think not all is done with this track, but i keep my promise here. I let you know when a more progressed version is uploaded. This song is called Chaircore.

http://soundcloud.com/bold-attempt/chaircore

Sincerely yours

ImpulseGame
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Joined: 05/23/2012 - 05:10
Good drums and vicious 303s

Good drums and vicious 303s snaking around. Like how you used the sounds to create an air of mystery.

Wouldn't want to have missed out on yours and EIPs take on these sounds :)

bojeroo
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Joined: 06/08/2012 - 17:25
That's some good nasty acid!

That's some good nasty acid!

Jason
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Joined: 03/23/2012 - 21:32
Wow that is original... id

Wow that is original... id definetly wanna see the song file on that track. Very cool!

uzerJ
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Joined: 07/08/2012 - 12:19
Sounds like fun! Im in (:

Sounds like fun! Im in (:

ImpulseGame
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Joined: 05/23/2012 - 05:10
This is getting better and

This is getting better and better =)

uzerJ
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Joined: 07/08/2012 - 12:19
just downloaded the presets,

just downloaded the presets, about to load them into my phone, gonna work on this tonight...

wardini
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Joined: 07/13/2012 - 17:13
userj

userj
Can't wait to hear yours!

bojeroo
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Joined: 06/08/2012 - 17:25
Here's my submission. I'm not

Here's my submission. I'm not totally happy with it and might revisit it one day when I have more time

Used presets 2, 3 and 4.

http://soundcloud.com/graham-panter/amino-acid

ImpulseGame
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Joined: 05/23/2012 - 05:10
Listened to it several times.

Listened to it several times, downloaded. I liked it. Acid =)

Jason
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Joined: 03/23/2012 - 21:32
Bojeroo, the title fits the

Bojeroo, the title fits the track. Nicely done..J

bojeroo
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Joined: 06/08/2012 - 17:25
Thanks for the comments guys!

Thanks for the comments guys! :o)

uzerJ
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Joined: 07/08/2012 - 12:19
welll, heres a start,,its

welll, heres a start,,its pretty generic at this point,, im thinking of changing up the beginning,i really hit a wall with this, i havent had much time to work at it either,, at first i was thinking something totally differ than what came out,, after getting through to the last half of the song, i decided id like a little more melody in the first half, so ill be adding a little more in with the EOM PR2 and 3 i think... i wanted to see what i could do with the presets, so this song is all five presets with the 'electronomist psy' drum kit, i didnt do any tweaking with the pcm machines,, theres a flanger master fx insert on the EOS PR1, Chorus insert on EOS PR3, Distortion/Saturate on EOS PR5, and Compressor over the main mix. EOM's 5 and 2 have some reverb and delay on them. I really like a couple of these presets, like EOS PR3 and 5, and think ill be using them for some other tunes as well,, ill be posting the track with changes hopefully soon. Ive kinda been on a bit of a DM/Nitzer Ebb binge lately,, but these presets fell in place well for an early 80's like upbeat track :p

uzerJ
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Joined: 07/08/2012 - 12:19
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ImpulseGame
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Joined: 05/23/2012 - 05:10
Good track. Can I request a

Good track. Can I request a download, possibly after the changes? I'm collecting all the EOS tracks, have been listening frequently to the ones already posted.

uzerJ
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Joined: 07/08/2012 - 12:19
nothing stupid about it,, i

nothing stupid about it,, i think quite the contrary. Its a clever melody with great buildup. Very classical feel, like it belongs in a classic nintendo game

uzerJ
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Joined: 07/08/2012 - 12:19
are you wanting the .wav or

are you wanting the .wav or the Caustic file? im happy to give whichever, or both, i believe you can download the wav. from soundcloud, right? I'll take a look at that,,,I was also intending to do the same,, get a collection of all these "challenge" songs,, i wanted to simply put them in a compilation file,, and call it, "The Andrulian Challenge 1" but not post it for public download untill the next "challenge" begins, and also limit the "challenge" entries to being the songs that are submitted before the next challenge begins,, for the sake of hopefully motivating others to get involved,, of course this is only an idea,, everyone involved would have to 'ok' having their song in a compilation download, as well as the challenge being Andrulian's idea to begin with. I havent discussed this idea or brought it up,, so there it is,, oh, and then i was also thinking about a remix challenge,, a "challenge' to remix the "Andrulian Challenge" song entries.. anyways,, what do ya'll think?

ImpulseGame
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Joined: 05/23/2012 - 05:10
Wav or ogg would be great.

Wav or ogg would be great. Songs in sc need to be marked as downloadable at the bottom of the page when uploading (it can also be changed afterwards by clicking on the pencil in the player.

Thanks uzerJ :)

uzerJ
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Joined: 07/08/2012 - 12:19
thnx! i enabled download for

thnx! i enabled download for the track on soundcloud,, i dont have an account with any file sharing sites or anything so i figured that'd be quickest,,

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