NEW PULSARIAN CONTEST! PLEASE JOIN!

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 8:36 pm

NEW PULSARIAN CONTEST! PLEASE JOIN!

Hello dear Pulsarian friends!

I would like to propose you all, a new contest, quite a different one if you think about all the ones we have already done. I’ll be explaining you what it is all about below, please keep reading…

I think it’s a good time of the year to start doing something together before the end of this 2003. It is always a lot of fun working as a team, we keep learning technologically as well as artistically about our Creamware platforms and work, and this is always very positive of course.

The idea is simple, feasible, and extremely open in its possible results, you’ll see:

All participants have to record:

3 small files of 6 seconds each,
one of them being only percussion,
at 130 BPM speed,
in Wav format,
in “D minor”,
with whatever instrument or absolutely anything you like including noises, singing, natural sources, etc., trying nevertheless to keep into D minor tonality on the two files related to sounds, and literally anything you like for the percussion one.

Note:
All three files should be uploaded without any processing, they truly should be let as they were taken from the original source, i.e. clean, for farther processing. Of course, if your original source is a synthesizer, then well, lets go wet, but don’t use any reverb please. If you want to use delays, no problem, but no reverbs.

Were would the files be for everybody to download them?
We could put them altogether into an FTP space somewhere in the net. If there is somebody who could offer about 50 or 60 MBs of space for a month or so, I think that would be enough. Unfortunately I don’t own myself a web space to offer.

When are this three files due to be uploaded?
I would suggest for us to have the files uploaded before the first of November being this day the deadline time. The files would be available for all the participants to download and use.

Note:
Please call the files related to percussion “O.P”. “O.P” standing for “Only Percussion” plus your name. Do the same with the other two files, insert your Z name, so everybody gets to know whom the files come from.

What do we have to do so?
We have to MIX the files together making a song, using a least one file per uploader, as we like, to build a 5 minutes tune timed exactly, using Creamware XTC Plug-ins only. (For many, including myself, this will be a real challenge cos we have never used XTC so far, which is a great opportunity to learn and explore)

No additions, no melodies, no other music or anything else like sequencing or recordings allowed, but the samples from our friends. You cannot use your own samples, you must use only the Zs samples “excluding” yours. Use your creativity to mix and mangle all those little files, to come up with a killer song...

Audio Tracks Restrictions:
You can use as many audio tracks as you consider necessary, without restrictions. No restrictions either in regard with projects, or plug-ins used, you can have a Pulsar I or a SCOPE SP, it doesn’t matter for this contest. Jus try to remember what you have used so you can post the procedure of your exploration, an even the way you did it so everybody get to learn from your way of working.

That’s it! Lots and lots of fun! And learning too!

When do we have to post it to be heard?
The 14th of January 2004, just one day before our Fifth Z Anniversary, so we can have the delight and enjoyment of sharing with all our Z friends… in a very special day for all of us.

I truly beg for your collaboration, please, join, please… lets do something interesting together… There are quite a few people like me that unfortunately can’t afford to buying Flexor or any other plug-in, we are forced to do with what we already have, so please be considerate with us, and play our game with us… Please…

Cheers

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 8:46 pm

sounds cool. I'm not sure about running in XTC mode, but I'll be able to do the rest. I'm wondering if the key is D, means we can use any chord in the key of D, or you want to use just 1 chord. Like D major or D minor... What do you want to do in terms of chords?

[ This Message was edited by: kensuguro on 2003-10-19 21:48 ]

Post by **hubird** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 9:18 pm

I think Nestor restricts to XTC plugs rather than working in XTC mode.
Just not to exclude XTC card users.
Otherwise the mac users are xcluded...

bosone · Post by **bosone** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 3:44 am

i like the idea, but why working in XTC mode? i never used XTC cause i'm running cakewalk (and soon sonar)... and i won't be able to use it...

also: in D minor means "use only the the tonality of D eolian with the following notes: D,E,F,G,A,Bb,C"?
(you know... there are several modes that can be classified to "minor"...

)

Mr Arkadin · Post by **Mr Arkadin** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 4:34 am

Maccers not allowed then

i think you forget we don't have XTC mode.

Post by **hubird** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 5:08 am

arkadin and bosone, you both missed my reply...

Mr Arkadin · Post by **Mr Arkadin** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 5:46 am

Yes but i have no idea what XTC plugins are available so how do i know what i can or cannot use?

Gordon Gekko · Post by **Gordon Gekko** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 5:48 am

Sorry i won't take part of this, too much work on the burner

Good luck to you all, this is a very good idea (similar to one we had in the pulsar creativity category

)

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 8:33 am

Ups... sorry, i didn’t know that Mac users did not have XTC. We are forced to change it back to Pulsar Platform then… I would like to see as many people participating as possible. We’ll keep XTC for ourselves.

In regard to chords, I thought to move just on D minor, just one chord, so we concentrate most of all in the process of mixing the files… If you have any suggestion, please, tell.

Keep posting and discussing it please. Cheers

Counterparts · Post by **Counterparts** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 8:36 am

What time signature are we working in?

Perhaps some restrictions on the percussion's rythym too? e.g. no groove quantisation, no swing (?)

Royston

edit: also, 6 seconds (in 4/4) is 3 bars one beat (if I've done my maths right). Would it be easier to do a round number of bars?

[ This Message was edited by: Counterparts on 2003-10-20 09:37 ]

at0m · Post by **at0m** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 9:13 am

Nestor, I much liked the XTC project idea. Some people can't use it, true. What if we tried to make best guitar processor in modular. I would find myself rather silly complaining i dont have a guitar.
XTC can use some boost, remember the modular contest where suddenly loads of people started patching who never tried it before. Loads of questions and issues will show, and IMO CW can use some feedback from a larger user group on XTC. If XTc doesnt devellop further, I wonder how they'd ever release it for mac.

dehuszar · Post by **dehuszar** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 9:32 am

Agreed, before Atomic's post I was running though all the changes in process I'd have to make in order to run in XTC mode. It might not be a bad thing to require. Besides, if you want to keep it in XTC mode, those with out might want to request wavs of the sounds (weren't they supposed to be in wav format anyway? I assume the final tracks will be in MP3 and not a back up of the entire track directory, yes?).

It would be fun and a good way to get feedback on how XTC works, and more voices means more suggestions, which means a wishlist with more emphasis behind certain, more requested features.

I just found a few quirks with the STM48S that Creamware have never seen before. It could very well be my setup and not the plugs/SFP. However, it also could be that very few people use the STM48S and so haven't noticed the errors, or just didn't bother to report them.

All this to say, I'm behind an XTC focus and might try and record a cello-based turn around for my 3 parts.

Sam

Counterparts · Post by **Counterparts** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 9:39 am

Given that we'll be downloading a bunch of wav files and mixing them together...I don't really see what the difference is between using e.g. the SFP compressor or low-cut filter in XTC-mode or in the SFP environment.

Isn't the object to come up with a tune?

Royston

Immanuel · Post by **Immanuel** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 10:28 am

I think I will sum up some things, witch needs to be discussed/decided.

130 BPM makes a strange result with a 6 second clip. I suggest the freedom to choose 8 seconds of 4/4 or 6 seconds of 3/4. If people want to do something shorter, they should still stick to the 8 or 6 seconds clips and just let the sound fade out. The "cook" will this way be able to work with polyrythmic if he choose to. Ofcoarse, the cook can also choose to cut the downloaded clips if he prefers to.
Are we going to focus on the technical part and possible learning (xtc-limitation), or are we going for the most interesting music with fewer limitations (xtc and/or sfp - only it has to be done with our 60MHz sharcs), or are we going for music unlimited (vst, directx, outboard ... whatever).
Are we going to make a 5 minutes tune with absolutely no chord progressions? Here we can go for "one chord fits all", anything made up from the white keys (easyest for the "no-theory" people) or are we going for totaly free tonality? I suggest we stick to "the white keys", but then maybe say only one chord per clip? Anyway, if we go for having the ossibility to make different chords, then the clips should be named something like this: nestor1_cmayor.wav and atomic2_dminor.wav.

bosone · Post by **bosone** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 10:29 am

What time signature are we working in?

also, 6 seconds (in 4/4) is 3 bars one beat (if I've done my maths right). Would it be easier to do a round number of bars?

this have sense...
let's record 4 bars (or

at 130BPM (or other fixed tempo).
then... i have so many instruments that only two wav files are too few!! (i hope that this sunday i'll have some spare time to record in my room with no parent around... more silence for my mic!)
maybe one can post as many files as he likes?

Counterparts · Post by **Counterparts** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 10:44 am

Well, 8 seconds is 4 and a third bars (in 4/4 - urgle!)

I'd personally go for bosone's 4 bars.

To create exactly five minutes...er...I make that 162 and a half bars at 130 bpm. So...shall we say 160 bars? That squares things up quite nicely.

I think we should be able to upload more than 2 bars of music + 1 bar of perc too...there might not be enough material otherwise. Perhaps a limit of 5 wavs each, one being perc?

e.g.

guitar_counterparts.wav
lead_synth_counterparts.wav
bass_counterparts.wav
fx_noise_counterparts.wav
&
perc_counterparts.wav

?

Note the lack of:

vocals_counterparts.wav

Royston

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 10:48 am

6 seconds (in 4/4) is 3 bars one beat (if I've done my maths right). Would it be easier to do a round number of bars? [ This Message was edited by: Counterparts on 2003-10-20 09:37 ]

That makes a lot of sense to me, you're right, let say 3 bars each so.

Immanuel · Post by **Immanuel** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 10:51 am

ah, you are right. I forgot to mention, that my 8 and 6 seconds sugestions build on your 120 BPM sugestion earlier. I too think, it would be nice to cap it at 5 files, and then just say no more than 3 perc tracks. If people want to do drum and bass, I am not going to stop them. We have to remember, that we are from many different parts of the world, and some of us may even do "untraditional" music within our own culture.

Nestor · Post by **Nestor** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 10:52 am

On 2003-10-20 10:13, at0mic wrote:
Nestor, I much liked the XTC project idea. Some people can't use it, true. What if we tried to make best guitar processor in modular. I would find myself rather silly complaining i dont have a guitar.
XTC can use some boost, remember the modular contest where suddenly loads of people started patching who never tried it before. Loads of questions and issues will show, and IMO CW can use some feedback from a larger user group on XTC. If XTc doesnt devellop further, I wonder how they'd ever release it for mac.

This is also true. I think that in that stage of the building up of the ideas, I will be open to all suggestions, then we can go and see how many do agree with them, and by mayority we can sort out which is the format of the costest finally, we are going to use. Democraticaly.

I for sure am with you, as you can see in the first post.

siberiansun · Post by **siberiansun** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 10:53 am

not to be a drag but.. wouldn't 4 bars make most sense?