Hi all, so I have a question about this month’s rescore challenge because i’m kinda stumped at the moment to be honest and I thought I’d ask just so I understand better (i have difficulty “reading through the lines” sometimes):
So, the challenge states “create your own sampled instruments”, and on the livestream Christian said to not use commercial libraries (which makes sense, i get that bit… sort of)
My question is, are we allowed to use our libraries we’ve created ourselves that we’ve later put on Pianobook? Or would this fall under the catagory of “commercial”? Just wanna get clarification, because by “commercial libraries” I’m assuming thats from companies like spitfire, crow hill etc but i just wanna make sure.
My reading is that the spirit of the challenge is to create a score with “found sounds” - i.e from sources other than real (or virtual) musical instruments - as in the sample pack the team created for Christian.
On that basis, I reckon your Pianobook fridge sample library would be OK for you to use (unclear whether anyone else could use it), but your string library would not. The description on the challenge page encourages us to record new sounds, but it seems to me to make very little difference exactly when you sampled your fridge.
However, this is just my reading; I think we’re to free to some extent to interpret these rules. There might be an interpretation where using DecentSampler is out of bounds (the challenge page says “You’ve got your laptop, your Daw, some fx plugins but no sounds…”; does DecentSampler count as an FX plugin?) - equally, some people might be comfortable arguing that they always go on holiday with their 90 closest friends, who all bring their orchestral instruments…
I think ultimately it depends what you want to get out of it.
The Crow Hill Composing Challenge invites participants to rescore the Venom trailer using original sounds they record, ideally with a phone, and turn them into sample instruments.
Participants can use a DAW and FX plugins but no instrument plugins. Provided sounds are available if needed.
The winner receives all Crow Hill releases for 12 months and a bespoke sample library session, while two runners-up get the next two releases.
Entries must be submitted by 11:59pm BST, June 15, via a download link to demos@thecrowhillcompany.com, with the winner announced on June 18 during a livestream.
Action Points (updated):
Download the Venom trailer from the provided link.
Record original sounds (preferably using a phone) or use provided sounds.
Create sample instruments from recorded sounds.
Score the trailer using only self-created instruments. The plugins used should be built-in to your DAW or free (no instrument plugins).
Name the audio file with your name (e.g., MyName.mp4).
Yeah I did wonder, wasn’t sure if it would be in the “spirit” of the brief or not… I might cautiously do voice ideas separately in case I have to not use them, at least they’d be ready for something else creative if not this time round
I am SO enjoying this challenge!! Recently back to music after a twenty five year getting other stuff done break (what was I thinking?!)! Every time I think “ooo it would be cool if you could…” I find a button for it!! Love an analogue synth and some gorgeous tape as much as the next person… but got to be honest, don’t much miss scrunching up in front of that tiny Akai screen wheeling that blooming wheel! Just had to share the joy x
I will say, coming back a few days after giving this a go, bloomin eck this was actually kinda hard needless to say I pulled through. This really got me thinking outside the box (ngl my fridge synth I made helped me a TON without that I’d be screwed lol), I don’t have any expensive synths (and if you were on holiday, ain’t no way you are bringing a gigantic synthesiser with ya lmao).
I will say this, I made some sampled instruments out of objects I genuinely didn’t know I could turn into instruments… I may upload (some, not all) of the sampled instruments to pianobook once the competition is over if folks wanna play with them!
If anybody is struggling and doesn’t know what to record and doesn’t have any instruments (like me), heres what I did for inspiration:
What I did was turn my bin lid into a drum kit by slamming it and opening it a couple times, using it as a kick and snare, recorded it about 4 times (2 round robins for both) and just made them sound like a kick drum etc.
If you have a fridge or some kind of generator of some sort with a buzz (like Christian’s Nespresso machine) I highly recommend using one of those.
I also just randomly recorded myself clapping and used a bitcrusher for some sort of hihat and a recording of me sighing as a cymbal…
I also used a ceramic dish to create some distorted glockenspiel (I like to call it “Glockendish” )
I also recorded me doing a weird groaning noise lol, its silly i know but this competition is just a bit of fun ^^
anyway hope people find that useful if they’re struggling for ideas!
Hi Mark
As we have discussed we both have or had StudioOne DAW and inside this is a tool called SampleOne!
Can this be used to load samples from the iPhone tracks and generate additional tones sounds etc.
Thoughts !
Hi David,
Thought I’d jump in on this; hope you don’t mind?
I’d say this is fine as Christian uses the Logic Pro X Sampler to edit and manipulate his samples!
Inspired by Marks list of instruments here are some more ideas. With some EQ, Compressor, Distorsion and Space Designer this can take you far. Have fun!
I wanted to chop up my vocals over mine. I am still unclear if that is OK as long as I record them on my phone. If I was on vacation, I would have my voice with me, so I am assuming so…
I recorded every coffee maker I had, my Tassimo, my Keurig, and my Nespresso…lol made alot of coffee…Also banging a candy cane on various vases and glasses makes a nice bell…LOL
x
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