Songcrafters.org

It's time to vote for our next two festivals which will run from September 1 to October 31. Voting starts now and runs for 5 days. You can change your vote any time until the closing of the poll on August 31. To do so, click "Remove vote" to cancel your previous vote, then vote again.

This poll is for the "Originals" festival. There is a separate poll for the "Covers" festival. Please vote in both polls.

Remember, "Covers" is covers only, and "Originals" is originals preferred but covers welcome unless otherwise stated in the festival's description.

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• SoftwareFest - Songs created entirely with software on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.
  
  
• TearFest - Songs about crying or tears.
  
  
• Live in the Living Room 2 - Songs recorded live at home without multitracking.
  
  
• DuetFest - write and record an original song for a duet to sing (male/female)
  
  
• Ringtone Fest - Really short pieces (5 - 20 seconds) that can loop seamlessly as ringtones, alarms, and other notification sounds used by phones.
  
  
• F*ck the man songs - See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man).
  
  
• One Chord Songs - Write a song using just one chord.
  
  
• Screw-up fest - Songs about screwing up.

Is it intended that the software fest be instrumentals only or is singing allowed?

Singing is allowed. However, all other sounds in the recording should come from software. No traditional instruments can be used, although you can use a MIDI keyboard or other MIDI controller (MIDI-guitar, MIDI-drums, etc.) to trigger the sounds in the software.

The actual recording doesn't necessarily have to be done in software, though it probably makes sense in most cases. For example, you could run a cable from the Line Out of your computer's sound card to the Line In of your BR, Zoom, or whatever and record some beeps and squawks from your computer to your hardware recorder. But it would probably be a lot easier just to record them in Audacity, GarageBand, or whatever on the computer.

Although MIDI controllers are allowed, I think the idea of this fest is to get away from traditional instruments as much as possible. So if you can generate your sounds completely from the software, that would be more in the spirit of the fest. For example, you could use the iKaossilator app. And lots of other music apps use non-traditional methods for note entry too.

You can also use Web Audio Apps to make the sounds for your recording. Here are some good ones:

https://alexgibson.github.io/wavepad/ (https://alexgibson.github.io/wavepad/)

http://luketeaford.com/apps/tanguy/ (http://luketeaford.com/apps/tanguy/)

http://www.g200kg.com/websequencer/ (http://www.g200kg.com/websequencer/)

http://middleearmedia.com/kalimba/ (http://middleearmedia.com/kalimba/)

http://middleearmedia.com/hang/ (http://middleearmedia.com/hang/)

https://webaudiodemos.appspot.com/Vocoder/index.html (https://webaudiodemos.appspot.com/Vocoder/index.html)

http://webaudiodemos.appspot.com/MIDIDrums/index.html (http://webaudiodemos.appspot.com/MIDIDrums/index.html)

http://middleearmedia.com/webaudioloopmixer/ (http://middleearmedia.com/webaudioloopmixer/)

http://middleearmedia.com/warmachine/ (http://middleearmedia.com/warmachine/)

http://noisehack.com/monotron/ (http://noisehack.com/monotron/)

http://patternsketch.com/ (http://patternsketch.com/)

http://www.taktech.org/takm/WebFMSynth/ (http://www.taktech.org/takm/WebFMSynth/)

http://websynths.com (http://websynths.com)

http://juno-106.js.org/ (http://juno-106.js.org/)

http://audiocrawl.co/crawl/sampulator-7476 (http://audiocrawl.co/crawl/sampulator-7476)

http://www.synthogram.com (http://www.synthogram.com)

http://nicroto.github.io/viktor/ (http://nicroto.github.io/viktor/)


There are many more available. However, a lot of them seem to require a MIDI keyboard for input, which only works in current versions of Chrome, Opera, and Android. Web MIDI is not yet supported by Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc.

http://caniuse.com/#search=web%20midi%20api (http://caniuse.com/#search=web%20midi%20api)

Come on...it can't be that myself and only 1 other member are screw-ups!

Litlr2lutlr2 Litlr2lutlr2 Litlr2lutlr2 Litlr2lutlr2 Litlr2lutlr2 Litlr2lutlr2 Litlr2lutlr2

I am glad to see there was at least 2 other screw ups though.

Are we excepting cars?

We all know your car is like a second living room for you.

Quote from: Hook on August 30, 2016, 02:55:33 PMAre we excepting cars?

Took me a while to decipher that. At first, I mistakenly read it as "Are we expecting cars?" and I had no idea what you meant. Then I saw Daniel's post and realised that you must have meant "Are we accepting cars?" - ie; songs recorded Live in your Car rather than your living room. I guess you probably used some kind of iPhone dictation app to create that message? ;)

Anyway, yes, the Live in the Living Room fest would include cars, sheds, bathrooms, backyards, or wherever. The only requirements are that there's no multitracking and that it's not a live gig or prepared performance before an audience. The idea is that it's just you at home (or in your car/shed/whatever) recording like you normally would except that you can't add more tracks. You just press the Record button, then simultaneously sing and play. Then you're basically done. If you make a mistake, then start again. There's no editing of the recording except for the usual trimming/fading, normalizing levels, and exporting to MP3.

I guess those of us who don't sing won't be able to participate in this one (not that I've got time to participate anyway). I mean, it would be hard to play anything interesting on just one instrument without multitracking or vocals unless you're incredibly skilled on your instrument. Although, I guess we could play a kazoo or something while strumming the guitar, and strap some cymbals on our knees.  :D

(https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=25626.0;attach=185665)

Since:

"Live in the Living Room 2 - Songs recorded live at home without multitracking."

...are looping machines allowed?  ??? ::)

Alfredo

Quote from: alfstone on August 30, 2016, 05:38:40 PMSince:

"Live in the Living Room 2 - Songs recorded live at home without multitracking."

...are looping machines allowed?  ??? ::)

Good question, Alfredo. My first thought was no because looping is really another form of recording. But then I thought loopers would sure make the festival a lot more interesting and fun. And, afterall, loopers are meant to be used for live performances. So maybe they would fit the theme. I'm undecided. Maybe the admin team should discuss it before we make a final decision. I'll pose the question in the admin board.

Realizing that I'm not admin, I say yes. It's no less live if you use a looper...however, if you've pre-recorded the loop then that would be a faux pa.

Quote from: 64Guitars on August 30, 2016, 05:24:23 PMI mean, it would be hard to play anything interesting on just one instrument without multitracking or vocals unless you're incredibly skilled on your instrument. Although, I guess we could play a kazoo or something while strumming the guitar, and strap some cymbals on our knees.  :D

I'm ready...  ;D

(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/One_man_band,_CDV_by_Knox,_c1865.JPG)

Alright, LITLRFest looks like a sure thing so I'm changing back to screw up fest. Gotta be true to yourself when you can.

Voting closed.

The winner is

Live in the Living Room 2

- Songs recorded live at home without multitracking.

Quote from: 64Guitars on August 31, 2016, 01:23:16 PMVoting closed.

The winner is

Live in the Living Room 2

- Songs recorded live at home without multitracking.

(again)

Loopers?

Alfredo

Quote from: alfstone on August 31, 2016, 02:39:24 PM(again)

Loopers?

Alfredo

Yes, loopers are allowed. However, they must be used only to record live while you're performing. In other words, you can't prepare the loops ahead of time. The whole point of this festival is to record live, so any technology such as loopers should only be used in that live context and not as a cheat to play along with stuff you've prepared prior to recording your performance.

Quote from: 64Guitars on August 31, 2016, 03:12:17 PM

Quote from: alfstone on August 31, 2016, 02:39:24 PM(again)

Loopers?

Alfredo

Yes, loopers are allowed. However, they must be used only to record live while you're performing. In other words, you can't prepare the loops ahead of time. The whole point of this festival is to record live, so any technology such as loopers should only be used in that live context and not as a cheat to play along with stuff you've prepared prior to recording your performance.

One more thing that I would add (although I expect most times whether or not a looper was used will be obvious): please mention it in the festival submission post if a looper is used.

Please mention if a looper is used
Please mention if a looper is used
Please mention if a looper is used
Etc
Etc
Etc

Quote from: Oldrottenhead on August 31, 2016, 05:26:18 PMPlease mention if a looper is used
Please mention if a looper is used
Please mention if a looper is used
Etc
Etc
Etc

Someone's been drinking & drinking & drinking & drinking...

For the benefit of anyone who wasn't here five years ago when we had our first Live in the Living Room festival, here's a link to the jukebox.

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Back in those days, we used to include any previous posts that fit the festival theme, so the 118 songs in the jukebox includes 35 songs that were posted before the festival existed. Still, that leaves 83 songs that were posted specifically for the festival. Not bad! I wonder if we can top that this time around? Let's try!

Quote from: Oldrottenhead on August 31, 2016, 05:26:18 PMPlease mention if a looper is used
Please mention if a looper is used
Please mention if a looper is used
Etc
Etc
Etc

hic
hic
hic
hic
hic
burp
burp
burp
burp
burp
burp
fart
fart
fart
fart
fart
fart
fart

i have had a looper pedal since crimbo, and i still cant get a hang of it, should be disastrous fun lol.

Quote from: Oldrottenhead on September 01, 2016, 12:54:08 PMi have had a looper pedal since crimbo, and i still cant get a hang of it, should be disastrous fun lol.

I'm sure it'll be fun. I'm kind of jealous, but the missus put me on notice for any new gear.

Originals only?  Last time I remember there being a fair amount of covers.

Quote from: cuthbert on September 01, 2016, 01:08:59 PM

Quote from: Oldrottenhead on September 01, 2016, 12:54:08 PMi have had a looper pedal since crimbo, and i still cant get a hang of it, should be disastrous fun lol.

I'm sure it'll be fun. I'm kind of jealous, but the missus put me on notice for any new gear.

You could always get some free looper software (https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q=free+looper+software). I imagine you could control it via MIDI.

SooperLooper is available for Mac OS X and Linux.  http://www.essej.net/sooperlooper/ (http://www.essej.net/sooperlooper/)

And there's Mobius for Windows and Mac.  http://www.circularlabs.com/ (http://www.circularlabs.com/)

I'm sure there are others too but I've never really looked into what's available and which is best.

Quote from: ODH on September 01, 2016, 02:14:44 PMOriginals only?  Last time I remember there being a fair amount of covers.

As always, the "Originals" fest means originals preferred but covers allowed.

The idea is that the Covers fest is for people who like to do covers and the Originals fest is for people who like to write their own songs. But, in most cases, there's no good reason to restrict the Originals fest to only originals. So, if songwriting's not your thing, feel free to submit a Live in the Living Room cover.

The Covers fest is restricted to covers only because original songs usually wouldn't be possible or make sense in the context of the fest theme. For example, I doubt if anyone here wrote a song in the year they were born. If they did, the lyrics probably went something like "WAAAA!!! WAAAAAAAAAA!!!! WAAAAAA!!!!".  ;) ;D

(https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=25626.0;attach=185673)

"WAAAA!!! WAAAAAAAAAA!!!! WAAAAAA!!!!".   

That's mine, I have a copyright. 5/25/1973...I was a very smart baby...still am come to think of it...Smart baby that is...

Quote from: ODH on September 01, 2016, 02:14:44 PMOriginals only?  Last time I remember there being a fair amount of covers.

You write songs...stop your wining...baby ;) >:(

Too far?

you'll be copyrighting chord progressions yet! 

BTW I have I-IV-V and no one can use Em7Dim. Ever. Unless they pay me....