The First Annual DJF 2.0 Producer Battle!

[Hygro]

The first annual producer battle!

My preference on how to do this tends to be pretty unpopular, so we will leave it up for consensus! I gave some poll options but anything could go really.

[Dj DRPX]

This seems like such a good idea. Can't wait to see this. :popcorn:

[xyloft]

I feel like 100% original works should be seperated from edits/mashups.

[Ellissentials]

Many of those choices would work just fine. :shrug:

[M!TCH]

Many of those choices would work just fine. :shrug:

:stupid:

I think it is going to be very hard to compare different genres unless people are voting based on something other than what track they like more (I fear a lot of people might do this instead of trying to give a detailed vote). Maybe we should come up with a scoring rubric? :shrug:

[xyloft]

:stupid:

I think it is going to be very hard to compare different genres unless people are voting based on something other than what track they like more (I fear a lot of people might do this instead of trying to give a detailed vote). Maybe we should come up with a scoring rubric? :shrug:

ooh. i like this. but i'm notn sure how many people would actually do it. something like (just making stuff up here).

rate this track scale 1-5 1 being i'd rather stab my ears with pointy sticks, 5 being songs from heaven

Mastering/sound quality
overall structure
builds, breakdowns
true to style

[Dj DRPX]

Mastering/sound quality
overall structure
builds, breakdowns
true to style

I like this idea, but each of these would have to be predefined. I think the rubric idea is great if it is between multiple genres, and even if it is the same genre.

[Tektonix]

Good call hygro :) Im down to participate in this for sure, Hope this ends up being loosely sample based as its kinda hard to make certain genres based strictly on samples.

[mars.shosh1n]

I really enjoyed MindMapper's sample-pack-only comp from djf 1.0 -- any genre.

[drop1]

I'll play if everyone uses the same sample pack.

[Clayton]

Sounds fun, ill get involved.

[Hygro]

I like the rubric idea, it's really clever.


I'll play if everyone uses the same sample pack.

This is what we did last time. The only problem was that the winner didn't use the samples at all, and no one cared for the re-vote. It was good otherwise--someone would need to provide the samples. I could make a pack, but you'd have to have some good plugins/samplers to make it right :devil:

actually that could be fun--having shitty samples and turning them into awesome things. :lol:



I think single genre is a good idea, too. What do you all think of this: we do a genre we don't normally practice, one that maybe a couple trusted people decide upon right before the official start begins. It could be anything, Parliament style funk, early 90s gangsta-party rap, straight up eurodance... eurogressive like Sash or Faithless, etc.

[Socks]

I'd be down, either using just a sample or sample pack

I wouldnt mind if it was genre specific but I think the results would be much more enjoyable if it was any genre goes then you can hear how everyone puts there own spin on it

[drop1]

I like the rubric idea, it's really clever.



This is what we did last time. The only problem was that the winner didn't use the samples at all, and no one cared for the re-vote. It was good otherwise--someone would need to provide the samples. I could make a pack, but you'd have to have some good plugins/samplers to make it right :devil:

actually that could be fun--having shitty samples and turning them into awesome things. :lol:



I think single genre is a good idea, too. What do you all think of this: we do a genre we don't normally practice, one that maybe a couple trusted people decide upon right before the official start begins. It could be anything, Parliament style funk, early 90s gangsta-party rap, straight up eurodance... eurogressive like Sash or Faithless, etc.

That would be very hard for me as I always just let the track go where it wants but what ev

[Ellissentials]

I agree with a little bit of everything in this thread actually. Especially that last bit by drop1.. I usually let the track do the talking. So, it's really going to depend on the sample pack and if we're allow to ALSO create original elements through various means.

[Hygro]

That would be very hard for me as I always just let the track go where it wants but what ev

I definitely hear that. Sometimes I have loads of fun/learn a lot being forced to do something new, and it could put us all on the same playing field, but some of us are slower in our versatility and won't have much fun. As a metaphor, I used to always love playing new maps in starcraft against my friends--maps we have never played. Most people I know liked playing maps they had practiced.

[M!TCH]

I like the rubric idea, it's really clever.

I think single genre is a good idea, too. What do you all think of this: we do a genre we don't normally practice, one that maybe a couple trusted people decide upon right before the official start begins. It could be anything, Parliament style funk, early 90s gangsta-party rap, straight up eurodance... eurogressive like Sash or Faithless, etc.

I think the rubric is almost required. Dedicated rules need to be set down and enforced. You don't abide by them, your track isn't included in the competition. As for the last minute change on the genre...not feeling it for the mere fact that some people may not be exposed to whatever is picked which inherently hurts their capabilities.

[Hygro]

well, there's a grading rubric vs a raw vote, and there's a track requirement rubric, slightly different. I will say I suggested the random genre purely because we'd all have to research it from zero. The idea is otherwise if we did, say, electro house, all the electro guys will cream the people who practice trance or hip hop etc.

[M!TCH]

I'm thinking more along the lines of everyone producing their own specific genre because it exemplifies their skills in their most practiced area. I think people should be able to listen to different genres and still be somewhat objective about it. :shrug:

[Hygro]

What do people think of using a specific required loop like a drum break, and then after that anything goes?

[Dj DRPX]

Hygro, I think that would be best. It'd allow for more creativity than being locked within a sample pack.

[Socks]

I dont like the idea of just a drum break.. Drums are one of the most creative parts of the track and my favorite part of making.. I think just a loosely sample based competition would be fine. An anything goes aslong as you can semi recognize the original sample being used...

But Im a hip-hop sample based guy sooo Im probly just being selfish to what I like :shrug:

[xyloft]

I think single genre is a good idea, too. What do you all think of this: we do a genre we don't normally practice, one that maybe a couple trusted people decide upon right before the official start begins. It could be anything, Parliament style funk, early 90s gangsta-party rap, straight up eurodance... eurogressive like Sash or Faithless, etc.

hmm. i agree with the people above about how you le the track do the talking....BUT.

what if we did a three song competition. no sample pack, but produce a Eurodance, Drum and Bass, Trance version of your own original work.

1) it would force producers outside their own boundaries.
2) as a listener you would hear many variations on the same musical elements
3) as a producer it would force you to play in different drum structures, BPMs.

although...i'm so amateur at production, I'm not sure if i have the breadth to produce a track over multiple genres.

oh maybe just this:

producer creates a track and submits two different genre versions of the same track. two is probably more realistic than 3. but here, the producer would pick the genres instead of the competition.

just throwing some ideas out.

[drop1]

I'm thinking more along the lines of everyone producing their own specific genre because it exemplifies their skills in their most practiced area. I think people should be able to listen to different genres and still be somewhat objective about it. :shrug:
I don't have a hard time at all judging purely production quality.

Hygro, I think that would be best. It'd allow for more creativity than being locked within a sample pack.

I feel the exact opposite. I feel a sample pack will force creativity.

[Hygro]

Ok, I'm getting a lot of great ideas, I'm gonna read over the thread, count the votes, and come up with what I think is the most fair synthesis based on the opinions and views here.

Is everyone cool with that?

[Ignotus]

im interested, depending how it comes down to it

[propertrax]

Why not just have everyone submit a track they think is good and be done with it? And nominate a five or six judge panel (that aren't participating) to do the voting...with experienced, knowledgeable producers/DJs that can actually give a proper score.

Allowing the plebes to vote is just asking for trouble, IMO. As far as samples go, I can turn just about anything into something else and you'd be none the wiser...any good sound designer could take, say, vocal samples of Obama giving a speech, and if they work it for a bit, turn a bunch of vocals into a whole drum kit, that sounded nothing like a person speaking/vocals. Who is to judge if you used x or y sample? That's nothing something you can tell easily, unless it's just a blatant and simple usage of it.

Separate genre categories can sometimes work, but is there really enough participation to bother doing that? I think you'd need at least a couple dozen entries in each category to give a truly well-rounded competition. But then, should there really be split categories for sub-genres like electro house, epic trance, or neurofunk? I'd say keeping it broad is the best course of action...a good judge would understand the difference between bad production skills and good, no matter the style...I may not listen to it for enjoyment, but Dr. Luke's production abilities for Katy Perry are still professional and of a high quality standard--far higher than say, David Guetta (sorry, it's a fact)--even if I'm not a fan I can hear the techniques plus if I'm going to be stuck in Hell for eternity listening to one, I'd rather hear a Dr. Luke production over Guetta, simply because his arrangements and hooks are better.

But then you've got the alternate issue of, "what are the standards of good production?" Even though the general mix and "vibe" of the tracks may be a little...more raw and dirty to the untrained ear...Levon Vincent smokes Don Rimini in the production department...although to the untrained or ignorant listener they may hear Mr. Rimini and think "shinier/glossy = better" when in fact, Levon's work is far more involved, intricate, and thoughtful. It's like comparing Butch Vig's work on Nirvana's Nevermind to Rza and the 36 Chambers...Both are good in their own right, but how the fuck do you compare?

So, in summary...maybe you guys should just focus on making music, and quit worrying about DJF competitions that...in the end...may be enjoyable...but aren't worth stressing over and wasting tons of time about...just make the music you enjoy making, and make some great tracks! /devil's advocate

[Hygro]

I'm going to say thank you for your opinion and go with everyone can vote, because we ARE djs, we do know music, and trust people's ears on standards. You're right on the sample pack. And yeah, if we stuck to one genre I think a lot of people won't play, and it's more fun when more people do. That's the point of this, I don't think anyone's gonna get anything out of winning, it's just for fun. Strict sample packs aren't popular, and loose sample packs don't do us much good. I'm going to have the thread up that makes it official in about 30 minutes.


Thanks everyone! Gimme a sec.

[Hygro]

http://www.djforums.com/forums/showthread.php?7930-First-Annual-Producer-Battle-RULES-AND-ROLL-CALL!-D&p=89673#post89673 33 minutes damn i estimate good