FLMC - Fruity Loops Music Competition 6: Power Plant

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

FLMC6: "Power Plant"
VOTING STAGE HAS STARTED! (see page 5)


A brief recap of the rules for FLMC:
-You arrange music in FL Studio, using only the effects + generators that come with FL Studio. No VSTs or external samples.
-No Sytrus.
-No Wasp.
-No Soundfont Player.
-However, for this installment of FLMC, you may use the samples provided in this pack.
here's the links to the FLMC6 Pack:
http://iosquad2.googlepages.com/FLMC6Pack.zip
http://download.yousendit.com/1A5BF8836D587472
http://rapidshare.com/files/19870433/FLMC6Pack.zip.html
overview of the Pack:
==some crash cymbals because FL doesn't come with any good ones
==lots of random FX in case you want to experiment with the theme
==and a few loops, notably many variations on "thebeat"--watch out for #5, it'll eat you for lunch.
==and a demo loop flp to demonstrate (hastily thrown together)

-You must provide an FLP file (preferably in the form of a zipped project file). No exceptions.

-You may create either an original work or a remix.

-You can enter as many songs as you want, as long as they're all submitted by the deadline.

Official deadline is April 6, 2007. (4/6/07)
That gives you a month, although I can do extensions if people are being slow.

This FLMC has no source tune for remixing--instead I've provided a theme, "Power Plant". You can interpret this any way you want, as long as you try to incorporate it into your song in some way or another. You may want to stick an FL notebook in your project trying to explain what you tried to do.
For a great example of how something like this can be done, take a look at BGC's Shattered Dreams entry for FLMC3:
http://iosquad2.googlepages.com/BGC-ShatteredDream.zip

And with that, let the mixing begin! Good luck! I know using a theme may make the creative process a little harder, but it's definitely possible! If all else fails, heck, just make something cool.

[Escariot]

Get a new file host and I may be interested. I can't get the damn file

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

Get a new file host and I may be interested. I can't get the damn file

ok, updated with new links.

[Villainelle]

(4/6/07)

Oh hey, my b-day. I would love to try participating in this since switching to FL, but having a wide-open canvas isn't as inspiring as being challenged by limitations like PRC, imo. Any chance you may narrow down the premise like last time?

Also, more serious question - is there an archive of past FLMCs anywhere?

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

Oh hey, my b-day. I would love to try participating in this since switching to FL, but having a wide-open canvas isn't as inspiring as being challenged by limitations like PRC, imo. Any chance you may narrow down the premise like last time?

Also, more serious question - is there an archive of past FLMCs anywhere?

I dunno, what Prophecy did with FLMC2 and FLMC4 was make midis that you could choose from to remix, but i know that FLMC3 didn't have any specified source tune and it seemed to work. Think of it as TOMC or CMC, but with a twist (limited tools to work with). =) if you want you can set your own restrictions (either way -someone- is going to have to start your idea, whether it be me or you)...

Sadly I don't think there's an archive of the past FLMCs, and most of them got lost along with the forum update. I still have a good number of the songs from the previous compos, but i'm not sure I have all of them from FLMC1.

[Bundeslang]

I only have Prophecy's entry from the first round, all my songs and all the songs from the last competition (they are still up: http://bambombim.googlepages.com)
I think noone has the songs, but I have a list with the remixers who entered the FLMC versions. Maybe contacting the remixers could help. I can post the list here if you want.

[Escariot]

ok, updated with new links.
I mean... Don't use Googlepages. I never get a complete download

[ZCG]

ok i am back again i will try to make something

[Alex Smith]

Sounds cool. I might give it a go.

EDit: Are we allowed speech synthesiser?

[Xerol Oplan]

I've been waiting for one with an original theme for a while now, I might jump in on this.

Question: FL7 comes with some new samples, are those allowed?

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

I've been waiting for one with an original theme for a while now, I might jump in on this.

Question: FL7 comes with some new samples, are those allowed?

really? i just recently upgraded and i didn't see any new ones.

i guess it's fine, as long as everyone else is okay with it. They'll get stuck in the zip file anyways. for those of you who dont have 7.0 yet for some resaon...we can just render to mp3.

[Bundeslang]

I don't think anyone will have problems, it's just FL-basic.

[CopiousX]

Would it be acceptable to edit an instrument line in FL, then export the pattern as a .wav, then import the same .wav into the project. I'm wondering because of when you say "No external samples" Does that count as external if the sample is created entirely with FL?

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

Would it be acceptable to edit an instrument line in FL, then export the pattern as a .wav, then import the same .wav into the project. I'm wondering because of when you say "No external samples" Does that count as external if the sample is created entirely with FL?

That's fine, as long as the exported wav is still made using only FL defaults. If the pattern isn't part of your actual project, it'd also be nice if you could include it as a separate .flp file.

[CopiousX]

Thanks for the speedy reply DDr... But I got two more questions

Are vocals allowed too? And may I use your trance instruments in your demo flp? xD I'm clueless when it comes to making trance instruments from scratch.

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

Thanks for the speedy reply DDr... But I got two more questions

Are vocals allowed too? And may I use your trance instruments in your demo flp? xD I'm clueless when it comes to making trance instruments from scratch.

Since we aren't allowing you to record any external samples (the whole point is to restrict yourself to a minimal toolset), you can't use vocals, unless you want to use the speech synthesizer (which isn't really "vocals") or unless you're talking about the vocals that are included with FL (in packs/vocals). those are fine.

As for the synths in my demo flp, well, if you really want, go ahead and use them, but there's only 3 synths and I didn't even spend much time at all making them. I'd highly recommend learning to use 3xOsc, it's great. TS404 can be useful sometimes too, but 3xOsc has always been my mainstay.

[CopiousX]

Hmm, Well looky thar. Channel Presets... xD

I've relied on VSTi way too much in the past.

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

So, is everyone just working and keeping quiet about it, or are we all just too busy and lazy to even start anything?

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

i'm guessing it's the latter...

do we want an extension or something else or what?

[Bundeslang]

Here's my entry.
http://bambombim.googlepages.com/Bundeslang-PowerAlarm.mp3
and the FLP File: http://bambombim.googlepages.com/PowerAlarm.zip

Due the lack of free time I only spend a few hours on this, I also didn't found enough time to spend on the tutorial you (DDRKirby(ISQ)) send to me, I'll sure do that later, thanks again for it.
I submitted this entry to not let the FLMC down and hopefully some others feel motivated to beat this song. It's not difficult, good luck.

Also, are the samples provided by Prophecy (used in FLMC4 and FLMC5) allowed. Not that I used them, but I just want to know.

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

Also, are the samples provided by Prophecy (used in FLMC4 and FLMC5) allowed. Not that I used them, but I just want to know.

I wasn't planning on including those--that's why i made a new sample pack.

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

so at this rate, april 6th isn't gonna happen.

poo.

[Bundeslang]

Competiton please, come on. I Hope to not win this.

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

that's right folks, april 6th has come and gone...

what do we want, another extension? a concept change?

at this point i'm probably just going to set the deadline at "whenever 3-4 entries are posted"

[DJ Nightmare]

Can I just post a song I made, using external samples only for the drums I think? It 's very cool and I want to share it. I don't even care if it is allowed in the competition, but you might as well make it no rules, because nobody is posting shit.

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

oy. first off, you guys suck =p

@ DJ Nightmare: I don't have a real problem with you posting a song, but I don't really see the relation to this thread. I would recommend just putting it in the WIP forum, since no one is interested in this thread anyways, eh?

Did I really screw up FLMC that bad or did you guys just stop being motivated?

[Bundeslang]

Just let him post the song, give him -3 points and we get a better compo.

Come on guys, you didn't let ME down, so why doesn't this round gets the interest.

[Alex Smith]

Ok I'm in. Will post entry later today.

[Alex Smith]

Ok done. Entry is called "Welcome to the Power Plant (all your brain are belong to us)".

mp3: http://www.martin2k.co.uk/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=916

zip (containing flp): http://www.martin2k.co.uk/forums/index.php?act=Attach&type=post&id=917

[Gollgagh]

I think the main problem is this forum. NOBODY checks it.

Even I utterly forgot about this until tonight.


Though, even before this, it was getting really slow. I dunno guys, maybe it's time we give FLMC a break.

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

I think the main problem is this forum. NOBODY checks it.

Even I utterly forgot about this until tonight.


Though, even before this, it was getting really slow. I dunno guys, maybe it's time we give FLMC a break.

yes, FLMC was never really that big--i rememeber Prophecy and GLL and BGC were into it but they've all kinda disappeared. The last one kinda hung in there somehow, but I guess the migration out of GenDisc might have been the last straw. bleh.

kudos to Xela, though, your song was pretty sweet, what with the drum processing and whatnot.

[Gollgagh]

I've been pretty busy lately too, but I managed to put together a WiP.

http://elpollodiablo125.googlepages.com/flmc6_wip.flp


Comments/criticism/more mastering tips?

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

I've been pretty busy lately too, but I managed to put together a WiP.

http://elpollodiablo125.googlepages.com/flmc6_wip.flp


Comments/criticism/more mastering tips?

sweet. I had actually pretty much given up on FLMC6 ever happening =X

Of course I'm no mastering expert myself--most of the mastering on my -own- tracks consists of a light parametric EQ which half of the time ends up making things sound worse, and a soft clipper with default settings.
'nuff said.

-first thing's first: for your 303 synth, I was really confused at first at why you had it going to a send FX channel with a compressor that wasn't doing anything. then I remembered that Fruity Compressor introduces a tiny bit of latency, so i'm now assuming you did that to create a nifty phasing effect, which is snnneakkkyyy ;)

-the higher resonance on the 303 sometimes gets a little too buzzy for my taste.

-intro was pretty sick--you pretty much had me sold with that, i was really digging it.

-i dont really appreciate your kick though. You used a layered kick, which can work out well sometimes, but in this case i think it didn't. Layering kicks you have to be really careful because you can get into phase cancellation problems--specifically, the hip_kick_8 and the dnc_kick...just listen to the dnc_kick solo'd, then add in the hip_kick_8 and see how whimpy it gets...of course you also distorted those kicks to hell, so i dunno what that might have done =p

-your layered bass was more okay though, that works, although the bass arrangement is pretty busy, but it's okay i think.

-once things get going everything clashes a bit. listen to the kick at the beginning and compare the power it has there to when everything else is playing. notice the difference? the main culprit here is the "generic synth" which is driving the FL mixer meter crazy, although the 303 gets a little heavy at times too and the snare is a bit too overpowering IMHO.

-Nice hi-hat pattern, good to see something other than nnst nnst nnst all the time. although, it got squeezed out of the mix by the huge wall of synth sound...

-arrangement-wise I know it's still just a WIP but make sure you actually go somewhere with the song--neat melody maybe? Breakdown? Change it up, dont just cruise along at the same level the entire time.

-crash is rather GRRAAAAAAAAHHH--rather than punchy.

-I lol'ed at the thumbs down icon on the master channel.

-I didn't really look at the individual channel FX (like compressors, reverb, etc.). if you dont have a good idea of how to use compressors, well....i struggle with it sometimes myself, so you're not alone.

-overall, once I muted the generic synth and toned down the 303, it was pretty neat! ;)

feel free to disagree, of course.

[Bundeslang]

With three entries posted, I think you can set up a new deadline (a week or something) and then let voting start.

BTW: I replaced my FLP file, now it's a ZIP file with the samples.

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

i'm leaving town today--i'll set and update everything on sunday once i get back.

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

alright people, here goes.

Official revised deadline is -=MAY 5th=-. got that? that's cinco de mayo. Gives you a little less than 2 weeks, cause frankly I want to just get this over and done with.

on may 5th i'll post an update regarding voting. I'll also post everyone's flp/zip and an mp3 version (probably using a combination of googlepages and yousendit). If you upload your own mp3 version then I'll use that--otherwise, i'll just render myself.

until then, work on, modify, etc. your songs, blahblahblah and post them in this thread.

[big giant circles]

yes, FLMC was never really that big--i rememeber Prophecy and GLL and BGC were into it but they've all kinda disappeared. The last one kinda hung in there somehow, but I guess the migration out of GenDisc might have been the last straw. bleh.

kudos to Xela, though, your song was pretty sweet, what with the drum processing and whatnot.

a bit of an overstatement, i think i participated in FLMC3, but other than that, i haven't really participated much :P

i probably would be inclined to participate more, but it's a time issue lately.

[Gollgagh]

Updated my WiP a bit:

http://elpollodiablo125.googlepages.com/flmc6_wip_2.flp


-first thing's first: for your 303 synth, I was really confused at first at why you had it going to a send FX channel with a compressor that wasn't doing anything. then I remembered that Fruity Compressor introduces a tiny bit of latency, so i'm now assuming you did that to create a nifty phasing effect, which is snnneakkkyyy ;)

Yep.


-the higher resonance on the 303 sometimes gets a little too buzzy for my taste.

How would I fix that? Should I bring it down an octave, or just not make it so resonant?

(Note that I accidentally brought it up an octave, so I may end up bringing it back down anyway.)

-i dont really appreciate your kick though. You used a layered kick, which can work out well sometimes, but in this case i think it didn't. Layering kicks you have to be really careful because you can get into phase cancellation problems--specifically, the hip_kick_8 and the dnc_kick...just listen to the dnc_kick solo'd, then add in the hip_kick_8 and see how whimpy it gets...of course you also distorted those kicks to hell, so i dunno what that might have done =p

Fixed this, I think. I got rid of the two sampled kicks, went with the Fruity Kick, and brought up the gain on the compression a little bit.

-once things get going everything clashes a bit. listen to the kick at the beginning and compare the power it has there to when everything else is playing. notice the difference? the main culprit here is the "generic synth" which is driving the FL mixer meter crazy, although the 303 gets a little heavy at times too and the snare is a bit too overpowering IMHO.

I toned down the generic synth and 303 some. Also, I'm trying out panning the 303 with an LFO, rather than just having it in mono.

-arrangement-wise I know it's still just a WIP but make sure you actually go somewhere with the song--neat melody maybe? Breakdown? Change it up, dont just cruise along at the same level the entire time.

Right, I did a breakdown. I'm still pretty terrible at writing melodies, so I went the cheap way and used pads + arps. I'm also not sure about the highpass at the end of the breakdown, but I'll listen to it both ways and see which I like better.



Thanks for your help so far.

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

Updated my WiP a bit:

http://elpollodiablo125.googlepages.com/flmc6_wip_2.flp



Yep.



How would I fix that? Should I bring it down an octave, or just not make it so resonant?

(Note that I accidentally brought it up an octave, so I may end up bringing it back down anyway.)



Fixed this, I think. I got rid of the two sampled kicks, went with the Fruity Kick, and brought up the gain on the compression a little bit.



I toned down the generic synth and 303 some. Also, I'm trying out panning the 303 with an LFO, rather than just having it in mono.



Right, I did a breakdown. I'm still pretty terrible at writing melodies, so I went the cheap way and used pads + arps. I'm also not sure about the highpass at the end of the breakdown, but I'll listen to it both ways and see which I like better.



Thanks for your help so far.

One quick comment (might possibly make more later)--your gated pad, for the first section of the breakdown where it's not gated at all (just sustained) it's actually getting a "fuzzy" quality.
this is because the "pad gate" 3xOsc isn't actually producing a constant volume--instead it's wavering because the "pad gate" is using the default 3xOsc settings, which is 3 sine waves at different octaves. So if you want to fix that, have "pad gate" only use one oscillator. it doesn't really matter what waveform (i use square waves just because) as long as it's just one osc.

Of course, if you LIKE that fuzz effect, then go ahead and keep it as is. =p

[Alex Smith]

I might pull out. Surely posting a ton of WIPs will bias the votes.

[Gollgagh]

I might pull out. Surely posting a ton of WIPs will bias the votes.


Oh come on, those aren't the words of a good sport.

If you quit now, you'll never get better.

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

5 days left, folks...

[Bundeslang]

Oh come on, those aren't the words of a good sport.

If you quit now, you'll never get better.
I don't think it's good,

but this contest is created to improve the mixing quality from the remixers/participants, so those comments will help to make the mixer better.
Personally I prefer these comments posted after the Song Deadline and after voting, like in ORC/PRC and other Contests.

[Alex Smith]

Oh come on, those aren't the words of a good sport.

If you quit now, you'll never get better.

I see what you're saying and I completely agree.

It's just that this is meant to be a serious competition at the end of the day. We do have WIP and remixing help forums here on OCR. Surely the best place to post WIPS and ask advice is not here. At the moment this thread looks more like some sort of a project than a competition.

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

I see what you're saying and I completely agree.

It's just that this is meant to be a serious competition at the end of the day. We do have WIP and remixing help forums here on OCR. Surely the best place to post WIPS and ask advice is not here. At the moment this thread looks more like some sort of a project than a competition.

interesting point. i dunno what to think anymore...

but, there's 5 days left and it hardly matters anymore, at least for FLMC6. and at the rate things are going, i dunno about starting up FLMC7 right away. =I'm= not gonna do it.

I have a WIP too--I wasn't actually planning on making anything for this, but heck, i was messing around and decided to try something with FL defaults again.

[Bundeslang]

FLMC7 shouldn't be started in may or june, but after that period. A short break could help.
Maybe we can do a remix project instead of FLMC7....Just kidding haha.

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

it's actually been done before--we (and when I say "we" I don't actually mean me) once managed to put together a sort of mega-flp that involved different people adding to the project, one section at a time. Beatdrop was in for that too, it was pretty awesome.

[Gollgagh]

Finished.

Project file (click). (http://elpollodiablo125.googlepages.com/ElPolloDiablo_-_NoobMusic2.flp)

mp3 file (click). (http://elpollodiablo125.googlepages.com/ElPolloDiablo_-_NoobMusic2.mp3)

Once again, I have failed to actually follow the theme of the contest. It doesn't sound like a power plant at all. D:

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

Once again, I have failed to actually follow the theme of the contest. It doesn't sound like a power plant at all. D:

eh, it was more of an experiment by me, just to see how things would turn out.

I'm going to be out tomorrow night, but i think after I come back I'll update and hopefully be able to post/update everything.

So far I have entries from Bundeslang, UserFormerlyKnownAsXela, and El Pollo Diablo. I guess I can post my own WIP too but I don't think you'll be allowed to vote on it. lol, it's only a WIP anyways.

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

Voting Stage

This time around we have 3 entries:

Bundeslang - Power Alarm
UserFormerlyKnownAsXela - Welcome to the Power Plant: all your brain are belong to us
El Pollo Diablo - NoobMusic2

For my (and your) convenience I've packed all the projects (plus a bonus WIP I worked on) into a zip file that you can download at one of the following URLs:
http://ddrkirby.googlepages.com/FLMC6projects.zip
http://download.yousendit.com/D7B293E75F2524D5

The mp3 versions can be downloaded here:
http://download.yousendit.com/F104CB4F183E8095

Voting starts now and ends officially on May 26th.

Choose one entry for each of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. 1st place votes will receive 4 points, 2nd place 2 points, and 3rd place 1 point. You can vote for yourself.

PM all your votes to me, DDRKirby(ISQ).
Your message should look something like this:
=====
1st place - Vicks
-OMGWTF THIS mix pwnzor't l33t h4x w/teh UNST UNST UNST!

2nd place - Wedge
-RLY GOOD KTHX but not quite as awesome as 1st place because the bass was too loud and it didn't have the UNST UNST UNST!

3rd place - Biggs
-Ya good try should do better next time too much high-end.
=====
Please note that unless you direct me otherwise, I will post the entirety of your PM in this thread for feedback purposes.

...got it?

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

*bumpity-bump*

[Gollgagh]

Voted.

BTW, nice WiP, DDRKirby. The layered bass was really neat.

Edit: Hey, could you PM a mod to change the thread title? That might help us get a few more votes.

...Might.

[Alex Smith]

You can vote for yourself.

I certainly won't be. In fact, I won't be voting at all. I'll leave it to fate to decide the result. :D

[Gollgagh]

Bump.

How many votes have you received, DDRKirby?

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

Bump.

How many votes have you received, DDRKirby?

A whopping two.

uhhhhhhh

edit: three now.

[Bundeslang]

Bump.

How many votes have you received, DDRKirby?
You and me.

The last FLMC (Round 5) also didn't get many votes. I think it's tradiation. Hopefully we will get more votes.

Vote for Frutty Loops Music Competition
To break it's Very Bad Voting Tradition

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

well, lets get this over with.

Bundeslang's Vote
1st place - Bundeslang
I need the points hard and don't want to lose with the lowest possible score. I vote myself up to not make my own defeat. Hopefully I don't win it this way.

2nd place - El Pollo Diablo
The song has good samples, I thing some parts are mixed a bit wrong, but the song is strong and good.

3rd place - UserformerlyknowsasXela
I like the song and I really like the fact the song is real Power Plant related. A weak point is the noisy thingy in the beginning.

El Pollo Diablo's Vote
Hey,

Before I start, I just want to state that I'm a complete noob at critiquing songs. That said, I'll get started.


Number one:

~El Pollo Diablo - NoobMusic 2~
Because I'm biased like that. :P

Seriously though, this one turned out wayyyyyyyyy better than NoobMusic 1.

Pros:
-Neat little 303. The automation on the highpass later on is pretty cool too.
-Breakdown and buildup aren't bad.
-Mastering is much better than in NoobMusic 1.

Cons:
-Terrible, terrible, TERRIBLE arp synth. lolfruitynoob.
-No real melody.
-Mastering still isn't as good as it could be.



Number two:

~UserFormerlyKnownAsXela - Welcome to the Power Plant (all your brain are belong to us)~

Interesting song. Fits right in with the theme of the contest.

Pros:
-Synths are quite appropriate to the theme.
-Neat drum processing.
-Nice drumfill at bar 48.

Cons:
-White noise on the synths gets to be a bit much at times.
-Ending is a bit abrupt.


Number 3:

~Bundeslang - Power Alarm~

Not bad, you've come a ways since the last FLMC. By now, you can probably start messing with effects.

Pros:
-Steel drum melody is pretty good.
-You didn't use a reverb-drenched kick drum this time (though I'm hardly one to talk :P).

Cons:
-Percussion is a bit weird. Usually you put the snare (or in this case, the clap) on the second and fourth beats, not all four.
-You used the alarm sample as part of the melody? It's a bit awkward sounding.


kbye,
EPD

====================
Gollgagh's vote was private.

The results?

1st place: El Pollo Dialbo
2nd place: Bundeslang
3rd place: UserFormerlyKnownAsXela
(whoops.)

Thank you and good night.

[Bundeslang]

Not to be irritating, but I know how Goollgagh voted.

1: UserformerlyknowsasXela because otherwhise it couldn't beat me.
2: ElPolloDiablo
3: Bundeslang because my song was the worst.

Still, I took 3rd place so not bad.

Frutty Loops Music Competition will sleep.
Anyway I have improved, not thanks to the fact my first song took second place and the rest the last place.

I will post some stats about the Competition (like who became 2nd in the first round etc) at my site:
bambombim.googlepages.com

[DDRKirby(ISQ)]

actually, no.

your own vote gave you 4 points and xela 1 point
EPD's vote gave you 1 point and xela 2 points.

that gives you 5 points and xela 3 points.

adding --

oh shit.

(edits results)

you know what, it was late, i was tired...

[Alex Smith]

lolno offence meant towards bundeslang, but i just had to lol at the result. i know my entry wasn't exactly symphony no.5, but come on. fucking hell. power alarm beat me?

[Bundeslang]

Does anyone know the song titles from FLMC1, FLMC2 and FLMC3. If you have the Songs you may post them as well, but I'm mainly interested in the titles (even is it's something like flnoob or eroibapeob or flmc1wip). Also from Bonus Track and Disqualified songs.