Sunday, April 4, 2010

The PAD Challenge: Official Rules

A few days ago I posted my intention to use this week of reader contributed patches to give myself a chance to work on some new music. I decided to open up that challenge to all of you and have already gotten a couple of comments from people interested in joining in.

The Challenge, however, was a little vague so I thought I'd put up a quick post to explain the rules for this little challenge.


Deadline: Friday, April 9th, 12:00 p.m. (Noon)

Genre Restrictions: None. I decided to concentrate my efforts working outside of my usual genre, so I'll be working on a dance track. You're free to bang out anything you like, but if you want to be challenged, try putting together a song in a style you don't normally work in.

Software Restrictions: As this is a Reason-centric blog, I'm hoping that anyone who joins in with this challenge uses either Reason or Record to sequence their work. This may be very important for "phase two" of the challenge, so if you can, please stick to Reason or Record.


Please email me a link to your completed song by noon on Friday, April 9th. You can also email me a MP3 or RNS/Record to be posted on the Reason Patch A Day Soundcloud. Obviously, I'm not interesting in laying any claims to your music. As has been the case from day one here at PAD, the patches here are "bragware," so this is a perfect opportunity for you to brag a little about what you've come up with.

Email me at patchaday (at) earthlink (dot) net. If you have any comments or links you'd like me to post with your completed track, please send those as well.

As I said in the comments the other day, "keep in mind... the goal is to complete a track in a week. It doesn't necessarily have to be polished or good. I certainly don't expect mine to be, so you don't have to be the next Deadmau5 to play along."

So far, it looks like readers Hydlide and BenDarkFox have signed up to take this challenge with me. Lewis.72 expressed some interest, as well, but might not be able to fit the challenge into his schedule.

There are only five days remaining! Have you started working on your new track yet?

Update: DJ Mad Wax, Chris Stallone, V2057, and DBA are joining in on the Challenge! That makes seven entries! Anyone else?

13 comments:

Chris Stallone said...

im up for this
think i'll use PAD patches in my track as a kind of thank you for your hard work

Patch-A-Day Robbneu said...

Great! Looking forward to your entry, Chris! This should be a lot of fun!

V2057 said...

oh hell yes, im a little late, but i'm totally working on something right now. good luck everybody : D

Patch-A-Day Robbneu said...

Excellent, V2057. I've added you to the list! Looking forward to hearing what you come up with.

Lewis.72 said...

I started working on something this morning using PAD patches! A Pad pad started it all ;-). Just coming up with ideas today and I'll start sequencing tomorrow... Stepping out of my comfort zone as you suggested and trying something in the ambient/experimental genre. btw, what's this "phase two" stuff?

Patch-A-Day Robbneu said...

Glad you're able to participate in the time frame listed, Lewis. Regarding your question about "phase two," I haven't announced anything yet, but thought that... with everyone's permission... we might swap files and do a remix or two of each other's work. Not sure how/if that'll work, so I was holding off on announcing it and getting it set up until we actually have a few songs to listen to.

DBA said...

im a bit late, but i will join the challenge! Greetz Andy

Patch-A-Day Robbneu said...

Awesome! Welcome, DBA/Andy. Glad you could join in.

1.44MB said...

I've been a long time leecher from this site soooooooooo it's probably time to step up and give back

Patch-A-Day Robbneu said...

Great 1.44MB, glad to have you joining in on the challenge, even if it is last minute. Send me your link or file to patchaday (at) earthlink (dot) net and I'll get it posted with the others.

1.44MB said...

It's not really that last minute as far as making the tracks goes - I started last week - more of last minute deciding to actually risk ridcule!

Patch-A-Day Robbneu said...

1.44MB... Heheh. Well, I really don't think there's any risk of ridicule. The comments section here on PAD has only recently picked up, but from what I've seen in the last year and a half of doing this, the people who visit and share are all really great people. We're all in this together. I suspect if you get any feedback, it'll be well-intentioned and constructive.

1.44MB said...

Yup, well good honest feedback from semi-likeminded people is what I'm after. It's not like I'm ever going to be stellar - especially since I only get to work on tracks during my lunch break / when the boss isn't watching - but I find making tracks is highly addictive. I think I have the same issue you have - I start a ton of stuff but never finish. This challenge was great for me - knock something up quickly, not perfect but semi-finshed at least.
Best get on and send the mp3's eh?