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What is Sample Pack Contest?
What is Sample Pack Contest?
Sample Pack Contest is a series of original music-writing contests that began in 2005, originally on VGMusic's forums and now on its own dedicated Discord server.
In the regular full SPC rounds, users are first asked to submit sound samples, which can be anything ranging from video game noises to famous music clips to sounds recorded using your own mic. Then, participants create music tracks using only the samples submitted to the pack. In the end, all music is listened to and voted on to determine placing and the eventual winner. Read all about SPC on their website and be sure to join the 20th SPC, which happens to also fall on the 20th anniversary of the contest!
There are also rounds of mini-SPC to fill the void between major rounds. Each round will be slightly different, so check the Discord for each mini rounds specific parameters. Also the rules are a little different to keep the scale smaller and shorter.
Rules/guidelines for creating tracks:
Rules/guidelines for creating tracks:
Use as many or as few of the samples from the pack as you wish. You are encouraged to use an audio editor to edit the samples and derive original sounds; think about looping, pitch-shifting, trimming, dynamics, baked-in effects etc.
Effects such as reverb, delay, distortion, chorus, phaser, flanger, pitch-shift, auto-tune etc. are all permitted and encouraged in your arrangements.
Effects that also generate audio for a carrier signal (i.e. vocoders) are a grey area, but we've allowed them in previous contests and they are permitted.
Avoid the cop-out of ultra-shortlooped (or "chipped") samples - generally avoid making chiptunes. This is more of a request than a hard rule, but in general it's recommended that the sample retain some of its character.
Keep your entries a secret from everyone as authors will be revealed only when results are announced.
Collaborations are permitted.
This contest is intended for original music only, not remixes or covers.
Final catch-all rule: for anything else not covered by these rules, if you feel you might be taking excessive liberties, you probably are.
Good luck and have fun!
Join!!
Join!!
How does the Video Game Edition of SPC work?
How does the Video Game Edition of SPC work?
First! Join the contest which can be done simply by joining the Discord server and checking out the announcements channel.
Samples and Tracks
Samples and Tracks
Phase 1: Sample submission
Phase 1: Sample submission
The community is asked to submit samples - short sound clips of video game music/sound effects. The clip must be a maximum of eight (8) seconds long or shorter. Challengers will have a week or so to submit their samples - check the Discord for details! Try to clean up the clip as much as possible before submitting it as a WAV file. Submitted samples will be sorted into: Voice/vocal, Music clip, Instrument sound or Sound Effect and all samples will be in the final sample pack to be used for the contest. When you submit your sample please also provide the source where it comes from (game, movie/tv, etc).
Samples submitted before or after the sample submissions dates will be discarded.
Phase 2: Composing.
Phase 2: Composing.
With the newly assembled and released sample pack, participants compose music using only the samples as their sound sources - you cannot add any other source. You can use the samples as they are or apply effects and use sample manipulation to create the sounds you want, but shortlooping/chiplooping is strongly discouraged. This phase will usually be about one month long or so.
Phase 3: Submission
Phase 3: Submission
All the completed tracks are submitted on this form. Note: The creator of the track will remain anonymous until after voting in Phase 5, so don't give yourself away in the comments or the name of the file!!
Tracks submitted before or after the due dates will be discarded.
You can submit multiple tracks, but only one per form submission please.
Phase 4: Listening Party
Phase 4: Listening Party
This is the fun bit where we play all the submitted tracks as a listening party! A video of the tracks will be hosted on the VGML YouTube channel, and a pack of tracks in MP3 and FLAC format will be available for self-listening or others to host.
VOTING
VOTING
Phase 5: Voting
Phase 5: Voting
Voting will depend on the round and may change depending on the host.
The Winner
The Winner
Phase 6: Announcement of the winner!
Phase 6: Announcement of the winner!
The winner of the contest will be announced and the full list of tracks and participants will be published.
And then we do it all again the next round!! While you are waiting, check out the past SPC Albums for inspiration!
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