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"Beat the Clock Contest"!

Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 11:59 am
by sporkles
In their newsletter, Ableton wrote:Also, watch out for the upcoming Beat the Clock contest in mid-May. This challenge involves sounds from several world-renowned artists, your production skills, the SoundCloud community, and a ticking clock. Prizes include a trip to Berlin, lifetime Ableton Suite upgrades and more...
Seems exciting! Any thoughts on this?

Re: "Beat the Clock Contest"!

Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 12:24 pm
by amigo
Here's the full article.

It sounds like an interesting competition and will probably give it a go.

Re: "Beat the Clock Contest"!

Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 2:05 pm
by 3dot...
actually...
I don't see the point in it..
(other than a gimmick)

WHY is it against the clock ? why not a sensible deadline?
(like.. a week..)
what good can come of it ?
surely not quality..

Re: "Beat the Clock Contest"!

Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 2:07 pm
by taffmonster
I'm looking forward to it.

can't wait intact. I usually finish most songs in a day.

Re: "Beat the Clock Contest"!

Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 2:33 pm
by pencilrocket
Gathering shits which are finished in a day? :lol: I can't get the point of it other than that they don't want to judge songs but want to pick randomly.

Re: "Beat the Clock Contest"!

Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 2:57 pm
by regretfullySaid
It's interesting to see what you can do in a limited amount of time. Pushing yourself to make something as good as possible in a short amount of time like your life depends on it can be fun and productive. If you have to, stock up on stuff that will keep you awake and full of energy and get in the zone like a near death experience! I might do it if I remember.

Re: "Beat the Clock Contest"!

Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 3:26 pm
by Bagatell
shadx312 wrote:It's interesting to see what you can do in a limited amount of time.
Very true and I've never been to Berlin...and I know it's marketing,but..

Re: "Beat the Clock Contest"!

Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 4:06 pm
by modecai
so pumped for this. Love the artists involved.

Re: "Beat the Clock Contest"!

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 8:07 pm
by tigali
How are they choosing the winner? Not some lame-ass get your friends to vote shit is it?

Re: "Beat the Clock Contest"!

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 8:47 pm
by LeifonMars
tigali wrote:How are they choosing the winner? Not some lame-ass get your friends to vote shit is it?
Why? You no friends?

Re: "Beat the Clock Contest"!

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 8:47 pm
by modecai
tigali wrote:How are they choosing the winner? Not some lame-ass get your friends to vote shit is it?
hopefully not!

Re: "Beat the Clock Contest"!

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:35 pm
by gjm
3dot... wrote:actually...
I don't see the point in it..
(other than a gimmick)

WHY is it against the clock ? why not a sensible deadline?
(like.. a week..)
what good can come of it ?
surely not quality..
Here are my thoughts...

1. It limits the amount of entries. The amount of people who can make this window of opportunity work for them is far less than if you had a week or a month. This means not as much to filter through and judge.

2. It favors those who are confident and familiar with Live. This eliminates a layer of users who are not that committed to the software.

3. It favors people who are confident with the music production process. This will generate a level of quality of entries.

4. It favors electronic musicians, Abletons primary market.

I think that you will find that quality will be the result due to the time pressures. :)

Re: "Beat the Clock Contest"!

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 9:44 pm
by Machinesworking
3dot... wrote:actually...
I don't see the point in it..
(other than a gimmick)

WHY is it against the clock ? why not a sensible deadline?
(like.. a week..)
what good can come of it ?
surely not quality..
One of the songs in my current set was done in 24 hours. I was using Live and Logic networked together with an audio streaming software program called Wormhole between a laptop and desktop to use Logics convolution reverb and a few other things in tracks in Live, so I didn't want to lose the connection and have to worry about setting not matching etc. The limitation proved useful as I had to commit and actually finish the song in 24 hours as I figured that was the longest period of time to expect this tenuous setup to work out.

Limitations are useful, I'll definitely submit something. I like that you have over a week to choose your 24 hours in. :)

Re: "Beat the Clock Contest"!

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:13 pm
by bicarbone
I'm wondering whether we have to use only the provided sounds or if we can add our owns. Abes, please shed some light.

Re: "Beat the Clock Contest"!

Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2012 10:30 pm
by regretfullySaid
Looks they they didn't point that out! I hope not and I wish more contests didn't allow it because it gives unfair advantages. How so, might you ask?

1. You could already have a great set and just load the new sounds in and replace old ones or just add them.

2. Some could use well produced samples where no skill in mixing and writing is required; they just paint by numbers.

The big part in general with contests that allow outside content is the pre-meditation. Hell, even allowing 3rd party synths and effects. But it could also depend on the contest.
It just doesn't make a level playing field and covers up skill parts of the contest.

Limits are good!