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Post by thetechnobear on Jan 7, 2019 12:17:41 GMT
Happy new year! Inspired by another post on the forum, I thought Id launch the idea of a weekly patch challenge, where each week we (as a community) try to complete a simple challenge with our AE Modular. goals of the challenges
are simple, to: - provide a small spark of inspiration each week, to have some patching fun on the AE modular.
- to occasionally try something different.
- to learn from each others submissions.
Id like to keep the format as simple as possible, the 'rules' loose, to allow as many to participated as possible, with as little effort as possible, and regardless of their modular experience. How it worksa new challenge will be launched each Monday (Europe) with a simple theme in a dedicated thread, that will run for one week. you have until the following Monday midnight (23:59:59) to submit a patch which has the theme as the central core of the patch. you can submit an entry anytime during the submission window (hint: doing earlier in the window, might help inspire others) but feel free, to submit later, if you stumble on the challenge and it seems like fun to do. you can submit multiple entries if you wish. You are actively encouraged to discuss others entries, please be supportive, and remember we all have different levels experience with modular. if you have more experience, perhaps help others by providing extra ideas to try e.g. "thats cool, have you tried to modulate X?, what does that sound like?" Your entry
Post on the relevant Patch Challenge thread your post should contain: a. an audio or video link to your patch running (embedded preferred, see below) b. patch notes explaining how your patch adopts the theme If you are posting on social media (youtube, soundcloud) , please tag with #AEChallenge and #AEModular, and include a link back to the challenge thread here on the AE Modular forum. embedding: visitors are far more likely to watch/listen to entries if they are embedded, fortunately this is easy to do on this forum on the menu bar you will find options to embed both audio (speaker icon) and video (movie clipboard) from many services (soundcloud/youtube/vimeo), Rulesthere really are no rules, though your entry should contain the 'theme' at its core, and an audio/video sample with patch notes in the entry. generally, unless the theme specifies otherwise, your entry can be anything from a raw sample, to a complete 'track', or just an audio sample, it can include additional fx, other synths or just a raw sound, whatever you have time for. participation is the most important thing. please feel free to expand on earlier entries, derivatives are cool - its a great way to learn, or kick start participation if you are short on time, or not sure where to start. (its a good idea to credit the original patch as a starting pointing) finally, don't be a slave to theme/background, feel free to use it as the basis for inspiration, and to incorporate other things you have been considering trying, or things you have seen heard on the AE forum. similarly, if you are not able to follow a specific suggestion contained in the theme (e.g dont have an appropriate module), feel free to improvise and adapt.
Ideas for a Challenge?Please list any ideas you have for a patch challenge in this thread, this will be extremely helpful, as it will form a pool of ideas for us to choose from, either taken 'as-is', or perhaps modified. If you see an idea, you really like the idea of, also tell us here too - helps us choose  What can a theme be?
It can be anything, ideas of the top of my head - a sound without using an oscillator
- a patch using module X, Y, Z
- a patch that sounds like water
- produce a piece/excerpt based on a musical genre
Some notes to keep in mind:we want participation to be as high as possible, so bare in mind: - we want both experienced and new patchers to participate, so be careful with complexity (hint/tips might be necessary)
- detailing particular modules, or something that requires lots of modules may limit participation.
- we all have time commitments... so allow for the 5 minute patcher, but depth for a 2 hour patching marathon
- patch notes, if patches are really complex it might get difficult to explain concisely.
I think initially keeping things simple, with broad themes will help achieve this. Mechanics: Initially, to kick things off, I'm ( thetechnobear ) happy to set the challenges each week, based on ideas found on this thread, or ideas I can come up with. But, I'm more than happy to hand it over, either for a week, or a series of weeks (if you want to do a 'series challenge') to someone else, just PM me. (or to hand it over to someone else entirely if they wish ) note: if it gets to Tuesday, and Ive forgotten to post a challenge, please feel free to post your own, in the same format. About this thread...
Please feel free to comment on the format of the challenge, and how you think it might be improved... Also use this thread to detail ideas. (hopefully I should be able to update this top post if there are format or rule changes)
Template for challenge threads
use the following template, copy it into your post into the BBcode tab you then need to just edit the top part, leaving the bottom part as is. (I'll keep this up to date, if we decide to change the format/rules etc) [font size="4"] TITLE [/font]
[b]Theme:[/b] SHORT DESCRIPTION OF CHALLENGE
[b]Submission window:[/b] Monday 21st Jan -> Monday 28th Jan (23:59:59)
[b]Background:[/b]
BACKGROUND FOR CHALLENGE - WHY? HOW IT RELATES TO AE/MODULAR?
TIPS? SUGGESTIONS?
BELOW HERE REMAINS THE SAME
[hr]The challenge is set, and runs during the submission window set out above, however, please feel free to add entries or leave comments after the initial challenge has ended.
[b]Each entry should contain:[/b]
[ul type="disc"][li]Link to audio or video example (embedded preferred)[/li][li]Short (or not so short) patch notes, explaining how you have built on the above theme[/li][/ul]
Your entry can be as short/long as you wish, a simple sound or a track, use external fx or synths, do what you can in the time you have - go wild, make the challenge yours!
You are welcome to use previous entries, as inspiration, build on them to form something new, or just use in a different way, you are welcome to submit multiple entries.
If you are posting on social media (youtube, soundcloud) , please tag with #AEChallenge and #AEModular, and include a link back to the challenge thread here on the AE Modular forum.
[b]Everyone is actively encouraged to comment on entries[/b],
provide feedback and ideas... you are welcome to continue commenting/discussing outside of the submission window.
the more we discuss the more we all learn [img alt=":)" class="smile" style="max-width:100%;" src="//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/smiley.png"]
[hr]This is part of the AE patch challenge series - if you would like more information, or have ideas for the challenge, please post on the [a href="http://forum.aemodular.com/thread/144/ae-patch-challenges"]patch challenge thread[/a].
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Post by sycophante on Jan 7, 2019 12:52:40 GMT
Sure is a good idea!
About themes : we could think of artists ideas such as something in the style of Eliane Radigue, Klaus Schultze or stuff...
Did you think of technique ideas ? Such as "use feedback" "use fm" etc...
I could also take some ideas from patch & tweaks wich features tons of patch notations, so we could take one basic patch as a start and combine the idea with other sounds, expand it, etc...
About complex ideas : As a new patcher I think complex ideas as long as there is some explanations and the core concept doesn't take two weeks to understand/master obviously.
I'm still waiting for my system, but when I get it, Ill be happy to challenge!
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Post by thetechnobear on Jan 7, 2019 13:04:49 GMT
yeah styles and technique are all good ideas for challenges. Disquiet Junto (which I totally recommend others to check out) do these too, for styles, they usually provide a reference track(s),for the participants that don't know the artists, its also a great way to find out artists/approaches your not familiar with. note: I should point out Im heavily inspired (plagiarising? ) for the challenge concept, by Disquiet Junto , who have done this successfully for a long while (though here the challenges will be tailored to AEM), its part of my 2019 goals to take part in some of the Disquiet challenges, to help ensure I regularly create music this year. |
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Post by admin on Jan 7, 2019 13:17:03 GMT
Thanks thetechnobear for starting this! I love listening to the entries over at Disquiet Junto even though I haven't yet participated. I'm keen to see what everyone can come up with! I'm also keen to see what I can come up with  |
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Post by mobius on Jan 8, 2019 2:54:06 GMT
Thanks thetechnobear - this is great! I just recently discovered the Disquiet Junto challenges and had a very similar thought process; participating in some challenges of this form is a great way to learn some new tricks and provides some motivation to actually hit the record button! Looking forward to trying some out! |
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Post by thetechnobear on Jan 21, 2019 12:38:16 GMT
from a challenge thread, but though better to discuss format here.... It has been a bit frustrating, but also so much fun! I just don't know if I can always deliver something in just a week, so maybe the patch challenges could be seen as open-ended? I would love to see more people trying their hands on them in the weeks, months and hopefully years to come! And I'm sure to come back to them as my knowledge grows. Yeah, there is a bit of a dilemma here: on one hand : many are busy, so might struggle to get something done in any particular week, or perhaps that particular week challenge just doesn't inspire them.. on the other hand: a deadline gives a sense of 'urgency', i.e. you feel like you have to do it this week.... otherwise you might just keep putting it off. also, the fact that others are exploring it this week alongside you, might encourage you more? (I think longer than a week, also tends to also lose the urgency too) don't get me wrong, I agree one week, rushes by, and you suddenly think - what can i do? or damn this is no where near finished... (What I try to do, is think about it early in the week, then experiment a bit here n' there, leaving the weekend to do something/anything ) I guess my idea was to really just to get people to post whatever they have in the time available, not to feel too precious about it (is it good enough? new?) , but yeah, thats not generally how many of use feel about these things... and in fairness, as I raise the challenges, I 'have' to enter, so Im kind of forced into this attitude. (note: no complaints, Im happy to force myself to do a weekly challenge - its not a hardship  )
I do think your right though, it be nice it people feel that they can (if they want) still come back to older challenges. Perhaps, I'll create a "Patch Challenge Index" post, which contains just the title, theme, and link ... so that if you are interested in a 'an FX challenge', you can browse the index to find one. (I quite like the 'obscure' titles, as 'Effects Challenge' would be a pretty boring title - but if you look back at them in the forum - you'll have no idea which each was about) Then how to phrase the entry? keeping the 'deadline' aspect when its new challenge, but then longer term, make them feel like something that can still be added too? perhaps, also some themes/types of challenges might be more enticing that others? hard to say, but we can try different things, if others have ideas. so, I don't really have an answer, probably just more questions - but happy to tailor the format |
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Post by thetechnobear on Jan 27, 2019 16:26:05 GMT
So I was thinking today about ideas for Challenge #4, and then in into February... then I had an idea.... what about we have a different "Curator" each (calendar) month? the Curator, comes up with the idea for the Challenge, sets it on Monday... thats it really (Ive got a template for the text, so its simply a matter of filling in the details) the rationale is , I think different people setting the challenge, will give it a different vibe, due to preferences/experience/outlook - which will help provide variation in themes. anyone can volunteer to be the curator for the following month (decided in the last week of the month, to avoid 'gaps') , if multiple volunteers, then the current curator chooses one, (preference to 'new' curators? otherwise rotate thru previous) if no volunteers, then Im happy to take it back (or the current curator can continue if they wish) I think this will help it feel more like the challenges are owned/run by the community, rather than a set of challenges set by one individual, and gives everyone the chance to set a challenge to the rest of us I think a month timeframe is good, as reduces admin, and also lets a curator come up with a running theme over a few weeks if they wish. thoughts? do you think it could work? another ideas on changes? admin , spacedog , NightMachines , or anyone else ... would you like to do this for February? no rush, I'll be setting #4 tomorrow, so we just need to decide before first Monday in Feb
note: Ive no problem with continuing as we are, where I set the challenges, but wanted to float this idea, see if anyones keen. I think the variation could be fun/interesting, even if its only rotated thru a few of us. |
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Post by spacedog on Jan 27, 2019 21:26:12 GMT
So I was thinking today about ideas for Challenge #4, and then in into February... then I had an idea.... what about we have a different "Curator" each (calendar) month? [...] admin , spacedog , NightMachines , or anyone else ... would you like to do this for February? no rush, I'll be setting #4 tomorrow, so we just need to decide before first Monday in Feb I'd be very happy to step in and give a go, although I'd also happily start in March if someone more experienced wants to take on February. Having said that, I may be able to give it a different slant as I have never looked at any patch challenges before.
Does creating a patch arrangement that looks like an Italian meal count as a viable challenge...? |
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Post by admin on Jan 27, 2019 21:48:28 GMT
Does creating a patch arrangement that looks like an Italian meal count as a viable challenge...? It would be interesting to set the challenge of restricting the number of patch leads to, say, only 7. What would you be able to get out of it? |
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Post by spacedog on Jan 28, 2019 10:21:22 GMT
Does creating a patch arrangement that looks like an Italian meal count as a viable challenge...? It would be interesting to set the challenge of restricting the number of patch leads to, say, only 7. What would you be able to get out of it? Ahhh, a low calorie Italian meal challenge. That sounds like our first challenge of February to me. |
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Post by thetechnobear on Jan 28, 2019 11:41:32 GMT
cool spacedog , I think you'll do a great job for Feb... look forward to what you come up with ok, Ive added the template to the original post in this thread (so I can update it, if we decide on changes going forward) to use, simply create a new post, then switch to the BBCode tab , and paste the above in. then you can edit either in the preview tab, or bbcode tab as you wish. go wild, and of course if you need anything just let us know here... |
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Post by NightMachines on Jan 28, 2019 18:36:10 GMT
Thanks for continuing this. I recorded some things for challenge #2 and maybe #3 today, but still need to edit the files. Looking forward to do the ambient track for #4 and whatever comes next. I like the 7 patch cables idea! Haha!
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Post by spacedog on Feb 10, 2019 21:43:06 GMT
I was thinking about getting more "movement" on the patch challenges. Whilst we have only had a handful of challenges, they seem to follow a pattern, with the challenge on Monday and a lot of the responses arriving in the last couple of days. Then the new challenge arrives. This made me wonder if contributors might be more likely to post something if the response period was longer - two weeks, for example.
We could still stick with the weekly challenge part, just give a longer response time. This would also create an overlap so that there could be a more constant flow, perhaps with more entries, as I said.
Of course, we keep the entries open anyway, but that longer initial period might just help those of us who don't always have time during the week.
Thoughts...? Just floating an idea out there. Perhaps some views from those who would post something if they felt there was a little more time.
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bert
Junior Member
Posts: 54
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Post by bert on Feb 10, 2019 23:47:00 GMT
Perhaps some views from those who would post something if they felt there was a little more time.
Speaking for myself: I don't think it would make a difference if there was a longer time window but same frequency. If I have inspiration for an older challenge I can already go back to it because we keep them open. And the limited time window actually helps me to concentrate and be more productive.
Main issue for me is to keep up with new challenges as I don't spend that much time in a week behind my modular. But it's alright. You shouldn't adapt to the slowest. That would make it too boring for others.
If anything, I think limiting the challenges a bit more in scope might make them more accessible, for me at least. Like e.g. try to recreate a very specific sound, or do something with a specific set of modules. I know this kind of conflicts with thetechnobear's initial idea of the challenges being very open to interpretation. But anyway, I think this could also make for some interesting challenges, even without restraining people's creativity.
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Post by NightMachines on Feb 11, 2019 6:39:16 GMT
I think the current deadline, or rather the weekly new challenge, is fine and keeping the entries open after that is nice for the people who didn't have time or want to revisit a challenge.
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Post by spacedog on Feb 11, 2019 11:38:31 GMT
I think the current deadline, or rather the weekly new challenge, is fine and keeping the entries open after that is nice for the people who didn't have time or want to revisit a challenge. OK, I made a note that submissions after the cut-off date are still encouraged. I think that works. |
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Post by admin on Feb 23, 2019 22:12:21 GMT
Hello spacedog, thetechnobear and NightMachines, how do you guys feel about collecting all the patch challenge threads in a sub board? I think it would make it easier for future board members to find them and go through them. If you guys agree, I would create a new sub board here named "Patch Challenges" and move all patch challenge threads into it with this explanation thread pinned to the top. Please let me know your thoughts. |
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Post by spacedog on Feb 23, 2019 22:18:29 GMT
Hello spacedog , thetechnobear and NightMachines , how do you guys feel about collecting all the patch challenge threads in a sub board? I think it would make it easier for future board members to find them and go through them. If you guys agree, I would create a new sub board here named "Patch Challenges" and move all patch challenge threads into it with this explanation thread pinned to the top. Please let me know your thoughts.
Sounds like an excellent idea to me, admin . There is a lot going on in that main board. |
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Post by NightMachines on Feb 23, 2019 22:20:07 GMT
Sure, that’s a good idea |
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Post by thetechnobear on Feb 23, 2019 23:08:26 GMT
Sounds good to me
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Post by admin on Feb 23, 2019 23:55:45 GMT
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Post by thetechnobear on Feb 26, 2019 12:22:08 GMT
ok, thinking ahead a bit so next week we are due to change curator ... so need a volunteer
also, we are two months in, so enough challenges and time behind us to assess how we feel about them, their direction, frequency, length etc. I like having a challenge each week, gives me something to focus on, and put something out. But, I'll admit, last week I was feeling a little jaded... I created a really complex (Krell) patch combining AE and Eurorack, filmed it , but I just wasn't feeling it... instead, I all I wanted to do was free up my Eurorack to do something else - something a bit less 'modular focused', more melodic - so i abandoned it, and binned it  on one hand I was sad not to submit it, but on the other hand quite relieved to do something else. anyway, I wondering how others feel... as it's better to adapt them, than for participation to drop thru apathy. are you happy with the current format? feel like a change? e.g. we could reduce frequency, e.g. every other week, or once a month - this could create 'breathing space' between challenges, and be a bit 'refreshing' honestly, I don't know though, there is something to be said for routine and regularity, it creates a kind of momentum - reducing frequency might stop this. length of challenge - its tricky I believe increasing this, just means it gets 'put off' and a lack of urgency (certainly for me) but this could just be me... it might be I just need to approach the challenges a bit differently, spend a bit less time on them, to allow room for other projects... |
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Post by spacedog on Feb 26, 2019 13:45:41 GMT
ok, thinking ahead a bit so next week we are due to change curator ... so need a volunteer
also, we are two months in, so enough challenges and time behind us to assess how we feel about them, their direction, frequency, length etc. I like having a challenge each week, gives me something to focus on, and put something out. But, I'll admit, last week I was feeling a little jaded... I created a really complex (Krell) patch combining AE and Eurorack, filmed it , but I just wasn't feeling it... instead, I all I wanted to do was free up my Eurorack to do something else - something a bit less 'modular focused', more melodic - so i abandoned it, and binned it on one hand I was sad not to submit it, but on the other hand quite relieved to do something else. anyway, I wondering how others feel... as it's better to adapt them, than for participation to drop thru apathy. are you happy with the current format? feel like a change? e.g. we could reduce frequency, e.g. every other week, or once a month - this could create 'breathing space' between challenges, and be a bit 'refreshing' honestly, I don't know though, there is something to be said for routine and regularity, it creates a kind of momentum - reducing frequency might stop this. length of challenge - its tricky I believe increasing this, just means it gets 'put off' and a lack of urgency (certainly for me) but this could just be me... it might be I just need to approach the challenges a bit differently, spend a bit less time on them, to allow room for other projects... Thanks, thetechnobear , very thought-provoking. The thought about change was what was behind my earlier suggestion of a longer window, I had hoped that it might help to lower the pressure to produce something, even though the time window effectively stays open anyway. Perhaps that really needed a change in frequency as well...? Funnily enough, I found myself neglecting both my other synths and also my music creation. I do try to make every submission that I do here usable for something at some point, although that can be quite difficult. I also remembered that I'd replaced the boards in my little MicroBrute a while back (all free of charge and well out of warranty) and I hadn't really played with it since. So, I updated the firmware and had some immediate fun with the little fella - in fact, I posted something on Soundcloud that is completely the MicroBrute, although I didn't note it. I also tried my hand at a Krell patch on my 0-Coast, also on Soundcloud, just for variation. My point...? I agree, it's nice to play with our toys when and how we want. For some, the challenges provide the impetus for attention to the AE Modular, when it might not always get that attention. Of course, it does exist as one of the sound-making pantheon for a lot of us. The results should also be an encouragement to casual readers that the modular is an excellent investment, both in time and money. So, what do I think...? I believe the momentum is good, although it really needs to get a bit more mass in that equation (i.e. some more submissions). Stretching the momentum analogy to breaking point, we could lower the velocity by doubling the time, i.e. a challenge every two weeks - still with the completely open submission time. So, lowering the velocity may mean that we gain some mass...!!! Not quite conservation of momentum, but we can try I think that means that I agree A challenge every two weeks, and perhaps, rather than a single curator, a more collective approach behind the scenes to produce something that will attract more submissions. |
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Post by NightMachines on Feb 26, 2019 14:01:26 GMT
I'm fine with weekly or bi-weekly challenges and I would volunteer for March. I think it's cool to have those challenges regularly.
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Post by thetechnobear on Feb 26, 2019 17:35:01 GMT
perhaps, rather than a single curator, a more collective approach behind the scenes to produce something that will attract more submissions. yeah, thats was the idea to get suggestions here... but it has a few of 'issues' someone has to make the final decision / pick one, and release it on Monday there has to be some kind of continuity... i.e. thinking what have we done recently, what should be next? I think the surprise element of 'whats next' is also nice. if we had discussed it the week before, perhaps it won't feel as appealing - because you'd already 'talked around' the subject. that said, it might lead to different/better challenges if ideas are thrown around!? and yeah, completely agree about 'mass' / participation level ... all we can try to do is to make it more appealing , and Robert to sell and ship more AE modulars, so we have more users thanks NightMachines, your up for the Mad month of March then |
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