Dumb question time because this is something that I’ve never bothered with before: how do I know what lufs level my song is?
Do you use a DAW? If so, you can look for a meter plugin. There’s probably a free one included if you search for it.
When I render out from REAPER, the Render menu has a “Normalize” option where you can set the target lufs for the file. I imagine most DAWs have this option, but maybe not?
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Youlean has a free and good plugin Youlean Loudness Meter - Free VST, AU and AAX plugin
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Yeah I use a DAW. Usually I just target -6DB on an unmastered track and call it a day, I’ve never even thought about paying attention to LUFS.
Right on I’ll check it out!
Battle update! PRIZE ANNOUNCED!
Hi folks, I hope your projects are all coming along well.
The deadline is about 2 weeks away, so it’s time to announce the GRAND PRIZE!
The top vote-getter of this month’s battle will receive*
MANEATER
SONGS OF MURDER, CRUELTY, REVENGE
& OTHER FEMALE DELIGHTS! 1928-2010
Complied by Sophisticated Boom Boom’s Sheila B. for the WFMU 2019 Marathon.
Never sold in stores, originally available only to listener-supporters the station.
Remember—only players can judge, and all players MUST judge
or they forfeit their prize to the next-highest vote-getter.
*so long as you don’t live on the other side of the planet and/or shipping it to you will bankrupt me, in which case I’ll just send you the .wavs
Best of luck to all who enter!
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Just wandering what happened with previous prize?
I am still open for file dropbox or similar
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Oh, you said you didn’t want the CD so I mailed it to the runner-up. I’ll send you a link to the .wavs tonight.
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Yes that’s good, i was just looking for files i can download.
Perfect, thank you
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Yep, sent. Sorry about that!
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I’m struggling with this one. When I try to start with the “drama” samples I have, everything’s out of key and sucks. When I try to make a loop and then add something from the samples, I end up with chopped/mangled stuff which doesn’t even sound like voices anymore, so it might as well be my sampled farts in the first place and no one would know.
Any tips on how to approach this? I’m working on the DT2/DN2 and also have access to Live 12 suite. My workflow is that I typically start with a loop on the Digis and then record to Ableton and arrange finish up there.
Also, I’m a super newbie. Or at least I feel like it.
Maybe there’s a tutorial somewhere on not sucking at sampling? Or some golden rule that’s gonna unlock a ray of hope for me? 
How’s everyone else doing?
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What kind of samples are you using? Vocals, music or sound effects (foley)?
From your post, sounds sort of like dialogue… some thoughts…
If you’re using dialogue, I’d focus more on the rhythm of the speech than it suggesting a musical key to your ear. Most human speech is kind of key-less, which might be why it’s giving you trouble.
But that means that you can often (mostly) ignore pitch when it comes to sampled dialogue and focus on the cadence. Or only have to adjust slightly so the pitch doesn’t clash.
(Note I say “most”… I find that the more screamy the dialogue, the more note information it tends to have & harder to use it is. A whisper or a more calm, lower or deeper voice can be easier to integrate.)
You could also try to chop the dialogue into discrete words and/or syllables, and finger-drum those in a way that’s aesthetically pleasing. Or repitch and reorder individual words, like notes, to make a melody.
Creative filtering can also help get rid of clashing frequencies and make samples sit better.
Some people get really good results using the DT’s random & linear chop function(s) for dialogue. There’s some of YoutTube tutorials to be found on that.
Lastly, you can always just take loop some source music and not worry about dialogue at all.
Or if you really get desperate, you can look up some TV sound effects (lots of old TV shows all used the same foley which was pretty limited & constantly recycled), and use that as your percussion loop to build on. That’s my “Plan C.”
(But then, I haven’t gotten started on mine at all yet.)
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Vocals.
Thank you, these are good tips. I’ll try and see what happens.
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One week left!
So far I’ve gotten one submission. How’s everyone else doing?
I’ve written two songs I’m sort of happy with (mostly using intro and outro music from 80s soaps) but both sound more like synth pop to me than anything appropriate for this challenge.
Ah well. Back to the drawing board for me!
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I got something. Work on some details, than mixing. 
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I’m still struggling so I decided to switch from the Digis to full Ableton. I think I found a good sample to work with. Now I just need things at work to calm down so I can sit down and make something.
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Last weekend to work on your beat!
(though 1 person has already DMed me to ask for an extension, so we may see…)
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I won’t have time for this challenge but look forward to a summer edition!
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OK, my thing is in. I’ll write more about the process and all once everyone else sent in theirs.
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I have a submission but it seems like I can only send direct messages after 24h since I just registered 
would you allow a slightly late submit? i can prove that i did it in time (upload to Drive with timestamp)
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Sounds familiar. 
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