Heres the idea:

IF the idea goes ahead, eg: If enough members say that they'd like to have a go, I will (with Chris's permission) run a mixing competion for DJU members. I will also provide a SMALL prize for the winner.

How I would LIKE to see the competition set out is as follows:

*) The type of mix is voted for by members - eg: A 90's mix, a "current" mix, sixties mix, R'n'B mix, or a Cross-genre (anything goes) mix.

*) The length of mix, is agreed upon. eg: 15 minutes

*) A table of entrants is compiled from those wishing to enter.

*) DJU members each recommend ONE tune each, which is to be included in the mix, in keeping with the musical style voted for by the members earlier.

*) Each member may add ONE tune of their own to those selected.

*) Each member may remove/not use ONE of the tunes selected by the members.

*) Each member may add a "non-musical" intro/outro sample to their mix eg: The Thunderbirds countdown, or something similar.

*) Entrants submit their mixes by an agree closing date.

*) Mixes are listened to by all members and a winner is voted for.



Now here's the drawback. Where can we store/upload the mixes to, to enable all members to hear them, and for the relevant posts to link to them?

Anyone interested in participating, if the storage issue can be resolved, and if Chris is happy with the idea being put "run" on his forum?

yeah id give it a go!

whoa....nice! mayber after a scratch competition!

Hi

Count me in.

Darren

Gazz.. I hate to pour cold water on the idea but how are we gonna submit our mixes? Not everyone will have the facility to download mixes

Kazz, you might be surprised how I react to cold water...

Ummm well, is the problem UPloading the mixes eg: "heres my finished mix" or DOWNloading the mixes to listen to?

I guess some kind of "send your CD or Tape to...." could be used for people unable to upload or email their mixes in.

Okay, first of all to be accessable by all members we'll need to run all the uploading and downloading online, and in zipped MP3 format. The fastest way of doing this is via FTP, but not all members may have the knowledge / software to do this. It will also have to be hosted off the forum, 10 people downloading 20mb files is likely to grind us to a halt, and use obscene amounts of bandwidth .

The Solution...

I have another server available with about 500mb of available webspace. If I was to set up another "Temporary" forum on there with the facility to attach / upload files to all members then this would solve the problem. To allow everybody space to upload their mix, then the MP3 would have to be 128kbs quality or lower and less than 20mb in size. Making the mix around 8 - 15 mins in length depending on the encoded quality.

Of course the member would have to convert their CD mix to mp3 in order to upload it or record to the pc in the first place, but for most people this shouldn't be a problem. Any Dial Up Internet customer could of course supply the mix on CD through the post for me to encode / upload for them although this would really only appeal to UK members. I am guessing that most international members are on DSL or Cable modems so uploading shouldn't be a problem!.

Once all the mixes are in / a closing date is reached, I could then publish the URL to the site for the rest of the members to download / vote for each mix. The mix would be simply downloaded using "Save as" and played back by your favourite MP3 Software.

Ok - Get mixing! - it's going to take me about 24 - 48 hours to get the site ready and for Gary to think up the rules! . Once your mix is completed, then email me for the URL of the site. Any member wishing to submit their mix on CD for me to upload can do so. My address can be found on the CSL website. If you have a fast DSL connection PLEASE try and upload it yourself since my time really is limited these days!.

Please remember to keep your mixes in a file size of 20mb or less! to give everybody a fair chance of uploading and those users on slower connections can download them!. We are not going for studio quality here! so if you want a longer mix then encode at a lower quality. 64 or 96 kbs is still ample for evaluation use!. If you upload your mix to the server yourself then please ZIP the file using Winzip or WinRAR - purely because the host may remove any raw mp3 format files sitting on the server!.


I am about to arrange for another E-Mail out to forum members, if Gary agrees to go ahead with this idea then I'll add it to the mail shoot and try and spark some interest!.

Im game for the idea, although hopefully the idea is sort of "self running".

The only "rule" that I would add to the rules above, in my original post, is that maybe each entrant must have 50 (or maybe 100) decent posts, (and no Warning level, by the final day of voting/judging). This would prevent some newbie (new to the forum) registering solely for the point of submitting a mix, possibly winning, and not having contributed anything to the forum. Postings (and therefore the forum) should benefit for this exercise, as well as it being "a bit of fun".

If the voting/judging is going to be on a all members vote a score of either 5,4,3,2, or 1 for each mix, then it would mean that I could join in too. (I'll probably join in anyway, even if Im excluded from winning).

The prize really will be nothing to get worked up about. I could probably go up to a prize of £20~£30. However, I am going to make a call or two, maybe an email, and might be able to stump up something a bit better. The importance will be on the taking part, rather than the winning. Thats how it should be for a forum though, isnt it. (no question mark).

If you're interested in entering such a competition (yes, it could mean lugging your gear upstairs to the computer....and having more fun with mixers, PC soundcards, 3.5mm jackleads, than Paula ever had with her mic socket )....then...


....post a "no obligation" confirmation below.

yes im in, what music will it be

I'd like to join in.

Better get my post count up somehow. Anyone need any help?

Ah well you neednt bee toooooooo worried about your post count...The suggestion wasnt that its got to be 100 posts or more TO ENTER. Simply that its got to be over 100 posts at the time of the judging.

As we're all busy people, the deadlines for any mix shouldnt be any closer than 2/3 weeks after the track listing (but not the track ORDER) has been selected by members. So, you've still got at least 3/4 weeks to get the post count up, so no need to worry, or spam.

I'm in!!!

I'll need sum cd's thou,cos I'm on dial up

I wouldnt mind entering, but i suppose i would have to get my posts up to 100 quickly then!

The only question i have is how are you going to tell if it is a genuine live mix? Its not really fair as one person could to the whole thing in an editing program on their pc and put together a seamless mix without even touching a cd player, turntable or mixer!

I think you can always hear a live mix! Sorry guys count me out,hate competitions,dj battles and the like,cant stand the pressure and me mixing goes all wonky!

^^^Up Ya Go^^^^

This seems to have gone a bit quiet, would have thought that Crooksey and Co would have been falling over themselves to get their mixes heard and be in with a chance of winning a prize! .

Anymore potential enterants?

I was waiting for a clear winning vote on This thread, before pushing the competition forward.

At the moment, its neck and neck between a Party Mix, or a Current and Older Dance tunes mix.

Hi all,


ill giving it a go, as has already been said, will have to get my post count up.!!
So when will we know what tunes and type of music!!?

Its on one of the other threads PC (Kazzachi's idea not mine) looks like it will be an up to date with classic tracks thrown in or something like that.

Spin

Im up for it!!

One thing I would say is,

Does it matter how people compile their mix:

Some people on the site will be limited by their "DJing" hardware,
eg. Is there anybody who doesn't have pitch on their CD players??

It is almost certain that everyone on the site will have a computer.


Beat-mixing isn't hard - anyone can do it.
PCDJ style beat mixes with a simple X-Fade will be obvious.

The competition is judging mixing ability and "programming" skills - putting the track order together.

I know of DJ's who only use PC to do their mix, personally I hate it
Harware will be the winner for sometime to come.

I say leave it to the individual to decide - Creativity, Originality, Skill

Ross.