Libre Music Challenge #25: Christmas Windows

[nyxeles]

Welcome to the Libre Music Challenge #25, for the month of December 2023.

The deadline for this challenge is the 31st of December.
Be prepared: since the 31st is already a Sunday, there will be no weekend extensions this time around :)

This is a friendly contest where we make music with free (libre) software exclusively. Everyone is welcome to join, at any skill level.
This is a place for learning and sharing knowledge, and an opportunity to explore creativity through limitation.
But most importantly, we just hope it inspires you to make some music!

The challenge for this month is to make a Christmas-inspired track with the Airwindows plugins.
You can find them here: https://www.airwindows.com/
An LV2 port of the plugins also exists: https://sr.ht/~hannes/airwindows-lv2/

You can use any sound source you want (synths, samples, hardware/acoustic), but all effects plugins must be from Airwindows. For this challenge specifically, absolutely no effect plugins other than Airwindows must be used. That is, not even basic effects like EQs and filters, unless they come from Airwindows. It's okay to use the effect modules in synthesizers for sound design.

In addition to that, the special theme for this month is Christmas (or the holiday season in general). You are not strictly required to follow the theme, but rather think of it as a prompt for finding inspiration in case you find it helpful.

You are allowed to use any DAW, as long as everything is free software.

Happy music making!

---

Rules

Rules are the same as the previous challenges.

You can find them here for convenience: https://lmc.nyxkn.org/rules
Or here under version control: https://github.com/nyxkn/libre-music-ch ... a/rules.md

Links

Playlists and results of all the events: https://lmc.nyxkn.org/events

Join us on unfa's Rocket.Chat/Discord server! We all hang out on #libre-music-challenge at https://chat.unfa.xyz

And if you'd like to stay up to date with future announcements, there's an RSS feed you can subscribe to: https://lmc.nyxkn.org/rss

Voting

Once the voting period starts, head on over to https://lmc.nyxkn.org/vote to enter your votes.

If you are a participant of this or any previous challenge, you can simply log in with your linuxmusicians username.

If you're not a participant but still want to vote, make your interest known and I'll enable an account for you.

[MyLoFy]

Early submission time!
https://soundcloud.com/mylofymusic/my-desire
Since this is a Christmas song I need to release it before Christmas so that everybody can enjoy this instead of all the other Christmas songs we have heard too often (yes, I am looking as you, Wham!)

Drum Samples CC-BY: https://drumgizmo.org/wiki/doku.php?id= ... asimonster
Tubular bells and sleigh bells designed in SurgeXT, guitars and bass played by myself.

Session files (160.2 MB): https://mark.nl.tab.digital/s/Y97r8QqAs2d2T6b

Lyrics:
Verse 01
People running through the store
On the hunt for the perfect gift
The salesman croaks, his throat is sore
Hoping soon to end his shift

Daddy found a special toy
His son has begging him all year
If it only would please the boy
And relieve the fathers ear

Chorus
My desire, what I require
If you only knew
My desire will never tire
For christmas I just want you

Verse 02
Paul stares at the display case
Admiring the sparkling pearl
Necklace or the beautiful vase
What is right for his girl

Emma browses endlessly
She cannot decide what to get
Then grabs a red tie desperately
That always has been a save bet

Chorus
My desire, what I require
If you only knew
My desire will never tire
For christmas I just want you

My desire, what I require
If you only knew
My desire will never tire
For christmas I just want you

For christmas I just want you

Plugins used in this session:

Code: Select all

CNT | TYPE | NAME  

Plugins used in this session:

CNT | TYPE | NAME
 13 * VST2   Console8SubOut (by airwindows)
  3 * VST2   Pop2 (by airwindows)
  2 * VST2   ToTape6 (by airwindows)
  1 * LV2    MDA ePiano (by David Robillard)
 12 * VST2   Pressure5 (by airwindows)
  1 * VST2   kPlateD (by airwindows)
  2 * VST2   ADClip7 (by airwindows)
  2 * VST2   Highpass (by airwindows)
  7 * VST2   DeBess (by airwindows)
  1 * LV2    DrumGizmo (by DrumGizmo Team)
 23 * VST2   CStrip2 (by airwindows)
  1 * VST2   FireAmp (by airwindows)
  1 * VST2   Baxandall2 (by airwindows)
  1 * VST2   CStrip (by airwindows)
  1 * VST2   Slew2 (by airwindows)
  1 * VST2   BassKit (by airwindows)
  7 * VST2   ChromeOxide (by airwindows)
  1 * VST2   Console8BussOut (by airwindows)
  1 * VST2   Console8BussIn (by airwindows)
  1 * VST2   Verbity2 (by airwindows)
  1 * LV2    setBfree DSP Tonewheel Organ (by Robin Gareus)
 13 * VST2   Console8SubIn (by airwindows)
  1 * VST2   PurestAir (by airwindows)
  1 * VST2   GalacticVibe (by airwindows)
 34 * VST2   Console8ChannelIn (by airwindows)
 34 * VST2   Console8ChannelOut (by airwindows)
  2 * VST2   BigAmp (by airwindows)
  1 * VST2   Galactic (by airwindows)
  1 * VST2   TapeDelay2 (by airwindows)
  6 * VST2   Precious (by airwindows)
  1 * VST2   BassDrive (by airwindows)
  1 * VST2   BassAmp (by airwindows)
  1 * VST2   EQ (by airwindows)
  2 * VST2   Slew3 (by airwindows)
  1 * VST2   Cabs (by airwindows)
  2 * VST3   Surge XT (by Surge Synth Team)
  

Enjoy, happy holidays!

[autostatic]

You're fast! Don't forget the link to the track on Soundcloud Just downloaded the session archive, great track, great mixing!! One heck of a christmassy song with all the bells and whistles.

[MyLoFy]

You're fast! Don't forget the link to the track on Soundcloud Just downloaded the session archive, great track, great mixing!! One heck of a christmassy song with all the bells and whistles.

Thanks autostatic! Totally forgot to link the song itself, duh!

[autostatic]

Had some hope I could make it for Christmas too but it didn't pan out. Haven't even recorded all the instruments yet. @MyLoFy million thanks for your session archive, hope you don't mind I use it as a guide on how to use the Airwindows suite in my own session. And I started with the DrumGizmo DRSkit but switched to the Aasimonster too because it simply sounds better and needs less tweaking.

But the song and the lyrics are ready. Almost every single Christmas term or expression ended up in the lyrics, from eggnog to poinsettias.

[SpotlightKid]

Similar situation here. I have recorded an "unplugged" version of my song (vocals and ukulele) already. I'm hoping to finish it tomorrow by adding (literally) some bells and whistles, so I can send it to friends as a Christmas greeting and post it in the chat.

Then I can still polish it up until New Years eve for the challenge.

[autostatic]

Oh and before I forget, merry Christmas everybody!!!

[trumpetrespas]

OK, here's my submission:
Sound Cloud: https://soundcloud.com/trumpetrespas/t ... l_sharing
Project Files: https://www.mediafire.com/file/7d3l1mt ... r.gz/file

Just a little fun, partially inspired by A-Lin's last submission.
Trumpet was played and recorded by me, Everything else is synthesized with fluidsynth.

Code: Select all

Used plugins:
 - Fluidsynth (included with radium)
 - kCathedral (airwindows)

[amberdrake]

Ok, here goes my first submission for the LMC

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/amberdrake-38439 ... -the-bells
Project files (717MB): https://www.mediafire.com/file/oc0gc9pn ... 2.zip/file

Plugins used:

Code: Select all

ADClip7
BassAmp
Cabs
CompreSaturator
ConsoleLAChannel
ConsoleMDChannel
CStrip2
Drive
DrumSlam
EQ
FireAmp
Gatelope
GrindAmp
High
kCathedral
kPlateA
kPlateD
Pop2
Slew2
Slew3
Smooth
ToTape6
ToVinyl
VariMU
ZHighpass2

All the bad playing on the instruments - drums, bass, guitar - was me.

[bsg75]

Here is my contribution:
https://soundcloud.com/sg75_2/beneath-t ... ce-unfolds

I played into many Christmas song stereotypes: classic guitar, sleigh bells, normal bells, a 3/4 time signature, only major chords, and a few dominant seventh chords. Also, I did my best to make the melody as cheesy as I could! And it was fun I would never ever have done such a thing without Libre Music Challenge

Made with Ardour and the following plugins:

Code: Select all

CNT | TYPE | NAME
  1 * VST2   ToTape5 (by airwindows)
  8 * VST2   CStrip (by airwindows)
  1 * LV2    MIDI Channelize (by Filipe Coelho)
  1 * LV2    Calf Analyzer (by Calf Studio Gear)
  1 * LV2    LUFS Meter (by Klangfreund)
  1 * LV2    DR-14 - Crest Factor Loudness Range Meter (Stereo) (by Robin Gareus)
  1 * VST2   Crystal (by airwindows)
  3 * LV2    Helm (by Matt Tytel)
  1 * VST2   ADClip7 (by airwindows)
  2 * LV2    General MIDI Synth (by Robin Gareus)
  1 * VST2   Wider (by airwindows)

Ardour session archive is here:
https://sonnengesicht.de/sg75_-_Beneath ... on-archive

Wishing you joy and peace this holiday season!
Best
Christian (<--- predetermined to write xmas songs with this name )

[SpotlightKid]

Here's my submission for the December 2023 LMC. I rolled last November's and this months challenge into one, since I used only real instruments, my voice and a hardware FM synth and Airwindows plugins. I had this ready on Christmas already, but I wanted to work on it some more afterwards, but I didn't get around to do it, so here's that X-Mas mix:

Title: Christmas Lights
Artist: Spotlight Kyd
Download (FLAC, 44.1 kHz, 16bit): https://0x20.eu/nc/s/fzqRnq555JFHQtT
Lyrics (PDF): https://0x20.eu/nc/s/m4TrR9FPpxTjE3R
Ardour session archives: TBD...

Made with Ardour 8.2 on Manjaro Linux using:

• Zoom R8
• Røde NT-1A Condenser Microphone
• AKG K92 Headphones
• KRK Rokit 5 Monitors
• koki'o Tenor Ukulele
• Ibanez Mandoline
• Tambourine
• Yamaha Reface DX FM Synthesizer (internal effects turned off)

Composition, lyrics, instrumental and vocal performances, production and mix by me.

Plugins used:

Code: Select all

|  CNT | TYPE | NAME                        |
| ---- | ---- | --------------------------- |
| 1    | VST2 | Mojo (by airwindows)        |
| 3    | VST2 | ADT (by airwindows)         |
| 6    | VST2 | ToTape6 (by airwindows)     |
| 1    | VST2 | Chorus (by airwindows)      |
| 1    | VST2 | MatrixVerb (by airwindows)  |
| 1    | VST2 | ButterComp2 (by airwindows) |
| 5    | VST2 | DeBess (by airwindows)      |
| 7    | VST2 | CStrip2 (by airwindows)     |
| 1    | VST2 | kPlateA (by airwindows)     |
| 2    | VST2 | Doublelay (by airwindows)   |

Share & Enjoy!

Chris

[autostatic]

Ok, there we go. Went pretty ballistic on this one on practically all levels after having to watch a dozen (or maybe more) Christmas movies the past weeks. After a few movies I started penning down a list of all the things that kept coming back in those movies and wrote a song around it. Basically every Christmas related item, word, expression or activity should be incorporated in the lyrics. When it comes to the production, threw in all those darn tubular bells, cow bells, mark trees and god knows what more. Composition wise I had something like, I want it all, intro, verse, pre chorus, chorus, bridge and top it off with some modulation. And it had to have a counterpoint melody somewhere.

I present thee "It Is Christmas All Around"! Hope you enjoy it and best wishes for the new year!!

https://downloads.autostatic.com/music/ ... round.flac

Made with Ardour 8.2 on my 10 year old work horse running Debian 12. Used a Røde NT1 for the vocals, my battered SG from '74 (yeah, it's a punk rock song and isn't a SG the most christmassy guitar around?) for all guitar parts and a Squier Jazz Bass for the bass parts. Used Drumgizmo's Aasimonster for the drums and layered the snare with GMaq's Black Pearl. I'm not a drummer so apologies beforehand for the drum programming, it will probably comprise some eeeehhh idiosyncratic anomalies. Also ran into some inconveniences, like the the fact that the tubular bells are slightly out of tune here and there. And I need to take singing lessons ha ha ha.

Everything recorded through an RME Babyface. Mixed on Yamaha HS5's. Played the samples on an Akai MPK Mini.

I wanted to thank my wife for pulling me into this Christmas movie craze and RTL 8, a.k.a. "The Christmas Channel" for the movies. The pinnacle was "Christmas in Harmony", especially the scenes that were clearly shot in the middle of summer. And don't you love it when someone starts singing autotuned and compressed and all out of the blue. Yummy.

Plugins
2 * VST2 MatrixVerb (by airwindows)
2 * VST2 CStrip2 (by airwindows)
1 * VST2 ZLowpass2 (by airwindows)
1 * LV2 MIDI Key-Range Filter (by Robin Gareus)
5 * VST2 Drive (by airwindows)
6 * VST2 Cabs (by airwindows)
2 * VST2 ToneSlant (by airwindows)
3 * VST2 FireAmp (by airwindows)
1 * VST2 BassAmp (by airwindows)
3 * VST2 Loud (by airwindows)
1 * LV2 Black Pearl Drumkit (by Robin Gareus)
1 * VST2 Chorus (by airwindows)
1 * VST2 GrindAmp (by airwindows)
1 * VST2 BassDrive (by airwindows)
1 * VST2 Energy2 (by airwindows)
2 * VST2 Chamber (by airwindows)
4 * VST2 Pressure5 (by airwindows)
9 * VST2 Pop2 (by airwindows)
1 * VST2 MultiBandDistortion (by airwindows)
1 * VST2 PurestGain (by airwindows)
1 * LV2 DrumGizmo (by DrumGizmo Team)
1 * VST2 LeadAmp (by airwindows)
5 * LV2 sfizz (by SFZTools)
3 * VST2 ClearCoat (by airwindows)
1 * LV2 setBfree DSP Tonewheel Organ (by Robin Gareus)
9 * VST2 DeEss (by airwindows)

Samples
Versilian Community Sample Library - Cowbell, Tubular Bells, Mark Trees, Sleigh Bells, Claps
Santa Claus Reading A Christmas Story by Dynamic Algorhythm (This sounded like John Herbert so had to mangle it)
Drumgizmo Aasimonster
GMaq/AVL Black Pearl
Sampled myself here and there

Lyrics

It Is Christmas All Around

Deck the halls with mistletoe
Drink some eggnog and hot coco
Caroling in front of your door

Spruce or pine, Fraser Fir
Ugly sweaters and hot cider
Yuletide is never a bore

It is Christmas...

It is Christmas all around
Don’t you hear the sleigh bells sound
Light the tree and watch the snow fall down

It is Christmas all around
Wreaths and ornaments abound
Santa Claus is coming back to town

Call it truce under a holly twine
With Christmas cobbler and some mulled wine
Stockings hang at the fireplace, garlands too

Cookies baked, sugar iced
Pumpkin pie ready to be sliced
Through the Christmas baubles I see you

It is Christmas...

It is Christmas all around
Don’t you hear the sleigh bells sound
Light the tree and watch the snow fall down

It is Christmas all around
Wreaths and ornaments abound
Santa Claus is coming back to town

(Gingerbread, shooting stars
The jolly season is in our hearts
Santa Claus is coming back to town)

It is Christmas all around
Don’t you hear the sleigh bells sound
Light the tree and watch the snow fall down

It is Christmas all around
Red Poinsettias abound
Santa Claus is coming back to town

(Candy canes, a snow globe from your teens
Wooden nutcracker figurines
Santa Claus is coming back to town)

[avelhomusic]

My submission,

a brief introduction: My city is a traditional tourist destination during the Christmas period. The theme was developed as if for a short video.

I obtained sounds with the VPO library and captured some parts.

Plugins:
Channel 9
Console7 (Bus and Channel)
Cstrip2
Bandxall2
Smooth
Unbox
Varimu
ADCLIP7
and I think Vibratto.

DAW - Ardour 8

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xrpVGX ... sp=sharing

[SpotlightKid]

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/amberdrake-38439 ... -the-bells

@amberdrake You need to enable the download option for the track on SoundCloud.

[nyxeles]

All submissions are in, and voting is now open!

Here's the playlist: https://archive.org/details/libre-music-challenge-25

For the voting, head on over to https://lmc.nyxkn.org/vote. Use your linuxmusicians username to log in. You'll find more instructions on the page.

As usual, on top of voting, you're encouraged to post some feedback on the songs here on the forums.