Following up from Nijiiro Version's grand launch and our recently-published SotW entry about a contest-debuting track, it's right about time we have a separate post to talk about the song contest that just launched alongside the new arcade release, available at this link.
First of all, here's a quick rundown of the ideal progression of the project (with a big emphasis on 'ideal', considering the worldwide issues of a viral matter of this Spring season).
The launch of Nijiro Version, as already mentioned, was the first day for artists who are registered in the Faith Creation website to send their own works in, with the deadline set on April 30th at 12AM Japan time. The works will be judged and the winners will be selected on May, with the public announcement being issued during the month of June. Afterwards, you can expect the winning works to be playable in Taiko gaming sometime in the Fall season of this year.
From this section of the same website, it's also possible to see the submission rules of this contest, although there's no mention of (up to) how many winners are going to be selected in the end. All kinds of original songs, both full-instrumental and with vocals with any kind of performer (real voice/with Vocaloid/with Text-to-Speech programs of sorts) are welcomed, as long as they abide to the following suggestions (exceptions may be allowed if deemed appropriate by the contest's judges):
- No song covers or samples/notations from other songs (the use of stock sounds is allowed but only if they're unreleased);
- Song length between 1:30 and 2:00 (can be extended up to 2:30 if a track doesn't feel redundant);
- No adoption of a 2nd Chorus;
- Constant Tempo;
- Optimal audio compression (submissions have to be sent at about 6 Db lower than the commercially-available music in Taiko games);
- Lyrics suitable for an audience of all ages (for songs with vocals).
While it's not reported on the website, we have to point out that song submissions are only open to Japanese residents, as referenced by different social media reports (tweet from composer Frums on the topic).
The song entries will be judged by two sound directors of the series -veteran Yuji Masubuchi and newcomer steμ- and the Taiko Team's current leader, Yuhei Etou. Once that enough song submissions will be gathered for the contest, it will be possible to hear them on a separate website section at a later date. See you then!
