Sample Pack Contest XIX

What is Sample Pack Contest?

Sample Pack Contest is a series of original music-writing contests that began in 2005, originally on VGMusic's forums and now on its own dedicated Discord server.

Users are first asked to submit sound samples, which can be anything ranging from video game noises to famous music clips to the very sounds recorded using your own mic. Then, participants create tracks using only the samples from this pack. In the end, all music is listened to and voted on to determine placing and the eventual winner.

Phase 2: Track Submission (deadline: Monday, June 3 23:59 PDT - countdown here)

Download the SPC XIX Sample Pack here!

Use the above sample pack to create original music (not remixes) using whatever tools you have available (DAW/VST effects/samplers/trackers/DSP/etc). Do not use any sample libraries, synthesizers, or sounds other than what is provided above to make your songs.

Rules/guidelines for creating tracks:

  • Use as many or as few of the samples as you wish. You are encouraged to use an audio editor to edit the samples and derive original sounds; think about looping, pitch-shifting, trimming, dynamics, baked-in effects etc.
  • Effects such as reverb, delay, distortion, chorus, phaser, flanger, pitch-shift, auto-tune etc. are all permitted and encouraged in your arrangements.
  • Effects that also generate audio for a carrier signal (i.e. vocoders) are a grey area, but we've allowed them in previous contests and they are permitted.
  • Avoid the cop-out of ultra-shortlooped (or "chipped") samples/generally avoid making chiptunes. This is more of a request than a hard rule, but in general it's recommended that the sample retain some of its character.
  • Keep your entries a secret from everyone as authors will be revealed when results are announced.
  • Collaborations are permitted.
  • This contest is intended for original music only, not remixes or covers.
  • Final catch-all rule: for anything else not covered by these rules, if you feel you might be taking excessive liberties, you probably are.
  • Good luck and have fun!

How to submit a track:

  • Please send in your tracks for SPC XIX to Discord user zargasheth (preferred) or to sample.pack.contest.inbox@gmail.com via email, by end-of-day (PDT) June 3, 2024.
  • Submit as few or as many tracks as you wish.
  • Please clearly state your Artist Name and Song Title(s) with your submissions. Metadata will be stripped, but try to avoid tagging the file with your artist name.
  • File format should be CD-quality audio in FLAC or WAV. Avoid lossy formats such as MP3 if at all possible.
  • By submitting songs to Sample Pack Contest you consent to your music being freely redistributed as a part of its resulting compilation album. All other rights with respect to your music are unaffected.
I am new. How does SPC work? (SPC Outline)
  • Phase 1: The community is asked to submit samples - short sound clips of basically anything. Typically this phase is about a week long.
  • Phase 2: With the newly assembled and released sample pack, participants make as much music as they want using only the samples as their sound sources. (Effects, sample manipulation etc are welcome, though shortlooping/chiplooping is discouraged.) Typically this phase is about two months long.
  • Phase 3: Anyone who wishes to vote ranks all the entries (which remain anonymous until results) using a tool on this website, with optional space for comments as well. Typically this phase is about two weeks long, with results posted immediately thereafter!
  • Note that you can participate in any phases of SPC that you please. For example, you can choose to only send in samples, or only vote, etc.
Handy links: