● Soundium x Zoom - Open call
Field Recording Contest
A new Soundium challenge: the city becomes your instrument. Eight producers, three hours to record the city, three hours to turn those sounds - and nothing else - into a track.
Apply now
(01) The format
Six hours, two halves

Briefing + theme - 10:00
Meet at the Soundium store. You get the brief and the composition theme on the spot - it stays secret until then.

Record - 11:00-14:00
Head into the city with your own rig and build your sample pack from scratch: traffic, rooms, machines, voices - whatever you can capture.

Compose - 15:00-18:00
After a lunch break, back at the Soundium store: turn your recordings into an abstract composition on your own laptop.
(02) The prizes
Vouchers for Zoom gear
(03) FAQ
Questions, answered
How does the contest work?+
Applications are open right now - fill in the form on this page until August 30. From all applications we will select 8 participants and contact each of them personally. On September 10 at 10:00 participants arrive at the Soundium store in Vilnius, T. Ševčenkos g. 18, where they get the exact brief and the theme - it stays secret until then. Then: 3 hours (11:00-14:00) collecting sound recordings in the city (your own sample pack), a lunch break (14:00-15:00), and 3 hours (15:00-18:00) back at Soundium turning those recordings into an abstract composition on the given theme. The winners will be selected on September 14 - we will contact them personally too.
Are there genre restrictions?+
No. The composition has to be abstract and built on the theme given on the spot - style, tempo and genre are up to you. Want rhythm? Go ahead. Making ambient? Go ahead. What matters is an original take on the task.
Why can't I use my own samples, instruments or sounds?+
Because that is the challenge. The only instrument you will have is what you collect in the city during those 3 hours. You can turn those sounds into percussion, stretch, cut, distort and process them however you like - there is only one ban: nothing bought or made before the task.
Does it cost anything to enter?+
No, participation is free.
How much time will I have?+
10:00-11:00 meet-up, briefing and theme reveal at the Soundium store. 11:00-14:00 collecting sound material in the city. 14:00-15:00 lunch break. 15:00-18:00 composing at the Soundium store.
How old do I need to be?+
The contest is open to creators aged 18-99 :)
How are the winners selected?+
Entries are judged by the Soundium jury. The winners will be selected on September 14 and announced together with a short review of their tracks. We will also contact the winners personally.
Can I enter with a partner or a team?+
No, the task is individual. More people could collect more sounds in the same time - that would not be fair.
What are the house rules?+
Back at the Soundium store with your sounds, participants work in a shared space. Keep order, keep the noise down and do not disturb each other.
What equipment do I need?+
Everyone uses their own gear: a recording device (recorder) for collecting sounds and their own laptop for composing. A special recorder is not required - you can record everything with your smartphone! By agreeing to take part, participants confirm they will have their own equipment - recording, computer and software. Soundium will not provide recording, computer or software equipment to participants - just a chair, a table (and a glass of water). The only restriction: no pre-owned sounds, samples or instruments.
What are the prizes?+
1st place - a 300 Eur Soundium x Zoom gift voucher. 2nd place - 200 Eur. 3rd place - 100 Eur. All vouchers are for Zoom gear at Soundium.
And finally - what is the purpose of life?+
To step outside, look around, listen closely and realise that everything is music.

(04) How to enter
Eight spots. Applications are open.
Fill in the form - it takes a couple of minutes. Applications close August 30; we will contact the selected eight personally. Participation is free, the task is individual.
