Musicians around the world recorded "Monster" themed songs with RiffWorks (Mac/Win) or FourTrack (iPhone) on their own, or collaborated with up to 4 friends worldwide using RiffLink. Over $5700 in prizes were up for grabs, like a Taylor SolidBody Standard Double Cutaway guitar! There was no entry fee, and RiffWorks T4 free recording software could be used, so there was no purchase necessary. All RiffRumble 20 Entries Subscribe to Sonoma's News for RiffRumble Announcements.

1st Prize
Judge's Choice

Doug Wright, president of Sonoma Wire Works, chose musicmayn's "They're Coming To Get Me" to win the 1st prize worth over $4200:

musicmayn says, "I am honored and floored that I won! Three goals with this song were to have an entry for voting purposes, to create a song without help from collaborators, and to write a new song during the entry period as opposed to posting a previous song or a song that was already in the works. Heartfelt thanks to Sonoma staff for hosting these contests and making them so much fun, the contestants for their participation and especially those who voted for my song, and to the Riffworld community for their incredible support."

2nd Prize
Contestants' Choice

Contestants voted for their favorite 3 songs (not their own). The song that received the most votes was blue4u's "Monster of Illusions", which wins over $1000 in prizes:

blue4u had this to say, "It's an honor to be recognized by this amazing group of musicians and I am humbled and grateful to get their vote! I've been using RiffWorks for years and it is still my #1 choice for songwriting, arranging and recording. I'm sending love and a BIG thank you to the Riffworld community, Sonoma Wire Works and everyone who participated in this rumble and gave shouts."

3rd Prize
Public Popularity

The public voted on each of their favorite RiffRumble 20 songs. The song with the most shouts is MACDADDY1's "EvilDemented People2", which wins over $500 in prizes:

MACDADDY1 says, "I would like to thank Sonoma Wire Works for holding these great contests. To have the praise of my fellow musicians shouts is the best. I'm also glad to see a Metal Song in the final 3 with so many styles here. I love my RiffWorks...The best recording program with ease of use without question! This is the most impressive online music community - Bar None! Thank you all.

Doug Wright had this to say about choosing musicmayn's song as the winner: "Great uptempo tune with paranoid whisper-over-scream lyrics, intense almost frantic piano riffing, perfect eerie Theramin and awesome modulated EP tone. Reminded me of early Oingo Boingo. You've got a brand new Taylor Solid Body Double Cutaway coming. Congratulations!"

HOW TO ENTER

  • Song entries were accepted October 3 00:01 PST - October 16 23:59 PST. Submissions are now closed.

SUBMISSION RULES & DETAILS

  • No covers (non-original songs).
  • "Monster" is the theme for RiffRumble 20, which is up to each person's interpretation.
  • New: By entering RiffRumble 20, all participants agree to receive news and updates from RiffRumble 20 sponsors, including Taylor Guitars, Recording Magazine and Disc Makers. Names and email addresses will be provided to sponsors' email lists, which will allow you to unsubscribe at any time.
  • Vocals welcome but not required.
  • You may use any third party applications, however you must use RiffWorks T4 (free), RiffWorks Standard or the FourTrack iPhone app to record the entry.
  • You may use any InstantDrummer, including free InstantDrummers.
  • Be prepared to present a RiffWorks song file (.rws) as proof that RiffWorks was used to record your entry. If you use FourTrack to record your entry, be prepared to export your FourTrack song to RiffWorks in order to present a RiffWorks song file, or FourTrack's session plist.
  • Songs that have been posted previously to RiffWorld are eligible, but must be posted again.
  • Songs submitted to previous RiffRumbles are not eligible.
  • Impolite, offensive, disrespectful, insulting, or inflammatory language toward RiffWorld users, Sonoma staff, or in your lyrics, description, title or shouts may cause you to be disqualified, as it goes against our website terms of use. Do not respond to inflammatory language - contact support with proof, or delete the shout.
  • Public accusations of cheating may cause the accuser to be disqualified. If you believe someone may be cheating or violating the website terms of use, contact support.
  • Sonoma reserves the right to disqualify any participant or any entry for any reason.
  • Sonoma is not responsible for songs not entered properly or in a timely manner.
  • Public voting begins October 3rd, so the earlier you RiffCast the better. Voting rules below.
  • Only one entry is allowed per person, and must be entered October 3rd 00:01 - October 16th 23:59 PST. If you enter a song prior to October 3rd or after October 16th, the riffrumble20 tag may be removed, and may be disqualified. If you would like to delete an entry, contact support to request this before October 16th.
  • You may enter multiple songs, but only the newest song posted will count as your entry through October 16th (23:59 PST). The previous song(s) you submit will not be eligible, the riffrumble20 tag will be removed, and shouts received on the previous song will not count.
  • Entries are placed under Sonoma's Website Terms of Use.
  • Contestants worldwide are eligible, but must be over 13 years of age to enter the song or collaborate using RiffLink. People under or over 13 may volunteer to collaborate on your song using your licensed copy of RiffWorks, but do not get a vote in the Contestants' Choice Category unless they are over 13 and used their own copy of RiffWorks, RiffLink, and/or FourTrack.
  • Contestants must vote in the Contestants Choice category to be eligible to win (see below).
  • One entry may only win one category. If one entry "wins" more than one category, it will receive the higher-valued prize and forfeit the lower-valued prize(s). The runner-up entry in the lower-valued prize category will win that category.
  • Collaboration Specifics (Using RiffLink)
    • You may participate in as many collaboration entries as you'd like.
    • Make it clear to the other song collaborators that it is a potential entry for RiffRumble 20.
    • Only the creator of the collaboration may submit their mix of a collaboration to the 'rumble.
    • Include both of these tags: riffrumble20 to be entered in the song contest, and collaboration so that it shows up when people are searching for all completed RiffLink song collabs.
    • All Contestants (including all collaborators) must vote in the Contestants' Choice category in order for their song to be eligible to win any category, so it is in the creator's best interest to get permission from the other collaborators to enter the collaboration into RiffRumble.
    • Only the person who RiffCasts the song is eligible to win the prize. Sonoma is not responsible for splitting the prize.
    • Collaborations that were started before September 2012 are not eligible unless the creator/entrant gets permission from all collaborators and from marketing@sonomawireworks.com.
    • Give credit to the contributors' usernames in the credits and/or description.
  • Collaboration Specifics (Non-RiffLink)
    • RiffLink is recommended, but you may enter a collaboration that is created by sending RiffWorks or FourTrack files back and forth to each other if you follow these rules:
    • RiffWorks or FourTrack must be used by all participants to record the song. Each collaborator must be prepared to send their .rws files to Sonoma.
    • No more than 5 collaborators, including the "creator" may be involved in a song.
    • The person playing the role of "creator" must be decided at the beginning of the collaboration. It must be agreed via email by all collaborators that: "The creator is the only person who may RiffCast the any version of the song into the competition, and is the only person eligible to win the prize if that song is chosen as a winner." This written consent must be emailed to marketing@sonomawireworks.com before October 16th, including all usernames involved and copying all collaborators involved, in order for it to be a qualified entry. If any collaborator contact support within the entry period that they don't agree, then it will be disqualified.
    • Give credit to all contributors' usernames in the credits and/or description.
    • All collaborators involved must vote in the Contestants' Choice category in order for their song to be eligible to win. NEW: A collaborator may only vote in the Contestants Choice category if they used RiffLink or traded RiffWorks or FourTrack files back and forth to collaborate. If someone collaborates on your song using your licensed copy of RiffWorks or FourTrack recording software, they do not vote in Contestants Choice.

VOTING RULES - Judge's Choice Category

  • The top five songs from the Contestants' Choice Category below will be presented to the judge, who is Doug Wright, president of Sonoma Wire Works. He will subjectively select one song to be the winner of the 1st prize. If there is a tie for the top 5th song, then all the songs that received that number of votes will be given to the judge.

VOTING RULES - Contestants' Choice Category

  • Each contestant (every contributor) votes for 3 of their favorite songs that they did not contribute to. After listening to all the songs starting October 17, vote by emailing the name of your 3 favorite songs to marketing@sonomawireworks.com. Vote by October 23 (23:59 PST) even if you do not receive an email from marketing. All Contestants (including all collaborators) must vote in this category in order for their song to be eligible to win any category. If a contestant participates in more than one entry, the contestant only gets 3 votes total. Contestants' Choice Votes will remain anonymous unless the voter chooses to tell people themselves. The top 5 songs chosen may be announced in the forum.

VOTING RULES - Public Popularity Category

  • The public may vote by posting one positive 'Shout' on each of their favorite songs October 3 (00:01 PST) - October 23 (23:59 PST). All RR20 Song Entries
  • Invite people (including other contestants) to add a "Shout" on your song as soon as it is entered. One Shout per person and per individual computer. Emailing friends, and posting your song to your web page, social networks, and forums is encouraged. Ask people to "shout" only once per song.
  • Because only RiffWorld.com members who are logged in may "Shout" in RiffWorld, each voter must have a RiffWorld username, or create one, and be logged in to RiffWorld.com in order to Shout. Do not create multiple usernames as this can cause technical difficulties for you and may cause disqualification.
  • Delete negative or duplicate shouts in your own song entry.
  • Negative shouts may also be removed by administrators. Profanity or inflammitory comments will not be tolerated. Contestants should not respond to inflammatory comments, or your song may be disqualified. If you notice offensive shouts, contact support.
  • Contestants who receive more than one vote per person or computer, or shout more than once for a song may be disqualified. We have ways to see if individuals vote more than once, even from multiple accounts.

WINNERS

Winners will be announced in the RiffRumble Forum and in the Sonoma Wire Works Newsletter after the voting period is over and after the judge has time to review the contestants' choice top 5.

THANKS TO THE RIFFRUMBLE 20 SPONSORS

Thank you to Taylor Guitars, Recording Magazine and Disc Makers for sponsoring this contest.

Disc Makers Special Offer: FREE Home Studio Guide with information about design and soundproofing, isolation booth construction, materials for walls, floors, doors, and more.

* PRIZE DISCLAIMER

The prize guitar is a Taylor SolidBody Standard Double Cutaway guitar. The guitar color and specs may vary from the one pictured. Delivery of prize may be subject to delays due to production schedules. All prize price values from all sponsors are estimates and subject to change without notice.

PAST RIFFRUBLES

RiffRumble 16 | RiffRumble 17 | RiffRumble 18 | RiffRumble 19

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