also untill the late 80's imo music was produced for the listeners (record companies controlled everything) where nowadays often music sounds 'mixed for the band'. 
Personally I think that old method results in better music.

I can see this idea as a 2 part exercise - firstly collaboration in the writing of a piece, and then the mixing.
 
So lets say for example someone sets up a Sonar template under a specific music genre. The template has say a maximum of 12 tracks set up in it. The tracks could be anything specific to the genre choosen but lets say we have drums, bass, 3 guitars, piano, 2 synth, vox, 2 bv's and a loop track. Twelve people nominate for each project to write and record one part on the template ie they nominate guitar 1 or bass or main vox etc etc. The project is saved as a bundle and maybe Dropboxed around to each project participant who then adds their part and uploads it again for the next person. It would be interesting to see how the piece develops as each part is written.
 
Once all parts have been written and recorded, it then goes to say 3 mix guru's who nominate for each project to take the tune and mold it into the finished product. We would then have 3 variations of collaboration for each project - it could get extremely interesting!!
 
This way, each "Community Project" would involve not only the talent pool of mixers out there but also the artists.
 
Obviously there would need to be a facilitator for each project to keep things on track and there would need to be guidelines in place like who starts each project? Does it start with a vocal, a melody part or does it start with a groove or just a guitar part? Also do the mixing dudes just use Sonar plugs etc etc. And to keep things ticking along the facilitator would need to ensure parts are recorded quickly and moved on to the next person.
 
Could be fun!! Hope this adds to the collective of ideas!!!
 
 
 
 

Thanks for all the comments guys, but could we stay on the topic please. To do that review the first post.

I'm using this thread to gauge the level of interest in a "remix" competition. Remix will become defined by the members and their comments in this thread. So the important things are:
A) do you want to support a remix competition
B) how would you like to see the competition structured

Thanks.

After reading the whole thread, I am interested.

Never remixed. Willing to try anything.

Mike I know you started this and it's your baby, run it like you want. But man, are there some great ideas here or what!!!

millzy
I can see this idea as a 2 part exercise - firstly collaboration in the writing of a piece, and then the mixing.
 
So lets say for example someone sets up a Sonar template under a specific music genre. The template has say a maximum of 12 tracks set up in it. The tracks could be anything specific to the genre choosen but lets say we have drums, bass, 3 guitars, piano, 2 synth, vox, 2 bv's and a loop track. Twelve people nominate for each project to write and record one part on the template ie they nominate guitar 1 or bass or main vox etc etc. The project is saved as a bundle and maybe Dropboxed around to each project participant who then adds their part and uploads it again for the next person. It would be interesting to see how the piece develops as each part is written.
 
Once all parts have been written and recorded, it then goes to say 3 mix guru's who nominate for each project to take the tune and mold it into the finished product. We would then have 3 variations of collaboration for each project - it could get extremely interesting!!
 
This way, each "Community Project" would involve not only the talent pool of mixers out there but also the artists.
 
Obviously there would need to be a facilitator for each project to keep things on track and there would need to be guidelines in place like who starts each project? Does it start with a vocal, a melody part or does it start with a groove or just a guitar part? Also do the mixing dudes just use Sonar plugs etc etc. And to keep things ticking along the facilitator would need to ensure parts are recorded quickly and moved on to the next person.
 
Could be fun!! Hope this adds to the collective of ideas!!!
 
 
 
 

Hey millzy, that's sort of the idea. Can you provide a bit more structure to your idea. Obviously if some of us don't make the running everyone else will just happily wonder where the remix thread went.
The idea of the 2 aspects of song creation then a remix are pretty much what I suggested in one of my earlier posts #34. I think it would be a bit different to your run of the mill remix because there's lots of them around.
One idea that seems pretty consistent is using Sonar and Sonar plugins only, maybe even stretch it to be only Sonitus plugins as lots of folks aren't on Platinum or previously producer so don't have access to the top range plugins. Anyway I think if we could get the bones of a format together (that will work) were on our way.

Folks have mentioned Cakewalk doing this or that but no-one has shown their face to offer any support so I think we should go on our own. I've got plenty of storage space on Onedrive and could open up my home server with a website front end but think the my download speeds would be terrible especially with big audio files being uploaded and downloaded. MP3 for the initial create the song I guess and wav files for the remix.

Thanks millzy.

My two cents is to keep it simple. Making a contest that is in two parts ads another layer that makes participation more complex. Just looking at some of the responses, it is clear that some have a VERY different concept of what defines a remix.  To those who listen/dj/produce genres where remixes are common, remix typically means using parts of the original song to make another version.  Sometimes the remix is so different than original that it could easily be a new song in it's own right. Tempos, keys and just about anything else can change.  Elements can be added or subtracted. Songs can even turn to radically different genres. To a person who works mostly in classic rock, blues, classical, etc, "remix" may mean something more along the lines of an alternative variation still very much like the original.   I'm assuming the OP was suggesting closer in spirit to the former definition i gave than the latter.  If that is the case, then provide stems to song, deadline and simple, non-constricting rules. I think requesting only Sonar plugs is reasonable. 

mudgel
I use the term remix as there doesn't seem to be another that gives people an idea without a lengthy description.

I suppose it could just be called "Mix Competition," as opposed to "Remix?" 

I think it's an interesting idea and I would be on board for having a go at a remix.
Personally I would prefer a song that already had a finished mix and could give me something I could compare my own effort to, as well as hear what others have done to finished tracks.
I would have no problems with altering the format of the song, and any or all alterations would be acceptable if this was agreed upon. I think the judging could take into account whether alterations to lyrics, rhythm, melody, etc. would contribute to a better mix.
If recording the tracks was part of the "competition", then I think this would add an extra layer of complexity and could be a separate competition if required.
Craig has already posted that he would be happy to provide the song for a remix, as I'm sure others would if needed.

I'm stoked by the response so far and while we've had a range of suggestions I think for this first attempt simplicity seems to be a recurring theme so I'm in the process of acquiring some tracks and when I have that organised I'll update with some more info.

Please keep,posting though with ideas and your support as if we can make a success of this then we can get into more complex structures for future song construction contests etc.

To bad it did not get of the ground Hopefully it will rise from the ashes at some point 
Great initiative, anyway c",)

Without going into the who's and wherefores I was relying on some people without whom I couldn't proceed. Sadly they didn't come through don't know why, just no reply.

That's why I suggested, if someone else has the where with all to make it happen then nothing prevents anyone form doing so. I simply put forward an idea and that idea still exists, it will just take someone else to lift the idea from this page and make it come to life.

Yes, it need not have been a competition as such simply an opportunity for people to do a mix or remix of locally created music with contributed from this forum. There's tons of material available on the net if you want to mix someone else's tracks.