I’ve been running remix contests on FindRemix for more than a year so it’s time to share some useful tips with everyone. These are to help you out when entering our remix contests. If you follow up these points exactly you will enjoy the experience of remixing, and have a better chance at reaching higher positions in the contest itself.
Read and follow rules carefully
This may be obvious, but many people just don’t read the rules! And in that we find mashups, un-cleared samples, and other forbidden parts. Please, take the time to go over the rules. Any and all questions will be answered in there.
Usually all genres are not welcome
Our contests usually offer a release on the label as the main prize, so if you would like it to be released you should look out for the label’s genre(s). That doesn’t mean you can’t be original, just take a look at the label’s back catalog and see what are they releasing.
Don’t send work in progress
This phrase has been repeated tons of times. Just finish up your remix!
Support other participants
Our contests are supported by hundreds of producers from all over the world. So, It’s a nice to have a chance to meet people like you! Comment, send messages, communicate with one another in a positive and constructive way, and maybe you’ll find some nice colaboration agreements or new opportunities come about. So be social!
Rome was not built in a day
Ok, you just found about a great new great contest. You downloaded the parts, hopped on your DAW and quickly created a remix, all in one day! That’s amazing, but remember there is plenty of time to submit it. We usually run competitions with a duration of a month or more. Review your remix before submitting it… There’s always room for improvement.
Don’t copy the original mix
Be original, It’s boring listening to a remix that sounds about the same as every other song out there. Bring fresh new sounds to the table, and make it your own! Experiment with whatever you use and have at your fingertips.
Play the right key & tempo!
A track in the wrong key, wrong element, or a different tempo is automatically out. Take care of it!
Don’t worry too much about mastering
Focus on your track’s feeling, and create a great piece of music. If it sounds good and expresses something, be proud of it! Don’t forge something you don’t feel. Mastering can be done later, just create a good mix!
What do you think about these tips? Is there anything anybody would like to add?
Thanks to Ray Andrade for the corrections 
Very nice
don’t know who you are,but you speak smart….thx for this……cheers mate
>>Usually all genres are not welcome
maybe it will be useful to all of us, if in the remix competition announcements will be some tips about genres (= just a thought
Bojan this is Diego Iglesias http://soundcloud.com/diegoiglesias
Great tips, bookmarked so I can check them each time I enter one of these things =)
I’ve mostly been submitting remixes for fun, and to get experience because it’s a kinda new thing for me. Something I noticed was on the day a contest ends people are already asking who won it. My own tip would be to have patience, the guys judging are usually from a label and are busy as it is before having to listen through 100+ remixes, then decide on the good ones. Like you say, Rome wasn’t built in a day heheh.
One thing you should have put in there was about disbabling downloads on SoundCloud, yeah I know it’s usually written in the rules, but I always see a fair few remixes that can still be downloaded.
Thanks for your comment Xarish, about the SoundCloud thing, now I add that information on the contest page as well, and it seems like people get noticed.
It seems to me quite logical all questions, and knowing Findremix about a year, including the publication of this article.
I, like many of the regulars, “play” to develop and learn something of what we are enormously grateful.
Understand that what is offered here are contests, and we must abide by the rules of who imposes, besides being professional and original note if you want to win. Too many words …
On “support to other participants”like a living room discussion among participants in each contest. But I gather that moves independently Soundcloud…
I also thought about the possibility for participants to influence the elections in some contests, perhaps in a pre-election specifically. Would be more participatory for our part, and it ease the final work to the judges (some will have been overwhelmed).
For the rest … To keep the line going up!
one more thing diego
about the tempo, thats weird. What when it is about remixing a tech house track that is 125 bpm, but your version is nicer in 128 bpm, considering u used the parts in a way that nothing is off beat etc. Isnt that allowed?! that would be totally crazy in my eyes…
Great read guys, will defiantly take these points into account from now on…
Good words cheers
Hey Sten, of course you are allowed to create a diferent tempo version, what I mean is to not use diferent tempo elements in the track. For example: main tempo is 128 and you put a 120 vocal stem… I’ve sometimes found out this issue.
Excellent Diego and thank you for this site…
very nice and short
Nice tips.Thank you
thanks man… will indeed stick to this site until i won any one…
You speak perfect , short ,essential no politic
Good say !!! Good Tips
You could add links to other Remix Sites which are not in direct Competition with you. They in turn could add a Link to your Website.
Are there Remix Sites for;
Rock?
Jazz?
Etc?
Just an idea. A bit like Xarish, Ive been submitting Remixes for my own reasons. Having deadlines is good. Working in an area thats outside your comfort zone can be challenging and rewarding. I get the logic of your postings. I just do my own thing and don’t expect to win. I’m working on my sound. The gift I have is the only one I can share.
Dan, I won’t support those music genres There are other sites out there which are already covering them
my 5 cents would be:
Don’t spam others people tracks /pages with the comments like : “check out my latest remix or track ” . Believe me nobody gonna do it ,with 9000 digital realeases everyday . There are more inteligent ways to get your music heard
it is really annoying to see comments like that on your track . Even if you think your track is super good ,let your music speak for itself .
don’t count your stats they don’t mean shit ,
Tha best t winner track is Not decided by the amount of listens or comments on it .You can see alot of tracks on soundcloud with 1ooo comments on it ,which sound like total shit !
Nowadays nobody makes money from selling music anyway ,its just more for your name ,label and promotrional uses to get a bigger gigs . So don’t waiste you time ..
Go back to producing /learning / improving !
Its about creating more good music and expressing yourself as an artist .
nice one olt!