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
Field Recording Contest

Applications

Open now - until August 30

Contest day

September 10, 10:00-18:00

Spots

8 participants

(01) The format

Six hours, two halves

Briefing + theme - 10:00

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

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

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

1st place
300
Soundium × Zoom Gift voucher for Zoom gear at Soundium
2nd place
200
Soundium × Zoom Gift voucher for Zoom gear at Soundium
3rd place
100
Soundium × Zoom Gift voucher for Zoom gear at Soundium

(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.

Soundium x Zoom Field Recording Contest - Vilnius 2026