RULES

1. Entries are invited in the following classes:
   1. SPEECH AND DRAMA: Sketches, playlets, prose, fantasy monologues. This class is designed for fiction ­ a factual entry should be entered in class 2 or 4. Maximum duration: 8 minutes.
   2. DOCUMENTARY: Sound story based on fact and information, imaginative and/or entertaining. This class is designed for factual recordings based around narration with interviews and (if needed) sound effects. (NB: Simple interviews should be entered in class 4 and would be disqualified from this class). Maximum duration: 8 minutes.
   3. MUSIC
      1. Live Music: A recording of a live musical performance. The class is intended for recordings of live concerts or a recording sessions. Multitrack recording techniques are permitted providing all the tracks are recorded simultaneously. Maximum duration: 5 minutes.
      2. Electronic Music: Recording or synthesised production of music by electronic means including MIDI based music and multitrack recording techniques where the tracks are recorded at different times or by the overlaying of samples recorded separately. Maximum duration: 5 minutes.
   4. REPORTAGE: Interviews, on the spot and live news items. This class is designed for simple interviews on location or a reporter narrative recorded at the same time and location as an event. (NB: Interviews linked with narration should be entered in class 2 and would be disqualified form this class). Maximum duration: 4 minutes.
   5. TECHNICAL EXPERIMENT: Sound composition, experimental recordings or trick recordings. This class is designed for genuine experimental recordings not recordings which could have been entered in another class. Maximum duration: 3 minutes.
   6. SOUNDS FROM NATURE: This class is for naturally occurring sounds which can be, for example, animal noises or physical phenomena such as thunderstorms. A narrated explanation is acceptable if it is within the maximum time limit. Maximum duration: 2 minutes.
   7. SET SUBJECT: The realisation of this class is flexible as long as the content fits the set title. The Set Subject is decided each year by the country hosting the International Amateur Recording Contest (IARC). See the entry form for the current year's title. Maximum duration: 8 minutes.
   8. OTHER AUDIO RECORDINGS: Any other sound recording which does not fit into any of the classes listed above ­ it is not for recordings that could have been entered in any other class. Maximum duration: 3 minutes.
   9. VIDEO: Although the subject of this class is totally open, the entrant may wish to take into account the sub-classes of the IARC which are:
      1. Reportage and interviews (including tourism),
      2. Acting scenes, sketches,
      3. Illustrated musical or literary works,
      4. Experiments with sound and pictures (E.g. Clips, tricks, collages, abstract themes),
      5. Documentaries,
      6. - (sub-class not used)
      7. Set Subject (same title as for class 7) Maximum duration: 8 minutes.
   10. MULTIMEDIA: Open Subject as for VIDEO above, but the entrant may wish to take note of the sub-classes of class 9 (above) if the entry is to be considered for the IARC. This section is intended for presentations based on still pictures with sound, but recorded on electronic media. Presentations may be generated using slide show or presentation software. Although overlaying, blending, scanning and zooming of images is permitted, an entry may not contain any animated or moving images derived from cine file or video. (This section replaces the former tape-slide class which is now discontinued.) Maximum duration: 8 minutes.
2. The Contest closing date is 31st May each year and the Contest is open to individuals for whom recording does not contribute more than 50% of their income and are normally resident in the United Kingdom. The Contest is also open to Talking Newspapers, Hospital Radio and other non professional organisations using creative recording.
3. An entrant may submit no more than two entries in any one class.
4. An entry may be entered in one class only. The judges reserve the right to reclassify an entry or to disqualify it from the Contest should it not be eligible for an alternative class.
5. For analogue recordings on open reel or cassette tape the recording must start at the beginning of the tape. Open reel entries must be prepared between coloured leader tapes, and if wound tail out, this must be stated on the entry form.
6. For digital formats two entries in the same class may be submitted on a single medium provided that they are identified with proper start IDs. The entry forms must clearly state which recording is on which track.
7. No entries may contain any material taken from the radio, television or commercial recordings. Any entrant who has used fully or in part any literary or musical production of which he or she is not the author or composer and which is still in copyright must obtain authorisation from the author, composer or copyright holder. The authorisation must be submitted with the entry form and state that the copyright owner foregoes any payment by any organisation that may subsequently broadcast or reproduce the recording. This does not imply that, in countries where they apply, the normal rights or payment arranged by the organisation owning or controlling the copyright be relinquished.
8. In the case of live music only, which is still in copyright, the entrant must hold a licence from the MCPS as issued by the British Sound Recording Association (BSRA).
9. In the case of video or multimedia presentations which contain any material used under the terms of a licence issued by an appropriate body, the entry form must include details of the licence used including the issuing body.
10. Library music i.e. music which can be purchased with a licence for inclusion in other compositions is acceptable, providing that the entrant has purchased the music and holds the licence ­ borrowing the library discs from someone else is not acceptable. If library music is included it must be clearly identified on the entry form with full details. Please note that although library music is acceptable to illustrate a recording, the judges will take note of this when they mark the entry.
11. The Contest organisers reserve the right to retain successful entries and to arrange for publication on radio or TV in order to promote the Contest and to publicise British recordists. The BSRA may include entries, either in whole or in part, on its sound magazine, Soundtrack.
12. Entries going forward to the IARC may be published on CD or DVD by the International Federation of Soundhunters (FICS). All entries reaching the final judging will be placed in the BSRA archives and made available to members. In addition a compilation of winning entries may be give to each finalist.
13. Copyright in the recordings remains with the contestants but no copyright fee will be paid by the BARC, BSRA or the FICS.
14. Entries for the IARC will be selected by members of the BSRA Council on the judging panel from amongst the entries to reach the final judging. The entries chosen will be those most appropriate for an international audience and will not necessarily be class winners.
15. The judges' decisions will be final and no correspondence will be considered about entries in the contest.
16. After the final judging has been completed all entrants will be sent a copy of the results plus the class judges' comments for their own entries. The results will be published on the Soundhunters' web site and in the BSRA's journal, Recording News.
17. Entries sent by any signed-for delivery service may not be accepted.
18. Whilst entries are in the possession of the organisers, liability for any loss or damage will be limited to the replacement cost of the media. Entrants are advised to ensure they have a back up copy of any material they send.
19. Each entry must be accompanied by a fully completed, current entry form plus the entry fee as stated on the form. Cheques and Postal Orders should be made payable to "BSRA". If acknowledgement of receipt is required a stamped, addressed envelope must be enclosed.
20. The organisers reserve the right to disqualify any entry that does not comply with the rules and there will be no refund of the entry fee.

© 2007-2012 British Amateur Recording Contest / BSRA

Address for entries: BARC, 9 King George V Drive West, Heath, CARDIFF CF14 4ED
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