S3XMODITMANIA IX

Table of Contents

• General Rules
• How to Vote
• Entry Round (Round 0)
• Round 1
• Round 2
• Round GHOST

General Rules

• In each round, if you have not yet been eliminated, you will submit an original song (NO COVERS) in either .it, .xm, .s3m, .mod, or .mptm format before the specified submission deadline for that round. This song must only use samples from the provided sample pack for that round. Any manipulation of samples should be performed within your tracker of choice if possible, without the use of external plugins (i.e. no sending a sample through a distortion VST and rendering it out). In the mptm format specifically, the standard DirectX effects are allowed; these are the ONLY "plugins" that may be used.
• All submissions should be anonymous until the results for that round are released. Please try to ensure you do not include your name in the filename, artist field, sample/instrument names, etc.
• The first round will be an extended entry round, which ANYONE may enter at any time during the 3-week submission period, followed by 7 days for voting. Each main round after this will last 7 days for submission and 7 days for voting.
• At the end of each voting period, the results for that round will be revealed and a certain percentage of entrants at the bottom of the rankings will be eliminated from the competition and be unable to compete in the remaining rounds. This will continue until either round 5, or until the remaining entrant pool becomes too small to continue, whichever happens first.
• The ultimate winner will receive... incredible bragging rights and satisfaction!
• All updates for the competition will be posted on this website, on Battle of the Bits, and in the S3XMODITMANIA discord server. Joining the Discord is highly recommended to get updates on each round as quickly as possible, but it is not required. If you have any questions about the competition, please ask them either in the Discord or in the BotB thread and I will try to get back to you ASAP.
• Additionally: At any time during the competition, anyone who wishes to may send me samples that may be used in sample packs for future rounds. If interested, please send me a message on Discord (id: sincx) with the samples you wish to submit.

How to Vote

• The vote pack containing all the submissions for each round will be linked in the corresponding webpage section for that round once voting opens (and will also be posted in an announcement on the Discord server).
• This contest is hosted on s3m.it, which uses ranked voting. That is, to vote, all you must do is rank the entries in order from your favorite to your least favorite.
  • If you are voting on a round you also participated in, either rank your own entry in last place or do not include your own entry at all.
• Once you have decided on your votes, send the ranked list to me directly. Preferably this is done via Discord DM (id: sincx), but if absolutely necessary you can send me your votes instead by email to sincx360 [at] gmail [dot] com.
• Anyone is welcome to vote on the entries, regardless of participation. That said, all entrants to a particular round are expected to vote in that round. While it is not explicitly required, there is a score penalty for any entrants who do not vote.
• While there is no formal system for adding comments on entries to your votes, you are absolutely welcome to write comments on your own and post them wherever you like after the results are released, in whatever format you wish.

Entry Round (Round 0)

• Full results are now available HERE!
• The entry pack containing all submissions can be found HERE.
• The sample pack that was required for all entries can be found HERE.

Round 1

• Full results are now available HERE!
• The entry pack containing all submissions can be found HERE.
• The sample pack that was required for all entries can be found HERE.

Round 2

• Full results are now available HERE!
• The entry pack containing all submissions can be found HERE.
• The sample pack that was required for all entries can be found HERE.

Round GHOST

• The GHOST Round is a special round which is open to anyone EXCEPT the remaining competitors listed above, regardless of whether they were eliminated, dropped out, or didn't enter at all.
• The TOP TWO entries will receive a fast-pass directly into Round 3. You'll have to put in your best work in order to make it through!
• For all of the remaining competitors already in Round 3, great news - you get an extra 2-week break to recover and recharge! Round 3 proper will begin on November 21st.
• Submissions are open until November 14th, 2026, 23:59 UTC.
• The required sample pack can be found HERE.
• When your entry is complete, submit it HERE.