Battle That! Battle That! Competition - September 9-12, 2026

[Fade]

ROUND 1!

Place your votes: https://www.illmuzik.com/battle-that-competition/battles/

Good luck to all the contestants!

 

[Iron Keys]

That was some of the easiest voting I've ever done!

 

[Fade]

That was some of the easiest voting I've ever done!

I'm surprised.

All the beats are really good. This is going to be tough.

 

[Earsblower]

That was some of the easiest voting I've ever done!

Did @BiggChev win?

 

[Iron Keys]

I'm surprised.

All the beats are really good. This is going to be tough.

- AI sounding ones = straight loss
- few that are just "loud" as opposed to good mix

There's a couple really interesting ones too.

So it made it pretty easy to get through. No real bad beats at all. Maybe 2 comparatively were less good.

Sometimes it's actually easier to vote when the levels are higher.

 

[attila]

- AI sounding ones = straight loss
- few that are just "loud" as opposed to good mix

There's a couple really interesting ones too.

So it made it pretty easy to get through. No real bad beats at all. Maybe 2 comparatively were less good.

Sometimes it's actually easier to vote when the levels are higher.

It was fairly easy to vote, for me, in the brackets where I voted. In those where I didn't, it depended on the pairing: there ae brackets with pairs of tracks that I don't like very much, or that I liked both of, and I couldn't decide. It seems to me that in terms of programming skills, all the beatmakers are skilled, not all of them in terms of mix and particularly when it comes to mastering. But in terms of flair—meaning parts that don't sound like something already heard creatively—I feel there are few who really stand out. There is, however, at least one little gem so well-crafted that, even though it doesn't take a single step outside the very well-trodden confines of the mainstream, I truly admired it.

 

[Hadoq]

- AI sounding ones = straight loss
- few that are just "loud" as opposed to good mix

There's a couple really interesting ones too.

So it made it pretty easy to get through. No real bad beats at all. Maybe 2 comparatively were less good.

Sometimes it's actually easier to vote when the levels are higher.

Not sure how something can be ai sounding, tho admittedly I’m not that much into ai « music »

An easy way to verify is to put the file through an ai and ask it. That’s what I do when in doubt.

On the competition body end, in doubt ask for stems, or even unmixed stems

Edit
Had a quick listen through, level is properly good throughout a few definite stand outs for different reasons, voting will be tough

 

[attila]

Not sure how something can be ai sounding, tho admittedly I’m not that much into ai « music »

An easy way to verify is to put the file through an ai and ask it. That’s what I do when in doubt.

On the competition body end, in doubt ask for stems, or even unmixed stems

Edit
Had a quick listen through, level is properly good throughout a few definite stand outs for different reasons, voting will be tough

Well, it’s not about playing cop. “sounding AI” is poor quality even if the beat had been made by a human, am I right @Iron Keys ?

 

[Earsblower]

Not sure how something can be ai sounding, tho admittedly I’m not that much into ai « music »

An easy way to verify is to put the file through an ai and ask it. That’s what I do when in doubt.

On the competition body end, in doubt ask for stems, or even unmixed stems

Edit
Had a quick listen through, level is properly good throughout a few definite stand outs for different reasons, voting will be tough

You can now get Stems from Suno so this doesnt work... But seems like this is a irritating subject here. You refer to your ears I guess.

 

[Hadoq]

Well, it’s not about playing cop. “sounding AI” is poor quality even if the beat had been made by a human, am I right @Iron Keys ?

I know I’ve been fooled in the past, not sure if by ear I could differentiate.
Some people claim they can, and I don’t doubt them.

Maybe by not being exposed much, I didn’t pick up the clues yet.

Tho in that context I’m sure @Fade has done due dilligence

Some entries really felt personal and original, others felt a tad « type beat »-ish
Overall I think the average skill level is pretty good throughout.

There’s good variation too

 

[attila]

You can now get Stems from Suno so this doesnt work... But seems like this is a irritating subject here. You refer to your ears I guess.

Sampling records or AI, using sample packs or AI-generated sounds, sounds from TV or from the street—I don’t see any creative difference. We use sounds. who cares where they come from?

Then, if AI makes a song, let’s say that writing prompts isn’t the same as being a beatmaker, which isn’t the same as being a musician… But there are plenty of very good reasons why using AI is problematic (although I admit I translated this text with AI)

 

[attila]

I know I’ve been fooled in the past, not sure if by ear I could differentiate.
Some people claim they can, and I don’t doubt them.

Maybe by not being exposed much, I didn’t pick up the clues yet.

Tho in that context I’m sure @Fade has done due dilligence

Some entries really felt personal and original, others felt a tad « type beat »-ish
Overall I think the average skill level is pretty good throughout.

There’s good variation too

For me it’s difficult to tell when something is AI and when it’s simply “normal.” Because, for now, exceptional music is still made by people.

 

[Hadoq]

Sampling records or AI, using sample packs or AI-generated sounds, sounds from TV or from the street—I don’t see any creative difference. We use sounds; who cares where they come from?

Then, if AI makes a song, let’s say that writing prompts isn’t the same as being a beatmaker, which isn’t the same as being a musician… But there are plenty of very good reasons why using AI is problematic (although I admit I translated this text with AI)

The level of entry differs between prompting, bear making (shortcut here) and « being a musician »

What you as the musician get in return is where the biggest difference is.

The harder the skill, the deeper you got to dive into the craft, the more complete your understanding of it is.

And in turn, the more you can draw inspiration from.

Taking myself as an example

As a kid/teen, I thought music theory was somewhat useless.

Then I got into jazz, learned some of it, thought jazz was the pinnacle of music and musical freedom and complexity.

Then in my 30s, got into playing classical piano pieces and listening to classical music and opera, getting deeper in theory as well as becoming a more capable musician.

Now the music I make draws from all that, which makes it more personal and deeper (in my own biased opinion)

For the listener, they might not get it entirely, which is fine, but to me, it’s a huge difference and improvement.

Now that also carries whether I use samples (which I seldom do, but it does happen from time to time)

And I would assume, as I haven’t done it, some of it might also transpire into prompting.

But the pleasure and satisfaction I get from crafting the music is so that I’m not interested in making music by prompting.

Getting in that zone, with the experience and luggage I have, is akin to a psychedelic experience I doubt would be accessible through just prompting and waiting for the thing to pop up out of thin air.

 

[Iron Keys]

It was fairly easy to vote, for me, in the brackets where I voted. In those where I didn't, it depended on the pairing: there ae brackets with pairs of tracks that I don't like very much, or that I liked both of, and I couldn't decide. It seems to me that in terms of programming skills, all the beatmakers are skilled, not all of them in terms of mix and particularly when it comes to mastering. But in terms of flair—meaning parts that don't sound like something already heard creatively—I feel there are few who really stand out. There is, however, at least one little gem so well-crafted that, even though it doesn't take a single step outside the very well-trodden confines of the mainstream, I truly admired it.

Yeah those reasons are ones I usually come up against in warzone or beat this. I found my decisions quick this time tho.

I tracked a few of entries, particularly the loud ones and analysed them in my DAW can see where shortfalls are and misbalances. Good practise for thinking about your own mixes and comparing- I been back to experimenting with my chains and processes too.

 

[Hadoq]

Found that one little gem in there too, wondering if it’s the same but it checks the boxes of « mainstream » and « expertly constructed »

 

[Iron Keys]

Not sure how something can be ai sounding, tho admittedly I’m not that much into ai « music »

I used to wonder how people could "hear it"

But since I've heard a few now, I often find there are certain sounds, movements, textures that are common throughout. And it sounds/feels a bit samey. So if someone unfortunately arrived there through normal means, ruff.

For me, its like the ai has a "formula" it uses, and basically gives the formula a different skin (female or male voice, guitar or piano, etc) but that its musical tendencies feel very consistent across its output.

Which is a shame, because I think some people using it, are using it in a mostly honest way and in the way I planned to use it, but the outcome is far less variable than I had expected.

It has that typical "uplifting pop record" feel that you hear used in TV show opening credits etc.

 

[Iron Keys]

Like my first thought with AI was "I can get it to create an old soul record, then sample it, that way I can make boombap with no concern of copyright.

There are other geniuses like me too, but I often find the sample carry the same feeling/formula as I described above. So I've personally written that approach off for now - as mostly when I hear those beats now, gives me the same feeling... and the lyrics often sound weirdly plain or random.

If it gets a lot better and more varied it would be great to use for sampling... but also remember, when we sample we're usually sampling exquisite records... when sampling AI we're sampling a generic thing, and you get the Soul of what you're sampling so you gotta sample good stuff, and do it well!

Not gonna speculate tho, I just hear what I hear. Like what I like. That can change day to day.

Was easy to vote this round, latter rounds may be more difficult, depending on what gets through!

 

[attila]

The level of entry differs between prompting, bear making (shortcut here) and « being a musician »

What you as the musician get in return is where the biggest difference is.

The harder the skill, the deeper you got to dive into the craft, the more complete your understanding of it is.

And in turn, the more you can draw inspiration from.

Taking myself as an example

As a kid/teen, I thought music theory was somewhat useless.

Then I got into jazz, learned some of it, thought jazz was the pinnacle of music and musical freedom and complexity.

Then in my 30s, got into playing classical piano pieces and listening to classical music and opera, getting deeper in theory as well as becoming a more capable musician.

Now the music I make draws from all that, which makes it more personal and deeper (in my own biased opinion)

For the listener, they might not get it entirely, which is fine, but to me, it’s a huge difference and improvement.

Now that also carries whether I use samples (which I seldom do, but it does happen from time to time)

And I would assume, as I haven’t done it, some of it might also transpire into prompting.

But the pleasure and satisfaction I get from crafting the music is so that I’m not interested in making music by prompting.

Getting in that zone, with the experience and luggage I have, is akin to a psychedelic experience I doubt would be accessible through just prompting and waiting for the thing to pop up out of thin air.

I used to play too (bass guitar). I played punk because I wasn’t very good, but music theory helps a lot, and I’ve always found it very interesting.

I didn’t mean to say that beat making is somehow “lesser” than being a musician. I only meant that programming an entire track piece by piece isn’t the same as playing live, interacting with other musicians through your instrument. That doesn’t mean that music made by a beat maker is worth less than music performed by musicians.

Prompting, however, is different. It’s somewhat like being a creative director: telling a band or a beat maker what to do. Or perhaps it’s more like being a curator, because in the end you choose from the things you’re given.

It can certainly be fun as a kind of game, but, just like you, I don’t find much interest in producing music through prompting. The pleasure and satisfaction I get from creating music require room for personal expression—and with prompting, there simply isn’t enough room left. The space you have to express yourself is about the same as when you’re choosing a tube of toothpaste in a supermarket.

 

[attila]

Like my first thought with AI was "I can get it to create an old soul record, then sample it, that way I can make boombap with no concern of copyright.

There are other geniuses like me too, but I often find the sample carry the same feeling/formula as I described above. So I've personally written that approach off for now - as mostly when I hear those beats now, gives me the same feeling... and the lyrics often sound weirdly plain or random.

If it gets a lot better and more varied it would be great to use for sampling... but also remember, when we sample we're usually sampling exquisite records... when sampling AI we're sampling a generic thing, and you get the Soul of what you're sampling so you gotta sample good stuff, and do it well!

Not gonna speculate tho, I just hear what I hear. Like what I like. That can change day to day.

Was easy to vote this round, latter rounds may be more difficult, depending on what gets through!

I don't like the idea to use AI pretending it is a soul record. Better deliberate AI. like JPEGMafia did, he sampled an Ai song known to be an Ai song. Be creative, hack the ai. (Or don't use it, save the planet!)

 

[Iron Keys]

I don't like the idea to use AI pretending it is a soul record. Better deliberate AI. like JPEGMafia did, he sampled an Ai song known to be an Ai song. Be creative, hack the ai. (Or don't use it, save the planet!)

My point is all ai songs sound like the same "uplifting pop record" just with a different voice or different instruments. Sound like they all have the same chord sequences and song structures.