The winner in each of the 6 main categories will receive €500 prize money. The main prize is donated by HOFA and awarded by the jury.

Depending on the genre, the jurors pay attention to sound selection, songwriting, lyrics, musical performance, mix & mastering, sound quality and distinctive features.

The first-place winners of the public voting in all 6 categories will receive a pair of Beyerdynamic headphones as an audience award.

The DT-990 Pro open-back headphones deliver a neutral, high-resolution sound. Its huge depth of detail passes through even in the loudest of environments. Irrespective of whether you are editing, playing or composing music, and regardless of whether you’re behind a drum kit, at the mixing desk, in a live setting or in the studio, the DT-990 Pro provide the details that you need for making good decisions.

2x V Collection X (worth €549 each)

A world-class software suite with a total of 39 virtual instruments optimized for today's production workflow - from modern hybrid synthesizer engines to emulations of the most impressive instruments of all time.

Keystep Pro white (worth €459)

Unparalleled sequencing and arpeggiation power in a compact, desktop friendly form. KeyStep Pro lets you connect all your vintage hardware, modular gear, and software instruments together to supercharge your creativity.

Music Production Suite 6 (worth €599)

Music Production Suite 6 includes the new Ozone 11 Advanced, Nectar 4 Advanced, Neutron 4, Native Instruments Guitar Rig 7 Pro, Audiolens, surround reverbs with Stratus 3D plus Symphony 3D by Exponential Audio, Brainworx Creative Mixing Set, Native Instruments effects (Raum, Crush Pack, Mod Pack, Supercharger GT, Replika XT, Solid Mix Series, Driver, Transient Master) and more.

RX 10 Standard (worth €319)

RX 10 Standard is the complete toolkit for audio cleanup in music and post production. From automatically removing noise using the intelligent Repair Assistant plug-in in the DAW to surgically rebalancing stereo mixes with Music Rebalance, RX 10 provides first aid and creative tools at the same time.

Ozone 11 Standard (worth €199)

Create the perfect listening experience with the ultimate collection of mastering tools. Whether you're polishing your next hit or producing your first original song, Ozone 11 offers state-of-the-art editing features and AI-powered workflows. Easily prepare your tracks for release and unlock the full potential of your productions.

KingKORG NEO Synthesizer (worth €1,099)

Introducing the KingKORG NEO, a virtual analogue synth that stands in a league of its own. It is the only hardware synth to offer the distinctive filters of five of the most iconic synthesizers of all time for maximum sonic possibilities. Designed for today's musician, this compact powerhouse combines a classic analogue-like synth layout with swift, intuitive editing capabilities, offering an unmatched level of depth and flexibility.

A4V pair of monitors (worth €850)

The A4V is a professional two-way nearfield monitor optimised for use in smaller studio spaces. It features ADAM Audio's renowned X-ART tweeter and incorporates a 4-inch long-throw woofer. With a frequency range of 52 Hz to 45 kHz, the A4V can accommodate a broad spectrum of audio applications—from producing podcasts to mixing string quartets.

2x Superior Drummer 3 (worth €399 each)

The idea with Superior Drummer 3 is to let you step into a virtual studio with the best possible raw material and mix options at your disposal to create drum sounds in an environment where only your imagination sets the limits. Combining the creative power of the sounds, the ambiences and the extensive set of features, Superior Drummer 3 is more than just a drum sampler – it’s a bottomless well of creativity. It bridges the gap between acoustic and electronic and lets you venture off into completely new sonic landscapes. This is the definitive tool for percussive sound design.

FL Studio All Plugins Edition (worth €549)

With the All Plugins Edition you get the full feature set of FL Studio plus all native plugins. Among the 107 instruments and effects, you'll find high-quality software synthesizers, dynamics processors, and tools for sample, time, and volume manipulation - everything you need for professional music production.

FL Studio Producer Edition (worth €239)

FL Studio (Fruity Loops) is a digital audio workstation (DAW) that helps you achieve fast and easy results thanks to its user-friendly interface and pattern-based workflows. Perfect for anyone who wants to build beats, produce electronic music or record songs.

SoundID Reference for Multichannel incl. measurement mic (worth €518)

SoundID Reference Multichannel from Sonarworks is used to correct the frequency response of monitor speakers and headphones. It reproduces audio recordings and sound mixes as linearly as possible, making them easier to evaluate. The software calibrates monitor speaker setups from 2.0 stereo to 9.1.6 Dolby Atmos systems, including room analysis. It also includes the Sonarworks calibrated measurement microphone for accurate measurements.

SoundID Reference for Speakers & Headphones (worth €235)

SoundID Reference for Speakers & Headphones delivers consistently accurate studio reference sound across all speakers and headphones so you can mix with confidence and make music that sounds great everywhere.

SPL Phonitor One d headphone amplifier (worth €749)

The SPL Phonitor One d is an extremely powerful and low noise headphone amplifier for studio and hi-fi applications with a 32-bit DA-converter and outstanding sound quality. With the innovative crossfeed function (Phonitor Matrix), you can create mixes with headphones that sound the same on speakers.

Avid Pro Tools Studio (Perpetual License) (worth €700)

Pro Tools is the industry standard in audio production software for songwriters, musicians, producers and sound engineers. Use the advanced features and workflows that music professionals need to take projects further, including the ability to work with up to 512 audio tracks, plus surround and immersive audio mixing capabilities. With the Studio Edition, you also get the Complete Plugin Bundle with compressors, EQs, limiters, effects, etc., plus 12 months of free software updates and support.

ROCKSTER AIR 2 event bluetooth speaker (worth €699)

Made for live: Teufel’s ROCKSTER AIR 2 sets a new standard in battery-powered Bluetooth audio. Its innovative Berlin-engineered electroacoustics can conjure up extreme sound anytime, anywhere. Designed for multifunctionality, its impressive battery life makes it the perfect choice for all scenarios. The ROCKSTER AIR 2 also offers a wealth of connectivity options – Bluetooth, AUX, microphone, and instrument – all controlled with a built-in mixer. And if you bring two ROCKSTER AIR 2s to the party, you can even pair them wirelessly for true stereo playback!

TLM 102 studio microphone set (worth €679)

The TLM 102 brings Neumann quality to even the smallest studio. Like its more expensive siblings, the TLM 102 combines technical excellence with a beautifully balanced sound for silky vocals, crisp guitars and powerful drums. With its cardioid pattern and an integrated pop screen the TLM 102 is a joy to use, even for novices.

Melodyne 5 Studio (worth €669)

Celemony Melodyne is one of the most popular pitch and timing correction software on the market for professional editing of vocals, choirs, any instruments and samples. The software gives you unparalleled access to all the musical details of your recordings and samples - note for note. Intelligent correction features and handy musical tools help you get the most out of your recordings.

KOMPLETE 14 Standard (worth €599)

Flagship synths, expressive sample instruments, studio-quality effects and sounds for all styles. The collection includes 87 instruments/tools and the new KONTAKT 7, PLAYBOX, 40'S VERY OWN DRUMS & KEYS and SESSION GUITARIST – ELECTRIC MINT. As well as 39 extensions, there are new tools from iZotope, Plugin Alliance and Brainworx.

Ableton Live 12 Suite (worth €599)

Ableton Live is a highly versatile DAW that impresses with extensive features. Thanks to its intuitive design, both advanced users and beginners will quickly find their way around the interface and can immediately start producing, composing, mixing, performing and editing. Key features include unlimited audio and MIDI tracks as well as scenes, comping, complex warp modes, audio slicing, 5,000+ sounds (71+ GB), 20 software instruments, 58 audio effects, 14 MIDI effects and much more. Ableton Live 12 is an extremely versatile DAW for ambitious musicians and producers with high demands!

Soundtoys 5 Bundle (worth €499)

With Soundtoys 5 you get the entire range of audio effects for creative music production and mixing in one powerful collection. The bundle includes all 22 Soundtoys plugins, such as Decapitator, EchoBoy, Little AlterBoy, FilterFreak and many more. An effective and great-sounding bundle that finds a place in every production.

Scarlett 4i4 (worth €279)

The Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 4th Generation is a USB-C audio interface for Mac and PC. It has four balanced line inputs and four balanced outputs that can be used for monitoring. Two of the inputs are combo jacks that can also be used for microphones.

Launchkey 49 MK3 (worth €259)

The MK3 is the third generation of Novation's Launchkey controllers. New to the 49-key model are nine faders and arm/select buttons. Also included are a new display for better parameter overview, new transport functions, 16 pads, 8 knobs, an arpeggiator and much more. The controller integrates seamlessly with Ableton Live, but can also be used to control a wide range of parameters in any MIDI-capable DAW.

HD 400 Pro studio headphones (worth €222)

The HD 400 Pro are reference class headphones for project work and professional mixing. They offer a natural and precise listening experience for fine-tuning your sound. Open ear cups and angled transducers ensure a wide and transparent sound, making the HD 400 Pro a reliable companion for those who value quality and precision above all else.

5x cable mix for studio & stage (worth €130 each)

Sommer Cable develops, produces and distributes first-class audio and hi-fi cables that are essential for every studio and stage. The cables are known for their durability and high quality craftsmanship. With the Sommer Cable cable mix you get two audio cables (XLR male to jack stereo 6.3 mm), one microphone cable (XLR male to XLR female) and one instrument cable (jack mono 6.3 mm to jack mono 6.3 mm) each.

Pair of monitor stands (worth €375)

The modern studio monitor stand with a tiltable tray and a metal tripod base provides for stability and functionality. The three felt pads ensure noise filtration.

2x Microphone stands (worth €72 each)

The classic black microphone stand for professional live and studio use.

20x HOFA-College Song Analysis

The song analysis is an important part of the HOFA-College online courses. In all HOFA courses, the participants regularly receive different music projects to mix. The submitted mixes are then checked by our HOFA tutors and each participant receives individual and detailed feedback. This gives the student a routine in mixing over time and allows her or him to constantly improve. Among the participants of the contest, we raffle 20 analyses. With this we give you an insight into learning at HOFA-College and a professional feedback as well.

333x €20 HOFA Voucher

We are giving away an additional 333 vouchers each worth €20. You can redeem them at:
HOFA-College – Online school for audio engineering & music production
HOFA-Akustik – Optimized room acoustic treatment
HOFA-Plugins – Audio plugins & software