No doubt, but it isnt very professional of the contest admins to supply only
MP3 files.

Jon, do you think they will find a winner with a rough remix demo, then give
him the wave files for a proper remix? Is that how it works? It's the only
way to get out of this contest and be reputable (in terms of creating the
contest).

It's a contest. They set the parameters. If this is what they give you to work with, then thats what you work with. They could run a contest without supplying any files if they wanted.

They could of made each artist fend for themselves. Make them find their own bostich tracks and have to extract their own audio files. What they supply you with has nothing to do with how professional or reputable the company is. Yello and Beatport already have outstanding reputations. The idea is to find the most talented and creative remix artist. Wether the contestants are given one 64kbps audio file with Dieter saying the word "Bostich" or they are given total access to Boris's complete library of audio master files. Doesn't make any difference. The contestant is required to make a remix with whatever is supplied under contest rules.

Either way the most talented and creative remixer will win. They won't complain about what they are given. They will take the files and make miracles. Thats what this contest is all about. Discovering talent.

timing wise any producer with a decent bit of software kit can get around the mp3 timing issue by importing as an audio track,
then using whichever software(acid, fl studio, logic, etc) you use and putting it in place by hand, may take a bit of fiddling about but I got mine to work at 118 BPM and by sliding it a few bars into place first.

Thanks Daniel! I knew any competent remixer wouldn't find it a problem working with mp3's. I'm really looking forward to your entry in this contest.