The shape of a challenge
Every challenge is broken into stages. Each stage is a fresh prompt - a brief, an audio reference, the section you have to deliver - and a deadline for the next one to unlock.
When you start a challenge, the clock starts for you. Stage 1 opens immediately; stage 2 opens after the challenge's stage interval; stage 3 after another interval; and so on. Everyone runs on their own clock - no waiting for a cohort.
Cadence types
Three cadences cover every challenge on the platform:
- Daily - one stage every 24 hours. The default for most sample-pack challenges.
- Weekly - one stage every 7 days. Used for longer-form productions where finishing a polished track inside 24 hours isn't realistic.
- Instant - every stage is live the moment you start. Useful for sprint-style challenges where the only deadline that matters is your own.
Submitting a track
When a stage is unlocked you'll see an upload button on the challenge page. Drop your MP3 in, set a title + BPM + genre, hit submit. That's it - your track is on the platform, visible to everyone, and counts toward your progress.
You can replace a submission anytime before the next stage unlocks, so you have one full interval to iterate before the window closes. Once the next stage unlocks, the previous one is locked in.
Finishing the challenge
Submit a track for every stage and you're ready to become a finisher. Once your last stage lands, a Confirm Finish modal pops up - your run isn't recorded until you explicitly confirm. There's also a Confirm Finish card at the bottom of your "Your progress" grid you can come back to later if you dismiss the modal. Confirming locks every submission (no more replacements for this challenge), and at the same moment:
- You're added to the challenge's Hall of Fame
- You earn XP for the finish (see Levels & XP)
- Your certificate is issued and lands on your profile
- Any prizes the challenge offers become claimable
Hardcore runs are the one exception - they auto-finalize the moment your last stage lands (no confirm step). See Hardcore mode.
Manual review
Some challenges flag finishes for manual review - usually when verifying the sample pack was actually used in the tracks. If you finish one of these, your submissions are visible to you but stay hidden from the Hall of Fame until the KAN Samples team approves them. Approval triggers the prize + XP grants. You'll get a notification when it lands.
One thing to remember
There's no penalty for a slow finish in normal mode. Stages keep unlocking on your personal clock whether you've submitted the previous one or not, and you can always come back to it. If you want pressure, Hardcore mode is the way.