One-Synth-Challenge 37: Helix beta - Submissions and gossip

[InterSlotCall]

Ok, here is my track for this month. Needs more work, but i'm tired. Either I delete it or I upload it... so there is it.

Songname: The Mighty Soldiers of the Blue Sugus Army

14 Helix instances inside Ableton Live 8.

As Daw FX were allowed this time, I only used Ableton's internal FXs, for CPU saving and easier workflow.
Used Compressor, Limiter, Reverb, EQ Three, EQ Eight and Utility (this one to make the kick more mono).
As usual, tried to don't abuse of them, but not easy to know where is the limit, most specially with the EQ.
For MIDI processing I used the arpeggiator at some point, and also the Chord at the Pads, to make them more rich. Could do the same effect without them, just editing the MIDI patterns, but it was easier this way. I hope it's ok.

I'm quite tired of the tune and I need my time to do some other stuff. So there is it, tho I think it's not really ok. The mix was a mess to do... I hate the kick, I wasn't able to make a proper one without killing the pad... I have no skills to make it better, that simple.

[IrionDaRonin]

The only problem i got recently in FL Studio plus Helix beta is, sometimes, when you are changing presets it gets frozen while playing in real time.

Solutions if this happens to you:
-Don't allow multicore processing. But i think this is not totally necessary, because Helix beta is not a Synthedit synth after all.
-Stop the proyect if you are going to change presets (just press spacebar before changing into a new preset).
-Remember to save your project time to time.

And i got no more problems with it at the moment.

Obviously i'm using a 32bits operative system, where Helix Beta was created (although i'm not very sure about this).
I won't use 64bits operative systems in my whole life, i hope. Windows XP works.
People always having problems with them. And also, i don't know what's the point of 64bits plugins, do they sounds better? I don't think so.
32 bits plugins works properly for me? Yes, they do.
I always was sticked to what works for me for creating music, if 32bits works yet, why should i change to 64bits?
It seems the use of 64bits plugins is a "dangerous" and problematic jump in as i can see. Too many problems, and not many advantages, in my opinion.

Anyway, sorry for these who are having too many problems, it must be a pain in the ass, that's for sure. Good luck in any case.

Have a good day

[cjohs]

I won't use 64bits operative systems in my whole life, i hope. Windows XP works.
People always having problems with them. And also, i don't know what's the point of 64bits plugins, do they sounds better? I don't think so.
32 bits plugins works properly for me? Yes, they do.
I always was sticked to what works for me for creating music, if 32bits works yet, why should i change to 64bits?
It seems the use of 64bits plugins is a "dangerous" and problematic jump in as i can see. Too many problems, and not many advantages, in my opinion.

Thanks Irion I'll try your other suggestions (not quoted above).

The main reason for a 64 bit system is access to more adressable memory than 4GB (which can be nice if you use memory intensive plugins) however as Ableton Live still is not available in a 64-bit version - I have no advantage of my 64-bit windows version. Quality improvement is not relevant in that discussion as you correctly point out. So unless you hit the memory issue don't go for a 64-bit version, and make sure that your DAW is also available in a 64-bit version to take advantage of more memory.

And I don't even know if you will "lose" your 32-bit plugins if Ableton launches a 64-bit version and you upgrade - I hope they will be able to make it backwards compatible with 32-bit VSTs.

But just to clarify my win7 64-bit systems runs Ableton 8.2.7 32-bit without any serious problems for most of my other plugins

[mikebenson]

My first OSC submission. I hope you all like it.

"Helicalicious"

http://soundcloud.com/mikebenson/mikebe ... icalicious

Host:
Reaper 4.15

VSTi:
Helix (14 instances)

VST:
Xfer 8-Bit Shaper (1 instance on the bass synth)
Variety of Sound Density MKII (1 instance on the master w/ default compression)

Enjoy!

mikebenson

[solidtrax]

Sounds great Mike!

[manvanmars]

Hi all

Oh man I've spent the last hour trying to get a decent snare out of helix - and I'm not having much luck.
Bassdrums and hats are coming on nicely, but those pesky snares are just eluding me...
does anyone have any hints? (and I don't like the preset JN Snare much either)
frustrating...

An easy way to get some kind of snare sound is just to take the 2nd preset (PWM Noisebass or something), leave only the first oscillator on and change osc type to noise. Then just turn down the sustain and decay level a bit and you are halfway there

Don't know if i'll be finishing any song for this months OSC, working on another track right now (if anyone here would like to take a stab at it, it's a blumarten remix competition: http://www.kmag.co.uk/editorial/musicte ... ition.html , entries due next week)

Maybe a last minute entry from me if i can find some time but i'll be following this anyway, it's addictive

[RuediRena]

i'll be following this anyway, it's addictive

You bet it is!

[mikebenson]

Sounds great Mike!

Thanks. I like your submission too.

[V'ger]

Nice stuff guys, cheers for the submissions.

Shame with the issues Cjohs, are there no tricks in Ableton to run plugins differently you could try?

[bzur]

@Cjohs: InterSlotCall succeded on Ableton 8... is it your version?

[EDIT] I've just read your version is the 8.2.7, maybe the same. Did you execute Ableton in compatibility mode on Win7? There are a lot of possibilities: you could choose to run a program with Windows XP SP 3 emulation, for instance. Another hint: is there any error log on Ableton, in order to understand what's going on?

[Pulse Width Modulation]

Here's my first entry for a OSC:

Song is called "Flight into Light"

8 Instances of Helix
Host program was Cubase 6

The only effect I used was 1 instance of "iq4gui," a dynamic EQ for the final mix to control the bass and EQ the mids a little.

http://soundcloud.com/pulse-width-modul ... ion-flight

Helix was great!

[jasinski]

Hey guys. I just found out about this remix- Guess I'll be checking the forums more often! I've really enjoyed listening to the other entries on the soundcloud group page.

Here's my submission.
http://soundcloud.com/jasinski/jasinski-the-locusts

All sounds produced with the Mac version of Audjoo Helix synth (demo).

Only effects used were built-in Ableton live plugins as follows:
EQ8, Saturation, Dynamic Tube, Reverb, Compressor, Utility.

In addition, TAL Tube and Yohng's W1 limiter were used on the master bus as seen in the image.

BPM: 108
About 30 instances of Helixes were used.

[InterSlotCall]

@Cjohs: InterSlotCall succeded on Ableton 8... is it your version?

[EDIT] I've just read your version is the 8.2.7, maybe the same. Did you execute Ableton in compatibility mode on Win7? There are a lot of possibilities: you could choose to run a program with Windows XP SP 3 emulation, for instance. Another hint: is there any error log on Ableton, in order to understand what's going on?

If it helps, I was using Win XP SP2. It was fine, no problems, and CPU max was around 60%, no more.
It only crashed totally once, but it was when I was opening other software at same time as tune was playing on the DAW (it was funny, screen was totally black and no way to do anything, but music kept playing...)

[mikebenson]

I think a really relevant prize would be a full version of Helix.

It would be great if Helix was offered as a prize in this competition. I'm so impressed with the sound and CPU efficiency of the beta version. I'd use this synth on all of my tracks. I only own a handful of commercial synths, (z3ta+ 1.5, V-Station, Cobalt and Scanned Synth Pro), but Helix sounds so much better to me.

[jasinski]

I agree Mike, it is a great sounding synth.
I wonder is this contest officially sanctioned by Audjoo? That would probably be a factor in whether Helix is offered as a prize.