I know!!! It's that good!tattiemannie wrote:whoaaah! ... just tried out SQ8L!!!!....
I'll gladly do a track just using the presets! They're are digitally delicious!
One-Synth-Challenge 5! (yes 5!) - CRYSTAL
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- KVRAF
- 2268 posts since 9 Mar, 2009 from Copenhagen, Denmark
I'll gladly do a track just using the presets! They're are digitally delicious!
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- KVRian
- 1191 posts since 8 Jul, 2005 from NY, US
This one is definitely going to be a challenge. I remember when I first downloaded this one, it was the second vst I had ever tried, back in 2003. I always thought the presets were great, but programming the thing wasn't my strong suit.
A tip for those who are new to crystal and may feel intimidated: for the envelopes, turn the number of points all the way down, it will feel more like a tradition va, but with a better visual of the envelope. For me the biggest obstacle was all these damn envelope points..you don't need them for basic va stuff. If you want to do weird crazy modulations and evolving things, then you start experimenting with them. I just got a decent kick by modulating the pitch and cut off (of a sine wave)at the very start of the envelope. First point a positive curve, the second a negative curve. Basic low pass filter(resonance up real high). Then I layered a noise wave and did the same thing, but much lower in the mix. Adjust horizontal placement of envelope points to taste so the timing is good. Hope this helps people who are having a hard time getting started.
Makes me appreciate simple synths with only 1 page!
A tip for those who are new to crystal and may feel intimidated: for the envelopes, turn the number of points all the way down, it will feel more like a tradition va, but with a better visual of the envelope. For me the biggest obstacle was all these damn envelope points..you don't need them for basic va stuff. If you want to do weird crazy modulations and evolving things, then you start experimenting with them. I just got a decent kick by modulating the pitch and cut off (of a sine wave)at the very start of the envelope. First point a positive curve, the second a negative curve. Basic low pass filter(resonance up real high). Then I layered a noise wave and did the same thing, but much lower in the mix. Adjust horizontal placement of envelope points to taste so the timing is good. Hope this helps people who are having a hard time getting started.
Makes me appreciate simple synths with only 1 page!
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- KVRian
- 1191 posts since 8 Jul, 2005 from NY, US
Okay, what about midi effects? Cubase won't load third part ones for some reason. It's not the end of the world if I can't use midi fx, but they're nice sometimes.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 3257 posts since 28 Dec, 2007
You mean 3rd party effects? Cubase can load these, but being very rusty on cubase, I cant remember how it's done. Anyone?
Midi effects? I dont see why not if the ones used generally tie in with the criteria applied to the vst fx in this comp.
Midi effects? I dont see why not if the ones used generally tie in with the criteria applied to the vst fx in this comp.
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- KVRist
- 202 posts since 12 Apr, 2008 from Norfolk, UK
Tattie,
Could I ask if the older competition results are still available to listen to?
I've often seen your threads and keep meaning to check out what happens at the end...
It's a great idea and I really should make the time to join in the fun.
Thanks and good wishes to all entrants,
Mouxbar
http://www.myspace.com/mouxbar
Could I ask if the older competition results are still available to listen to?
I've often seen your threads and keep meaning to check out what happens at the end...
It's a great idea and I really should make the time to join in the fun.
Thanks and good wishes to all entrants,
Mouxbar
http://www.myspace.com/mouxbar
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- KVRian
- 1191 posts since 8 Jul, 2005 from NY, US
No, I mean can I use the midi fx build into cubase...I would assume no since they're not freely available to anyone, but they don't really "change" the sound per se, just let you deal with incoming notes differently.tattiemannie wrote:You mean 3rd party effects? Cubase can load these, but being very rusty on cubase, I cant remember how it's done. Anyone?
Midi effects? I dont see why not if the ones used generally tie in with the criteria applied to the vst fx in this comp.
I tried using a midi fx wrapper in cubase to load third party midi fx, and it either crashed my system or simply didn't work. If someone could walk me through it that would be great.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 3257 posts since 28 Dec, 2007
OK Mad Psyance, I would say as long as they dont change the sound, and they are a working feature of your host, then I have no objections.
The most important thing for me is that folks have fun creating their tracks, and what we end up with is a showcase of the character, strengths and versatility of our chosen 'one synth'.
The easiest way to set solid rules for a comp are to say 'no' to everything that has the slightest ambiguity associated with it. But I dont think that approach necessarily serves the purpose of making said comp inclusive and enjoyable. So unless theres something I'm missing, and unless theres anyone willing to point it out, then I say feel free to use your hosts midi fx.
Be sure to mention these though when you submit your notepad along wity your track .... as is done with vst fx etc.
Hiya slugfest99 heres the link to previous comp tracks.
http://www.4shared.com/dir/15659507/e5f ... racks.html
Hope you manage to find the time to join us the more the merrier!!
The most important thing for me is that folks have fun creating their tracks, and what we end up with is a showcase of the character, strengths and versatility of our chosen 'one synth'.
The easiest way to set solid rules for a comp are to say 'no' to everything that has the slightest ambiguity associated with it. But I dont think that approach necessarily serves the purpose of making said comp inclusive and enjoyable. So unless theres something I'm missing, and unless theres anyone willing to point it out, then I say feel free to use your hosts midi fx.
Be sure to mention these though when you submit your notepad along wity your track .... as is done with vst fx etc.
Hiya slugfest99 heres the link to previous comp tracks.
http://www.4shared.com/dir/15659507/e5f ... racks.html
Hope you manage to find the time to join us
the more the merrier!!-
do_androids_dream do_androids_dream https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=164034 - KVRAF
- 2908 posts since 26 Oct, 2007 from Kent, UK
i can't participate in this one - i'm afraid i have waaaay too much uni work to do 
Can't wait to hear what people create with crystal though as personally i have never managed to coax anything useful out of it. No doubt the entries will inspire me to fire it up again...
good luck to all
Can't wait to hear what people create with crystal though as personally i have never managed to coax anything useful out of it. No doubt the entries will inspire me to fire it up again...good luck to all
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- KVRAF
- 2268 posts since 9 Mar, 2009 from Copenhagen, Denmark
I wouldn't bet my life on that!!do_androids_dream wrote:No doubt the entries will inspire me to fire it up again...
(this applies only to my (potential) entry 
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- KVRist
- 202 posts since 12 Apr, 2008 from Norfolk, UK
Many thanks Tattie,tattiemannie wrote: Hiya slugfest99 heres the link to previous comp tracks.
http://www.4shared.com/dir/15659507/e5f ... racks.html
Hope you manage to find the time to join us
Fascinating stuff, making the percussion come from the synths gives it a real early 80's vibe (in a modern style).
Percussion in Crystal is a bit of a weird one but I need some inspiration so you never know...
Cheers,
Mouxbar
http://www.myspace.com/mouxbar
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- KVRAF
- 4071 posts since 4 Mar, 2008 from Near Pittsburgh
Exactly my thought but with regard to my forthcoming entry being far from being anything that could be called "inspiring" (maybe to get sick to your stomach or somethingK-Bee wrote:I wouldn't bet my life on that!!do_androids_dream wrote:No doubt the entries will inspire me to fire it up again...
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- KVRist
- 202 posts since 12 Apr, 2008 from Norfolk, UK
Tattie, sorry to pull your chain again.
Can I just confirm that the TC soundfont which is available on the Crystal site to use with his custom patches is OK to use? This is freely available to all users and part of the extra patches area. It is the only one listed there that uses a soundfont.
Obviously any other SF's are out of the question.
I'm just coming from the angle that they were a)free and b)TC wrote the patches for Crystal deliberately to show off it's abilities. It appears as "Orchestral" in the soundfont area once installed if anyone was wondering. (A belated thanks to Tim is in order as well, RIP).
Sorry to be hassling the group at such a late stage in the competition set up
Regards,
Mouxbar
http://www.myspace.com/mouxbar
Can I just confirm that the TC soundfont which is available on the Crystal site to use with his custom patches is OK to use? This is freely available to all users and part of the extra patches area. It is the only one listed there that uses a soundfont.
Obviously any other SF's are out of the question.
I'm just coming from the angle that they were a)free and b)TC wrote the patches for Crystal deliberately to show off it's abilities. It appears as "Orchestral" in the soundfont area once installed if anyone was wondering. (A belated thanks to Tim is in order as well, RIP).
Sorry to be hassling the group at such a late stage in the competition set up
Regards,
Mouxbar
http://www.myspace.com/mouxbar
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 3257 posts since 28 Dec, 2007
Hi again slugfest99 .... we already covered that one ... its OK to use the patches.
Advice to everyone else... there's plenty time yet It does take a while to get a handle on all the facilities, but worth spending a bit of exploration time before worrying about the track-building.
As I said before, its worth choosing a single preset and stripping it right back. If you can copy/clone said stripped back preset, it gives you a less confused place to start, and by finding out how to strip back, you will have found all the features you need to rebuild the way you want, and an insight on how to go about tweaking other presets to your liking.
I guarantee you will find things progressively easier from there on.
do_androids_dream ... sorry to hear you wont be able to take part ... wishing you all the best with your studies, and look forward to your input to future comps
Advice to everyone else... there's plenty time yet
It does take a while to get a handle on all the facilities, but worth spending a bit of exploration time before worrying about the track-building.As I said before, its worth choosing a single preset and stripping it right back. If you can copy/clone said stripped back preset, it gives you a less confused place to start, and by finding out how to strip back, you will have found all the features you need to rebuild the way you want, and an insight on how to go about tweaking other presets to your liking.
I guarantee you will find things progressively easier from there on.
do_androids_dream ... sorry to hear you wont be able to take part ... wishing you all the best with your studies, and look forward to your input to future comps
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 3257 posts since 28 Dec, 2007
... just want to say as well that these comps are not purely about discovering the versatility of featured synths, it is of value also to find out a synths limitations. The more we push them to get every last drop of variety and quality out of them, the more likely we will find that 'synth x' has weaknesses in certain areas ... and thats not necessarily a bad thing.
This comp inevitably demands aspects of the featured synth that the developer has not dared boast or even think about.
I am pretty sure most synths are developed with a certain role or collection of roles in mind, and pretty sure few, if any have been developed to produce every conceivable sound any user will need .... and I doubt if the emergence of One-Synth-Comps will change that situation.
But so far, contributors have demonstrated that by applying their time, patience and skills, limitations can be overcome, and a variety of sounds are possible beyond the obvious, and beyond what the factory presets demonstrate.
I'm sure what we end up with in this comp is gonna be every bit as varied and impressive as previous comp tracks ..... but different! ... and thats a good thing, cos if every synth could do everything, there would be little point in the OSCs.
So good luck with the tracks ... and good luck with fathoming out Crystal!
... oh, and keep discussing/sharing first impressions, tips, difficulties etc ... be good to make it as accessible as poss for anyone thinking of participating but daunted by the prospect of getting their head round the beast!
This comp inevitably demands aspects of the featured synth that the developer has not dared boast or even think about.
I am pretty sure most synths are developed with a certain role or collection of roles in mind, and pretty sure few, if any have been developed to produce every conceivable sound any user will need .... and I doubt if the emergence of One-Synth-Comps will change that situation.
But so far, contributors have demonstrated that by applying their time, patience and skills, limitations can be overcome, and a variety of sounds are possible beyond the obvious, and beyond what the factory presets demonstrate.
I'm sure what we end up with in this comp is gonna be every bit as varied and impressive as previous comp tracks ..... but different! ... and thats a good thing, cos if every synth could do everything, there would be little point in the OSCs.
So good luck with the tracks ... and good luck with fathoming out Crystal!
... oh, and keep discussing/sharing first impressions, tips, difficulties etc ... be good to make it as accessible as poss for anyone thinking of participating but daunted by the prospect of getting their head round the beast!