OSC13 - Synth1 - Totolitoto Wins!

[Yeager]

I'm having mixed feelings about this. The most prominent feature is the big war movie-like drum section towards the end, which together with the string/choir pad makes for a really nice sounding "epic" atmosphere. But the techno synth like parts seem misplaced in comparison. And this "creaking rusty door hinge" sound.. aarg. I'd rather hear a completely orchestral arrangement. Oh and I think the first submitted version sounded better - cleaner dynamics, less distortion.

Thanks for the comments, and you're right, the first version sounded better.( cleaner ).
Too bad about my "creaking rusty door hinge" sound. I thought it was brilliant

[V'ger]

First a big up to Synth1, this competition really shows the sheer range of sounds it can do and their quality. And so nice to finally be able to play on something with stereo out.. Another up to Tattie who keeps this comps and by it our creativity going, and does it so well and without yelling..

TheLastSynthOnEarth - Totolitoto: 8pts
Another top track from the most consistant top scorer from last comps - hard hitting and with nerve, just as I like it. I said of the last entry that I would be happy to have it on my living room playlist and this one will also go there. But this one I like to have in my car as well, blasted to full tilt (while 'driving as fast to the speed limit as possible' ), as it's the kind of beat and buildups that works so well LOUD and that I really dig. Personal musical preferences yes, but sounds and production are great to show off the synth very well. Slight reduction for the lead part which should perhaps be more 'personal' and screaming and some detailing here and there maybe missing, but still top score.

Wide Open - orbik: 5pts
1:45 minutes is not usually what I would consider a complete track, but this one is so tightly packed with sounds and parts that it doesn't feel that way. Nice blend of acoustic and electronic sounds to show Synth1's incredible range and production is very good. But the standouts are the composition and playing which is really top notch, so much so that I initially thought this was a commercial midi file laid out for S1 as it sounds like the ones oftentimes seen hard coded into hardware synths as demo songs. I've said before that I judge these competitions based on what would be the perfect demo track on the dev's site, and I still stand by that. This is a very smooth and professional sounding demo track with very well made sounds, but if I was visiting a dev site for a synth, I would expect and look for ... well more modern tunes and sounds. Not that I don't like the genre as I was a long time Spyro Gyra devotee back in the day and still enjoy it, but the length and type of sounds here prevents top score in Synth1 OSC.

R2L4 - Kaiyoti: 3pts
I get the feeling I have heard this tune before which for me is usually the sign of great pieces if that's what happens first time I hear them (Smoke on the water, Toccata etc etc), but here I actually think I have heard the tune before, or at least something very similar. (80's film? Game soundtrack?). Nevertheless, a complete song with strong melody (which is so important) well composed with nice and matching sounds. As already pointed out by others a slightly distorted final mix, but generally the production is nice and coherent and on the whole works. We all know what he is capable of from the last Synth1 comp and the works on his site, so I suspect a bit rushed job this time, but a good effort considering.

synth one thingamabob - ah_dziz: 3pts
Very cool groovy tune that I like. The sounds are good and spread nicely out over the frequency spectrum for a good clean mix, the vibrating string shots particularly nice. An all round good production and complete tune. Plus for FX sounds.

Land of Green Ginger - Mr Wobble: 2pts
Even though this flashes back to my first meeting with synths and samplers where bizarrely the samplers would mostly be loaded with synth sounds and synths acoustic sounds, this piano jazzy trumpet number is no doubt a nice tune/production with a very cool mood with sounds that shows off the acoustic synthesis part of Synth1.

Another Soundtrack - Yeager: 2 pts
Very good sounds and production shows off Synth1, but parts are maybe a bit disjointed although most are very nice.

Visions of a Seagull - Nahkranoth: 1pt
Me like. After judging a few of these competitions and starting to analyze what it is I like about certain music, I think a lot of it comes down to if it stirs something, and this does, particularly the start. Nice sounds and production generally with depth and FX (both sounds and mix), but maybe slight deductions for thin overall sound, and the big second part or finale that was promised in the first never really came.

Thus Spoke Piazzolla - Steplton: 1pt
Accordions are not normally what impress me when it comes to synths, and for some reason this comp saw 2 entries with it. It reminds me of Terry Wogans lifelong promise that there will always be accordions in the Eurovision Song Contest.. (and he's right, that's the scary part..) But hey, even if they are far from my fav sounding instrument, I don't really mind them as long as they aren't played whenever there's a mention of France on TV, but unfortunately that's almost a law, and now it's getting seriously grating. Ok, enough about accordions. Synth1 can do them as it can almost any sound under the sun, but this is about Steplton's tune which is very good. Top arrangement, production and sounds, and although I don't mind covers or remixes in this comp, there's no escaping it loses a bit to original works.

LIGHTHOUSE_ISLAND - Mac_of_BIOnighT: 1pt
This 19-minute epos has imo strong ties to Tangerine Dream, the title and piece evocative. Although little automation is used, the production is generally good with nice sounds and melody lines.

[tattiemannie]

Cheers for the votes and the comments V'ger

[Mac of BIOnighT]

Thanks V'ger! Live long and prosper!

[tattiemannie]

Thanks V'ger! Live long and prosper!

... thats a huge gesture of gratitude for one vote Mac, were you brought up entirely on cabbage stock and forced to do the dishes on order to access water to wash your hands with?
If I give you two votes, will you fly over and iron my underwear?

[Mac of BIOnighT]

Maybe I could do like my sister, once she ironed her husband's shirt. While he was wearing it. (true, I swear. He had a burn the size of a saucer on his arm for weeks)
Anyway, considering my position, even one vote is an awful lot better than nothing

[dwsel]

I haven't been here for 3 or 4 days and you produced such a huge amount of posts Thanks for review. I was aiming for 'open' sound but you may be right that without bass it came out too open

[abstractcats]

Listening now....votes to come....soon....Hmmmmm

EDIT: OMG!! Some stunning entries!.... and still have a few more to listen to...

That is a LONG list!

And my votes are...the envelope please....Drum roll please......

EDITED once for Typos And once cuz me kant kownt !! Sorry T man!

9 -LIGHTHOUSE_ISLAND--Mac_of_BIOnighT Note: "begening at an un earthly point and then returning to the lightHouse for some green tea"

5 -Land of Green Ginger - Mr Wobble Note:"Great solar Jazz feel!"

3 -Karma Sutra - V'ger Note:"Very inspiring! Please do a longer peice or an album's worth"

3 -Thus Spoke Piazzolla - Steplton Note: "The name is Bond, Vladimir Bond!"

2 -Many as One - Xenobioz Note"Great middle east ish sound! ahH! Just the thought of belly dancers "

2-TheLastSynthOnEarth - Totolitoto Note: "Scully!,Scully!!, can you hear me!?, Yes! Moulder! Now go back to sleep...

1 -Wide Open - orbik Note:"TV Copshow theme, orbik should be making a great living composing for TV and Movies, Great work."

1 -R2L4 - Kaiyoti Note:"Night mare before Xmas, Should Danny Elfman die you should get his job."

[Mac of BIOnighT]

10??? Oh my, I'm gonna have to iron your laundry weekly for months for this! Thanks!!!!

[V'ger]

Does that mean you won't be doing mine?

[Mac of BIOnighT]

Sure, but not on the same day of the week

[slugfest99]

Sure, but not on the same day of the week

I'm down the pub on a Saturday night on my netbook.

As you can tell I'm surrounded by witty raconteurs and a stunning live act er, not

Suffice to say, a good time for a bump...

Thanks for the votes on a pigs ear anyway.

I'll get me pint now...

Best of luck,

A SLIGHTLY DRUNK Mouxbar

[Ah_Dziz]

here's some votes

6- another sountrack: I do soundtracks for a living and it was fun to hear that style of scoring pulled off so well with a VA synth

6- land of green ginger: I like everything about this song

4- wide open: insanely well executed. it reminded me of video game music from the mid to late nineties in a good way.

4- last synth on earth: Has a good aggressive synth pop vibe like early skinny puppy. great production value

3- light house island: really loved this one. it would have made it higher on my list if it wasn't so long.

2- feeling of weirdness: good stuff. sounds like space race car music.

1- 13 moons and a sun too: really liked this. it seemed like it could have gotten bigger towards the end with some bass heavier sounds.

good work everyone!

[Mac of BIOnighT]

Thanks Ah-Dziz!!! The next one will be shorter, I promise!

[abstractcats]

I'm gonna have to iron your laundry weekly for months for this! Thanks!!!!

Ummm, yeah, just make sure my arms are NOT in the sleeves eh!?