One-Synth-Challenge: General discussion thread

[IrionDaRonin]

Zebralette has become free. Have we considered/ considering for future months?

Of course, we count with it as possible synth to vote and already tested and scored, everything is about time. Be patient
No need to ask about new freebies, we catch them in every release, they can't escape from us
At the moment we made a huge list about +150 free synths tested and scored, and it's getting bigger in time, but at the moment is going slowly, we are waiting for more free synths these months.
(A KVR Developer Challenge this year would be the awesomeness)

Well, after a hard work day and before i go to sleep. Ehem... 7am, yeah this is the awesomeness too lol, here goes my replied poll.

1.-How do you like OSC contests?

I really like so much, it's a great chance to get new gear as prizes, to get skill, to get ideas from others, and to belong to something special (at least for me)
I'm learning so much about others, and knowing these persons deeply and musically.
OSC makes me finish a track (sometimes a couple or even three) in a month, because is a challenge, in my non-osc tracks i don't usually finish them, not always.
But the most important thing to me, is to know that there are people who are listening my tracks in another side of the world. Makes me feel very special and as RuediRena says, to being a part of a little world of person who enjoy this kind of tracks every month. And i must say, that i prefer to listen all your tracks instead commercial trash (i'm very upset about commercial music really)

2.-When did you started to come into OSC contests?

Well, i started to search webpages and forums about free synths until i crashed with KVR, then i saw a nice post called OSC and curiosity killed me, so i'm here since OSC27 Free Alpha, more or less about 4 months.

3.-What would you like to improve or change?

The challenge itself is perfect as it is. But maybe a bit more participation from more people would be nice.

4.-How old are you and how many years you were composing?

I'm 29 years and composing music since i was 14, so 15 years practically. But i played piano and keyboards when i was a child about 8 years.
Anyway, still learning. The life is a great lesson and we can't stop to learn in it
I don't know how to read music really or a pentagram, i just have good ears and a huge bunch of melodies, styles and scores in my head since i was a child.

5.-What is your equip?

A really crap

CPU: 2,6 Ghz Single core, but this month will be AMD3 3,2 Quad core.
RAM: 2 Gygabytes DDR1 at 200 Mhz, this month will be 4 Gygabytes DDR3 at 1333 Mhz.
HD: 80x2 gygabytes lol. But i will change it to 500 Gygabytes this month.
HOST: FL Studio and learning Reaper.
OS: Win XP 32bits.

HARDWARE, SOUNDCARD, HEADPHONES AND SPEAKERS:
I just got an Emu X-Board 49 (A gift from a great friend from Germany) about 2 weeks ago but at the moment using all velocities notes with the mouse as usually. I'm using the EMU to training my fingers, and to catch inspiring notes and scores in 'live' mode.
SoundBlaster Extigy 16-24bits at 11-192Mhz.
SkullCandy Headphones (70Euro) 20-20000 Hz which i use to mastering.
Logitech X530 5.1 which i use to listen panoramics and Stereo space (obviously only in Stereo not 5.1)

6.-Do you like to download all OSC tracks at same time and start listen to them or do you prefer listening while they are being uploaded?

As SMJ said, i usually listening all of them while they are being uploaded. Then, i listen and listen to them from day 1st to day 15th.
I keep those which made me feel something (good or even bad feelings) and then, trying to narrowing into 5 tracks.
Sometimes i got frustrated because there are good tracks, but not too many points to expend.

7.-How many prizes do you have from OSC contests? (in case you won any)

This question is not to show off my prizes, i swear!
It's just to know about what people got and the taste of contesters.
-KVROSC27: Wusik Station V6 + Wusik Eve 3 (Love this last)
-KVROSC28: Maxsynths Cryologic.
-KVROSC29: GSI KeyPerformer. Since i already got the BigBundle from UGO as a gift.

I'm enjoying reading about you all, and i hope more people comes to reply the little poll.
I go to sleep, finally.

Thanks for your replies and have a good day

[Funkfeuer]

5.-What is your equip?

A really crap

better to make good music on a casio vl-1 and on woodstick, what every good musician could do, than to make bad music on long-dick-stuff. so don't worry

[satYatunes]

At the moment we made a huge list about +150 free synths tested and scored, and it's getting bigger in time, but at the moment is going slowly, we are waiting for more free synths these months.
(A KVR Developer Challenge this year would be the awesomeness)

Is there a plan of getting this list released to everyone?

[tattiemannie]

1.-How do you like OSC contests?

Love!

2.-When did you started to come into OSC contests?

When I took over the running from a warez kid and organised the first comp in his 'absence' on the grounds that his idea was cool

3.-What would you like to improve or change?

Dunno, but always enjoyed the thread banter, and always enjoy when folks share their techniques and workarounds with others. OSC is a comp, but it's educational potential is huge. I would like if folks could be encouraged by some sort of incentive to share their patches when the comp is over .. or when they have finished their track .. in order to provide a greater legacy from each comp in favour of the developers as well as folks wishing to take their exploration further with regard to particular synths.

4.-How old are you and how many years you were composing?

Half a century and climbing Started writing songs when I was 17 for my punk band ( Toxik Ephex ) and found the Thatcher Government the greatest inspiration for songwriting ... I look back at songs I wrote then, and find them quite bizzarre ... until I suddenly remember ... that stuff was not fiction, but reality!

5.-What is your equip?

CPU: Shit

RAM: Shit

HD: Shit

HOST: FL studio .. which is not shit! I like to change around tho ... not one for claiming there is anything 'essential' ... I dont use Cubase anymore though ... Reaper has allowed me to free up a huge chunk of hard drive previously 'squatted' by Cubase . but as far as composition goes, I like to get away from FL now and again and return to madtracker, Dreamstation, Noise tracker, Tunafish, Rubberduck, etc ... and enjoy knocking out phrases via Fracmus. Also like playing around with my own 'QwertySam' .. go search ... come to think of it, now that I no longer create plugs exclusively for OSC, I might release the 'big' version of QuertySam for free

OS: the one which makes a nicer sound when you hit it with a brick ( Reference see Nick Lowe - sound )

HARDWARE, SOUNDCARD, HEADPHONES AND SPEAKERS:

Oh f**k, dont ask me, lets just settle for shit, shit, shit and shit

6.-Do you like to download all OSC tracks at same time and start listen to them or do you prefer listening while they are being uploaded?

Depends. I like to listen to the tracks a few times before judging, but dont like to know who they are by in order to eliminate prejudice based on past experience/contact ... I dont always have the time, but never listen before they are all in .... so sometimes I download as a package. I try to avoid knowing the artist(s). When judging, I cover the playlist minus the track numbers with a notepad, and comment in real time ... mostly I do this twice with only the numbers visible ... and when I'm done, I replace the numbers with brief track names before posting. fair as this may seem, I have to admit that very often, the first tracks i.e. the more recent, have the effect of getting me in the mood for later tracks ( i.e. ones which have been submitted earlier ). I try to compensate by going back to the earlier ( later ) tracks. but by then, I usually know the stunners from the stoners.

7.-How many prizes do you have from OSC contest? (in case you won any)

I have Cryologic, Wusikstation and Eve. Have passed on prizes on a couple of occasions, but much as I love to play with cool toys, over the past year, my role as editor of Aberdeen Voice online news mag, and the political activities I have committed to leave little time for creating music. However, my love of OSC still demands that I find at least some time and space on a regular basis to engage with folks and produce a piece of music from scratch.

... And so despite having to give up running OSC, I love it no less, I am no less proud of what myself and all of you have brought to being, nurtured and sustained, and actually appreciate it's value more now that the new management are taking it from strength to strength. Long Live OSC!

[satYatunes]

1.-How do you like OSC contests?
I like it more than any other contests. The best thing is, it brings out the creativity. Limitation is the motivation. It's not easy to get the desired sounds from every synth. Some synths are versatile, easy to program and some are difficult. That's the challenge. It also opens up the path to synth programming. I don't know about others but I read about synth programming when I first participated in the OSC contest.


2.-When did you started to come into OSC contests?
OSC 18 - Soha Sonata. Jul 2010.

3.-What would you like to improve or change?
a) I use notepad to rank the tracks while listening. If soundclound had some options on it to rank in the player itself then that would have been awesome. I was once toying with an idea of creating a player in Flash/Adobe AIR (you guessed it right, I do know programming) and host in a website, just for this contest. May be some day
b) Careful selection of plugin. I know, I know it's not easy.


4.-How old are you and how many years you were composing?
I am 37. I started in 2000 but not all those 11 years spent in music. I didn't even open my daw for two years (2007-2009). This is just a hobby and I work on it only on the weekends (unless my better half and daughter has already made other plans)

5.-What is your equip?
I have two laptops.
CPU: i5 on both
RAM: 1) 4GB 2) 3GB
HD: 500 GB in both
HOST: Sonar X1 these days.
OS: 1) Win XP 32 bit ) Win 7 64 bit
HARDWARE, SOUNDCARD, HEADPHONES AND SPEAKERS:
EMU X-Board 25, Onboard soundcard, AudioTechnica ATH-M45, None at the moment.

6.-Do you like to download all OSC tracks at same time and start listen to them or do you prefer listening while they are being uploaded?
I visit the soundclound player as and when I feel like it during the month then I listen to all the tracks just before voting. It goes through a few cycles to find the best 5.

7.-How many prizes do you have from OSC contest? (in case you won any)
None, I have not won any.


Lastly, thanks to V'ger, IrionDaRonin and others for managing all this shit and thanks to all the contestants who are submitting their garbage months after months

I have come up with a nice tag line for OSC while writing this.

OSC - One Synth Challenge, where limitation is the motivation.

[bzur]

OSC - One Synth Challenge, where limitation is the motivation.

+1 I don't know why, but I do my best when there are constraints...

[IrionDaRonin]

a) I use notepad to rank the tracks while listening. If soundclound had some options on it to rank in the player itself then that would have been awesome. I was once toying with an idea of creating a player in Flash/Adobe AIR (you guessed it right, I do know programming) and host in a website, just for this contest. May be some day

Lastly, thanks to V'ger, IrionDaRonin and others for managing all this shit and thanks to all the contestants who are submitting their garbage months after months

I have come up with a nice tag line for OSC while writing this.

OSC - One Synth Challenge, where limitation is the motivation.

There is a free program about this and not bad by the way, which uses Microsoft Silverlight, made by Markheath, a KVR user. You could send a private message to him so he could send you the link.

You are welcome Satya.

And great slogan by the way, indeed. I will use it for a next limited synth

Have a good day

[Nahkranoth]

Has the next OSC VSTi been decided yet? I'd like to participate after almost a year of silence, but I've got no Z3ta so will be waiting for the next one. Have no time to read the whole thread, so forgive me for my impatience

[IrionDaRonin]

Next month will be a free synth OSC. We are deciding which synths will be to vote, yet.

Have a good day

[Nahkranoth]

Thanks, Irion. Was hoping to start composing already while you guys are struggling with Z3ta Guess I'll have to wait then.

[satYatunes]

Thanks, Irion. Was hoping to start composing already while you guys are struggling with Z3ta Guess I'll have to wait then.

No no no no no.. we all will start on 1st and end on 30/31st to create our super duper hit.

[jobromedia]

Here is a small free synth I've done that could fit an OSC:
JBM Jiggytron

[RuediRena]

• 1.-How do you like OSC contests?
  
  We love them.
  
  2.-When did you started to come into OSC contests?
  
  We noticed it via planet.linuxmusician.com when some blogging Linux musician wrote about the forthcoming ZynAddSubFX challenge. We stayed here ever since.
  
  3.-What would you like to improve or change?
  
  Having an alternative to a commercial synth in the future would be nice.
  
  4.-How old are you and how many years you were composing?
  
  We are 102 . Rena composes since 7 or 8 years. Ruedi started out in the 70s on guitar.
  
  5.-What is your equip?
  
  CPU:
  Intel Dualcore 3.2 GHz/Dualcore 3.0 GHz
  RAM:
  4 GB/4 GB
  HD:
  1,5 TB/900 GB
  HOST:
  currently Reaper, SEQ24, Rosegarden, Ardour, LMMS
  OS:
  Ubuntu Studio 10.11, Win7/Ubuntu Studio 10.4 all 32 Bit
  HARDWARE,
  Fatar TMK-88, occasionally Korg Nanocontrol, coffee and beer.
  SOUNDCARD,
  Onboard crap, occasionally Edirol UA-25EX (a little painful to set up on an ALSA/Jack environment so crap will do)
  HEADPHONES
  none (see below)
  AND SPEAKERS:
  Gravity (Stereo-Subwoofers) in an acoustically very dry and close environment, so we prefer it over headphones.
  
  6.-Do you like to download all OSC tracks at same time and start listen to them or do you prefer listening while they are being uploaded?
  
  We usually have a quick listen out of curiosity whenever there is something new, if it's good maybe more. Voting is one long session where we negotiate points.
  
  7.-How many prizes do you have from OSC contest? (in case you won any)
  
  Wusik Station and EVE

[bzur]

1.-How do you like OSC contests?

Love them!

2.-When did you started to come into OSC contests?

In september 2010, OSC Special: NA2SC1. I've partecipated 7 times in total.

3.-What would you like to improve or change?

I think is perfect: good rules, excellent partecipants and tracks, big fun...

I've just a suggestion: it would be great to publish the best tracks on jamendo (if we want to maintain a CC license), or other platforms. Or, even better, on a record label, as an extra price for the winners.


4.-How old are you and how many years you were composing?

I'm 36. I've studied piano for several years, and start composing in '92, with a Roland U-20 and an Amiga500 with MusicX, for about 3-4 years.
Then I took a big pause from '95 to 2007, time to take a degree in Electronic Engineering and finding a good job
In 2008 I entered Cagliari's Music School. I'm going to take a second degree, this time on "Musica e Nuove Tecnologie".

Music is my second life

5.-What is your equip?
CPU: Intel Core 2 - 2.14GHz
RAM: 4GB (but Windows XP recognizes 3GB only...)
HD: 2x 250GB Maxtor
HOST: Cubase Studio 4
OS: Windows XP SP2
Soundcard: Focusrite Saffire, headphones: AKG k-44, Speakers: Prodipe Pro-5, master keyboard: Behringer umx-61

6.-Do you like to download all OSC tracks at same time and start listen to them or do you prefer listening while they are being uploaded?

I usually listen to the tracks while they are being uploaded.

7.-How many prizes do you have from OSC contest? (in case you won any)
Cryologic from Max Synths, WusikStation + WusikStation Eve, a UGO bundle and a GSi Key Performer

Cheers

[pocvecem]

1.-How do you like OSC contests?
I can only agree that it's great as it is. In fact in the OSCs I learn to finish a song. No endless noodling and mixing/producing to death. There are so many fragments or half finished songs on my harddrive. Hope I better myself now.


2.-When did you started to come into OSC contests?
Don't know why I ignored the OSCs since I was lurking around on KVR for many years. Many of my favourite freeware synths have been already used here. It was when I had finished some TyrellN6 presets for u-he when I read something
about a contest making a song exclusively with that synth. Interesting, I thought. Well, and now I'm in, hehe.


3.-What would you like to improve or change?
For heaven's sake - don't change anything with the rules. But the next time there's a non-freeware comp it should be a synth with a full functioning demo version. Something like a 14 or 30 days time-out demo. Or even a new Any Synth
competition.


4.-How old are you and how many years you were composing?
I'm from Bavaria / Germany and I'm 39 years young. Make my living with machine automation and installing and servicing industrial computers.
Started "playing" keyboards 25 years ago. This was my very first synth:
http://matrixsynth.blogspot.com/2010/11 ... sizer.html
Already 10 years old when I got it. Very cheesy presets but a fat filter and a saw bass you can kill any subwoofer with! Then came a Korg Poly800 and a Roland Juno6 which I sold later to pay down a Roland D10. Yeah, I regret that till today, I could bite my butt!
There was the unavoidable school band and later I played in a indie rock band. In our "homestudio" we tried to sound like our ideals JMJ, Tangerine Dream, Camouflage,..., and Depeche Mode (but pointless without having a sampler). If you are curious, there are a few early recordings (1987-1991) on my soundcloud page and please read the notes. In the late 1990s my music taste totally changed, sold almost everything I had for a Yamaha sampler and a guitar + amp: Industrial and New Metal! This lead me to the medival-rock-thing. So I started to play bagpipes in 2004 and a year later we formed a tribute band to the german medival rockers "In Extremo". Five years of fun, loud metal with guitars, bagpipes, celtic harps, samples, live gigs but with an almost complete break with computer music. After the band split in 2010 I came back to my musical roots.
Regret never having learned reading sheet music and other musical basics. And I'm totally untalented with classical instruments. Tried to learn cello. But me and string instruments without frets: Two worlds collide.

5.-What is your equip?
DAW:
AMD PhenomII X6 1090T + Gigabyte GA-870A-UD3 + 8 GB RAM
64GB SSD + Windows 7 64BIT
2 x Samsung Syncmaster 2443 24" TFT
2 x Samsung HD103SJ 1TB
Samsung HD204UI 2TB external USB3 backup drive
almost completely silent with Coolermaster Sileo Tower, HDD Silencers, fanless power supply, 140mm CPU fan.

HOST:
Cubase 6.03 32 + 64BIT (+ jBridge)
Ableton Live 8.2.2
WaveLab Elements 7

SOUNDCARD:
EMU 1212M

MIDI:
M-Audio Axiom61 (nice wobbly waterfall keys)
Novation Remote ZeroSL (probably my best ebay grab ever!)

SPEAKERS:
Behringer Truth B2031A

OTHERS:
Self-constructed wooden desk and racks painted in a wonderful orange-cognac tone. You can see some pics on my soundcloud page.
Then there are tons of 19" expanders and keyboards I almost never touch anymore. Sad thing but total recall and switching between different projects never was so easy than today.

I further play (or try to) acoustic and electric guitars and bass, have some self-built midi-trigger instruments. And there are my historical instruments like three different bagpipes, different shawms and flutes,a celtic harp and a cister (forerunner of todays guitar with 8 strings).

INSPIRATION:
Highland and Islay single malt whisky and dark shag (without further ingredients ).

I'm not a rich guy but our house is paid, don't drive a big car and I go to work for about 50-60 hours a week - so I "reward" myself with some equipment from time to time. The other side is: I wish I had more time for family, friends and music.
And I don't have to compensate something - everything is long enough.

But the most important thing: equip is not crucial, it's how you use what you have.


6.-Do you like to download all OSC tracks at same time and start listen to them or do you prefer listening while they are being uploaded?
I enjoy listening to the tracks as soon as they come in. It's pure fun to hear what musicians from all over the world do with the same plug ins.


7.-How many prizes do you have from OSC contest?
OSC28: TyrellN6 - 2nd place: Zebrosis soundbank for Zebra
OSC29: String Theory - 1st place: big ugo-bundle (which is really amazing!)

So I stop here, must back to my Z3ta song.
Hope to see you at the OSC!
Cheers,
Gerald