One-Synth-Challenge 31: Z3ta+ - Voting and Results

[SJMmusic]

That was really hard but I spent my day choosing and ordering the tracks today - it was so hard to delete some tracks, because I enjoyed so many... so these are my results:

1. Irion Da Ronin - Genesis (5 Pts.)
   I can only repeat what I already said on Soundcloud - really great track, it occupied my mind for days and I doubt it will ever leave me
2. Doc Jon - Reinventing the Wheel (4 Pts.)
   Great sounds, nice melodies and a lot of diversity in the arrangement, that was an immediate download, too
3. V'ger - Humanoid (3 Pts.)
   Very cool atmosphere and sounds, really really enjoyable
4. bzur - R3vive all humanZ+ (2 Pts.)
   Great title for the song The music behind it was very calming and so quite nice to listen to
5. satYatunes - Welcome z3ta (1 Pt.)
   Although it is a rather simple track, it was very nice to listen to, it especially has a nice groove, I think

Either way I think it's really sad to see really good tracks get "only" a point or even nothing, so I at least want to list (not ordered) some other tracks I also considered very good and who would all be worthy of a price

• 3ee - Sequenced into Being
  Sadly a very short piece, but it creates some nice ambient suspense
• bjporter - Gather 'round the piano and turn the Strobe Light on
  Very fun to listen to, I mean very uplifting
• Mike777 - The Ruins of Mars
  To be honest, I liked the first half a lot better than the second, because it creates this nice suspense and I like it's sounds better than the ones used in the second half
• PocVecem - z3t4pØp
  Really nice catchy melody and very fun to listen to, but it just didn't feel that special and... impressing - at least to me. It's kinda like an karaoke version of a song (ok, you called it z3tapop, so I guess the popsong sturcture was intended) but somehow lacks the melody that keeps it from seeming repetitive. :S
• Examigan - Tempest
  A quite creepy track, and the end is great in it's simplicity. You can't listen to this unaffectedly.
• Ancient - Goodbye Kabul
  I really reeeeally enjoyed the first 50 seconds, but from then on the elements just feel so unconnected and chaotic - or at elast it felt weird to me From 2:00 on it's nice again, but it feels a little "overpowered" (?). The end is of course nice again, but the first middle part made be not choose this track, sorry
• evo2slo - Deadly Snail
  Was among my top 5 for a long time, but the last few submissions sadly killed it, it has some cool sounds and this weird (in a really interesting way) atmosphere, although the synth starting at 2:17 feels too strong for me

So, sorry for all the people whom I couldn't give any points, but this was (IMO) really a neck-and-neck-race (is that really how you say it in english? o.O)

[Mike777]

very difficult to chose a top 5, many other tracks deserved votes, enjoyed listening to all of them.

5 pts: Ancient - Goodbye Kabul

4 pts: Dan_e10 - Traviesonota

3 pts: Bzur - R3vive All Humanz

2 pts: Iriondaronin - Genesis

1 pts: Vger - Humanoid

[objectman]

So how do u tell ur students now Objectman? Softly softly or just by the grade alone?

I praise, even if they've designed say, a really crap website (for the kids in my web design class (although sokids are older than me)). I try to find some redeeming feature. And then criticize.

But I'm script editing also (for real screenwriters). Their praise is that I found the script interesting enough to want to be a part of it. And I'll work with them to get it right based on how well the story flows emotionally. We criticize the work, never the person (perhaps obviously). Also with script editing, I'm never allowed to erase, rewrite or modify the person's writing. They have to do that. I say stuff like, "so your main character has just seen his mother impaled by a screwdriver. Are you sure he'd still want to have that romantic dinner with his girlfriend?"

In music, the latter might equate to, "Edwin, that's a great ostinato you've made there, but I'm not sure if playing four versions of it back to back is working. Maybe you could consider a 'Verse, Chorus, Verse, Verse. Bridge, Chorus' (ABAAbB) structure - maybe with a Tangerine Dream style reprieve in there somewhere. Your Verse could be a shorter ostinato while your chorus could consist of the same notes in a rising melody. Also, are you 3/4 or 4/4 on this. I think you need to choose. Read this article about song structure and melody (link to maybe an article or tune analysis). It might help. I think you're pretty good at transitions and 32 bar loops, but you need a change beyond that - if only to hold the listener's interest."

But I can only hope and dream that one day someone will give me good professional-style feedback like that. I'd pay for (and have) pro feedback like that.

[V'ger]

Hehe nice one. Trouble with dishing it out is that one needs chops which i wouldn't really claim to have, but generally appreciate criticism from anybody anyway (after the initial sting has subsided.. ). But like i said before, it should be filtered.

Interestingly I saw a study about winner types in sports where one of the common denominators were that they were typically going their own way, experimenting and trying out new things outside the book and not really listening too much to the manuals and teachers. It was a trait.

And my math teacher once said that if we followed him and the books to the letter we wouldn't get an A. It was said in jest, but generally you were expected to go beyond a little bit.

And this is of course definitely true with the creative arts. Following the recipes is not what the greats ever did. Imagine someone insisting to Jean Michel Jarre he is really letting himself down not using vocals etc.. Imagine what would have happened if he cared..

[objectman]

We always wait for three days before responding to any knee-jerk responses to the sting of a bad mark. These days, because education is no longer free...

[It costs about $1,700 per unit, or about $25K for a basic web design degree. $75K if they "hire purchase" the degree over 20 years from the Tax Office]

...we get students who fail and then ask officials for their money back. But to do that, they have to submit (what I call) a "Character Assassination" of their tutor. Student feedback is generally personal - which is always bad for their "case". And anyway, if they fail and have to repeat a unit, guess who the teacher is? So they don't repeat and then give up.

It's all very stupid.

In short, some people take criticism very personally. Which usually means they are unlikely to move beyond where they are. Just on your maths teacher / great athlete story.. My consistent, "High Distinction" students (the ones who research best practices in whatever field I'm teaching) NEVER take criticism personally. But they also tend to be conservative and do what they are told and often don't have much confidence in their skills. They are also, weirdly, rarely creative people. The ones who are brimming with confidence tend to be very creative and outside-the-box type thinkers who rarely get HDs.

I was never an HD myself (always a B student) but it's very interesting teaching 500 students per year, each with 3 assignments to mark. It's a good insight into how the human race approaches life and criticism in general. Most people loading this thread (for example) won't get to this sentence because there are just too many words leading up to it.

But there's always gold in criticism.

I think the key is to learn how to take it. It's always about the work - not the person. What's more valuable than expanding your mind with new ideas and approaches to problem-solving? You can do all that naked.

* Objectman smugly slides his over-used soap-box into one corner, polishing off a little scratch with Marveer should it ever have to come out again. He knows it will. He fixes a nail. It's a box shining lightly a with a brand new "CM Letter of the Month" sticker on one side of it - already attracting dustmotes - perhaps because of the static? It's a soapbox wondering when it's lid will be opened again for the new CM-promised FabFilter VSTs, each placed carefully alongside the other 5 million VST plugs. A soapbox which reveals the hypocrisy of its mumbling owner ... "More VSTs will make me better musician, Goddammit! I know they will. Thank God I can make use of them because the OSC now has a Payware offshoot." *

[bzur]

My votes, with a short comment:

5. Doc Jon - Reinventing the wheel: JMJ rul3z+, I surrender...
4. mike777 - The Ruin of Mars: as Pocvecem noticed, this is simply strong, a sort of brief electronic music poem. Chapeau!
3. satYatunes - Welcome Z3ta: nice and calming chill-out. Thumbs up!
2. IrionDaRonin - Genesis: good and accurately crafted as usual (even if I rather prefer your previous entry in OSC 30 )
1. PocVecem - z3tap0p : a solid track as usual, and I love that powerful intro!!!

May the best win! Great contest

[Peter999]

Examigan - Tempest: 5
bzur - R3vive all humanZ+: 4
V'ger - Humanoid: 3
satYatunes - Welcome z3ta: 2
Mike777 - The Ruins of Mars: 1

Alltogether excellent tracks!

[IrionDaRonin]

Well, as every month, i think you all know how difficult is to take a decision and narrow all the tracks, but this month it was really over-difficult. So sorry for not having more points for these other great tracks.

1 - 3ee - Sequenced Into Being - 5 points
My favourite abstracted track for this month. Which makes you think and gets you abstracted for the whole two minutes. Cheers for that detailed track, man, awesome job. In my playlist. And also enjoying your other Soundcloud tracks.

• ·Pros - It makes you abstracted the whole two minutes. You can't get bored of this. The pads made me think so much and they made me being transported to another place. Nice electronic FX usage and transitions between every sound are very well detailed and elaborated. The slow chord progression in the background is just lovely. I like prelude tracks.
  ·Cons - Obviously it could be a bit longer in lenght. A bit more than 3 minutes would have been perfect for a next time.

2 - Doc Jon - Reinventing the Wheel - 4 points
Amazing Jarresque style track, analog basslines and sticked-to-brain melodies and chords. You can't get bored of it due the great three changes of chord, rhythm and melodies during the whole track. Cheers for the track. Already in my playlist.

• ·Pros - Jarresque sound, the good part: if you already liked Jarre, you will enjoy this one too.
  Nice changes, you can't get bored of it, amazing composition, and nice retro and analog sound.
  ·Cons - Jarresque sound, the bad part: the bad thing is that you should find yourself, your own sound style.

3 - PocVecem - z3t4pØp - 3 points
Beloved intro the first time i listened it, these pads and going-up filtered bassline were great, nice sticked-to-brain melody. Keep up the good work, man.

• ·Pros - The intro, no doubt, is the best part, imo. And also these gritty basslines, these reminds me of Daft Punk. The breakdowns in the sound are very nice too.
  ·Cons - I still prefer the both older tracks from you. For some reason, it sounds a bit different from your other OSC tracks.

4 - V'ger - Humanoid - 2 points
As usually, the power and the softly goes together by the hand on this V'ger track. The power of the loops, the gritty basslines, and the softly ambiental pads and FX sounds. Very processed and elaborated track.

• ·Pros - The overall is very well processed, compression and equalization everywhere. I'm in love with these portamento arpeggios FX and the arp melody when it drops itself sometimes while the track is playing.
  ·Cons - Some low frecuencies blew my headphones, lol.
  Careful with these distorted low frecuencies next time when the kick and the bassline goes together.

5 - satYatunes - Welcome z3ta - 1 point
I think this is one of the most relaxing tracks of this month, is a very well composed track with a great mix.

• ·Pros - The nice drumloop groove, the chord changes and the composition structure.
  ·Cons - Try to do more drastical changes next time with the bassline and the melody, risk yourself a bit more, maybe you will like it. Anyway, i know you didn't had more time.

Honorable mentions to:
evo2slo - For his great effort to participate in this month with a limited demo. That's RESPECT with capital letters, mate.
SJMmusic - For being the first in uploading a track this month, which made the standard quality (which was high by the way) Cheers and keep up the good work, SJM.
Mike777 - For his great and relaxing track. Keep up the good work.

Anyway, there are other tracks which, althought they didn't got any point by me, they are in my playlist because i liked so much. Cheers.

@Everyone
Keep the good work, keep making music, be constant, never give up and i hope to see you in the next OSC month. Thanks for sharing your tracks and for participating in this OSC month. But mainly, for being there every month, and being so nice with others.

Have a good day

[3ee]

Hello,

I would like to thank everyone for the comments and lovely tracks.
Special thanks to Crackbaby and IrionDaRonin for considering my track despite it's short duration ...and feedback as well!

----------------------------------------------
5pts. Doc Jon - Reinventing the Wheel

Good: Very good production on this with a solid arrangement, nice "reinvented" JMJ feel with well suited, lovely analog synth sounds. Big up for the last triplet part, lovely tune!
Bad: Some of the lead sounds are louder... just a tiny bit more than needed. Fade out is a bit too early.
----------------------------------------------------
4pts. Ancient - Goodbye Kabul

Good: Peaceful and victorious melody. Lovely intro and main lead.
Bad: Arrangement may need some tweaks. A bit longer and/or unfocused outro.
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3pts. bzur - R3vive all humanZ+

Good: Quality of the production.. very nice atmosphere and sounds animated by lovely "over the clouds moist atmosphere chillout melodies.
Bad: Arrangement getting maybe a bit boring over time.
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2pts. Irion Da Ronin - Genesis

Good: Atmosphere and sounds, SNES Donkey Kong reminiscent pad string @ about 2:17
Bad: Some sounds are a bit too sharp and others are eating up the sound, some chord changes to major are a bit off (maybe that's because the long release of other pads of something, have you tried automating release before?).
----------------------------------------------------------
1pt. SJMmusic - Prospekt

Good: Sounds and melodies. Feeling the organ pad light.
Bad: Arrangement especially the way that parts are linked, organ pad getting a bit annoying, mixing is good but needs more work.
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Other tracks that almost made it in my top 5 are:

PocVecem - z3t4 pØp

Good: Production, sounds and melodies.
Bad: Besides the cool intro it sounds very repetitive.
-----------------------------------------------------
V'ger - Humanoid

Good: Atmosphere and sounds especially during the intro.
Bad: Low end isn't optimized, the mix is OK but sounds kinda flat and a bit over-compressed overall.
--------------------------------------------------------
satYatunes = Welcome Z3ta

Good: Atmosphere and sounds.
Bad: HiHats mixed a bit too loud are getting a bit too distracting. Percussion in general sounds a bit flat. Outro.
------------------------------------------------------------

Cheers and good luck!
3ee

[IrionDaRonin]

Hello,

I would like to thank everyone for the comments and lovely tracks.
Special thanks to Crackbaby and IrionDaRonin for considering my track despite it's short duration ...and feedback as well!

2pts. Irion Da Ronin - Genesis

Good: Atmosphere and sounds, SNES Donkey Kong reminiscent pad string @ about 2:17
Bad: Some sounds are a bit too sharp and others are eating up the sound, some chord changes to major are a bit off (maybe that's because the long release of other pads of something, have you tried automating release before?).

@3ee
Well, you are welcome.
I will try what you said. Thanks for the tip.

And yes, i know i need to improve my mastering and EQ. But if you can see, my equip is low as hell yet.
Next month, with my new CPU, RAM etc, i will load massive effects for mastering in each channel, so my tracks would sound better.

Anyway, take a look on the main OSC of general discussion thread, and reply the poll if you have some time. Thanks.

Have a good day

[evo2slo]

As others have mentioned, so many more tracks deserving of points than I have points to give. Very difficult ranking these works of art. I thought that every single entry had something unique and special to offer.

Ancient - Goodbye Kabul: 5 points
Really love this song. Great intro, incredible middle section, then the wind solo is just fantastic. Were you standing on top of a mountain when you played it? And then a nice smooth descent. I think that the composition and performance is stellar, but the drum sounds hold this piece back a little bit. Even with the flaws there's something magical about this track that I can't shake and I feel when something gets it's hooks in me like this one did it deserves my top ranking. Great music!

IrionDaRonin - Genesis: 4 points
Each of the sections of this song holds up so well on it's own, and the transitions between the parts are just seamless. Your handmade arpeggios make me think of a Dali quote. He was asked once if he used hallucinogens and he said, "I don't do drugs, I am drugs." Maybe next time someone asks you if you use arpeggiators you can say, "I don't do arpeggiators, I am arpeggiators!"
Anyway, great mix, performance, composition, and concept. Well done!

PocVecem - z3t4pØp: 3 points
On my first listen, that intro told me something incredible was coming, and the rest did not disappoint. Love the kick pattern, and the lead melody is so good. Rocking out with the sawtooth. Awesome! Really great progression. Kept me hooked throughout. I thought there maybe could have been a break from the saw before the end to add more variation, but then again I also like how it doesn't let up. Fantastic job with this track - love it!

bzur - R3vive all humanZ+: 2 points
A mellow track, but with enough variation to keep it interesting throughout. The rhythm section is super tight, accents in just the right places. Love that deep rich bass sound. And the melodies are just superb. High quality stuff here!

Doc Jon - Reinventing the Wheel: 1 point
The beats are great, the pads are great, the leads are great… hell, it's all great! The arrangement is very impressive - never sits still. Excellent craftsmanship on this one. I can listen to it again and again (and have) finding new things each time.

V'ger - Humanoid
I love the weightiness of this track - it doesn't mess around! A cool growly atmosphere, and a great arrangement. I think the drum patterns are very creative and unique. Nice sense of stereo space. Very immersive.

Bjporter - Gather 'round the piano and Turn the Strobe Light On
Love the concept! It's hilarious to think of an old-timey parlor piano scene, but with a synth as well. All parts of this song are very well done. The piano intro and outro are just masterful. Fantastic progression and sound. And the dance sections are very catchy. Excellent track!

Examigan - Tempest
Really cool bass line. The layered pads are great as well. Wonderful dark and stormy outro. Thought the song previous to the outro could have been longer, but that just shows how much I enjoyed it.

MDashDrake - Z3TA Dance
All the sounds that are used serve the song so well. It really slams, and there are so many different interesting things happening in it. The lead lines are really well done. Very strong hooks throughout this song.

Mike777 - The Ruins of Mars
A wonderful composition. Great use of space, although maybe a few more dropouts than I would like. Second half is mesmerizing, and a beautiful piece of music. Incredible melodies.

satYatunes - Welcome Z3ta
That bass has a killer groove to it. Real nice percussive movement. Like the soft bed of pads and the lead sounds and melodies are great. Very enjoyable track!

3ee - Sequenced Into Being
Very Impressive sounds and textures. An enveloping atmosphere throughout. Song struck me as an amazing extended intro, but now I want to hear the rest.

SJMmusic - Prospekt
This track is just so infectious! The main progression sounds a little familiar, but who cares! Brought a big smile to my face. If I were to change anything it might be the lengths of the different sections, but I would hate to mess with a track as good as this. Well done!

Sly fly - D Pentagon 5
Love the ambitiousness of this song. You threw a lot at it, and it's impressive how much sticks and really works well. On my first listen the changes were a little jarring, but each time I revisited it they made more and more sense. This track really grew on me. Very fun!

Dead Eddy - Extenuating Circumstances
This track grabs me big from the beginning. Would be a great soundtrack. Then when the arpeggio shifts and slows it feels a bit clunky to me. Loses it's menacing appeal. Parts of this song are I think fantastic, but it doesn't quite come together as a whole for me. Still, great work!

dan e10 - Traviesonota
Fantastic intro. The melodic elements of this piece are top-notch. I think it could benefit from stronger drum sounds though.

kx.001 - Reticulous
Nice minimalist approach. Hypnotic. Wouldn't have minded a bit more variation, but very good work as it is.

[Dan_E10]

For how long is voting open? It's proving to be tough to pick a top 5 with all the good tracks....
Dan

[kx.001]

til the 15th I think it said - details in the first post

[IrionDaRonin]

til the 15th I think it said - details in the first post

Exactly, until 15th day of this month.

Have a good day

[kx.001]

I have to say that listening to these tracks is making my maths homework almost relaxing..