One-Synth-Challenge: General discussion thread

[V'ger]

If the rule of DAW effects changes into "Yes, now you can use them". Could i use DAW Compressor and DAW EQ too then?

Yes any effect as long it's not a modulation type.

Also, if this rules gets approved, what about using a convolution reverb? Yes, it uses external waves, and that's why i'm asking, actually i think FL Studio has a couple of bad/cheap reverbs in my opinion, but this convolution one sounds clean.
I think Reverberate LE it was allowed, right?

Convolution reverb has always been ok, as for Reverberate LE it was allowed by the previous admin Tattiemannie since it was charityware although I was rather hoping it would not come up as a topic as it isn't really within the rules as defined with 'freeware'. Really wanted to use it though, as almost all others like SIR etc have latency, but still useful when mastering after etc.

Now that the topic is anyway up, what do you all think about charityware like Reverberate LE? Charityware is obviously for a good cause, and if people get used to it in OSC, it might lead people to donating maybe?

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

host delay ??

ok, glad i've got delay designer

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

p.s i'm out....i can't see why everyone wouldn't be happy to go with the list i gave (even expanded with other x-plat options), with host eq/comp

there's the level playing field....then everyone has the same tools, leaving each persons use/composition of the synth in question to shine through

[JoeCat]

p.s i'm out....i can't see why everyone wouldn't be happy to go with the list i gave (even expanded with other x-plat options), with host eq/comp

there's the level playing field....then everyone has the same tools, leaving each persons use/composition of the synth in question to shine through

I'd be fine with it also if that's the case (since I'm mostly on the Mac), however I think it would get voted down because it would so limit the current PC choices (IMHO)

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

however I think it would get voted down because it would so limit the current PC choices (IMHO)

which would mean pc users would always be at an advantage

i don't see why it SHOULD cause problems, the focus is the synth

also, it's a shame that there aren't many mac-compatible prizes

[SuperNoise]

I'm observing the OSC and I would like to participate soon with some my artworks, so far studying synthesis takes a lot of my time.

Anyway, I'm seeing in which direction goes the discussion here and I see a general problem.

If you will go in so many details and sub-rules, you loose.

I tried to organise a similar compo like OSC in the past, the only diference was to allow more VST instruments in one time.
When I publised the rules for my compo I got lot of questions and my wrong decision was to implement, in logical way, all what people asked for.

When I reached questions what is the synthesis, what is a wavesampling, tons of questions, and never enought good answers for them. Never enough good system to judge and keep the rules in order.

I found out that people are more interested in duscussion about rules than to compose the music! Everybody was willing to write a 'SMART' opinion on the forum to bee seen, but nobody composed a tune.

My lessons learned.
The simples way is, when everybody use the same conditions to compose his tune.
Of course it's not possible because of room conditions, equipment, soft and at last even different ears we posses!

So what is another way? I think to define few general rules and start to focuse on music.

My first imagination on OSC was, when I participate I will update my sound synthesis skills fast. I thought to read the OSC forum about 'how did you achieve this incredible snare in Sonigen' or 'what is a way to synthesis this nice pad in your tune, how did you get it so fat'.

Instead I got the the neverending rules discussion here.
Not so much about synthesis, motivation, new fresh ideas, colaboration - this is what makes people better, not rules. Please remember.

[V'ger]

Point well taken but I think no matter what it's always going to be difficult balance and with different views.

And right, the aim must always be to simplify the rules as much as possible but the balance must still be found with keeping it to the main topic of synth use and also competition fairness, so a certain level of complexity must inevitably be there, and constant tweaking of the rules like these polls etc is for the better.

About synth talk there has in fairness been a fair amount of that, but mostly in the competition threads as this thread is typically for format and rules so naturally to see most of that in here.

[gorgorgathgorgorgor]

Look, if we're talking about demanding an equal playing field for all, then we'd have to require that all use the same OS, processor, RAM, and host DAW. This is not exactly practical as we are not the Professional Synth League (has a ring to it tho doesn't it? Welcome to the 3rd annual PSL Super Bowl of Synths!). If we really did want to level things a little more, the simplest thing would be to limit the plugs selection to a small handful of utilitarian plugs that are cross-platform PC/MAC, for example, only Cockos REAplugs.

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

the simplest thing would be to limit the plugs selection to a small handful of utilitarian plugs that are cross-platform PC/MAC, for example, only Cockos REAplugs.

exactly, though as a logic user i cannot use the REA plugs

anything wrong with this list ??


host eq and compressor

tal dub III
tal-reverb
ambience
sonEq
roughrider
molot compresor
yong w1 limiter

[IrionDaRonin]

Look, if we're talking about demanding an equal playing field for all, then we'd have to require that all use the same OS, processor, RAM, and host DAW.

Amen to that, bro.
Also the same speakers, room, ears...

anything wrong with this list ??

host eq and compressor

tal dub III
tal-reverb
ambience
sonEq
roughrider
molot compresor
yong w1 limiter

Only wrong in that list are the Host EQ and Host Compressor, which are not allowed for now.
The rest is ok.

Have a good day and welcome

[JJBiener]

OK, if we want to be serious about this being a One Synth Challenge and we want as level a playing field as possible, the only logical solution is no effects. Period. Only the effects in the synth itself. Yes, this will make the challenge far more difficult, especially for those of us who are still relatively new at soft synth programming, but I think this is as close as we can get to achieving the premise I started with.

On the other end of the spectrum, we can ask, "Is it really a matter of tools, or is it the skill of the composer/musician that really is the issue." I refer you to the poem The Touch of the Master's Hand. If you ignore the religious aspects of this poem, it is a pretty good analogy of what we are talking about. Is the choice of a reverb or delay going to make the difference between a winning and losing entry? Probably not. This would be a good argument for allowing a broad selection of plugins (all free and readily available, of course).

Another thing is that we are each able to take the into account the plugins each person chooses when making our votes. We are free to rank a tune higher based on the fact that the artist used very few effects as opposed to someone who used a dozen. Or we can look at which plugins are used and possibly how much they are used (If we can tell by listening).

I would be happy with either of these two choices. I don't think this middling in the middle is really getting us to a solution.

[V'ger]

Nice story and poem

Your list is OK El-bo except the delay is a bit limited and Ambience uses some juice etc.

But only a few more days to vote people so get them in before February.

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

OK, if we want to be serious about this being a One Synth Challenge and we want as level a playing field as possible, the only logical solution is no effects. Period. Only the effects in the synth itself.

that makes a lot of sense to me

[gorgorgathgorgorgor]

OK, if we want to be serious about this being a One Synth Challenge and we want as level a playing field as possible, the only logical solution is no effects. Period. Only the effects in the synth itself.

that makes a lot of sense to me

I would be totally OK with this (coming from the guy who keeps voting for the status-quo)

[evo2slo]

The no effects rule was voted on recently, and overwhelmingly defeated... it did even worse than the bonus points idea.

Voting over for the rules poll, and no real big changes other than modulation is now allowed as long as it's part of other effect and used minimally. As it was 50-50 about using a list of allowed plugins and no list, things will be kept as they are with no list (since no majority to change)