One-Synth-Challenge: General discussion thread

[V'ger]

Yes let's have a poll about secret voting, will start one a bit later. Could also include one about voting time. Anything else in the rules or otherwise that should be voted on while we're at it?

I agree with your points about the outburst from the other thread, but to be fair, the topic of voting criteria has been controversial as long as I've been here, especially regarding personal song or style preference over synth wizardry.

Whining for the sake of it is one thing, but I also understand the point as slightly legitimate as I will admit to being quite miffed myself in another competition when people completely missed out on my genius entry because of seemingly invalid reasons. But I remembered from any competition like sports for example that it's never nice to work hard and really do well and still lose out no matter the reasons, and even though music is more personal maybe, it's still the same thing and losing graciously even if wronged is a quality I admire in others so aspire to myself, but then we all have bad days etc so not going to judge too much..

[Rob West]

I've been giving the voting some thought and haven't fully fleshed it out yet, but my initial idea is something like this...

Have voters vote on every song submitted. Say on a scale from 0 to 5, or 0 to 10, in two categories. 1- Synth wizardry 2- Musical loveliness. Both scores totaled for rankings.

Each voter will then be obliged to consider the complexity involved in creating the sounds of a track and also the gift of putting the sounds together in a workable or pleasing way.

If you get a guy who is a tweak genius but can't carry a tune, he gets 5,0, and another who can't program squat, but has angels singing in her head then the voting should fairly show it as 0,5. Someone who can do both will be the ultimate winner, 5,5. (This would be part of the vote from only one voter...)

This would also enable participants to give comments on every song, thus helping novices who are looking for more advice/critiques than the limited space available on the track in Soundcloud.

Just tossing it out to see if it catches wind with any of you...

[IrionDaRonin]

Wow!

Electronic Music Guide

I'm enjoying this so much, i got nostalgic, but also, i'm learning a lot from 50's to 00's
Time to make other forms and styles with my tracks, i need a little change.

Enjoy it!

[V'ger]

Interesting, thanks for the idea, although I believe we've discussed weighted voting before without implementing I think because of the extra effort needed and the disagreement about what to weight exactly. But will include in the rules poll too.

[IrionDaRonin]

Also enjoy Wusik Eve 3 for free if you have a Facebook account.

http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5064125

Don't kill the messenger if you don't have one.

Have a good day

[RuediRena]

Have voters vote on every song submitted. Say on a scale from 0 to 5, or 0 to 10, in two categories. 1- Synth wizardry 2- Musical loveliness. Both scores totaled for rankings.

We support this idea.

Consider a track which accidentally fails to get any points but is everyones sixth best choice. What happens? This track will appear at the very end of the scoreboard. Loser! The current system of voting fails to reflect voter's rankings in our opinion. Let's change it!

[V'ger]

Ok will run a poll soon. Any other suggestions for how to better the voting or any other topic? Would be awesome if SoundCloud could incorporate some feature.

[Rob West]

Wow!

Electronic Music Guide

I'm enjoying this so much, i got nostalgic, but also, i'm learning a lot from 50's to 00's
Time to make other forms and styles with my tracks, i need a little change.

Enjoy it!

Wow! is right. I finally had some time (the last 3 hours!)to check this out. A real jewel for those curious as to the evolution of Electronic music. The author helps pin down the nuance and impetus of different styles- did for me, anyway, and most descriptions are accompanied with music examples. Great link, thanks!

[evo2slo]

Yeah, that Electronic Music Guide is awesome! The descriptions are hilariously cynical. "Electronica does not exist."
Thanks for the link Irion!

Ok will run a poll soon. Any other suggestions for how to better the voting or any other topic? Would be awesome if SoundCloud could incorporate some feature.

What about allowing demo versions of effect plug-ins? I'm trying the new NI/Softube Passive EQ and Vari Comp and would love to be able to put it on my master buss for the next contest. It runs for 30 minutes and then you just need to relaunch it. Available to everyone to use, so why not?

[V'ger]

But you need iLok for the demos, no?

[evo2slo]

Nope. Just give NI an email address and they send you a download link. Each time you open it you just have to click the 'run demo' button.

http://www.native-instruments.com/en/pr ... demo-mode/

I think the Passive EQ is fantastic. Vari Comp seems nice as well. Haven't really tried the Enhanced EQ yet.

Because of the demo restrictions I wouldn't really see myself using them on individual tracks, but on the masterbuss for mixdown I think 30 minutes would be plenty, but can always relaunch if more time is needed.

[z.prime]

Nope. Just give NI an email address and they send you a download link. Each time you open it you just have to click the 'run demo' button.

http://www.native-instruments.com/en/pr ... demo-mode/

I think the Passive EQ is fantastic. Vari Comp seems nice as well. Haven't really tried the Enhanced EQ yet.

Because of the demo restrictions I wouldn't really see myself using them on individual tracks, but on the masterbuss for mixdown I think 30 minutes would be plenty, but can always relaunch if more time is needed.

Well, my take is it would fall into the "freely available" category - anything you can download and use without paying anything for. However, it would be hard to police whether or not you *did* purchase a product, at which time it could give an unfair advantage.

[evo2slo]

Good point z.prime, but then again it's always hard to police for anything. Someone could have been using the full version of Dune in last months contest and who would know?
There is the rule that anyone could be asked to submit their song file for examination. Maybe we should start doing random checks?

[V'ger]

Softube is no doubt some of the best plugs out there and if the demos are just simple downloads then why not, I'm sure we all like for the tracks to be as good as possible. Will include this point in the upcoming rules poll.

About checking project files it's only been done once so far when a first-timer here at KVR had an amazing entry that sounded too good to be true, but all was in order. I suspect the honor system generally works well but we could also include in the rules poll if prize winning songs should automatically have to submit, like drug testing in sports..

[evo2slo]

About checking project files it's only been done once so far when a first-timer here at KVR had an amazing entry that sounded too good to be true, but all was in order. I suspect the honor system generally works well but we could also include in the rules poll if prize winning songs should automatically have to submit, like drug testing in sports..

Speaking of sports, in American football a coach can challenge a calling on the field. After video review by the officials, if the challenge is not supported that team loses one of their timeouts.

Based on that, here's an idea - Any contestant can demand that the project files of any other contestant be checked. However, if the accused project file is found to be within the rules then the accuser's track gets disqualified.

Don't think it would ever happen, but if it did it would be kind of exciting to watch it play out.