One-Synth-Challenge: General discussion thread

[idfpower]

Personally, I put a lot of value of digging into a device and programming new sounds, so I want to be able to reward someone who does that well, even if their composition or production is not good or turns me off stylistically. Alternatively, if someone sends in a great song that is extremely well produced, but uses only presets, then they have not really learned much about using the synth, but they should be recognized for producing a great piece of music, as it's impossible to disconnect the inspiration that the sound plays in the creative process. They may also know things about production that everyone could benefit from by their sharing.

I don't understand why you suggest that voting on use of the synth and composition/production would be unfriendly -- one of the things that has impressed me the most about joining the competition (although I'm a newbie) is how open and friendly this community is. There are thousands of people sitting by themselves in their basements attempting to make great music, but in a bubble. This competition, and this whole community, gives us all a chance to share what we're doing, comment on it , share advice, have some fun and hopefully learn something in the process.

You are still free to give points to the entries that show good programming skills regardless of composition; you don't need to justify your vote. If you however still want to let that person know exactly why he/she got rated by you, feel free to use the comment system on Soundcloud, PMs on forum, etc. So IMO there's no real need for a more detailed voting system.

By complicating the voting system too much (again, IMO) we risk becoming some sort of a judging comitee instead of just friends working with the same instrument and sharing songs. Although I do get and like the competitive aspect of OSC, I don't think we should transform it into the Olympic Games (or something like that) Plus ppl are complaining about it as is, pressing them to fill even more charts/sheets might result in even less votes & input.

The way I see it OSC is about being creative and having fun - we can do that without a very detailed voting system.



PS: I give points only to those OSC entries that sound like nice coherent songs. While I do admire some folks' ability to pump up the sound and their superior use of effects, programming & production skills, I'm more interested in the actual song, not the sound. But that's just me

[V'ger]

No doubt there is considerable skill in creating sounds from scratch (and quite fun too), but my view is still that a tune with good blend and use of top presets will show off the synth much more than one with not-so hot patches, even if they were created by the artist/producer. Of course, there are examples in OSC of users getting better sounds than what there are presets so of course bonus points for that.

Same with the mix. Sure, not using effects is really showing the synth, but a good mix does imo more justice to the synth even if external effects were used. Judging from voting here, and from what I've seen in other competitions it seems a top mix can be just as important (or even more) than any patch or song making, but style most of all. Let's face it, a submission with top crafted patches, fab mix and brilliant composing will have no chance at all if the style or genre is unpopular.

Bottom line is that we all hold different views on what is important so a uniform voting system will be difficult to make. I suggest to keep it simple and leave people to give out their own bonus points on whatever criteria, although a 2-score system might still work and be popular, let's vote on it next rules poll.

[IrionDaRonin]

In other words.

The brush is the synth, the colours are the presets, the mix is the canvas and the artist, well, it's still the artist.
What there is in the canvas at the end of the day, is what's matters, and the final product that people like or dislike.

Of course the artist can do new colours mixing some of them and using some techniques (effects), but those colours can be a ugly one from ones, and a beauty from others.
All depends on the tastes.

So let's try to see the final product as a whole.

And as Photonic said, who can guess if the presets were from factory or made from scratch or simply was very alike to another preset?

By the way (but nothing in common with the subject), the same happens with melodies, sometimes i'm listening to a song that has some parts of my melodic tunes, unaware of it, there are two people, distant in this world, playing the same song in tune, i call it magic. Who created the melody in the first place? It doesn't matter.
Just wanted to share it.

Have a nice day

[ontrackp]

The brush is the synth, the colours are the presets, the mix is the canvas and the artist, well, it's still the artist.
What there is in the canvas at the end of the day, is what's matters, and the final product that people like or dislike.

That's a great analogy. Reading the various responses (and being new to this community) I totally get that at the end of the day it's the whole package that has to work and that everyone takes the various aspects of the production into account in their own way. Like I said, I don't want to complicate things!

The chosen synth is going to inspire creativity -- whether it be from the presets or original programming, and the important part of this is the OSC provides a great venue to present creative work. I've gone back and listened to several of the previous contests and am blown away by the diversity and production value of some of the tracks.

I still think that a dual grading system could work -- and agree with photonic that a separation between composition and technique might make more sense than focusing on use of patches, but I also see that a simple, friendly, vote for what you like best, weighted according to your personal criteria has worked for a long time and it could be the best way.

You guys have been doing this for years and I would not want to suggest anything that would change the character or culture of something that works so well and has provided a good experience for so many people.

By the way -- I would just like to say that I appreciate the respectful and friendly tone of this discussion. Being new to an online forum and throwing out ideas can be a little risky -- some forums are not always nice -- but you've all made me feel welcome - so thanks!

[Davias]

I would like to add that a great composition with perfect mix and impressive sound design would still won my 5 points vote even if I don't like the style. In fact this is the way I jumped into other styles in the past ^^ I think any style can produce masterpieces in their own class.

[nitrowheels]

The brush is the synth, the colours are the presets, the mix is the canvas and the artist, well, it's still the artist.
What there is in the canvas at the end of the day, is what's matters, and the final product that people like or dislike.

Of course the artist can do new colours mixing some of them and using some techniques (effects), but those colours can be a ugly one from ones, and a beauty from others.
All depends on the tastes.

So let's try to see the final product as a whole.

+1 +1 +1 + ... Totally agree Irion! Fab comment

[bjporter]

The brush is the synth, the colours are the presets, the mix is the canvas and the artist, well, it's still the artist.
What there is in the canvas at the end of the day, is what's matters, and the final product that people like or dislike.

Of course the artist can do new colours mixing some of them and using some techniques (effects), but those colours can be a ugly one from ones, and a beauty from others.
All depends on the tastes.

So let's try to see the final product as a whole.

+1 +1 +1 + ... Totally agree Irion! Fab comment

+1 I majorly tweaked the presets this month

[idfpower]

Can we please get the voting rules fixed? On one hand it's stated that you have to give your own track 1 point, on the other that you are not allowed to vote for yourself

[V'ger]

Fixed now..

[V'ger]

Happy to inform that Bjporter has now joined the admin team

[z.prime]

Happy to inform that Bjporter has now joined the admin team

That is awesome! Bjporter has been a wonderful contributor to this community for a long time - one of the most positive and ample sources of feedback on our tracks, excellent music himself, helping people learn in part by sharing patches/projects, and being an overall really great guy. I, for one, am glad to hear about an even more active role from someone who is so appreciated.

Thanks, bjporter!

[idfpower]

Yup, bjporter is one of the coolest cats on KVR Kudos

[satYatunes]

Congrats bjporter

[IrionDaRonin]

Welcome Brian!
I hope you can be the bad cop from now till the end of times, LMAO.

In another side...
Firebird+ synth from Tone2 now free

Enjoy and have a nice day

[V'ger]

Since changing the voting system recently to points for all, maybe time for a review so let's have a vote on it after hearing views so what's your opinion of it so far?

The obvious thing is of course the different amount of points each voter gives compared to the others, but is this necessarily a bad thing?

Anything else to include in the upcoming rules vote?