One Synth Challenge #74: DEXED (Jasinski Wins!)

[spidergod]

Ok will try this out, latest computer music magazine has a section on FM synthesis this month.

[mehum]

The answers I've seen from previous months regarding allowed effects have been a bit more laxed... Is it a modulation effect or change the pitch ? Not allowed? Delay and reverb? Allowed as long as pitch is unchanged. Distortion, amp simulation, resonant filters? use with care, don't dramatically change the sound from the synth. EQ (non-resonant filter), dynamic processors (compressor, limiter)? Allowed.

These are the rules I've set to follow the two times I've entered.

The general rule being that the sound should primarily come from the synthesizer and any sound altering effects should only be used very carefully.

Very many previous entries would be disqualified if EQ would not be allowed...

This is just a newbie's interpretation of the rules though...

[spidergod]

Anyone know where the cartridge sounds are stored? (CART in dexed)
Also how do you add a new cartridge (or would it be bank)?

You can get some very idm style sounds playing with the algorithm section.

[mehum]

Ok will try this out, latest computer music magazine has a section on FM synthesis this month.

Yeah, I saw this... Has anyone used the Zinio service to get the digital issue? It seems to be the only option for me but I see so many bad reviews for their apps so I'm a bit hesitant...

[H-man]

Ok will try this out, latest computer music magazine has a section on FM synthesis this month.

Yeah, I saw this... Has anyone used the Zinio service to get the digital issue? It seems to be the only option for me but I see so many bad reviews for their apps so I'm a bit hesitant...

I get it through Google Play store sometimes. Seems to all work as intended. Zinio should be fine ...right?

[LhaastDaiz]

Spidergod, from https://github.com/asb2m10/dexed

It is possible to enjoy your DX7 sysex collection from one single zip file. Simply move your zipped sysex content to where you have installed Dexed (VST plugins dir). Then rename the zip file to Dexed_cart.zip. You can modify this file anytime you want, Dexed will simply reparse it when the file is changed. Directories in the zip file will be transformed into submenu when you hit the [CART] button. Watch out; Windows hides the .zip extension by default !

[MTLE]

The answers I've seen from previous months regarding allowed effects have been a bit more laxed... Is it a modulation effect or change the pitch ? Not allowed? Delay and reverb? Allowed as long as pitch is unchanged. Distortion, amp simulation, resonant filters? use with care, don't dramatically change the sound from the synth. EQ (non-resonant filter), dynamic processors (compressor, limiter)? Allowed.

These are the rules I've set to follow the two times I've entered.

The general rule being that the sound should primarily come from the synthesizer and any sound altering effects should only be used very carefully.

Very many previous entries would be disqualified if EQ would not be allowed...

This is just a newbie's interpretation of the rules though...

It's not just an interpretation thing. It is really comlex. You can use an EQ (filter) with automation that way that it results in modulation, but modulation is not allowed. You can use delays to generate entire new sounds which means a dramatically change of the sound from the synth. It always depends on how you use the FX. Some are definitly excluded, because they are based on modulation (e.g. flanger) and do not work without. Some are always on the border. Such FX should be used careful or better not if cannot be clearified.

[Parduz]

Ok, mates, got it, no rules exceptions
(Yes, i know the detune+panning layering trick: i had an FB01, i have used the trick a lot).

[z.prime]

Is it a modulation effect or change the pitch ? Not allowed? Delay and reverb? Allowed as long as pitch is unchanged. Distortion, amp simulation, resonant filters? use with care, don't dramatically change the sound from the synth. EQ (non-resonant filter), dynamic processors (compressor, limiter)? Allowed.
...
The general rule being that the sound should primarily come from the synthesizer and any sound altering effects should only be used very carefully

Pretty much sums it up. Currently, modulation EFFECTS are not allowed, including chorus/phaser/flanger/glitch. Things that basically work by sampling the sound and replaying it different with ptich changes, something that you wouldn't directly be able to get with the plugin by itself. (Of course, you can definitely just stack 2 instances panned hard left/right and alter the detune very slightly to get a huge chorus effect, anyway).

EQ, delay, dynamics (compressor/limiter/transient/etc), all allowed - you would be hard pressed to get a decent mix without shaving off some low frequencies with EQ. Still, not dramatically altering the sound, just making things fit together better. Filters are glorified EQ, so also allowed.

FX that have are normally allowed but also have modulation as a secondary function, such as delay that might detune the echoes ARE also currently allowed (although they were not in the past), but, true to the spirit of the rule, the modulation effect should be minimal.

The spirit is to have sounds as close to the plug as possible, as was mentioned. But then, we are making an entire track after all, so preventing normal mixing/mastering techniques would just be silly and result in much worse tracks and only 2 people in the entire world want that. One of them has already chimed in.

However, DO MODULATE parameters through automation all you want!! This is also essential to keep things interesting! Modulate EQ if you need to, definitely modulate synth parameters, automate MIDI pitch bend or other CC's. Absolutely!!

[H-man]

+1 for EQ, Compression, saturation and Reverb. All essential tools for OSC. Remember, not every month is Synthmaster or Hive etc. but IIRC no-one has yet been disqualified for too much EQ.

I agree though that techniques like sweeping resonant peaks with automation etc (on the EQ) is not really in the spirit of the contest, even if not strictly in breach of the rules.

[spidergod]

Spidergod, from https://github.com/asb2m10/dexed

It is possible to enjoy your DX7 sysex collection from one single zip file. Simply move your zipped sysex content to where you have installed Dexed (VST plugins dir). Then rename the zip file to Dexed_cart.zip. You can modify this file anytime you want, Dexed will simply reparse it when the file is changed. Directories in the zip file will be transformed into submenu when you hit the [CART] button. Watch out; Windows hides the .zip extension by default !

Thanks and am just testing it out now.

[spidergod]

Are we allowed to use this delay (it is free)? :

http://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/fre ... nic-618978

[H-man]

Are we allowed to use this delay (it is free)? :

http://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/fre ... nic-618978

Yeah as far as I can tell, totally free and freely available. Synthmaker/flowstone so win only but looks interesting.

May want to watch out tho:

However, if another type of effect (like delay or reverb for example) has modulation as a secondary effect,
it can be used, but the modulation usage must be minimal.

[z.prime]

Are we allowed to use this delay (it is free)? :

http://www.musicradar.com/news/tech/fre ... nic-618978

Yeah it's okay per the rules as currently written. But along the lines of the ongoing discussion, be careful with the amount of modulation...

[H-man]

@Z sry bro barged in there.

On closer inspection this delay looks pretty dirty. Phaser, Chorus, Reverse. I might suggest using a simple ping -pong instead as that is all you would have left over.