One Synth Challenge #80: MUX by MuTools (Voting Over, preliminary results in)

[rghvdberg]

Now she's singing the tune even when when I'm not playing it...

[MTLE]

Congrats, Wag. Nice tune. Was a hard way for all of us
Finally the result counts. Keep in mind you will never stop learning.

[mehum]

Here we go again...

A not very subtle title for a not very subtle track. A bit chaotic and gimmicky but I hope you enjoy!
Not sure about the mix, a lot of weight in the mids, but I won't have much more time this month so I'll let it be what it is. A lot of it is just me giving MuLab a try

mehum - May Uranus Explode

https://soundcloud.com/neophile/mehum-m ... us-explode

DAW: MuLab 6

MUX instruments:
Counted them to 25 if I count each drum in my 3 MuDrums separably.
Some MuSynths, some made from scratch.

Other effects:
Of course a lot of MUX:es and MUX:es in MUX:es... Both factory presets and custom patches.
Also: TAL Reverb 4, MJUCJr, IVGI, A1StereoControl, Blue Arp, Luftikus EQ, SlickEQ, TDR Kotelnikov, Limiter6 and good ol' span.

Here's the project for anyone interested...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0efb9v1k6ii5h ... oject?dl=0

[wagtunes]

Here we go again...

A not very subtle title for a not very subtle track. A bit chaotic and gimmicky but I hope you enjoy!
Not sure about the mix, a lot of weight in the mids, but I won't have much more time this month so I'll let it be what it is. A lot of it is just me giving MuLab a try

mehum - May Uranus Explode

https://soundcloud.com/neophile/mehum-m ... us-explode

DAW: MuLab 6

MUX instruments:
Counted them to 25 if I count each drum in my 3 MuDrums separably.
Some MuSynths, some made from scratch.

Other effects:
Of course a lot of MUX:es and MUX:es in MUX:es... Both factory presets and custom patches.
Also: TAL Reverb 4, MJUCJr, IVGI, A1StereoControl, Blue Arp, Luftikus EQ, SlickEQ, TDR Kotelnikov, Limiter6 and good ol' span.

Here's the project for anyone interested...
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0efb9v1k6ii5h ... oject?dl=0

Interesting. I'm not sure how I feel about the piano interludes and the abrupt end, but the rhythm is solid and really grooves. It's what I used to call, back in the stone ages, cool.

If I were voting now, I'd probably give it a 4. I think it will be a contender for top 10 tracks.

[mehum]

Haha, yeah, the break and ending is just me having a little fun. I got the idea the other day and thought I'd see if I could pull it off. I'ts gimicky, I know With last month's track being an 8 minute build up I wanted something different this time around.

Glad you enjoyed the rest!
And great work with your track! Came out really good after the changes. Like the mix as well. Really up close at places which works very well for the parts with sparse arrangement.

[wagtunes]

Haha, yeah, the break and ending is just me having a little fun. I got the idea the other day and thought I'd see if I could pull it off. I'ts gimicky, I know With last month's track being an 8 minute build up I wanted something different this time around.

Glad you enjoyed the rest!
And great work with your track! Came out really good after the changes. Like the mix as well. Really up close at places which works very well for the parts with sparse arrangement.

Thanks. We'll see how many 1s and 2s I get.

[doctorbob]

Before I post this, I want to say that there's something to be said for teamwork. I could have never gotten this track to where it is now without the help of all of you have have given me suggestions and/or outright fixed some of the glaring problems with this piece, especially the timing on the lead. That alone improved the track 100%.

Your result (a good one) is what cooperation in the OSC is all about. We all offer our help in a constructive way. I'm so pleased it worked out - a great track now.

In going through the final process of bringing everything down to zero and leveling, EQing and compressing each track until everything fit just right in the mix, I managed to take out the mud from the conflicting basses and cleaned up the end which was way too hot. In fact, the piece in general was at too high a db. There is no more fighting for space, that I can hear and it generally sounds so much better.

The mix is sounding pretty good. Glad you added the second bass, and then fixed up the mud (easy to overdo some freqs!). The pads seem fuller now too. Just making frequency space can let the whole mix "breathe", and all the individual elements can shine through - just keep that thought when mixing, and you won't go far wrong - honestly.

Because of that, I can't really take credit for this piece. But I will do my best to make you guys proud of me in the future. I owe you all that much for putting up with me and helping me through this.

But ... it's your music, your vision, just needed polishing, and we have provided the tin of polish and the duster! In the end, you sorted it all - and I am sure learnt a few things on the way, however "painful". I for one will always be learning, and the kind folks here have helped a lot.

dB

[wagtunes]

Before I post this, I want to say that there's something to be said for teamwork. I could have never gotten this track to where it is now without the help of all of you have have given me suggestions and/or outright fixed some of the glaring problems with this piece, especially the timing on the lead. That alone improved the track 100%.

Your result (a good one) is what cooperation in the OSC is all about. We all offer our help in a constructive way. I'm so pleased it worked out - a great track now.

In going through the final process of bringing everything down to zero and leveling, EQing and compressing each track until everything fit just right in the mix, I managed to take out the mud from the conflicting basses and cleaned up the end which was way too hot. In fact, the piece in general was at too high a db. There is no more fighting for space, that I can hear and it generally sounds so much better.

The mix is sounding pretty good. Glad you added the second bass, and then fixed up the mud (easy to overdo some freqs!). The pads seem fuller now too. Just making frequency space can let the whole mix "breathe", and all the individual elements can shine through - just keep that thought when mixing, and you won't go far wrong - honestly.

Because of that, I can't really take credit for this piece. But I will do my best to make you guys proud of me in the future. I owe you all that much for putting up with me and helping me through this.

But ... it's your music, your vision, just needed polishing, and we have provided the tin of polish and the duster! In the end, you sorted it all - and I am sure learnt a few things on the way, however "painful". I for one will always be learning, and the kind folks here have helped a lot.

dB

Hey doc, let me tell you what I did with the pad because you commented that it sounds better.

I actually doubled the part with a 2nd pad that was different in timber but complimented it. I then split the two into somewhat left and right channels. Not hard panned but enough so that it gives the illusion of a fuller pad because the stereo spread overall is better.

In fact, there are a number of doubled parts in this piece and I really think it helps a lot.

[key88]

this might not be the correct place, but I was wondering if it is legal to use something like scala which is for generating other tuning systems such as just intonation or microtonal tunings?

I could have an equal temperment and still have a mean tone

[doctorbob]

Hey doc, let me tell you what I did with the pad because you commented that it sounds better.

I actually doubled the part with a 2nd pad that was different in timber but complimented it. I then split the two into somewhat left and right channels. Not hard panned but enough so that it gives the illusion of a fuller pad because the stereo spread overall is better.

In fact, there are a number of doubled parts in this piece and I really think it helps a lot.

Way to go! Just quite minor tweaks like this can make a big difference to the sounds you get from using a single synth - partly what overall sound design is like in this slightly odd environment. In my piece, the slow arp which features a lot is in fact two tracks of slightly different timbre too, panned just a bit L&R like you did, but I also added a touch of delay - just a little so it's not overly obvious (you may not even hear it), but it has the effect of bulking the sound almost like a chorus effect, but not quite!

I guess you are feeling much better about the track now - and of course, the next OSC is due to start in 6 days!!!

Cheers,

dB

PS. The theme used for the SoundIron contest entry (see previous post for the link) was close to being this OSC, but I had to move quick (only 10 days notice on that one!), and so got used there. Must get on and rack my old grey cells (which match the hair too!), and think about possible ideas for the November OSC. If you get to listen to the SoundIron track, do let me know what you think - has more "classical" feel to it, so not really OSC fodder, but had lots of OSC techniques thrown in.

[doctorbob]

this might not be the correct place, but I was wondering if it is legal to use something like scala which is for generating other tuning systems such as just intonation or microtonal tunings?

I could have an equal temperment and still have a mean tone

I don't see why not at all - I used Generative Music software to create my previous track and I could certainly have programmed in microtonal stuff.

Go for it I say - the more variety and interesting ideas and techniques in the OSC the better I say!

dB

[wagtunes]

Hey doc, let me tell you what I did with the pad because you commented that it sounds better.

I actually doubled the part with a 2nd pad that was different in timber but complimented it. I then split the two into somewhat left and right channels. Not hard panned but enough so that it gives the illusion of a fuller pad because the stereo spread overall is better.

In fact, there are a number of doubled parts in this piece and I really think it helps a lot.

Way to go! Just quite minor tweaks like this can make a big difference to the sounds you get from using a single synth - partly what overall sound design is like in this slightly odd environment. In my piece, the slow arp which features a lot is in fact two tracks of slightly different timbre too, panned just a bit L&R like you did, but I also added a touch of delay - just a little so it's not overly obvious (you may not even hear it), but it has the effect of bulking the sound almost like a chorus effect, but not quite!

I guess you are feeling much better about the track now - and of course, the next OSC is due to start in 6 days!!!

Cheers,

dB

PS. The theme used for the SoundIron contest entry (see previous post for the link) was close to being this OSC, but I had to move quick (only 10 days notice on that one!), and so got used there. Must get on and rack my old grey cells (which match the hair too!), and think about possible ideas for the November OSC. If you get to listen to the SoundIron track, do let me know what you think - has more "classical" feel to it, so not really OSC fodder, but had lots of OSC techniques thrown in.

I'd love to listen to it doc. Where can I find it? Link?

[doctorbob]

I'd love to listen to it doc. Where can I find it? Link?

Hi, here's the link to my dropbox version (don't think it's right to post the Soundcloud link into this MUX forum!)

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/333 ... 0stems.mp3

The comp was a bit different from the OSC - we got a 12 instrument (Kontakt and SFZ) pack. We could only use those instruments and modify them with the given control panel in the players (Kontakt of Sforzando) - so pads, and drums/percussion had to be very much "bent" out of the supplied sounds - quite tricky. The piano patches were lightweight versions from one of their bigger packs. The lead piano was doubled with an octave shift and different sound (only apparent some of the time but adds extra dimension). No 3rd party FX allowed apart from gentle EQ and compression for the mix process.

But .. if you like it and would like to comment (competition is well over, and no placing even though there were only 38 entries - wrong genre I guess this time and perhaps didn't develop as much as it should, just not enough time! ), it's in my SoundCloud page which is not hard to find eh?

Cheers, and enjoy,

dB

[wagtunes]

I'd love to listen to it doc. Where can I find it? Link?

Hi, here's the link to my dropbox version (don't think it's right to post the Soundcloud link into this MUX forum!)

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/333 ... 0stems.mp3

The comp was a bit different from the OSC - we got a 12 instrument (Kontakt and SFZ) pack. We could only use those instruments and modify them with the given control panel in the players (Kontakt of Sforzando) - so pads, and drums/percussion had to be very much "bent" out of the supplied sounds - quite tricky. The piano patches were lightweight versions from one of their bigger packs. The lead piano was doubled with an octave shift and different sound (only apparent some of the time but adds extra dimension). No 3rd party FX allowed apart from gentle EQ and compression for the mix process.

But .. if you like it and would like to comment (competition is well over, and no placing even though there were only 38 entries - wrong genre I guess this time and perhaps didn't develop as much as it should, just not enough time! ), it's in my SoundCloud page which is not hard to find eh?

Cheers, and enjoy,

dB

Man, that is sooooo nice. Reminds me a little of Christopher Cross' "Arthur's Theme" which was a big hit in the 70s as I'm sure you remember being old like me. LOL.

Gotta run to church now but I'll hunt out your Soundcloud page when I get back.

[rockingricky]

Here my track for the October 2015 challenge.

The MUX is really a gorgeous synth. I think, you can see the difference between a free plugin and a soft synth to buy. So, many thanks to MuTool for offering the MUX for this month.
Great sounds and tons of parameters.
In fact, the first two weeks, I was playing around with the knobs and sliders and patching modules together

But I decided to take mainly preset sounds, tweaked it a little and used it in a ... ahmm ... traditional way :


https://soundcloud.com/rockingricky/roc ... school-fun

DAW: Cubase Elements 8
17 instances of MUX
Only internal MUX-FX used and the Cubase compressor in the mix.

Enjoy listening!