One Synth Challenge #83: MPowerSynth by MeldaProduction (Z.Prime Wins!)

[ontrackp]

Thanks. I'm going to refrain from commenting as to why I scored so low. It doesn't matter.

Rushing composition and sound design plus little or no attention to detail and production = low OSC scores.

If that's what you think I did with this one, you're nuts. I busted my ass I on this track. Listen to the detail on the drums and percussion tracks alone. I think there was 15 tracks there alone.

But whatever. I don't care anymore. I'm done with these.

Think what you want. It no longer matters to me.

Not sure why I am spending any time on this, other than I hate to see people beat themselves up for the wrong reasons. You don't have a lack of talent -- that's clear from some of your previous entries, and the outstanding moments in other pieces. You spent the first day of this competition complaining that you couldn't do a piece, then submitted your final entry on Jan 4. So 4 days of (somewhat) intensive work. That gives no time for relaxing and letting things sit for a day or two while thinking through composition or production issues, or taking a break between production and mixing, or doing detailed sound design, or re-building the mix a few times to get it right. There are very few people who can just barrel through and produce a great piece in a few days. Sometimes it takes a couple of weeks (even just a few minutes a day) to work through the puzzling out of melody/harmonies/arrangements. That's the practical reality of creative work. You're competing with people who take the time to get it right -- if you don't, you won't do as well. A few months ago you did a piece that was remixed several times with input and advice for several people including me. It came out really well and you scored higher. We don't always have that kind of time, but rather than blaming your poor results on a lack of talent, consider the equation: More time and attention = better results. And I'm not just picking on you -- in general the pieces that come in on the first few days are not as involved, detailed, well-done, interesting, etc... as the pieces that people spend more time on. Good luck on your future endeavors, I for one will miss your participation in OSC!

[wagtunes]

Thanks. I'm going to refrain from commenting as to why I scored so low. It doesn't matter.

Rushing composition and sound design plus little or no attention to detail and production = low OSC scores.

If that's what you think I did with this one, you're nuts. I busted my ass I on this track. Listen to the detail on the drums and percussion tracks alone. I think there was 15 tracks there alone.

But whatever. I don't care anymore. I'm done with these.

Think what you want. It no longer matters to me.

Not sure why I am spending any time on this, other than I hate to see people beat themselves up for the wrong reasons. You don't have a lack of talent -- that's clear from some of your previous entries, and the outstanding moments in other pieces. You spent the first day of this competition complaining that you couldn't do a piece, then submitted your final entry on Jan 4. So 4 days of (somewhat) intensive work. That gives no time for relaxing and letting things sit for a day or two while thinking through composition or production issues, or taking a break between production and mixing, or doing detailed sound design, or re-building the mix a few times to get it right. There are very few people who can just barrel through and produce a great piece in a few days. Sometimes it takes a couple of weeks (even just a few minutes a day) to work through the puzzling out of melody/harmonies/arrangements. That's the practical reality of creative work. You're competing with people who take the time to get it right -- if you don't, you won't do as well. A few months ago you did a piece that was remixed several times with input and advice for several people including me. It came out really well and you scored higher. We don't always have that kind of time, but rather than blaming your poor results on a lack of talent, consider the equation: More time and attention = better results. And I'm not just picking on you -- in general the pieces that come in on the first few days are not as involved, detailed, well-done, interesting, etc... as the pieces that people spend more time on. Good luck on your future endeavors, I for one will miss your participation in OSC!

The thing is, I like the track the way it is, more than a month and a half later. In fact, it's my 2nd favorite OSC entry ever. I was STUNNED to come in next to last. In fact, I got only 3 points more than the track below me which was, I'm sorry to say, almost unlistenable.

And to further prove that I know it's not my music but some kind hatred of me by certain people here, I can point you to months where I received 4s from some of the most respected people here, including Z, and yet got as many as 8 or 9 1s.

I'm sorry, but when that happens, something is very, very wrong.

And if you look at my monthly picks for best OSCs, you will see how deadly accurate I am on these. In fact, one month, I picked the whole top 5 except for one track I picked that came in 6th.

I know the difference between a well made track and a poorly made track. And I don't judge them on my musical taste because if I did that, I'd give almost all these tracks 1s. I've learned to "appreciate" EDM and related genres. it certainly isn't what I grew up with. But I can recognize when something is done well and reward it accordingly.

I know when I do something that is crap. This entry wasn't it and nobody can convince me that it was.

But like I said, I don't really give a shit anymore. I'm simply replying to you as a courtesy. But I'm done with the OSC. I don't need the aggravation and the constant being made to feel like I'm a no talent bum.

[bh9090]

Hey Wagtunes -

I was going to give your track another listen, and maybe make some comments, given the discussion here. I don't see it on the Soundcloud group? Did I miss it?

[Reefius]

Wags, to me your tracks always sound like you wanna show-off your sound design skills. But quite often, these sounds could be great on their own, but just don't go together and/or no proper EQ has been used on them. If there are 5 different sounds fighting for the same frequency, it just sounds messy.

Remember a few months ago, when I commented on your song that it hurt my ears? That was not because I didn't like the music, but because there were just too many sounds using the same frequencies. That alone can even make the best song sound very unpleasant to listen to.

To get a good score in a competition like this, you not only need to have musical talent, you also need the technical skills to make everything sound tight together. Mixing is not just setting all levels and adding a compressor and limiter on the master.

I'm quite sure that with a proper mix, your songs would score a lot better.

[wagtunes]

Hey Wagtunes -

I was going to give your track another listen, and maybe make some comments, given the discussion here. I don't see it on the Soundcloud group? Did I miss it?

I've removed it as well as all my other OSC tracks.

[wagtunes]

Wags, to me your tracks always sound like you wanna show-off your sound design skills. But quite often, these sounds could be great on their own, but just don't go together and/or no proper EQ has been used on them. If there are 5 different sounds fighting for the same frequency, it just sounds messy.

Remember a few months ago, when I commented on your song that it hurt my ears? That was not because I didn't like the music, but because there were just too many sounds using the same frequencies. That alone can even make the best song sound very unpleasant to listen to.

To get a good score in a competition like this, you not only need to have musical talent, you also need the technical skills to make everything sound tight together. Mixing is not just setting all levels and adding a compressor and limiter on the master.

I'm quite sure that with a proper mix, your songs would score a lot better.

Well, I don't do that. You should see the number of FX (EQs, reverbs, delays, etc) I use on each track.

I'll make a bet that if Z Prime did my song for me one month and I submitted it, not only wouldn't I win, I wouldn't make the top 5 either.

Would that finally prove my point to everybody that there are people here who flat out have it in for me because I'm outspoken and don't take crap?

Again, Z's given me 4s for tracks I've submitted that 8 or 9 people gave me 1s for. Are you saying the guy who wins this thing almost every month has no taste and doesn't know what's good from bad?

The evidence is overwhelming. Just pull up the spreadsheets for each month in the last 4 or 5 months and take a look at who gave me 4s and then take a look at who gave me 1s and 2s.

I'm not paranoid. I go by the evidence. My scores make absolutely no logical sense other than certain people just hate me.

The proof is there. You can look it up for yourself.

[shapeshifter]

My track was unlistenable? What an idiot....

[wagtunes]

My track was unlistenable? What an idiot....

Fine, I'm an idiot, but as badly as I did (and I'm the poster boy here for "let's trash this guy's work") you did even worse.

Maybe that's something you should think about before you call ME an idiot.

[ZentralmassivSound]

Hey guys, wow, really impressive tracks! The top 5 is really splendid. I also like Ken Suguro's track. Some epic choir/orchestra/drum ensemble string stuff, and that's not from a sampler but from a synth. Really impressive.

[shapeshifter]

Fnord.

[bh9090]

My track was unlistenable? What an idiot....

Fine, I'm an idiot, but as badly as I did (and I'm the poster boy here for "let's trash this guy's work") you did even worse.

Maybe that's something you should think about before you call ME an idiot.

1. I've seen far more people being encouraging to you than disparaging.
2. Voting is a little weird sometime because people's tastes are drastically different. Case in point. You predict the winners, but I'm always surprised by a couple on your list. Some are much lower on mine.
3. Continual comments about being on the bottom probably starts to become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
4. Create art because you need to, or enjoy doing it, not for validation from others.

[bjporter]

My track was unlistenable? What an idiot....

Fine, I'm an idiot, but as badly as I did (and I'm the poster boy here for "let's trash this guy's work") you did even worse.

Maybe that's something you should think about before you call ME an idiot.

ok people Let's move on

[wagtunes]

My track was unlistenable? What an idiot....

Fine, I'm an idiot, but as badly as I did (and I'm the poster boy here for "let's trash this guy's work") you did even worse.

Maybe that's something you should think about before you call ME an idiot.

1. I've seen far more people being encouraging to you than disparaging.
2. Voting is a little weird sometime because people's tastes are drastically different. Case in point. You predict the winners, but I'm always surprised by a couple on your list. Some are much lower on mine.
3. Continual comments about being on the bottom probably starts to become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
4. Create art because you need to, or enjoy doing it, not for validation from others.

It's no fun when people constantly tell you that you suck. And yes, I do create music for my own enjoyment. Been doing it for over 35 years now to the tune of a few thousand songs written. I've got an MP3 player just filled with nothing but my tracks. I've had one song published and was a song contest finalist with my latest submission.

Which is why I will simply continue doing what I do best and enjoy and leave the OSC behind me.

Because like I said, it's no fun when people keep telling you that you suck.

[rghvdberg]

Seriously.

[DzAH]

wagtunes,

if u get a 1 point from someone could really mean a lot of different things. As long as someone dont state what 1p equals its like impossible to say.

I would say, if you totaly disagree with someones voting where is a VERY high chance they using a different template/standard of voting. I mean.. my template could be "I will give half the entries 1 point, and only one entry 5 point".. and some might try to be objective in voting, while other might vote purly on what they like and not.

So just saying... its like impossible to say what 1 point, or 2 etc. actually mean.

Idk, maybe it would be a good idea if everyone who votes have to make template (or refere to a template) so everyone can see what the voting means ? something like:

5 Points to that one track that made me vote. 4 and 3 points for second and third, 2 points for all the other good ones, 1 point for the rest (not necessarily bad ones - not quite as elaborated as the other bunch).
Cheers
Ruedi

1 - only me
2 - tracks that fell short of my baseline for OSC quality. Still well done, just could use some improvement in composition, sound design or production
3 - Majority of the tracks -- all competently produced at OSC quality
4 - tracks that stood out to me in some way -- creatively for composition, sound design and/or production
5 - the best of the best (8 of them this month)