One Synth Challenge #87: Podolski by U-he (Jasinski Wins!)

[zarf]

OK Z` - sounds like you've got some good logic behind that. I was just fumbling in the dark once again! I'll try those settings later and report back!

[J.Ruegg]

I'm somewhat confused now , commercial plugins that don't alter the sound(like arpeggiators...) are allowed?
And if so, why would MUX be against the rules?, if you use it just for layering instances and automation.

And if MUX is allowed inside Mulab, and Rewire is allowed too :
If I use MUX inside Renoise, and Renoise is used as Rewire slave inside Mulab, That would be ok?
I know that's crazy, my problems would be solved if I could use Mulab as rewire slave inside renoise(but that don't work), or if I would have a MIDI controller to play notes in Mulab (I don't like to draw everything with the mouse)...

Some thoughts about this?

[J.Ruegg]

Another question:

Mulab can do Audiorate Modulation, If I automate the synth parameters with a sound source that isn't from the synth itself (e.g a sampled snare), that is considered inside the rules?

I haven't experimented a lot with this feature, but I guess it could make some nice results...

[z.prime]

commercial plugins that don't alter the sound(like arpeggiators...) are allowed?

No, it was stated at some point commercial plugins of any kind are not allowed (I really wanted to use Cthulu a while ago, but it was prohibited).

And if so, why would MUX be against the rules?, if you use it just for layering instances and automation. ... And if MUX is allowed inside Mulab

MUX is part of Mulab, so it's just "using Mulab as your DAW". Processing tracks after they leave the DAW is also not allowed, e.g. you can't load it up in a different DAW for different mastering plugins. This would be similar to using MUX along with it's filters or EQ or something else then passing it to the DAW you're actually using.

I don't necessarily agree with these rules, but that's how they are as I understand them.

Mulab can do Audiorate Modulation, If I automate the synth parameters with a sound source that isn't from the synth itself (e.g a sampled snare), that is considered inside the rules?

Hm, probably not using sampled sources... but using audio rate modulation from a source of the synth itself would be fine. Not sure if all VSTs will respond to high rate automation in a way that makes it useful (e.g. emulating FM).

[wagtunes]

Okay, this opens up a real can of worms.

MuLab, like Cubase, is a DAW. There is no argument there. So, if I can use anything that comes with Cubase, why can't I use anything that comes with MuLab?

[z.prime]

Okay, this opens up a real can of worms.

MuLab, like Cubase, is a DAW. There is no argument there. So, if I can use anything that comes with Cubase, why can't I use anything that comes with MuLab?

Not sure where the worms are. If you're using Mulab, you can use MUX since it's part of the DAW. You can't use MUX with other DAWs, since it's commercial.

[zarf]

Now I'm confused Sorry if this is a can of worms everyone, I thought I was just asking a straightforward question almost as a formality.

...it was stated at some point commercial plugins of any kind are not allowed (I really wanted to use Cthulu a while ago, but it was prohibited).

But a couple of challenges ago, I asked:

Is there any limitation on what can be used to generate the midi (notes, and cc) that 'plays' the synth? Obviously the audio must all come from the synth, and I understand the rules around audio fx, but am I right to assume we can use anything we like to generate the 'score', e.g.

Hardware midi sequencer OK?
Homebrew midi fx OK? (e.g. midi generating devices in bidule or max, that kind of thing)
Commercial midi plugins OK? (e.g arpeggiators, MidiShaper, etc)

My interpretation of the rules would be that they are all fine, but I do wonder if that view is correct?

Thanks for any guidance

And the only response I got was

I think you just need to record that MIDI to be able to supply the project file on request.

..so I've been using commercial midi plugins (including Cthulu) since then, just 'bouncing' the midi to, er, midi.

Is this in error? Given that my chances of getting in the top 5 are very slim for now, it's not exactly a big deal, but I do wanna play by the rules, you never know, one day I might get good at this

[z.prime]

Now I'm confused .. so I've been using commercial midi plugins ..., just 'bouncing' the midi to, er, midi.

Well, there's no way to prohibit using plugins that way, and I don't think it's necessarily an issue. I think the main part of the issue with prohibiting commercial MIDI plugins is the ability to reproduce the track, if there's ever a question - e.g. an OSC admin could use a host (maybe a demo, maybe ask someone else who uses that host), download all the necessary free plugins, and verify that the track isn't breaking any rules to achieve the sound. If other commercial plugins are allowed, it may not be possible to even get copies or unexpired demos of them for this purpose and validate that the track is good.

[zarf]

OK Z, I hear you on that. Makes sense to me.

In which case:

Well, there's no way to prohibit using plugins that way, and I don't think it's necessarily an issue.

so you can now use Cthulu yourself to further widen the gap between your productions and those of mere mortals like myself

...unless it's somehow 'not in the spirit' of the challenge, in which case I would like to know, as that kind of stuff is important to me!

[z.prime]

... now use Cthulu yourself ... unless it's somehow 'not in the spirit' of the challenge, in which case I would like to know, as that kind of stuff is important to me!

I think it's fine, it falls into the category of personal preference here, if you ask me. Some people can play piano wonderfully, some can't (disclaimer: I can't). Being able to be creative with whatever works for you to get patterns and chords should be allowed, in my book. The challenge is all about squeezing the most sound out of a synth, where the notes come from is pretty much irrelevant. Though, I haven't used it in a while (been trying to learn scales and chords on the keys & the piano roll better)...

[zarf]

Cool, thanks for sharing your clarity Z.

Perhaps this has shed some light then on J.Ruegg's question:

I'm somewhat confused now , commercial plugins that don't alter the sound(like arpeggiators...) are allowed?
And if so, why would MUX be against the rules?, if you use it just for layering instances and automation.

...I now guess the answer would be 'Because anything commercial that needs to be saved with the project is not appropriate as it wouldn't necessarily be reproducible by an "auditor". Midi generating stuff is OK so long as the midi is recorded into the project and the track can be 100% reproduced with just the DAW and no extra commercial plugins'.

For me, time to face max4live I suppose ( ), or buy mulab ( ), or do it all in bidule ( )

[bjporter]

And if MUX is allowed inside Mulab, and Rewire is allowed too :
If I use MUX inside Renoise, and Renoise is used as Rewire slave inside Mulab, That would be ok?

Yeah Z is right, Mux+Mulab is all good, since it comes native.

Mux as a non-native plugin isn't allows unless it becomes freeware.

I know that's crazy, my problems would be solved if I could use Mulab as rewire slave inside renoise(but that don't work), or if I would have a MIDI controller to play notes in Mulab (I don't like to draw everything with the mouse)...

This is the one synth... challenge

Good luck!

[J.Ruegg]

Thanks for your response bjporter, I had misunderstanded some things , now it's clear.

This is the one synth... challenge

Good luck!

I still remember how hard it was for me to make a entry, years ago when I was using OpenModPlugTracker as my "DAW".
On those days it was really a challenge for me.

So I'll be fine without MUX this month. .

[Dragonsongz]

I finally finished my track, and I'm still not happy about it XD

https://soundcloud.com/real_skylake/dra ... ake-beauty

DAW: FL 12

11 Poldoski's
7 Reeverb 2's
2 Fast Distortions
10 Fnequalizers
1 PanOMatic
6 hours of my life
1 Fruity Limiter
and 33 patterns

EDIT: Lol, the part of the link it shows says "drake". Is this a good sign?

[z.prime]

... the part of the link it shows says "drake". Is this a good sign?

From the perspective of a "drake" is some sort of dragon, sure. From the perspective of "drake" as a popular rapper with such (that are direct copies of an existing good track), then probably no...