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

[ThePresent]

... I find that asking people to try out the OSC is like asking them to do a triathlon.

A triathlon of Composition, Sound design, and Mixing! BOOM!

Ha...A very apt description I usually try and finish mine over a couple of days, so it can feel like running a race. The only thing I hate about writing/recording is the "earworm" that results from listening to the same thing over and over. I try to pick a song from an artist I like and keep playing it to drive my own song from my brain!

Thanks for the earwurm suggestion!

[Taron]

Hmmm...I was gonna write something in response to that as well, because I noticed some interesting things. If your "earworm" becomes unpleasant to you, it seems to be, because it comes with no resolution or resolve... like it leads to nowhere. I find it interesting to consider an evolution or melodic conversation with it to give it a healthy substance again.
Last month, in OSC#86, I made this really, really simple four note (minus a little swirl) main theme, which came dangerously close to annoying me. But I made it a kind of "state of mind" reflection, which had to evolve or go through certain transformations, sooner or later turning into not so much an earworm, but almost like air.
Interestingly enough, the first time I ever won an OSC was with a similar phenomenon in "CityWolf", where I had a specific unorthodox chord hook playing over and over. There, too, I was afraid it would begin to annoy me and came dangerously close to it, but the moment I went with the lead over top.... pffff...was so fun.

OSC has taught me to spend a great deal of time on a song, or rather, leave some good gaps, if necessary, because of the mix itself! That stuff really requires me to take long breaks and having to listen to it with fresh ears every time. When I was still a teenager, I'd do up to 5 complete songs a day, hahaha, all day, of course, often a few little ones of 2 to 3 minutes peppered with a 4 to 6 minute song or two...so prolific that time. Musically they weren't bad at all, actually, rather pretty, but there was no such thing as a decent mix, of course.
If I'm having a great day these days (damn near 30 years later), I may be able to pull of a 3 minute song in an hour, but my mixing still isn't strong enough to catch up in that time. Now I use SPAN to check which part of the spectrum is open and could use filling, or which is too saturated or too loud, what should go into a side chain compression at what speed to pump with the rhythm (calculator up for that always), where I best separate effects to in terms of spectrum so that it won't drown the source sound, how I should balance out stereo to create my desired depth and presence for any specific sound, limiting everything properly for a decent volume balance...days later going through all of this again and again...then see what might add into it properly.
It's pretty exhausting nowadays, hahahaha...

Anyway... fun to write about it! Thanks!

[VilianTroy]

can i use jb ferox - tape simulator to warm the mix ?

[z.prime]

can i use jb ferox - tape simulator to warm the mix ?

Sure thing, distortion / saturation type effects allowed, especially like that.

[H-man]

can i use jb ferox - tape simulator to warm the mix ?

Sure thing, distortion / saturation type effects allowed, especially like that.

The free version tho ...not the commercial one. Just sayin.

EDIT: http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?pl ... ox&id=2063

[Darksynth FX]

My first OSC! I really enjoyed making this track. Beeing limited to just one synth was quite liberating (if I think about the plugins and samples I horded over the years, having so many choices does not make music making easier imho). Drums were a bit tricky though.

The technical stuff:
DAW: Ableton Suite 9
9 instances of Podolski
9 Ableton stock EQ8
3 Ableton stock compressors
2 Ableton stock Limiters
Ableton stock delay and reverb send effects

Hope you enjoy this little bass heavy dark synth track!

https://soundcloud.com/darksynth-fx/dar ... ding-place

[VilianTroy]

can i use jb ferox - tape simulator to warm the mix ?

Sure thing, distortion / saturation type effects allowed, especially like that.

The free version tho ...not the commercial one. Just sayin.

EDIT: http://www.vst4free.com/free_vst.php?pl ... ox&id=2063

yeah of course the free one ...by d way i still work on my track but suddenly higher frequencies disappear and no eq or other tehnic bring them back hahahaha - mistery :):) any idea why is this happening - overcompression ,too much low end or what could cause this ?Cheers

[z.prime]

i still work on my track but suddenly higher frequencies disappear and no eq or other tehnic bring them back hahahaha - mistery :):) any idea why is this happening - overcompression ,too much low end or what could cause this ?Cheers

Hmm, overcompression will do this, especially multiband depending on your settings. Of course EQ will also do this. And volume levels on various tracks (especially when combined with overcompression).

[bjporter]

@Wag
@ATN69
@Uwe Freising
@Dragonsongz
@7angram
@DoctorBob

Just a reminder, you have downloads disabled - so your beautiful works are only heard in 128kbps Don't make the world sad... enable downloads now!

[ATN69]

@Wag
@ATN69
@Uwe Freising
@Dragonsongz
@7angram
@DoctorBob

Just a reminder, you have downloads disabled - so your beautiful works are only heard in 128kbps Don't make the world sad... enable downloads now!

Thats weird! I activated it when I uploaded the file. I am no genius when it comes to Souncloud ..so I will check it again right away. Please let me know if it still doesn't work

[bjporter]

...

It's totally not you at all. Soundcloud kinda sucks because it disables download by default. So you always have to remember each time unfortunately.

[Laxplanet]

I paid for a pro account so I could re upload a new mix/Master of my track
https://soundcloud.com/laxplanet/laxplanet-ipcress

Here is an update on FX used
DAW- Ableton Live 9 (Windows 10)
Plugins used
27 U-he Podolski
24 Melda Productions EQ (Free version)
05 Ableton Glue compressor
01 Ableton Compressor
05 TDR Kotelnikov
02 TDR Nova
02 TDR Slick Eq
01 Limiter 6
01 Voxengo oldschool verb
01 Molot
02 VOS Rescue AE
02 VOS Thrillseeker LA
02 VOS Densitymk111
06 VOS Boot MK2
01 VOS Baxter Eq

[wagtunes]

@Wag
@ATN69
@Uwe Freising
@Dragonsongz
@7angram
@DoctorBob

Just a reminder, you have downloads disabled - so your beautiful works are only heard in 128kbps Don't make the world sad... enable downloads now!

Didn't even think of this. Thanks. Taken care of. Not that it matters since I'm going to end up in last place anyway.

[ATN69]

@Wag
@ATN69
@Uwe Freising
@Dragonsongz
@7angram
@DoctorBob

Just a reminder, you have downloads disabled - so your beautiful works are only heard in 128kbps Don't make the world sad... enable downloads now!

Didn't even think of this. Thanks. Taken care of. Not that it matters since I'm going to end up in last place anyway.

Thats the spirit! ..you never know. They say its not over until the fat lady sings

[barcode]

Hi all! First post.

I've been working on a track over the last few weeks and it has been an awesome learning experience. Basically, I own too much audio software and restricting the production to only one synth and a few effects has been really refreshing.

DAW:
- Logic Pro X

Synth:
- 23 x Podolski

Effects (Logic Pro X built-in only)
- 29 x Channel EQ
- 14 x Compressor
- 9 x Overdrive
- 7 x Single EQ
- 7 x SilverVerb
- 4 x Limiter
- 2 x Space Designer
- 2 x Gain
- 1 x PlatinumVerb
- 1 x Linear EQ
- 1 x Multipressor

https://soundcloud.com/user-295510534/podolski-summer