One Synth Challenge #129: Lith by Soda Devices (TheNeverScene Wins!)

[schiing]

For CPU purposes I have reduced all my chord-based instruments to 1/4 quality and render... but my problem now is that I've built a lot of my strings and brass around that very same aliasing. Now, that I can hear! But when I crank up the quality they appear to lose all their fatness and inner life in the mix. So now I can't decide what to do - if it sounds good, it sounds good... no? Looks healthy on Span as well.

As you say, 1/2 or 1/4 is down-sampled, so alias noise enter.
It is also true that some people find the noise attractive.
If you feel you can listen to it, you can also select a lower setting intentionally.

I hope I interpretation what you say.

Absolutely

I was aware of the down-sampling effects beforehand, but I didn't realize how much I had relied on aliasing in my sound design. But that's all my own mistake.

I like it, though - and I'll keep some of it, at least for the saw-based instruments.

[Tj Shredder]

Is pitchbend not implemented? I can't find a setting and it does not bend...

[Eauson]

Not sure what would cause the crashing problem, IV!
Is it a problem with loading the synth or using certain parts of it? I know that some things on the GUI (anything involving control 5-8) will crash the synth.
If it's a loading/verification problem, you could try re-downloading. If the file got corrupted then it probably won't behave nicely.

Re: MIDI and note offs-- a NoteOn with velocity 0 should be treated as a NoteOff (with off velocity 0). That's part of the spec. But it's a somewhat older part of the spec and this makes me wonder where you are getting your imported MIDI from...
(no problem with it, I'm just amused )

Hey Leonard,
Many thanks for the note off tip, jsfx seems to have solved issue on reaper, also UI settings show polyphony, so that reduced really helps my old computer

@

Is pitchbend not implemented? I can't find a setting and it does not bend...

This is a mod, click pitch on right, add range, not the easiest to setup, well for me anyway, I think my Zebralette submission was my only use in all these years

[schiing]

@

Is pitchbend not implemented? I can't find a setting and it does not bend...

This is a mod, click pitch on right, add range, not the easiest to setup, well for me anyway, I think my Zebralette submission was my only use in all these years

Are you using VST3? Then I guess it might be related to the issue I encountered with the sustain pedal (pw works fine on VST2 here):

Actually, VST3 still cannot receive MIDI signals except for Note.
Deal with that as soon as possible.

[Tj Shredder]

Are you using VST3? Then I guess it might be related to the issue I encountered with the sustain pedal (pw works fine on VST2 here):

Actually, VST3 still cannot receive MIDI signals except for Note.
Deal with that as soon as possible.

That was it, VST2 works... Thanks

[doctorbob]

OK … so I have set master pitch to 4 semitones, and set the modulation to expression controller (cc11).

But, when I draw CC11 (on the correct channel!) in the cc lane it doesn't affect the synth? Any ideas?

dB

[SodaDevices]

Absolutely

I was aware of the down-sampling effects beforehand, but I didn't realize how much I had relied on aliasing in my sound design. But that's all my own mistake.

I like it, though - and I'll keep some of it, at least for the saw-based instruments.

Thank you for your support.

OK … so I have set master pitch to 4 semitones, and set the modulation to expression controller (cc11).

But, when I draw CC11 (on the correct channel!) in the cc lane it doesn't affect the synth? Any ideas?

dB

If it is assigned by Learn of DAW, I think that it works without problems.

For Cakewalk: Automation Lanes -> Select Lith and MasterPitch -> Right click on the right edge of the lane -> Remoto Control.
For Reaper: trim -> Check 'UI' in MasterPitch -> Right click on the UI and select 'Learn'.

I think it can be controlled by the controller assigned above.

[doctorbob]

Thanks for the reply - I find that rather coarse changes (in Cakewalk) to master pitch in the region of 1% is too much for small bends on instruments. I'll see if I can find a better way.

I was trying to learn a new DAW for this project (Bandlab/Cakewalk), but I think I will step back to Reaper.

dB

PS (edit) … works fine in reaper, finer control -

[schiing]

Thanks for the reply - I find that rather coarse changes (in Cakewalk) to master pitch in the region of 1% is too much for small bends on instruments. I'll see if I can find a better way.

Do you mean changes in the automation lane or on the knob? The knob can be moved in smaller increments if you hold down the shift button.

I was trying to learn a new DAW for this project (Bandlab/Cakewalk), but I think I will step back to Reaper.

Yeah, I used Cakewalk for over 20 years, but switched to Studio One when Gibson dumped it. I still go back to it every now and then to fetch old presets, or play with the preset randomizer when I'm bored. But after spending a few years with Studio One, which is brilliant in many respects (and frustrating in a few - much like all of them, I suspect) I've got to admit that Cakewalk doesn't feel like the future.

[doctorbob]

Thanks Terje, I stepped back to Reaper, and all is now fine. I had a few prepared midi tracks which didn't want to play nice in Reaper, but seems better now - any slight overlap of a note in a mono mode can cause a glitch. Also, I found that now and then, big chords of 8 notes again can cause a big cpu spike and either a glitchy sound or none at all! Solution - cut off a finger on each hand!

I suspect the old adage of freeze and freeze often will work for me … I will most likely add my FX chains to the audio after freezing the tracks. Going to be a rather clunky workflow, but I will get there

dB

PS - I was drawing in the automation lane in Cakewalk, and I didn't find a way to make changes less than 1%! Probably didn't look hard enough or RTFM enough!

[schiing]

Oh, yes, I also noticed the spike on big chords! Odd, I could have 25-30 single-line Lith instruments running at the same time, no problem, but one 7♯9 chord - BOOM! My solution was to reduce all those instruments to 1/4 quality, with the results that I mentioned in a previous comment on this page

[doctorbob]

Glad I was not hallucinating Terje when I got the big cpu spikes with big chords! My solution was to carefully remove a few notes, but not so much to destroy the character of what was required by the jazz based chord sequences.

dB

[NWSM]

This is my one and only Challenge Comment, i will maybe update the Track here. !!!

Here's my entry to the contest. I think its my first entry ever.

I think I had a good flow and finished quite quickly. My postprocessing is not professional but don´t wanted to use much Tools also. The result of the sound is not very bright and stereo but composition and feeling is nice. I'm honest and I turned down the stereo a bit for a better focus.
It sounds like a dnb, melodic, idm mash...sligthly detuned chords, stuttered bassline, subbass under a kick, some swishes and noises.

(15 stems available)
Presets out now !!!

https://soundcloud.com/nwsm/nowism-soda ... th-osc2019

Edit: with ozone an more stereo
https://soundcloud.com/nwsm/lith-challe ... ne/s-5QSdL

NFO:
- Bitwig 3.0.2
- 160 bpm, length 02:10 min
- upload file: wav, pcm, 44100 hz, 32-bit (floating point), 2822 kbit/s
- 17 instances of Lith 2.0.4, mostly my own tweaked sounds and/ or modified presets.
- 3rd party free plugins (ott,luftikus)
- Bitwig native plugins (eq-2, eq-5, reverb, transient control, compressor, delay-2, delay-1, dynamics for sidechaining, peak limiter, tool)
- Bitwig native midi tools: arpeggiator (for that stuttered bassline), diatonic transposer (for more accurate harmonics), the arpeggiator is automated on/off

Thats all...Cheers.
sry for may english and don't hesitate to contact me.

EDIT: new track up, presets out now

[NWSM]

Is it possible to cancel a entry track? in a case of better track?

[zarf]

Is it possible to cancel a entry track? in a case of better track?

No problem - until the deadline, you can change your track as much as you want