One Synth Challenge #155: Any One Synth (Photonic Wins!)

[kylebenjamin]

I know almost every bit of criticism I've gotten has been constructive and positive. Admittedly I've been a little too nervous to read my comments in my past few submissions. I'm not sure why. But I know the criticism is part of the process of getting better. I do really appreciate feedback. And I'm trying to give more of my own feedback but I feel a bit intimidated and worried about saying something, well, stupid. But I find I learn the most from listening. And reading comments on other people's track... pointing out the kick, or the bassline, or some sound or technique. This really is a very deep school of music.

I totally agree.

[Taron]

Never feel pressured to write feedback, that's for sure! Pointing out what you enjoy is just as valuable or even more than searching for a constructive thing to say, of course, unless something is very clear to you. I would say:
• Positive feedback may be based on taste and/or technical things you've enjoyed noticing.
• Negative feedback should be only based on technical matters that are clear enough to you.
This way there is a wonderful amount of orientation coming through you.

Not like I'm the best example for these guidelines, hahaha... ...but I'm trying to!

[-FFX-]

Voted!

[SeBaer]

[...]And I'm trying to give more of my own feedback but I feel a bit intimidated and worried about saying something, well, stupid.[...]

Then start commenting at gorgorgathgorgorgor's track. He can take stupid. Just go look how well he is coping with my stupid crap...
No, but seriously. I also feel commenting is hard, especially when the track is not really speaking to you. If a track blows your mind or is offendingly bad, it's easy to comment. The middle ground is where it get's tricky. That's why I pointed out the admirable effort of Taron and Kraftraum.

Never feel pressured to write feedback[...]

Well, I certainly feel pressured, but I guess that's on me.

[folderol]

While I always appreciate getting feedback, one difficulty I often have with providing it is when I get the feeling that something seems a bit off, but can't work out what it is. Also, if I can't find something constructive to say, I'd rather say nothing - especially when a composition is in a style I don't understand, or simply don't like.

[doctorbob]

This round is harder too because you cannot know how well the sounds design is with the variety of synths, some of which I have not used. I will assume that people in the main chose a synth on which they know they can design decent sounds, and so my "points for sound design" will certainly figure less, and the sound design weighting will be on how well the actual sounds used fit the track (if any of that makes sense???).

That said, some great tracks here, and I am slowly making my way through them, and hope to comment on as many as possible.

dB

[Aro]

Well I'd like to comment more than nothing at all. Its a good practice in opening my ears up, at the very least. I agree with folderol, that sometimes its hard to articulate what I'd like to say. I just need more file folders in my brain I guess.

[SeBaer]

[...]I will assume that people in the main chose a synth on which they know they can design decent sounds, [...]

That's true. I picked Vital after four weeks of decision paralysis, because its accessible interface makes dialing in good sound considerably easier than, say, Synthmaster, which has a pretty intimidating UI.

[folderol]

I've become rather a one-trick pony in that respect. I've got a couple of older hardware synths, but now only use them for keyboard input. Yoshimi became my synth by preference, then I got strong-armed into its development, so that's me pretty much chained to it now

[doctorbob]

Yoshimi became my synth by preference, then I got strong-armed into its development, so that's me pretty much chained to it now

Not used my DX-11 much these days. Did the hardware round with it. Had to replace the battery, and managed to get a holder inside for future changes. Yamaha in their wisdom soldered wires directly to the battery! I still use my 88-key Yamaha DGX for playing as well as MIDI input! Also my old V1 and V2 M-Audio Oxygens! Give me loads of controllers!

So how are you getting on with Synister??

dB

[folderol]

Yoshimi became my synth by preference, then I got strong-armed into its development, so that's me pretty much chained to it now

Not used my DX-11 much these days. Did the hardware round with it. Had to replace the battery, and managed to get a holder inside for future changes. Yamaha in their wisdom soldered wires directly to the battery! I still use my 88-key Yamaha DGX for playing as well as MIDI input! Also my old V1 and V2 M-Audio Oxygens! Give me loads of controllers!

So how are you getting on with Synister??

dB

I'm not. Linux only here.

[doctorbob]

So how are you getting on with Synister??
dB

I'm not. Linux only here.

Having been brought up on RSX-11M, RSTS, RT-11,TSX under RT-11,Unix on VAX/780, Irix, Solaris I have had my fair share of Un*x and similar. Surely there's a way to hack it to work? I remember Minix and having to write the primary disk boot handler!
dB

[folderol]

So how are you getting on with Synister??
dB

I'm not. Linux only here.

Having been brought up on RSX-11M, RSTS, RT-11,TSX under RT-11,Unix on VAX/780, Irix, Solaris I have had my fair share of Un*x and similar. Surely there's a way to hack it to work? I remember Minix and having to write the primary disk boot handler!
dB

Well, I know WINE works well for a lot of stuff, but it's rather hit-and-miss for creative audio. There was a time when I would have treated this as a challenge in itself, but now I just want to get on with stuff, so have somewhat narrowed my focus

[gorgorgathgorgorgor]

[...]And I'm trying to give more of my own feedback but I feel a bit intimidated and worried about saying something, well, stupid.[...]

Then start commenting at gorgorgathgorgorgor's track. He can take stupid. Just go look how well he is coping with my stupid crap...

Ha! but yes, have no fear of offending when you comment on my stuff. I know my songs are bonkers, so have at me!

[doctorbob]

Ha! but yes, have no fear of offending when you comment on my stuff. I know my songs are bonkers, so have at me!

They may be bonkers, but they show creativity in the challenging world of OSC. Just different!
dB