One Synth Challenge #159: Surge XT (j5v Wins!)

[neverbeeninariot]

Can we use wavetables from a commercial synths?

No, only what comes with Surge.

[rockingricky]

Hi friends,
here is my submission for this month

Originally I composed the main theme on guitar, and what shall I say: It sounds way better on a Marshall than on a synth - even Surge - but this is a part of the challenge, I guess . Then I transferred it to the keys to get it into the DAW. But I got stuck over a half month with the unfinished track. Finally I got some inspiration and this is the result ...
Hope you enjoy

20 instances of Surge XT in Cubase Elements

Cubase FX:
RoomWorks (reverb)
TubeCompressor
StereoDelay

free FX:
Lagrange
Limiter No. 6
Voxengo SPAN

The sounds are either created from scratch or tweaked presets.

https://soundcloud.com/rockingricky/rockingricky-extra

[VCA-089]

https://soundcloud.com/infravolt/the-storm-is-coming
FLAC: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LZWSue ... sp=sharing

Here is the result of my experiments of creting distorted guitar tones.

For sure, Surge is one of the most powerful free synths in terms of sound creation possibilities. But the thing that really bothers me is the interface. I think it's kinda outdated compared to other freeware flagships like Vital. There is a real lack of visual feedback. Sometimes it's really hard to understand what's gouing on when browsing presets or recalling old ones, especially for a complex patches with many modulation routings and effects.

However, this synth brings something new every time. It may never get out of favour, even if there would be two OSCs each year with it.

32 instances of Surge XT used in this production. Some of the sounds are created from scratch, some of them selected from various preset banks. Most of the drums/percussion are created from init. There is only one instance for each instrument/drum/SFX.

Technical details:

Produced in FL Studio 20.9.2

Native Effects:

x19 Parametric EQ 2
x3 Delay
x4 Reeverb 2
x2 Love Philter
x1 PanOMatic
x1 Wave Candy
x1 dB Meter

VST Effects:

x13 AdHd "Leveling Tool"

Master Chain:

TDR "Nova"
Limiter №6

Total:

x32 Generators
x46 Effects
x28 MIDI Patterns
x29 Mixer Tracks
No Audio Clips
x15 Automation Clips

[empphryio]

There is also some strange limitations of modulation range on some parameters. For example the pitch parameter of oscillators is limited to 12 semitones, which makes unable to create some broad range modulation.

FYI If you right click it extends to 84 semitones.

[emikaela]

For sure, Surge is one of the most powerful free synths in terms of sound creation possibilities. But the thing that really bothers me is the interface. I think it's kinda outdated compared to other freeware flagships like Vital. There is a real lack of visual feedback. Sometimes it's really hard to understand what's gouing on when browsing presets or recalling old ones, especially for a complex patches with many modulation routings and effects.

agreed. iirc it's going to be an area of focus for the upcoming 2.0.

There is also some strange limitations of modulation range on some parameters. For example the pitch parameter of oscillators is limited to 12 semitones, which makes unable to create some broad range modulation.

actually no, this is also just another part of the ui problem (unless i misunderstand what it is you want to do). right click -> extend range. not entirely obvious, but it's there.
edit: ah, too slow.

[empphryio]

edit: ah, too slow.

Ha!

[VCA-089]

There is also some strange limitations of modulation range on some parameters. For example the pitch parameter of oscillators is limited to 12 semitones, which makes unable to create some broad range modulation.

FYI If you right click it extends to 84 semitones.

Thank you. Now the pitch goes to stratosphere, not quite obvious though. I found that context menu has a modulators list, host integration and other MIDI options, but I haven't used it often.

[ELEX]

Can we use wavetables from a commercial synths?

No, only what comes with Surge.

No, that's not the case. It is allowed to import wavetables, just not commercial ones.

[EvilDragon]

For sure, Surge is one of the most powerful free synths in terms of sound creation possibilities. But the thing that really bothers me is the interface. I think it's kinda outdated compared to other freeware flagships like Vital. There is a real lack of visual feedback. Sometimes it's really hard to understand what's gouing on when browsing presets or recalling old ones, especially for a complex patches with many modulation routings and effects.

agreed. iirc it's going to be an area of focus for the upcoming 2.0.

...but we won't make everything dance and blink and jump around or whatnot. Not like Pigments, forget about it.

For better overview of modulation, absolutely recommended to use the new Mod List - you can filter assignments in a number of very useful ways, which should make understanding the patch way way easier.

Thank you. Now the pitch goes to stratosphere, not quite obvious though. I found that context menu has a modulators list, host integration and other MIDI options, but I haven't used it often.

First rule of Surge: right click everything!

[neverbeeninariot]

Can we use wavetables from a commercial synths?

No, only what comes with Surge.

No, that's not the case. It is allowed to import wavetables, just not commercial ones.

Ah, I stand corrected - thanks : )

[Juergen]

Hello everybody,

here is my composition from last night "Sleepless in Germany part 3"
It is not yet my contribution to the contest.

https://soundcloud.com/user-221952934-5 ... al_sharing

Greetings Juergen

[selenologist]

AUTO-ADMIN: Non-MP3, WAV, OGG, SoundCloud, YouTube, Vimeo, Twitter and Facebook links in this post have been protected automatically. Once the member reaches 5 posts the links will function as normal.

Hello everyone,

Here is my first OSC entry! Hope I'm doing this correctly.

https://soundcloud.com/synthwitch/selen ... ro-di-luna

Surge Version: Surge XT 1.1.main.85ea3ca8
Build: 2022-05-01 @ 16:30:14 [machine info redacted]
Host: Ardour @ 48.0 kHz

6x Surge XT
1x Surge XT Effects (for Airwindows Galactic reverb send)
1x Calf Gate (for gating the snare reverb's tail) https://calf-studio-gear.org/ (https://calf-studio-gear.org/)
1x Calf Sidechain Compressor https://calf-studio-gear.org/ (https://calf-studio-gear.org/)

It's not really long enough but I couldn't work out how to extend it. I'm out of time so it'll have to do! Thank you for listening.

Uses JPR's wonderful "YO MAMA BRASS" patch (obtainable from Surge Synthesizer Discord for free) and Kinsey Dulcet's "909ish Snare" (part of the Surge factory library). Rest of the patches are mine.

I recommend downloading the FLAC, I forgot to change the normalizing to leave some headroom for the lossy compression . Mastering in general is a bit crap but I'm kind of tired of listening to this thing

[cdbaksu]

Hi guys, looking forward to listening to all your entries!

Here's mine for this month. Had a lot of fun with this synth!

https://soundcloud.com/cdbaksu/arg-osc159

Used 44 instances of Surge XT in Logic Pro. TODD AO and BBC Marconi Type B impulse responses for reverbs in Space Designer, Klanghelm DC-1A, Valhalla Supermassive, Auburn Sounds' Panagement, and Logic's Channel EQs on tracks. Enjoy!

[z.prime]

Oh man, I missed subscribing to this topic! Time to scramble to put something together!

[marks-a-whybikky]

... and again a short story. This time it's ghosts of a vinyl record collection talking ...

DAW: StudioOne 5

32 x Surge XT
33 x PRO Eq
3 x Compressor
1 x Limiter
1 x Surge XT Effect

No third party plug-ins. All sounds were developed from the Surge XT library.
Unfortunately there is no final mix. Everything was mixed over headphones.

https://soundcloud.com/marks-a-whybikky ... l_sharing

... hope you enjoy