One Synth Challenge #178: Vaporizer2 by Vast Dynamics (Exponent1 Wins!)

[empphryio]

It's kind of annoying that in response to me encouraging people to comment we have this guy apparently lobbying that all public comments be disallowed. Considering how unfeasible moving everything to email/pm actually would be, it seems kind of trollish. As I'm not looking to get into a silly argument, I'm not going to respond further to Dave. I do think this challenge has been successful for 15 years because of the comments and I hope people will keep on trying to comment.

[Carl_saved]

I do think this challenge has been successful for 15 years because of the comments and I hope people will keep on trying to comment.

While I'd not say this is the main contributor, I'd like to flesh the claim out a little, nonetheless.

For me, a lot of the positive OSC experience comes from reading the comments that other people wrote *on other people's music*. When I read positive comments I suddenly start paying attention to details I would not have picket up on my own. I start listening to music I would never have chosen to listen to, but in a positive way, and can really open up my own horizon.
I can also learn from critical comments on other people's work. I can get to know the people who comment.
And I would say one can argue that by commenting, the voting process can get less biased because we get confronted with the positive feedback on music we don't necessarily like, thus making it less biased. Of course, this is only half the truth, but I would say commenting does not necessarily have only bad effects on voting -- far from it.

[MATCHER]

Voted!

[glenzo]

Voted!

[Spring Goose]

Voted!

[dimitri2255]

Voted!

[ElVincente]

Voted!

[marks-a-whybikky]

... and voted ...

[DaveClark]

Voted.

[silverpants]

Voted.

And about the comments thing. I can see how it might bias the voting. But I think the open comments and general chat is the most important thing about OSC - more important than the voting. It shows people are actually engaged with the songs and the contest - and not just sticking their music up and quickly voting on the others with a 10 second scan of each song. It makes it feel more of a community. And people are genuinely helped by the more experienced players.

I also play the Music Cafe song contest sometimes - where there is no comments or feedback - and this makes it much worse. I sometimes win - but I don't know how it made them feel or why they liked it. It seems so hollow.

I am much more interested in getting a comment from someone where I have really emotionally touched or inspired them - than what scores I get.

I do find it difficult to know how honest to be with some comments. It really helps to know if the player actively encourages criticism and wants to develop. It's hard to know with newbies. I try to preface my comments with "for my tastes", because music is always subjective and something I don't like - someone else might love.

[spridgeon]

Voted

[violator_alba]

Voted!

[marks-a-whybikky]

... I don't think comments and tips really help anyone. It's much better to work on a track together with other musicians. It's inspiring and you can really develop.

I save myself the comments. My English is not good enough to avoid misunderstandings.

[Frank Geppert]

Voted. This was a great round again. In terms of commenting: I like to get feedback, good and critical one. This helps and gets the impression, that some people are really listening.
So in response to that impression I give my best to also comment other songs and listen carefully.
Regards!

[Liparu]

Voted!