One Synth Challenge #179: Any One Synth (ZioMau wins!) (Updated Prize)

[neverbeeninariot]

May I use a commercial phaser this time (Fazotran 2).
If not I will use Synthmaster3's built-in one, but the results are not as good enough as I expect

Unfortunately, I do not think so, but hopefully one of the organisers will confirm.

As I understand it, commercial plugins are allowed this month but otherwise the normal rules still apply. This mean that you may NOT use external effects such as:

• Any type of modulation effect (e.g. chorus, phaser, flanger, rotary etc.). (Please note that effects like reverb or delays that perform modulation to achieve their sound are ALLOWED, but the modulation usage must be minimal.)

• Tapestops, Granular delays, pitching, or related sampling effects.

• Effects that pitch the sound (e.g. pitched / granular delays, tapestops etc.

• Turning up the effect too much where it transforms the nature of the synth (Heavy overdrive / distortion, etc)

• Any effect that transforms the sound to make them unrecognizable as being from the synth (Overdrive, heavy distortion, bit crushing, or related). Never go full 11

https://sites.google.com/site/kvrosc/rules

[maxym.srpl]

thanks for response, I know the rules - in fact this is the reason why I’m asking.
With built-in effect I’m achieving the result I want (or close). Thus the sound is being changed anyway (which is the argument behind the rule).. But since this month rules are looser anyway there is a chance to use external fx for sake of effect quality (rather than achieving something impossible to achieve without it).

[neverbeeninariot]

Heh. Well, internal synth modulation effects are fine (as you know), I just don't think that because it's 'close' to using an external effect that it's ok to use a better external effect. But that's just my interpretation of this month's exception.

Would be great if Richard or BJP could chime in to clarify.

[empphryio]

If we can only use chorus, flanger, etc internally this month, that pushes people to choose one of the really well known synths (U-He, NI, etc) instead of something that might be more interesting FWIW...

[] Peter:H []

Would something like Plogue Alter/Ego be valid for this challenge (voice synth that uses premade packs that may contain samples, idk? https://www.plogue.com/products/alter-ego.html)

I can only guess that it - assuming Alter/Ego uses samples - could be problematic.
Can one of the organizers please comment on whether AlterEgo is allowed or not?

[PeterBPL]

I think this month choruses, flangers etc. should be allowed. Not some extreme deformations, but just nice ones.
Why? Well, I'm using PhasePlant this month and with his SnapHeap I can made basically all effect I want. And since SnapHeap can be part of preset itself and it is how presets are made, it would be not fair to limit people only because other synths have limited number of effects. I would say - guitar amps and stuff like that should be prohibited. Also - all kind of UJAM magical FX plugins (they're like predefined effects and the point is to create own effects and understand how it works). But reverbs should be allowed - even extreme ones (as long as it not produce complex granular pad from single pluck). After all the main point is to create something using single VST instrument + effects. And people here for sure are not stupid so they can vote based on other factors than "oh, how nice is that phaser and reverb!" After all - composition, ideas etc. matters.

[neverbeeninariot]

If we can only use chorus, flanger, etc internally this month, that pushes people to choose one of the really well known synths (U-He, NI, etc) instead of something that might be more interesting FWIW...

You make an interesting point. I chose to use Hive this month so I'm a poster boy for picking something well known but, I didn't feel pushed to use it because of its effects, it's just a damn good synth. FWIW, I started working with two other synths before settling on Hive, both very capable, and while I've used them a lot before they weren't working for me this time (Pigments and Vital).

We recently had a 'take it to 11' round where any effect was allowed, they are rare occurances and personally I don't think that this is one of those rounds, but it's a good idea for a future one (i.e. use whatever you want, however you want, to encourage experimentation).

That said, I'm interpreting the rules for this month based on what has been explicitly stated by the OP, and in the general OSC rules.

Of course, other interpretations are available and are naturally the cause of much debate... but if one of the organisers says it's fine to use external modulation effects, then I'm fine with that. (and my track is done, so I won't be revisiting to add any extra spice).

[folderol]

I don't think I've ever used a flanger, and if push comes to shove, you can get a usable chorus just by multi-tracking. Might make you think about other tricks people got up to before all this kit was around.

[ElVincente]

The way I understand the rules snapheap as an external fx should comply with the usual free fx restrictions ie no chorus, phaser, frequency shifting distorsion only very lightly etc ...

[PeterBPL]

The way I understand the rules snapheap as an external fx should comply with the usual free fx restrictions ie no chorus, phaser, frequency shifting distorsion only very lightly etc ...

Ok, but presets can have all these effects as long as they part of preset.
To be fair I moved that few external SnapHeap and made them part of presets. So now only EQ, compressors and limiters are on tracks. And automation.

[PeterBPL]

Well, seeing as it's any synth I can join in with my obsessively fave synth
Rather than on Soundcloud, the file is on my personal website and I'll be removing it once the contest is over.

Well, I also prefer using my own server, but as far as I know, you must use soundcloud.

[folderol]

Well, seeing as it's any synth I can join in with my obsessively fave synth
Rather than on Soundcloud, the file is on my personal website and I'll be removing it once the contest is over.

Well, I also prefer using my own server, but as far as I know, you must use soundcloud.

Well if that's the case, I either have to get a paid account or delete one of the tracks already there as I'm at my free limit. A paid account is currently £75 for one year as an 'introductory' offer, and there are no tracks I want to remove.

[PeterBPL]

+++ Submission +++

UPDATED 30.01.2024

Double Split
https://soundcloud.com/peter-b-37806886 ... al_sharing

Ok, enough. It should be fun, not hard work, so there it is. My entry.
Used synth: PhasePlant (37 instances). All presets made by myself.
FX - T-Racks (commercial) and (in one place) a little of Antares ModernExciter (free). DAW: Renoise

[] Peter:H []

+++ Submission +++

Sam Played It Again.
https://soundcloud.com/p-e-t-e-r-h/sam-played-it-again

As PeterBPL said: Ok, enough. It should be fun, not hard work, so there it is.
Synth: Parawave Rapid, 29x
Bitwig: Compressor, Dynamics, Peak Limiter, Tool, Delays,
Meldaproduktion: Dynamics stuff for instance MDynamicsMBLarge and MUltraMaximizer, MStereoProcessor, MEqualizer, MTurboReverb
Other: Auburn Lens, LoudMax

[empphryio]

Well, seeing as it's any synth I can join in with my obsessively fave synth
Rather than on Soundcloud, the file is on my personal website and I'll be removing it once the contest is over.

Well, I also prefer using my own server, but as far as I know, you must use soundcloud.

Well if that's the case, I either have to get a paid account or delete one of the tracks already there as I'm at my free limit. A paid account is currently £75 for one year as an 'introductory' offer, and there are no tracks I want to remove.

It's the very definitely the case that it must be posted on soundcloud and hopefully that rule will never change.