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

[Aiynzahev]

I really think that at some point it would be useful to simplify rules and allows limiter as the only effect someone may use (except synth effects). Sure, compressors, eq, transient shapers, reverbs, delays - all of these are very nice and needed for made something perfect (for composing and mixing), but after all it would be nice if OSC was about sound design (in selected synth) and composing. And if synth have no good effects - well, that's bad, but it was selected, so work with what you have. Then, of course, after OSC ends, everyone can add extra stuff and improve their mixes.

Otherwise is a little like synths demos on some websites that shows what can be made using synth (AND some additional stuff what is not always mentioned), so in theory even worst crap may sound interesting and if you buy it - you'll regret.

I would be interested in that too as a special event, every now and again. I really like how some months commercial plugins are allowed, and we're able to pick our synths, and other months are much more restrictive.

[Rahodees]

If we didn’t use external reverb this challenge wouldn't be ongoing for 15 years.

Why is that?

[Eauson]

If we didn’t use external reverb this challenge wouldn't be ongoing for 15 years.

Why is that?

Not sure, you can achieve many things just using the synth, I believe its down to speed & efficiency
As you can easily make a sound , then usin another version of the same sound, filtering, & adsr settings makes a form of reverb version

[silverpants]

I also like the idea of having a special "no FX" round (perhaps just a limiter as suggested). In the same manor as some rounds are "gloves off - turn to 11" style.
I think restrictions can push creative thinking.

To be clear - the OSC main rules work well because it's still going strong! So don't mess the constitution. But a rare "no FX" round would be fun.

Also - a really crap/lofi synth sometime would be fun. I enjoyed ADL Plug

[neverbeeninariot]

Forgetting the song writing and production parts for a moment, there's sound design (the synth), and the mix (effects).

Take away external effects and the mixes will suffer, imo, because most synths do not have very high quality effects.

As also mentioned, there are efficiencies and conveniences to be had using external effects (free or commercial).

However, for the more ascetically inclined, a 'limiter-only' round would be fine (provisionally 'fun'), assuming the synth has reasonably adequate built-in effects, but it definitely should not be the norm.

[Impedance Music]

Hey everyone,

First of all sorry for this huge text block, hopefully some of you can get a laugh out of it.

TLDR: I lost my mind. Again.
I still remember, a long long time ago, being joyful, happy and motivated. I can successfully report that I killed every single remaining bit of it with this OSC I had this idea for some time... Why has no one used this ONE plugin before in an OSC? (If I'm correct, I looked but it's possible for me to have missed it, If someone knows more tell me pls ) Ok, let's just say, no one has used it. Why? Because they knew! They knew this Piece of Evil VST would instantly start to fight my three remaining serotonin neurotransmitters and push me even more into madness - and I didn't know that was even possible... What Plugin am I talking about... That infamous ONE... The ONE which is a joke here for such a long time... Akai Timbr - One Ping Only. It's One Ping Only.

My Detunepop entry:
https://soundcloud.com/impedancemusic/o ... -ping-only

TLDR: Nothing worked like i wanted
I thought I could synthesize existing sounds, since I can tune each Ping (essentially sine-waves) to a frequency and so could replicate a lot of different timbres. Insert Timbre Wolf joke here. So I created a track with other VST to have something to work with and spent the next 12-15 hours creating an excel file there I would using the FL Studio WaveCandy Spectrum Analyzer to write down the 30 most important frequencies, velocity and duration of every single played note of all instruments in my composition, just to realize that it doesn't work because One Ping Only can only go up to 2000Hz. So I thougt OK screw it, I will do something different with it and just did the Bass Instruments which didn't need frequencies above 2000Hz. And after a while I realized that everything was uttely abhorrently awfully detuned. You can see where the title of the track comes from. So I tried my best to fix it (96 Instances x 15 Pings). Did you know that the frequency One Ping Only plays doesn't correspond with the frequency it's non existent UI displays? That explains why everything was untuned. After several FL Studio crashes I've decided to post it, because I really, really don't want to use that plugin anymore (Also because I will be away for the next week)

It made surprisingly good percussion though. And I also invented a new music genre: Detune Pop, where everything is tuned to sound garbage! Sorry for the long story, I make the rest shorter.

Technical Stuff:
Title: One TimbreWolf Only (Every similarity with existing music equipment is completely coincidental)
DAW: FL Studio 21 Producer Edition
BPM: 131
Presets: Every sound made with pain.
Instances of One Ping Only: 96 (Almost the funny number) Most of them loaded in PATCHER because I made a Global Controll UI for each instance.

Effects and Stuff:
Fruity Reeverb 2 [7], Fruity Parametric EQ2 [4], Fruity Envelope Controller [3], Fruity Stereo Enhancer [2], Fruity Limiter [2], WaveCandy Spectrum Analyzer [2], Soundgoodizer/Maximus [1], Fruity Delay 2 [1], Channel EQ [1], Fruity Multiband Compressor [1], Wolfshaper [1 - Yes, I used it because of its name fitting the title of this track], Analog Obssesion Lovend [1], Ozone 9 Elements [1 - Mastering], Youlean Loudness Meter 2 [1]

[silverpants]

Hey everyone,

First of all sorry for this huge text block, hopefully some of you can get a laugh out of it.

Hahaha. Thanks for the epic description of pain and suffering! I'm glad you persevered though - because you have created something unique sounding in your fun way. You are exploring. In pain. Like Antarctic explorers who lose fingers and their teeth crack with cold. But there are mountains named after them! And your mountain is "Detune Pop"

[maxym.srpl]

To be clear - the OSC main rules work well because it's still going strong! So don't mess the constitution. But a rare "no FX" round would be fun.

With some exceptions. For example in this edition using commercial dynamic processors are allowed while the same not applies to a phaser. So one may choise a compressor which better fits/sounds in his production than built-in/daw stock one. But I cannot replace built-in phaser for sake of better sound.
In this regard rules are not equalized well.
And yes, my intention is to highly modify oscillators sound with a phaser. This is part of my song dna. But I’m loosing the opportunity to make it even better, while others are prised in this regard. And let face a truth: with dynamic processors you can change the sound significantly. And some of us are allowed to pick what they prefer to do so while others are not.

[PeterBPL]

Not sure, you can achieve many things just using the synth, I believe its down to speed & efficiency. (...)

I totally agree! That's why OSC is a contest, not the normal way people made music. It's all about limitations and not suppose to be easy, fast and efficient. Sure, we all (probably) mixes all things together - various synths, various fx etc. But when it comes to OSC, the main goal (correct me if I'm wrong) is to keep synth character - as if you were producing advertising video showing the synth's capabilities. How would you feel if the producer of some synth showed great wide sound in a demo, and then it turned out that the synth itself only generates basic oscillator sounds, and everything else is made with 3rd party effects?

But seriously, this is just a discussion - I don't see any songs that actually break the rules. Discussion is sometimes about thinking about a problem. I hope no one takes this personally - the friendly atmosphere of the KVR forum encourages discussion.

I only hope that if there will be 40 participants, I will be in the "top 40 winners" list.

[empphryio]

I really don't see reason you think for PSR only like MIDI source...it was more. You ask for DAW -they basic two - FLS and Nuendo 2. Of course if not count hardware sequensers. For generator sound - FLS and Reaktor. For the button Edit - I will use and will see what changes,but .....hour ago I ask AI about this problem in SoundClowd because if my track is not see here the users can not counted.....and I try a few times copy/paste link...and each time text has,but link missing. And AI answered the other users too have such problems. What can I do more?

Testing... this it?
Listen to vpl2 4419 Rainy Dreams by verbatape on #SoundCloud
https://on.soundcloud.com/LR6Vw

Now the link doesn't work. I don't know what you're doing.
(edit: and now it does again. Was saying file not found.)

[empphryio]

Loord, you have some kind of setting wrong I guess at Soundcloud. I just tried to post it again and also get a blank. Look under permissions.

Also (and I'm really sorry) you need to get a better translator. Your entry this month (along with last) the drums.... again, they REALLY sound like samples to me.... The PM you sent it doesn't make sense in English but it sounds like it's not actually drums made with the synthesizer. Please find a good translator. We have at least one person here who uses a translator and it works fine for him. (IV)
https://soundcloud.com/verba
Rainy Dreams is Loord's track FYI.

[folderol]

Well nobody seems to object so here is my entry:
https://soundcloud.com/soft-sounds/slinky

Uses Rosegarden sequencer, Yoshimi soft-synth
Recorded in a single pass, with one instance of Yoshimi, playing parts on all 16 MIDI channels.
Patches used by channel number (all supplied with Yoshimi).
1 Smooth Organ
2 Prophesy
3 Angel Harp
4 Cathedral Pipe Organ
5 Rich Bass
6 Vibraphone
7 Soft
* 8 Drums 1 LHR
* 9 Drum Kit2
* 10 Natural Drum Kit
* 11 Hugh's Kit
12 Stick Hit
13 Ride
14 Ride Crash
15 Soft Shaker
16 Wood Block

* Not designed by me.

[Double Tap]

Minor nitpick, but the C in OSC stands for Challenge not Contest. There are some amazingly proficient and talented musicians and producers who take part and there are people who are close to the beginning of learning this very complex art. The main point of it is not to pick up a free VST or sample pack but to challenge your creativity with constraints. Sometimes those constraints are easier to grapple with and sometimes they’re harder.

[PeterBPL]

Minor nitpick, but the C in OSC stands for Challenge not Contest. (...)

I never said that "C in OSC stands for Contest", I just said that OSC is a contest, because it is (there are winners etc). But it's also a challenge - how to made something using not always the best tool. And I like that concept.

[liqih]

Made for OSC 179 using 12 instances (as per Liqih standard)
of NUSofting "Glitch Pad" public beta.

https://soundcloud.com/liqih/glitch-pad-space

1 x Kick Drum
2 x Snare Drum
1 x HiHat
1 x Bassline
1 x Arpeggiator
6 x Voices and chords

Effects:
"Glitch Pad" has its own delay-chorus-reverb
+ various instances Ableton Compressor, EQ-Eight, Reverb
+ BeatSkillz Max 1 on master bus


[Cover picture by Liqih]