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

[MalToné]

Well I've made an initial voting list, but will probably shuffle things about a bit. I had intended to post some comments, but that was before I saw just how many entries there are
One thing that struck me was the number of entries that are very skillfully put together, but just don't seem to have much melodic content. Maybe that's what's wanted these days, and being an 'elderly' I've somewhat missed the train

Edited -
I know what you mean, I think no melody or minimal melody is an aesthetic that I hear a lot, I also admire and aspire to make tracks like that. It's like a different musical language and I'm still learning it LOL!

[Immanencer]

One thing that struck me was the number of entries that are very skillfully put together, but just don't seem to have much melodic content. Maybe that's what's wanted these days, and being an 'elderly' I've somewhat missed the train

Edited -
I know what you mean, I think no melody or minimal melody is an aesthetic that I hear a lot, I also admire and aspire to make tracks like that. It's like a different musical language and I'm still learning it LOL!

Does anyone here have in-depth knowledge of musical history? I don't know so much about music in general, but in some other disciplines certain aesthetic preferences (i.e., characteristics within fashionable styles) tend to repeatedly cycle (continuously, not a one-shot) over the course of decades and centuries. Maybe the fans of melody just need to wait for this phase to reset?

[PeterBPL]

Does anyone here have in-depth knowledge of musical history? I don't know so much about music in general, but in some other disciplines certain aesthetic preferences (i.e., characteristics within fashionable styles) tend to repeatedly cycle (continuously, not a one-shot) over the course of decades and centuries. Maybe the fans of melody just need to wait for this phase to reset?

If by melody you mean good solos, interesting themes and even interesting and more complex riffs, then yes, people who are like that stuff need to wait for it a little longer. But I doubt it's about some trend when some musicians says "oh, we don't like to write any melody or nothing interesting, we should focus on background music and repetitive phrases". I think it's mostly because lot of commercial "musicians" these days never learn how to made anything but background - and it's the most difficult, because you can't learn it from YT tutorials. So if anyone "wait" for some change in that matter, then it would be very long waiting. It's just easier and faster to learn how to made repetitive beat that "sounds like pro" (i.e. just like others) than trying to write good theme.

And btw. that's why I prefer music like here in OSC. This general trend to made highly repetitive and boring music is much less present here. Maybe because people who participate in OSC still like to made music and don't afraid to create something unusual.

[neverbeeninariot]

I (naively?) expect that entrants at least try to suppress their genre bias when voting and take other criteria into consideration; sound design, mix, arrangement, production, skill level. We're not all Rick Wakeman (thank <deity>).

One of my favourite tracks this month has no drums or any discernable rhythm, no chord structure and no melodies, but I find it very hypnotic and engaging.

Also, no-one is getting voted down just because they have a solo...

[folderol]

I (naively?) expect that entrants at least try to suppress their genre bias when voting and take other criteria into consideration; sound design, mix, arrangement, production, skill level. We're not all Rick Wakeman (thank <deity>).

One of my favourite tracks this month has no drums or any discernable rhythm, no chord structure and no melodies, but I find it very hypnotic and engaging.

Also, no-one is getting voted down just because they have a solo...

Well, for added context. Some 20 years ago There was a talent contest at my fave drinking hole - closed now and one of the contestants was a rap artist. Normally that's something I don't like at all, but he was good, very very good. and as a result I gave him top marks.

[Uncle E]

I voted based almost completely on the sounds.

[neverbeeninariot]

I (naively?) expect that entrants at least try to suppress their genre bias when voting and take other criteria into consideration; sound design, mix, arrangement, production, skill level. We're not all Rick Wakeman (thank <deity>).

One of my favourite tracks this month has no drums or any discernable rhythm, no chord structure and no melodies, but I find it very hypnotic and engaging.

Also, no-one is getting voted down just because they have a solo...

Well, for added context. Some 20 years ago There was a talent contest at my fave drinking hole - closed now and one of the contestants was a rap artist. Normally that's something I don't like at all, but he was good, very very good. and as a result I gave him top marks.

Sadly, this seems to be the way for the cool local drinking holes - while there are still a number of small venues for bands to play round my way, it's a fraction of what there used to be. <sad_face>.

Rap is a hugely diverse genre and I like some of it (Public Enemy were a force of nature in their day), unfortunately, like many genres, the commercial side of it tends to converge around mostly unoriginal rehashes of what's popular, the opposite of what made it interesting in the first place. Pop will eat itself, as they say (also a great band!).

FWIW, I really have to bite down hard on the bit for chiptune entries

[neverbeeninariot]

I voted based almost completely on the sounds.

Heretic ! Burn the witch !

[folderol]

I voted based almost completely on the sounds.

Heretic ! Burn the witch !

That's all very well, but which is witch

[neverbeeninariot]

I voted based almost completely on the sounds.

Heretic ! Burn the witch !

That's all very well, but which is witch

Trying to apply logic to witch burning is not going to improve productivity...

[doctorbob]

... Also, no-one is getting voted down just because they have a solo...

Phew

[silverpants]

I voted based almost completely on the sounds.

Heretic ! Burn the witch !

That's all very well, but which is witch

Trying to apply logic to witch burning is not going to improve productivity...

If Uncle E weighs the same as a duck - then he is a witch.

I shall use my largest scales....

[silverpants]

On the topic of melodies, I said the other day to my esteemed colleague who has never been in a riot, that one of the reasons I love his songs is that during the business of sound design, mixing and mastering - he doesn't forget to write a good melody.

I find myself that if I get too caught up in sounds - I can forget to give the song real substance. I can see now it happens to OSC entries. It's hard to hold in your head the whole spectrum of creating a track - from the very technical to the poetic side.

My two winning entries were written purely on the piano first (where composition is the only thing that exists) - and then (quite painfully) re-orchestrated on the synthesiser (although ultimately rewarding).

Often I start with sounds and smashing stuff together - which is more exploratory and fun - but perhaps doesn't grab the listener so. But it's good to have multiple approaches. It depends on the synth of the month how I begin (composition or sound design).

[3lu5iv3]

voted.

[emikaela]

On the topic of melodies, I said the other day to my esteemed colleague who has never been in a riot, that one of the reasons I love his songs is that during the business of sound design, mixing and mastering - he doesn't forget to write a good melody.

I find myself that if I get too caught up in sounds - I can forget to give the song real substance. I can see now it happens to OSC entries. It's hard to hold in your head the whole spectrum of creating a track - from the very technical to the poetic side.

My two winning entries were written purely on the piano first (where composition is the only thing that exists) - and then (quite painfully) re-orchestrated on the synthesiser (although ultimately rewarding).

Often I start with sounds and smashing stuff together - which is more exploratory and fun - but perhaps doesn't grab the listener so. But it's good to have multiple approaches. It depends on the synth of the month how I begin (composition or sound design).

been a while since i did this, i think i'll try it and see where it gets me. likely the process of re-orchestrating is beneficial in itself too, being forced to give everything a hard second look.

i wonder to what extent the timbre of the piano affects the composition with this method? would you make the same choices with a different instrument?

i confess i do literally forget about melody sometimes. in part because i feel more confident in my abilities there, so i spend more time on arrangement and sound design where there are more hurdles to overcome. and then also my post-rock roots, it's a genre where melody is often de-emphasized. a "melody first" approach will be an interesting experiment.