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

[cdbaksu]

As an improviser, for me it's never just about the melody. It's also about the harmonies, the rhythms, the counterpoints, the forms/sections, and with the OSC and getting to explore different synths, also about the sound design.

If these (and more) are not balanced, I'm not going to be happy about my composition: I can have a great riff or ostinato but no melody = not satisfied; a great melody that goes nowhere? not satisfied; design a great sounding lead but my solo doesn't fit the theme? not satisfied, etc.

Then on top of all that I like to sprinkle little hidden things in my compositions as well. For example on this month's OSC there are two tempo changes from 99BPM to 106BPM and back. Lots of layers of panning happening as well as track automations.

I like to 'get nerdy' about constructing my sequences, and happily there are many people here and IRL who appreciate these details, and I'm very grateful for that!

[Uncle E]

For instance, in this Clipse, which I think most would consider to have very little melody, I hear really nice melody.

I hear it. Not enough synths, though. 1 Point!

[silverpants]

Just to be clear - it's never "just" about the melody to me either. I value the rhythm, harmony, innovative sound design, powerful clear mixes etc. These all go into my voting process.
All I'm saying is - I've noticed a common reason for me not giving full marks on an otherwise very well designed and produced song is a lack of a good melody/hook/riff/motif. And that is clearly my subjective opinion. Im glad these songs can get full marks by people who have different opinions. And it is good for me to be challenged by different approaches to song craft. I agree with the thoughtful words above

[Impedance Music]

Hi,
I'm back from vacation.

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"

Thank you very much. It was actually One Ping Only which forced me into this direction. OPO is a little bit moody and has no interest in compromisses

Thank You for this - made my day!
I feel your pain!
And this is what OSC is all about

This was actually the first time i didn't have to think long about the title of my track. Sadly my name isn't Dan it would have made it even more funnier XD

Ah yes brilliant !this is the true spirit of OSC or 1POOSC as you could call it this round. Not just a proper challenge but a sit down and drag your arse over broken glass and white hot coals experience XD

Accurate description actually

This and Impedance's track made me question my track / what I did vs I wanted to achieve and Its motivated me to start again from scratch. One day left and so I'm going to produce a new track with a random past OSC VST that I've not used before and that is really limiting. Something that gives me the most joy in OSC is when I can get a free soft synth to really shine musically. I think I've picked the synth I'm going to use. I've gone for VK-1

I usually choose in an Any Synth Round how I feel for the month. For example in OSC-143 i've choosen the Roland D-50 which was a bit harder to program and in 155 i've choosen the System-8 which was pretty easy to deal with. I like it when people enjoy creating tracks. I think that's the most important part


Btw:
I've used FL Studios Patcher to make my life easier. You will find two "UI's for One Ping Only" for FL Studios PATCHER attached here. Since it's a Preset for Patcher it requires FL Studio and One Ping Only to work. This is not the version I used for this OSC, mine just had the Global Control Section. I thought i share this eventhough it's probably just helpful for almost a single person on the entire globe.

Also here is an Archived download link for One Ping Only since the original website seems to be gone I don't know either why you would want to download One Ping Only.

https://web.archive.org/web/20200619092 ... .php?id=11

Thanks for all the comments and also listens. I'm going to vote on 59 Tracks in 6 days now

[Negoba]

Whether one calls it "Melody" or not, I like to keep track of the lead element, the part of the song that most likely holds the listener's conscious attention. It could be spoken word, a melody line, a chunky riff, the first introduction of a swirly pad, on and on. A lot of modern music uses the same strategy as modern film in that there is something new and attention grabbing coming at you at a very fast pace. Sometimes there's a new piece of ear candy every measure or even beat by beat. When that happens, you don't necessarily need traditional melody to keep the listener's interest.

Incidentally, a lot of dance music to me is "ambient" in the sense that's it's creating a mood and isn't necessarily designed to be the primary thing in the listener's mind. (That being more likely the interesting person dancing nearby).

[zachy9]

The biggest problem I see in the contest entries here is a lack of structure and development. So often the first 10-30 seconds is interesting, and then it just... goes nowhere. You get 4 minutes of music with 30 seconds of ideas in it. I love minimalist music, but minimalism isn't just a get-out-of-jail-free card that entitles you to ignore structure. The best minimalist music has a clear scheme of development.

A simple solution for a lot of people might be just to submit shorter tracks. Nothing wrong with a solid 90 second piece of music.

[neverbeeninariot]

SoundCloud have deleted my account without warning while I was commenting on some of the Any One Synth tracks. If I go to my URL, soundcloud.com/neverbeeninariot, it's gone, as are any comments I made on OSC tracks over the years.

I've emailed support and now waiting for a response, but I am out of the challenge this month unless it's fully restored.

Best of luck to everyone still standing, and thanks for the kind comments, it's really appreciated : )

[Uncle E]

Soundcloud locks your account when you give too many points for melodies. Sorry, them's the rules.

[] Peter:H []

The biggest problem I see in the contest entries here is a lack of structure and development. So often the first 10-30 seconds is interesting, and then it just... goes nowhere. You get 4 minutes of music with 30 seconds of ideas in it. I love minimalist music, but minimalism isn't just a get-out-of-jail-free card that entitles you to ignore structure. The best minimalist music has a clear scheme of development.

A simple solution for a lot of people might be just to submit shorter tracks. Nothing wrong with a solid 90 second piece of music.

I recommeand the track "instant shed" if you like mantra style of music experience. music mantras can translate your mind into meditation if you allow it to happen ...
OSC is - in terms of what makes the top 5 - completely adverse to this type of music experience. And I think Bruce would not even get funny comments for Instant Shed.

[neverbeeninariot]

I may have been somewhat rudely ejected from the competition but I have voted.

There are a huge amount of really enjoyable tracks this month; Best of luck to everyone.

[Aiynzahev]

The biggest problem I see in the contest entries here is a lack of structure and development. So often the first 10-30 seconds is interesting, and then it just... goes nowhere. You get 4 minutes of music with 30 seconds of ideas in it. I love minimalist music, but minimalism isn't just a get-out-of-jail-free card that entitles you to ignore structure. The best minimalist music has a clear scheme of development.

A simple solution for a lot of people might be just to submit shorter tracks. Nothing wrong with a solid 90 second piece of music.

I do agree that some encouragement to produce shorter pieces if that works better for the entrant. I'm sure there's a feeling like short bits won't don't count as full entries, but you're right. I cut mine down but it's still way too long for something like this at 6 minutes

[liqih]

...
OSC is - in terms of what makes the top 5 - completely adverse to this type of music experience. And I think Bruce would not even get funny comments for Instant Shed.

Yeah, "stay on the scene - like an OSC machine". LOL

[empphryio]

I dislike it when people suggest/lobby/etc for shorter tracks. It comes close to suggesting some genres need not enter. No need for anyone to defend themselves but we seem to get such sentiments every few months. Not all music is meant for furiously hard listening.

I have little interest in 90 second tracks but feel free to write whatever you like. Zahev, 6 minutes is perfectly fine. You made Massive X sound amazing.

[liqih]

... It comes close to suggesting some genres need not enter.

But, man, that's what a scene with a competition is about. [Suggesting what is good to win].
When, during two to more years I've been entering the OSC I got both top 5 rated tracks and bottom scored ones. Doesn't that mean: please give us more of the first ones and less of your other numbers?

And one can't say (I say) that it was not for the genre, my skills to make sounds and medium quality mix is about the same, didn't change much. Actually many of my later low scored tracks sounded better since I learned a bit of mastering in the years.

A genre is not only dance vs rock vs pop, the One Synth rule allows us experiment or to imitate, regardless of the basic genre we'd set us in. This I like of the OSC.

[zachy9]

I would never presume to tell anyone what genre they can or should compose in. Short and long are not genres. Long tracks are fine, but ideally they should justify their length. If the second half is just a repeat of the first, then I wonder why it's there.