Dune 3 Genetics - why is nobody talking about it? (including Synapse Audio!)

[seafire]

Just remember that if you use crutches you'll never learn to walk without them......

I used them when I broke my ankle. Walking fine without them now.

You need to up your analogy game.

[revvy]

Just remember that if you use crutches you'll never learn to walk without them......

I used them when I broke my ankle. Walking fine without them now.

You need to up your analogy game.

In fairness to Tek, he gave us his blessing to use this feature and won’t even be reading any replies, which is weirdly self-important nice of him.

+1 for being able to walk again properly without crutches. 🩼

[Vortifex]

People usually know how to walk before they need crutches anyway.

[Chockychallenge]

It's not very well implemented. Not sure if it's the same in Dune, but in The Legend the function is hidden in a menu, it's not even obvious it exists. If you right click a preset you get a Generate option, and when you select it it adds that preset plus the next one in the list to the Generate window, which you might not have wanted, but if you deselect the one you didn't want it deselects both of them, so you have to drag the one you wanted back into the window. If you save a Generate preset it automatically gives it a random name which you then have to change, instead of just letting you name it when you save it.

In Dune 3 the Generate function is hidden in the Browser window, under the 'Menu' button, you have to click 'Open Genetics'. I have no idea why it doesn't just have a button next to the 'Menu' button, which says 'Genetics'. In Dune 3, it doesn't auto select the next preset for you, you have to click on a preset in the Patches window, where you can audition the patch, then drag it into the Genetics window, then you can click on any other patch, from any soundbank, and then audition it, and then drag that into the Genetics window too.
The random name is really irritating - I would much rather be able to type in a name myself, and just as importantly, choose a folder (so I can sort my Genetics presets by type. As it is, I have over 100 in one folder, with these random number 'names', so I have to manually change it all afterwards, which is a lot of extra work for no reason).
But other than that, it's incredible - I've made the most fantastic pads I've ever heard from a synth, with zero effort.

[twal]

Genetics is a neat tool but lack that edge that puts it over the top.

That said, I have a lot of experience as a sound designer. I used to be a preset tweaker too. I can easily see how such a feature would be amazing and also cause me to not be interested in other presets if I didn't have the experience of creating presets.

There is a season for everything. Start rolling your own is the best advice I can give. Until then, second best advice I can give is not to discount custom banks yet.

I'd be happy to prove the point by sending you a bank of mine for free to see for yourself how a dedicated bank compares to the genetics, if you don't have any already.

If for some odd reason you disagree, please share examples of the genetic presets that you find would be better so perhaps others can chime in on this potentially interesting debate.

If somehow I lose out, maybe some other designer can eventually prove the point if they are so inclined.

We are for sure blessed to have dedicated sound designers such as yourself.

[QuietSheep]

Crutches help you walk actually

[Chockychallenge]

Genetics is a neat tool but lack that edge that puts it over the top.

That said, I have a lot of experience as a sound designer. I used to be a preset tweaker too. I can easily see how such a feature would be amazing and also cause me to not be interested in other presets if I didn't have the experience of creating presets.

There is a season for everything. Start rolling your own is the best advice I can give. Until then, second best advice I can give is not to discount custom banks yet.

I'd be happy to prove the point by sending you a bank of mine for free to see for yourself how a dedicated bank compares to the genetics, if you don't have any already.

If for some odd reason you disagree, please share examples of the genetic presets that you find would be better so perhaps others can chime in on this potentially interesting debate.

If somehow I lose out, maybe some other designer can eventually prove the point if they are so inclined.

I'll post up some of the pads I've made, see what you think. Give me an hour or so.

[Chockychallenge]

I use Synapse Orion still and nearly all the synths had genetics on them, except the wavetable ones. Also some non Synase VSTs. Fun to use, just remember to save as you may never get that hybrid patch again. Cool.

I never knew that! I used to use Orion many moons ago, I never noticed the genetics option - was it hidden away under the 'Menu' button on the Orion synths too?

[revvy]

When my son was a toddler we bought him one of those circular support things on wheels to help him learn how to walk. It was a terrible idea, he’s 19 now and still uses one

[liquidsound]

RS Objekt Randomizer uses a slider to increase/decrease the Random intensity without the need to lose the results by applying the function again and experiment in that sound zone.

The Dune 3 the amount of Genetics has to be adjusted before generating a new preset and if you need to apply more or less to it you can't.
It would be nice if it could be adjusted as well like Objekt.

[Ah_Dziz]

patch "breeding" has been used in lots of stuff over the years. I don't know why they wouldn't mention it in their promo materials but you found it and others probably have/ will also.

[Fannon]

I like the term "patch breeding" for this kind of feature

Yes I understand that learning how to program synth patches yourself is really worth it. But I also found it interesting to breed / generate patches and just curate them (with some minor adjustment) into a soundset. My problem is, when I create patches from scratch, I tend to fall into similar patterns. Starting with random starting points can bring you into directions you wouldn't have gone naturally.

Here's a soundset I created with patch breeding / randomization. Did not really spend much time, maybe 1 day total incl. creating the demo track:

[kropotkin303]

Chocky when you select a new preset the genetic option appears to the left of the preset dropdown list. Fire up the old Orion if you still have it installed.

[MattLeschuck]

I know Dune 3 inside and out and have built a lot of patches for it from scratch. I think the genetic function is great, especially at getting you something to start with (think of it as a little inspiration boost).

Im super busy these days with the family, and don't have nearly as much time to spend building everything from scratch. The genetic function often helps me cut down the time. And the majority of the time I just put my own previously built patches in it.

[zerocrossing]

I’ve never used it, but I imagine it could occasionally yield good results.