One-Synth-Challenge: General discussion thread

[Ivan_C]

Quick question, is it possible to get a valid link to the OSC community discord server? I have found only expired ones. Thanks

[SeBaer]

Quick question, is it possible to get a valid link to the OSC community discord server? I have found only expired ones. Thanks

Try this
https://discord.gg/2KceQbv5N
Discord says it expires in 30 days.

[Ivan_C]

Quick question, is it possible to get a valid link to the OSC community discord server? I have found only expired ones. Thanks

Try this
https://discord.gg/2KceQbv5N
Discord says it expires in 30 days.

Thanks!

[SIL3NC3_SWX]

Hi!
I hope this is the right place. I'd like to offer my free synth Deimos as a candidate for a future OSC round: https://tom-trnk.itch.io/deimos

It received important fixes and improvements over the past six months and now runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It includes factory presets, though I'd like to add some more to showcase more recent feature additions and to make it an even better OSC candidate.

Earliest possible month for me would be June. I can be around during the challenge to provide support and fixes if needed.
I'm happy to discuss details here, via DM, or also on the OSC discord.

Nice you made it!

And special thanks for a Linux build!

[SIL3NC3_SWX]

How about Firefly Synth 2 for a future OSC?

https://firefly-synth.com/
https://github.com/sjoerdvankreel/firefly-synth-2

Reasons:
- Free and open-source
- Cross-platform: Windows, macOS, Linux
- VST3 and CLAP
- Active GitHub releases
- Deep semi-modular architecture
- Capable of drums, basses, pads, leads, FX, FM, plucks, noise and distortion
- Does not appear to have been used in OSC yet; I could not find “Firefly” in the OSC A-Z list.

Presets from the OSC crowd could be welcome...

PS: But still seems to have some issues.

[maxym.srpl]

Hello,

Back during OSC#202, I mentioned that I would raise a concern about the rule prohibiting the use of certain sound-processing plugins that are not built into the VST used in the OSC—specifically, external chorus, phaser, and flanger effects.

I believe I understand the intention behind this rule: to preserve the original character of the sound. However, it became more controversial while some participants raised violation issues, at the same time not challenging the usage of distortion and overdrive plugins—which can dramatically transform a sound (turning a simple pluck into an electric guitar solo).

Perhaps I'm not fully aware of the kinds of results that can be achieved with chorus, phaser, and flanger effects, but from my perspective, there seems to be a significant imbalance in how these types of processing are treated.

Putting my limited experience on the table, some of you can bend reality without these plugins, pulling from synths the impossible. I don't think that allowing these plugins would make any significant change. But if "original character of the sound" has to be maintained, then I consider more consistency in the evaluation of allowed plugins. Not speaking that even compression can mangle the sound

[maxym.srpl]

Hello,

Back during OSC#202, I mentioned that I would raise a concern about the rule prohibiting the use of certain sound-processing plugins that are not built into the VST used in the OSC- specifically, external chorus, phaser, and flanger effects.

I believe I understand the intention behind this rule: to preserve the original character of the sound. However, the issue becomes more controversial when some participants raise concerns about violations involving these effects, while, at the same time, not challenging the use of distortion and overdrive plugins - which can dramatically transform a sound, for example, by turning a simple pluck into something resembling an electric guitar solo.

Perhaps I'm not fully aware of the kinds of results that can be achieved with chorus, phaser, and flanger effects, but from my perspective, there seems to be a significant imbalance in how these types of processing are treated.

To put my admittedly limited experience on the table, some of you can bend reality without any of these plugins, coaxing seemingly impossible sounds out of a synth. Because of that, I don't believe allowing chorus, phaser, and flanger effects would fundamentally change the nature of the competition.

On the other hand, if preserving the "original character of the sound" is indeed the guiding principle, then I would expect a more consistent evaluation of all sound-altering effects. After all, even compression can significantly reshape a sound.

[RichardSemper]

Hello,

Back during OSC#202, I mentioned that I would raise a concern about the rule prohibiting the use of certain sound-processing plugins that are not built into the VST ...

The current OSC rules were arrived at over a a few years with much debate and votes among the participants. Since I first joined in around 2013 there have only been a couple of minor changes, and the rules are now essentially the same as they were then.

External fx should only be used for "Normal mixing / production / mastering" and not for "sound design" to keep the focus on the synth itself. Distortion/compression etc. can be used for this purpose (in moderation), but it's hard to argue that pitching and modulation fx such as chorus/flangers etc. could be considered mixing/mastering tools. I think this is why the rules were made this way.

Of course, all this is debatable, so we have an open forum on the Discord for rules discussions and many opinions are gathered there, with some wanting relaxations of the rules while others prefer the challenge of tighter restrictions. The current rules lie somewhere in between, and can be changed if the swell of opinion favours it.

https://discord.gg/9QZZhDPyF

[maxym.srpl]

I understand and it’s not my the very first intention to change that.
Just noticed allowance of using intense distortion that should fall into disallowed category, while nobody complained about. It just pulled my attention I would share (I’m far from thinking it’s intentional)