One-Synth-Challenge: General discussion thread

[Oopfoo]

I voted to keep the OSC as close to the same as it is.

It's a game. Period. It's a FUN game, where we get to make music, make and read comments, and generally foster a little community of electronic music-makers, but it's still a game.

The challenge in the game is "making-do" with the limitations of the chosen synthesizer. There are plenty of outlets available for no-hold-barred production and songwriting; this little forum competition has a unique twist that makes people THINK, wringing creativity from minds that are often overwhelmed by the vast array of choices available on our computers and in our studios.

Sure, you may not have the time to make a "perfect" track. You may not create the sound you ideally would care to submit. But it's the CHALLENGE that makes the competition what it is...it's as much about challenging YOURSELF and your own conceptions of music-making as it is about beating someone else.

Let's keep the challenge. Let's keep the sense of community. Let's keep the fun.

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

The challenge in the game is "making-do" with the limitations of the chosen synthesizer

which is why i voted to make big changes

[idfpower]

I like the way OSC is now - with a few exceptions

As previously stated, it's a friendly competition (or game...whatever). It's meant to take you out of your comfort zone and forces you to be creative using (very) limited resources.

1. I don't agree on using any external/commercial/DAW effects and such. Anything that is not implemented in that specific instrument has no place in OSC. The idea - at least the way I see it - is to come up with a piece of music that would showcase the instrument's stock sound; "beefing" the presets with all sorts of effects, editing and mastering to make the sound bigger is - IMO - a bit of a cheat - it's the sort of thing some vst instrument creators would use in order to trick the potential buyers into believing that their products sound better than they actually do.

2. IMO OSC is not about your programming/sound sculpting skills. If you tweak the presets too much and you end up with something that sounds good, but difficult to replicate without knowing which specific steps were taken beats the purpose of creating songs with just 1 synth. You can showcase your talent by creating original preset banks or amazing songs outside of the competition.

3. I prefer the voting to be secret. Why? On one hand because it prevents (to some extent) calculated voting in order to boost a certain artist and on the other hand in order to keep the drama at minimum. Ppl might take voting too personal and that will ruin the very purpose of building and tightening a community through such challenges/competitions.

4. I don't like the idea of announcing in advance the synth chosen for the next OSC. I like being forced to work a bit under pressure And it's not the end of the world if you can't match the deadline - you'll have another chance the following month (and so on). I for ex was about to make a song for the Aalto competition but since it's not my type of synth and the time was short, it didn't worked out - but I've managed to come up with something for this OSC. So you don't know when inspiration will strike next

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

I like the way OSC is now - with a few exceptions

As previously stated, it's a friendly competition (or game...whatever). It's meant to take you out of your comfort zone and forces you to be creative using (very) limited resources.

1. I don't agree on using any external/commercial/DAW effects and such. Anything that is not implemented in that specific instrument has no place in OSC. The idea - at least the way I see it - is to come up with a piece of music that would showcase the instrument's stock sound; "beefing" the presets with all sorts of effects, editing and mastering to make the sound bigger is - IMO - a bit of a cheat - it's the sort of thing some vst instrument creators would use in order to trick the potential buyers into believing that their products sound better than they actually do.

2. IMO OSC is not about your programming/sound sculpting skills. If you tweak the presets too much and you end up with something that sounds good, but difficult to replicate without knowing which specific steps were taken beats the purpose of creating songs with just 1 synth. You can showcase your talent by creating original preset banks or amazing songs outside of the competition.

3. I prefer the voting to be secret. Why? On one hand because it prevents (to some extent) calculated voting in order to boost a certain artist and on the other hand in order to keep the drama at minimum. Ppl might take voting too personal and that will ruin the very purpose of building and tightening a community through such challenges/competitions.

4. I don't like the idea of announcing in advance the synth chosen for the next OSC. I like being forced to work a bit under pressure And it's not the end of the world if you can't match the deadline - you'll have another chance the following month (and so on). I for ex was about to make a song for the Aalto competition but since it's not my type of synth and the time was short, it didn't worked out - but I've managed to come up with something for this OSC. So you don't know when inspiration will strike next

ok, go on then.......+1

[Eauson]

To be honest I don't mind what people decide on doing. I am having fun and I like the opportunity to test synths which I probably would not sit down and produce a whole track with. Whatever the decision as I am new I will go along with

[bjporter]

Most songs seem to be made with external fx... Either hardware, software, or a nice sound space.... So this part I really want to see. U can do a song without if u want. It just makes my songs sound too cold ( usually)

[bjporter]

To be honest I don't mind what people decide on doing. I am having fun and I like the opportunity to test synths which I probably would not sit down and produce a whole track with. Whatever the decision as I am new I will go along with

Awesome attitude

[idfpower]

Most songs seem to be made with external fx... Either hardware, software, or a nice sound space....

That is the problem: you listen to all these cool songs, and when you finally manage to get the synth and start working with it you realise there's a difference between what you've heard before and the actual presets and/or the instrument's stock capabilities. That's not right.

To me the cool thing about OSC is seeing (hearing) how ppl manage to use the same ingredients in very different ways and manage to come up with completely different stuff by using the same tool. That's why the presets should be easily recognisable and no additional tweaking/effects/etc should be applied. But that's just me.

[Eauson]

Most songs seem to be made with external fx... Either hardware, software, or a nice sound space....

That is the problem: you listen to all these cool songs, and when you finally manage to get the synth and start working with it you realise there's a difference between what you've heard before and the actual presets and/or the instrument's stock capabilities. That's not right.

To me the cool thing about OSC is seeing (hearing) how ppl manage to use the same ingredients in very different ways and manage to come up with completely different stuff by using the same tool. That's why the presets should be easily recognisable and no additional tweaking/effects/etc should be applied. But that's just me.

So should everyone use the same daw to produce? I said I was happy to to along with whatever, however, is it not a challenge based on the synth's capabilities. Should there be a version uploaded with no presets, just a blank canvas. This is just as much about learning as anything else, most of the tracks I have done have very limited processing with additional effects, just enough to make it listenable.
Just a thought

[idfpower]

So should everyone use the same daw to produce? I said I was happy to to along with whatever, however, is it not a challenge based on the synth's capabilities.

The way I see it, OSC is about creating audio demos for specific instruments. That's why you're not allowed to tweak the presets to the point of not being able to tell which is which or use loops. It's about showing how the stock sound of a specific synth can be used & incorporated in various music genres and showcasing its versatility or emphasizing its strong points (if it's an instrument built for a specific type of music).

You should be able to use whatever DAW feels comfortable, but not using the built in effects of that said DAW (not to mention 3rd party products). There's too much processing already in the music today and - again, IMO - OSC is not about creating huge commercial type music, it's about pushing you into thinking outside of the box and doing things the way you're not used to for a change - like making a track without using external effects, or without using drum patterns/loops, and so on

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

IMO - OSC is not about creating huge commercial type music, it's about pushing you into thinking outside of the box and doing things the way you're not used to for a change - like making a track without using external effects, or without using drum patterns/loops, and so on

agreed...this, to me, is the essence of the idea of the word "challenge" ie it's a challenge to work within the confines of each instrument and not to default to each members' tried-and-tested, 'safe' practices

[Eauson]

So should everyone use the same daw to produce? I said I was happy to to along with whatever, however, is it not a challenge based on the synth's capabilities.

The way I see it, OSC is about creating audio demos for specific instruments. That's why you're not allowed to tweak the presets to the point of not being able to tell which is which or use loops. It's about showing how the stock sound of a specific synth can be used & incorporated in various music genres and showcasing its versatility or emphasizing its strong points (if it's an instrument built for a specific type of music).

You should be able to use whatever DAW feels comfortable, but not using the built in effects of that said DAW (not to mention 3rd party products). There's too much processing already in the music today and - again, IMO - OSC is not about creating huge commercial type music, it's about pushing you into thinking outside of the box and doing things the way you're not used to for a change - like making a track without using external effects, or without using drum patterns/loops, and so on

If thats the case, should it not be a demo challenge. This seems like a whole different thing. OSC is about making music out of 1 synth, not about making a demo.
Everything you hear is the stock sound, as in what the synth is capable of. Most synths offer the same thing, i.e osc, filter etc etc so showing that a synth can make both commercial and more abstract styles from many people is the best showcase for any synth, no?

[Lotuzia]

I'm not qualified to add some comments here, but well, here I go

I took the problem ( if problem there is ) from the other side : The purpose and spirit of such a competition, and started from the name itself, wich might define it more than one could think at first sight.

"One Synth Challenge" : So this might indicate that it should be centered on "a synth". And challenge might indicates that everybody is starting with the same elements to craft his own recipe of a nice track.

According to this, imho, external FX should not be allowed, except a general reverb, and a general Delay if the synth lacks some. With only freeware FX, anyone can build a track that will have nothing to do with the synth itself. Then daw EQ, 1 compressor per track max and one limiter on the master bus should be allowed. What else could one need to make enjoyable music ?

Preset : I think anyone should be given the right to make his own presets. I see this competition as showing what people can do with "a synth", and what it is capable of. Not restricted to " what it is capable of" with stock presets. YMMV. So people will say that not all users have the skills to make their own presets. Well not all people have the same knowledge in making music also. The aim of such contests it that people can compensate some lacks in some fields with strenghts in other fields ( creativity, original approach, mixing science, composition skills, presets or not, clear and integrated vision of what they want to do or more intuitive workflow, pleasure to make music ) But in the end, its also a ...... contest. Everybody has his own talents, and people who participate have decided to share their visions with others. The important thing will still remain : Pleasure of making music and to share it with other people imho.

As for the secret vote, anonymous submissions, etc it questions the "community" approach and perception of this term : A sect, a serious democraty entity with tons of rules, or a community of people who like to exchange sounds, tracks, smiles, hugs, and eventually some less friednly messages ( Because accidents will happen, its life ), in a total freedom, and easy way. yes some people will have more common points with each other, some will like someone for his music, or comments, or both, and this will be reflected in the votes. Some will even calculate things ( even if imho its really a big effort for peanuts ), but in the end, people will always vote for the tracks they like, so all this might have a really small influence of the final results. If I were to participate so such a contest, and you can see that as a pure external POV, I would expect to be able to share more than secret votes, anonymous tracks, and no comments with other people. I would expect a kind of democratic, and by essence imperfect, real life of a community, some friendship, some occasional relationship bugs as well, and, to make it short : Something organic, alive, like a little digital village. So, again imho, no secret votes, no anonymous tracks, no over complicated rules, just a community of people wanting to share something sound related at a given moment, in an "as good as possible" spirit, and with trust in the human moderation with V'ger or other mods to iron out in real time the small dramas that will inevitably occasionnaly occur in the village.

Wow I did not expect to make it so long. Sorry Hope the coffee was good for those who dont already sleep.

Really my 0.002

[idfpower]

If thats the case, should it not be a demo challenge. This seems like a whole different thing. OSC is about making music out of 1 synth, not about making a demo.

Yes, it's about making music out of 1 synth, not out of external or DAW effects - these can drastically impact the preset sound and the overall sound of the track.

Now when you visit a VST instrument manufacturer's website and you're browsing through the audio demos, what are usually the descriptions of the tracks: stock presets, mild compression, moderated reverb - right? That's pretty much OSC regulations...so we are actually creating (more or less) elaborated audio demos, only instead of cramming together as many presets and random musical phrases/patterns as possbile, we're doing it in a normal song format, which is how prolly most ppl would use a VST instrument anyway




@Lotuzia:

Interesting point of view and pretty down to Earth

I think it would be a good idea to have a different challenge for presets making. Being able to come up with sounds others are (maybe) not able to create would surely make your song stand out, but in the same time would be a decisive advantage, and like you said, the whole point was to start en equal ground and work with the same ingredients.

[V'ger]

Good comments for all POVs here.