One Synth Challenge #85: Xhip (J.Ruegg wins!)

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Xhip Synthesizer

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The next alpha version will definitely lead to "unison abuse" though. I've made it so the tuning and width are updated in real-time as you tune the knobs. The "distribution" knob is removed and replaced with width.

This is cool... if you have the CPU power to run 100s of voices :)

I find that a lot of the time when I'm doing unisons it actually can pay off a lot more to create a mixture or layers of different sounds and timbres. Unison is really a sort of blunt instrument... everything tends to end up sounding like another variation on a "super-saw".

When I'm working with my analog instruments I tend to manually make adjustments to the settings while I'm layering... each take is like a single "voice".

The little adjustments made between each component make up a very significant contribution. For example rather than eight identical narrow pulse waves detuned and panned all over the place you might try combining a ramp "wow" sound, a square "dub", a thick pulse (slightly off square) with some detune, a thin pulse and a very thin pulse with various pan settings.

The result is rather than having a thick pea-soup like "super-saw" sound, you get a whole field of sound like you'd expect from many different instruments. Each with its own variation on velocity, timing and so on.

I find 100% of the time when I get a sound I'm proud of I've gone this route and not used unison.

Certain sounds are indeed "unison sounds". Thick "ahhs", pads and of course the well known "super-saw". Other sounds are not.
Free plug-ins for Windows, MacOS and Linux. Xhip Synthesizer v8.0 and Xhip Effects Bundle v6.7.
The coder's credo: We believe our work is neither clever nor difficult; it is done because we thought it would be easy.
Work less; get more done.

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My three ways to make Xhip stereo:
1. Stereo Unison x 2 voices.
2. Use 1 of the LFOs set to S/H very slow or completely stopped for pan.
3. Route / Keytrack to pan (that's available in alpha only).
[====[\\\\\\\\]>------,

Ay caramba !

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4. Add a stereo delay/reverb to the channel :)

BTW (slightly off topic) there's still a few days left to get in on the act with u-he protoverb contest -
http://www.u-he.com/cms/protoverb

(for any who don't know) they are offering a u-he plugin of choice as prize and the contest runs until March 31st 2016

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Richard, thanks for the protoverb tip!

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https://soundcloud.com/jazzaria/jazzari ... wave-polka

Used Reaper with ReaComp, ReaEQ, ReaVerb and 10 instances of Xhip
Image

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Entry

https://soundcloud.com/hennessey/bh9090 ... annanafish

Reaper with 30 instances. ReaComp ReaDelay, ReaEQ, JS Ping Pong, JS Butterworth, and JS Tremelo

3rd Party: FuzzPlus3, TDR Nova, Tal Reverb 4, Defacer, Nasty DLA, Sanford Reverb
(forgot the master bus: Molot and Limiter 6)
Last edited by bh9090 on Wed Mar 23, 2016 7:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Hello Everyone,

Here's my "less cheesy" track for this month. It's a track with lots of keyboard work and synthy sounds which I hope makes a befitting tribute to the late great Keith Emerson.

Most of all, enjoy, you do have a nice BIG kick to help it along!

DAW:Reaper 5.16

Tracks
15 * Xhip
15 * ReaEQ
5 * Classic Compressor
1 * Classic Master Limiter
8 * TAL Reverb II
4 * LFX-1310 (autopan)

Master
TDR VOS SlickEQ
TDR Kotelnikov
Ferric TDS
Limiter No. 6

DR:6

https://soundcloud.com/doctorbob/doctorbob-tiger
Photo (c) DoctorBob!

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Nice to see so many entrants using Reaper :) It is my DAW of choice, and I always find it strange when I am told that it is not a great choice for electronic music :dog:

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7angram wrote:Nice to see so many entrants using Reaper :) It is my DAW of choice, and I always find it strange when I am told that it is not a great choice for electronic music :dog:
Some people just plain don't get on with the workflow, others simply hate or have major shortcomings in the MIDI system. I for one find it very intuitive, not had any real issue with the MIDI system - lots of great JS Midi plugins as well as the piz stuff. In the end I find it to be very stable, handles loads of plugins with ease, and is efficient on core and cpu use (on my 6 year old PC I have been able to do 150 tracks with lots of plugins - just about hitting the cliff, so am looking to upgrade - still on 4 gigs memory as well!).

I still use Adobe Audition 3 for topping/tailing the final stereo track, any minor amplitude changes, making mp3's and CD burning. Sibelius for major scoring work where printed parts are needed etc. Basically lots of tools, but Reaper is at the heart of the music production suite and has been since version 2!

dB

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Yep, that fact that Reaper is so efficient with 3rd party plugins makes it a great choice for the OSC. I have yet to hit a wall with the number of plugin instances with any of my OSC entries, and I am just using a laptop (granted it is an i7 quad core with 16gb ram).

There is certainly no one perfect DAW and I have tried most of them out over the years, but settled on Reaper a few years ago and haven't looked back. I also love the philosophy of the company and their transparent development strategy along with their rapport with users on the forum.

I still am somewhat intrigued by the session view workflow of Live and Bitwig, but it doesn't really gel with my style as I tend to write in sections, not small loops. Having said that I do have the 8-track Bitwig on my tablet and it is fun to noodle on. Will most likely buy Bitwig when it hits v2, just to provide a contrasting workflow to Reaper. I also like to dabble in Linux, so Bitwig mixed with u-he plugins under Mint is an option I want in the future.

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7angram wrote:as I tend to write in sections, not small loops.
Reaper's regions are perfect for that, aren't they!
Switched from Sonar in 2012 and never looked back.
Favorite theme is Appolo.

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Hi, I wonder if you folks could clarify a question I have about how to interpret the OSC rules, I don't know if this has been discussed in the past and can't see anything specific in the current rules.

Is there any limitation on what can be used to generate the midi (notes, and cc) that 'plays' the synth? Obviously the audio must all come from the synth, and I understand the rules around audio fx, but am I right to assume we can use anything we like to generate the 'score', e.g.

Hardware midi sequencer OK?
Homebrew midi fx OK? (e.g. midi generating devices in bidule or max, that kind of thing)
Commercial midi plugins OK? (e.g arpeggiators, MidiShaper, etc)

My interpretation of the rules would be that they are all fine, but I do wonder if that view is correct?

Thanks for any guidance :)

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https://soundcloud.com/bblunt-productio ... ip-contest

KVR OSC xhip Contest

Title: Whip

Synth: xhip (x17)

DAW: Reaper v5.0rc14b x64

All factory presets tweaked

Plugins:
ReaComp
ReaXcomp
JS: 4x4 EQ
MAutopan
MbandPass
MLimiter
XBass 4000
Audiocation Compressor
Parametri-Q Lite
TessalaSE
OmniVerb
Rhythm-Lab Twin Delay
TAL Dub Delay
Voxengo SPAN
Blue Cat's FreqAnalyst
Terry West CS12m

Thanks!

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I think you just need to record that MIDI to be able to supply the project file on request.
[====[\\\\\\\\]>------,

Ay caramba !

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Thanks Mutant - that makes sense to me. I'll assume all agree unless someone says different!

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