One-Synth-Challenge: General discussion thread

[SJMmusic]

I'm extremely new here, but I'll respond anyway

1. I really like the idea - I think the limitation itself is very challenging and interesting, and of course it forces you to learn about synthesis and different software you may then want to go on using, which is of course a very good thing

2. This very month, I first heard about it about 2 months ago (and actually tried to do something with String Theory, but quickly gave up Farbrausch, seeming to be a more "traditional" synth made me want to give it another try, but I never actually used it... But now this month and z3ta+ made me think: "Ok, I already know that synth (though only at the surface), I'll really get on this this month"

3. As I said, I like the concept and don't see much of a reason for change there. I'm fine with pay-synth, but I think the more "restricted" (in functionality) a synth is, the more interesting it is to see what all the great people here can make with it

4. 17, and if you count writing (very) simple piano pieces as a child, then I sarted about 13 years ago Some years later I composed MIDI-Orchestral-Stuff (yeah GM and the standard MIDI soundfonts), so when I really started making music with Synthedit and MULAB about one and a half years ago, I remembered the tracks-clips-channels-pianoroll-stuff, although I quickly changed to REAPER, which leads me to:

5. I work on my laptop, Intel i3 300M (2,13 GHz), 4GB RAM, WDC WD3200BEKT-60V5T1 - with about 300 GB, as I said, my host is REAPER (and I'm guess a little fanboy ), and my OS is a OEM Windows 7 Home Premium x64.
Hardware..... I use my Midistart-3 keyboard, but almost never my AKAI LPD 8, and I listen to my music via my laptops soundcard and some 30€-Sennheiser-In-Ear-Headphones And if it counts as "hardware", I really like my Zoom H1

6. I listen to the tracks as soon as they are uploaded and I have time, but when it's time to send the vote I listen through them again (excluding the ones I remember I definitely didn't like) I listen thruogh them again and write down the ones I like and then chosse the ones I really like and then chosse the best ones

7. None... but that wasn't very suprising, was it

Sooo...... that was a rather long post, but I just like talking about some interesting things (and myself )

[V'ger]

Cheers SJM, welcome to OSC

[evo2slo]

Here goes a little poll before i go to work today. I hope you all can reply , it would makes me very happy to know about you a bit more.

1.-How do you like OSC contests?

A few things I really like about OSC:

Using one synth for everything is something I never would have thought to do on my own, and I feel that in doing so I have learned a lot about maximizing an instrument's potential. Picking up skills and techniques that are applicable to not only whatever the particular synth of the month is but to other synths and instruments as well.

Listening to the other submissions is very inspiring for me. I'm really blown away by the talent of the participants. And I have learned so much about what I need to improve upon myself by comparing my own submissions to the others.

Having a deadline to write a new song has really helped to exercise my creativity, and has resulted in some tunes and melodies that I'm actually quite pleased with and look forward to developing further without the limitations of the contest to see how far I can take them.

2.-When did you started to come into OSC contests?

I've been a long-time lurker on KVR and was just focused on news about vst releases. Then I noticed the XILS song contest a couple months ago and decided to enter. Being on a limited budget the idea of possibly winning free software sounded pretty cool to me. So then I found the Tyrell OSC and was hooked after that.

3.-What would you like to improve or change?

One thing I find slightly frustrating that I think would be easy to change is the accessibility of the songs themselves. Instead of just a post saying they've submitted their song, I think entrants should also share a link to the song so it can be easily listened to. Songs should be as easy to listen to as possible. I also think it would be nice if all entrants tagged their mp3s in a consistent way with the same album title so they are easy to find and group together each month.

Also, album covers are fun. More album covers please!:D

4.-How old are you and how many years you were composing?

Been composing since very young. I stopped keeping track of my age when I turned 21 (drinking age in USA), which was quite a few years ago.

5.-What is your equip?

CPU: 2.8 GHz Quad-Core
RAM: 6GB
HD: 1 TB
HOST: Cubase 6
OS: OS X 10.6.8
HARDWARE, SOUNDCARD, HEADPHONES AND SPEAKERS:
M-Audio keyrig 49, Apogee Duet, Sennheiser 650, Mackie 624s
(because most synths are pc only I've been borrowing my Mom's laptop for recording: 1.8 GHz, 1GB RAM, 100 GB HD, Windows 7 32-bit, built-in soundcard)

6.-Do you like to download all OSC tracks at same time and start listen to them or do you prefer listening while they are being uploaded?

I usually don't listen till after my submission and then as they are uploaded. Since some tracks are changed before deadline I usually don't download till then so I'm sure I have the final version.
Come voting time I assemble all tracks and retag so they form an album and load it on my iphone for listening. I sit outside on my little roof deck with my headphones looking at the moon and what few stars are visible from in the city. I listen a few times just for pleasure without ranking or rating or anything, then much later I buckle down and make notes on my iphone as I listen to the songs and slowly narrow them down. I need to listen to my top picks many times before choosing final rankings. I find the ranking process difficult but think that the critical listening it requires is a useful skill to develop.

7.-How many prizes do you have from OSC contest? (in case you won any)

[objectman]

[EDITED because the bloody iPad is impossible to write on]

1.-How do you like OSC contests?

They're great. In fact it's often the only chance I get to make a track and get it heard. I dunno about including bought synths, but as I'm a VST hog, I'm not one to complain.

2.-When did you started to come into OSC contests?

Last year. So about 18 months I've been doing these. On and off. When I have time.

3.-What would you like to improve or change?

I like it as it is. I'd like there to be some kind of I dunno - a link or something to how to program the synth. I have no idea what I'm doing so often only have time to just use the presets (or modify those very slightly).

4.-How old are you and how many years you were composing?

43 and 3 (max). And I wouldn't call it "composing". More like jamming with loops. I'm learning about composing with Finale, but I've yet to apply that knowledge with this.

5.-What is your equip?
CPU: 3.0 Ghz dual core
RAM: 3.5 mb
HD: 4th
HOST: Live
OS: xp 32 bit
HARDWARE, SOUNDCARD, HEADPHONES AND SPEAKERS: edirol UA25, PCR-800, AKG dj, Edirol MA-15Ds

6.-Do you like to download all OSC tracks at same time and start listen to them or do you prefer listening while they are being uploaded?

At the end, when one of you guys has made one zip that I can d/l easily, I'll whack it on an old iPod Nano and listen whilst riding my bike. I do have to add the meta data myself though so it's findable on the Nano. Maybe we can add that meta ourselves.

I appreciate all the work you it's put in though, so I'm happy to do the meta on my OSC tracks if you provide a standard (and maybe a how-to)

7.-How many prizes do you have from OSC contest?

None *sniff*

[satYatunes]

Zebralette has become free. Have we considered/ considering for future months?

[IrionDaRonin]

Zebralette has become free. Have we considered/ considering for future months?

Of course, we count with it as possible synth to vote and already tested and scored, everything is about time. Be patient
No need to ask about new freebies, we catch them in every release, they can't escape from us
At the moment we made a huge list about +150 free synths tested and scored, and it's getting bigger in time, but at the moment is going slowly, we are waiting for more free synths these months.
(A KVR Developer Challenge this year would be the awesomeness)

Well, after a hard work day and before i go to sleep. Ehem... 7am, yeah this is the awesomeness too lol, here goes my replied poll.

1.-How do you like OSC contests?

I really like so much, it's a great chance to get new gear as prizes, to get skill, to get ideas from others, and to belong to something special (at least for me)
I'm learning so much about others, and knowing these persons deeply and musically.
OSC makes me finish a track (sometimes a couple or even three) in a month, because is a challenge, in my non-osc tracks i don't usually finish them, not always.
But the most important thing to me, is to know that there are people who are listening my tracks in another side of the world. Makes me feel very special and as RuediRena says, to being a part of a little world of person who enjoy this kind of tracks every month. And i must say, that i prefer to listen all your tracks instead commercial trash (i'm very upset about commercial music really)

2.-When did you started to come into OSC contests?

Well, i started to search webpages and forums about free synths until i crashed with KVR, then i saw a nice post called OSC and curiosity killed me, so i'm here since OSC27 Free Alpha, more or less about 4 months.

3.-What would you like to improve or change?

The challenge itself is perfect as it is. But maybe a bit more participation from more people would be nice.

4.-How old are you and how many years you were composing?

I'm 29 years and composing music since i was 14, so 15 years practically. But i played piano and keyboards when i was a child about 8 years.
Anyway, still learning. The life is a great lesson and we can't stop to learn in it
I don't know how to read music really or a pentagram, i just have good ears and a huge bunch of melodies, styles and scores in my head since i was a child.

5.-What is your equip?

A really crap

CPU: 2,6 Ghz Single core, but this month will be AMD3 3,2 Quad core.
RAM: 2 Gygabytes DDR1 at 200 Mhz, this month will be 4 Gygabytes DDR3 at 1333 Mhz.
HD: 80x2 gygabytes lol. But i will change it to 500 Gygabytes this month.
HOST: FL Studio and learning Reaper.
OS: Win XP 32bits.

HARDWARE, SOUNDCARD, HEADPHONES AND SPEAKERS:
I just got an Emu X-Board 49 (A gift from a great friend from Germany) about 2 weeks ago but at the moment using all velocities notes with the mouse as usually. I'm using the EMU to training my fingers, and to catch inspiring notes and scores in 'live' mode.
SoundBlaster Extigy 16-24bits at 11-192Mhz.
SkullCandy Headphones (70Euro) 20-20000 Hz which i use to mastering.
Logitech X530 5.1 which i use to listen panoramics and Stereo space (obviously only in Stereo not 5.1)

6.-Do you like to download all OSC tracks at same time and start listen to them or do you prefer listening while they are being uploaded?

As SMJ said, i usually listening all of them while they are being uploaded. Then, i listen and listen to them from day 1st to day 15th.
I keep those which made me feel something (good or even bad feelings) and then, trying to narrowing into 5 tracks.
Sometimes i got frustrated because there are good tracks, but not too many points to expend.

7.-How many prizes do you have from OSC contests? (in case you won any)

This question is not to show off my prizes, i swear!
It's just to know about what people got and the taste of contesters.
-KVROSC27: Wusik Station V6 + Wusik Eve 3 (Love this last)
-KVROSC28: Maxsynths Cryologic.
-KVROSC29: GSI KeyPerformer. Since i already got the BigBundle from UGO as a gift.

I'm enjoying reading about you all, and i hope more people comes to reply the little poll.
I go to sleep, finally.

Thanks for your replies and have a good day

[Funkfeuer]

5.-What is your equip?

A really crap

better to make good music on a casio vl-1 and on woodstick, what every good musician could do, than to make bad music on long-dick-stuff. so don't worry

[satYatunes]

At the moment we made a huge list about +150 free synths tested and scored, and it's getting bigger in time, but at the moment is going slowly, we are waiting for more free synths these months.
(A KVR Developer Challenge this year would be the awesomeness)

Is there a plan of getting this list released to everyone?

[tattiemannie]

1.-How do you like OSC contests?

Love!

2.-When did you started to come into OSC contests?

When I took over the running from a warez kid and organised the first comp in his 'absence' on the grounds that his idea was cool

3.-What would you like to improve or change?

Dunno, but always enjoyed the thread banter, and always enjoy when folks share their techniques and workarounds with others. OSC is a comp, but it's educational potential is huge. I would like if folks could be encouraged by some sort of incentive to share their patches when the comp is over .. or when they have finished their track .. in order to provide a greater legacy from each comp in favour of the developers as well as folks wishing to take their exploration further with regard to particular synths.

4.-How old are you and how many years you were composing?

Half a century and climbing Started writing songs when I was 17 for my punk band ( Toxik Ephex ) and found the Thatcher Government the greatest inspiration for songwriting ... I look back at songs I wrote then, and find them quite bizzarre ... until I suddenly remember ... that stuff was not fiction, but reality!

5.-What is your equip?

CPU: Shit

RAM: Shit

HD: Shit

HOST: FL studio .. which is not shit! I like to change around tho ... not one for claiming there is anything 'essential' ... I dont use Cubase anymore though ... Reaper has allowed me to free up a huge chunk of hard drive previously 'squatted' by Cubase . but as far as composition goes, I like to get away from FL now and again and return to madtracker, Dreamstation, Noise tracker, Tunafish, Rubberduck, etc ... and enjoy knocking out phrases via Fracmus. Also like playing around with my own 'QwertySam' .. go search ... come to think of it, now that I no longer create plugs exclusively for OSC, I might release the 'big' version of QuertySam for free

OS: the one which makes a nicer sound when you hit it with a brick ( Reference see Nick Lowe - sound )

HARDWARE, SOUNDCARD, HEADPHONES AND SPEAKERS:

Oh f**k, dont ask me, lets just settle for shit, shit, shit and shit

6.-Do you like to download all OSC tracks at same time and start listen to them or do you prefer listening while they are being uploaded?

Depends. I like to listen to the tracks a few times before judging, but dont like to know who they are by in order to eliminate prejudice based on past experience/contact ... I dont always have the time, but never listen before they are all in .... so sometimes I download as a package. I try to avoid knowing the artist(s). When judging, I cover the playlist minus the track numbers with a notepad, and comment in real time ... mostly I do this twice with only the numbers visible ... and when I'm done, I replace the numbers with brief track names before posting. fair as this may seem, I have to admit that very often, the first tracks i.e. the more recent, have the effect of getting me in the mood for later tracks ( i.e. ones which have been submitted earlier ). I try to compensate by going back to the earlier ( later ) tracks. but by then, I usually know the stunners from the stoners.

7.-How many prizes do you have from OSC contest? (in case you won any)

I have Cryologic, Wusikstation and Eve. Have passed on prizes on a couple of occasions, but much as I love to play with cool toys, over the past year, my role as editor of Aberdeen Voice online news mag, and the political activities I have committed to leave little time for creating music. However, my love of OSC still demands that I find at least some time and space on a regular basis to engage with folks and produce a piece of music from scratch.

... And so despite having to give up running OSC, I love it no less, I am no less proud of what myself and all of you have brought to being, nurtured and sustained, and actually appreciate it's value more now that the new management are taking it from strength to strength. Long Live OSC!

[satYatunes]

1.-How do you like OSC contests?
I like it more than any other contests. The best thing is, it brings out the creativity. Limitation is the motivation. It's not easy to get the desired sounds from every synth. Some synths are versatile, easy to program and some are difficult. That's the challenge. It also opens up the path to synth programming. I don't know about others but I read about synth programming when I first participated in the OSC contest.


2.-When did you started to come into OSC contests?
OSC 18 - Soha Sonata. Jul 2010.

3.-What would you like to improve or change?
a) I use notepad to rank the tracks while listening. If soundclound had some options on it to rank in the player itself then that would have been awesome. I was once toying with an idea of creating a player in Flash/Adobe AIR (you guessed it right, I do know programming) and host in a website, just for this contest. May be some day
b) Careful selection of plugin. I know, I know it's not easy.


4.-How old are you and how many years you were composing?
I am 37. I started in 2000 but not all those 11 years spent in music. I didn't even open my daw for two years (2007-2009). This is just a hobby and I work on it only on the weekends (unless my better half and daughter has already made other plans)

5.-What is your equip?
I have two laptops.
CPU: i5 on both
RAM: 1) 4GB 2) 3GB
HD: 500 GB in both
HOST: Sonar X1 these days.
OS: 1) Win XP 32 bit ) Win 7 64 bit
HARDWARE, SOUNDCARD, HEADPHONES AND SPEAKERS:
EMU X-Board 25, Onboard soundcard, AudioTechnica ATH-M45, None at the moment.

6.-Do you like to download all OSC tracks at same time and start listen to them or do you prefer listening while they are being uploaded?
I visit the soundclound player as and when I feel like it during the month then I listen to all the tracks just before voting. It goes through a few cycles to find the best 5.

7.-How many prizes do you have from OSC contest? (in case you won any)
None, I have not won any.


Lastly, thanks to V'ger, IrionDaRonin and others for managing all this shit and thanks to all the contestants who are submitting their garbage months after months

I have come up with a nice tag line for OSC while writing this.

OSC - One Synth Challenge, where limitation is the motivation.

[bzur]

OSC - One Synth Challenge, where limitation is the motivation.

+1 I don't know why, but I do my best when there are constraints...

[IrionDaRonin]

a) I use notepad to rank the tracks while listening. If soundclound had some options on it to rank in the player itself then that would have been awesome. I was once toying with an idea of creating a player in Flash/Adobe AIR (you guessed it right, I do know programming) and host in a website, just for this contest. May be some day

Lastly, thanks to V'ger, IrionDaRonin and others for managing all this shit and thanks to all the contestants who are submitting their garbage months after months

I have come up with a nice tag line for OSC while writing this.

OSC - One Synth Challenge, where limitation is the motivation.

There is a free program about this and not bad by the way, which uses Microsoft Silverlight, made by Markheath, a KVR user. You could send a private message to him so he could send you the link.

You are welcome Satya.

And great slogan by the way, indeed. I will use it for a next limited synth

Have a good day

[Nahkranoth]

Has the next OSC VSTi been decided yet? I'd like to participate after almost a year of silence, but I've got no Z3ta so will be waiting for the next one. Have no time to read the whole thread, so forgive me for my impatience

[IrionDaRonin]

Next month will be a free synth OSC. We are deciding which synths will be to vote, yet.

Have a good day

[Nahkranoth]

Thanks, Irion. Was hoping to start composing already while you guys are struggling with Z3ta Guess I'll have to wait then.