Osc19 - sq8L!

[Mac of BIOnighT]

but i for one i'm not sure i'd be happy to share my presets, especially if it's a synth which i also use for my productions (the idea of anyone just being able to load up the whole of "my sound" in 2 seconds i dont find so appealing).

Honestly, that makes two of us... call me Scrooge, but behind somebody loading presets there are a few minutes and the ability to put them together nicely, behind your own sounds there's a lifetime of work searching for self-expression. (no offence meant to anyone, of course, it's just the way I feel about it)
Not to mention the fact that my presets would be unlikely to stun anybody - pretty bread and butter stuff, so you're not missing anything anyway

[new kids on the block]

i have uploaded my tracks " respiration".

[vanmorrison]

I don't think it should be a problem to upload only the presets for that particular synth of the contest... how many can they be? and furthermore you will donload the ones of the others... so there would be a benefit for all the community... But maybe I'0m wrong... I'm quite new in this field...

[V'ger]

Tattie is always calling for presets (for users as well as the developer), but it's a rarity to see any uploads.

[Timfonie]

Uploaded a track called Running. Gotta love these sounds.

Your song is still running here, again. Love these sounds from this 80's machine and love this 80's track!

[tattiemannie]

Yep, V'ger is quite correct ... I have asked many times for presets .. and usually create folders to upload to ( I seem to remember recently advising recently on a way to name them in a way which identifies the synth, the artist and the sound )... but some of those folders remain empty.

I think one little hitch with submitting presets is that they dont always sound like they do on the tracks because they are what the synth produced before Eqing, compressing and sometimes other fx.

Kik drums for example .... some synths do a rotten kik, but it can be made to work with the right EQ and dynamics. Anyone receiving that preset after hearing it on a track might be extremely disappointed.


As for judging how folks create sounds as opposed to using presets, errr .. I think we first need to have a look at what the comp is all about.

Although it appears to be about the quality of the track, composition, writing etc, thats not really why OSC came about, and not really the 'challenge' ... merely the 'report'

It is about the strengths, weaknesses and versatility of the synth, and the the ability of the artist to cope with/exploit/showcase these.

So ... the synth? .... if it's presets are such that they present the synths range and quality, then there's no problem with that ... however, if too many of us use untweaked presets, somewhere along the line our tracks are gonna start to sound too alike, and we could be presenting the synth as being limited in range and versatility.

... And the artist? ... OSC is an opportunity to really explore what a synth is capable of ... perhaps to a level even the developer is unaware of!
From what I gather, regular OSCers continue to enjoy this process of discovery and regard it as part of the development of their general skill and understanding of sound design and problem solving ... and so using only the default presets, whilst a quick way of getting a track put together, is to lose out on the opportunity, not only to add some unique touches to your track, but to gain a solid understanding of a particular synth that will possibly be of use in future projects.

I am of the opinion that anyone using only default presets is cheating no-one but themselves
However, if it is a means by which they can enter the comp and helps them to write/finish a track when they would otherwise have produced nothing, then surely that's a good thing .... and something many OSCers have stated is the case, and something we should feel damned good about!

So, I cant support the checking of presets. The OSC has run on trust for long enough, and has been loads of fun as well as educational ... and though I'm aware the odd bit of 'rule bending' goes on, we get on great and sustain a welcoming and slightly mad little community within the KVR community ... and I for one want to see this kind of vibe continue.

[LXNDR1]

furthermore you will donload the ones of the others... so there would be a benefit for all the community...

good point

being overprotective of his own presets one denies him/herself the pleasure of and the benefit from using other people presets, cause they may refuse sharing as well not expecting anything in return, and ultimately thereby one deprives himself of knowledge and education

it's been said ad nauseam, it's not the plugin/machine, it's the operator, so no one can steal you from yourself

yet i guess the reason people don't upload presets is plain laziness rather than unwilingness to share

[Mac of BIOnighT]

I don't think it should be a problem to upload only the presets for that particular synth of the contest... how many can they be?

True, but each one of them might become one of your signature sounds...

and furthermore you will donload the ones of the others... so there would be a benefit for all the community...

Like others, I never use any presets at all, as I'd find it odd to use someone else's work and personality. I even very rarely use my own presets, as I program 90% of the sounds on the fly. It's the whole concept of presets that goes against my personal vision of electronic music, that's all...

But maybe I'm wrong... I'm quite new in this field...

You can't be wrong or right, it's just a personal thing and a matter of choices

[Mac of BIOnighT]

I am of the opinion that anyone using only default presets is cheating no-one but themselves

This pretty much sums up what I think about presets (in general, not regarding ths OSC's). It could be useful to examine a particular preset, but by just using it you'll never learn a damn thing. It's a perfect way to preserve one's lack of programming skills and - eventually - self-expression...

[LXNDR1]

Like others, I never use any presets at all, as I'd find it odd to use someone else's work and personality. I even very rarely use my own presets, as I program 90% of the sounds on the fly. It's the whole concept of presets that goes against my personal vision of electronic music, that's all...

not trying to dissuade you from your opinion, but call it 'sounds' not 'presets'
once you save the 'sound' you employed it becomes a 'preset' which can be shared and/or exchanged

and if someone happens to like or even admire a particular 'sound' from your track, why not indulge them and share its saved version? not out of obligation, just as a good will gesture

[V'ger]

Well I make no bones that I'm a preset whore and not the type to hit 'init' and take it from there.

Although the presets are usually tweaked to varying degree, the point for me is not as much to design sounds as to make a tune with a limited choice for the inspiration and fun that comes from that simplicity.

And I think the voting reflects that is the majority's view: Not the sound design as much as the song design gets the score. Of course the song can really be helped with cool sounds but it's not the sounds that matter most.

[crimsonwarlock]

I also like to program my own sounds. But let's not forget that some synths come with such an abundance of great sounds (and SQ8L is a good example) that in some cases a preset is hard to beat. For example the available drum-sounds for SQ8L are pretty hard to surpass with your own programming, especially if you don't have many hours of experience in programming this particular instrument. Showing off the capabilities of this instrument would be to use a top preset instead of a 'weak' self-made patch

In the past I did program my ESQ-1 myself but wasn't ashamed to use many stock sounds in songs as well, simply because they where pretty hard to do a better job on myself.

[Mac of BIOnighT]

once you save the 'sound' you employed it becomes a 'preset' which can be shared and/or exchanged

I don't save them, they save with the song, they do not become presets, except for the few ones I know I will use again.

if someone happens to like or even admire a particular 'sound' from your track, why not indulge them and share its saved version? not out of obligation, just as a good will gesture

Because I'm a selfish bastard
The (complicated) point is: I do strongly believe that presets and loops have killed the very essence of electronic music, therefore I simply refuse to contribute to something I'm against (which sounds pretty logical to me. If you're against war, you do not donate to the army)
As I said, it's a matter of personal choice.

[batgab]

I'm all for simply retaining the honor system and voluntary preset sharing. Basically, I just don't want to bog things down with requiring anybody to produce a bunch of extra stuff on top of their piece of music. It seems like simply making the tunes and voting takes up a sufficient amount of everybody's time. (OK, maybe just mine...). I mean, have mercy on Tattie - the dude's got so many balls in the air I get tired just thinking about it!

I'm sure a PM to the person who produced a sound you find interesting or mind-blowing would suffice in the education department.

Man, do I sound crabby here? Sorry, no intention to do so!

[vanmorrison]

I do agree with Mac the Bionight that the most interesting thing in elecronic music is the possibility to do something new... never heard before (if it's merely possible), but I think also that... I can start from something that other have done before to make something new (change slightly or very much the preset or combine the preset in another contest or be inspired to do something else). I think that noone starts from zero, but the more he knows the more he can go further and closing to others idea is the worst thing for creativity... today we got internet that allows to share... I think we should take the advantage of this to give something with nothing in return... but the return is our increased knowledge... how you've said... there's no write or wrong, this is just a point of wiev....