KVR Audio

mmoncur · Post by **mmoncur** » Fri Apr 17, 2015 6:09 am

One of the things that is hardest about creativity is learning to be judged.

The first OSC I was in I got 40th place, about midway down the pack. This time I got 20th, slightly better. Last time I had two 5's, this time I had 7. So I did better than last time, and I did better than some people here...

BUT IT STILL HURTS!

Nonetheless, I try to tell myself three things:

1. The important thing is that I *finished a track*. I don't know about you folks, but for me this is HUGE. I have literally finished exactly 3 tracks since 2001, and all three have been for the OSC. I don't care if I get last place, I've finished a track and I've learned something.

2. It's all a matter of taste. The fact is, no matter how objective I want to be, if there's a song that sounds like Country or Hip-hop I'm not going to like it. Maybe I'll acknowledge its technical merit and give it a 4, but it certainly won't be a 5. And every single one of us has some sort of musical prejudice like that, even if we try to ignore it.

3. I'm going to try to make the next song better, but I am NOT going to try to win. I could do that -- I could analyze the style of the top 5 and try to make something with the same feeling -- but that's not my goal here. My goal is to make the kind of music I like to listen to, which is generally trance/techno/house and is NOT the favorite genre of most of the people here. And that's fine.

(What I *will* do is listen to the top 10 over and over and try to spot what's great about them, hoping it will inspire me.)

Just keep in mind that there are only about 60 judges here, and MOST of them are the kind of people who make music you didn't give a "5" to. So it's always going to be a very subjective thing.

Nonetheless I love the community feeling of working on a song with the same (software) limitations as a group of people at the same time, and I'm going to keep doing it any time I can (curse those Windows-only OSCs!)

Thanks everyone for your votes -- no matter what they were -- and thanks BJPorter for all your hard work running this thing.

[Side note: It's especially hard when my first two OSCs have been for incredibly popular commercial software. When I look at the old OSC results, some of them only have a dozen entrants! I think I might have cracked the top 5 in one of those if I had just tried...]

ThePresent · Post by **ThePresent** » Fri Apr 17, 2015 7:04 am

Congrats Jasinski, z.prime, h-man, lemmike and Harthstein!

Edit: and a big Thank You to bj and KV331

Anthony Newcomb · Post by **Anthony Newcomb** » Fri Apr 17, 2015 7:24 am

Congrats to all the winners and enjoy your new software! I am flattered to see my position in the final list and I appreciate all the votes. Especially the kind welcome I received to the community.

I was reading some posts and I want to say to anyone who is bothered by the outcome, these numbers do not define us as musicians. Nor does anyone's opinions. I knew going into this that there would be negative and positive reactions to what ever I created. That's just human nature and this forum, being a melting pot of personalities, can be harsh to those of us who thrive on positive reinforcement. I'm sure all mean well in there own way. Constructive criticism can be hard to hear sometimes.

Myself, I am retiring from the OSC for a while to get back to my roots in music...Guitar. I love synthesizers and electronic music of all kinds as I am extremely appreciative of the diversity in music today. (That's why I can listen to z.prime's "Addiction" and then put on a Floyd album in the same sitting.) I like it all because it keeps me diversified and my mind fresh.

Back to my point.., I own the full Synthmaster package, Omnisphere (+ v2 in a couple weeks), and Reveal Sound SPIRE but I primarily use these beasts for soundscapes in my guitar work or for synth leads and plucks. I picked up a guitar at age 11 and 27 years later it's still my main gig. I have however gained a huge interest in the whole Electronic music movement these last couple years...So with that said, my goal is to make a few more lone electronic tracks but then start to mix the two styles together into a type of "Hybrid" if you will. But I just can't do that and the OSC at the same time. I didn't spend all this $ in software to not use it.

I have followed all of you on soundcloud and will check out all your new tracts you make. Keep your eyes open for my new stuff that's soon to come up. (the mastering will be much better too I promise!...and louder volume. I will vote for Dexed if I can get 40 posts in time (Per the rules)

Great job everyone and take care!
Anthony

Oh, one last but very important thing I need to clear up in regards to some posts I've read since I've been on here:

Anyone who hates EDM should be ashamed of their attitude, cause if Bob Moog or any other forefathers of the synth were here to hear you speak so close minded, they'ed take your synths and give them to a needy children's music school where their dreams of sound discovery and adventure could continue in the hands of the appreciative...and the dreamers.

Now excuse me while I go and put on some Alan Parsons

mehum · Post by **mehum** » Fri Apr 17, 2015 8:54 am

Anthony Newcomb wrote: Anyone who makes hate statements towards EDM tracks should be ashamed of their attitude

Haha, I realize my latest comment (regarding "forgettable EDM") came out dismissive of EDM but it was really not meant that way. Neither was it meant as dismissive of any track in the competition.

I love many types of EDM but the D in EDM is really the key here. They're meant for the dance floor and often doesn't work well when listened to in other environments. In this case, with over 50 entrants to listen through, it didn't really work for me. Many were very well made but at times I couldn't tell one from the other. This actually kind of speaks to the quality of the soundbanks and the synthesizer but many sounded very similar.
Unless you do something to surprise me listening fatigue kicks in and it all becomes a blur... I probably rated a lot of tracks unfairly this time since this will depend on listening order. That's what happens when you go on gut feeling. I'll try a new rating system for OSC74

Wyrrdbryyngr · Post by **Wyrrdbryyngr** » Fri Apr 17, 2015 9:16 am

wow, 48/53. some criticism would have been nice...

well on the bright side, the only person i gave a 5 to also gave me a 5. that almost completely rectifies the fact that i got more 1's than anyone but 0 reasons why.

mehum · Post by **mehum** » Fri Apr 17, 2015 9:29 am

foxAsteria wrote:wow, 48/53. some criticism would have been nice...

My advice would be to PM those whose opinion you value and ask. Most people seem reluctant to give negative criticism publically.

Wyrrdbryyngr · Post by **Wyrrdbryyngr** » Fri Apr 17, 2015 9:35 am

no crap. that's why i keep calling for anonymous voting. i feel like some of the 1's might have been slightly grudgy. i do tend to vote harshly. but if i gave you a 2 on the same scale as i gave a beatles song a 4, you'd have to feel pretty good about that right? because that's how i vote.

none of the songs were terrible, but i didn't actually like very many of them. which is why i'm not surprised how few peeps liked mine.

Anthony Newcomb · Post by **Anthony Newcomb** » Fri Apr 17, 2015 9:41 am

mehum wrote:
Anthony Newcomb wrote: Anyone who makes hate statements towards EDM tracks should be ashamed of their attitude
Haha, I realize my latest comment (regarding "forgettable EDM") came out dismissive of EDM but it was really not meant that way. Neither was it meant as dismissive of any track in the competition.

Ha, that was quick. Yeah your alright...thought the Bob Moog thing would bring a chuckle

H-man · Post by **H-man** » Fri Apr 17, 2015 9:46 am

Anthony Newcomb wrote:
mehum wrote:
Anthony Newcomb wrote: Anyone who makes hate statements towards EDM tracks should be ashamed of their attitude
Haha, I realize my latest comment (regarding "forgettable EDM") came out dismissive of EDM but it was really not meant that way. Neither was it meant as dismissive of any track in the competition.
Ha, that was quick. Yeah your alright...thought the Bob Moog thing would bring a chuckle

Got a giggle out me

wagtunes · Post by **wagtunes** » Fri Apr 17, 2015 10:11 am

foxAsteria wrote:wow, 48/53. some criticism would have been nice...

well on the bright side, the only person i gave a 5 to also gave me a 5. that actually completely rectifies the fact that i got more 1's than anyone but 0 reasons why.

Fox, I posted a breakdown of your votes in the page before this one. I hope you'll read what I said. You are a genius. To get people to either love or hate your music so much means you've pushed a lot of buttons. I listened to your track and gave it a 3 only because I didn't know how to rate it. It was one of the most unusual and bizarre things I have ever heard. It was intricate, odd, strange, well done, and even a little unnerving.

Tap into that and you can create music that can actually become popular in a cult sort of way if not mainstream.

Point is, when you write like that, you're not going to lull people to sleep. They're going to react strongly. Your almost perfect bell curve proves that. I was stunned you had 13 1's while at the same time getting 12 votes of 4 or better.

Yours was one of the 2 tracks in the whole contest I can honestly say wasn't the same old same old, even if a lot of the ones I gave 5's to were better produced, more tight, commercial, or whatever you want to call them. Only 2 tracks made me go "wow, this is different" and yours was one of them.

Take that for what it's worth to you.

JKF Flashico · Post by **JKF Flashico** » Fri Apr 17, 2015 10:31 am

Congratz top five

I also like to thank you for everyone who comments my track

bh9090 · Post by **bh9090** » Fri Apr 17, 2015 10:46 am

foxAsteria wrote:wow, 48/53. some criticism would have been nice...

well on the bright side, the only person i gave a 5 to also gave me a 5. that actually completely rectifies the fact that i got more 1's than anyone but 0 reasons why.

For me, the harmony was a little odd and the kick/snare sounds didn't fit well. Now the harmony thing is completly personal taste. Someone that likes pop-harmony may not like Ornett Coleman free-jazz harmony, or 12 tone row stuff. Yours was more dissonant than traditional pop. That may have turned some people off. But that's not bad!!

Anthony Newcomb · Post by **Anthony Newcomb** » Fri Apr 17, 2015 11:00 am

Hey Parduz, I'll arm wrestle you for the 12th spot...?

Did you see that not only did we tie At 197 points, but we also had the exact amount of 5's, 4's, 3's, 2's and 1's...who's got a coin for flipping? Anyone?

Wyrrdbryyngr · Post by **Wyrrdbryyngr** » Fri Apr 17, 2015 11:19 am

@wagtunes

Lol! That's all I needed to hear. I actually did read your "breakdown" and had no idea you were talkin about me. Thanks for that, it's worth a great deal I don't get embarrassed easily and I'm not trying to win popularity contests, but the silence can drive me nuts! I work hard at my music, and originality is what I strive for, so thank you for recognizing that.

Honestly I really don't give a flying monkey's ass if people like it, I don't write pop music. I just wanna know what impression it gives! I wanna know what stands out, what's boring. You have no idea how rare honest opinions are for me. And to get a 1 with no explanation because to me that says to me not even effort or some skill was recognized. But most of the people who gave me a 1, I would never expect to like my stuff anyway.

Anyways, I hope I didn't hurt anyone's feelings with all my 2 giving...Lady Gaga only gets a 2 from me too. And that's purely for production.

Wyrrdbryyngr · Post by **Wyrrdbryyngr** » Fri Apr 17, 2015 11:23 am

bh9090 wrote: For me, the harmony was a little odd and the kick/snare sounds didn't fit well. Now the harmony thing is completly personal taste. Someone that likes pop-harmony may not like Ornett Coleman free-jazz harmony, or 12 tone row stuff. Yours was more dissonant than traditional pop. That may have turned some people off. But that's not bad!!

thanks dude, i agree. and i mostly hate pop-harmony. blame my death metal childhood.

One Synth Challenge #73 special: Synthmaster (Jasinski wins!)