Single-Synth Remixes

[prophetik]

has anyone ever done anything like this? i've been getting into single-synth remixing a lot lately because it forces me to get creative and not just do everything in a rut. using just one synthesizer and completely exploring the tonal capabilities of it have really expanded my flexibility, i think. it's pretty fun.

i've done tracks using NI's Massive and Absynth, Rob Papen's Blue, and i'm thinking about digging into Omnisphere some this time around for my next one.

anyone else ever did anything like this?

[Cerrax]

I've always wanted to try this. It would be quite a challenge.

I'm thinking about starting up LDJ in Visual Boy Advance and recording some stuff. Or maybe try something with Logic's ES1 or ESP synth. Maybe even get crazy and go the Sega Genesis route and use the EFM1.

You could even get really creative and load a single sample into a sampler and use that.

[Mustin]

Uh, a lot of people do things like this? That's why they make keyboards with sequencers?

The tough thing is like that Cerrax said - load in a single sample and use just THAT to make a track.

Ask Mazedude about that.

[zircon]

Yeah, single-sample stuff is very tricky.. I've heard it done and it's just crazy, especially when you work in processing and granular synthesis. Single-synth isn't impressive if it's a ROMpler/sampler BUT if you're talking about just a simple subtractive or additive synth, that can be cool. For example, doing a whole track with just Synth1 or even Zebra 2 would be very impressive, since you have to synthesize all your percussion.

[prophetik]

Uh, a lot of people do things like this? That's why they make keyboards with sequencers?

The tough thing is like that Cerrax said - load in a single sample and use just THAT to make a track.

Ask Mazedude about that.

no, you're not understanding what i'm talking about. not a hardware synth, like a keyboard or something. a software synth, reason's Maelstrom or FL's Sytrus. ok, sytrus would be easier than maelstrom, but you get the picture. the whole point is doing everything - drums, bass, pads, everything - using different instances of the same synth.

edit: yeah, zircon, that's what i'm talking about. like Blue v1.01, for example - that kind of stuff.

[Rozovian]

I have a remix in the tbp queue that's synth only, another synth-only that was recently subbed. Making your own percussion with synths is fun, and a great way to learn how the synth works... and what the sounds are made of.

I did use multiple synths, tho.

[OverCoat]

i've done this before
http://soundtempest.net/soc/single/oc-mickrip-ProcessorsDontWorkLikeThat.mp3
^ 1 Sample
http://soundtempest.net/soc/single/oc-swellsbeck.mp3
^ emulating the limitations of the Sega Genesis, all VOPM except for the sampled+bitcrushed drums

[PhiJayy]

For example, doing a whole track with just Synth1 or even Zebra 2 would be very impressive, since you have to synthesize all your percussion.

Tricky stuff, man. I attempted to do that once, I didn't like it. Mainly because I'm way too lazy.

DRUM SAMPLES FOR LIFE!!!

[OverCoat]

I made an all Synth1 song but it's not very good

lol

[Gario]

I love single-synth music - it really pushes the limits of what you can do on something musically. Chiptune writing (real chiptune writing, not the sound-alikes) is close to this, although you've got four channels to work with...

It's always fun doing things like that - it pushes your skills as a composer, for sure.

[Dafydd]

I did try to make a remix using only the Reason Subtractor synth, including drums and everything. I did use some additional effects (reverb etc) though, as well as a sample that only serves as an intro. Here's a link, in case you're interested: http://www.dafydd.se/wip/Dafydd - WiP - Grand Prix Circuit.mp3 (http://www.dafydd.se/wip/Dafydd%20-%20WiP%20-%20Grand%20Prix%20Circuit.mp3)

[OA]

Mazedude has a single sine wave mix on the FF4 project that is excellent.

[DJ SymBiotiX]

Bah not a very good video, but may I present

100% Minimoo-g by Sota Fujimori

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJNS9gwqPMY&feature=related

p.s. I assume by the name (i.e. 100% minimoog) it means everything was made with just a minimoog.)

[Dafydd]

Who needs drum samples when you can slam the buttons on a keyboard?

[prophetik]

the minimoog is my favorite synth. got a chance to hang out with herb deustch a year or two ago and play his personal mini. pretty awesome time.

[Sole Signal]

Bustatunez sent me this a while ago; the artist used 100% Synth1 for the track. Very impressive.

www.audixmusic.com/Kaiyoti_-_Army_of_Synth1.mp3
(http://www.audixmusic.com/Kaiyoti_-_Army)

[prophetik]

page not found error.

[Sole Signal]

For some reason it didn't recognize the whole link. Should work now.

[prophetik]

holy crap! this is awesome!

[Nase]

Yeah, Kayoti's stuff is pretty inspiring.

I tried to synthesize acoustic sounding stuff in synth1 a bit after I'd found his work. I imagine it takes a good while to get to his level of knowledge about something like synth1. I didn't get anything very realistic sounding, but still got some fun patches out of it.

This one's 100% synth1 for example.

http://tindeck.com/listen/xkso

Shame I didn't know how to do a proper Orchestral sounding snare back then. Kayoti explained to me how to do a pretty convincing one. Part of the secret is using synth1's fx section and eq as a solid part of the synth instead of just adding sprinkles on top of the raw sound.

[analoq]

has anyone ever done anything like this?
Tons of music has been made this way. One of the most successful "classical music" albums was done this way, back in the late 60s, Switched-On Bach.

If you're interested in this sort of thing check out Isao Tomita's stuff from the 70s, like Holst's Planets suite recorded from effectively a single synth.

Mazedude has a single sine wave mix on the FF4 project that is excellent.
Stockhausen did that back in the 50s. Well, minus the FF4.

[zircon]

Bustatunez sent me this a while ago; the artist used 100% Synth1 for the track. Very impressive.

www.audixmusic.com/Kaiyoti_-_Army_of_Synth1.mp3
(http://www.audixmusic.com/Kaiyoti_-_Army)

Haha yes, this is an EXCELLENT example of excellent "one synth" (Synth1 lololol) music.

To be fair, analoq, stuff like "Switched on Bach" was basically just playing back classical music on synthesizers with no attempt at emulating the tone of particular instruments accurately. While I appreciate that music (my Dad has it on vinyl) and while I can appreciate the experimentation of composers like Stockhausen, the latter's works are so mind-numbingly unpleasant to listen to, I find things like "Army of Synth1" much more interesting. The composition isn't outstanding from an academic perspective, perhaps, but the synthesis involved is far superior.

[analoq]

To be fair, analoq, stuff like "Switched on Bach" was basically just playing back classical music on synthesizers with no attempt at emulating the tone of particular instruments accurately.
If you want imitative synthesis, check out Tomita. The great thing about Switched-On Bach was that instead of having flimsy imitations of acoustic instruments, it reproduced works by Bach with new sounds. That's far more interesting, in my opinion.

[zircon]

At the time, sure, but it's interesting now mainly as a historic work... since anyone can do it with a MIDI and free VSTs. Kind of like how we can look back on the printing press and admire the genius that went into inventing it, but you wouldn't use a 15th century printing press for any modern purposes. Likewise I don't find that more interesting to listen to now than advanced synthesis techniques of composers today. Also, I haven't heard that much Tomita but from what has been sent to me, it's a bit dull. A lot of it is obviously 'synthy' and not imitative. Again, just check out that Army of Synth1 thing. I've NEVER heard anyone do that with subtractive synthesis - it's absolutely nuts, pure skill of the highest order. I simply can't believe that was done with sines, triangles, saws, squares, and noise in a simple Nord Lead emulator.

There's also this (http://www.zirconstudios.com/music/random/Arturia_MMV_Symphony7_Beethoven.mp3), an excerpt of a Beethoven symphony played through custom MinimoogV patches (no samples, of course.)

[analoq]

At the time, sure, but it's interesting now mainly as a historic work... since anyone can make a shit imitation of Switched-On Bach with a MIDI and free VSTs.
Fixed that for you. The skilled performance and sound design of Switched-On Bach is beyond what any amateur is capable of. Even if you took away the synth, it is still a good Bach performance.

Again, just check out that Army of Synth1 thing. I've NEVER heard anyone do that with subtractive synthesis - it's absolutely nuts, pure skill of the highest order.
You obviously haven't heard much of Tomita's stuff if you think this.

[zircon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmSH7BsNSrM <- This was the piece of Tomita's that I heard. The strings are nice, but a lot of the other sounds are basically just synths... nothing TOO spectacular here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K-NBH9Q-eo&feature=related <- This was way more impressive. The high strings, harp and pizzicatos here are really great. I guess I shouldn't have started with Arabesque. Is this all subtractive though?

[analoq]

The album is mainly done on a Moog modular which is subtractive. Actually I see there is this page (http://www.isaotomita.net/recordings/planets.html#technology) which lists everything. Non-synthesis electronic keyboard instruments like the mellotron, rhodes and clavinet are listed. So I concede not entirely subtractive.

[prophetik]

Tons of music has been made this way. One of the most successful "classical music" albums was done this way, back in the late 60s, Switched-On Bach.

i've got the vinyl of this. artistry is awesome, moog isn't. never really got into the sound like some people. one thing i never got into is that walter/wendy basically does their own version of bach, not really a traditional interpretation. while her control and everything was great, i still would have preferred a slightly drier approach. but that's just me.

that said, i'm talking about software, not hardware, as i mentioned before. let's not get into a music-knowledge pissing match, anyways.

[analoq]

I'm a bit bemused. I try to give this concept some perspective by using examples to illustrate that it's as old as the hills, then you and zircon opine on your subjective tastes of the examples I gave as if that were an intellectual response. Ignoratio elenchi much?

artistry is awesome, moog isn't. never really got into the sound like some people.
So the minimoog is your favorite synth, but you don't like the moog sound. Okay.
i'm talking about software, not hardware, as i mentioned before.
Your concept is the same regardless of hardware or software, so as much as you'd like to catch me in a technicality the fact is we are talking about both.
let's not get into a music-knowledge pissing match, anyways.
If you're gonna pick your battles then pick them. If you can't participate, don't respond.

[prophetik]

i didn't get into moog for bach. i LOVE it used elsewhere. if you noticed, i said i like the minimoog (specifically, the D (http://www.vintagesynth.com/moog/moog.php)), not the original custom modular setup that carlos had built. different sounds. imo, bach sounds really nasty when you use a synth. been listening to too many piano recitals, i guess. my wife's a pianist, so it's tough for me to hear anything but piano playing those pieces.

analoq, i'm not trying to complain or something. this thread isn't about which is better, or the huge history behind it. i wanted to know about people around here that are into this stuff.

all that said, while the concept is as old as the hills and everyone and their brother has worked on a single-synth track at some point (hell, that's how synthesis started, isn't it?), i was more interested in people who frequent this site, and their stories about trying something to expand their horizens. i don't really care about stockhausen - i think his music is frustrating to listen to, and although his ideas were ahead of their time by the time he died he was a pariah in the musical community outside of his circle of friends, used as a joking example by music students to represent something utterly horrible to listen to. i'll say it again: most every 'classical' artist who uses synthesizers drives me insane, since their music only serves to drive people away from modern classicism rather than bring people in. don't say i'm not in touch, since most of my repertoire is based on that same style of music...and i hate it.

now, back on topic. like i said, i'm more into the community and the stories that they've got. anything cool that you've experienced with fooling around with this style of composition?

edit:
If you're gonna pick your battles then pick them. If you can't participate, don't respond.

what the fuck? this is a conversation that you came in and hijacked. just because you're some synth genius doesn't mean that i have to leave my own discussion.

[analoq]

if you noticed (Yes, I did -analoq), i said i like the minimoog (specifically, the D (http://www.vintagesynth.com/moog/moog.php)), not the original custom modular setup that carlos had built. different sounds.
That's fine, it just struck me as odd as they both represent the 'moog' sound, the modular just allows for more complexities.
i don't really care about stockhausen
I wasn't trying to start a discussion about Stockhausen, Carlos or Tomita. I was making a point about this being an old idea (which you have acknowledged) and used them as examples to illustrate my point which was on-topic. You guys ignored my point and went off-topic to opine on my examples.
most every 'classical' artist who uses synthesizers drives me insane, since their music only serves to drive people away from modern classicism rather than bring people in.
You make an outrageous claim like that and yet I'm the one hijacking this thread? Okay.
what the fuck? this is a conversation that you came in and hijacked. just because you're some synth genius doesn't mean that i have to leave my own discussion.
I meant don't respond to me unless you're willing to engage discussion; wasn't telling you to back out from the entire thread.

[prophetik]

this is all i'm saying about the subject. listen to the pulitzer prize winning composition in 1971, by mario davidovsky, and read the reviews on the work online. then tell me that it promotes classical music in a way that will make people want to listen to it instead of the newest punk band or something.

[analoq]

this is all i'm saying about the subject.
You just don't get it, do you? You can't make claims and then neglect your responsibility to those who wish to scrutinize. You can't award yourself the last word, you have to earn it. What you are practicing is intellectual dishonesty and I don't respect that.

Your opinions on this subject are immaterial to me regardless, so I wasn't going to entertain your argument anyways. Besides that, I already suggested it's off-topic...

[Nase]

*Yawn*


What do you guys think about a single synth remix competition? The FL only competitions were in a similar vein, but this way, more people would be able to join, and synthesizing your drums would add to the challenge.

All we'd need is a nice mac+pc freebie to agree on and a somewhat established regular to host the thing.

[Geoffrey Taucer]

OSHIT!

Did I miss the classical music penisfight?

[prophetik]

yep.

gario suggested the idea to me, but i kind of went a different direction with our conversation. if you're interested, keep an eye around my threads posted in general some time in the next few months for something in this vein to pop up.

[analoq]

I like that idea. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help move it forward, e.g. you're welcome to use the compo:TS system. I don't hold grudges.
All we'd need is a nice mac+pc freebie to agree on
There aren't a lot of free, well-supported crossplatform synth plugins, there's Green Oak Crystal but that's a bit complicated. Linplug's Free Alpha would probably be the best choice going off the top of my head.

cheers.

[Rozovian]

FreeAlpha is a pretty good one. Seconded.

[prophetik]

you could, of course, allow any synth as long as it's the only one you used. that's what i'd do, at least.

[analoq]

The problem is that doesn't create a level playing field. Someone could be using 3xOSC someone else could be using Reaktor. And then you have to define what's allowed and what's not, like SonikSynth is a synth but it's sample based so it would give an unfair advantage. I think Nasenmann's idea is better.

[Power Smoothie]

This is a brilliant idea. I'm tempted to try this with ymVST for some retro stuff, actually. I haven't ever used FreeAlpha before, but I'm game to give it a go.

[Nase]

http://kunz.corrupt.ch/?Products:VST_TAL-Elek7ro ?

kinda simple, but good sound.


FreeAlpha seems very capable, but mod matrices always put me off.

[prophetik]

i was thinking more along the lines of synths like massive or blue, but i see what you mean. we could 'ok' synths for use, i guess, but your point is valid.

again, i'm not really into compos as much. i might put together a project at some point based on this idea, but we'll see.

[Nase]

a highlight of everyone using the same synth would be the optional sharing of patches when the competition is done, of course.

[starla]

I would love to host a compo for this. I'd think a throwback to 3xosc only would be wonderful, but I would want to make sure that everyone who wanted to participate had the proper software to do so. There are a couple of options on mac to get FL running as well, but if there are any other ideas let me know, and I'd be happy to set up a compo time for it.

[analoq]

I think it'd be expecting a bit much for anyone who doesn't already have FL to go out and get it, install it, install windows if they're a mac user, and learn to use it just for a compo.

Getting FreeAlpha or the plugin Nasenmann mentioned is easy enough for anyone, except maybe Reason users - but most of them have host software as well.

edit: Oh and I'm very glad you're interested in hosting this! cheers.

[Gario]

Getting FreeAlpha or the plugin Nasenmann mentioned is easy enough for anyone, except maybe Reason users...

Sadness! Oh well, I'd still enjoy watching where a compo of the sort would go (even if I couldn't participate until I broke down and got FL Studio). It would be very interesting to see what came out of it!

[rig1015]

Total mono-usage-synthesis;

I'm for the Arturia ARP 2600 (V)

[starla]

I'm open to ideas of course, but if i get 5 people that want to compo and they all happen to be on windows, FL would be my solution since we could all use the demo :< Of course, if we could decide on a single sample and manipulate it to all hell, that would work in any DAW and OS.