Clearly Broken (One Synth Challenge)

[rghvdberg]

Hi all,
I entered the One Synth Challenge in January and still haven't got around to post my song here.
I got 3rd place

https://soundcloud.com/rghvdberg/rghvdb ... oken-osc96

project files are on GitHub : https://github.com/rghvdberg/OSC96_Nabla
S
oftware used in this project:
OS - Linux Mint 18 with KX Studio repositories added
DAW - Ardour 5.6

All sounds are made by multiple instances of one synthesizer plugin. In this project the synth used is Nabla by Full Bucket Music.

Although this project is made on Linux, Nabla is a Windows plugin and other Windows plugins have been used too. In order to run a Windows plugin on linux I use Airwave. Very cool software, check it out.

Plugins used:
Nabla by Full Bucket Music
a-plugins (Ardour built-in plugins)
LSP Project (compressors, eq, limiter, reverb)
EQ10Q (compressors, eq)
TAL Filter 2 by Togu Audio Line (for autopan)
Bitrot Stuttter by grejppi
OTT by Xfer [Windows plugin]
Freeverb 3 reverb [Windows plugin]
X42 pugins midifilter.lv (convert velocity to midi cc #7) and balance.lv2 (create Haas effect)

[folderol]

Very good original work.

[GMaq]

Hi,

Wow, really great stuff, I don't know how you synth guys even know where to start let alone get so many different sounds out of one synth, amazing!

I especially liked the dubby breaks in the middle, great stuff! I missed a little more dominant backbeat from the drums and handclap but that could be just my unfamiliarity with mixing EDM.

[rghvdberg]

Hi,

Wow, really great stuff, I don't know how you synth guys even know where to start let alone get so many different sounds out of one synth, amazing!

I especially liked the dubby breaks in the middle, great stuff! I missed a little more dominant backbeat from the drums and handclap but that could be just my unfamiliarity with mixing EDM.

Yeah had difficulty getting decent drums from this.
Also it's a rushed mix .. should haven taken more time

The trick is layering synths, proper use of eq and compression ..
Also used stereo balance.lv2 , delay one channel to create a 'Haas' effect. It sounds bigger and wider that way.
chords are multiple layers of the same sound slightly detuned
etc etc
Ffor the fx I abused the onboard fx of Nabla. If you automate the parameters of the delay and flanger all weird artefacts are created. So make use of a design flaw actually.
Percussion is layered too, kick has 3, snare has 2

This mix needed much more fine tuning but time was up.

And I end up in the top 3 .. :-/

[GMaq]

Thanks for 'splainin'. No matter what the genre it's always cool to use limitations or quirks in spite of themselves.

Don't you mean "And I end up in the top 3 .. " That's some pretty fierce competition

[rghvdberg]

I meant I didn't expect that high of a score ..