NEW REMASTERED VERSION ON YT: https://youtu.be/UT6oPRi3NBU

Submitted for One Synth Challenge #145 in March 2021 featuring "Kairatune" by Futucraft.

A fun little synth for sure. It has serious limitations in some aspects, but it also has features that sometimes an expensive commercial software could have. An individual control for oscillator's fundamental and it's harmonics is a sort of genius. Sometimes it is so hard to control the bass frequencies when using unison feature on the other synths, but not in this case. The sound engine itself is quite good. With the series of modulated filters and a little bit of drive you can create pretty interesting timbres. The FX section is quite handy, there is something special about effects on a free synths (remember Synth1). 

There could be some minor improvements that would extend the possible sounds. More LFO shapes for example, I think it is not so hard to implement. There is, however, an interesting opportunity with such limited instruments to create some new sounds and develop new techniques that you wouldn't try within your comfort zone. 

Composed, arranged, mixed and mastered in FL Studio 20

8 instances of "Kairatune" used to create a track. All sounds from "init" patch.

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/infravolt

In Transition

In Transition (OSC#145)

YouTube: https://youtu.be/IVXYGPJGeBE

Submitted for Songwriting Competition 045 - "Plug in, connect, make music" in May 2021.

It's nearly summer, but the whether seems to be not so pleasant, even in the warmest places of Earth.

So let's stay home and make music!

This entry made with Full Bucket synthesizers:
 - Mono/Fury for sweeping bass and stacked saw lead;
 - Fury-800 for organ-like synth and bells;
 - Tricent for 8th bass riff and strings;
 - ModulAir for making a soundscape.

Samples from LinnDrum were used for percussion.

Thread, related to this contest: https://mix-challenge.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=438

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/infravolt

Storm Warning

YouTube: https://youtu.be/HRJEPQKbXkM

Originally submitted for One Synth Challenge #147 in May 2021 featuring "Any synth" by Full Bucket.

The goal was to create a track using one of Full Bucket's virtual synthesizers.

Chosen synth - Tricent

After working on another project I found that this synth can produce some really great tones while looking very simple and very limited in some ways. It is may be the best sounding Full Bucket synth in terms of vintage character. Without any external processing it sounds like a late 70's/early 80's sci-fi movie soundtrack, so the stylistic choice for my composition was made instantly. It was a pleasure to spend another weekend with this instrument. 

Composed, arranged, mixed and mastered in FL Studio 20

8 instances of "Tricent" used to create a track. All sounds from "init" patch.

Thread, related to this round: https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=564633

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/infravolt

Visitors

Visitors (OSC#147)

YouTube: https://youtu.be/mghFNqKKr1E

Originally submitted for "Samples From Mars - Kawaii Dreams" contest in June 2021.

Samples From Mars: https://samplesfrommars.com/
Kawaii Dreams From Mars: https://samplesfrommars.com/products/kawaii-dreams-from-mars?utm_source=Active%20after%20Nov%202018&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Kawaii%20Dreams%20From%20Mars%20%28U9HJ7u%29&_ke=eyJrbF9jb21wYW55X2lkIjogImNWSkZuNSIsICJrbF9lbWFpbCI6ICJtYW1raW44OWtvbXBveml0b3JAZ21haWwuY29tIn0%3D#

All sounds created with "Kawaii Dreams from Mars" using TAL Sampler and it's internal features like layering, pitch shifting, filtering and modulation.

1. "Randroid" for the bass;
2. "Return Home" for wobbling drone;
3. "Warm Strings" for sweeping pad;
4. "Analog Strings" for sample & hold pad;
5. "Bell Air" for the bells;
6. "Air Bass" for the woodwind-like solo;
7. "Indie Organ" for synthesizer keyboard.

"Drumtracks from Mars" pack was used for percussion.

Composed, arranged and produced in FL Studio 20.7

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/infravolt

Martian Station Bar

YouTube: https://youtu.be/JN5HF01araY

Submitted for Songwriting Competition 047 - "Video Game Soundtrack - Strategic Resources" in July 2021.

Created as a soundtrack for an imaginary turn-based strategy videogame (think of Masters of Orion, Galactic Civilizations, Endless Space etc.)

This theme is proposed for an early-to-mid game stage that usually occurs in 4X strategies when you explore the space around your home-world, gather resources, research new technologies and anomalies, build new ships, establish new colonies and diplomatic relations with other civilizations. You know there are highly like a massive conflict ahead, but you still have time to enjoy what you have built.

Instruments and techniques:

1. Repro-1 used for two sounds:
 - A pulsing bassline that goes though the whole track;
 - A trumpet-like patch that used for the solo.
2. Several instances of SampleSciene player:
 - Two cellos playing slightly different sequences and articulations in the middle section;
 - A large string section from "Cinematika" pack, playing chords in the last section.
3. A synth-choir sound from SampleSience "Vaporwaves" with shimmer reverb adding high register harmonics.
4. A stacked pad from SampleScience's "Synthetic Vortices" in the outro.
5. Full Bucket "ModlAir" used to create soundscapes:
 - A glittering/chimey texture based on two differently clocked S&H modules picking harmonics of a two resonant bandpass filters, layered on top of the strings in the last section;
 - An eerie texture in the outro, made with resonant filters modulated by differently clocked LFOs;
 - A randomly clocked arpeggio sequence that plays the same chords as in the first section, with sample rate reduction and modulation for amplitude and panning by LFOs;
 - A simple filter sweep that goes into a middle section;
 - A transition between loop points made with 4 FM Oscs and resonant filter.
6. Full Bucket's newly released "WhispAir" used in the middle section to create evolving eerie texture with the wavetable scanning feature and high resonant filter modulated by LFO.
7. Valhalla "Supermassive" used as a main reverb send.

Produced in FL Studio 20.7

Thread, related to this contest: https://mix-challenge.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=455&sid=d1ed364488aaf43ca3fadbdd01638cef

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/infravolt

Universal Plan

YouTube: https://youtu.be/bAxfpAGchLU

Submitted for One Synth Challenge #151 in September 2021 featuring "GR-8" by Phuturetone.

I decided to create a track in my usual style (a kinda synthwave with 70's flavour) as this instrument is very useful for it.

GR-8 is an all around VA synth with classic features and effects section. It is inspired by 80's Roland's synths for sure, particularly it looks like an improved version of PG-8X (a freeware emulation of JX-8P). The oscillator section is pretty standard, it would be great to see a waveforms from Alpha Juno like it was on a previous Phuturetone synths. The filter is very analog'ish, it loses bass when resonance turned up. The modulation section is kinda limited but has some useful tweaks. The voice mode section is very useful too (finally, an option to tune individual notes in a chord). The effects section is always a good bonus in freeware synth. It extends the potential number of timbres and sometimes can lead to unexpected results (I still remember effects on Synth1 that can make unexpectedly crazy sounds). A possibility to rearrange the order of effects in a chain would be a great feature. And it also would be great to have a more extreme distortion algorithm.

25 instances of GR-8 were used to create a track. All sounds from init patch. Mostly internal effects were used, except a few delay/reverb plugins. Every instrument contains one instance of GR-8, including drums.

Produced in FL Studio 20.8.

Thread, related to this round: https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=569994&__cf_chl_jschl_tk__=pmd_kYVu0vtWUJZukhrJt3bTn8xe8oGDuIxfur7xPgADHZk-1632931662-0-gqNtZGzNAjujcnBszQr9

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/infravolt

Phuturistic

Phuturistic (OSC#151)

YouTube: https://youtu.be/B1cjKiVz_rs

Originally posted as a submission for Loopop's Superbooth 2021 contest in October 2021.

The goal was to create a track using provided samples of an unreleased hardware instruments, presented on the Superbooth 2021, such as: Dreadbox Nymphes, Waldorf M, ASM Hydrasynth, various eurorack modules and other...

Sample pack: https://loopopmusic.sellfy.store/p/loopop-superbooth-2021-sample-pack/

Inspired by Dune universe and associated strategy videogames (Dune 2000, Emperor...), especially by the soundtracks from Frank Klepacki and Jarrid Mendelson.

Walkthrough video: https://youtu.be/3IdnMn_bT4c

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/infravolt

Sabotage Mission

YouTube: https://youtu.be/ojQnUEaEwbU

Submitted for Songwriting Competition 051 - "Let there be rock!" in November 2021.

The goal was to create a track in rock music aesthetic. There were a wide selection of examples of different styles and genres, from classic psychedelic rock to modern progressive/djent metal.

It is another case where I create a track from a spontaneous jam by testing a new plugin. It was UJAM's VG Carbon. Funny is that I got it as a gift on sale may be a year ago and almost forgot about it. Without it, this track may not be even written.

An inspiration for this track goes deeply from 90's strategy videogames soundtracks, with several influences of progressive and industrial metal bands of that era.

Instruments and techniques:

1. The drums are FL Studio's factory drumkit (FPC Metal kit).
2. The bass is ABP Lite. I tried to use other bass libraries and also tried to use MODO Bass, but I got the same result with more CPU usage.
3. The rhythm guitar is UJAM VG Carbon, an 8-string guitar rompler with builtin processor. 
4. There goes a keyboards:
 - Synthetic arpeggio made with Repro-1;
 - Synthetic choir (mixed) from TAL-Sampler's factory bank with lots of volume automation;
 - Sweeping pad made with Repro-5 (appears in the bridge section);
 - Orchestral hit from FL Studio's FLEX (General MIDI library).
5. The lead guitar is MusicLab RealLPC. Processed with ToneLib GFX (one of the factory presets, slightly tweaked). This guitar rompler has some interesting humanization options. You cam make it sound like it was played by a dead drunk punk.
6. A buch of desert storm samples, processed with frequency shifter and shimmer reverb that crates some eerie atmosphere.
7. A special send with several stacked reverbs that processes some instrumets and drums to create a huge imapct sounds.

Produced in FL Studio 20.8

Thread, related to this contest: https://mix-challenge.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=499

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/infravolt

Desert Machines

YouTube: https://youtu.be/uTjH8dmIBrM

Submitted for One Synth Challenge #153 in December 2021 featuring "K1v" by Nils Schneider.

As usual, a track made in the last weekend.

The original Kawai K1 synth may sound cheesy by today's standard, but this is the real sound of an era. People usually associate 80's synth music with instruments like Roland Jupiter-8 or Oberheim OB-X, but lo-fi samplers and early digital workstations are equally important part of the sound. I guess that this emulation sounds as realistic as possible because the original hardware is 100% digital. Sometimes, instruments like this can spark inspiration just like an expensive high quality emulation from a "respected" brand. The only thing that slightly bothers me is the interface. I would prefer more modern and clear interface, with all the parts and their parameters visible on one screen for example. As for the sound and usability, it will definitely find it's place in my future projects.

22 instances of K1v were used to create a track. All sounds from init patch. Most of the sounds are created with PCM waves. Some of them stacked with synthesized waves and omnibus loops. As it was allowed to use some extreme effects, I made some cheesy guitar-like sounds. Every instrument contains one instance of K1v, including drums.

Produced in FL Studio 20.8.

Thread, related to this round: https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=572669&sid=eb05ca57ee65ce7960d0411cf938828d

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/infravolt

December 2051

December 2051 (OSC#153)

YouTube: https://youtu.be/7J-CYtaZIAI

Submitted for Songwriting Competition 053 - "Community Scramble" in January 2022.

The goal was to create a production using only the sample content, provided by the community. Samples could be freely processed and mangled (re-sampling, wavetable / sample-based synthesis, granular synthesis, modulation etc.). 

Most of the sounds are made using TAL Sampler and it's internal features. It adds a kinda lo-fi, vintage sampler quality to the sound with it's resonant filters and DAC emulation.

For this particular challenge I brought my own sample pack. I recorded some of my environment noises and foley percussion on a phone mic. Most of the sounds in my track are those processed recordings. For sound designer there is no really bad sounds, there is only unfitting.

Thread, related to this contest: https://mix-challenge.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=514

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/infravolt

Continuum

YouTube: https://youtu.be/jKY0BZOrl4w

Submitted for Songwriting Competition 054 - "Voyage" in February 2022.

The goal was to create production in any genre that expresses a feeling of "traveling a path of both uncertainty yet also a healthy dash of excitement. You don't know what will happen, experiencing something new is always scary, but your curiosity keeps you going."

I tried to create a feeling of traveling inside an imaginary worlds, dreams, fantasies. Each dream is a momentary trip to unknown that never happens again. It's always a bit scarry and exciting. Sometimes your mind tries to reflect the reality that you live in, but it twists unexpectedly every time. The memories of dreams usually dissappear, but some of them can be remembered for the entire life.

My intention was to create an acoustic/electronic hybrid setup, blending (virtual) analog synthesizers  and percussion instruments. I also set another challenge to not using drums because I'm relatevly good with drumkit programming and processing.

Instruments and techniques:

1. Percussion samples are from "LinnDrum" and "TR-727" drum machines, very slightly processed and pitched.
2. Synthetic pulsing bass made with u-He's "Repro-1". I tried to make it softer and deeper but quite "punchy" and engaging.
3. Two different synth-choir variations made with two instances of u-He's "Repro-5". AudioThing "Orb" is used as a formant processor with different settings of vowels and modulation. One of the istances also followed with shimmer reverb.
4. Ample Sound "Cloudrum" is a steel tongue drum sample instrument used to create two percussive sequences with velocity variations.
5. "Repro-1" used again to create synth-solo part consisting of a soft pad with glide, filter modulation and a touch of west-coast style overdrive. 
6. Additional percussion samples from "99Sounds - Percussa Toolbox" were used to create atmospheric sounds (chimes, cymbal roll and a thunder tube). 
7. Eventide "Blackhole" effect used as a main reverb send.

Thread, related to this contest: https://mix-challenge.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=523

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/infravolt

Mindrift

YouTube: https://youtu.be/KuoYkFEgP-s

Submitted for Songwriting Competition 056 - "Gateway to another world" in April 2022.

The goal was to create a production in any genre that is inspired by the picture (cover image). 

I tried to get inspiration directly from the image, trying to interpret certain elements of the image as a sounds and textures. I found a synth from Newfangled Audio that uses a "west-coast" style processing to create a kind of moving textures and drones with that "eerie" feel. It was perfect tool for creating a sound of an "alien gate" from the image.

I also tried to give it a "soundtrack" feel, focusing strictly on "the gate discovery" moment. It may work as an opening to a movie I think. 

Instruments and techniques:

1. TAL "Bassline 101" used for two sounds:
 - The main resonant bass with a slight filter modulation from an oscillator;
 - The noisy arpeggio that uses self-oscillating filter with slight modulation from white noise.
2. SampleScience "Cinematika" used to create pads and chords with a lot of shimmer reverb on it.
3. Newfangled Audio "Pendulate" used for two sounds:
 - The lead sound with a lot of portamento;
 - The main drone sound of the "portal" from the image. It uses multiple lines of automation to create evolving texture.
4. The "noisy cloud" as a second layer of the "portal" creted with Cherry Audio "Voltage Modulat" with a setup of noise source fed into a formant filter, with three LFOs modulating the peak points.
5. Some SFX used from FL Studio stock library.
6. U-He "ColourCopy" and Eventide "Blackhole" were used to create space and distant feel fro all instruments and effects.

Produced in FL Studio 20.9.

Thread, related to this contest: https://mix-challenge.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=523

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/infravolt

Gateway

This track made specifically for Songwriting Competition 057 - "Synth Racks, Patches and Cables".

Mix Challenge forum: https://mix-challenge.com/
Songwriting Competition: https://mix-challenge.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=11
Thread, related to this contest: https://mix-challenge.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=548

YouTube:  https://youtu.be/sefXWlvemj4

The goal was to create a production in any electronic music genre (modular style encouraged).

 This is my little tribute to the early modular electronic music era and to the musicians who are passing. I would like to work a little bit more and add more sounds, but my computer resources are limited in my current setup. It's a kinda personal challenge to create something valuable while being limited in possible material.

Instruments and techniques:

I used Cherry Audio's software instrumets for all sounds.

1. Voltage Modular is a virtual modular environment that used to create four sounds. There is a different arrangement of modules for each sound. The explanatation of all modules's functions will take the whole page, so I will briefly describe every patch:
 - The main bass sequence using modules that emulate MS-20 behaviour, with two sequencers for pitch and filter;
 - The intro pad created with additive oscillator module. There are several LFOs modulating it's "partials" amplitude and panning through console mixer module. It's than passed through phaser and reverb effect modules. It appears again in the outro with pitch modulation white noise;
 - The "chimes" patch is created with sample & hold module, fed with a signal from a "morphing" LFO. The clock source for S&H is a sequecer with different voltage values for every step, creating random timing;
 - The vocoder speech patch in the outro, created with several oscillators (tuned to C7 chord) and a bandpass filter as a modulator signal.
2. Polymode is used for two sounds:
 - A classic string pad with ensemble and phaser effects;
 - A brass lead.
3. Surrealistic MG-1 is used for two sounds:
 - A flute like lead. It also plays a noisy modulated random sequence in the outro.
 - A white noise with filter automation.
4. Audio Thing "Outer Space" used as a main echo send.
5. All sounds are processed with Wavesfactory "Cassette" to give a vintage worn out tape feel.

Produced in FL Studio 20.9.2

Cosmic Generation

This track made specifically for One Synth Challenge #159 featuring "Surge XT" open source synthesizer.

KVR forum: https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=1&sid=8a6945574871baa71b8a28dd42a9ae6c
One Synth Challenge archive: https://sites.google.com/site/kvrosc/2022/osc-159-surge-xt?authuser=0
Thread, related to this round: https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=581363

YouTube: https://youtu.be/JlIoncO_V2o

Here is the result of my experiments of creting distorted guitar tones.

For sure, Surge is one of the most powerful free synths in terms of sound creation possibilities. But the thing that really bothers me is the interface. I think it's kinda outdated compared to other freeware flagships like Vital. There is a real lack of visual feedback. Sometimes it's really hard to understand what's gouing on when browsing presets or recalling old ones, especially for a complex patches with many modulation routings and effects. 

However, this synth brings something new every time. It may never get out of favour, even if there would be two OSCs each year with it.

32 instances of Surge XT used in this production. Some of the sounds are created from scratch, some of them selected from various preset banks. Most of the drums/percussion are created from init. There is only one instance for each instrument/drum/SFX.

Technical details:

Produced in FL Studio 20.9.2

Native Effects:

x19 Parametric EQ 2
x3 Delay
x4 Reeverb 2
x2 Love Philter
x1 PanOMatic
x1 Wave Candy
x1 dB Meter

VST Effects:

x13 AdHd "Leveling Tool"

Master Chain:

TDR "Nova"
Limiter №6

Total:

x32 Generators
x46 Effects
x28 MIDI Patterns
x29 Mixer Tracks
No Audio Clips
x15 Automation Clips

The Storm Is Coming

The Storm Is Coming (OSC#159)

This track made specifically for Songwriting Competition 058 - "Late Spring Cleaning".

Mix Challenge forum: https://mix-challenge.com/
Songwriting Competition: https://mix-challenge.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=11
Thread, related to this contest: https://mix-challenge.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=562&sid=e31cb6ef9e860028a6b6b3134fdbd373

YouTube: https://youtu.be/5AWH41cGVoQ

The goal was to create a production in any sub-genre of jazz music.

I know very little about jazz. It's kinda hard to get into music that people spend years learning in the university. I have listened a few records a while ago, but mostly I was inspired by some intricate fusion-jazz tracks fro recent one synth challenge. This entry is more like a "loose interpretation" than a thoughout composition.

I was looking for more modern jazz/fusion sound. I also tried to create a suitable performance for a quartet: drummer, bassist and two keyboard players (one for grand piano and one for synths/electric piano).

The chaotic and rushed feel is kinda normal to me when it comes to producing music last hour before deadline. I tried to experiment with some odd timing, tempo changes and crazy solos. I also not pretty sure what key/mode this song is, everything is done intuitively by ear.

Instruments and techniques:

1. The drums is one of the standard drum kits in FL Studio.
2. The bass is Ample Sound "ABP Lite II".
3. The electric piano is AAS "Lounge Lizard Session".
4. The grand piano is a Stineway preset in FL Studio's "FLEX".
5. The synth pad is Martin Lauders "PG-8X".
6. The synth solo is U-He's "Repro-1".
7. The birds in the intro is from "Sounds of Life" sample pack from Ocean Swift.

Produced in FL Studio 20.9.2.

Two Days Before Summer

NEW REMASTERED VERSION ON YT: https://youtu.be/G4TGbsz681s

1st place of Songwritting Competition 017! More information at: https://www.mix-challenge.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=191&start=40

Most of the sounds are created with One Small Clue "Grace" freeware sampler and it's built-in features, such as: looping, stretching, tempo sync, pitch shiting, filters, built-in ring modulators and lo-fi. The things like resampling, resynthesis, wavetables and granular synths are not used. When sample or a group of samples are loaded into Grace they not leaving it. External distortion, bitcrushing, sample rate reduction, granular effects and pitch/frequency shifters are not used.

Xenoscapes

OK, I've been away for a while. 

I wanted to make something simple but effective. Something retro'ish with a twist. Just like this months's synth. I was surprised how good it is in terms of analog modelling (said a man who never heard an analog synth in RL). Than I found a modulation matrix that released a living hell out of it. It has great potential for industrial and noise music for sure. Modulating oscillators with each other can get so extreme that it will create an almost chaotic waveforms. You can even get the noises of your motherboard or videcard, or perhaps any other electronic equipment. And ofcourse there is a possibility to emulate some sorts of old school hardware (in musical ways).

Althrough, there is some stability issues. It crashes my DAW each time I close the project (which is a minor thing but still annoying). And ofcourse there is a whole bunch of quirks, such as wierd mouse movements (thanks MadPsyance) and unintuitive behavior of some components. But I thinks it is pretty useful and deserves a use in commercial mixes. And it's "hardware madness" capability that you can get perhaps only in Modular in real world. I will definately use it in my sound design sessions.

28 instances of SE PolyMod KX Used.

Modulation effects are not used. However, internal delays are used to create chorus/flanger effect on some instruments.

Distortion/Bitcrushing is not used.

DAW: FL Studio 20.1.1.

Native Effects:

x2 Balance
x8 Paremetric EQ 2
x6 Delay 3
x6 Reeverb 2
x2 Stereo Enhancer
x1 Patcher
x1 Limiter
x1 dB meter
x1 Wave Candy

VST Effects:

x2 Sonimus SonEQ
x15 VoS DensitymkIII
x9 TDR & VoS SlickEQ
x7 VoS FerricTDS
x1 VoS epicVerb
x1 TAL Filter
x7 Thomas Mundt LoudMax
x13 eAreckon MIDI Polysher

Master Chain:

TDR Nova
Limiter No6

83 effects used in total.

Meet Me In The Night (OSC#120)

NEW REMASTERED VERSION ON YT: https://youtu.be/WhcLAb4rc7g

Surge is a powerful synth and it sounds great. It could handle almost every task. From analog-like timbres to modern ones. It has many options to color your sound such as waveshaping and filters. And ofcourse it has legal modulation and distortion effects. I love it! 

The only one flaw I've encountered in FL Studio is MIDI tracking. It always plays sharper, so I have to tune every instance down one semitone (perhaps it is already fixed). And it could be nice to have separate FX plugin because FL Studio always identifies it as generator, so I have no ability to use it as a FX processor. 

Good luck and have fun!

DAW: FL Studio 20.1.1.

34 instances of Surge used.

Internal synth effects used to create distortion/bitcrushing/sample rate reduction/chorus/phasing. External effects of such a kind are not used.

Native Effects:

x13 Parametric EQ 2
x7 Stereo Enhancer
x4 Delay 3
x1 Patcher
x1 Limiter
x1 dB meter
x1 Wave Candy

VST Effects:

x1 VoS DensitymkIII
x14 VoS FerricTDS
x3 TAL Filter
x1 Vladg Molot
x2 OrilRiver
x10 eaReckon MIDI Polysher

Master Chain:

TDR Nova
Limiter No6

61 effects used in total.

Shadow Circuitry

Submission for Songwriting Competition 021. The goal was to create an authentic (as possible) 80's synthwave or synthpop production. This track was made using various emulations of oldschool hardware such as Sequential Circuits Pro-One and Prophet 5, Oberheim OB-X, Roland Juno 60 and more.

More information at https://www.mix-challenge.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=217&p=4992#p4992

Winds of Spring

Winds Of Spring

NEW REMASTERED VERSION ON YT: https://youtu.be/fyL-qylroB0

This track was made for Songwriting Competition 023. The goal was to create a track in progressive house genre. More information at https://mix-challenge.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=236&p=5651#p5651

Used Plugins:

Generators:

x1 FPC
x1 Ample Bass P 2 Lite
x2 Ample Guitar M 2 Lite
x1 DiscoDSP "OB-Xd"
x3 One Small Clue "Grace"
x1 AAS "Lounge Lizard 4 Session"

Native Effects:

x1 Balance
x20 Parametric EQ 2
x4 Stereo Enhancer
x4 Delay 3
x3 Reeverb 2
x2 Love Philter
x1 Limiter
x1 Wave Candy
x1 dB Meter

VST Effects:

x3 TDR & VoS "SlickEQ"
x2 VoS "FerricTDS"
x1 VoS "DensitymkIII"
x1 VoS "NastyDLAmkII"
x4 Audiority "Xenoverb"
x1 ToneLib-GFX
x6 Tritik "Krush"

Sample Packs:

99Sounds Atmospherik Mekanisms
99Sounds Massamolla
99Sounds Project Pegasus
99Sounds Space Divers Mini 
99Sounds White Noise SFX
Articulated Sounds Water Free Pack v1
Ocean Swift Sounds Of Life
Wave Alchemy Evolve Free
Various sound effects from Freesound.org

Total:

x9 Generators
x55 Effects
x18 MIDI Patterns
x30 Audio clips
x52 Mixer tracks
x27 Automation tracks

Aqua

Tropical Trip

YouTube: https://youtu.be/LRpY_qx9qHA

Originally created for "One Synth Challenge 125" in July 2019. All sounds made with "T-Force Alpha Plus 2" synthesizer. That synth was quite heavy on my CPU at the time, so I created this dark, minimal techno soundscape.  

This is mainly a remix/remaster edit. The original arrangement is slightly tweaked.

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/infravolt

***Additionally, you can find download links on my Patreon page https://www.patreon.com/infravolt. The links for this track will be available for public till the end of October. After that, they will be available only for patrons.***

Missing Link

Missing Link (OSC #125)

NEW REMASTERED VERSION: https://youtu.be/EPVgE11Lijk

This track made specifically for Songwriting Competition 024 - "Elevator Music".

Mix Challenge forum: https://mix-challenge.com/
Songwriting Competition: https://www.mix-challenge.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=11
Thread, related to this contest: https://www.mix-challenge.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=255

DAW: FL Studio 20.5
Author/composer/producer: VCA-089
Title: Love In The Elevator
Genre: Jazz
BPM-Time Sig: 75-3/4
Key: C Major

I decided to shift slightly away from muzak perspective and make some improvisation. I'm not 100% sure if this could be called jazz since this style of music cought my attention very recently and all I know is a basic understanding of chord progressions, melodies and overall feel of this kind of music. I tried to make several pieces that perhaps could be looped and connect them into whole composition. 

While it is pretty minimalistic jam, I've spent many time in mixing and editing, mangling with velocity to bring some dynamics and a feel of real playing. I've used a lot of analog style saturation but also tried not to abuse it.

Speaking of background music it is still quite sticky. I've played it for a three hours while watching a stream. 

Hope you enjoy it and good luck!

Instruments:

Drums - MT-Power Drum Kit 2
Bass - Sampleson "Fire" Rhodes piano bass.
Electric Pianos - two instances of AAS "Lounge Lizard Ep. 4 Session" with different settings.
Synth Strings - Full Bucket "the Deputy" string ensemble.

Love In The Elevator

This track created specifically for One Synth Challenge #126 featuring "Bazz::Murda" synthesizer by Distocore.

KVR forum: https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=1&sid=8a6945574871baa71b8a28dd42a9ae6c
One Synth Challenge archive: https://sites.google.com/site/kvrosc/osc-126-bazzmurda
Thread, related to this round: https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=529490

DAW: FL Studio 20.5.1
Author/composer/producer: VCA-089
Title: Bullet Hail
Genre: Darkwave (Dark Synth, Industrial, you name it)
BPM: 110
Key: Eb Melodic Minor

I like the idea of this synth. The waveshaper module really makes it stand out. It obviously could be used for hadcore related productions but also for creating sharp and edgy textures and drones. It would be nice to have some "conventional" features like: filter envelope amount and the ability to modulate other sources (may be dedicated mod. env.), glide/portamento, global LFOs, velocity and other performance based modulations, free running or selectable phase of oscillators and may be a dedicated FM modulator section with selectable waveforms and the ability to choose modulation algorithms (like in Massive for example). With all those features implemented it would be a great synth both versatile and with a distinct character.

I also want to mention some wierd issue/bug that I encountered. When you switch unison on and your patch has square or pulse wave oscillators the second voice's oscs are kinda "skipping" their filter stage. That means the first voice's oscillators will be filtered and resonance added but second voice's oscillators will go completely dry to the amplifer. It works only for square and all pulse wave variations, other waveforms are working fine.

Any way, that was an interesting experience and I hope you will enjoy my submission. I went into square wave production style this time, I should say that this synth is just screaming for this.

Good luck! 

Technical information

Generators:

30x Buzz::Murda (free)

Native Effects:

x8 Balance
x7 Parametric EQ 2
x3 Stereo Enhancer
x5 Limiter
x4 Reeverb 2
x7 Delay 3
x3 Love Philter 
x1 Wave Candy
x1 dB Meter
x2 Patcher

VST Effects:

x15 TDR & VoS "SlickEQ"
x10 VoS "FerricTDS"
x2 VoS "DensitymkIII"
x7 AdHd "Leveling Tool"
x4 Thomas Mundt "LoudMax"
x1 TDR Kotelnikov
x4 "OrilRiver"
x1 ToneLib "GFX"
x10 Gareckon "MIDI Polysher"

Master Chain:

TDR Nova
TDR Kotelnikov
Limiter No6

No samples...

Total:

x30 Generators
x98 Effects
x39 MIDI patterns
x29 Mixer tracks
No audio...
x30 Automation clips

Bullet Hail

Bullet Hail (OSC#126)

This track made specifically for One Synth Challenge #127 featuring u-He synthesizers and effects.

KVR forum: https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=1&sid=8a6945574871baa71b8a28dd42a9ae6c
One Synth Challenge archive: https://sites.google.com/site/kvrosc/osc-127-any-uhe-synth
Thread, related to this round: https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=531019

DAW: FL Studio 20.5.1
Author/composer/producer: VCA-089
Title: Deepest Fantasy
Genre: Synth-Pop (Darksynth)
BPM: 120
Key: C Minor Natural

Chosen synth: Repro-1

This round is truly an excitement. I've waited a long time to run a full scale test for Repro since I own it from the release. This synth is one of the most interesting on the market for sure. Not only because it (they, two synths) preciesly emulates it's hardware counterpart but also because it is capable of so many interesting sounds, both vintage and modern. I think I can make a whole album with Repro synths.

The track itself may be not so "shows off the synthesizer potential". A poor time management and a bunch of RL troubles (got my PC broken yesterday), but I think it is better than nothing.

Good luck!

Technical information

Generators:

33x Repro-1

Native Effects:

x8 Balance
x7 Parametric EQ 2
x3 Stereo Enhancer
x1 Limiter
x1 Reeverb 2
x1 Wave Candy
x1 dB Meter
x2 Patcher

VST Effects:

x1 Sonimus "SonEQ"
x10 TDR & VoS "SlickEQ"
x1 TAL "Filter-1"
x8 VoS "FerricTDS"
x7 AdHd "Leveling Tool"
x1 TDR "Nova"
x2 "OrilRiver"
x11 Gareckon "MIDI Polysher"

Master Chain:

FerricTDS
TDR Nova
Limiter No6

No samples...

Total:

x33 Generators
x68 Effects
x31 MIDI patterns
x25 Mixer tracks
No audio...
x11 Automation clips

Deepest Fantasy

Deepest Fantasy (OSC#127)

YouTube: https://youtu.be/wgN3i_vGJc4

Originally posted as a submission for One Synth Challenge #128 in October 2019.

The goal was to create a track using discoDSP's "Ob-Xd" virtual synthesizer as a source for all sounds.

43 instances of "OB-Xd" used to create a track. All sounds from "init" patch.

This is mostly a mix and master revision. The original arrangement is preserved.

I heard about OB-Xd many times and listened for some demos in the past. I also had an experience of using this instrument in one of my productions. It sounds good and there is a great potential for analog style sounds, and with the individual voice panning and unison things can get even more drastic. Any kind of lush pads, strings and choir-like sounds are just a few clicks away. I used some instance layering techniques to achieve some special sounds but for an authentic analog sounds one instance is more than enogh. 

I want to point out that synth's architecture is pretty limited in some ways. The lack of more developed modulation section can be a problem when creating some unusual and experimental sounds. I may be a part of hardware authenticity, but it could be more useful to have at least LFO tempo sync on the front panel, as we can stack more than 16 voices in unison which was't possible on hardware.

Composed, arranged, mixed and mastered in FL Studio 20

One synth challenge archive: https://sites.google.com/site/kvrosc/2019/osc-128-ob-xd?authuser=0

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/infravolt

Highway Rush

Highway Rush (OSC#128)

YouTube: https://youtu.be/h-OUJfDq0MA

Originally posted as a submission for One Synth Challenge #129 in November 2019.

The goal was to create a track using Soda Audio's "Lith" virtual synthesizer as a source for all sounds.

27 instances of "Lith" used to create a track. All sounds from "init" patch.

This is mostly a mix and master revision. The original arrangement is preserved.

My little experiment with an oddball free synth. It has a retro-futuristic design with some pretty cool visualizations of modulation signals and a very extensive sound design options, especially with waveform manipulations. It was pretty useful for creating synthetic drums. 

Sadly, I didn't spend much time with this instrument that month. Literally, this composition was made within two days, or may be even less. Inspired by an old movie we all know (probably) which actions starting in November 2019.

Composed, arranged, mixed and mastered in FL Studio 20

One synth challenge archive: https://sites.google.com/site/kvrosc/2019/osc-129-lith?authuser=0

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/infravolt

Replicant City

Replicant City (OSC#129)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0fX0jg7LO0

Originally posted as a submission for One Synth Challenge 136 in June 2020.

The goal was to create a track using Wave Warden's "ODIN 2" virtual synthesizer as a source for all sounds.

This track represents a naive joy of summer, interrupted by pandemic, disasters and mass riots in 2020.

This is mostly a mix and master revision. The original arrangement is preserved.

I'd like to say that ODIN 2 is a great synth. The possibilities are huge and I particulary liked the "analog gain staging" feature that makes everything passed through filters and amp section more fatter and characterful. I also liked the potential variety of digital sounds with different modules and I found wave/spec drawing oscs to be useful for some sounds I made. However, I was always comparing this synth to "Surge", which has a similar set of features but it's wavetable engine are much more flexible and it has slightly better LFOs. Still, ODIN 2 is outstandingly good at analog sounds.

One Synth Challenge archive: https://sites.google.com/site/kvrosc/2020/osc-136-odin-2?authuser=0

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/infravolt

Lost Vacation

Lost Vacation (OSC#136)

YouTube: https://youtu.be/YnciLXbCd_0

This track was created as a demo for "Pianotone 600" plugin by SampleScience in September 2020.

You can download it for free: https://www.samplescience.info/2020/12/pianotone-600.html

I've used three different instaces of a plugin. Only internal modulation, filtering and reverb were used to create sounds, except an EQ and compression:

1. Bass part. Played on a lower octaves with a short envelope and a lowpass filter closed, 25% reverb.
2. Harmony part. Minor seventh chords in D dorian scale with occasional suspended chords. Added vibrato with the internal LFO, 75% reverb, velocity responsive.
3. Melody part. A solo over the chords. No modulation, 75% reverb, velocity responsive.

Here is the other instruments I've used:

1. Drums. A mix of SampleScience Yamaha RX series sample packs. I've added a room reverb, echo and tape FX send for the drums that is not used by other instruments.
2. Strings from "Toy Keyboard" by SampleScience.
3. Rain sound effect from "Vaporwaves", also by SampleScience.

Produced in FL Studio 20.9

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/infravolt

Walking In The Rain

Walking In The Rain (Pianotone 600)

IMPORTANT: My premium account has expired. I cannot upload more tracks and some of my earlier works are not available. However, my YT account are working and my latest music will be released there! (See in the links below)

I create music as a hobby, mostly ambient and electronic (retro inspired), but I'm open to (almost) every genre and style of music. I make music that is interesting to me and I like to experiment. It's usually hard to me to stay in the boundaries of a certain genre.

My music is royalty free, meaning you can possibly use it in your own productions such as YouTube videos, videogames, movies etc. I sell music in my shop (downloadable in lossless format), but you can get it for free when it's released. You can also subscribe to my page to receive all single tracks for free, it's way cheaper than buying them separately. The money I earn will be spent on music gear (software/hardware instruments, audio equipment, PC upgrades etc.). If you want you can even get all my music for free (using subscription trial).

Infravolt

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