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#KVROneSynth #SoundDesign

The One-Synth Challenge (OSC) is a monthly event that invites music producers to craft entire tracks using only one synthesizer for all sounds, including percussion. This constraint fosters creativity and deep exploration of the chosen instrument's capabilities. For March 2025, the spotlight is on DS Thorn, a spectral synthesizer renowned for its rich harmonic content and versatile sound design possibilities.

Developed by Dmitry Sches, DS Thorn is designed to be user-friendly while delivering exceptional sound quality. It features three oscillators with spectral synthesis, allowing users to manipulate the harmonic content of sounds in real-time.

​Additional features include FM, RM, PWM, and Hard Sync, providing extensive sound manipulation options. The synthesizer also boasts two multimode filters, a comprehensive modulation matrix, and a suite of nine high-quality effects.

For participants of OSC #193, a special free version of DS Thorn is available for download. This version is tailored for the competition, ensuring all participants have equal access to the synthesizer's features. You can download it directly from the OSC #193: Thorn page.
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Additionally, DS Thorn has been included in past issues of Beat Magazine:

• Beat #182 offered Thorn Solo, a monophonic version of the synth, along with other software.
• Beat #150 also featured Thorn Solo, accompanied by tutorials to help users get started.

Exploring recent or archived issues of Beat Magazine might provide access to this version of Thorn, making it more accessible for producers.

To participate in OSC #193, please adhere to the following rules:

Composition Requirements:

• Originality: Your entry must be an original composition created specifically for this contest. Cover tracks are not permitted.​
• Single Synth Usage: All sounds, including percussion, must be produced using only DS Thorn. Layering multiple instances of the synth is allowed.

Effects and Processing:

• Allowed Effects: You may use DAW-native effects and third-party freeware effects that are easily accessible to all participants. Commercial effects are generally prohibited unless explicitly stated otherwise.
• Prohibited Tools: No samplers or romplers are allowed. Resampling or rendering audio for further processing is not permitted.

Submission Process:

• Track Upload: Upload your track to SoundCloud, ensuring it is public and downloadable.​
• Submission Post: Announce your entry in the KVR OSC forum thread, including a link to your track, the number of DS Thorn instances used, your DAW, and any additional effects applied.​
• Deadline: Submit your entry by the end of March 2025.

For a comprehensive list of rules and FAQs, please refer to the OSC Rules and OSC FAQ pages.​

Course provided by

After providing an overview of the synth’s architecture, Rob dives into a series of lessons that explore the less conventional aspects, like its harmonic editing and filtering, sampling capabilities and glitch sequencing. He then moves onto the meat of the course, which is a number of step-by-step guides to creating a wide range of patches, helping uncover all the hidden depths of the instrument, whilst providing a wealth of useful sound design techniques along the way

Here are specific tips from RemiEXS for creating standout presets with DS Thorn:

Percussive Sounds (Drums & Rhythm):

• Use Thorn’s Noise Oscillator for creating snappy hi-hats and cymbals by modulating the noise pitch and using high-pass filters.
  
• Craft punchy kick drums by using a sine oscillator with a sharp pitch envelope modulation and adding subtle distortion using Thorn’s built-in fuzz and drive effects.
  

Bass and Lead Sounds:

• Utilize the "DIRTY LP" filter mode to achieve aggressive bass sounds or edgy leads.
  
• Experiment with the OSC FX modes (FM, RM, PWM, Sync) to add complexity and character.
  

Atmospheric Pads:

• Make use of Thorn’s spectral synthesis capabilities by custom-drawing harmonics in the harmonic editor. Try the “Phaser” and “Shift” spectral effects to create evolving pads.
  

Rhythmic Patterns & Texture:

• Integrate the built-in Glitch Sequencer for rhythmic variety and interest.
  
• Modulate filter cutoff and resonance with LFOs and multi-stage envelopes to create dynamic, evolving textures.
  

​By utilizing these precise methods, you'll craft distinctive presets that highlight DS Thorn's extensive capabilities, enhancing your entry for OSC #193.

• Audio Thing : Outer Space (tape echo reverb)​
• Dmitry Sches : Diversion
• Aiyn Zahev Sounds : Any 2 Soundsets
• KV331 Audio : Bundle of Synthmaster One + Synthmaster 2.x
• ...

#SoundDesign #prodcomp

Six Sines by BaconPaulis the new synth by BaconPaul of the Surge Synth Team, created as a kind of '40 day challenge'.

Six Sines is so named because each voice has six sines, with some clever combinations thereof. You might call it an "FM" or "PM" synth (but it also does "RM"). There's lots of modulation options. It comes with some great presets. If you pine for the TX81Z, it may be right up your alley. But it does more than that.
​
It works as a CLAP, VST3, AUv2 (mac) or standalone, supports Windows, Mac and Linux, and has screen reader support on win/mac. It can use quite a bit of CPU if you turn up unison, but its not insanely inefficient.

• Unless specifically announced before the competition, you must use only one virtual synthesizer for all sounds including percussion. Layering several instances of the synth is allowed.
• Your entry must be composed specifically for this contest. Cover tracks are not permitted.
• Collaborations are allowed. The collaborators do not need to be KVR members.
• Max 1 submission per entrant (person or team)
• No track length limit
• Your entry may be edited / changed / updated as frequently as needed up to the deadline
• Commercial synth patches/soundbanks are not permitted
• OSC might request project files at any time. Failure to produce it upon request will lead to disqualification, and may lead to a lengthier ban from the competition, at the organiser's discretion. (Intellectual property will be respected, with file used for examination only, and destroyed immediately afterwards).

• Audio Thing : Outer Space (tape echo reverb)​
• Dmitry Sches : Diversion
• Aiyn Zahev Sounds : Any 2 Soundsets
• KV331 Audio : Bundle of Synthmaster One + Synthmaster 2.x
• ...
  

#SoundDesign

Regency is a multi-tiered phase distortion synthesizer which supports the CLAP plugin format and is available for Mac, Windows and Linux platforms.

It offers a novel method of synthesis, based off traditional phase distortion synthesizers. Each of the two generator layers has three editable multi-segment curves which are applied to distort the phase of the generator in series, in modulatable amounts. For modulation there are four envelopes, three multi-segment LFO's and two math modulators, each with several built-in assignment slots. There is also a modulation matrix, and for fx includes bitcrusher, flanger, pattern delay, trancegate, delay line and five-band EQ.

#SoundDesign

Commercial plugins are allowed for this challenge - all other usual limitations apply.

#SoundDesign

Vaporizer 2 is a free open-source software synthesizer for Mac and Windows. with 2 wavetable oscillators plus noise and sub, with filter, 3 lfos, 3 envelopes, along with Gate, distortion, delay, reverb and chorus effects, and MPE implementation, this is highly versatile and capable of great sounds!

1. Wavetables use: Wavetables are allowed, but imported tables should not be used for straight sample playback, i.e. to replicate recorded instruments or vocal phrases directly, but rather to synthesise, morph and mangle single cycle waveforms.
2. Sampler use: Use of the Sampler is not allowed for this challenge.
3. Commercial Plugins use: Commercial plugins are allowed   for this challenge - all other usual limitations apply.

#SoundDesign

Wavetable is a free open-source software synthesizer for Linux, Mac and Windows. Sporting 2 wavetable oscillators plus noise and sub, with filter, 3 lfos, 3 envelopes, along with Gate, distortion, delay, reverb and chorus effects, and MPE implementation, this is highly versatile and capable of great sounds!

• Challenge to run from the 1st to the end of the last day, every month (Timezone: UTC-8 time )
• Unless specifically announced before the competition, you must use only one virtual synthesizer for all sounds including percussion. Layering several instances of the synth is allowed.
• Your entry must be composed specifically for this contest. Cover tracks are not permitted.
• Collaborations are allowed. The collaborators do not need to be KVR members.
• Max 1 submission per entrant (person or team)
• No track length limit
• Your entry may be edited / changed / updated as frequently as needed up to the deadline
• Commercial synth patches/soundbanks are not permitted
• OSC might request project files at any time. Failure to produce it upon request will lead to disqualification
  (intellectual property respected with file used for examination only and destroyed immediately afterwards)

2RuleSynth is a free software synthesizer for Mac and Windows. It uses classical synthesis techniques - subtractive, FM and Ring, with LFOs and ADSR for every two independent oscillators. It also has a randomize button for experimental sound generation.

​You can get it HERE

• Challenge to run from the 1st to the end of the last day, every month (Timezone: UTC-8 time )
• Unless specifically announced before the competition, you must use only one virtual synthesizer for all sounds including percussion. Layering several instances of the synth is allowed.
• Your entry must be composed specifically for this contest. Cover tracks are not permitted.
• Collaborations are allowed. The collaborators do not need to be KVR members.
• Max 1 submission per entrant (person or team)
• No track length limit
• Your entry may be edited / changed / updated as frequently as needed up to the deadline
• Commercial synth patches/soundbanks are not permitted
• OSC might request project files at any time. Failure to produce it upon request will lead to disqualification
  (intellectual property respected with file used for examination only and destroyed immediately afterwards)

• Challenge to run from the 1st to the end of the last day, every month (Timezone: UTC-8 time )
• Unless specifically announced before the competition, you must use only one virtual synthesizer for all sounds including percussion. Layering several instances of the synth is allowed.
• Your entry must be composed specifically for this contest. Cover tracks are not permitted.
• Collaborations are allowed. The collaborators do not need to be KVR members.
• Max 1 submission per entrant (person or team)
• No track length limit
• Your entry may be edited / changed / updated as frequently as needed up to the deadline
• Commercial synth patches/soundbanks are not permitted
• OSC might request project files at any time. Failure to produce it upon request will lead to disqualification
  (intellectual property respected with file used for examination only and destroyed immediately afterwards)

• Challenge to run from the 1st to the end of the last day, every month (Timezone: UTC-8 time )
• Unless specifically announced before the competition, you must use only one virtual synthesizer for all sounds including percussion. Layering several instances of the synth is allowed.
• Your entry must be composed specifically for this contest. Cover tracks are not permitted.
• Collaborations are allowed. The collaborators do not need to be KVR members.
• Max 1 submission per entrant (person or team)
• No track length limit
• Your entry may be edited / changed / updated as frequently as needed up to the deadline
• Commercial synth patches/soundbanks are not permitted
• OSC might request project files at any time. Failure to produce it upon request will lead to disqualification
  (intellectual property respected with file used for examination only and destroyed immediately afterwards)

• Challenge to run from the 1st to the end of the last day, every month (Timezone: UTC-8 time )
  
• Unless specifically announced before the competition, you must use only one virtual synthesizer for all sounds including percussion. Layering several instances of the synth is allowed.
  
• Your entry must be composed specifically for this contest. Cover tracks are not permitted.
  
• Collaborations are allowed. The collaborators do not need to be KVR members.
  
• Max 1 submission per entrant (person or team)
  
• No track length limit
  
• Your entry may be edited / changed / updated as frequently as needed up to the deadline
  
• Commercial synth patches/soundbanks are not permitted
  
• OSC might request project files at any time. Failure to produce it upon request will lead to disqualification
  (intellectual property respected with file used for examination only and destroyed immediately afterwards)