Little Competition Never Hurt...

[NarcoTerror (Bishopqn5)]

was not the title of a Marx pamphlet, but it would be interesting if someone set guidelines for a patch, ranging from module maker, to module, to number of modules, to type of wave or instrument, to type of hardware instrument to clone, etc. and have punters send in patches for a vote or something, also huge cash prizes.

I find myself using the same modules that I am comfy with, and on the odd days that I do hoak around in the library, it is rare that I find something I will continue using, or if I do, it is just added to my shrinking list of favorite modules (thanks stoermelder!). If anything, it gets folks to try new patches. any comments, ideas, questions…

Cheers

PS As a former anarcho-socialist-marxist-squatter-syndicalist, I now recognize that the free market, and therefore competition has made the world a better place. And while this is cool for Ethiopia and what not, it sucks for anarcho-socialist-marxist-squatter-syndicalists, which many of us were for at least our early 20s. Back to my point, lets work together by competing to make VCV a better place.

[PaulPiko]

=== vcp challenge #56: reimagining dervish d ===

i know, i know, it’s been a while! but let’s revive our beloved challenge, and i believe we have come to edition 55, actually 56. for this challenge, i would like you to reimagine the classic synth track dervish d by the great vangelis, from his 1977 album ‘spiral’. you can either try to recreate the track, using mainly vcv rack, or you can just let yourself get inspired and make something in that genre, or take some elements from the composition and take them in a different direction. as usu…

[dag2099]

In addition to this I would point out that a lot of the other VCP competitions have rules around what modules you can use as well as other formulations.

[NarcoTerror (Bishopqn5)]

I was aware of no such challenges (that is to say vcp 1-55) and thought my idea original. Either way, what I had in mind was more like… Using only brand (X) modules and under (N) number of tracks, compose a piece using no quantization and no sampling blah blah blah. I can’t think of anything on the spot. However, recreating vangelis is quite the challenge.

[Squinky.Labs]

I think there was a “single dev” challenge at one point. It’s tough, though. There are first tier devs like Vult - everyone likes their stuff, but they really specialize in just filters. My stuff it kind of popular, but mainly as a little seasoning to go along with something else that’s the “star”. Bogaugio and VCV are the only ones I can think of who make enough variety to “do everything”.

[NarcoTerror (Bishopqn5)]

You have some great stuff; some of your modules, like Basic and DAW seq are total (virtual)desert island mods, while others are fun and surprising, or complex and frustrating enough to be interesting without requiring a PhD in physics.

Keep it up, mate.

The font and layout dont really say serious to me though. Just saying.

[almostEric (Eric)]

If you want your modules to look more average and pedestrian (aka “serious”), you can edit the SVG to suit your fancy. Just saying

[Squinky.Labs]

@NarcoTerror

Keep it up, mate

haha - thanks. For once I wasn’t fishing for compliments, but I still don’t mind getting them. Interesting how you framed competition with marx - even if a bit tongue in cheek. Because devs like me (and @almostEric and others) make free stuff, but still “compete” with each other is some ways.

[NarcoTerror (Bishopqn5)]

@Squinky.Labs

Interesting how you framed competition with marx

The human need for competition has been on my mind a lot lately; as much as I have despised it for most of my years, it only takes a quick look at the rise in GDP in developing/failed countries since the wall fell to see that the free market worked. The trick is fair competition, which can only happen on VCV and in kids footie matches.

[Squinky.Labs]

is your avatar the crass logo, or does that icon have another meaning?

[NarcoTerror (Bishopqn5)]

It also is kind of a universal feminist, atheist, anti-racist symbol. It’s also generally looked at as pacifist, but the older I get, the more I wonder if pacifism is immoral, in that it often means staying out of it when one country is bullying another or committing genocide, and you (the US or Britain usually) have the power to stop it.

Long discussion I guess.

Cheers

PS but yes, I am a big supporter of Crass and all things/music related to the original band and label.

[NarcoTerror (Bishopqn5)]

I don’t know what that is!! Just saying.

But as a yank, I am both aware and slightly proud of my ignorance, while certain that from your few short sentences that I have completely sussed out what this SVG is and whether I like it or not, feeling strongly one way or another.

Either way, I only recently started using squinky.labs modules, because also like a yank, I judge things immediately from their outward appearance, knowing that something aesthetically unpleasant is most likely unpleasant in nature.

Not really, but something about Valley caught my eye early on. Slick design, cool names like interzone that are Burroughs references as did Vult, Lindbergh, Audible (any hardware clone really)and especially Geodesics, which not having a PhD in astrophysics, I wasn’t really ready for. It wasn’t until later that I started using modules suggested by others and modules from those same producers that I started to use the F#$K out of MSChack (best simple mixers hands down, AWESOME clock), Squinky and some others, including vcv’s mods themselves which are awesome; I still think I use their vca more than anyone else’s. As humans, we covet what we see. Squink has a bunch of stuff that would be useful to a beginner, but that beginner is probably using an Aria module right now, veins in their forehead pulsing…

And I’m not saying that Squinky needs a total makeover from the bottom, or that I would have the first clue how to do it (some make art, others judge it harshly) but maybe making a line of modules that really jump out, at least with a new font. There are probably some great artists on here that would be happy to help or give pointers.

Just sayin.

but thanks for that advice, I will lovok into sg-1 or whatever it was.

[Squinky.Labs]

Thanks for taking the time to write this. I’ve got no objection to making nicer looking modules (of course not at the expense of functionality). In general I want to spend my VCV time working on things that I am passionate about, which is usually making things that are unique, use very little CPU, and have very high audio quality. But there’s no reason they couldn’t look a little better, for sure.

I’ve always wished there would be something like critical reviews of modules, so someone besides me could write about these issues, but it’s not really part of the “culture” of VCV to say negative things about modules. Which is ok, of course.

Thanks again!

[LarsBjerregaard]

@Squinky.Labs

wished there would be something like critical reviews of modules

This is actually something I have a fondness for, and some ability. But people get very sensitive about their work, and other people kind of organize into little groupie camps, so my overwhelming sense is, that even if I could speak the absolute truth (not possible) it would not actually be welcomed by a lot of folks, would descend into name-calling and mud-slinging, and so would probably be a big waste of time and not worth doing for free (I mean, who needs that, right?). Everyone (well, almost) hates a reviewer you know

[Squinky.Labs]

I think you are right, I don’t think VCV users want that.

[NarcoTerror (Bishopqn5)]

@Squinky.Labs

but it’s not really part of the “culture” of VCV to say negative things about modules. Which is ok, of course.

Is it? Is it ok with you? I’m glad you pointed this out to me, because it made clear just how true that is, and left me to ask whether I was ok with politeness on a cultural level. The Russian nihilists, like their anarchist counterparts, were disillusioned rich kids for the most part, but Pisarev, possibly the greatest of the nihilists once said “Beat and break everything, no bad can come of it. For what is destroyed is rubbish, but what survives is good.” Not that I agree wholeheartedly, but the point is clear. I don’t think I want to be part of a culture that refuses to call bad art/work/virtual synth modules bad. Obviously this type of criticism should be constructive, as my heartless thrashing of your “aesthetic” was intended to be, but how else will we improve? That is why I asked for ideas on competition after all.

[iggylabs (Isabel)]

I think giving constructive criticism should come after someone requests it. Otherwise, however well intentioned, it can come off poorly. I think it is good when developers create threads for new modules asking for feedback, and it is in those threads that it makes sense to give criticism. This is just my 2¢.

[Squinky.Labs]

Yeah, I think your opinion represents what most people here feel. I actually don’t agree, but I realize that puts me in a minority, and I need to try (harder) not to offend people.

To me, when anyone release a module, it’s just like you put a product in a store. There’s an implication that it isn’t terrible (compared to the competition). If you buy a product and find it is, in fact, terrible you can usually return it to the place you got it. The business that sold you the product will then incur some cost, and is thus incentivized to not sell bad products.

Similarly there tend to be magazines (or these days blogs or youtube videos) that review products. So, for example, you aren’t going to find a lot of guitar amp modelers that alias a ton getting good reviews. A reviewer will (usually) not hesitate to point out when something is bad, and won’t necessarily ask for permission or try to be constructive.

But, it seems pretty clear that the “culture” of commercial products and unflinching reviews is not the culture VCV people want, and that is your right. I will do my best to respect that.

[stoermelder (Ben)]

@Squinky.Labs

To me, when anyone release a module, it’s just like you put a product in a store.

I perfectly understand your argument and I do agree with you in a commercial sense. The problem is, most of the developers don’t put out „products“, they put a out free software which is written in free time. It is a hobby and should be fun.
I‘m personally fine with any criticism on my modules but I tend to ignore it. Anybody can delete the software at any time, no harm done and no need for bad feelings. Or simply take the source code and modify it to your liking, just respect the license.

[123keatonn (keat)]

Love this little tangent on this thread. Lots of great ideas about designing better ways for people to interact with VCV, its modules creators, and it’s modules. This culture that we are talking about is something that I have definitely noticed, for better or for worse. I have reached out to some around these topics and while I recognize that module creators don’t want to spend their free time in that way, I know that there are those within the community who would love to help, and who are well versed in concepts like user experience design and branding who are just waiting to be freely used. Some are even professionals and would not be hard to work with.

I want to personally put myself out there once more and say that this topic stands in the intersection of two of my most loved things, design, and VCV, and I would love to help in ANY way, whether gentle critique, to design help, from help carefully choosing intentional typography, to just having discussions about what it means to design for people, or around the balance of depth to immediacy, or thinking through how your modules can stand out as some that are amazingly coded and sharply designed.

Id love to be helpful in any way. Happy patching.