Compo Idea

Started by LPChip, November 26, 2009, 18:40:07

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LPChip

Introduction
I have a great idea for a compo, but I honestly don't have the time right now to host one. Is anyone willing to host such compo? (I do have time to participate in it though, and I can provide webspace, where you can upload an upload script or anything including the votepack)

The compo idea
The idea is to make a song that can be played by one person on a synthesizer (thus 2 hands, 2 feet). So you have synthesizer like sounds (they can be close to real instruments but if you can hear that they're synthesizer sounds, it'll be more awesome!) You can have one lead melody sound that doesn't play an all too complex lead (as a person can only play that lead with one hand most of the time) and you have a hand for playing the rhythm. This of course allows you to create more complex rhythms that you could've preprogrammed in the synthesizer.

What you can do


  • using rhythm with backings
    You can make the rhythm as complex as possible, as long as you can hear that every part of the rhythm is following the playing chord. So if you have a complex bassline and you play chord Cmaj, and then change to Fmaj, the bass follows the same bassline but in Fmaj chord. You can of course add backing strings, arpeggios and everything you can think that fits the backing is automatically playing for you due to the chord you give. You can always choose to not play certain sounds as part of the backing.
  • using pedals to play a bassline
    You can have pedals attached to your imaginary synthesizer. With these pedals you can choose to play a bassline. The bassline cannot be that complex since it requires a really skilled person to play both the complex bass and a complex melody and also control the chords. Also take in mind which speed you change notes, as you cannot play as fast on pedals as you can on keys. (pedals are twice as heavy (or more) to press as normal keys.
  • Using pedals to switch sounds and programs
    You can also use pedals to change the sounds on the fly. Normally if you want to change a sound, you'll have to type in a number with one hand. This switching makes it hard to change the note of your current sound, so often you'll have a short pause between what your last lead played and your new lead to switch. You can however use pedals to also change the sound or rhythm even on the fly. That allows you to change the sound directly. Since you can use the bass sound in the rhythm section, you don't have to be afraid that you can't switch fast. You can even program these pedals to stop/start the rhythm to make complex transitions etc.
  • Only using the drums from the backings, setting keys to split
    Another option you have is to set the keys to a split mode. That gives you 2 different sounds you can play, either one hand on left and one hand on right, or 2 hands on left and another time 2 hands on right. You can still keep the drums, but the backing is limited to what your 2 hands can do. Since you don't really need program changes in this mode, the pedals could play the bassline.
  • The right hand
    The right hand can play melodies. Keep in mind that you can only play with one hand most of the time, so it becomes nearly impossible to play 2 keys at the same time if those two keys are more than an octave apart from eachother. So playing a C4 and D5 at the same time is really hard to do. My farthest is C4 to E5 but then you'll hear that I also hit D5 too, and it takes me some time to get my hand in position, so for fast playing its absolutely not ideal nor possible I guess. The alternative is ofcource if you keep playing in the same chord during your section, you can use the left hand to also play the right part.
Possible combinations you'll probably want to choose from:
- Pedals for changing programming, rhythm control on the left hand (incl bass), melody on the right hand.
- Drums as rhythm control (no backings), left hand for melody1, right hand for melody2, pedals for bass

If you have more combinations or questions if something would be allowed, please ask. :)

Some links to give inspirations and to show what is possible:
http://www.youtube.com/LPChip#p/c/6121BF752D483D91/87/LIXAXLHDnbY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHQwK5Y8XAQ

backing only: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgHxsi_kWLQ

this could be played on one more powerfull synth: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIHT4P1W35o (the left hand would select the chords, the right hand would play the melodies, and the foot would change programs.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE_bS942gWg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKGczodxIJk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAp6iilofDc

bad quality, but very good showcase: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8YVt12cIsw (intro contains melody, but thats okay)

some background info video (sound switching)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyHxBiDlnrQ


Anyone up for such compo, and anyone willing to host it?
"Heh, maybe I should've joined the compo only because it would've meant I wouldn't have had to worry about a damn EQ or compressor for a change. " - Atlantis
"yes.. I think in this case it was wishful thinking: MPT is makng my life hard so it must be wrong" - Rewbs