Okay so I have been very unhappy with windows and chrome for a while but never really felt like I had the means to do anything about it. Well I finally enabled Linux on my Chromebook and began looking through the capabilities.
Dear people of tumblr, if you have any PSAs, important info graphics, helpful tips, etc. regarding making the transition to Linux a bit smoother that would be super helpful to me rn! Also, feel free to share any of your favorite things about Linux and its uses or features (might allow myself and others to find more uses).
Some of my 1980's Commodore computer hardware, including 1541 5¼" floppy disk drives, 1541-II 5¼" floppy disk drives, a Commodore cassette tape unit, miscellaneous video connectors, cables, power bricks, and more.
I don't know why I keep ranting into the ether about this. Maybe it's an extension of my need/tendency to constantly explain and justify myself (thank you, anxiety). But whatever.
Let's talk about computer software again.
To really, really pin down my thoughts on SynthV 2, I've been running an experiment: same song (short version of Seikan Hikou), same/equivalent voice (AI GUMI), working to the best of my ability in both VOCALOID6 and Synthesizer V Studio 2 to get appealing results. It's still in progress, but it's helping me realize and articulate my thoughts--and get a feel for SVS2 in general.
So, what are my thoughts now that I've had a few days with SynthV 2 (as opposed to just a few hours)?
Each of these engines has its own set of strengths that I appreciate:
What I like about V6
Rendering/applying changes is faster; no lag when placing notes, brief loading times, etc.
The UI is less cluttered and more comprehensible to me.
Being able to see note labels (C3, B2, etc.) when I mouse over the piano roll is pretty nice.
Entering a long sequence of lyrics is crazy simple when you're typing syllables on the piano roll.
I feel way more in control with the tuning system here, especially when drawing pitchbends. I'm not fighting for my life against the will of the AI autotune.
The vibrato controls are just so much more flexible here. The timing, rate, and depth per note are all up to you.
Concatenative voicebanks still get to vibe and have their own dedicated functions/features. Heck, with the return of cross synthesis, they have more here than they did in V5.
What I like about SVS2
Startup is waaaay faster (a few seconds vs. V6's full minute)
Smooth, pretty-sounding results right off the bat
Voices sound "closer" and clearer/less fuzzy during playback
The cross-language synthesis is excellent in terms of both quality and variety. (Yamaha, please give Spanish another chance... T^T)
No weird reverb in the background for the AI voicebanks
The Vocal Mode system is effective and intuitive.
Rap Mode is a great base for spoken vocals.
While it does add even more visual clutter, the character overlay option is cute. :)
With all that said, am I going to take the plunge and officially get SVS2?
I'm leaning toward "yes" (my birthday is this week, and I don't mind spoiling myself a bit). I was kind of spiteful toward SynthV at first due to the attitudes that some people had about it in relation to other softwares, but I'm glad that I swallowed my prejudice and gave it a chance. It could be a great tool when I find the right project for it.
As I said previously, though, V6 is probably going to remain my primary vocal synth--especially with the bug in SVS2 that resets my audio playback every time I adjust my laptop's volume; that is honestly the biggest disruptor to my workflow. I hope they fix it...
People love stories about videos or films that cause people to go crazy.
You wanna see a real life version of that? One that doubles as a test of your coding skills?
It’s called “4 Dimensional Operating System” and it’s a Kickstarter video from 2016. Click on the video and watch it for as long as you can - all the way to the end, if possible.
Don’t know anything about computers? You’re safe, at most you’ll be mildly confused and a little amused. You’ll complain about how these instructions don’t work and nothing happened.
Beginner level programmer? You might feel a mild annoyance at some statements but you’ll be fine once it’s over.
Intermediate level? Oh boy, you’re going to feel annoyed and frustrated when you see this. However, you’ll be able to hold your tongue and sit through this video. These feelings will pass almost immediately after the video is over.
Advanced level? You’re FUCKED. You’ll be SO ANGRY at this video. You won’t be able to stop yourself from telling others how wrong it is, you’re going to rant and rave about everything the speaker got wrong. You might even need to stop the video to share your thoughts. Anyone within a couple meters of you is going to have to hear ALL your thoughts about computers, about code, about whatever your particular technical niche is, all because of this video. You won’t be able to stop yourself from seeking out someone to talk to. It’s as if you’re possessed. Once the video is over, it’ll take you a few minutes to return to normal. Keep all the sharp tools away from you until you’re done.
Expert level? There is no return.
Bonus test: if you’re not very computer savvy, show this video to a friend you think might be an expert programmer and ask them to explain why this video is wrong. Their level of anger will determine how much they really know about code. (Also it’ll be really funny to see them struggle.)
Now, you can build immunity to this video after a few viewings. Watching it with another person present will amplify the feelings you experience, so keep that in mind.
Want to know how good a programmer you are? Check the video out here.
