Symphonie Trader System

Someone emailed me this writeup. Very interesting read. I do find similarities in this write up and this thread....Luckly, Symphonie has not changed since post #1 unlike the others that are written in this post.



LazyPawn
Member

Member Since Sep 2005
30 Posts
The life of a trading system on Forex Factory
I became a member of the forum 7 years ago. As a beginner I spent most of the first 2 years studying various trading systems posted here, using some of them on demo accounts and (unfortunately) a few on my live account. Eventually I created two of my own which I still use with little modifications up to this day. However, the old hobby is not dead. I still test almost everything. Occasionally I find a new idea, an interesting indicator, even a good system that can be made profitable with some adjustments.

But the really fun part is to follow what happens to such systems over the months and years that follow the initial post. They have a life of their own and seem to follow the same path, over and over again. Hundreds of systems, thousands upon thousands of posters and posts … and nothing ever changes. To me their evolution is now more than predictable and I’m sure there are many others who have noticed the same patterns.

1. Here’s my holy grail! The OP tells us a bit about himself, the rules of the system, some charts carefully chosen with entries/exits that worked great. He informs us that he’s been very successful using the system.
2. The fan club is created! The first people who post are those who have a few winning trades using the rules originally posted. They become groupies and whatever happens in the future they will defend the system even when it’s obviously failing miserably.
3. The newbies are here! People who know virtually nothing about trading, Metatrader or indicators start asking questions such as “where do I put the mq4 and tpl files?” … “how many lots should I enter?” … “what time is it here in <insert place> when London opens?” … “does this work without a stop loss?” and so on.
4. You’re a legend Sir! Following the beautiful charts with a bunch of winning trades and the very wise answers given to the questions asked by the army of beginners the OP gains the unofficial title of super-trader. The number of posts grows exponentially. Everybody is happy, doubling the account is around the corner, and from there it’s just a matter of months until making it to Forbes.
5. We need more indicators! Market conditions change and the system loses money a few days in a row. Clearly it has to be adjusted. How? By adding more indicators to filter out the bad trades. It’s very easy, isn’t it? Just add something that would have kept one out of the last losing trade. It doesn’t matter that the very same filter would also prevent one from taking many of the trades that turned out to be winners. Nobody bothers to backtest this. So … let’s add the stochastic … the 200 EMA … examine the higher time frame … check the daily range … put the Renko bars to smooth it … the TDI works best … I would add the Bollinger bands …
6. The systemS are here! Since everybody is now euphorically adding indicators and rules we no longer have one system. We have anywhere from 3 to 10 versions of the system, some of which having in fact very little in common with the original rules.
7. Chaos reigns supreme! With all those new additions and people posting like crazy charts and results using different setups nobody knows exactly what’s going on. The thread is full of requests like “can anyone point me to the latest official version of the system?”
8. We need them robots! Now that we know how great the system is it’s time to ask some great coders to make an EA. Which version of the rules should he use? We can try a few … maybe one will work.
9. Nah … dem robotz no good! The EA is losing because we humans can see and feel things about trading … it comes with experience. So let’s forget EA results, forget backtesting, and let’s just trust the thousands of pips reported by the groupies. The system must be good, no doubt!
10. It’s just that little thing left to do! After a while, noticing that a large number of people posting in the thread get mixed or even bad results, someone has an epiphany. All we need to make the system really great is an indicator or something to tell us if the market is trending or ranging. But not yesterday or last week or last hour. What is it GOING to do next?
11. It works for me! So we are left with the OP and his early followers claiming that the system works beautifully, they all make thousands of pips each week. We have a few others who claim that it’s losing big time and others get so-so results. And the vast majority still keeps trying to find that extra indicator that will make the system perfect.
12. There’s a new kid in town! A few months later most people left the building. Even the OP most of the times. Nobody knows why. Have they become so incredibly rich that posting on FF is no longer interesting? Or maybe the system is not so good after all? But hey … who cares? Did you see that new system? That one is really great!

Thats a bit misleading. Any broker that is regulated within the EU has good legislation. Cayman Islands are not in the EU, but Cyprus and Malta both are. Of course there are bad ones but make sure they are regulated with, if possible segregation of client funds to help protect against the company going bankrupt.

i really dunno what indies 1.9 calls. attached are all the symphonie-related indies i got and it gives me around 3 signals per currency per day. pretty silent in ranging markets.... 1.9 should be in M5, then extraSignal=60 for H1 if you wish to follow H1's trend. it will only signal of M5 is in the same direction as H1

@olivia, which brings me to the next topic! eureka!

iv just finished 12 months of simulation and only used this strategy during ranging markets, open of frankfurt to 12nn EST. v1.9 in M1 to the direction M5, EU, TP 10 pips, last swing hi-lo in M5 as SL. 93.6% hit rate

ill be forward testing this starting tomorrow (instead of the STL in ranging markets)

So are you trying to tell me you didn't puke on M1 One question, how did you judge if it was ranging or trending in the simulator.

nah, i never look at the lower TF anyway. and since its fast, M5 looks like a breeze. i believe RD gave you an H1 candle for use in M5? i placed the "old" supertrendline with 63-18 settings also in M5. if the RD-H1 candles pierce or wobble around the STL, then its ranging. same concept as the candles wobble in MA5, coz when they wobble in MA5 they wobble in STL

[quote=Evaluator;5463222]cuzgeorge,

I must apoligize first because while I found your post very amusing I also found it confusing and I do not fully understand all your points.

Some points of discussion

1.)
You don't really have to read 8000 post or 500 pages. For a new person all they have to do is keep to post#1 and ALL the attached links and one should have a firm understanding

I hope you figure out a resolution to your issues and wish you the best.

Evaluator.

Hey Evaluator,
like i said, take it easy, i got 7 blown accounts, a bruised ego and just sharing my experinces to newbs like me who might not be able to take a haircut like me. I think i've shown i'm not scared and like old Murphy, i'm getting up dusting myself, funding the damn accounts again and riding to at least 1.35 on the euro. it's in stone now, so watch this space for the next couple of days/weeks. And if i'm wrong, i'll do it again cos i believe in your system and rules.

I lived in the states for 5 years and got to see/read/experience the buying frenzies that go on there. Its crazy, unbelievable for a punk like me to come out of Africa and see this kind of spending. I really understand why the USA is the largest economic power in the world, $200 for 30' screens, where can you get them so cheap, only in America. Any brand/make costs well over that anywhere in the world due to their massive consumption. Great for consumers, but it's mostly on credit credit cards. follow the rules.

I believe cash is king, and the european banks are far stronger and more stable than any American bank. European banks have all the American money now, thanks to Greece. Its was the far east first in the early 2000's, America followed and now it's Europe. It will be America next again maybe China but either way, America is definately in trouble for trying to help Europe out. Hope i'm not sounding like a doomsday prophet, i just plan on following the Symphony system for the ride, not any other system, i told you, i tried the lot, YOUR'S IS THE BEST, but i might break the rules again cos it's in my genes i just can't stick to the rules. i'm telling everyone who bothers to read my expe3rience that they MUST stick to the rules because you have the winning strategy, and by not doing so, i'm living prtoof of what happens if you dont. is'nt that helping out on this forum, and complimenting your system.? :nerd:

Thats why i need or would really appreciate an EA based on your winning system and confine my 'humble' self to intervening when i see the positions it takes are opposite to what Symphonie shows. I would never just leave an EA to run loose. I can lose my own money myself thank you!, i dont need brokers or EA's to do that for me. follow the rules.

This is the biggest problem with all the EA's , they don't always do what they're supposed to do, no matter how well they're coded. i have some experience when i was a studying in my testosterone-girl chasing-car dicing youth, so i can read and understand what's going on, but i can't code them myself, YET!. I'd post it here if i had a winner.

as for the part where you lost me, i'll draw lines and post pictures for you. watch this space as i will post them tonight when i'm home from work waiting for the Euro blast off. Three sets of Charts next to each other on one screen at the top, with 3 different time frames to follow your rules. All my other charts like gold etc on the other, also with ever-so-slightly tweaked settings. The Three charts must all agree to get into a position, i use 5, 15, and 30 minutes, cos i break the rules, i don't want to follow the 1 hour chart, i use the matrix for that if i feel like it . i'm too eager to get on with it. Just sharing experiences, keep you socks on, i'll try changing the 30 min chart to the one hour and hopefully i can brag like you geniuses of all the pips i make. i'll post a chart of my winnings , not losers, once i'm comfy to show-off. i'll follow the rules.

i used to follow the 1M charts but hell, that cost me , 1M even on the most volatile periods of Gold.!!!!!!!!!!!!?????????? dumb huh? but we all have to learn from somewhere and sometimes i feel i must experiment myself, and i get bored with demo's and want to do it for real, the adrenaline is great, thats the gambler in me, so i'm going to call Gamblers Anonymous now and go drown my sorrows at the AA also for not following your rules.

Don't you think it's also good to see how the one's that don't follow your rules end up?

Don't throw your toys out the cot when someone posts about losing, it's the reall world and we're not all winners. It's a very dangerous place if you don't follow the rules. i know your system is not perfect, but it's going to get me 70-80% once i get my addictions under control and follow your rules. Let the people know that it's dangerous not to follow the rules, the rules are the rules, stick to the rules, #$#@#$ rules! Get it!!!!

Now leave me alone, i gotta go make what i'm going to lose tomorrow! i'll try to follow the rules.

ps: you are much more informed and smarter than i am about trading and the forex markets but the Euro is going up , deal with it, and when it does, your symphonie will show you when and for how long or how far up it go's. stick to the rules if it does'nt again stick to the rules and follow it down, Get It!!!


peace out and kind regards to all who bothered to read this.

lhDT,

can you add the email notification to Signaler 1.9?

Hi akamal,
i use AVA at avafx.com, they definately dont have a problem depositing money and the process is very quick, straight outta your card in a flash.

Withdrawing is also very quick, but you have to fill in a form electronically they provide on their web page. their servers seem much more stable than the others i've tried on demo, and the options to withdraw are perfect , especially when you get their card that they offer. very easy and quick.

I have a fixed 2 pip spread on EUR/USD anytime and they do not charge any commissions or other hidden fees, except if you have a card with them, there is a monthly fee for it but well worth it. All other pairs are different but the spread amount is fixed, i like that.

you do however have to deposit a sizeable amount to get better rates, but i think thats with all brokers.

hope this helps
cuzgeorge

Yelena, are you backtesting using the Strategy Tester with an EA Simulator and your trading template? I can't get the damn thing to work properly so I can practice more. Is there a trick to it? I don't seem to have enough data even when I just try and test 1 months worth, it's strange.

I use the LFH simulator and 1.9 won't work in there at all, so not sure how to get it working.

Hi all,

If you want to know and download currency strength meter, please go to:

http://www.currencystrengthmeter.com

This video explains the 7 best uses of CSM

Green pips!!!

and @ olivia
no trick. just get the free copy of the LFH simulator into the strategy tester. load it in the experts.. it has a handy user guide for you to place your sells/buys like you would in real time.

once you selected the TF load the template that houses your matrix/signals. its all working fine with me.

so the H1 candles (super imposed outline) are piercing thru the supertrendline, so at this particular moment, the market is ranging.

yelena,

did you add the tvi and arrow to the 1.9 indi yourself?

For anyone interested. MT4 upgraded to Build 416 from Build 409. You may want to check if you have the latest version.

and @ bidong

that was a nose bleed. thanks for the effort but i think ill just take the Price Action of the candles, whether piercing thru STL or not, to determine immediately whether the market is ranging or trending...

So sad but yet so true. noobs change systems more than they change their underwear. They always searching for the holy grail. Few losses in a row and they out of that system
They go into an indicator frenzy but dont really grasp what leads these indis which is PA. They dont pay attention to what PA is doing and what PA shows us.
Thats the reason why 95% traders fail.

Consistency , patience , discipline , control of greed are key factors to successful traders

When running the strategy tester, MT4 only updates the data on the time-frame you set in strategy tester. So the data for the other time-frames is being pulled from the current history files. As such the data displayed on the higher time-frame indicators is using the close of the bar before that data is available. Ie. you get to see into the future. This may lead to misleading results.

yes and no. i wanted to put everything away from the candles so i can see price action. just experimenting.... there must be a way to consistently milk this ranging markets without getting skinned alive and just sticking with symphonie.

not quite. the "H1 candles" are drawn in "real time". if you where able to experience the H1 candle as it is 'being spawned" then it is an accurate depiction of reality. check the Mar1-Mar2 transition of your H1 candles in your history, you'll see they are reflective of those that are indicated in my attachment.

nevertheless, that's why it will have to be forward tested.

but if you think about it: M5 in the direction of H1 works in trending, i see no reason why M1 in the direction of M5 would not work in ranging markets. M1 should be able to create earlier signals than M5. by the time M5 signals, the "mini trend" is already exhausted most of the time in ranging markets. i just need to be confirmed that M1 is in the same direction as M5... oui?

hypothetically, the results should be close to reality.

i can't wait to test it live!

[quote=cuzgeorge;5463299] cuzgeorge,

I do think the euro will go up. If you read my post #7158 you will know exactly what I am thinking. In the short term I think there will be a short term euro rally ask the politician in EU try to make people think the Greece crisis is over and the rest of Europe is sound financially. This is a smoke and mirror show that is covering the real foundational problems of the European Banking sector and will quickly be realized. But you are correct. I too think there is a distinct possiblilty for a euro rally to complete the expanding triangle pattern to 1.35. However, in the immediate I think the euro must go down to 1.28500 area first to complet the current leg of the triangle. Then after 1.35 is reached will come the collapse and I look for the Euro to push to 1.12 or lower where the EU zone will finally have the corection that is needed and the entire economy of Europe resets.

After that will come America's turn as the stupid politicians and central bank of USA begins a new QE3 program and prints themselves into hyperinflation to solve their economic problems.

There is alot of trouble for people in the near future. But one's trouble presents great opportunity for others. I intend to be the one that sees and takes the opportunity using Symphonie and let the others suffer for being ingorant. Let the Symphonie System help guide you and prosper!

Evaluator.:nerd: