Tone2 Rayblaster: OUT NOW! (demo version available)

[Sendy]

Well deserved IMO. This synth is a really great example of a simple system that can give rise to a whole universe of results. Last night I was using single cycles from a C64's 'mixed waves' - if you're not familiar with them they're very cool and rough waveforms that result from the SID trying to derive more than one waveform from it's ramp core. They appear almost fractal-like in nature and they make awesome sounds in RB.

One thing I really like about RB that isn't immediately obvious is the potential to create "noisy" sounds which can dwell in that interesting space between tonal and atonal. Indeed, loading different types of noise waveform you can create "noise sync" effects or many different types of other noise.

EDIT: I'm still hoping and praying for some kind of voice-level LPF for the output. It wouldn't need to be resonant, because the oscillators can produce resonant peaks with ease, but 4-pole and sweepable would really help cutting out some of the fizzies that the "damp" knob can miss sometimes.

[pdxindy]

One thing I really like about RB that isn't immediately obvious is the potential to create "noisy" sounds which can dwell in that interesting space between tonal and atonal. Indeed, loading different types of noise waveform you can create "noise sync" effects or many different types of other noise.

+1

[Sendy]

Here's a little sketch I'm working on with RB on bass duties.

https://soundcloud.com/sendy/piano-lesson

See how you can get a very squelchy almost "acid" filtersound which morphs seamlessly into tearing sync sweeps? This is very particular to RB methinks.

[Ingonator]

Here is a preview (or "prelisten"...) of the next soundbank for Rayblaster which focuses on Atmospheric sounds:

http://www.tone2.org/forum/index.php?to ... 42#msg7042


As usual i added a few of my own demos too.


Ingo

[core]

Some lovely sounds in that demo!

[osiris]

The Atmospheric bank is super and very versatile..

[fluffy_little_something]

I think RB is a bit unfortunate in terms of GUI design. I don't like those blue Tone2 displays with those emulated mini light bulbs. They are not easy on the eye.
Plus, on RB, where so much happens in those two oscillator displays, they should have been placed somewhere in the center of the synth.
Like this maybe:
https://www.box.com/s/9lyuk9eue0xngp8uqzd7

(Similar thing with Saurus. The values are displayed in the patch manager display in the upper left corner, not seldom far away from the control. I would prefer a dedicated value display with bigger fonts in the center of the GUI.)

Apart from that, I also get the impression that many people don't like to operate synths by clicking and dragging stuff in displays. This is not a RB-specific issue, of course.

[MaxSynths]

Like this maybe:
https://www.box.com/s/9lyuk9eue0xngp8uqzd7

This is not bad at all lol

[pdxindy]

Like this maybe:
https://www.box.com/s/9lyuk9eue0xngp8uqzd7

This is not bad at all lol

I like it!

Now get rid of the massive keyboard and replace it with mod matrix, FX and arp pages visible at once

[fluffy_little_something]

Like this? The light display would be the Arp, the others could be assigned as needed...
It's exactly the same size as the original.

https://www.box.com/s/u8e9dlzg2dsxpev3c7la

[MaxSynths]

Like this? The light display would be the Arp, the others could be assigned as needed...
It's exactly the same size as the original.

https://www.box.com/s/u8e9dlzg2dsxpev3c7la

Very nice idea, I like it

[Ingonator]

Plus, on RB, where so much happens in those two oscillator displays, they should have been placed somewhere in the center of the synth.
Like this maybe:
https://www.box.com/s/9lyuk9eue0xngp8uqzd7

Personally i prefer the current layout. I don't see how it is better having all displays in the middle.

Those who don't like the keyboard could hide it from the last entry in the "Setup" tab.

I am currently using the white skin from the Futuron soundset. There is also one where all displays are grey. Those skins are shown here (second part of the page):
http://www.tone2.com/html/futuron.html


Ingo

[fluffy_little_something]

Well, I was just playing around
I for one don't like hidden panels, I want to be able to see everything at once.
As far as the layout, to me the oscillator displays are the core of the user interface, thus they should be in the center and not in a corner imho, not least since the GUI is rather huge.

[Brittlestem]

Well, I was just playing around
I for one don't like hidden panels, I want to be able to see everything at once.
As far as the layout, to me the oscillator displays are the core of the user interface, thus they should be in the center and not in a corner imho, not least since the GUI is rather huge.

What you've done is a *huge* improvement on the current GUI - having the arp, FX etc hidden away under tabs is both lazy and makes life harder for the user.

I always thought Gladiator's GUI was a thing of brilliance in almost every respect except, at the time, it's size.

[Examigan]

I am used to the way RB is, but it looks kinda cool in that first picture you switched around. I didn't like the 2nd one, with the arp in place of the keyboard.