Cytomic "The Scream" stomp box distortion plugin

[andy-cytomic]

All stages in the non-HD version are also based off MNA, but the input and output stages can use some pre-computed tables to speed up the solver for those sections. The tables are re-computed every time a randomisation or schematic component value changes.

[meloco_go]

Yes. More specifically it uses MNA (modified nodal analysis), which is a variant of Kirchhoff's current law.

Here is a pdf of the matrix being solved:
https://cytomic.com/files/forums/scream ... matrix.pdf

And this is that pdf zoomed out:

It's amazing what CPUs can handle in real time these days

[andy-cytomic]

It's amazing what CPUs can handle in real time these days

Indeed! But this would still not be possible without me having spent a great deal of R&D into write a powerful symbolic simplification engine and code generator that looks at all the steps involved in solving the matrix and applies a bunch of algebraic simplifications and optimisations to make it all run really fast. The matrix is solved up to 12 times per sample, but around half or more of the cpu is actually used in evaluating the non-linear functions to make it all work eg: functions like log and exp. I also spend a lot of time writing these highly optimised and accurate parallel non-linear functions, without which there would be no drive!

[meloco_go]

It's amazing what CPUs can handle in real time these days

Indeed! But this would still not be possible without me having spent a great deal of R&D into write a powerful symbolic simplification engine and code generator that looks at all the steps involved in solving the matrix and applies a bunch of algebraic simplifications and optimisations to make it all run really fast. The matrix is solved up to 12 times per sample, but around half or more of the cpu is actually used in evaluating the non-linear functions to make it all work eg: functions like log and exp. I also spend a lot of time writing these highly optimised and accurate parallel non-linear functions, without which there would be no drive!

Yeah, sorry I didn't mean to take away from your hard work. Your plugins sound amazing and consistent no matter what source I use them on! IMO this is a direct result of the thoroughness of the modelling.

[andivax]

Instant buy. The Scream is amazing on 808 bass!
I hope manual will consist the info about components and how to vary left and right channels components for great stereo separation.

Is it possible to modify components values by mousewheel? Or only keyboard input is allowed?

[Caine123]

will there be a sale or crossgrade if you got another plugin from cytomic?

[andy-cytomic]

Instant buy. The Scream is amazing on 808 bass!
I hope manual will consist the info about components and how to vary left and right channels components for great stereo separation.

Is it possible to modify components values by mousewheel? Or only keyboard input is allowed?

The change of component values is not smooth, the entire circuit including all coefficients are recomputed from scratch, just like a change in sample rate. Currently when changes are made I wait for a bit, and then calculate the result, so it would be possible to support a delayed change on mouse wheel. I’ll have a look at this and see if it’s too clunky. It may be better to have buttons to click, say x1.25 and /1.25 to keep expectations more inline with what is going on under the hood and keep mouse wheel support for those controls that are automatable.

[andy-cytomic]

will there be a sale or crossgrade if you got another plugin from cytomic?

Cytomic’s permanent discount offers are outlined here:
https://cytomic.com/faq/do-you-offer-discounts/

[andivax]

The change of component values is not smooth, the entire circuit including all coefficients are recomputed from scratch, just like a change in sample rate. Currently when changes are made I wait for a bit, and then calculate the result, so it would be possible to support a delayed change on mouse wheel. I’ll have a look at this and see if it’s too clunky. It may be better to have buttons to click, say x1.25 and /1.25 to keep expectations more inline with what is going on under the hood and keep mouse wheel support for those controls that are automatable.

It's a good workaround options, Andy!
1) Delayed change on Mouse wheel
OR
2) User points mouse cursor under parameter and arrows for change parameter appears.
OR
3) You decide )

Thanx!

[andy-cytomic]

I'm getting close to finishing the manual, I'll continually update it as I'm filling in details. I'm using markdown and generating the pdf / html using a tool called pandoc, so the same content can easily be published on the web as well as included in the download as a pdf. I've left the current styling as a LaTex type technical paper for now, please let me know if you think this style is ok.

Any comments or suggestions welcome, especially for any topics you think aren't covered in enough detail, or if you'd like to suggest new things to cover, but hopefully it will already be useful on a bunch of topics:

https://cytomic.com/files/TheScream-Manual.pdf

[andivax]

I'm getting close to finishing the manual, I'll continually update it as I'm filling in details. I'm using markdown and generating the pdf / html using a tool called pandoc, so the same content can easily be published on the web as well as included in the download as a pdf. I've left the current styling as a LaTex type technical paper for now, please let me know if you think this style is ok.

Any comments or suggestions welcome, especially for any topics you think aren't covered in enough detail, or if you'd like to suggest new things to cover, but hopefully it will already be useful on a bunch of topics:

https://cytomic.com/files/TheScream-Manual.pdf

Great! Waiting for random and scheme parts!
Just one problem. In my case I can't tell the difference between Intermediate and Minimum Phase on the graphs. It's so similar in colour.

[jbraner]

Just a quick one - p22 says "how much latency they introduce, and weather each frequency is delayed"
That should be "whether"

[andy-cytomic]

Just a quick one - p22 says "how much latency they introduce, and weather each frequency is delayed"
That should be "whether"

Thanks for the heads up, I've re-worded that section

[andy-cytomic]

Great! Waiting for random and scheme parts!
Just one problem. In my case I can't tell the difference between Intermediate and Minimum Phase on the graphs. It's so similar in colour.

Please make sure to take in the earlier sections, specifically how the Drive and Tone knobs change the signal, as this is critical to understanding the plugins operation.

I don't want rainbows, but I'll try to increase the contrast a little on those graphs, but the point is they are so similar in frequency response (amplitude) that it doesn't matter which you use, it's all about the phase / group delay / step response, which are clearly visible.

[Funkybot's Evil Twin]

Bottom of page 7 (first sentence in Bias): "batter" instead of "battery".