Good day,
I am interested in learning more about the bend +/- features of the wavetable scanning options in Massive.
I believe I have seen many similar sample scanning features on other synths such as Zeta (a while back) as well as in Helix and Surge.
How can this sample scanning process be explained easily?
I have an idea but the manual is not clear.
Thanks
NI Massive wavetable scanning question
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- KVRian
- 1184 posts since 13 May, 2004 from SF Bay Area, California
Scanning in Massive is controlled by the leftmost knob (Position). The middle knob (Intensity) doesn't affect wavetable position, so it's not really scanning; instead it controls various kinds of deformation of the waveshape and harmonic content. I don't think much can be added to what the manual already says, but let me paraphrase in case it makes anything clearer:
In "Bend+" mode, minimum intensity gives the normal waveform, while maximum intensity stretches the beginning and ending of the waveshape and shrinks the middle portion.
In "Bend-" mode, minimum intensity gives the normal waveform, while maximum intensity stretches the middle of the waveshape and shrinks the beginning and ending portions.
In "Bend-/+" mode, the center of the intensity knob gives the normal waveform. Turning the knob down from the center is like Bend-, while turning it up from the center is like Bend+.
A couple of notes/thoughts about this:
1) In general, the less symmetry in the waveshape, the more dramatically it responds to Bend deformations.
2) Since Bend-/+ encompasses the effects of both Bend+ and Bend-, you can ignore the latter two modes and only use the former, if that simplifies things for you conceptually.
3) I use Bend (and likewise Formant) in the following ways:
- a) I set different static positions just to give a different flavor to the current wavetable. As a variation on this, I sometimes use the triggered random mod source (TrR) with a small depth applied to Bend, so that different notes have slightly different colors.
- b) I use relatively fast Env or LFO modulations with small depths (big depths + fast modulations tends to sound harsh in a way that I don't like).
- c) I use slower Env, LFO, or Performer/Stepper modulations with greater depths to produce sounds that evolve (continuously, or in steps using the Stepper or "steppy" LFO/Performer shapes).
In "Bend+" mode, minimum intensity gives the normal waveform, while maximum intensity stretches the beginning and ending of the waveshape and shrinks the middle portion.
In "Bend-" mode, minimum intensity gives the normal waveform, while maximum intensity stretches the middle of the waveshape and shrinks the beginning and ending portions.
In "Bend-/+" mode, the center of the intensity knob gives the normal waveform. Turning the knob down from the center is like Bend-, while turning it up from the center is like Bend+.
A couple of notes/thoughts about this:
1) In general, the less symmetry in the waveshape, the more dramatically it responds to Bend deformations.
2) Since Bend-/+ encompasses the effects of both Bend+ and Bend-, you can ignore the latter two modes and only use the former, if that simplifies things for you conceptually.
3) I use Bend (and likewise Formant) in the following ways:
- a) I set different static positions just to give a different flavor to the current wavetable. As a variation on this, I sometimes use the triggered random mod source (TrR) with a small depth applied to Bend, so that different notes have slightly different colors.
- b) I use relatively fast Env or LFO modulations with small depths (big depths + fast modulations tends to sound harsh in a way that I don't like).
- c) I use slower Env, LFO, or Performer/Stepper modulations with greater depths to produce sounds that evolve (continuously, or in steps using the Stepper or "steppy" LFO/Performer shapes).
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