Synth1: Bug Reports/Feature Suggestions

[hakey]

Feature Suggestions:

Modulation Matrix: Please extend the wheel/midi section to be a full modulation matrix by adding the following:
- add all lfo's and all envelopes as sources
- add velocity and keyfollow as sources
- add a "constant" parameter as source, that just adds a constant value to the destination. the ammount determines the added value.
- add a "random" parameter as source, that sends a random value, as son as a voice is triggered. the ammount determines the value range.
- add an "alternate" parameter as source, which toggles between 2 fixed states. the ammount determines the value range of these two fixed states.
- expand the slots to 16 slots.

Noise Source: separate the noise from the osc's and make it its own osc and give it its own static, none-resonanced filter. This could do what the "tone" parameter in the equalizer/pan section does, but right after the noise osc, before the main filter input mixer. it would need only two knobs - "level" and "tone". But still allow assign noise to be the fm modulator for osc1.

Phaser: the phasers need an adjustable center frequency.

Delay Sync Switch: allow switching off of the delay to tempo syncing (useful for pads).

Mod Envelope: extend the mod env to be full adsr, just like the filter env, and make its parameters (a,d,s,r, bipolar ammount) availlable in the matrix as destination.

More LFOs; clone the lfo's to 3 and 4, so that we have 4 independant lfo's. integrate the routing into the matrix (that way we could have multiple destinations and ammounts for just one lfo, and it would save gui space, too).

LFO Phase and Delay Controls: allow phase control of the LFOs so that it is possible to define their starting point when they are synced at note-on ('Key'). Also add an LFO delay control.

Supersaw: make the count of the supersaw/superwave user definable. often i'd not need 7 saws/waves, but rather 3, say give the supersaw/superwave a numeric box from 1 (no supersaw) to 7 (maximum count), or whatever count you have as maximum.

Oversampling: add an oversampling switch for all overdrives/distortions, as well as for fm and sync.

Arp: add one more value to the gate lenght of the arp (128), so that, when the voice is in legato glide mode, the arp doesn't retrigger the note, when gate is set to max.

Step Sequencer: add a 16 step sequencer to the ARP section and have it available as a source in the mod matrix.

Polyphony: increase to 64 voices.

Effects:

* Add a reverb effect.

* Enable Synth1 to be used as a VST effect.

GUI/Patch Handling: (see DragonSagoth's more detailed post below)

* Better GUI font (and SMALLER font in patch selection and dropdown menus!)

* Completely skinnable

* Easier color selection by using Windows Color Picker

* More colors for patches

* Patch categories (with Search by category and patch name)

* Right clicking on a parameter returns it to its patch setting.

* Zipped .SY1B file which would contain all 128 Synth1 patches inside - better organization

Backward Compatibility: Maintain the ability to play patches from made with earlier versions of Synth1, (in so far as that is possible).

[hakey]

Bug Reports:

* Orion/GUI Bug: Patch selection window does not stay opened in Orion, it will flash quickly and revert back to the parameter screen.

* Chorus Mixer Bug: even if the chorus level is set to 0, the delay recieves the chorus output (wet only, not the dry signal) this is so on all 3 chorus modes.
one has to switch off the chorus in order to kill the chorussed wet-only-output from the delays input. differently spoken:
the level slider of the chorus does adjust the dry signal of the chorus mixer.
but it should let pass the dry signal unaltered, and adjust only the wet signal of the chorus mixer, where 0 means, only the dry signal feeds the delay, and max means, 50:50 dry/wet signal (or whatever max ratio ichiro has intended here) feeds the delay.

to recreate this bug, do the following:
load this patch:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2633218/chorus_bug_01.zip
you will hear that the delay only recieves the wet signal of the chorus, even though the level of the chorus is 0. if you set the feedback of the chorus to 0, there's no difference, as the dry signal of the chorus isn't present, but the wet only signal of the chorus mixer, which, if the feedback is 0, needs the original dry signal, to get the desired chorus fx.


* Chorus/Ping Pong Delay Bug: if the chorus is in 4 stage mode, the pingpong delay is screwed up (even if the level of the chorus is 0. same problem as above). the delay is not altering the sides anymore, i assume this is because a strange crossfeed in the chorus.

to recreate this bug, do the following:
load this patch:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2633218/chorus_bug_02.zip
play it with short notes. notice that the delay isn't exclusiveley on one side with each tap. turn off the chorus with the switch to hear how the delay should behave the right way.

* Unison Voice Bug

0. choose a simple patch - like raw sawtooth
1. set total voice count to 4
2. set unison number to 3
3. set unison pitch shift to -12 (or anything besides 0)
4. play the same note repeatedly - and every 4th note lacks the sub-octave partial)

[RexXx]

FX:
REVERB!

GUI:
Right click on knob = reset parameter to patch parameter

[bwwd]

64 voices
LFO delay
M.ENV 1+2 OSC

[EvilDragon]

* Further GUI modifications (as suggested here and here - some on the second link are done)

Especially important (IMHO) is to add another display the same as preset display, for displaying banks, like this image:



* Better GUI font (and SMALLER font in patch selection and dropdown menus!)

* Completely skinnable

* Easier color selection by using Windows Color Picker

* More colors for patches

* Patch categories (with Search by category and patch name)

* Zipped .SY1B file which would contain all 128 Synth1 patches inside - better organization

* Make the version number on the GUI much smaller and REMOVE the red background (it doesn't change when GUI color changes!)

* Separate Pitch Bend up and down range

* Rename a.d.1, a.d.2, d.d, deci., r.m., comp., ph. 1 - ph. 4, with proper effect names:

Analog Distortion 1
Analog Distortion 2
Digital Distortion
Ring Modulator
Compressor
Phaser 1 - Phaser 4

And make them display in ONE column, not two!

* Likewise, rename ST, X and PP in Delay section to:

Stereo
Crossover
Ping-Pong

* In the mod matrix, rename the sources like this (don't use #1: etc.)

Modwheel
Breath
CC 3
Foot Controller
Portamento Time
Data Entry
Volume
Balance
CC 9
Pan
Expression
Channel Aftertouch
Pitch Bend

Also add Sustain Pedal here, envelopes and LFOs.

[hakey]

M.ENV 1+2 OSC

I'll write up this suggestion in the OP if you like, but wouldn't the same be achieved by replacing the 'Wheel/Midi' section with a modulation matrix and allow routing of any of the env's to any sensible destination (including either/both OSCs) as per Brok's suggestion?

A mod matrix is the feature that I'd most like to see.

[Bronto Scorpio]

Modulation Matrix: Please extend the wheel/midi section to be a full modulation matrix by adding the following:
- add all lfo's and all envelopes as sources
- add velocity and keyfollow as sources
- add a "constant" parameter as source, that just adds a constant value to the destination. the ammount determines the added value.
- add a "random" parameter as source, that sends a random value, as son as a voice is triggered. the ammount determines the value range.
- add an "alternate" parameter as source, which toggles between 2 fixed states. the ammount determines the value range of these two fixed states.
- expand the slots to 16 slots.

+1000

More LFOs; clone the lfo's to 3 and 4, so that we have 4 independant lfo's. integrate the routing into the matrix (that way we could have multiple destinations and ammounts for just one lfo, and it would save gui space, too).

+100

LFO Phase and Delay Controls: allow phase control of the LFOs so that it is possible to define their starting point when they are synced at note-on ('Key'). Also add an LFO delay control.

+10

Polyphony: increase to 64 voices.

+1

[RyanG]

Feature suggestion: the ability to use Synth1 as a VST effect.

[hakey]

I'm wondering whether it's a good idea to write up every suggestion in the OP. Give enough time I suspect that every synth plugin feature ever conceived will be suggested and, if that's the case I might as well just write 'make it do everything'.

OTOH, I don't want to be the one deciding which suggestions should be included and which left out.

I think what I'm trying to say is it would be good if a consensus could be arrived at as to which features are reasonable to request and/or useful in the context of Synth1.

[Bronto Scorpio]

I'm wondering whether it's a good idea to write up every suggestion in the OP. Give enough time I suspect that every synth plugin feature every conceived will be suggested and, if that's the case I might as well just write 'make it do everything'.

Maybe we should collect a few requests and make a poll or something like that

Cheers
Dennis

[hakey]

Maybe we should collect a few requests and make a poll or something like that

Yep, something along those lines - the trouble with a poll is you only get to vote for one alternative out of a list, whereas here we really want to be able to select say the 5 most important features.

[audiojunkie]

There could be a series of polls that lead up to the top requests--similar to brackets used for sports matches where there are many teams trying for the number one slot. This way, it would be fairly easy to determine the top requests.

--Sean

P.S. Personally, I'm grateful for whatever I get; however, I like to see Synth 1 advancing. My only major request would be to keep backward compatibility whereever possible.

[hakey]

I suppose people could just list the features that they would most like to see, or something along those lines. Or we could just see how this thread pans out.

Meanwhile I'll add 'backward compatibility' to the list.

[3ee]

Please extend the wheel/midi section to be a full modulation matrix by adding the following:
- add all lfo's and all envelopes as sources
- add velocity and keyfollow as sources
- expand the slots to 16 slots.

+1 That would be lovely!

Noise Source: separate the noise from the osc's and make it its own osc and give it its own static, none-resonanced filter. This could do what the "tone"...

+1

Mod Envelope: extend the mod env to be full adsr, just like the filter env, and make its parameters (a,d,s,r, bipolar ammount) availlable in the matrix as destination.

+1 That would be lovely!

More LFOs; clone the lfo's to 3 and 4, so that we have 4 independant lfo's. integrate the routing into the matrix (that way we could have multiple destinations and ammounts for just one lfo, and it would save gui space, too).

+1 .. and if the LFOs would be placed in the "mod matrix" (witch is called Wheel/MIDI" for the moment) the mod knob would be the polarity of the LFO wave form. For exemple: if, say, I have selected the saw wave.. turning the mod knob to "+" will give it amount for a descendent saw wave.. and if turned to "-" will give it amount for an ascendent saw wave (similar to ducking-like effect and not only that)

LFO Phase and Delay Controls: allow phase control of the LFOs so that it is possible to define their starting point when they are synced at note-on ('Key'). Also add an LFO delay control.

+1 Maybe add an attack knob for the LFO (for exemple: if you want the pitch LFO to smoothly fade in, like a vibrato on a cello or flute.) I'd say that would be lovely.

Oversampling: add an oversampling switch for all...

+100564062962048082456.331(141)!!!!

(I would welcome any kind of sound quality upgrade.) And maybe include this oversampling/sound quality management option as user definable in the option "opt" section.. so everybody would be happy. (Some users don't want this because they fear of Synth1 getting all cpu hungry and stuff.)

Arp: add one more value to the gate lenght of the arp (128), so that, when the voice is in legato glide mode, the arp doesn't retrigger the note, when gate is set to max.

Step Sequencer: add a 16 step sequencer to the ARP section and have it available as a source in the mod matrix.

+1

Polyphony: increase to 64 voices.

-1 ... ahhhh just kidding! +1 Particularly when the number of unison voices got upgraded to 8.

* Better GUI font (and SMALLER font in patch selection and dropdown menus!)

* Patch categories (with Search by category and patch name)

* Right clicking on a parameter returns it to its patch setting.

* Zipped .SY1B file which would contain all 128 Synth1 patches inside - better organization

Backward Compatibility: Maintain the ability to play patches from made with earlier versions of Synth1, (in so far as that is possible).

+1 all good stuff.. wouldn't mind ctrl+click for parameter default tho.. anyway it's cool like it's posted.

Thank You everyone for posting well refined suggestions! And let's hope this thread stays funky fresh and tidy!

3ee

[OutCider]

Cool thread
Well done Hakey

I would like to see a trance gate with copy/save/import functions to go along with a step sequncer and arp upgrades.