More questions about Oscillators (and more)

[kyodeejay]

I've looking for a manual for SynthMaster but I only found a quick start guide pdf. SO I've lots of questions:

1. Is there any documentation? Where?
2. What is Drift? (oscillators)
3. How can I do PWM? I've look the example but I don't understand it
4. I understand I can do PM and FM, but, how? I assume that I must select the modulator before the osc1 (or after osc1?), ie Mod1, and click on Frecuency Modulator. But I haven't a clue about how change the FM amount. Tweaking oscillator or modulator volume I only reduce the osc volume.
5. What's Harmonic Freq?
6. I don't understand yet the gui editor, but could be possible create a gui with the four oscillators routed to the same filter? Is there any help about how to do it?

And some comments about oscillator, filter and fx. The Digital filter is awesome, I love how it sound. The fx are good, acceptable. But the oscillators with unison doesn't sound too good, well, at least I'm having a hard time doing that them sound more raw and harsh.

There is a small bug when you move the cutoff and reso is to the max value. The graphic white dot is glitchy.

Thanks

[rectus_dominus]

1.- There'll be a complete manual, it's one of the priority things before the release
2.- Drift is a subtle pitch modulation effect what aims to recreate some analog tuning mishaps. I suppose a special LFO is used for that in the background
3.- I don't know the example, and Bulent's opinion, but I'd do PWM with the wavescanning oscillator, using Square and Pulse waveforms morphed together.
4.- I can't help with that, FM is a territory in which I didn't have time to dig in
5.- I'm sure Bulent has some nice way to talk about oscillator harmonics and how do they work. At least try them and you'll get an idea
6.- As far as I know, the GUI editor can't change the preprogrammed module routes.

The unison is pretty good in my opinion, of course the way it is implemented it's a bit more heavy on the CPU. Did you try using more detune on the layer and 'oscillator' pages?

Cheers, David!

[kyodeejay]

Thanks for your answer David. I hope someone gives us light about FM

About Unison yes, I detuned them, I set the oscillators in free run, I pan-wide them, I tried different shapes, but I don't get nothing beatiful when I compare it with other synths I'm trying before choose one of them (sylenth and zebra).

[kv331]

I've looking for a manual for SynthMaster but I only found a quick start guide pdf. SO I've lots of questions:
1. Is there any documentation? Where?

The user manual will come when we release the "release" version in December.
Right now, the quickstart manual doesnt explain the processing blocks yet.

2. What is Drift? (oscillators)

For oscillators: Subtle variation in oscillator tune.
For envelopes: Subtle variation in envelope volume.

3. How can I do PWM? I've look the example but I don't understand it

Choose a basic osc
Click on the waveform, set to pulse
Now play with the phase parameter. Phase is basicly the "pulse width"
If you want, right click on the Phase knob, and assign a modulator to it, such as mod wheel, or ADSR Env 2.

4. I understand I can do PM and FM, but, how? I assume that I must select the modulator before the osc1 (or after osc1?), ie Mod1, and click on Frecuency Modulator. But I haven't a clue about how change the FM amount. Tweaking oscillator or modulator volume I only reduce the osc volume.

Before osc -> FM/PM
After osc -> AM/RM

To change the FM/PM/AM/RM amount, play with the Mod volume knob (if Mod1 modulating PM of Osc1 for instance, play with Mod1 volume)

[kv331]

Thanks for your answer David. I hope someone gives us light about FM

About Unison yes, I detuned them, I set the oscillators in free run, I pan-wide them, I tried different shapes, but I don't get nothing beatiful when I compare it with other synths I'm trying before choose one of them (sylenth and zebra).

Osc should be free running, should have a little drift, and have pan+detune spread. If you have any sounds to compare with from other synths I'd appreciate that!

Thank you!

Bulent

[kyodeejay]

Before osc -> FM/PM
After osc -> AM/RM

To change the FM/PM/AM/RM amount, play with the Mod volume knob (if Mod1 modulating PM of Osc1 for instance, play with Mod1 volume)

Thanks. However it seems that doing FM the Mod1 volume knob changes the volume and not the FM amount. And the FM sound weird :S

Osc should be free running, should have a little drift, and have pan+detune spread. If you have any sounds to compare with from other synths I'd appreciate that!

Yes, I did that, but it sound very "computer-ish". Just download Zebra or Sylenth1 demo and try a little unison in one of their oscillators.

[rectus_dominus]

I don't have either of them, but I remember Zebra made drastically grittier supersaws even facing against Sylenth. And Zebra got improved sonically since then. So I'd say they too aren't on the same level.

As I remember I could make some cool stuff with SM2.0 but couldn't fire up the latest version cause of beta disease. With a new release, I'll try to show you what I was talking about.

Please post some mp3 comparison examples with some notes and I'm sure Bulent will take a look at it. Telling that his synth doesn't sound great is his weak spot

[kv331]

Before osc -> FM/PM
Thanks. However it seems that doing FM the Mod1 volume knob changes the volume and not the FM amount. And the FM sound weird :S

Now I remembered! When doing FM, set the Mod DC amount to the max.

[kyodeejay]

Yes, now FM seems to work, I don't achieve good sounds, although. I think I need practice more with SM and FM. Thanks

I don't have either of them

Me neither, I'm just enjoying their demos.

Please post some mp3 comparison examples with some notes and I'm sure Bulent will take a look at it. Telling that his synth doesn't sound great is his weak spot

Well, I don't want to disturb him! Anyway I did a mp3 example. You can hear first a normal saw oscillator in the free plugin Synth1 (two bars) then I turn on unison (x4). Later zebra simple saw oscillator and then I turn on quad mode (unison x4). And the last one is Synthmaster and I do the same (drift 50%, free oscillator, 4x unison detuned and panned).

http://soundcloud.com/liquidproj3ct/syn ... ynthmaster

[rectus_dominus]

There's no way that a fully working Synthmaster sounds like your last example. Maybe you have some drive in your filter or dunno. Try reinstalling SM2, and write down your system specs here.

Here's 2 Sm tracks with your settings the first one is 'draft' quality, the second is 'best'. Although not Zebra styla, I call it fairly decent for me.
http://www.2shared.com/audio/Dgn6bJoW/ss2.html
http://www.2shared.com/audio/dRvdk1qs/ss1.html
OGG files, and excuse my playing I just want to prove a point

[kv331]

Telling that his synth doesn't sound great is his weak spot

What do you mean David?

[kv331]

There's no way that a fully working Synthmaster sounds like your last example. Maybe you have some drive in your filter or dunno. Try reinstalling SM2, and write down your system specs here.

Here's 2 Sm tracks with your settings the first one is 'draft' quality, the second is 'best'. Although not Zebra styla, I call it fairly decent for me.
http://www.2shared.com/audio/Dgn6bJoW/ss2.html
http://www.2shared.com/audio/dRvdk1qs/ss1.html
OGG files, and excuse my playing I just want to prove a point

I'll take a look into those tonight folks,

Thanks!

Bulent

[kv331]

Well, I don't want to disturb him! Anyway I did a mp3 example. You can hear first a normal saw oscillator in the free plugin Synth1 (two bars) then I turn on unison (x4). Later zebra simple saw oscillator and then I turn on quad mode (unison x4). And the last one is Synthmaster and I do the same (drift 50%, free oscillator, 4x unison detuned and panned).

http://soundcloud.com/liquidproj3ct/syn ... ynthmaster

Excuse me, but looks like you are using SynthMaster FREE! Which was version 1.0 (One zero). Duh And it sounds like reverb is on or something.

[kyodeejay]

No, I'm using the last beta which I downloaded from your signature link. The ugly 1.0 interface did that I delete it from my system until today.

[kv331]

No, I'm using the last beta which I downloaded from your signature link. The ugly 1.0 interface did that I delete it from my system until today.

So you are confirming that you used 1.0 to generate that sound bite?