Hi,
This might be a daft question but I thought I'd ask.
I have only ever really used subtractive synthesis when programming synths. Mainly due to a fear of FM synthesis that I have.
But I have decided that it is time to overcome the fear because I need to explore some different sounds.
Anyway they thing that puts me off using both the FM osc in zebra, and the comb filter to a curtain degree is that the pitch of the sound I am working on changes to something different then It should be. So I could be pressing a c on the keyboard and a d could be coming out the monitors.
So I soon loose track of what i am doing and can never be sure if my patch is playing at the correct pitch.
So I'm wondering does any one have any methods or tips on how to work on a patch and ensure it is also in tune?
Any help with this will be awesome.
Cheers.
How do you stay i tune when using FM?
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- Banned
- 6129 posts since 9 Oct, 2007 from an inharmonious society
Well there are certain parameters that can alter the pitch, within the comb filters, and some settings within the FMO's that can alter pitch frequencies.
Working with them in most cases doesn't cause pitch changes though.
I've done a lot of sounds that use these kinds of settings though.
Some patches I've done ended up being out of true pitch.
To correct the problem is easy though.
You simply make 2 instances of Zebra in your daw.
One preset is set to a normal patch, with normal pitch.
The next is your pitch problem patch.
In the global settings, is the global tune settings.
Have the normal tuned patch playing a one note sequence. Choose C3 for the note, as an example.
Play the out of tune patch c3, while moving the global tuning up or down, until it gets in tune with the normal tuned sound.
You could also try individual tune changing of the osc/fmo/comb modules themselves, to make it be in correct pitch, but then it usually tends to lose the initial character of what it sounded like with in not in tune.
Hope that helps.
I have at least 3 presets in my latest bank where I had to do this tuning method.
Hope this helps.
Working with them in most cases doesn't cause pitch changes though.
I've done a lot of sounds that use these kinds of settings though.
Some patches I've done ended up being out of true pitch.
To correct the problem is easy though.
You simply make 2 instances of Zebra in your daw.
One preset is set to a normal patch, with normal pitch.
The next is your pitch problem patch.
In the global settings, is the global tune settings.
Have the normal tuned patch playing a one note sequence. Choose C3 for the note, as an example.
Play the out of tune patch c3, while moving the global tuning up or down, until it gets in tune with the normal tuned sound.
You could also try individual tune changing of the osc/fmo/comb modules themselves, to make it be in correct pitch, but then it usually tends to lose the initial character of what it sounded like with in not in tune.
Hope that helps.
I have at least 3 presets in my latest bank where I had to do this tuning method.
Hope this helps.
Last edited by mcnoone on Sat Oct 08, 2011 3:21 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRAF
- 1617 posts since 11 Dec, 2008 from Minneapolis
The common sense answer would be, just retune the modules after patching, or use the transpose / fine tune tools on the master output (not that common sense is always right ...).
Alternatively a sine wave oscillator could be used as a reference tone while patching - it would be pretty easy to set up, just use an OSC in spectroblend mode with just the 1st harmonic raised.
Happy patching!
[e] I'm the one in the Western films that gets shot before his hand ever gets to the holster XD
Alternatively a sine wave oscillator could be used as a reference tone while patching - it would be pretty easy to set up, just use an OSC in spectroblend mode with just the 1st harmonic raised.
Happy patching!
[e] I'm the one in the Western films that gets shot before his hand ever gets to the holster XD
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- KVRist
- Topic Starter
- 60 posts since 1 Nov, 2008
Cool thanks for the help. I thin I have the courage to proceed now 
The video was most helpful too. Think I will be watching a fair few of those in the next hour or so.
Nice one.
The video was most helpful too. Think I will be watching a fair few of those in the next hour or so.
Nice one.