Hey guys,
I have a simple question to ask:
If I use only 1 OSC with Retrig ON and Detune - 0, what would be the difference between choosing 1 voice and more than 1 ( Up to 8 )? The only difference I get is the volume level - weakest with 1 voice, loudest with 8. Is it only that or am I missing something? I notice many of you use different number of voices along with the retrig and detune parameters set to On and 0 and I'm curious to know based on what you will decide to use more than 1 voice. If it's only a matter of volume level, why don't you use the specific volume knob?
Thank you!
Question: 1 voice or 8 voices?
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- KVRer
- 4 posts since 5 Dec, 2015
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- KVRian
- 1454 posts since 17 Jul, 2007 from Riversland Valhalla
If retrig is set to on and more than 1 voice is selected, that would add more stacked instance of the same waveform starting at the same phase in the same moment, hence the sound is louder. We use it to add more power to the oscillator.. Basic sound physics.
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 4 posts since 5 Dec, 2015
You say "more power". Knowing how much is "more" suggests you compare it to something. When I mix, I know how loud I want a particular sound to be, but when I make it in Sylenth1 with the parameters set to what we already discussed, I struggle to choose whether I should use 1 voice, 5 voices, 8 voices or I should merely turn the volume knobs to the max. Do you get me?
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- KVRAF
- 35728 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
What would be the musical use of stacking several waveforms with the same phase, and the same pitch anyway? It sounds dull and weird. And as you wrote in your first post, it will only raise the volume, but doesn't add anything interesting to the sound. The fun begins when you slightly detune them, and spread them across the stereo field.
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 4 posts since 5 Dec, 2015
Thank you, chk071. Have a nice day both of you.
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- KVRAF
- 35728 posts since 11 Apr, 2010 from Germany
Btw, it's a good idea to download an oscilloscope (like this, and see the results of detuning and stuff on the waveform. Just stacking with the same phase and pitch will result in a static waveform, while detuning will result in a lot of beating, and movement, which is basically what you'd want. Also test phas retriggering vs. free running oscillator, and you will see where the "advantages" of one vs. the other are. E.g. for basses, or sequences with some "bang", phase retriggering, or constant phase can be pretty useful.
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- KVRian
- 1454 posts since 17 Jul, 2007 from Riversland Valhalla
Yes mate I follow you.secretfound wrote:You say "more power". Knowing how much is "more" suggests you compare it to something. When I mix, I know how loud I want a particular sound to be, but when I make it in Sylenth1 with the parameters set to what we already discussed, I struggle to choose whether I should use 1 voice, 5 voices, 8 voices or I should merely turn the volume knobs to the max. Do you get me?
By "more power" I referred to more volume of oscillator.
Why I would add more voices to the same osc., is simply when I make my bass, I use two oscs. (a) will be Saw, and (b) will be Square.
Generally speaking, if a square & saw waveforms* of them the same frequency and phase mixed at the same amplitude, you will get just a saw waveform! Interesting. If you will decrease slightly the square waveform volume, you will get a nice pulse width-ed saw, which is a hidden feature in Sylenth1, but available in some other synths, like Yamaha AN variants for example..
But, even if I will increase the main section volume of the sylenth1, I would not get the total sound at decent level... That's why I increase the voices and use retrigging...
Try it and you will see what I mean
I don't like to apply a compressor just to make the sound stand up strongly. I can simply use the available features of the synth itself and save the CPU to handle other task
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 4 posts since 5 Dec, 2015
phreaque, chk071: Thank you guys for being so much helpful. You were very clear with your explanations and you totally got me into the experimenting mood. 
All the best!
All the best!
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- KVRian
- 1454 posts since 17 Jul, 2007 from Riversland Valhalla
You're most welcome matesecretfound wrote:phreaque, chk071: Thank you guys for being so much helpful. You were very clear with your explanations and you totally got me into the experimenting mood.
All the best!
we are all here to inspire each other.. Enjoy & have a great time... Whenever you need a little motivation spark, feel free to pass by 
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fluffy_little_something fluffy_little_something https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=281847
- Banned
- 12880 posts since 5 Jun, 2012
I try to use as few waves as possible, beyond 3 or 4 things hardly ever get better in my view. Usually I use 1 wave (for emulating old-skool synths which didn't have wave stacking) or 2 with slight detune to get more modern sounds.
I think there is no point in adding power by raising the number of identical waves. It only uses more CPU, while the volume/mix parameters do the same thing without increased CPU usage. And Sylenth has a really powerful output, I can never use max volume, it would be way too loud, even with a single wave on one osc.
I think there is no point in adding power by raising the number of identical waves. It only uses more CPU, while the volume/mix parameters do the same thing without increased CPU usage. And Sylenth has a really powerful output, I can never use max volume, it would be way too loud, even with a single wave on one osc.