Fathom Synth Development Thread

[Tj Shredder]

My no. 1 request is and will always be MPE...; - )
I was thinking to build an auto sampler myself, but if you do it I don't need to. It works like that:
I play arbitrarily with long pauses on my acoustic instrument for example a kalimba. The auto sampler detects onsets on its own to slice it, recognizes on its own pitches and levels, and maps it automatically.

Instead of classical looping, it will play the sustain range granular (which could be set by its parameters to act like classical looping as well)

I have another request for any VSTi (beside MPE): intelligent morphing. I will point to one instrument which does that for a part of its parameters, but I want all parameters or simply a morph between x amount of presets. Look at Novations Launchkey app for iOS. You place presets on a 2-dimensional area and could morph between them for example with a pad like controller. The intelligence you would need for certain parameters: If the pitch of an oscillator is different, you would not interpolate, but crossfade between two oscillators. Same for switches. Of course this is going to be expensive CPU wise, but CPUs are getting faster and faster. Of course this parameter mangling has to be per voice, then you could morph in MPE manner...
If I had to choose, I would prefer morphing over a modulation matrix. I would not mind to have both though...; - )
It would eliminate the need for macros, it would be the super macro...

[kokotte]

My no. 1 request is and will always be MPE...; - )
+1
plus some mod mapper.

[BlackWinny]

MPE ?

What's that ?

[carrieres]

MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE)
https://www.midi.org/articles/midi-poly ... ession-mpe

[Tj Shredder]

And if you never touched a MPE controller, rush out and do it. You missed something essential! Expressive synthesis...

[BlackWinny]

MIDI Polyphonic Expression (MPE)
https://www.midi.org/articles/midi-poly ... ession-mpe

Ah... Merci l'ami !

[Distorted Horizon]

MPE ?

What's that ?

Mutual Pervert Enigma. Greasy nerds twiddling their "girls".

[fdco]

+1 on MPE for me too

[onerob]

A simple and clear interface is vital for a feature-heavy sampler.

[fmr]

A simple and clear interface is vital for a feature-heavy sampler.

You understand there's a limit for how simple an interface for a "feature-heavy" instrument can be, right?

I hate when things get hidden for the sake of "simplicity". If people want features, they have to understand there's a price to pay for it, and that price is complexity. That said, a well designed GUI can make simpler what started to be complex.

[onerob]

Actually I agree. "Simple" doesn't quite convey the right sense of what I'm trying to get across. Clarity of design that makes complexity less stressful is what I'm hoping for.

[jmg8]

Would you consider an "auto sampling" feature?
Basically something similar to "sample robot"
It would automatically send midi notes to the VSTi and record each note, including auto loop points with zero crossings etc.

Also, something that for me is lacking from most samplers that I've used is the looping feature.
Normally we get loop and sometimes ping/pong or forward backward too.
I would like to see some new options in this area that can make for more transparent loops.
For example a looping type that could use some sort of random algorithm to make the loop less repetitive. Humans can hear repetition very easily, so some sort of blurring of the loop points could help smooth things out.

Some advanced round robin features would be great too.

Lastly, I would like to see a few different stretch algorithms for re-pitching samples, like granular, spectral, frequency shift, FFT etc

[jmg8]

This sounds like an instant purchase for me.

Please take my money now.

Looking forward to this one.

[FathomSynth]

Sounds like it’s going to have MPE.
If VST does not support it then I will check if VST3 does.

For the simplicity issue ...

Obviously it will not be simple per say, since it is going to be a sampler
for expert users with every possible parameter exposed.

But it will certainly be as simple as possible.

It will follow the existing policy of big controls, Large editing surfaces.
Screens that are shown when you need them and hidden when you don't.
And of course it will be deeply thought out and well organized.

Also I'm better at this now than when I started, so more of it will be done generically
and if people want something changed, it will be easier.

I don't think a VST synth is allowed to output MIDI but I'll check into it.
If I can do an auto sampling feature I will do it.

It will for sure have advanced round robin features.
I will also check into stretching algorithms.

For the looping I had an original idea.

The play transport point will be modulate-able by any modulator,
so you will be able to play a sample at any speed direction and position using any envelope.

This means you can go forward and backward in any order and any speed
including any random sequence from the RSH modulator.

Same goes for frequency shifting and single cycle fetch points.

Also if there are jumps defined by the envelope they will be performed when the sample waveform crosses zero so everything sounds smooth no matter what you do.

You will also be able to use the entire sample as an input modulator for anything else in the synth.

[jmg8]

I don't think a VST synth is allowed to output MIDI but I'll check into it.
If I can do an auto sampling feature I will do it.

Well, we wouldn't want the VSTi to output any midi. We want to SEND midi to it and record its audio output.


All the rest you said sounds really exciting. Cant wait!