KVR Audio

kv331 · Post by **kv331** » Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:16 pm

Hi guys,

I've been away from the forum for quite some time now. Those of you following me from our facebook users group already knew that I've been busy with SynthMaster v2.9.9 (Free) update. Some of you might be asking, why another update instead of v3.0 ? My answer is: The entire engine/UI architecture had to be redesigned to allow for things like dynamic modules (effects, layers, mod matrix entries, etc), dialogs, etc etc. I also had to merge all of the new features I added in SM1 to SM2, before starting fresh work for SM3. But all is finished now, and now I'm fully dedicated (oh yeah finally!) to work on SM3!

So... after months of work + internal testing + some heavy user testing from our facebook users group, I present you SynthMaster v2.9.9 Beta (Rev 10082) It's available for our registered users on their user area

Let me start with the new features first:

1. Added a new dark skin by Satyatunes

2. Added extended versions of Satyatune's White, Blue and Dark skins for showing a piano keyboard and easy knobs at the bottom of the user interface. This makes it much easier to see modulation routings for PitchBend, ModWheel, Aftertouch, Velocity, Easy Knobs and XY Pads.

Satyatunes Dark XT.jpg

3. Skins can now be resized by dragging the triangle arrows at the bottom right corner of the plugin user interface (as in SM1). Each skin comes with the following sizes: 100%, 120%, 140%, 160%, 180% and 200%

Multiple Skins Sizes.jpg

4. We now have real-time visual feedback for modulation sources and targets. This is especially useful when designing sounds with SynthMaster! The animations can be turned on or off.

Satyatunes Dark XT Realtime.jpg

5. SynthMaster now has better support for microtuning: Comes with more than 300 scales ranging from 5 note to 12 note, in equal or alternate temperaments. Root note of the scale can be set globally:

SM 2.9 Scales.jpg

6. MIDI Learn now works for all controls, including discrete controls and modulation matrix controls

7. Improved editing for Multisegment envelopes:
7a. New segments can be added with left click, existing ones can be deleted with right click.
7b. Undo and redo functions work correctly when segments are added or removed.

MSEG.jpg

8. LFOs are now separated as LFOs and Sequencers (4 Per Layer). Global LFOs are removed, but can still be created by setting LFO trigger type to Mono or Global:

LFO.jpg

9. Glide/Step LFOs are now loaded as Sequencers:
9a. Each step now has separate initial/final level parameters.
9b. When editing, Shift-click enables edit in Glide mode (Final level of current step = Initial level of next step)
9c. When editing, Ctrl-click enables edit in Step mode (Final level of current step = Initial level of current step)
9d. The new Gate parameters allows changing the gate time of each step in real time
9e. In dual mode, 2 separate sequences can be created and they can be mixed with the Xfade parameter.

Sequencer.jpg

10. Insert effects can now be created dynamically: Any effect can be instantiated multiple times on any insert fx slot

Dynamic FX.jpg

11. Preset Browser improvements:
11a. Instrument categories are now listed based on Native Instruments NKS standard
11b. Favorite presets can be added/removed easily by clicking on the star icon next to the preset name.
11c. Users can upload their presets to the Public User Library that's hosted on the cloud
11d. Users can download presets from the Public User Library by clicking on the Online button.

Preset Browser.jpg

and here are the Bug Fixes (there are many cosmetic issues I fixed, I'll add them to the list later):

1. SynthMaster doesn't release memory for unused waveforms&samples when a new preset is loaded
2. When an oscillator waveform/sample is changed while a note is playing, SynthMaster keeps playing the old one.
3. Sample/waveform import doesn't work correctly in certain cases
4. SynthMaster interprets loop start/end points in SFZ/WAV files incorrectly

FYI: I tried to fix as many cosmetic issues as possible, that have existed in older skins (Gray, Blue, Red and Orange skins). However, please avoid using those skins and use the newer Satyatunes skins.

Cheers

Bulent

crickey13 · Post by **crickey13** » Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:33 pm

Has the voice allocation been fixed already or is it something you plan on fixing in SM3? I would love to reduce the number of used voices to get analog-style voice stealing in my SM2 patches, but SM2 doesn't allow that the way SM1 does and behaves in a rather cumbersome way, I believe it cuts the second most recent note or something like that.

Examigan · Post by **Examigan** » Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:40 pm

Awesome update Bulent, congrats!

kv331 · Post by **kv331** » Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:47 pm

crickey13 wrote: Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:33 pm Has the voice allocation been fixed already or is it something you plan on fixing in SM3? I would love to reduce the number of used voices to get analog-style voice stealing in my SM2 patches, but SM2 doesn't allow that the way SM1 does and behaves in a rather cumbersome way, I believe it cuts the second most recent note or something like that.

Hi, I will look into this. I'm also planning to add "Trigger Type" parameter to layers (in the next update), I believe that's what you're looking for -> When Trigger Type is set to "Resume" stolen voices don't reset the envelope initial levels.

zvenx · Post by **zvenx** » Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:52 pm

YES!!
Thanks Bulent
rsp

crickey13 · Post by **crickey13** » Mon Nov 23, 2020 3:10 pm

kv331 wrote: Mon Nov 23, 2020 2:47 pm Hi, I will look into this. I'm also planning to add "Trigger Type" parameter to layers (in the next update), I believe that's what you're looking for -> When Trigger Type is set to "Resume" stolen voices don't reset the envelope initial levels.

Thanks. If you implemented voice modes in the same way as in SM1, then it would be optimal. Voice-stealing in SM1 works exactly the way as it should, it cuts the earlier notes first instead of the more recent ones. It's the only thing I find kind of problematic about SM2 and makes limited polyphony less useful, everything else is just great in my opinion. Thank you for the update, really looking forward to SM3, I can't wait to combine multisamples with the vector synthesis engine for some Wavestation action.

Bodhisan · Post by **Bodhisan** » Mon Nov 23, 2020 3:29 pm

Looks great - wonderful new features that brings it up to date. I just had a crash on Mojave. First layer was simple FM with a sequencer on the modulation; when I added the second layer and tried to modulate the cutoff with an LFO, it crashed when I selected the synch button.

Edited: It crashes each time I try - whether the playback head is moving or not.

sinkmusic · Post by **sinkmusic** » Mon Nov 23, 2020 3:34 pm

Excellent update, thank you Bulent!

Teksonik · Post by **Teksonik** » Mon Nov 23, 2020 5:54 pm

It's great to see a new version of SM 2 so thanks !

But those skins are really awful to my eye and normally I'm a huge fan of satYatune's work.

The older skins seem to be broken with red lines over the GUI:

SM 2-01.png

And the Blue version still has elements of the green skin but it's been that way for a long time:

SM 2-02.png

kv331 · Post by **kv331** » Mon Nov 23, 2020 6:07 pm

@Teksonik, as I wrote above, older skins WON'T be supported anymore. Especially those red dot issues. I can NOT fix them.

Thank you.

Teksonik · Post by **Teksonik** » Mon Nov 23, 2020 6:23 pm

Sorry I missed that part of your post. So are they still installed with the latest Beta or are they just left over from old installs ?

But that doesn't address the new skins. Like I said I'm normally a huge fan of satYatune's work and have helped him with testing skins for other plugins but his color choices for the news skins are baffling.

kv331 · Post by **kv331** » Mon Nov 23, 2020 6:52 pm

Teksonik wrote: Mon Nov 23, 2020 6:23 pm Sorry I missed that part of your post. So are they still installed with the latest Beta or are they just left over from old installs ?

Yes those older skins are installed and they are updated to reflect the latest changes, but those red dot issues. I can NOT fix them.

Whywhy · Post by **Whywhy** » Mon Nov 23, 2020 6:56 pm

Superb update Bulent, thanks,
Can't wait for v3 !

lolilol1975 · Post by **lolilol1975** » Mon Nov 23, 2020 6:58 pm

Hi, just here to say that SM 2.9.8 is for me the best and most stable ever and I would gladly stay with that one for another decade.

But I'm also glad to hear that you're still improving on something that is already pretty polished and more powerful than I ever dreamed.
One small convenience I've been waiting for years though in the browser, is dynamic update of the search list as you type. You shouldn't have to click on the search button, you should see the results list update on the fly while you type, just like is the case on many softwares now.

kv331 · Post by **kv331** » Mon Nov 23, 2020 7:20 pm

lolilol1975 wrote: Mon Nov 23, 2020 6:58 pm One small convenience I've been waiting for years though in the browser, is dynamic update of the search list as you type. You shouldn't have to click on the search button, you should see the results list update on the fly while you type, just like is the case on many softwares now.

Noted. Let me see if I can implement that.

SynthMaster v2.9.9 RC (Rev 10237) released: NOT a minor update though! ;)