PG8X (inspired by the JX8P): new beta version uploaded

[AdmiralQuality]

No PWM on the JX-8P. (That's a fixed 25% pulse wave.) You can get a lot of PWM like effects by using oscillator sync, though. (And the classic reason for PWM, a cheap detuned sawtooth effect that doesn't require a second oscillator, isn't needed as you can just detune two sawtooths.)

[martin_l]

In fact, the "Pulse" wave form is not even a rectangular pulse wave, but rather a very short spike.

As AdmiralQuality said, you can obtain a PWM sound, by selecting a square on DCO2 and Sync (XMOD=1) it to DCO1. Changing the pitch for DCO2 then acts like a Pulse Width Modulation.

[AdmiralQuality]

Here's a weird one, Martin.

I just put it up on an oscilloscope to take a look at what the "pulse" waveform looks like and I noticed, when PG-8X first instantiates, it produces noise output. (I can't hear it, but I clearly see it in the 'scope.) This stops as soon as I play the first note.

This is with the default INIT patch/bank loaded. Just the simple open filter, single sawtooth sound. Chorus Noise is off. Filter Noise is at the default (mid) position, but of course we shouldn't be hearing a filter as the gates and envelopes should (you'd think) instantiate to a closed state.

Oh wait, it came back! About 30 seconds after the last note ends (regardless of whether VCA is in Env or Gate mode) the noise comes back. It looks rather low frequency and again, I can't readily hear it, but it must be there as it disappears from the 'scope as soon as I bypass or remove PG-8X.

Certainly not a show-stopper, but weird and possibly indicative of another issue?

[lionscub68]

^^ Last I knew, that was intentional.
He also modeled the incredibly loud chorus noise that the original JX8P produced.
In an older version, there was a control to adjust the amount of the noise, if you were feeling nostalgic.
Maybe that's it.

[layzer]

i made a special, lighter "Brushed aluminum" GUI version for PG8X.

my desire was to make all sections aluminum, but some of the control labels on the right hand side
do not have a font color that can be changed via png manipulation. so i just made it 2-toned.
looks kinda cool that way, i think.

I'll release a skin bitmap pack if i get an OK from Martin.

[AdmiralQuality]

^^ Last I knew, that was intentional.
He also modeled the incredibly loud chorus noise that the original JX8P produced.
In an older version, there was a control to adjust the amount of the noise, if you were feeling nostalgic.
Maybe that's it.

I considered that. But how can an active voice REMOVE the self-noise? It should add to it. So the noise shouldn't go away when I play a note, and certainly shouldn't take seconds after all notes have stopped to re-appear.

There's still a control for filter noise. But you can't hear the filters if the VCAs are closed as they are when notes are off and their envelope release stages have run out (or the gate is closed in gate VCA mode).

So for these reasons I doubt this is intentional. But like I said, not a show-stopper. Just strange.

[thecontrolcentre]

New skin looks great Layzer

[AdmiralQuality]

New skin looks great Layzer

But less like the JX-8P and PG-800 programmer that Martin's skin is clearly based on.



I think it looks fine, except for the horrible knobs with an ugly glitch in the graphic that you can clearly see rotate around. Looks like maybe the real knob was photographed then rotated in Photoshop. Somebody should do a new knob filmstrip for Martin.

I wish there was a circular knob-mode too. (And circular relative, though I don't know of any products other than mine that actually implement it.)

And please don't take these criticisms wrong, anybody. I think Martin's done a really great job with this. I've owned a JX-8P before and I think he nailed it. And I would never reject a good sounding plug-in over its looks or interface modes. Just some suggestions.

[lionscub68]

I prefer Martin's simpler interface, more like the PG-800.
It lends more authenticity to the plugin, especially for us that own (or have owned) the JX8P.
Any changes would make it look more amateur-ish.
Just IMO

[AdmiralQuality]

^ Totally agree. (Except for cleaning up the knob filmstrip.)

[layzer]

New skin looks great Layzer

But less like the JX-8P and PG-800 programmer that Martin's skin is clearly based on.

I don't mean to push a change from the original look.
i just have this thing for metal over plastic.
an old fan of


one might say

[AdmiralQuality]

Good Nyborg, man!

[layzer]

Good Nyborg, man!

[ENV1]

For Martin.

(He knows what it is for.)

[martin_l]

^^ Last I knew, that was intentional.
He also modeled the incredibly loud chorus noise that the original JX8P produced.
In an older version, there was a control to adjust the amount of the noise, if you were feeling nostalgic.
Maybe that's it.

I considered that. But how can an active voice REMOVE the self-noise? It should add to it. So the noise shouldn't go away when I play a note, and certainly shouldn't take seconds after all notes have stopped to re-appear.

There's still a control for filter noise. But you can't hear the filters if the VCAs are closed as they are when notes are off and their envelope release stages have run out (or the gate is closed in gate VCA mode).

So for these reasons I doubt this is intentional. But like I said, not a show-stopper. Just strange.

There is a tiny amount of noise I added on top of the filter and chorus noise. This is basically to avoid the denormals. The noise should be at about -120 dB and should always be there (the constant noise floor of the hardware is somewhere around -70, if I remember right).

What is strange, though, is that is seems to disappear when a voice is active. Something is definitely not quite right. I will look at it.

Martin