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

[AdmiralQuality]

What about the VCF envelope input? It could be that I'm remembering.

I'm quite sure on this. But without a JX-8P handy I can't demonstrate it and when I tried to reproduce it with PG-8X I couldn't.

You do hear some discontinuity, a short zapping of the filter.

You are correct that the PG-8X currently does not do that. I just noticed that I did not LP filter the frequency before sending to the filter. It looks like the hardware has a similar capacitor as for the VCA.

I'd think that would make it "click" more, not less.

Anyway, I wouldn't consider this "feature" to be something you should spend much time trying to emulate, if at all. Arguably it's a bug in the original and whatever you're doing is an improvement.

[martin_l]

I just played a bit with the plugin and found another problem.

Problem: The synth does not respond quickly enough to NoteOn/NoteOff events when sequenced in a host. This results in successive 16th notes being played as one long note. To see what i mean, get the attached archive. You will hear that everything is fine in Poly and Unison modes, but not in Mono mode.

Samplerate and Buffersize do not seem to have an effect on this. With REAPERs pianoroll and PolyGrid in VSTHost the problem is 100% identical. With ERA2 in VSTHost it manifests slightly differently because occasionally the long note is broken and a new note is getting through. Which one is random though. The only other synth i know that has this very same problem is Arturias ARP 2600.


There was something else that seemed a little off balance to me, but i will have to test that again and document it properly. Its related to the CrossMod, where Osc1 would simply fade out to 0 volume when certain parameter constellations are used. I will post the details when i have them.


Archive: https://1fichier.com/remove/t391glmvjg/AfcOH

Somehow, I cannot access this file. Could you, please, PM me with some more details, or attach the file to the mail?

I tried to run fast sequences (up to 1/32 at 120bpm) but could not find any problems.

Cheers,
Martin

[Teksonik]

only updated every 5ms. Hence the slow envelopes and the slightly sloppy timing of the JX8P.

Ahhh would this explain why the Filter envelope seems to be bit slow to "retrigger" ? On patches with LP filter sweeps either up or down it seems like the envelope is not triggering as expected. This may be a "feature" of the hardware but I've never owned this particular Roland model so wouldn't know.....

Here's an updated version of my patches now with 17. I think you can hear it on some of them:

Teksonik PG8X-02

---

[martin_l]

only updated every 5ms. Hence the slow envelopes and the slightly sloppy timing of the JX8P.

Ahhh would this explain why the Filter envelope seems to be bit slow to "retrigger" ? On patches with LP filter sweeps either up or down it seems like the envelope is not triggering as expected. This may be a "feature" of the hardware but I've never owned this particular Roland model so wouldn't know.....

Here's an updated version of my patches now with 17. I think you can hear it on some of them:

Teksonik PG8X-02

---

Is there any particular one where I can hear what you mean?
As I was just saying before, my VCF envelopes should be slightly tighter in timing than the original ones...

[Teksonik]

Is there any particular one where I can hear what you mean?
As I was just saying before, my VCF envelopes should be slightly tighter in timing than the original ones...

I was just going over the patches and I don't seem to be experiencing this as before.......weird. I just remember yesterday as I was creating some patches something was off with the "feel" of the filter envelope. It just seemed slower to respond than the other softsynths I've worked with which range from Alchemy to Z3TA+2.....

I dunno maybe I'm just going nuts............

[martin_l]

I dunno maybe I'm just going nuts............

Don't worry. I am way past that point...

[Teksonik]

Oh and I thought I would mention since both developers are in this thread. Layering PG8X with PolyAna makes for some very nice sounds and lots of fun playing.........

[Teksonik]

Ah Ha.....maybe I've found an answer. Polyphony number is not saved with a patch ? I might have been experiencing voice stealing which would have given me an odd feel when I thought a patch was set to be Poly 12 when it actually reloaded at default Poly 6..........

For example I know I set the poly to 12 for "Padelishus" and re-saved today just to make sure but when you close then reopen PG8X it reverts back to poly 6.....

[AdmiralQuality]

Oh and I thought I would mention since both developers are in this thread. Layering PG8X with PolyAna makes for some very nice sounds and lots of fun playing.........

I bet it does! These Roland synths were a big influence on Poly-Ana's design (as was the Ensoniq ESQ-1 which actually exceeds Poly in number of LFOs and Envelopes) and the sound I was going for, particularly the filters with their hard-clipping resonance. Check out the Poly-Ana preset: "98:POLYSYNTH-Planet-3P". It sounds like the "Planet" preset from the JX-3P.

I am rarely impressed by other products but Martin has certainly impressed me with this plug-in. That's a huge compliment, coming from a bitch like me.

[Teksonik]

[ENV1]

No, the signal does not vanish instantly. The reason for that is, that there is a DC killer (a low frequency high pass filter) between the raw oscillators and the ring modulator.

Alright then.

It just seemed peculiar that it would fade out in that manner even though the higher octaves can be clearly heard for a moment, but if thats how its supposed to be then never mind.

Somehow, I cannot access this file. Could you, please, PM me with some more details, or attach the file to the mail?

Yeah, the file is gone. I had accidentally posted the link that lets you delete the file and some butthead promptly leaped at the opportunity to make sure that you cannot get the files. (Thanks pal, youre a true hero.)


Here it is again: https://1fichier.com/?h9ro9dnojo

[ENV1]

As for the skin; I didnt do much today except for some position corrections and going over those colors again. There are so many images with so many hues/tones/tinges that its hard to tell whats really right so i ultimately decided to sort of take the middle road and go with what i thought was the best compromise.

I also did a first test installing some of the new images into the DLL. Thats when i saw that there will have to be quite a few adaptations on your part (Martin) otherwise it will be difficult to continue. I already mentioned the sliders in the PM, one other thing is the settings and options sections which seem to have realtime generated labeling which i cannot change. What would be optimal at this point was if you could make the plugin read your entire UI layout from a file outside the DLL. That way i could take care of all the interface details myself without bothering you while you are working on the audio side. If this is not possible at this time then it would probably be best to get back to this when you have the time to do intensive work on the UI side. (Which i know is not your priority right now.)


click for fullsize

[martin_l]

No, the signal does not vanish instantly. The reason for that is, that there is a DC killer (a low frequency high pass filter) between the raw oscillators and the ring modulator.

Alright then.

It just seemed peculiar that it would fade out in that manner even though the higher octaves can be clearly heard for a moment, but if thats how its supposed to be then never mind.

I could certainly increase the frequency of that high pass filter to make that fading much faster, and hardly audible, if this is preferred. I don't think it would have any effect on the sound as such, as the frequency right now is 1 Hz and I could easily take it up to 10 Hz. Still below audible, the fading would happen in about 0.1 seconds instead of 1 second.

Yeah, the file is gone. I had accidentally posted the link that lets you delete the file and some butthead promptly leaped at the opportunity to make sure that you cannot get the files. (Thanks pal, youre a true hero.)

Here it is again: https://1fichier.com/?h9ro9dnojo

Thanks for reposting! Got it now. By the way, that butthead was me, in desperate attempt of getting the file...

[EvilDragon]

click for fullsize

Two words only: NAILED IT!


That's the brownish tone of grey I was talking about!

[ENV1]

I could certainly increase the frequency of that high pass filter to make that fading much faster, and hardly audible, if this is preferred. I don't think it would have any effect on the sound as such, as the frequency right now is 1 Hz and I could easily take it up to 10 Hz. Still below audible, the fading would happen in about 0.1 seconds instead of 1 second.

I dont think thats necessary. As long as its functionally correct, why bother.

By the way, that butthead was me, in desperate attempt of getting the file...

I see.

Sorry then, i thought it was some puerile joke of somebody who had nothing better to do.

Two words only: NAILED IT!


That's the brownish tone of grey I was talking about!

Im glad to hear it.

Are the controls too dark or are they about OK too now?