Now that I hear that this device is designed for YOUR needs and prefs, and not specifically to satisfy some grand Melda design philosophy for where MSF needs to go, I feel a bit foolish having responded as if that were so!
This time the idea behind your project makes perfect sense.
MSF is indeed a grand synth mega-store, where we both love to shop, but are perhaps rarely to be found in the same aisles:)
WIP MSF "Lead maker" device
-
- KVRAF
- 2702 posts since 9 Jul, 2015 from UK
Hey, Chandler here are some things I noticed after taking a quick look at the device you asked for feedback with. Please don't take it too negatively as I like things about it but have not listed those things below, I have only listed the things I'd change, so it may come across as a big list of negativity. Also, I only checked out the Synth panel and not the FX. Hope some of this will be helpful 
1. "Release" has a range too big. This means when using the randomization it will often spit out unusable results. I would prefer a range that is common for a lead sound.
2. "Osc1/OSC2 Mix" is quite a long title. It could be nicer to have it named "OSC MIx" and then the values as "50%A/50%B" (using bank names with percentages)
3. The 2 pitch parameters need to be center origin, also so does "Volume" (which would be better named "Gain").
4. I'd like to see more wave shapes.
5. There is a better way to bypass/enable things when the value is zero. Currently, you are using the transformation shape but this uses more resources than simply setting the value/max value up correctly. Let's say you are enabling the "Analog" panel with the "Analog drift" MP. You would set the max value to "On" and the value to roughly half (50%) then roll the mouse wheel to that it just becomes "Off".
6. I like randomize title switches for each panel, this can make creating new sounds really fast.
7. Green is usually associated with filter and EQ in Melda. So I would make that panel green (then make OSC1 red and change the main to grey)
8. Filter "Frequency" parameter has an overly confusing display value. I would simply display a percentage here. Even experienced users will not find "37.50%, max +6.00 oct" very useful and will just confuse the less experienced.
9. The title switch for "24 db LP" is not completely obvious. I assume the when it is not selected the filter is 12dB per octave? (I didn't check) Maybe a selector would be better here with a few more choices like 6,12,24,36 and 48.
10. Again with the large range in the filter envelope. I would choose a min and max value for attack and release that sound good. This way the user can quickly try different values that all sound good (will also work well with the global randomizer) currently most of the range is unusable.
11. Watch out for the capitalization of words eg. "main" panel and "synth" tab. If you have capital only in the settings it can make you easily miss these.
1. "Release" has a range too big. This means when using the randomization it will often spit out unusable results. I would prefer a range that is common for a lead sound.
2. "Osc1/OSC2 Mix" is quite a long title. It could be nicer to have it named "OSC MIx" and then the values as "50%A/50%B" (using bank names with percentages)
3. The 2 pitch parameters need to be center origin, also so does "Volume" (which would be better named "Gain").
4. I'd like to see more wave shapes.
5. There is a better way to bypass/enable things when the value is zero. Currently, you are using the transformation shape but this uses more resources than simply setting the value/max value up correctly. Let's say you are enabling the "Analog" panel with the "Analog drift" MP. You would set the max value to "On" and the value to roughly half (50%) then roll the mouse wheel to that it just becomes "Off".
6. I like randomize title switches for each panel, this can make creating new sounds really fast.
7. Green is usually associated with filter and EQ in Melda. So I would make that panel green (then make OSC1 red and change the main to grey)
8. Filter "Frequency" parameter has an overly confusing display value. I would simply display a percentage here. Even experienced users will not find "37.50%, max +6.00 oct" very useful and will just confuse the less experienced.
9. The title switch for "24 db LP" is not completely obvious. I assume the when it is not selected the filter is 12dB per octave? (I didn't check) Maybe a selector would be better here with a few more choices like 6,12,24,36 and 48.
10. Again with the large range in the filter envelope. I would choose a min and max value for attack and release that sound good. This way the user can quickly try different values that all sound good (will also work well with the global randomizer) currently most of the range is unusable.
11. Watch out for the capitalization of words eg. "main" panel and "synth" tab. If you have capital only in the settings it can make you easily miss these.
Jason @ Melda Production
-
- KVRist
- 307 posts since 18 May, 2020
Thanks for the explanation!
Had a closer look on MMKeys - I didn't expect it was possible to spring so much sound out of those string modules - nice
Indeed, if you want to have a synth strictly for leads, then it makes sense to reduce the ranges to the core. Very useful hint!jmg8 wrote: Wed Jun 03, 2020 12:04 pm 10. Again with the large range in the filter envelope. I would choose a min and max value for attack and release that sound good. This way the user can quickly try different values that all sound good (will also work well with the global randomizer) currently most of the range is unusable.
Last chance
-
Chandlerhimself Chandlerhimself https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=318799
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 1822 posts since 19 Dec, 2013 from Japan
-
- KVRAF
- 2483 posts since 22 Sep, 2016
If you need some inspriation for how to make leading edge leads, check out this video. Mirko Ruta, famous patch designer for Parawave Rapid and VPS Avenger shows how he does a absolutely hilarious lead in about 10 minutes.
I think the ingredients are all there in MSF. Who can come closest to Mirkos results?
But it shows one thing - Where Mirko uses switches, buttons, levers and drop downs to select filtertypes, algorithms we in MSF drop modules and wire them. I really don't know how to "rebuild" the Rapid Architecture and put it under the hoods of an "Easy Gui"... That's to complicated imho. And if you start to simplify then I bet things are missing on the GUI and people would ask to get access to the Edit screen.
I think the ingredients are all there in MSF. Who can come closest to Mirkos results?
But it shows one thing - Where Mirko uses switches, buttons, levers and drop downs to select filtertypes, algorithms we in MSF drop modules and wire them. I really don't know how to "rebuild" the Rapid Architecture and put it under the hoods of an "Easy Gui"... That's to complicated imho. And if you start to simplify then I bet things are missing on the GUI and people would ask to get access to the Edit screen.
-
Chandlerhimself Chandlerhimself https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=318799
- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 1822 posts since 19 Dec, 2013 from Japan
Peter - thanks for the video. I like that sound a lot. The device I'm making now won't be able to make those sounds, but perhaps I'll make another device specifically for leads like that. Thanks for the inspiration.
My Youtube page https://www.youtube.com/user/GuitarChandler