KVR Audio

Ap0C552 · Post by **Ap0C552** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 6:51 pm

I am trying out rapture synth. I read that it was a wavetable synth, and this is why I want to try it out.

But it seems to me like it is nothing more than a bunch of separate waves that are layered together with no relation or interaction with one another.

I was under the impression that wavetable synth had progressively different waveforms that you cycled though to get a changing unique sound. Am I missing something here?

GeorgK · Post by **GeorgK** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 7:02 pm

Wavetable: Lookup tables for digitally generated waveforms (e.g. Rapture)
Wavescanning: Scanning/cycling through different digital waveforms (e.g. Massive)

However, there is constant confusion about those terms, and I would not rely on any of them when reading the description of a synth.

Georg

Ap0C552 · Post by **Ap0C552** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 7:11 pm

So I was confusing wavescanning with wavetable? So what actually defines what wavetable synth is?

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 7:17 pm

Using samples of single-cycle waveforms as oscillators, basically.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavetable# ... _synthesis

aquar · Post by **aquar** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:03 pm

Ap0C552 wrote:I am trying out rapture synth. I read that it was a wavetable synth, and this is why I want to try it out.

But it seems to me like it is nothing more than a bunch of separate waves that are layered together with no relation or interaction with one another.

I was under the impression that wavetable synth had progressively different waveforms that you cycled though to get a changing unique sound. Am I missing something here?

Rapture does do wavetable.
For example it has 6 elements each of which can have a different single cycle wave.
You'd have to employ the amp modulator (step generator) and setup some values to cycle through the waves.
Its not a very intuitive method but it does work by essentially modulating the volume for each wave through the step generator.
I think its limited to six waves though.

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:05 pm

It's completely unintuitive method for wavescanning... And limited to six waves. That's why there are dedicated wavetable/wavescanning synths out there. Rapture is not one of them.

zerocrossing · Post by **zerocrossing** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:17 pm

Ap0C552 wrote:...progressively different waveforms that you cycled though to get a changing unique sound...

You should probably start at the beginning.

http://www.korg.com/LegacyWAVESTATION

xoxos · Post by **xoxos** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:18 pm

what is being called "wavescanning" in this thread has had several names, eg. "transwaves" in ensoniq products. it has frequently been called "wavetable synthesis" in the past and given the diverse origins and practices of synthesis methods, i don't think wikipedia or anyone can authoritatively indicate what the "correct" name for a method is, only the convention, insofar as one exists.

if there is a decisive convention today, it hasn't existed for more than a decade.

Lotuzia · Post by **Lotuzia** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 8:41 pm

xoxos wrote:what is being called "wavescanning" in this thread has had several names, eg. "transwaves" in ensoniq products. it has frequently been called "wavetable synthesis" in the past and given the diverse origins and practices of synthesis methods, i don't think wikipedia or anyone can authoritatively indicate what the "correct" name for a method is, only the convention, insofar as one exists.

if there is a decisive convention today, it hasn't existed for more than a decade.

Simple +1 : My SQ-80 has transwaves

Gone soft · Post by **Gone soft** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 9:30 pm

As far as I know the term "wavetable" was first used to describe what goes on in the digital oscillators of the PPG "The Wave" which hit the market in 1980. Calling Korgs Wavestation from 1990 the beginning thus makes no sense - they didn't even call it wavetable. The Wavestation was all about "wave sequencing" which though it seems highly inspired by wavetable synthesis is a bit of a different beast with it's own strengths and weaknesses. I haven't actually touched any of these synths, I've only read about them and had a look at the software versions so sorry if I should be regurgitating any misinformation though I've tried to make sure not to. Anyway, I'd say it's at the very least a bit misleading to call what Rapture does "wavetable", I for one feel ripped off (even though it was just a bonus in the Black Friday triple package for me).

Perhaps one of the Vaz synths (available as a full blown modular or a simpler semi-modular one or an even simpler one if you prefer for very reasonable prices @ http://www.vaz-synths.com, the demos are fully functional for 20 minutes after which you will be offered to save the patch upon exiting for later use should you ever decide to make a purchase)
or
Surge from Vember Audio (http://vemberaudio.se/surge.php, manual @ http://vemberaudio.se/download/surge.pdf) could be something to consider?

"A wavetable in SURGE consists of up to 1024 single-cycle waveforms" (from the manual) and I know at least the same goes for the Vaz synths even though I seldom use more than 64 primitive ones "homemade" with assorted free software.

Ap0C552 · Post by **Ap0C552** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 9:56 pm

Rapture does do wavetable.
For example it has 6 elements each of which can have a different single cycle wave.
You'd have to employ the amp modulator (step generator) and setup some values to cycle through the waves.
Its not a very intuitive method but it does work by essentially modulating the volume for each wave through the step generator.
I think its limited to six waves though.

A. Does anyone know of a tutorial on doing this? The provided documentation stinks.

B. Are there any better dedicated wavetable synths out there?

Sendy · Post by **Sendy** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:00 pm

Ap0C552 wrote:
Rapture does do wavetable.
For example it has 6 elements each of which can have a different single cycle wave.
You'd have to employ the amp modulator (step generator) and setup some values to cycle through the waves.
Its not a very intuitive method but it does work by essentially modulating the volume for each wave through the step generator.
I think its limited to six waves though.
A. Does anyone know of a tutorial on doing this? The provided documentation stinks.

B. Are there any better dedicated wavetable synths out there?

Zebra2 and Helix. And these actually morph waveforms rather than crossfading.

There's also the old classic ConcreteFX Kubik!

Ap0C552 · Post by **Ap0C552** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:10 pm

Are you referring to Zebralette? Or does Zebra2 also morph waveforms?

Bronto Scorpio · Post by **Bronto Scorpio** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:12 pm

Ap0C552 wrote:Are you referring to Zebralette? Or does Zebra2 also morph waveforms?

Zebralette is a single oscillator + some other stuff from Zebra. It's basically a small version of Zebra.

Cheers
Dennis

EvilDragon · Post by **EvilDragon** » Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:53 pm

There's also Waldorf PPG Wave V.2 and V.3, Largo, Massive...

Am I confused about wavetable