Post by twwphilippi on Jul 29, 2007 18:42:33 GMT
We've been discussing ways to program a synthesizer --
particularly the Fusion -- to better emulate guitars.
The first two lessons were applicable to both acoustic
and electric guitars. This lesson originates more on the
electric side, although the principals can be used for
anything -- acoustic guitars, pianos, organs, whatever.
Our goal is to make the synthesizer as expressive and
personal as a guitar, emulating as many of the guitarist's
own tools as we can, and then playing using similar (or
at least analogous) techniques.
Here's another of 'em.
On an electric guitar, there are typically multiple
magnetic pickups. The pickup architecture (e.g.,
single coil, double coil hum-bucking) and location
(closer to or farther from the bridge, closer to
or farther from the strings) are as important to the
guitar's tone as body cavity or string gauge. Many
guitarists intentionally install pickups meant for
different guitars, so they can switch characteristic
sounds without changing instruments. A switch on the
body of the guitar lets the player select different pickup
configurations -- in effect, to rewire his guitar.
We can exercise a similar option using the latching
switches S1 and S2.
Let's say you have decided to build a catch-all electric
guitar patch, and that you want to emulate multiple
pickup positions (or configurations, or heck, different
guitars). A nice starting point would be to use
"Double Coil Clean Guitar" (Guitar sample 59) for
oscillator 1, "Single Coil Position 2 Gtr" (63) for
oscillator 2, and "Big Body Electric" (50) for
oscillator 3. For brevity's sake, we'll call them Dark,
Bright, and Twangy.
Since we don't want all the guitars playing all the time,
let's set up the S1 and S2 switches to select between
them.
First, set up a default: Set Osc Volume for Osc 1
at 100%, and set the other two at 0%.
Now, let's designate S1 to replace Osc 1 with Osc 2.
To take out Osc 1, add this modulation routing (we'll
call it "A" so we can refer back to it):
Source: Controller
Index: Switch S1
Destination: Osc Volume
Index: Osc 1
Type: Additive
Amount: -100%.
We'll be adding four more similar modulation routings.
(B) To bring in Osc 2: Same as A except Index Osc 2,
Amount +100%.
Goody -- we've now got two "switch" positions on our
electric guitar. Let's add a third position.
To replace Osc 1 (or 2) with Osc 3:
(C) Same as A, except Index: Switch S2.
(D) Same as A, except Index: Switch S2, Index: Osc 2.
(E) Same as A, except Index: Switch S2, Index: Osc 3, Amount: +100%.
End result: Neither S-switch on, Dark guitar. S1 on,
Bright guitar. S2 on, Twangy. Twangy takes priority
over Bright.
-Tom Williams
particularly the Fusion -- to better emulate guitars.
The first two lessons were applicable to both acoustic
and electric guitars. This lesson originates more on the
electric side, although the principals can be used for
anything -- acoustic guitars, pianos, organs, whatever.
Our goal is to make the synthesizer as expressive and
personal as a guitar, emulating as many of the guitarist's
own tools as we can, and then playing using similar (or
at least analogous) techniques.
Here's another of 'em.
On an electric guitar, there are typically multiple
magnetic pickups. The pickup architecture (e.g.,
single coil, double coil hum-bucking) and location
(closer to or farther from the bridge, closer to
or farther from the strings) are as important to the
guitar's tone as body cavity or string gauge. Many
guitarists intentionally install pickups meant for
different guitars, so they can switch characteristic
sounds without changing instruments. A switch on the
body of the guitar lets the player select different pickup
configurations -- in effect, to rewire his guitar.
We can exercise a similar option using the latching
switches S1 and S2.
Let's say you have decided to build a catch-all electric
guitar patch, and that you want to emulate multiple
pickup positions (or configurations, or heck, different
guitars). A nice starting point would be to use
"Double Coil Clean Guitar" (Guitar sample 59) for
oscillator 1, "Single Coil Position 2 Gtr" (63) for
oscillator 2, and "Big Body Electric" (50) for
oscillator 3. For brevity's sake, we'll call them Dark,
Bright, and Twangy.
Since we don't want all the guitars playing all the time,
let's set up the S1 and S2 switches to select between
them.
First, set up a default: Set Osc Volume for Osc 1
at 100%, and set the other two at 0%.
Now, let's designate S1 to replace Osc 1 with Osc 2.
To take out Osc 1, add this modulation routing (we'll
call it "A" so we can refer back to it):
Source: Controller
Index: Switch S1
Destination: Osc Volume
Index: Osc 1
Type: Additive
Amount: -100%.
We'll be adding four more similar modulation routings.
(B) To bring in Osc 2: Same as A except Index Osc 2,
Amount +100%.
Goody -- we've now got two "switch" positions on our
electric guitar. Let's add a third position.
To replace Osc 1 (or 2) with Osc 3:
(C) Same as A, except Index: Switch S2.
(D) Same as A, except Index: Switch S2, Index: Osc 2.
(E) Same as A, except Index: Switch S2, Index: Osc 3, Amount: +100%.
End result: Neither S-switch on, Dark guitar. S1 on,
Bright guitar. S2 on, Twangy. Twangy takes priority
over Bright.
-Tom Williams