I was invited
to participate in the Roland Fantom #444xchallenge
and here is my video.
I exploited the incredible flexibility of the
Zen-core synthesis engine for the rhythm base: 8
layers / 30 partial to simulate a wavesequence,
inspired by Korg (the samples are all ROM samples of
the Zen-Core synthesis) plus an acoustic drum kit .
The 4 models were used for everything else, melody
included: a total of 13 zones running without any
timing or polyphony problem.
Here the link
of the scene that contains sounds and sequences: who
owns a Fantom can freely download and use it.
...e here ...DoctorMix jams with me...!!
February 2021
Wavetable and Wave Sequences Synthesis with Roland Fantom
.... work in progress
(Part 2)
Tests continue
regarding the possibility of implementing, through
the Zen-Core synthesis of Fantom, some Tones that
simulate wavetable and wavesequence synthesis
oscillators.
To verify the real functionality of the
wavesequences, I tried to implement what
“historically” is considered the most famous: it is
the classic Korg Wavestation SkiJam preset.
This wavesequence is created as a chain of 30
samples, which follow one another at regular
intervals, with the exception of the first and
sample N.16 which have double duration.
The overall duration of the sequence, with Tempo =
140.52 bpm, is approximately 6.5 sec: each slot has
a duration of approximately 213 ms.
The method I used in Fantom was to create 8 Z-Core
Tones, each consisting of 3 or 4 partial, with
increasing delay values of the trigger of the
sound, implemented through the parameter Z-core
Delay Time (0-1023 ).
The sequence is activated within a scene thanks to
the fact that the Tones are layered.
To choose the correct values of Z-Core Delay Time,
which obviously cannot be entered by trial and
error, I used a table that I compiled that
associates the corresponding value in ms to each
Z-Core Delay Time value (0-1023).
Fantom as the delay increases in ms "offers"
corresponding values that are less and less
precise: this inaccuracy is below 10 ms for delays
up to about 3 seconds and reaches an approximation
of 20 ms in the case of the maximum delay which is
equal at 6.7 seconds.
For this reason, wanting precise timing, I chose to
split the wavesequence into two layers of 4 tones
each: to make the entire sequence play, two notes
must therefore be played: the first that triggers
the samples (1-15) and the second, one octave
higher, which triggers subsequent samples (16-30).
The 17 samples used were sampled from the VST
version of the Korg Wavestation.
A summary table follows.
The purpose of the test was to verify Fantom's
ability to execute sequences without timing and
polyphony problems.
The result is incredibly positive: I created a short
song directly inside Fantom and without any problem
you can play the wavesequences, chords, bass and
drums without any polyphony and timing problems.
As you can guess, the ultimate goal is not to clone
Korg's wavesequences, which was a pleasant fun, but
to exploit such potential of the Fantom, to create
sounds apparently reserved for other synths, such as
the recent Korg Wavestate.
A video with a short demo follows.
January 2021
Wavetable and Wave Sequences Synthesis with Roland Fantom
.... work in progress
With Fantom, thanks to the Zen-Core synthesis
structure and the possibility of using up to 16x4
OSC-> Filter-> Amp synthesis chains within a single
scene, it is possible to create sounds that are
typical of synthesizers with Wavetable oscillators
and WaveSequence.
The methods I used are very similar to those
described for Montage and Modx, with a number of
differences deriving from the synthesis structure
which is obviously different.
The basic principle is to consider Wavesequences and
Wavetables as a sum of individual sounds having a
precise delay for triggering the sound and an
envelope modeled ad hoc and capable of possibly
creating crossfades between successive samples.
The samples in the case of wavetables tend to be
"single cycle wave" created through external
software and loaded as user samples: it is also
possible to use the samples resident in ROM, which
allows to use the same synthesis techniques for
other ZEN-Core synths such as Jupiter -X / XM and AX
Edge.
As an example, the "table" that creates the
"synthesizer" sound is created by means of the
3-tone layer that with 11 partials create the
phrase: Synt-esai-ser
In the future I
will insert some insights with useful tables to
automatically calculate the various parameters to be
set, such as the correspondence between each of the
numerical values (0-1023) of Delay Time in the
corresponding ms (0-6700 ms).
