H-man.
ZynewaveNucleum 0.25 uploaded. The plugin can now be downloaded from the download topic in this forum. The link in the VIP Lounge is removed.
Changes:
ADR dials show actual time instead of 0 to 1 value.
Increased resolution of the dial bitmaps.
Added “filter1 env” and “filter2 env” to the source menu in the modulation matrix. The filter envelopes are still hardwired to the filter cutoff, but you can now use the envelope to control other parameters. It’s essentially a generic envelope modulator if the filter is set to bypass.
Added “bus1” and “bus2” to the source and target menus in the matrix. The target menu also has “bus1 multiplier” and “bus2 multiplier”. This allows e.g. routing an LFO into a bus and linking a filter env to the bus multiplier, so that the env shapes the LFO depth.
Per Lichtman0.25 improved quite a bit over 0.24. Thanks Frits!
The ability to route the filter envelopes to other modulation destination made a big difference in the ability to create swells and other interesting presets and showing the actual time value on ADR dials helps a lot too. Would it be possible to extend the maximum ADR times (say to 20 seconds or at least to 10) without losing the recently acquired detail in the early part of the knob? If not, no worries: they are already much more fun. 🙂 It also made reminded me of something that I had forgotten to mention last time.
-Master Level (Volume) ADSR: I know, there are already several envelopes but here is an issue as I see it. If I am going to tweak the release times of the different oscillators to use them to change the sound of the release, then sometimes I need to have them be longer than the length of the sound itself. If I use them with such long release times while playing a pad right now, then all voices are rapidly eaten up. Also, I can tell you from my early experience with synths that having a master ADSR makes it much easier to design your first patch if you are a newbie, even if you aren’t worrying about the complexities I mentioned. Depending on what is easiest to deal with, it might also be made to only attenuate relative to the current level position just so that the level won’t blast your ears if something goes wrong in the modulation, but that really isn’t necessary.
Sorry for not responding more quickly. We had a very long day at the studio and I wasn’t home until midnight. As far as the chorus, is the pre-delay currently in ms? If so, labeling it would be helpful. Ditto for LFO 1 and 2 speed and the rate on chorus.
Omitting the SM reverb was a very good call from my standpoint. If you read any issue of Computer Music Magazine, they often go on about how they are frustrated by how drenched in FX a lot of presets are (and reverb seems to be the main culprit). Not to mention the fact that SM reverb really isn’t up to quality of other reverbs that almost any user should have in their collection. I haven’t used the reverb that you designed yet, but I have heard very good things about it from others so I am glad that you care about the quality of the fx in the synth.
In terms of pad sounds, what would help a lot (given the fact that you already helped a lot with the last update) would really be if you could set a panning dial below each of the oscillators for filter 1 and 2 so that the oscillators could be panned right before they hit each filter. That’s assuming that each filter has a stereo input. If each filter has a mono input, I suppose that the best that could be done would be to pan the output of each of the mono filters. Right now, Nucleum is really starting to gain strength in creating the timbral evolution of a pad or atmosphere but it can’t create the space of one (at least not without external effects).
In terms of CPU, presently Nucelum is in an reasonable range for most of the patches I’ve come up with and certainly fine against most other SE or SM synths, but not as light as others I’ve worked with. For an FM comparison, on my P4 3.2GHz system, when Toxic III or Linplug Octopus and Nucleum are running (with 3 oscillators, delay and chorus) then playing a 10 note chord with Toxic III and Octopus peak 22-23% CPU and Nucleum peaks at 31%. CPU performance with CS-80v on several patches was similar to that of of Toxic III and Octopus. Vanguard peaked around 19%. Hope that helps give some sense, though I would hope that you aren’t spending to much effort trying to get CPU usage optimized on your first synth. 🙂
I’ve got a few more thoughts but I’ve got to get to a guitar clinic with Kerry King, the guitarist from Slayer. Cheers on the improvements!
rinxaiI have uploaded a bank of 68 presets for Nucleum here.
It is a work in progress, with a full bank of 128 presets to be released as Nucleum progresses.
Many of the presets are best heard by playing and holding notes on a keyboard, since they evolve and change over time….
Imo, Nucleum is a promising generator, with good potential for sculpting impressive and usable sounds.
Performance needs to be optimized, although already improved, especially loading time.
More features I would like to see are lower speed capability for LFOs, and lag/delay for LFO start time, and host sync for LFO and Delay effect.
More waveforms, vintage squares and saws. Ideally would like the option to use external waveforms.
Cheers..
🙂
Per Lichtman@rinxai wrote:
I have uploaded a bank of 68 presets for Nucleum here.
It is a work in progress, with a full bank of 128 presets to be released as Nucleum progresses.
Many of the presets are best heard by playing and holding notes on a keyboard, since they evolve and change over time….
Imo, Nucleum is a promising generator, with good potential for sculpting impressive and usable sounds.
Performance needs to be optimized, although already improved, especially loading time.
More features I would like to see are lower speed capability for LFOs, and lag/delay for LFO start time, and host sync for LFO and Delay effect.
More waveforms, vintage squares and saws. Ideally would like the option to use external waveforms.
Cheers..
🙂
Nice presets rinxai! And I also agree with all the feedback on the synth itself, save for the fact that I’m still not convinced that the delay should stay without a significant overhaul. I tried using even the free Kjaerhaus Chorus and Delay instead of the ones included in the synth and found the results to be much better. But then, they can’t be saved with the patches…
rinxai, I really enjoyed listening to the presets (especially Organico 2 and Percussive Synth 2) and figured I’d mention my top 10 to help give other users a starting point for sampling them. 🙂
rxi Bass Synth 5
rxi stringthingy1
rxi Brassugar 2
rxi random Pad 2
rxi Gathering 2
rxi synth delta
rxi Organico 2
rxi Percussive Synth 2
rxi Plukbot 2
rxi Plukbot 4
Also, as one preset developer to another, I’d mention that if you have the time (and inclination), there were 2 details that seemed like they could be enhanced: volume consistency between patches and the extent of user control over the sound with MIDI CCs.
corazonHello.
Sampletank and Synth1 have various options to change colors and hue of various gui elements, does anyone know if Synthmaker supports anything
like this? I like the layout, colours are OK, but options are good things 🙂
Keep up this new hobby, you are at it! 8)
corazon@rinxai wrote:
I have uploaded a bank of 68 presets for Nucleum here.
It is a work in progress, with a full bank of 128 presets to be released as Nucleum progresses.
Many of the presets are best heard by playing and holding notes on a keyboard, since they evolve and change over time….
Imo, Nucleum is a promising generator, with good potential for sculpting impressive and usable sounds.
Performance needs to be optimized, although already improved, especially loading time.
More features I would like to see are lower speed capability for LFOs, and lag/delay for LFO start time, and host sync for LFO and Delay effect.
More waveforms, vintage squares and saws. Ideally would like the option to use external waveforms.
Cheers..
🙂
Wow, just find the synth, and KAPOW!!! presets 😀 Thankyou, will now enjoy testing
Zynewave@rinxai wrote:
I have uploaded a bank of 68 presets for Nucleum here.
That’s an excellent set of presets. Thanks.
More features I would like to see are lower speed capability for LFOs, and lag/delay for LFO start time, and host sync for LFO and Delay effect.
I have changed the LFO speed dial to an exponential scaling so that the low frequency resolution is increased.
Adding lag/delay to the LFO will require two additional dials, and I’m running out of space for new parameters. Couldn’t you achieve what you want by using a filter envelope with a slow attack to modulate the LFO?
rinxai@Per Lichtman – thanks for the comments. I do try keep the preset volume consistent, and will keep tweaking the bank till all is even. It seems somewhat tricky to control and maintain peak volume when searching for sweet spots on the FM dials..,
@ Frits – thanks for the changes, will check it out. Actually, I’m still figuring out the intricacies of Nucleum, and it is probably possible that your suggestion will work, I just need to dig in there a bit more, so no worries about adding features. Maybe Nucleum 2, way down the road, can address some extras.
Also, is there a way for me to upload the bank to Zynewave, I would like to maintain a single file, rather than uploaded multiple versions. And please go ahead and include these presets as part of the default bank if you wish.
Next, hoping to get some good drum sounds out of Nucleum….
rxi
Zynewave@rinxai wrote:
@ Frits – thanks for the changes, will check it out.
I haven’t released 0.26 yet.
Also, is there a way for me to upload the bank to Zynewave, I would like to maintain a single file, rather than uploaded multiple versions.
You can upload it to the wiki. Eventually I’ll create a wiki page for Nucleum, with a preset file library. Until then you can create your own rinxai page under user pages, and upload your file there.
rinxaiyou can create your own rinxai page under user pages, and upload your file there.
Thanks, will do. 🙂
rinxaiDang it, I noticed I’m still using v0.24, and have just tried v0.25. Indeed, quite a big difference in the response of the LFOs, also the additional mod sources and targets increase the scope for sound design. Sounds much better.
Gonna have to retweak eveything yet again… 😉
Would it be possible to include effects parameters as mod targets as well?
Cheers
🙂
ZynewaveVersion 0.26 is uploaded. The dials for LFO speed now use an exponential scale, which allows finer adjustment of low frequencies. This means that you need to adjust the speeds in presets you’ve created with older versions. The default bank now includes the presets runagate created, and I’ve adjusted these to the new LFO speed scaling.
runagate@Zynewave wrote:
Version 0.26 is uploaded. The dials for LFO speed now use an exponential scale, which allows finer adjustment of low frequencies. This means that you need to adjust the speeds in presets you’ve created with older versions. The default bank now includes the presets runagate created, and I’ve adjusted these to the new LFO speed scaling.
Very, very cool.
You just made me realize a very important difference in a plug-in I was working on – I was using DCAs instead of VCAs, and switched them at some points, in a morphing modulation matrix… thanks for the synth and thanks for the eureka!
Zynewave@Per Lichtman wrote:
Would it be possible to extend the maximum ADR times (say to 20 seconds or at least to 10) without losing the recently acquired detail in the early part of the knob?
I can’t make this change without affecting all existing presets, so I think I prefer to let it stay at 8 seconds max.
-Master Level (Volume) ADSR: I know, there are already several envelopes but here is an issue as I see it. If I am going to tweak the release times of the different oscillators to use them to change the sound of the release, then sometimes I need to have them be longer than the length of the sound itself. If I use them with such long release times while playing a pad right now, then all voices are rapidly eaten up. Also, I can tell you from my early experience with synths that having a master ADSR makes it much easier to design your first patch if you are a newbie, even if you aren’t worrying about the complexities I mentioned. Depending on what is easiest to deal with, it might also be made to only attenuate relative to the current level position just so that the level won’t blast your ears if something goes wrong in the modulation, but that really isn’t necessary.
I assume you mean the case where you use an osc as a pure modulator, and set the release to longer than the actual sound output. I see your point, but it would require a rework of the synth design to fit in an extra amp envelope. One of the challenges I set myself with this synth was to find a ballance between flexibility and using as few parameters as possible.
As far as the chorus, is the pre-delay currently in ms? If so, labeling it would be helpful. Ditto for LFO 1 and 2 speed and the rate on chorus.
I’ve added real value readouts in v0.26. The chorus effect is the default component that comes with SM. I had a look in the chorus code and it turns out the values for delay and depth were in “samples”. The equivalent ms times are less than 5 ms, which is way too low for a proper chorus. I’ll spend some time improving the chorus in the coming days.
In terms of pad sounds, what would help a lot (given the fact that you already helped a lot with the last update) would really be if you could set a panning dial below each of the oscillators for filter 1 and 2 so that the oscillators could be panned right before they hit each filter. That’s assuming that each filter has a stereo input. If each filter has a mono input, I suppose that the best that could be done would be to pan the output of each of the mono filters. Right now, Nucleum is really starting to gain strength in creating the timbral evolution of a pad or atmosphere but it can’t create the space of one (at least not without external effects).
The filters are mono, but I could add two panners for the two filter outputs. Those should of course be modulatable as well. From one of your previous recommendations, I was considering removing the delay, and add the two panner dials instead. But I see that a lot of the user-made presets are already using the delay, so I’m afraid we’re stuck with the delay. I’ll look at ways to improve the delay later on.
Zynewave@corazon wrote:
Hello.
Sampletank and Synth1 have various options to change colors and hue of various gui elements, does anyone know if Synthmaker supports anything
like this? I like the layout, colours are OK, but options are good things 🙂
Keep up this new hobby, you are at it! 8)
With a bit of coding, you can do those things in SM. I don’t intend to put this into Nucleum though. The colored dials requires a dark background to stand out.