There used to be a portable hardware VST player called V-Machine. They also made the software itself free. The hardware would probably be considered under-powered for very powerful and modern VSTs today.
Another thing to look at: Zynthian. They make an open-source kit to build such a thing.
Another thing to look at: Zynthian. They make an open-source kit to build such a thing.
Had to go out downtown to fetch this yesterday - glorious weather and for a very cool price so I don't mind at all.
It is a really worthy addition to the Studio.
It is a really worthy addition to the Studio.
Thoughts about DSP Synth and DSP Effects coding keep creeping back since the past two days. I have a fair amount of notes, and some code for Effects already.
Might hunker down with the laptop for the Synthesis side of things this time. The Challenge of proper Digital Emulations of vintage Poly Analogues is an interesting one.
I would love to be able to get the Digital sound indistinguishable from the vintage Poly and thus replace them all, so that's The Challenge.
Nothing better to fight the Supply Chain issues, Component Shortage issues and concomitant price gouging by everyone:
Nothing to order, nothing to drill, no PCB to make, no power supply to design, no soldering, no additional cost: just Brain, hands and the laptop.
Might hunker down with the laptop for the Synthesis side of things this time. The Challenge of proper Digital Emulations of vintage Poly Analogues is an interesting one.
I would love to be able to get the Digital sound indistinguishable from the vintage Poly and thus replace them all, so that's The Challenge.
Nothing better to fight the Supply Chain issues, Component Shortage issues and concomitant price gouging by everyone:
Nothing to order, nothing to drill, no PCB to make, no power supply to design, no soldering, no additional cost: just Brain, hands and the laptop.
Almost forgot about this myself: Grab some legal, free plugins before tomorrow because Native Instruments and others joined forces to create a new org.:
Free plugins before 26th of April
Free plugins before 26th of April
These plugins have a couple of frustrating items to go with them: register to download, some want to fill my HDD several GBs at a time, some had their activation plain not functioning at all and are stuck on trial mode, etc...
Using my hardware or some free software is more reliable.
There's a new video of Behringer's Model 15 today and it looks slick.
Superbooth is on, so there are several videos of new gear around on YT.
Spent most of the past few days cleaning up my notes and assessing my existing code on DSP, coding some new things. Some cool stuff, a few incomplete things, several where the knowledge gap can be felt quite clearly as well: deep subject and if you come in from the outside, there's a barrage of technical terms you have to go through. There's still a lot of work to be done.
The versatility of Digital is amazing. The complex thing ultimately is to get it to sound really good and to do a clever mapping of a set of realtime Controls to all the engine inside with a good display to go with all of this.
Of course, many times, it is easier for me to just head to the Kurzweil and build my DSP chains there in V.A.S.T. and KDFX.
Using my hardware or some free software is more reliable.
There's a new video of Behringer's Model 15 today and it looks slick.
Superbooth is on, so there are several videos of new gear around on YT.
Spent most of the past few days cleaning up my notes and assessing my existing code on DSP, coding some new things. Some cool stuff, a few incomplete things, several where the knowledge gap can be felt quite clearly as well: deep subject and if you come in from the outside, there's a barrage of technical terms you have to go through. There's still a lot of work to be done.
The versatility of Digital is amazing. The complex thing ultimately is to get it to sound really good and to do a clever mapping of a set of realtime Controls to all the engine inside with a good display to go with all of this.
Of course, many times, it is easier for me to just head to the Kurzweil and build my DSP chains there in V.A.S.T. and KDFX.
Another sale at Synthcube has caused one of these (board and panel set only) to fall into my cart. It may take forever to actually finish it due to the great parts shortages occurring today.
https://www.jsisynth.com/progue.html
https://www.jsisynth.com/progue.html
Burnt by the surprise import fee on the last order, I'm doing virtual analogue myself 😀
Distortion is the name of the game. It's quite interesting.
Distortion is the name of the game. It's quite interesting.
Checking out harmonics introduced by a low complexity Digital Distortion:
In Green: original Sine input signal. In Blue, Harmonic Response after distortion.
In Green: original Sine input signal. In Blue, Harmonic Response after distortion.
This stuff and some Eurorack patch cables were in my mailbox this morning. Expected completion date, maybe next year for lack of parts. Microprocessor, yeah I expected that would be hard to find, but I can rip one off of a "Blue Pill" board, but opamps, LDO's and discrete transistors are out of stock until summer of 2023.
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Was looking at a presentation of the Groove Synthesis 3rd Wave synth which sounds brilliant by the way, when the guy interviewed said 'Dave Smith.. passed...'
R.I.P. absolute Legend.
R.I.P. absolute Legend.
Took a little break from working on Sound Sources to do some investigations on really old digital Reverb structures.
First one is from the early 60's, and the second one is end of 70's. At that time, it took that long to improve just the understanding of the macro-structure to include a separate treatment for early reflections and the late ones. Nevertheless, even the 70's one is quite simplistic. It does sound like a Reverb, but it's not claiming to be a great Reverb. The blue highlight shows the early reflections, and the purple section shows the late reflections.
Nowadays, once you have a good set of DSP processing units and good ways to treat them when modulated, it is nearly trivial to explore the solution-space of all Reverbs.
I am not there yet code-wise, but this is something I can easily do with my Kurzweil K2500XS + KDFX - I can even put the old Digitech multi-FX chip in the loop if I want, as well as integrate the Lexicon LXP-15 in the processing loop or the effects in the Alesis Micron.
Bitwig has Grids, which can allow doing the same things with fundamental processing units to build effects, including Reverbs. It looks like they did great.
First one is from the early 60's, and the second one is end of 70's. At that time, it took that long to improve just the understanding of the macro-structure to include a separate treatment for early reflections and the late ones. Nevertheless, even the 70's one is quite simplistic. It does sound like a Reverb, but it's not claiming to be a great Reverb. The blue highlight shows the early reflections, and the purple section shows the late reflections.
Nowadays, once you have a good set of DSP processing units and good ways to treat them when modulated, it is nearly trivial to explore the solution-space of all Reverbs.
I am not there yet code-wise, but this is something I can easily do with my Kurzweil K2500XS + KDFX - I can even put the old Digitech multi-FX chip in the loop if I want, as well as integrate the Lexicon LXP-15 in the processing loop or the effects in the Alesis Micron.
Bitwig has Grids, which can allow doing the same things with fundamental processing units to build effects, including Reverbs. It looks like they did great.
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This was a very good watch (and listen):
24-Voice Advanced Wavetable Synth, with a Hybrid Architecture, Digital SVF followed by Analogue Filters.
24-Voice Advanced Wavetable Synth, with a Hybrid Architecture, Digital SVF followed by Analogue Filters.
George, I’m surprised you haven’t dived in to the Serge world. If I ever get into DIY synths that’s probably what I would do. Of course I would be starting from scratch so don’t have to worry about integration. I’m also a big fan of the lower level of synthesis encouraged/required by the Serge stuff.
In an unrelated note, have you ever looked into the EMI Apparatus? Ruskie tube based synth.
In an unrelated note, have you ever looked into the EMI Apparatus? Ruskie tube based synth.
The Serge stuff first appeared at a time when I already had an ARP Odyssey that was expanded with a ARP Little Brother and a few modules from an Aries modular synth. At the time the Serge stuff was all closed source and a bit pricey, so I never looked at it.
The vintage analog stuff all vanished in the "digital 80's" and the only thing I have left from that era is a Roland JV1000 that I just rebuilt and a JV880 that still works fine. For now I have a small but growing Eurorack setup with a good collection of modules and a couple Behringer clone synths in it.
I have seen demos of the Russian Apparatus tube synth and at the other end of the price spectrum is the Knifonium which costs over $22,000. I have started down the tube synth road but haven't put enough work into it yet to decide if it will be a dedicated synth, or a vacuum tube modular system. I have the VCA working, and the Moog style ladder VCF working, but I'm not happy with it. The VCO's will likely be digital or digitally assisted.
It’s funny, Serge was trying to make a more affordable synth framework. I read that and was left scratching my head. Oh, less expensive than Buchla, got it lol.
Came home from USA this Saturday (not a minute sleep on the transatlantic flight ...
), but as soon as I got home I started collecting/ordering pieces for the pcbs I ordered from SynthCube and finished the Barton VCLFO and almost (missed the potentiometers - wrong types) the Barton Step Sequencer. Have an order from Mouser to a QVCA on hold (component shortages).
), but as soon as I got home I started collecting/ordering pieces for the pcbs I ordered from SynthCube and finished the Barton VCLFO and almost (missed the potentiometers - wrong types) the Barton Step Sequencer. Have an order from Mouser to a QVCA on hold (component shortages).
Most of my synth DIY stuff was entirely scratch built or started with a board only or board and panel purchase. These usually came from budget sources like MFOS or PAIA. Completed synth modules were, and still are beyond my budget, though my first complete Eurorack arrived last week while I was vacationing in Sanibel / Captiva. Got out of there just in time. Behringer knocked off a Mutable Instruments Eurorack module added some new features and priced the complete built and tested module lower than the Mutable kit. I ordered one nearly a year ago. It is a wavetable "oscillator" with morphing capability and a small oscilloscope for about $150.
It has not been installed yet partially because I had forgotten that I ordered it. My "Eurorack" system contains a lot of mismatched modules, three "Eurorack compatible" Behringer synths, and some other stuff that's much larger than the Eurorack format like a Behringer Deepmind 12 and an old Roland JV880. I have a MFOS Ultimate and Ultimate Expander built except for wiring up the front panel which took 10 years to get. There are also two "kit synths," both built from a board and panel set. One is fully functional, and one is stuck in "global parts shortage" limbo. There are also two Teensy powered synths of my own design. All are different sizes and none conform to any known modular standard. I am looking at ripping it all apart again and rebuilding yet another case, or more likely two or three, to put all like sized modules together with the Eurorack stuff in its own case. A massive "rearrange the lab" effort is underway to create more space for more synth stuff.....and a defunct digital drum set that is being resurrected.
Synthcube had a 25% off everything sale last week so I ordered more of the same stuff I got from their last sale, knobs and pots. They charged my Paypal account but have not yet acknowledged the order.
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Beheringer has crazy prices. They have announced a bunch of stuff that has been on perpetual backorder due to the parts issues. I'm thinking about getting into the semi-modular (synths with internal patches that can be overridden by the patch panel) world and probably add some modules as I discover functionality I would like to have. Their Model 15 looks and sounds amazing. Crazily inexpensive. They are also coming out with the Proton, an upgraded/improves Neutron. I'm actually leaning towards some new semi-modular gear from Cre8audio cause I've wanted a Pittsburgh Modular oscillator and filter from the moment I heard it. Only $250, too cheap to resist!
I bought a the MIDU Ultimate kit from SoundTronics in the UK earlier this year. I is based on Ray Wilson's Ultimate, but has full ADSRs, an echo unit and MIDI. Sadly this kit is disconitued but I hope at least the PCB or various files for making the PCB and fronpanels as well as source code for the MIDI-Atmega328 will be available.
Anyway, this was agreat kit, a complete kit except for the wooden cabinet (that was extra) with parts simplifying the construction.
Now after half a year helping the Ukrainian refugees, I am just about to solder the last module in place - the MIDI.
This synt is prepatched using a ton of switches, though it had been cool if it was patched out, but I guess this works as fine. Another small complaint is that it had been cool to have CV inputs to all three VCOs and VCF, but that can be easily fixed.
Note the brass tube to align the potentiometers and the stand-off that is just used when mounting the componets. I swapped the red pushbuttons for a yellow and blue.
![MODULAR_01[1].jpg](https://www.diyaudio.com/community/attachments/modular_01-1-jpg.1101055/ "MODULAR_01[1].jpg")
As mentioned I got some PCBs/PICs home from USA - the VCLFO, 4 Knob Sequencer, Step Sequencer One Song from Barton and a QVCA from Neutron. WAiting for the SMT components from Mouser.
When the MIDI Ultimate is done I have to deal with my modular machine. I have just been randomly built modules that I though looked fun and I need some structure.
![MODULAR_02[1].jpg](https://www.diyaudio.com/community/attachments/modular_02-1-jpg.1101058/ "MODULAR_02[1].jpg")
Anyway, this was agreat kit, a complete kit except for the wooden cabinet (that was extra) with parts simplifying the construction.
Now after half a year helping the Ukrainian refugees, I am just about to solder the last module in place - the MIDI.
This synt is prepatched using a ton of switches, though it had been cool if it was patched out, but I guess this works as fine. Another small complaint is that it had been cool to have CV inputs to all three VCOs and VCF, but that can be easily fixed.
Note the brass tube to align the potentiometers and the stand-off that is just used when mounting the componets. I swapped the red pushbuttons for a yellow and blue.
As mentioned I got some PCBs/PICs home from USA - the VCLFO, 4 Knob Sequencer, Step Sequencer One Song from Barton and a QVCA from Neutron. WAiting for the SMT components from Mouser.
When the MIDI Ultimate is done I have to deal with my modular machine. I have just been randomly built modules that I though looked fun and I need some structure.